The Expert Team will design a comprehensive plan for each family member based on the individual’s health and mental needs. The Team will approach each of the areas of wellness (physical, spiritual, emotional and mental) with all family members in a personalized way that will positively affect their nutrition, weight management, work / life balance, exercise and stress management. These plans will serve as educational tools for audience members who can relate to the health issues of the participants. Family members will experience ups and downs during the change process, leading to relationship turmoil, arguments and resistance to change. Ultimately they will enjoy the thrill of success as they are able to permanently reverse behaviors they have experienced for years. The follow-up assessment will reveal inspiring and emotional transformations that will motivate viewers to take control of their own health, fitness, wellness and personal relationships. At the end of the twenty-one day makeover, the families will be on their way to living happier and healthier lives.

Each season will highlight two or three families (based on size) who are participating in the makeover. Episodes will detail their physical and psychological experiences, culminating in a six month post-makeover progress report from these families as the season finale.

In addition, a specific Family Lifestyle Makeover website will cover the family health issues in greater detail so that viewers can become more educated about the problems which they are facing. Some of the topics written by the experts will include how to start an exercise program, how to detoxify your home, what to buy at the grocery store, strategies to stop addictive behaviors and professional relationship counseling.

Americans will be DYING to watch this show!

Library of Congress Registration number: TXu 1-973-135 Title of Work: Family Lifestyle Makeover

Synopsis: The objective of Family Lifestyle Makeover is to bring the areas of wellness (physical, spiritual, emotional and mental) to all participants in a personalized way that will positively affect their nutrition, weight management, work / life balance, exercise and stress management in an inspirational and entertaining way. Television viewers will learn an enormous amount about health from the Expert Team members and participants and how it relates to them. This highly encouraging and emotional show will include the apparently healthy, elderly, children, obese, ill (cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune diseases), wealthy, poor and middle class. A large number of people want to be healthy but don’t know what to do or lack the confidence to do it.

Childhood obesity is a major threat to our healthcare system and it starts at the top … MOM and DAD! When Mom and Dad live a healthy lifestyle, it gets passed down to their children because the parents have the most influence over their children. After all, Mom and Dad control the pocketbook! Family Lifestyle Makeover will provide a comprehensive approach to this health issue facing our country in order to lay a foundation of better health to future generations.

The Problem: A healthcare system that treats symptoms, rather than underlying health problems and a lack of participation in healthy lifestyle behaviors that would prevent or reverse most health problems in our country.

The Solution: Family Lifestyle Makeover, a healthy approach to life that puts the “realistic” in reality TV.

Each participant will complete the following:

1. Complete Family Lifestyle Makeover Application
2. Complete Family Lifestyle Makeover Physical Exam
3. Complete Family Lifestyle Makeover Health History / Needs Assessment Questionnaire

A. Exercise

1. Exercise History
2. Limitations
3. Favorite Modes of Exercise

B.  Stress Management

1. Stress History
2. Present Stress Level
3. Stressor Identification

C.  Diet / Nutrition

1. Pantry / Refrigerator Inventory
2. Daily Food Log
3. Dietary Knowledge Assessment

D.  Sleep

1. Assessment Form
2. Team Need Determination Report

E.  Spirituality

1. Assessment Form
2. Team Need Determination Report

F.  Psychological / Emotional Therapy

1. Assessment Form
2. Team Need Determination Report

G.  Work / Life Balance

1. Organizational Skills
2. Routine / Habits

H.  Readiness and Commitment to Change

1. Assessment Form
2. Desire to Change Current Behaviors

I. Family Lifestyle Makeover Expert Team:

1. Physician (Nutritionist, Sleep Expert, Living Environment Specialist):

•   Oversees entire Makeover
•   Performs each physical exam and prescribes plan of action for makeover
•   Educates all participants on eating healthy…what to eat and why
•   Teaches participants how to grocery shop, both healthy and economically
•   Teaches participants how to prepare particular meals and snacks
•    Assesses sleep quality of each participant and makes recommendations accordingly
•    Educates each participant on the health importance of quality and quantity of sleep
•    Assesses the overall level of health of the family’s living environment, which will include cleaning    products, flooring, mold, cleaning products, flooring, mold, etc.

    2.  Psychologist (Stress Management Expert, Relationship Expert, Organizational Expert):

• Works with participants who need mental health work
• Counsels participants in areas where psychological issues stand in the way of behaviroal change
• Assesses the stress level of each participant and educates each one on stress relieving techniques and coping mechanisms
• Assists cast members in need of bettering relationships
• Provides the tools and communication techniques that will be helpful in helping people heal broken relationships in their lives
• Helps participants organize their time with work, school, family and personal time

  3.  Exercise Specialist (Health and Wellness Coach):

• Develops an exercise program for each participant based on needs, goals and limitations. Exercise will NOT exceed an average of one hour per day, unless a family member is involved in a competitive sport.
•  Performs all health and wellness coaching sessions
•  Assists participants in setting goals and working through ambivalence  with behavioral change

    4.  Financial Expert:

• Assist in teaching money saving techniques
• Provide information on money management and making wise investment decisions

To qualify, all family members, must score high on the “Readiness and Commitment to Change” part of the questionnaire.

Based on needs, the Lifestyle Expert Team spends 21 days at the participants (family) home helping make the necessary changes in each person’s life. Participant families are NOT limited to the morbidly obese or poor; but, for any family who is:

1. Consuming the standard American diet
2. Leading a sedentary lifestyle
3. Leading a stress-filled life
4. Concerned with disease associated with lifestyle
5. Generally lacking in any of the four areas of wellness: physical, spiritual, emotional and mental
6. Involved in broken family relationships
7. Living in a toxic environment (chemicals, mold, etc.)

At the end of the 21 day makeover period, the Lifestyle Expert Team will leave. A weekly wellness coaching session for each family member will be performed for six months to ensure lasting change has occurred. Also, psychological counseling will occur for up to six months post 21-day makeover for participants based on the psychologist’s recommendations. A Q/A session with each Lifestyle Expert Team member will take place on an as needed basis for the period of three weeks for each participant.

Team Members will be needed at varying amounts on a case by case basis.

U.S. Copyright Office, Registration Number TXu 1-973-135 

Phase One:

Entertainment Value: Identification with each family member.

Each family member will undergo a physical exam by the Team physician and complete the Family Lifestyle Makeover Health History / Needs Assessment Questionnaire. Once this is complete, an assessment is made by the Team and the Individual Lifestyle Plan for each family member is designed and prescribed. The level of involvement of each Team member is dependent on the needs of each family member.

The Doe family’s health conditions and concerns include:

Father / Father-In-law / Grandfather (age 80) – Early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, psoriasis, SAD – high in sugar and processed foods, sedentary

Sample Individual Lifestyle Plan:

1. Physician for the management of his Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. Provide nutrition information to address all relative health issues specific to his conditions. This will include instruction on proper nutrition and basic food preparation.
2. Exercise Expert to design a fitness program that will address his limitations and needs taking into account what he, if anything, he enjoys; health and wellness coaching to assist with behavioral change.

Father (age 46) – Obese, insulin resistance, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, meniscus tear in right knee, SAD – high in sugar and processed foods, averages 4-5 hours of sleep a night, sedentary, poor time management skills, suggested weight loss = 75 lbs. He is taking medications for high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol (statin), elevated blood sugar and a sedative used to induce sleep.

Sample Individual Lifestyle Plan:

1. Physician for the management of his insulin resistance, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, etc.; to identify underlying sleep issues and to address them; and to address all relative nutritional health issues specific to his conditions as they relate to his nutrition. This will include instruction on proper nutrition and basic food preparation.
2. Psychologist to assist in developing various techniques to help him manage his stress and to help him better manage his time with work, home, family life and personal time.
3. Exercise Expert to design a fitness program that will address his limitations and needs taking into account what, if anything, he enjoys and health and wellness coaching to assist in lasting behavioral change in the areas above. 

Mother (age 44) – Smoker, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome, depression, SAD – high in sugar and processed foods, sedentary, disorganized home-life

Sample Individual Lifestyle Plan:

1. Physician for the management of her various health conditions; to address all nutritional relative health issues specific to her conditions. This will include instruction on proper nutrition, grocery store shopping excursions and cooking lessons to meet the specific needs of each family member. Assistance with living environment conditions to assess the overall level of health of the family’s living environment, which will include cleaning products, flooring, mold, etc.
2. Exercise Expert to design a fitness program that will address her limitations and needs taking into account what, if anything, she enjoys; and health and wellness coaching to assist in lasting behavioral change in the areas above.
3. Psychologist to address the issues of depression and smoking and to help organize their time with the home, school, family life and personal time.

Son (age 14) – Obese, ADHD, SAD – high in sugar and processed foods, insulin resistant, computer / video game addict, sedentary

Sample Individual Lifestyle Plan:

1. Physician to oversee entire health program and to address all nutritional relative health issues specific to his conditions. This will include instruction on proper nutrition and basic food preparation.
2. Psychologist to address the issue of low self-esteem and computer / video game addiction.
3. Exercise Expert to design a fitness program that will address his limitations and needs taking into account what, if anything, he enjoys and health and wellness coaching to assist in lasting behavioral change in the areas above.

Daughter (age 10) – Obese, SAD – high in sugar and processed foods, insulin resistant, social anxiety disorder, low self-esteem, sedentary

Sample Individual Lifestyle Plan:

1. Physician to oversee entire health program and to address all nutritional relative health issues specific to her conditions. This will include instruction on proper nutrition and basic food preparation.
2. Exercise Expert to design a fitness program that will address her limitations and needs taking into account what, if anything, she enjoys and health and wellness coaching to assist in lasting behavioral change.
3. Psychologist to address the issue of low self-esteem.

Note: Additional markers were out of healthy range with each family member. Each person’s Individual Lifestyle Plan will accommodate these markers.

Phase Two:

Entertainment Value: Extension of identification. Information is given on how to “fix’ the problem.

The Team enters the home to “throw out” the bad and establish a new way of healthy living. Excitement and skepticism ensue because of what lies ahead and the fear of the unknown. Through instruction, counseling and coaching-up each family member, the family gets a better understanding of what their “new” lives will look like. This segment shows Team member giving instruction as needed to each family member. For example, the Team Physician giving health instruction to the father-in-law and taking the mother shopping and showing her what foods to buy and then how to prepare healthy meals; the Psychologist showing the father stress management techniques and working with the daughter on her low self-esteem; and the Exercise Expert implementing an exercise program with the son. If multiple Team members are needed for each family member, then those will also be included during Act Two. This not only educates the family member but millions of viewers as well.

Phase Three:

Entertainment Value: Conflict and Controversy, Family Dynamics and Internal Struggle with Change.

Drama ensues as various family members are shunned by their friends. The Physician and Exercise Expert encounter great resistance from the father and son in changing their diet (eliminating sugar and processed foods) and engaging in a regular exercise program. Arguments with the Physician and Exercise Expert with the mother pleading with the two of them to stay on board with the plan persist for a few days. Mother shows her own frustration (overwhelmed) with all of the changes that need to be done throughout the house. The daughter, who was initially resistant to change, becomes more accepting and gung ho with her new “health assignments.” Relationships become “strained” as the other family members struggle to find their way.

Phase Four:

Entertainment Value: Inspirational (overcoming odds, getting off of meds, diseases disappear, weight loss) and Defeating the Bad Guy (Standard American Diet and conventional wisdom, i.e. misinformation).

Six and 12-month follow-up to the show indicate all of the changes that have been made.

Father / Father-In-law / Grandfather: With the help of a ketogenic diet and exercise program, his Alzheimer’s disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar and psoriasis have all improved. This has increased his energy to the point that his overall activity level is up, making him more productive with daily activities. 

Father: His 50 pound weight loss not only has increased his energy level, but has reduced his blood pressure (acceptable range), blood sugar (slightly above desired level) and knee pain associated with his meniscus tear. He is off all of his medications (high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, elevated blood sugar and a sedative used to induce sleep). With his new found energy and help from the Psychologist, he has developed a plan of organization and implemented it in all areas of his life (home, work, family and personal). By eliminating the processed food and sugar in his diet and implementing a stress reduction and exercise program, he reports less gastric problems, stress and being happier and has improved his overall sense of well-being. All of these positive health changes have led to an improvement of 8 hours of sleep a night on average. 

Mother: She has become proficient in shopping and preparing meals that are nutrient-dense, real food meals that will meet the needs of each family member. With the dietary changes and exercise program her fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome and general well-being are much improved. With the help of the Psychologist, she has a much better grip on keeping things organized as they relate to family life at home. Her smoking habit is a work in progress. 

Son: The changes made in his diet, not only led to a weight loss of 25 pounds, but also diminished symptoms of his ADHD and he is no longer addicted to video games. Also, his blood sugar is now under control and he is no longer insulin resistant. The increase in his physical activity has led him to become an active participant in regular tae kwon do classes with the hope of earning a black belt some day. His school grades have improved as a result of his increased confidence and focus.

Daughter: Her weight loss of 20 pounds has led to an improved self-esteem and social interaction with her peers. Also, her blood sugar is now under control and she is no longer insulin resistant. By engaging in physical activity she has become confident with her friends such that she has decided to join several sports teams such as soccer, basketball and softball.