What is The Full Yield Program?

The Full Yield Program is a scientifically validated 12-month program designed to help you feel as good as you can feel, improve your health, and protect your health—starting with what you eat and including how you move, sleep, manage stress, and manage self-care. Please see Why The Full Yield for more information.

What is included in the program?

There are five phases in the program, starting with a 30-Day leap into eating better and moving more. Program elements include biometric and behavioral monitoring to track health status, disease risks, and progress toward better health; unlimited personal coaching and support; dietary guidance; cooking videos, recipes, and meal plans; pedometer and steps-based exercise; online food, activity, and health tracking tools; member community; social supports. Please see Membership Benefits for a detailed list of membership features, tools and supports.

What is expected of members of the program?

The program asks members to commit to changing their dietary, fitness and lifestyle behaviors over the course of 12 months. In the beginning of the program, you are asked to follow a 30-Day Prescription in order to jumpstart your health and rapidly improve how you feel overall. This Prescription includes:

• Eating only the minimally processed, unrefined foods defined by our program as health-supporting
• Following a health-supporting dietary pattern, one that is approximately 50% produce (vegetables and fruits)
• Tracking your food intake daily and then several times a week online
• Gradually increasing your physical activity with the goal of reaching the equivalent of 10,000 steps a day
• Tracking your physical activity daily and then several times a week online
• Tracking the way your daily choices are impacting the way you feel by using our How Good Do You Feel? Tracker online or on an iPhone
• Participating in scheduled telephone sessions with your personal coach
• Collecting and recording your blood pressure, weight, and abdominal circumference when you enroll and again at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
• Getting your blood work done at one of our participating labs when you enroll and again at 3 and 12 months
• Taking our Health and Lifestyle Assessment online when you enroll and again at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months

Throughout the 12 months of your membership you will also be prompted to:

• Continue health-supporting dietary, activity, and behavioral patterns established during your Prescription phase
• Use web-based tools including the personalized dashboard with biometric screening results and tracking tools, database of recipes, menus and meal plans, social networking, forum and blog
• View web-based educational materials including educational and cooking videos, health- related articles, and recommended resources
• Attend virtual (telephonic) and onsite workshops
• Read weekly educational and support emails with program updates, tips and advice from the coaching staff.

Will I get information from the program at work or at home after hours?

After you complete the online enrollment process, you will have access to the members-only section of our website-- which contains educational and how-to videos, recipes and meal plans, food, activity, and health trackers, and teambuilding and social networking options—from any computer into which you can login with your member id. You will receive three scheduled emails per week at the email address you provide.

There are weekly Virtual Workshops to which you can dial in from anywhere. Typically, these are offered twice each week during the lunch hour and, depending on the season, one evening a week. There is an archive of recorded Virtual Workshops available on our website.

What do you mean by the terms health-supporting and health-depleting?

At The Full Yield we use the term health-supporting to describe choices, habits, actions, and activities that encourage and sustain good health. We use the term health-depleting to describe those choices and habits that prevent us from feeling good and being well. We define health-supporting foods based on scientifically validated information about which foods are best for human health, the reduction of disease risk, and the management and mitigation of lifestyle-created diseases.

How is this program different from other weight loss and wellness programs?

Please see how we’re different.

What do members say about the value of the program?

At the close of our 12-month pilot, 88% of participants said that The Full Yield Program was helping them to eat a more health-supporting diet and 90% would recommend the program to friends and family. Please see member testimonials for more member feedback.

What is the success rate for members? Will the program make a measurable difference in my health?

Program members who eat health-supporting foods and work towards a healthier lifestyle experience increased energy, improved sleep and mood, higher productivity, and even weight loss within a few days. As soon as three months, they also see improvements in their body fat percentage, body mass index, blood pressure, cholesterol and other lab tests.

Please see health outcomes and member testimonials to learn more about the success rate and results experienced by our members.

What medical information about me is shared with my employer or others?

Employers offering The Full Yield Program to their employees do not have access to any individual’s health information collected, either during the program or anytime after the 12 months. Employee confidentiality is protected by law. Employers get a report about the employee population as a whole, not about any individual. Only your health support coach will have access to the results of your biometric screenings and the health risk assessment survey. The data is handled in a HIPAA-compliant manner and all staff members are trained to comply with privacy and HIPAA regulations.

Is information shared with my physician or health care provider? The Full Yield does not share information with your physician or health care provider; however, we do encourage participants to share both their participation in the program and their biometric data with their personal physician.
 

Does my physician share information about me with The Full Yield? No, your personal physician does not share information with The Full Yield.
 

Is any protected health information shared with anyone else? Your biometric screening results are shared with your health support coaches in order for them to be able to talk with you about your overall health status as it relates to a health-supporting diet and lifestyle. We use only grouped data for evaluating the effectiveness of the program. Your data is never shared with any other professionals without all personal identifiers removed.

What happens if the program is not right for me and I no longer wish to participate?

You simply email or call us and let us know that you do not want further health coaching and choose not to participate in the biometric data collection or program activities. We encourage you to connect with your coach before making this decision as we may be able to help you manage any barriers to participation you may be experiencing.

In order to terminate your program participation officially, you will need to send written notification to The Full Yield at the address provided (The Full yield, Inc., 100 Conifer Hill Dr., Suite 102, Danvers, MA  01923) and notify your coach with a message. You can participate as much or as little as you want but will only be officially dropped from the program if you notify us or if you do not continue to make scheduled payments (if required).

I have a disability. Can I still participate in the program?

Yes. Eating a health-supporting diet is a plus for everyone regardless of food preferences, allergies, or conditions, and there are many ways to increase your purposeful activity.

Can I participate if I am pregnant?

This is a wonderful program for pregnant and breastfeeding women and those planning a pregnancy. We recommend that you check with your personal healthcare provider before increasing the level of your physical activity.

What if I have food allergies?

You will need to avoid health-supporting foods to which you are allergic or sensitive, just as you already do; our program includes an enormous variety of foods and will offer you many choices.

If my family has multiple allergies to food, who will help me work through the challenges of a new diet?

Our health support coaches will help you find health-supporting options. And of course, please also consider your healthcare provider as a resource.

What happens after 12 months, when the program ends? Is there a cost to continue in the program?

Any member who completes the full 12-month program and satisfies the specified criteria, receives a Lifetime Membership in The Full Yield. Lifetime members have access to the website content, tools and trackers, member community, newsletters, and workshops at no cost.

I have a friend, relative or significant other who would like to join the program. How does that work?

Anyone can enroll in The Full Yield Program. If you are a friend or family member of a current participant, choose that option under ENROLL. Following the prompts online, you will be given the opportunity to enroll for the 12-month program.

How does the program work for members with children?

In addition to changing your own life, The Full Yield Program provides an opportunity to help shape your children’s and your family’s eating habits and health in a positive way. This program will help you set a healthy example for your children so they will learn to love fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other nutrient-rich staples and to see physical activity as a normal part of daily life. We provide support and information to help you introduce healthier habits to your children and everyone in your family and we encourage you to share the website content and videos with your family, and to invite them to join our weekly Virtual Workshops using the same dial-in number accessible to you.

What is the background of the program coaches?

Our coaches are trained in health education and in behavior change theories, including Motivational Interviewing, a technique clinically shown to be extremely effective in lifestyle change, and they are experienced in helping program members make the necessary changes to lead a health-supporting life. All of our coaches are experts in The Full Yield’s dietary and lifestyle recommendations and have lived the program themselves.

Do I need my doctor's permission to get involved?

No, you do not need your doctor’s permission to participate. We encourage all program members to share their biometric data with their personal healthcare provider as well as information about the program. If you have a medical condition, such as diabetes, your doctor can learn more by calling The Full Yield at 1.888.full.yield to speak with our coaching staff. If you are pregnant, we recommend that you check with your physician or midwife before increasing your level of physical activity.

How long will it take for my body to adjust to the change in my diet? What can I expect while my body is in the adjustment period?

You will begin to experience more energy (and more consistent energy), improved sleep and very likely a sense of wellbeing within a few days of eating a completely health-supporting diet. It may take closer to a week depending on how health-depleting your diet was before joining the program. Because many health-supporting foods are naturally higher in fiber, most people notice they feel full faster. And once again, depending on your prior diet, you may experience more frequent stools. You will establish a new gastrointestinal rhythm within about a week.

How important is the exercise component of the program? Can I join and just participate in the food portion of the program?

You can, but a health supporting lifestyle includes increasing the level of purposeful activity in your day and this is an essential part of this program. The good news is that when you eat a truly health supporting diet you will feel more like being active. Increasing the amount of walking or other activity that you do on a regular basis and being more mindful of your body and all of your feelings will help improve your health and reduce your stress. For those who are already engaged in an exercise routine and/or a training program, members tell us their athletic performance has been enhanced by their participation in The Full Yield and their adoption of a health-supporting diet and dietary pattern.

What do I have to do to get my biometric measurements collected?

You will have a blood sample taken at a LabCorp Patient Service Center (at the location of your choice) at enrollment, at the 3-month mark, and at the end of the 12-month program. You will be given simple instructions on how to collect additional health measures (such as your blood pressure) on your own. You and your coach will discuss both your body and blood measures as part of the coaching process and whenever you have any questions. In addition, we encourage you to share the results with your personal healthcare provider and discuss any concerns you have both with them and with your coach.

Can I see the members-only section of the web site?

No, however our home page at www.thefullyield.com offers a tour and description of many of the components of the program that are available to members.

How does the enrollment process work?

To begin, The Full Yield provides online information and a tour that features the program elements, how to participate, and the benefits of participation. Those who are interested in enrolling simply need to click on ENROLL or follow the link provided by an employer. They will be taken through a short orientation which describes the program benefits, commitments and costs. Once the information about the program has been reviewed, they can begin the enrollment steps. These steps include entering contact information, choosing a Username and Password, taking a survey about health, dietary, and lifestyle habits, and making a first coaching appointment. Once enrolled, the new member receives our Program Kit in the mail, which includes all of the essential tools to get going.

What is the browser compatibility of The Full Yield website?

The Full Yield website is designed to work best with Internet Explorer version 7.0 and above and also with Firefox, Safari and Mozilla. Program members with access only to older versions of Internet Explorer may experience some problems with site functionality, especially those with Internet Explorer 5 and older versions. We encourage program members to take advantage of the free update to the most current version of Internet Explorer or to use an alternate browser (such as Safari, Firefox, or Mozilla). The Full Yield Support Center at 1.888.385.5943 is available to help participants with technical issues. Please note, our site does not yet work with iPad technology.

When did The Full Yield start?

We enrolled our first pilot members in February, 2010. Many of these pilot members are now Lifetime Members. The company was founded in 2003. Please read about our mission for more about us. You can also read about us in articles published by The New York Times and Fast Company Magazine.

What companies piloted The Full Yield Program?

Our piloting partners were John Hancock, EMC, Draper Labs, Abt Associates, New England Delta Dental, and the City of Boston, as well as the employee populations of our strategic partners, Roche Bros. and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care.

What research backs up your claims about the benefits of eating the way your program recommends?

The Full Yield team developed our program and philosophy with the guidance of hundreds of peer reviewed studies and clinical trials published over many years. The following are some of the landmark studies about how food, lifestyle, health and long-term quality of life are interconnected:

DASH: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension; Appel, L. J., Moore, T. J., Obarzanek, E., Vollmer, W. M., Svetkey, L. P., Sacks, F. M., Bray, G. A., Vogt, T. M., Cutler, J. A. et al. (1997) A clinical trial of the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure. DASH Collaborative Research Group. N Engl J Med 336: 1117-1124.

DPP: Diabetes Prevention Program; Knowler, W.C, Barrett-Connor, E, Fowler, S.E, Hamman, R.F, Lachin, J.M, Walker, E.A, Nathan, D.M; Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group; (2002) Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med. 346(6):393-403.

USDA Dietary Guidelines 2010

American Heart Association Scientific Statement: Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations Revision 2006; Alice H. Lichtenstein, DSc, FAHA, Chair; Lawrence J. Appel, MD, FAHA, Vice-Chair; Michael Brands, PhD, FAHA; Mercedes Carnethon, PhD; Stephen Daniels, MD, PhD, FAHA; Harold A. Franch, MD, FAHA; Barry Franklin, PhD, FAHA; Penny Kris-Etherton, RD, PhD, FAHA; William S. Harris, PhD, FAHA; Barbara Howard, PhD, FAHA; Njeri Karanja, PhD; Michael Lefevre, PhD, FAHA; Lawrence Rudel, MD, PhD, FAHA; Frank Sacks, MD, FAHA; Linda Van Horn, PhD, RD, FAHA; Mary Winston, EdD; Judith Wylie-Rosett, EdD, RD; (2006) Circulation. 2006;114:82-96

Why does The Full Yield program last 12 months?

The Full Yield Program is designed to have a early, intensive one month phase during which the members learn to modify their diet and lifestyle habits, work with their coaches and use all the tools provided so that they can continue to practice those new habits, with full coaching support, during the rest of the year.  It takes time to build solid habits and the program is set up to support you as you make significant changes to lead a healthier life.

About how much time would an average member need to dedicate to the program each week?

A typical member will use the tracking tools every day, taking about 15 minutes to think about the food and physical activity over the last 24 hours and enter the data. In addition, members are encouraged to spend 30-50 minutes dail doing purposeful physical activity, above the general life activities. As often as they’d like, members can talk with their coach for 15-20 minutes in a scheduled appointment. Most members find they are cooking more with family and friends and preparing meals/snacks for themselves and family members. All of this need take no more time than usual as long as a little pre-planning is involved.

If a member stops working at an employer, can they continue as a member?

Yes, once you are a member in the program, regardless if you change work places or health insurance, you can remain a member.

Can The Full Yield Program be done in conjunction with other lifestyle programs (Weight Watchers for example)?

Yes, the healthy lifestyle concepts that are part of The Full Yield Program can dovetail quite nicely with other types of programs. We do have members who maintain a Weight Watchers membership to gives themselves the points limits if that is something they like to track.