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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2024 Dec 12.
Published in final edited form as: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Jul 18;224(1):99.e1–99.e14. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.07.027

TABLE 1.

Overall Prepare intervention goals

Goal Specific instructions
Be an active and engaged participant

  • Keep health coach appointments

  • Use study website

  • Set short-term goals and action plans
Manage calories to be within your customized calorie targeta

  • Use a meal pattern guide

  • Control portion sizes

  • Replace high-calorie with lower-calorie foods

  • Limit sweets and sugar-sweetened beverages
Follow the DASH dietary eating pattern for a healthy diet every day

  • Eat 8–12 servings of fruits and vegetables

  • Eat 3 servings of low-fat dairy

  • Limit unhealthy fat intake

  • Aim for 6 small meals and snacks
Increase your daily physical activity

  • Find ways to move more; aim for 10,000 steps

  • Exercise daily (gradually work up to 60 min of moderate-intensity exercise)

  • Follow your doctor’s advice
Keep records

  • Weigh yourself at least weekly

  • Track everything you eat and drink

  • Track your exercise

DASH, dietary approaches to stop hypertension.

a

Initial calorie needs were set using the Harris-Benedict equation.9 Coaches modified calorie targets as needed to meet weight loss and maintenance goals.