It’s no secret that getting healthier requires hard work. At Medical Weight Loss Clinic patients work closely with counselors to track progress as well as stay motivated to reach their individual healthy goals. But we won’t sugar coat the truth. There are challenges along the way.
Don’t get discouraged if the scale won’t budge. We can help with that.
Weight loss can stall. Motivation can lag. Cravings can kick in. And how such challenges are addressed is key to being successful. Deborah Willey, director of Medical Weight Loss Clinic, assures that our experienced staff is ready and well-equipped to help when your healthy goals feel off-track.
“When people get to a point where their weight is staying the same,” she says, “it’s called a plateau or a set point.”
This is a common occurrence, Willey says, and no reason to lose hope.
“A plateau is when your weight is holding - often it is a weight you’ve maintained before,” adds Willey. “The body gets to that weight and just holds.”
A stall in progress like this can last a week, or even longer. Every body is different. That’s where the custom approach at Medical Weight Loss Clinic makes a difference. When patients join a program, they work face-to-face with our counselors – visiting daily for the first two weeks, then returning three times a week throughout their journey. That accountability and personal connection sets Medical Weight Loss Clinic apart – and we believe it makes all the difference.
There plenty of opportunities to track and work on a patient’s individual progress. Willey notes that when a patient initially sees a lag in movement on the scale, it may not be a reason to do anything differently. Once weight has not moved for three consecutive weigh-ins, though, it’s time for action.
“Our patients typically lose 3 pounds a week for women and 4 pounds a week for men” Willey says. “If you’re averaging 3 pounds a week and have stayed the same for two weeks, we might make some changes.”
Those changes will help rev up a patient’s system for more efficient weight loss. It can include any of the following:
· Changing when you eat. Counselors might ask when patients are eating or determine whether they are eating too late or too close to bedtime.
· Varying what you eat, at what time. “If you usually have protein at lunch and dinner, we might switch it to breakfast and dinner.”
· Mixing up your menu. Don’t eat the same foods day after day and expect change. Be sure to eat at a variety of proteins. Some– like beef or pork – are higher in sodium which can lead to water weight. Vary vegetable intake too. Try cooked or steamed vegetables at one meal and a salad with another. Willey said some vegetables are natural diuretics like Spinach, Broccoli and Asparagus.
· Don’t cut too many calories. It can stall weight loss.
· Make foods you will enjoy. Meals should look and taste appealing.
Medical Weight Loss Clinic counselors review food journals to see what works for each patient and what can be adjusted to work even better. But it’s not all about a number on the scale. Not all progress is visible there.
Patients are also measured once a month, or every three weeks, as needed. It’s possible to lose inches that don’t show on a scale. And home scales can be incorrect.
“It’s not always the scale that shows where you are,” says Willey. “We ask if they have tried on a pair of pants that didn’t fit.”
While exercise isn’t required on the program, it can always be beneficial to increase your movement when you reach a set point, Willey says.
She suggests making small changes. “Park farther from the grocery store and that five minute walk will increase what you’re doing,” she says.
Striking the right balance during a weight loss journey will lead to success. And you don’t have to go it alone.
Achieve your weight loss goals with the support of Medical Weight Loss Clinic, schedule your free consultation online or by calling 1-800-GET-SLIM.
