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The 3 S’s of Weight Loss Success

Posted: Mar 15 in Weight loss, Weight Management Strategies by
successful hiker person

One of my favorite things about working at Clinical Nutrition Center these past 18 years is learning from my patients. That’s you! You have blessed ME showing me that anything is possible!

While every person I have worked with has ups and downs, trials and tribulations, successes and unfortunately, relapses, I have had the pleasure of helping many people through all of these phases for 10 years, 15 years, or even longer. I was fortunate enough to see one such patient back at clinic last week. She has lost over 50 pounds – and kept it off. She tells me that she is at the best weight of her adult life. She is confident she can sustain it, because she has found the winning formula.

Many people working on losing weight think it is primarily a function of calories in / calories out – eating less, moving more. But this ignores the body’s basic biology – why do we eat, how do we eat, and why do we move the way we do? Over the years, this individual took my suggestions to heart. I asked her, “What is the reason you are able to be so successful?” She replied, “It’s actually quite simple – instead of worrying so much about food or exercise, I focus on 3 things: Sleep, Stress, and Schedule.”

On further discussion, she explained to me that if she gets the right amount of sleep every night, keeps her stress levels manageable, and sticks to a good schedule, she is able to sustain the weight loss, because she isn’t starving and exhausted all of the time.

I saw another patient back this week – she has sustained a loss of 107 pounds – and is still losing – over the past 8 years. Again, I asked her the same question. She replied, “I left a super high stress job – I was working insane hours at my firm, often over 100 hours per week! Now I am in a different job that has nearly no stress, and I work normal hours.”

In both of these scenarios, weight loss happened in several spurts over several years – it was not lost all at once. The body and brain were given time to adjust to the new weight and it came off in steps. There was also always some regain between the steps.

Both patients also explained to me that support visits at CNC were crucial to their success, as was getting the medication correct to keep their appetite under control.

So, there you have it – the very word SUCCESS has 3 S’s – one for sleep, one for stress, one for schedule. Perhaps if you can find your optimal sleep routine, control your stress, and find a good schedule, you too will be sharing your success story with me, and make your best weight stick for all the years to come!

Again, “Thank You!” to all my patients for sharing your success stories with me, and also for giving us a chance to help you find your pathway to the healthiest “You!”

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