Resolved to lose weight for the new year?

A familiar refrain at this time of year, a great time to undertake what it takes to make the changes required to achieve a healthy weight. My gym was packed today, a sure sign it is January.

Early-in-the-year resolutions are backed by lots of enthusiasm but the question is where will you be in a couple of weeks when the enthusiasm wanes?

What are your motivations? 

As a physician, I know it should be about your health, since so many of the conditions we treat are diseases of excess weight. Think diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and triglycerides, fatty liver, sleep apnea and many more, all of which are improved with weight loss.

What about beauty? We look better when we weigh less, when we can wear better looking clothes. When we weigh less, we feel more beautiful inside, we have more self-confidence and self-esteem.

What about respect from others? We are recognizing more and more that weight bias is common in our society amongst friends, co-workers and even health care professionals. It is known that thinner people make more money, get more promotions, and get into better programs than people with weight.

Check out Reasons I Want to Lose Weight and be honest with yourself.

But wait, are you really ready to change?

If you weigh 200 pounds, you are acting and eating like a 200 pound person.

To weigh 160, you must act and eat like a 160 pound person, which means a modification of your lifestyle and which means consuming less calories and exercising most days.

On a scale of 1 to 10, where is your motivation with regards to change? Experts say you need to be at least a 6 or 7. It helps if your confidence level is also at least a 6 or 7.

Have you decided how your diet will change? Are you able to stick with it? Research shows that all diets work equally well after 6 months, it is all about whether you are able to continue on your lower-calorie program. Find a diet that make sense and tastes good and that you will be able to maintain for the long haul.

Find a program

Most people need support when they make a big change in their lives. Lots of commercial programs are out there that offer a plan and encouragement. Weight Watchers works 100% of the time as long you stay with it, it will take a while to lose those 40 pounds, but you will lose it.

MNP offers structured programs for weight loss, especially for those with more weight to lose. Our programs are led by licensed, experienced providers.

I am Dr. Isaacson and I provide close medical supervision and keep an eye on your health every week while you are on the First Step program. As a board-certified internist, I work alongside your primary care physician as we are able to reduce and modify medications as appropriate.

Our licensed counsellors will meet with you weekly, supporting you and helping you deal with your thoughts and emotions as you change your life.

Our registered dietitian and certified fitness instructor helps you with a diet that fits you. You learn how to make wise choices at the grocery store and the restaurant and how to keep moving, based on your capabilities.

Resolved, I am confident and motivated to make the changes required to be thinner and I know MNP can help

 

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We are a physician supervised weight loss program and medical diet program serving clients serious about losing weight and keeping it off in Northern California and the south San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose, Los Gatos, Saratoga, Campbell, Cupertino, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Morgan Hill, Gilroy, Hollister, Mountain View, Los Altos, Palo Alto, Milpitas, Fremont, and Santa Cruz.