Help! I'm Struggling to Lose Weight

If you’re struggling to lose weight, you’re not alone: Three in four adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and about half of all Americans say they’d like to reach a healthier body weight. But for the one in four people who say they’re actively trying to slim down, many find it difficult to sustain their weight management efforts long-term.

The problem?

Diet and weight loss fads are a dime a dozen, and it can be hard to discern which ones work and which ones don’t. Luckily, Tyneza Mitchell, FNP, and our skilled team at Comprehensive Care Clinic in Spring, Texas, can help. 

When trying to lose weight, you can experience common pitfalls and challenges. However, we offer an individually tailored, fully supported weight management approach to help you achieve safe, sustainable weight loss for the long term.

Common weight loss mistakes

Feeling like you’re ready to drop extra pounds is the first step toward weight loss success. The second? Committing to a healthy and sustainable weight management plan with confidence. 

Many people are tempted by the effortless, rapid results that weight loss trends and diet fads promise to deliver. While some of these fads may be able to help you jumpstart the process, the nature of the diet makes it impossible to achieve your weight management goals long-term.

You may struggle to reach and/or maintain your weight loss goals if you: 

• Severely restrict your daily caloric intake
• Cut out entire nutrient groups (i.e., carbs)
• Don’t get enough protein or dietary fiber
• Skip meals or stick with a liquid-only diet 
• Eat only highly processed “diet” foods 

You may also find it challenging to achieve long-term weight loss if you: 

• Don’t exercise at all (only restrict calories)
• Exercise excessively
• Overestimate calories burnt during exercise
• Take unprescribed weight-loss medications 

Unrealistic weight loss expectations can also work against you, hindering your progress or pushing you to try unhealthy, rapid weight loss methods. Focusing intently on the number on the scale can have the same effect, making you feel like you’re not losing weight as quickly as you should be and motivating you to take a more drastic approach.

Elements of weight loss success

Simply put, it’s impossible to achieve sustainable weight loss through unsustainable strategies. Fortunately, weight loss can be achieved the right way. An optimal weight management plan includes:

• Achievable weight loss goals (weekly, monthly, overall)
• A reduced-calorie, nutritionally balanced eating plan
• Daily physical activity, including regular resistance training
• Behavioral strategies to help you cultivate healthier habits

Above all else, healthy weight loss is steady and a goal you can achieve. For most people, this means losing no more than two pounds each week (or up to eight pounds per month) through cleaner eating patterns and daily exercise and embracing these weight control habits indefinitely. Let’s take a closer look: 

Your weight loss goal

To help you set a realistic weight loss goal, we evaluate your previous weight loss attempts (successes and failures), medical history, current health status, chronic disease needs, and body composition, among other factors. Once we establish an attainable goal weight, we map out a detailed, week-by-week plan to help you achieve it.

Optimized nutrition 

Wholesome foods like fruit, vegetables, legumes, lean protein sources, unsaturated fats, and whole grains are satiating, heart-healthy, and promote easier long-term weight control. 

The simple act of adopting healthier eating patterns is often enough to jumpstart the weight loss process. Balanced nutrition delivered through the right number of calories can recalibrate your metabolism, boost your energy, and trigger your natural fat-burning mechanisms. 

Exercise and fitness plan

Dietary changes are just one-half of the weight management equation. The other half? Regular physical activity. Exercise helps you shed fat more efficiently, strengthen your muscles, improve your flexibility, increase your cardiovascular endurance, and protect bone and joint health.

Simply put — exercise helps you gain a fitter, stronger body as you lose unwanted pounds. 

Tailored to your current fitness level, your workout plan offers plenty of opportunities for safe progression as you get stronger and fitter. Your weekly routine includes level-appropriate cardio, strength, and flexibility recommendations to help you achieve well-rounded fitness. 

Our safe approach that works

Remember, losing just 5% of your body weight is all it takes to start obtaining significant health benefits, from a reduced risk of hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes to increased energy, improved sleep, and decreased joint pain. 

Weight loss doesn’t have to be difficult or unsafe — with our support, it can be healthy, steady, and sustainable. To learn more, call or click online to schedule a visit at Comprehensive Care Clinic in Spring, Texas, today.