Patient Guidelines for Weight Loss

As part of your medically-supervised weight loss program, it is important for you to incorporate healthy eating habits in order to lose weight and sustain your weight loss for the long term. In order to lose weight, the body must burn more calories than it has taken in. This can be accomplished by eating fewer calories and exercising more. Food that is not used to fuel the body is stored as fat. You may choose to follow a specific weight loss diet such as Keto diet, Paleo diet, Carnivore diet, Bone Broth Diet, Weight Watchers, etc. or you may choose to follow the guidelines below. The right diet for you is the one you can stick to following! It is a good idea to keep a food diary for the first 1 week of your new diet plan to monitor calorie intake. There are many easy to use apps for this such as MyFitnessPal, Fitbit, etc.

Limit Non-Nutritious Foods

Try to limit non-nutritious foods like those high in fats and sugars such as these:

  • Sugar, honey, syrups, and candy

  • Pastries, pies, cakes, and cookies

  • Soft drinks, sweetened juices, and alcoholic beverages

Choose Healthier Food Options

Choosing healthier food starts with increasing your protein intake and lowering your carbs. That means limiting your intake of grains, breads, cereal, rice, and pasta and eating more poultry, fish, or lean red meat. Try low-fat cooking methods such as baking, broiling, steaming, grilling, and boiling. You can also incorporate more of these:

  • Vinaigrette, herb, or lemon dressings

  • Fruits and vegetables that are raw, steamed, or baked

Create Better Habits

Consistency is key in weight loss. Start creating healthier habits today with these recommendations:

  • Watch portion sizes and eat small servings of a variety of foods

  • Choose high-protein snacks

  • Eat only when you are hungry and stop when you are satisfied

  • Eat slowly and try not to perform other tasks while eating

  • Find other activities to distract you from food such as walking or a hobby

  • Include regular exercise in your daily routine. Aim for at least 7,000 steps per day and 20 minutes of a moderate intense exercise 3-5 times a week.

If you find yourself having trouble sticking to these guidelines, try using the NOOM app.