Setting weight loss goals near the holidays may seem like a futile effort, as there’s just so much tempting food and drink around, it can spoil anyone’s diet. If you commit yourself to your weight loss program, though, and if you have the proper help shedding the pounds, you can achieve what you set out to do.
At Prestige Physicians in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, our expert internal medicine specialists, Dr. Kira Fenton and Dr. Cristina Savu, are committed to helping you lose the weight, whether it’s through our medical weight loss program or through adding the finishing touches with a body sculpting treatment. Here’s what you should know about the journey you’re on.
Set your goals for success
Too often, people focus only on the end result — say, the number of pounds they want to lose — but they don’t consider what they specifically need to do to make that happen.
The first step is motivation. Make sure you’re motivated to stick with whatever program you choose till the end, no matter what. Only you can determine and reinforce your motivation, and that’s what’ll keep you away from that second glass of eggnog or the luscious plate of brownies someone put in front of you. And if you feel yourself caving in, lean on someone who knows what you want to achieve to help you avert disaster.
For the best results, use the SMART goal checklist. Be sure all your weight loss goals meet the following criteria:
Specific
Your goals should include specific details. Exercising more is not specific — walking 30 minutes every morning before work is. State what you’ll do, when you’ll do it, and for how long.
Measurable
If you can measure a goal, then you’re able to objectively determine how successful you are at meeting it. There’s no objective way to measure ”I’ll eat better;” stating that you’ll consume no more than 1,500 calories a day is measurable. The same is true for exercise. Set a target and keep a log of how and when you meet your goal.
Attainable
Any goal you make should be one for which you have enough time and resources to achieve. If you have to be at work at 7:30am, and you regularly sleep past your alarm, it’s not reasonable to assume you can exercise before work. Instead, carve out 30 minutes after you get home to run or get on the bike, so you’ll actually get to do it.
Relevant
Never set goals that someone else wants you to achieve. Ask yourself what’s most important to you, and where you are in your life, then determine your goals. If weight loss is indeed a priority, talk with your doctor about nutrition and exercise that meet your needs and lifestyle.
Time-limited
Once you’ve picked your goals, set deadlines to achieve each one. If you want to lose 20 pounds by the end of the year, circle that date in red on your calendar. Seeing that every day can motivate you to pass up on some of the more caloric holiday goodies.
Long-term goals broken down into a series of short-term goals can also help you focus on the real issue, which is to change your lifestyle to support a healthier weight. Reassess your goals as you go to make sure that you’re making progress and that your goals are still valid for your new lifestyle.
Medical weight loss
Medical weight loss is a weight loss program supervised by your doctor and other health professionals and tailored to your specific needs. Here at Prestige Physicians, our team teaches you how to make better food choices, both at home and while eating out, how to shop, and how to be more aware of what you eat and how it makes you feel.
If you’re thinking of going for weight loss surgery, most insurance providers require at least six months in a medically supervised weight loss program before the surgery. Dr. Fenton works closely with bariatric surgeons in the surrounding area, and she can both consult and help guide you through your weight loss journey.
In addition to providing you with a healthy weight loss plan, we can give you weight loss boosters like vitamin B12 injections, IV supplements, and medication, if medically indicated. And in addition to the weight loss program, we offer WarmSculpting™ with SculpSure® treatments to help you get rid of excess fat in hard-to-lose areas.
The holidays are coming — don’t let them derail your weight loss goals. Contact Prestige Physicians to learn more about how we can help you reach those goals by contacting us today.