Autumn Hamlin joined the medical staff of Medical Weight Loss Clinic’s Grandville location just over two years ago. And she hasn’t stopped working to educate and treat patients by staying up-to-date on the most current nutrition information.
Autumn regularly encounters patients who are working toward weight loss but still find themselves stymied by visits to restaurants or cravings for fast food. She’s been busy creating helpful calorie comparisions to show patients the true impact of choosing healthy options over those processed foods.
Find out how many more healthy foods you can enjoy in a day, compared to one fast food meal.
For example, a traditional fast-food meal consisting of a double cheeseburger, French fries and a soft drink add up to 970 calories – along with 39 grams of unhealthy fats, 60 grams of sugar and 1,445 mg of sodium. For the same number of calories, and a much healthier balance of fiber and nutrients, it’s possible to consume three well-balanced meals and a few snacks.
For example, Autumn estimates you could instead eat: an egg, 2/3 cup of strawberries, 2/3 cup of blueberries, a 4-ounce chicken breast, a cup of cauliflower, a cup of broccoli, 4 ounces of lean ground beef, a sweet potato, 2/3 cup of pineapple, a cup of beets, a cup of celery and a frozen yogurt bar for dessert – all for 971 calories!
“Our website is super helpful for food swaps,” she adds.
When patients come in and tell our counselors that they’re craving foods that aren’t on the personalized healthy plan, Autumn goes to work.
“If you want something that’s not beneficial, you can find an alternative to that,” she says.
She’s helped patients find new ways to make their favorite meatloaf – while sticking to the program. Snack dips and desserts are still part of the daily diet because there are plenty of ways to make them healthier. Autumn says Medical Weight Loss Clinic supplements are also a great way to add in high protein snacks to replace those foods we miss while still working toward weight loss.
“A lot of downfall comes from patients who are not having sweets,” says Autumn. “Our supplements offer a lot of variety there. It’s easy to make a sweet treat.”
Like sugar, one of the prime offenders to a healthy lifestyle comes from consuming too much sodium. Autumn steers patients toward adding in fresh herbs, spices and seasonings. While they won’t exactly replace that salty taste, she says, they do add a lot of flavor. For those who need a little salt in their diet, she suggests Celtic Salt which has 82 minerals you won’t find in table salt.
This accounts for the same calories as one fast food meal – and it is so much better for your health.
“Look at the label,” Autumn urges. “You want to stay away from added sugar, sodium and dyes. Look for natural ingredients.”
A lot of our food cravings come from childhood memories or family traditions, Autumn says. When those foods aren’t healthy options, they can sabotage our efforts for a healthier life. She suggests that patients focus on the benefits to swapping in healthier foods. It pays off.
Autumn Hamlin is a Medical Weight Loss Clinic employee whose passion for helping patients lead a healthier life is easy to see.
“The number one thing I hear is that patients feel better and have more energy,” she says. “When you have a healthy gut, you’re not going to have fatigue and bloating. Sugar can cause bad bacteria to grow in the gut. We want to constantly remove that bad bacteria and replace it with good bacteria – from fresh fruits, vegetables and protein.”
She’s a fan of using probiotics and Apple Cider Vinegar Gummies to support the gut. The latter is newly available in our clinics – to help support a healthy gut. It’s a holistic approach and one that works.
Autumn suggests that patients take time to prepare their meals. When something looks good, she says, we’re more enthusiastic about eating it. And when we take time to eat, we can better digest and absorb the nutrients we need.
“Food is fuel,” Autumn says. “A lot of diseases can be helped or prevented by adopting a healthy diet.”
And she reminds us that changing the way we approach food is a lifestyle change. It isn’t always easy. But Medical Weight Loss Clinic has the expert staff to help patients navigate those challenges. All programs are customized to each patient. Autumn says patients who look at the program as a lifestyle change are those who successfully lose and keep off the extra weight.
Ready for a lifestyle change? Sign up for a free consultation with Medical Weight Loss Clinic or visit a location near you. Learn more at mwlc.com.
