Summer is usually the time we start shedding layers of clothes, trading in sweaters for swimsuits - and getting inspired to make healthy changes.
This summer, though, the motivation to follow a healthy diet can be harder to find. As so many have stayed home for the past four months due to concerns related to COVID-19, it has become a season dedicated to starting over.
Maria Bosker is Medical Weight Loss Clinic Manager in Grand Rapids. She’s ready to help when you need her.
Maria Bosker, clinic manager at Medical Weight Loss Clinic in Grand Rapids, says she’s noticed a pattern among her patients. “We’re seeing a lot of people who are re-starting or whose weight loss has stalled over the last couple of months,” she says. “They expected to be farther along and now it’s hard to get motivated.”
One major shift has been the cancellation of spring and summer events, weddings or family photos. Those are often touchstones in our lives and times when we strive to look our best. Without them, many patients who were on a successful path with healthy eating have strayed off course.
At Medical Weight Loss Clinic, Maria says some patients were eager to come back to the clinic for summer visits and to get back on track once the doors reopened. But as the summer weather kicked in, not everyone felt ready for swimsuit season. Many patients have said they would have been farther along in their weight loss journey – if not for the concerns of the past few months.
“But some don’t want to come in yet,” she adds. “They feel embarrassed and don’t want us to see that they have gained weight over the past three months.”
When patients are ready, the clinic and expert staff is there to help.
“I tell them we are here,” Maria says. “Try not to be so hard on yourself. Everyone is going through this.”
With so many more people working from home, access to food has been easier. Rather than packing a lunch and only eating what was planned for the day, it’s easier to fall off track, snack or make less healthy decisions.
Maria suggests staying true to your food journal. Include everything you eat – even if it’s not on the program – so you can stay mindful of what you are consuming.
“It’s definitely going to take time for everyone to get used to a new routine,” she says. “I always recommend prepping your food. Prep your lunch and put it in a special spot in the fridge. That’s what you get for the day. Plan ahead of time and prep for lunch and dinner.”
Maria and the staff at Medical Weight Loss Clinic in Grand Rapids happen to be seeing a rise in emotional eating. And it’s not surprising. In some cases, patients who would otherwise be able to identify it are not aware it’s happening. That’s what makes a food journal so invaluable.
“You can go back and see it,” she says. “We don’t want anyone to feel bad. It helps you identify emotional eating. Otherwise, you don’t even think about it or remember what you ate.”
For those who have gotten off track for any reason, Maria says, it’s always a good time to recommit to the program. For those who are clamoring to return for visits throughout the week, the doors at Medical Weight Loss Clinic are open. If patients feel more hesitant to come in person, phone visits are also possible.
You can do it,” Maria says. “Come in and let us help you get back to it.”
Let us help you get back to a healthy weight. Learn more about Medical Weight Loss Clinic or schedule your free consultation online or by calling 1-800-GET-SLIM.
