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Fordland Clinic does not prescribe any magic weight loss pills or any treatments that have risk. We are interested in long term success, not the short term success / long term failure common to many weight loss methods.
For any “diet” to succeed it must allow you to eat when you are hungry, eat until you are satisfied and to enjoy what you eat or it can not be a successful change for life. This is essential for long term success. How you do this will require changes, you can eat anything you want but you may not be able to eat it any time you want or as much as you might like.
1. The first step is the medical evaluation; to establish baseline levels and identify
problems that could impede or prevent fat loss. The first appointment is for a basic
physical examination, to review your history and medications and determine what lab
tests are indicated. Please bring any lab test results you may have from the previous
year to this visit. The usual labs: TSH, T-4 (&/or T-3), CBC, Fasting Lipid panel, Cardiac
C-Reactive Protein, CMP, 8AM fasting insulin and Cortisol levels and a 2 hour post
parandial fingerstick glucose level (the “pig out” test). Additional labs are usually not
needed at this time but may include hormone levels, additional adrenal tests, allergy
tests and any tests specific to medications you are taking.
2. After all lab results are back, the third step is an appointment to review the lab test results
and determine if any medical interventions are needed.
3. The fourth step is for you to think about all of the information obtained from the above
steps, then come in for the second Nutritional Lifestyle Counseling session to determine
the specific approach(s) that are right for you.
Key points to keep in mind
• As you lose fat you will release toxins, you MUST flush these out by drinking enough
water or you will feel bad and fail!
• Measure yourself as often as you want (at the same time of day) but weigh yourself no
more than once a month.
• You need to lose size and be less concerned with weight. Your weight may INCREASE
at times with a good program. As long as you are decreasing in size when you gain
weight this is GOOD – muscle weighs significantly more than fat does. If you lose 10
pounds of fat and gain 12 pounds of muscle, your weight went up, but your size went
DOWN. Muscle burns calories even when you are sleeping, fat does not. Increasing
muscle mass (in addition to multiple other significant effects that can improve health
and even lengthen your life) increases long term weight management success rates.
• Diet ~ We recommend a commitment to attending Nutritional Lifestyle sessions to
develop and refine a diet and exercise plan specific to your metabolic type, food and
lifestyle preferences. This will be an evolving process as you learn what does and does
not work for you, think of questions to ask and encounter situations that strain your
ability to make good dietary choices no mater where you are. We recommend weekly
at the beginning and decreasing in frequency as you achieve success. Diet Plan
You KNOW what you need to do, the HARD part is not learning this, but FINDING a way
that is EASY and that you can ENJOY that you can continue for life and have a life of
SUCCESS! Support can be by the "Weight-a-minute", follow up or other classes;
through one-on-one sessions with a health educator or nutritional lifestyle counselor, or
you may be able to develop friends or family members who are also willing to commit
to a health FUN life of success, but some form of support system is important!
• Exercise ~ It is possible to succeed without exercise, but is very difficult. Even very
modest exercise can make a large difference. Including exercise in your life is harder
than the “diet” part. We will explore multiple real life approaches and offer free
coupons to try out several more traditional approaches.
• Nutritional Supplements are required. The minimum is a good multi-vitamin-with-
minerals. Please discuss anti-oxidants with your medical provider or educator /
counselor. The “Glyco-Lean system" and "Ali" will be explored for those who are willing
to pay for faster fat loss AND who are committed to continue supplements / products
for life.