Start Your Weight Loss Journey

It’s finally summer in the Midwest, and I am sitting on the back porch marveling at how free my two-year-old is in his body. He is naked as can be with the garden hose in one hand, and eating apple and chicken meatballs with the other . . . and well, he just peed too. This is what summer should be about—just enjoying the simple things in life. Then I think about tomorrow: it’s opening day at the neighborhood pool. I can feel my stress levels rise—Do I really need to put on a bathing suit? Did my laser hair removal treatments completely work? Will I be judged because I don’t have the perfect body and I am a weight-loss physician who is married to a plastic surgeon? Well, I’m over caring what others think.

I have a normal BMI (body mass index), and that means I am not overweight. It also means that the potential of having a heart attack, stroke, and/or diabetes is reduced, the truly important things. Yes, I have rolls and cellulite and stretch marks, but I am healthy and I love going to the pool. I work hard and respect my body. Sure, there are days where I would like to lose ten pounds, but I can’t stop living my life and enjoying the fun things because I am afraid of what other people think.

The summer is also the perfect time to start a weight-loss journey. Stop thinking It’s too late or I didn’t keep my New Year’s resolution. Think about all the great summer grilling you can do. Have you tried veggies and fruit on the BBQ? What about an after-dinner walk to get that dopamine rising and feeling good? There is medical research that shows you only have to lose 10% of your body weight to reduce your risk of weight-related diseases. You can do that!The summer also means that I started my weight-loss practice six months ago. My patients have had tremendous success and most of them are down over twenty pounds.

Most of them also still have a ways to go to get their BMI less than 25. For many of us, losing the weight and keeping it off will be a lifelong journey. We can’t use excuses like “it’s summer,” to derail us. Life happens year round and we need to continue the journey toward health and a healthy weight. Stop with the excuses—let’s keep this weight-loss journey going and feel good about ourselves. Let’s set new goals if you haven’t started your journey yet. I am not judging you at the pool. Instead, I’m marveling at how you are out enjoying your best “you” and being healthy in the process. We’ve got this!