The 3 Pillars of Successful Weight Loss

What’s the biggest problem with most weight management programs?

They over-promise and leave you hanging.

We’re sick and tired of seeing those other guys throw out massive numbers and big promises. Things like…

“You’ll lose 30 pounds in 15 days!”

Or my personal favorite… “Lose 20 pounds without changing a thing!”

Right… like that could work.

That’s exactly why the weight management industry has such a bad reputation — they’re all about quick fixes, major restrictions, big promises, and “instant” results.

While the headlines may sound sexy, when you actually start the program you realize a few things very quickly:

1. It’s never as instant as it sounds, no matter how much they promise.
2. You have to virtually eliminate all the foods you enjoy, like sugar, refined carbohydrates, oils, salt, and wine – with no room for flexibility.
3. You might get instant results, but they fade away instantly too, because the diet isn’t sustainable or healthy in the long run.

So guess what? As soon as you stop the program… that weight comes right back on.

If you’re reading this, you probably know that already. You’ve likely gone through a few of these diet cycles in the past, only to get burned at the other end.

When our team set out to build a better weight management and health program, our main mission was to create a diet that felt sustainable for life. Not just 30 days. Not just while you attend the meetings.

For life.

So if restrictive diets and quick fixes don’t work for the long haul, what can you do differently?

Today I’d like to introduce three simple concepts you could start implementing right now. (I’m not kidding, you could do it today for lunch…)

Here they are:

1. Eat more whole plants. The best bang for your nutritional buck — or calorie to nutrient ratio — is whole plants. Yes, the kind of fruit or vegetable does matter, but by simply adding more plants into your diet, you’ll increase micronutrients (i.e. vitamins and minerals), fiber, and other macronutrients (i.e. protein). So you’ll be filling your stomach with the good stuff. (If you’re curious about whole vs. processed, don’t worry, we’ll get to that in a future email.)
2. Start small. Let’s be real, starting small will not produce the quickest results. But is that really what you want? Or do you want lasting results, and a new approach to eating that keeps weight off and keeps you healthy and energetic for life? Most people, when they really think about it, want the latter, and to achieve lasting results, you usually have to start small and build over time.
3. Have accountability. When you’re trying to make a big change, especially a health or food-behavior change, it’s nearly impossible to do it without support from your family, friends, a coach, or a group of people with the same goal. Your support system keeps you motivated when things get tough and guide you in the right direction when you don’t have the easy answers. Surround yourself with people that support you and any challenge is more easily overcome.