When my son and his fiancée were planning their wedding, I was overjoyed, and I was much more so when I received the save-the-date invitation. Then came a wave of anxiety when I realised I'd have to put on a formal gown and take family portraits. It wasn't the first time I'd felt like this.
I've struggled with my weight since I was a teenager, and I've gone on diets with my mother. Years of dieting hurt more than just my appearance: it shattered my confidence and caused me to have sleepless nights. In more ways than one, the extra pounds weighed me down. My knees and back were killing me, and I had type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. As a nurse during the Covid-19 outbreak, I saw firsthand how fat makes people more vulnerable to sickness.
I couldn't sleep either. A late-night scroll led me to Found, a weight-loss programme that incorporates nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and medicine (though not all Found programmes do), as well as a personal care team of doctors and health coaches, as well as a community. To acquire a personalised assessment, I took a quiz about my medical history, the types of diets I've tried, and other habits at that time. The procedure met my expectations for a face-to-face meeting with a physician as a nurse. It then assisted me in determining that prescription medicine to control my appetite was part of my individualised path. I received personalised dietary support, one-on-one coaching, and other services in addition to the medication that was tailored to my needs.
I couldn't sleep either. A late-night scroll led me to Found, a weight-loss programme that incorporates nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and medicine (though not all Found programmes do), as well as a personal care team of doctors and health coaches, as well as a community. To acquire a personalised assessment, I took a quiz about my medical history, the types of diets I've tried, and other habits at that time. The procedure met my expectations for a face-to-face meeting with a physician as a nurse. It then assisted me in determining that prescription medicine to control my appetite was part of my individualised path. I received personalised dietary support, one-on-one coaching, and other services in addition to the medication tailored to my needs.
Following that, Tara and I discussed my way of life. As a corporate educator, I teach nursing, and I frequently leave my house on Sunday mornings to travel all week. As a result, we adapted my diet to what I could bring with me. She sent me a list of prepackaged, nutritionally dense snacks that didn't require refrigeration, such as low-sodium, low-sugar jerky. I couldn't stick to the same schedule every day, so I had to be flexible as well. I joined the Found community on social media and met people who were on similar journeys to me, which was very beneficial.
Getting Around the Pitfalls
It's difficult to accept that short-term success rarely translates into long-term success. I lost 30 pounds during four months of continuous weight loss. Then I battled and hit a 10-pound plateau for weeks at a time. Because I only weighed myself once a week, I was occasionally disappointed.
When my coach texted to check in one day, I was sitting in my car, exhausted. "If you were ascending a mountain, wouldn't you want to stop and marvel at the view now and then and remark, 'it's so lovely up here?" she said when I told her how I was feeling. I chose to scroll through the thousands of photos on my phone since it made so much sense to me. I was a size 22 in some, a size 16 in others, and finally a size 14 in others. I realised I'd made a lot of progress already, and the view was fantastic! That kind of motivation does not come from within.
Changes that last a long time
It took me about a year to drop a little more than 80 pounds, and while the prospect of a wedding kept me motivated, the price and flexibility of Found were crucial. The plan is flexible, but it also includes basic suggestions that encourage you to form habits rather than following strict diets. It's sometimes about figuring out how to incorporate extra vegetables or probiotics into my diet or learning to put my fork down between bites to converse or reflect on my day. This style of mindful eating allows me to eat for energy rather than to fill up. As a result, roughly 90% of the time, I don't finish what I planned to eat.
I also discovered that how you sleep affects how you digest food, therefore I no longer use my phone, internet, tablet, or watch TV in bed. I occasionally use my phone to do a sleep meditation, but I keep it on a nightstand with the screen turned off so the light doesn't disturb me.
I'm not a great exerciser, especially given how much I travel, so I limit myself to three times each week. That appears to be a more feasible option than everyday exercises. When I plan to use an elliptical machine for 10 minutes and my music starts playing, I end up doing it for 40 minutes. Whatever I do, as long as I'm moving, my coach is fine with it. I now walk about the classroom instead of sitting when I teach. As part of my challenges, I also keep track of my steps and report them. I don't want to disappoint my coaches, which is a significant drive. It's funny how a person who sends you emojis and checks in on you may create a bond with you.
I'm down to 148 pounds and like encouraging people by posting images of my progress on social media. "You best save that wedding dress when you outgrow it because I want to wear it next!" says my nurse buddy Kathy. and it makes me so happy! I think I've found the true me!
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