Five Key Things That Help Patients Lose Weight for Good

Nutritionist and founder of the Intelligent Weight Loss Method, Kim Pearson, on the five key things that help patients lose weight for good.

 

There’s no denying that obesity is a growing concern. Over half of UK adults are overweight, with 28% obese and 36% overweight. People aged 45-74 are most likely to carry excess weight. The most recent statistics found that around three-quarters of adults ages 45-74 are overweight or obese.  

 

Of course, eating the right diet is key, but a more comprehensive approach is often needed to ensure weight loss is successful and maintained in the long term. 

 

Our clients are intelligent, educated people who know it’s healthier to choose a salad over a pizza. Their weight challenges go beyond simply knowing what healthy food looks like. From my 15 years working with hundreds of clients to help them lose weight and keep it off, I know that dietary optimisation is only one part of the puzzle. 

 

I have identified five key pillars that are integral to successful and lasting weight loss, and these form the foundation of my Intelligent Weight Loss Method. So what are they, and how can you implement them to manage your weight successfully? Here are the five pillars of Intelligent Weight Loss. 

 

We work with many clients who come to us feeling like they have tried everything to lose weight, but nothing has been successful long term. For some clients, it can sometimes be the case that they have an underlying health issue, such as underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism), menopause, PCOS or elevated adrenal stress, preventing successful weight management. 

 

We regularly run tests to gain a more in-depth understanding of our client’s state of health. Blood tests we most commonly run include comprehensive thyroid screens, liver health, cholesterol, blood sugar and HbA1c, as well as nutrient levels. We also use functional tests such as salivary cortisol to assess how stress affects health and weight loss and gut health tests. DNA tests can offer a fascinating insight into the dietary approach best suited to an individual. 

 

Underlying health issues can significantly impact an individual’s ability to lose weight. We aim to get a clear picture of our client’s state of health in order to tailor our approach to their needs. We also work closely with a functional medicine doctor, who our nutritionists refer to when medical intervention is required. 

 

It is always my goal that my team and I not only support our clients in achieving their ideal weight but also optimise their health and wellbeing at the same time. True transformation goes beyond a lower number on the scale or a smaller person looking back at you in the mirror. It means feeling well, full of energy and with a positive outlook on life. 

 

As a nutritionist, I am always keen to ensure that nutritional status is optimised and any deficiencies are identified and corrected. Low vitamin D, B12 and iron are common, and they can leave us feeling fatigued and dragging ourselves through the day. Feeling low in energy doesn’t support healthy habits. It makes us more likely to want to veg out in front of Netflix and order a takeaway rather than head off to a yoga class in the evening or cook a nutritious dinner. 

 

Many of our clients come to us confused as to what is the best diet for them. They’ve often tried the keto diet, counted calories, and maybe gone vegan for a while. The truth is, there’s no one-diet-fits-all. As humans, we may have many aspects of our physiology in common, but we also have many differences. For this reason, we have a range of dietary approaches and work with our clients to identify the best dietary approach for them. 

 

It’s essential that any dietary approach we take meets all of the nutritional needs of our clients. I’ve heard cases of clients following popular diets that left them deficient in vital nutrients resulting in hair loss, sagging skin and compromised thyroid function, amongst other concerning issues. 

 

In addition to tailored whole food protocols, we offer a sophisticated protein-based, ketogenic meal replacement diet. This is nutritionally superior to the more widely available brands offered through company consultants rather than qualified nutritionists. 

 

Sometimes we might use a fasting protocol or time-restricted eating alongside a client’s primary protocol, which can both accelerate fat loss and support good metabolic health. It’s all about identifying the approach that best suits our clients’ unique challenges, goals, health status and lifestyle. 

 

Mindful eating is also key. It’s not just about what a client eats but also when and how. Eating mindfully, chewing food thoroughly and noticing when they’re starting to feel full are key. 

 

We believe that smart nutrition can allow for well-planned treats. Our goal is always to move clients away from an ‘all or nothing’ mentality to a place of balance and moderation. 

 

Sleep, exercise and stress can significantly influence our weight, and it’s important not to overlook them when it comes to weight loss.  

Sleep is often overlooked when it comes to weight loss strategies, but getting clients into good sleep habits is vital. When we are tired, we produce more of the hunger hormone ghrelin and less of the satiety hormone leptin, so we feel hungrier and less satisfied with what we eat when we are tired. If our clients are exhausted and constantly experiencing cravings as a result, this is not setting them up for success. 

 

Stress can be a trigger for non-hunger eating, and increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol have been linked to fat storage around the middle. 

If stress is an issue for our client, we work on strategies for addressing it. Building in daily activities known to reduce stress – such as meditation and walks in nature – can have noticeable effects on weight loss as well as general wellbeing. Adaptogenic herbal supplements have also been shown to reduce levels of cortisol. 

 

We all know exercise is good for our health and supports weight loss, and it also positively impacts our state of mind and mental health. As well as burning calories and building muscle, exercise can support weight loss in other ways. When we exercise, our body releases endorphins which make us feel good. In my experience, when clients feel good as a result of physical activity, it can mean they’re less likely to seek out pleasure from food.  

 

Lifestyle events like birthdays, holidays and Christmas don’t have to derail good habits and result in a downward spiral. We work with clients to plan for social events so that they can strike a balance between enjoying themselves but not at the expense of their health or weight loss. 

 

‘As within, so without.’ Our bodies and minds are connected in countless ways, and our outside world is a reflection of our inner world. Mindset can be defined as ‘thoughts and beliefs that shape habits. And your thought habits affect how you think, what you feel, and what you do’. 

 

My team are not only qualified nutritionists but they’re also trained in behavioural coaching. This means that we are able to support our clients in improving their relationship with food, eating and their body. Evolving our client’s understanding of their triggers for non-hunger eating and overcoming unsupportive habits ensures long-term behaviour change. 

 

I believe it is important to approach weight loss from the perspective of wanting to care for your body and be your best self rather than deprive your body because you feel negative about it. 

 

The coaching element of our work moves clients away from the ‘all or nothing’/‘losing or gaining’ cycle to a place where a healthy, balanced lifestyle becomes their default. 

 

 

Weight loss is a journey. There can be challenges on that journey; having an expert to support and provide accountability can hugely increase a client’s chance of success. 

 

Research, as well as our own clinical experience, demonstrate just how powerful accountability can be when it comes to achieving a goal like losing weight. The Association for Talent Development carried out a study on accountability. The researchers found that individuals have the following probabilities of completing a goal by taking these actions:

 

Having an idea or goal: 10% likely to complete the goal

Consciously deciding that you will do it: 25%

Deciding when you will do it: 40%

Planning how to do it: 50%

Committing to someone that you will do it: 65%

Having a specific accountability appointment with someone you’ve committed to 95%

 

Our programmes are designed so that our clients benefit from ongoing support and accountability from their dedicated practitioner, both in getting down to their ideal weight and maintaining it long-term. 

 

Many of our clients have struggled with yoyo dieting and years of losing weight, only to regain it over time. Statistics vary, but it’s estimated that between 80-90% of people who lose weight will go on to regain it. We are committed to ensuring that our clients don’t become one of those statistics.

 

One of the biggest mistakes anyone can make is reaching their goal weight and thinking the job is done. We ensure that our clients have a clear plan for their weight maintenance, approaching it with the care and attention they would when embarking on a new weight loss plan. 

 

We don’t get our teeth fixed once and then never go back to our dentist again. Regular reviews are important to ensure everything is on track, and it’s the same for weight loss. Our Maintenance Membership is available to all our clients who reach their goal weight, and our data shows that it’s highly effective at keeping our clients at their happy weight.