The Long Game: Building Healthy Habits for the Future

The promise of fast results can be really tempting, but the key to lasting change is to make health habit changes that last. At Olivera, as one of Chicago’s leading medical weight management clinics, we offer the best of both worlds to our patients. We provide medical interventions that can help to provide a strong start, while working with each patient to create healthy habits that they can incorporate into their lives in a way that makes lasting change possible. Read on to discover some of the habits we consider key to our patients’ success: 

Believe in Yourself
We mention this first in all of our recipes for success, because belief and confidence in oneself is the foundation of everything else. If you believe that you can reach your goals, you are more likely to view setbacks as temporary and concentrate on the long-term goal of matching your habits to the version of you that you know you can achieve. We have seen this approach to success work time and again for our patients, and we believe in our patients’ power to make their dreams happen.

Develop a Taste for Healthy Eating
The harmful effects of an unhealthy diet are well-documented, with more than 35% of the U.S. population classified as “obese.” However, untangling long-standing unhealthy food habits to make room for healthier choices can be frustrating. We teach our patients how to identify—and eliminate—processed foods filled with sugar, salt and fat from their diet. We also offer counseling on strategies for building a diet centered on healthy protein, whole grains, vegetables and fruit, as well as meal plans and recipes that help our patients realize that healthy eating done right also tastes great!

Kick Cravings to the Curb
A conscious journey toward healthier food choices works best when cravings are minimized. Crafting a healthier diet is a step-by-step process that requires commitment and support from you, your family and your team at Olivera. We offer a combination of an FDA-approved appetite suppressant and individualized, one-on-one sessions to help our patients stick to their plan and break the cycle of hunger cravings.

Get Moving
It’s no secret that regular exercise is a critical part of staying healthy, yet it can be surprisingly challenging for people to change their love-hate relationship with exercise. At Olivera, we work closely with our patients to develop a plan for 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days a week. The goal isn’t to win Olympic medals, but to get moving at a level that you can not only manage but come to enjoy. As you shed weight, your energy level will improve, and you will find yourself wanting to be even more active – but you have to get through your body’s initial resistance to breaking old habits. Making time for daily exercise is essential to long-term weight loss and weight management. Olivera is here to help you find an activity level that suits your physical abilities and build that exercise habit!

Minimize Stress
People are often surprised to learn that stress can cause a number of problems associated with weight gain, including overeating, lack of proper sleep and the desire to comfort ourselves with snacks and sweets. Olivera offers our patients a number of strategies to better manage stress, enabling them to successfully lose weight and maintain a healthier, happier existence.

Olivera Health + Wellness is here to help you reach your healthy living goals, using the best in proven strategies and medical interventions. Let us be your partner in achieving and maintaining the habits that build a healthy lifestyle, and see how far you can go with a great team in your corner! Appointments are limited, so book an appointment now to reserve your spot.