Patient’s SECOND weigh-in, Day 18 – 21
Two-three weeks in, is a good time to ask your patients the following questions to see how they are coping.
1. Are you losing weight?
The dramatic weight loss results would have occurred by this time and weight loss can start to slow down a bit. That being said, weight loss should still be rapid. When you are following a rapid weight loss diet of roughly 800 calories, then weight loss should be consistent. Patients are expected to lose easily 10-15 pounds in the first two weeks.
The program is mildly ketogenic, and the patient should be in nutritional ketosis. Make sure they are eating 800 calories a day and not more. Having occasional snacks here and then that are allowed or NOT allowed do add up.
2. Is your appetite under control?
By this time they should have gotten into a routine and groove. If they are still hungry and taking our supplements then most likely:
A lack of protein and vegetables. Not enough protein is one of the main drivers of hunger. At least 50 grams a day of PROTEIN. A whole chicken breast is roughly 25 grams of protein. The three main meals should have enough protein.
Cut out the snacking between meals. Either have your approved snack (fruits) with breakfast, lunch and dinner or cut them out completely. This means you will have three main meals and nothing in between except coffee, herbal teas, wheatgrass or water.
Cut out fruits from your diet.
3. Are you feeling light-headed? weak?
Everyone is different. By this time they shouldn’t feel these sypmtons, but if they do then here are some remedies:
Drink more water, they could simply be dehydrated. They need to pass at least 5-6 volumes of urine a day
They could add a mineral supplement that includes potassium and magnesium to help relax them. If they aren’t eating enough vegetables and greens then they aren’t getting potassium.
Get more variety in their foods during the week. Don’t just have iceberg lettuce every day and think of that as a “salad”
Enough protein during the day and before they sleep
4. Are you getting constipated?
That can happen, it is a normal side effect of losing weight. If you wonder how exactly fat is lost from the body click here. In the meantime this is what helps with constipation:
Drinking more fluids for sure
More non-starchy vegetables – leafy greens, spinach, kale, broccoli, caulfilower, as well as blackberries, chia seeds and flax seeds. Now we understand that these seeds are not appoved on the diet, but we suggest you see if it helps them. Don’t let them overdo it
Get an OTC laxative. We recommend aloe ferox as a natural ingredient similar to our supplement
5. Are you sleeping enough?
Studies and our experience prove that people who are not sleeping well lose less. Sleep deprivation of two hours causes us to overeat because it increases our stress hormones (cortisol). A study in the UK found that this overeating amounted to 385 extra calories. If your patient is sleep deprived, their blood sugar levels will rise during the day causing excess hunger.
Getting a good night’s sleep is all about establishing a regular schedule in which you go to bed and get up the at the same time every day of the week including the weekend. Melatonin also helps. We have a slow release melatonin.
6. Do you have bad breath?
Brush your teeth! Seriously. Ketosis produces bad breath, means they are losing fat so not to worry. However they can chew stevia gum. We like this particular brand which can be found on Amazon. It’s called SPRY.
7. How is your mood? how are you coping?
They should have increased energy and be very motivated. If they are feeling down or irritable, you can advise them to increase eating healthy fats to satiate them more. Eat more Omega-3’s.
8. What inspires you? Go back to what motivated you to lose weight.
Are they losing weight for their spouse? son, daughter? themselves? whole family? Do they like motivational quotes? send them, or whenever they come in for a weigh-in show them a new quote. See what inspires your patient. Let them put pictures on their fridge, bathroom of motivational quotes, or of themselves, of maybe what they want to look like!