Your first instinct may be that as an ND I would put you on a strict diet filled with kale and green smoothies. In reality, I meet my patients where they’re at and build a plan that works for their lifestyle. Here are the ways I can help you lose weight.

MEAL PLANNING

I love meal planning. I spend a long time getting to know my patients’ most and least favourite foods. I find out how much (or how little) time they have for cooking. I make note of their cooking skills and supplies. I take note of whether they are cooking for others and how picky they may be. I determine what your set up at work is like and what your typical work/life schedule is. I even like to ask if there are a certain amount of days in a week that you need to eat out (e.g. for work). I take all this information to build you a highly customized meal plan that you can work towards. I’ll even include a grocery list and meal prep guide. My plans help patients lose 1-2 pounds per week.

If a rigid meal plan is not your thing then I work with you to tweak your existing diet in a way that will help you lose weight.

ADDRESSING HEALTH CONDITIONS

There are many health issues that can make it difficult to lose weight. These include:

– Hormonal issues like PCOS and hypothyroidism

– Problems with sleep, stress, anxiety and depression

– Issues with bowel movements, digestion and food intolerances

I use herbs, nutritional supplements, acupuncture and other remedies to address these and other issues. This in turn helps make the weight loss process easier.

Using such remedies, I can also address conditions that go hand in hand with being overweight. This includes diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

EMOTIONAL EATING AND CRAVINGS

As I mentioned in a previous article, cravings and emotional eating can make it hard to stick to a healthy diet. A lot can be done for those who eat out of stress, guilt, boredom, sadness and cravings. I use many of the tools I mentioned above to address these obstacles to weight loss.

Helping patients lose weight is a passion of mine. If you are ready to get some help, book an appointment or free 15-minute consultation.

Dr. Samantha Dass is currently a naturopathic doctor working at Holland Landing Health Centre in East Gwillimbury, Ontario, which services Holland Landing, Newmarket, Aurora, Keswick and Bradford areas. If you are interested in naturopathic services please contact Holland Landing Health Centre at 905-853-7900 or via e-mail at [email protected].