Sarah Ladd is a proud, competitive, cheer mom to 13-year-old Carly. She considers being a mom a blessing, having struggled with ovarian cysts in high school and infertility related to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in the early days of her marriage. Discovering her ovulation was abnormal was a setback, making Sarah all the more grateful to finally become a full-time mom. Despite these health challenges, Sarah’s determination to start her weight loss journey showcases her resilience and commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
Weight Loss Struggles
Like many moms, Sarah struggled with weight gain and trying to lose weight. She found herself in the same hopeless cycle common among overweight women, trying the latest diet trends, which she jokes “never included cupcakes.”
This led to an endless succession of strict new diets that caused overwhelming cravings, leading to lapses. She would then suffer from feelings of guilt, committing to an even stricter diet, only to find the deprivation of certain foods led to more cravings, and the cycle started all over again.
A Healthy Eating Tip from a Fellow Mom
About two years ago, during what Sarah describes as her “therapy” – talking with other moms – she learned about a weight loss program that actually works, with Big Tree Medical. This program introduced Sarah to various effective weight loss strategies that helped her on her journey. She reached out to our weight loss providers, followed their recommendations, and lost 70 pounds. She has maintained her weight loss without the struggle of constant food cravings.
Sharing Her Weight Loss Journey
As a glass-half-full kind of girl, Sarah approached her weight loss journey with complete transparency, sharing before and after photos on social media, without shame to highlight the significant weight she lost. Though being vulnerable isn’t always easy, Sarah was determined to share all her weight loss struggles and wins. She aimed to show fellow moms an authentic weight loss journey, not as someone being paid by a weight loss program, but as a real person who is credible, honest, and open about her struggles to lose weight.
“One thing I’m so glad I did was take photos from the beginning,” says Sarah. “You don’t always notice the difference from one to two months, but it’s great looking at a photo from 2 years ago to see just how far I’ve come.”
Patience and Results
Sarah wasn’t a “super loser,” shedding pounds at an unhealthy, rapid rate in the first three months. “My weight loss was slow and steady,” she explains. “I was stepping on the scale every day and not seeing the results that I wanted. The weight was not magically disappearing.” Although this reality was tough to handle at first, Sarah realized it was about making effective lifestyle changes designed to help her reach and maintain a healthy weight.
As a result, Sarah learned to be patient and to read the signs her body was sending, which helped her lose weight at a pace that worked for her. Although this didn’t always match what she wanted, instead of being frustrated, she began to understand the importance of vitamins, eating high-protein meals, and drinking lots of water. That’s when she started to see those slow and steady results.
Emphasizing the importance of maintaining weight loss is crucial in Sarah’s ongoing journey, involving regular physical activity, daily exercise, and making permanent lifestyle changes for long-term success.
Realistic Weight Loss Program
Sarah was looking for a solution that helped her overcome common challenges, including portion control and resisting her cravings for carbohydrate-rich foods like bread and pasta. By making simple changes to her eating habits and environments, Sarah was able to cut her cravings and make healthier food choices, supporting her weight loss and overall health.
Unrealistic Meal Plans
Her busy lifestyle made it difficult to stick to a regimen of ‘eating salmon and asparagus every night,’ as she describes it. She needed a weight loss program that allowed her to enjoy social outings with friends and ‘eat off the menu’ without feeling guilty or ashamed of straying from her diet. Additionally, she didn’t want to feel hungry all the time. Sarah found that modifying her eating habits to include healthier choices and realistic meal plans, rather than adhering to strict, unrealistic diets, was crucial for sustainable weight loss and maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Cravings and Hunger
Weight loss injections allowed Sarah to eat a lot of the same foods she was used to but in smaller portions. The medication slowed down how she processed her food so she could feel full longer. Part of Sarah’s success in managing cravings and hunger was adopting lower carb food choices, which complemented the program’s focus on a higher intake of protein and drinking plenty of water to help with her weight loss.
Virtual Weight Loss
Another challenge for Sarah was finding time for clinic visits. While the idea of having a coach to support her and keep her on track was appealing, she couldn’t afford to add one more thing to her already full schedule. Thankfully, her weight loss program offered virtual visits, allowing her to fit them into her schedule from just about anywhere.
Overcoming Guilt
Now Sarah is relieved she no longer experiences guilty cravings for foods like pasta and bread, maintaining a healthy body weight without the guilt. These cravings became overwhelming on ‘fad diets,’ where the list of forbidden foods was much longer than what she could eat. This led to a vicious cycle where cravings caused constant guilt, resulting in lapses that interfered with her weight loss progress. Although she still has a sweet tooth, she no longer feels guilty about indulging in a small treat to satisfy cravings without overindulging. She’s also relieved that she no longer feels constantly hungry.
The Importance of Fitness
As for regrets, Sarah feels there’s one thing she’d do differently. ‘I didn’t do fitness, but it’s the one thing I wish I would have started from the beginning,’ she says. Now, working out at her local YMCA, she sees the benefits of strength training in maintaining and building muscle and its importance as part of an effective weight loss program. Monitoring body mass index (BMI) is also crucial as part of a fitness regimen to maintain a healthy weight and body composition. It’s especially important for maintaining a healthy weight so all her efforts aren’t lost. If she could do it all again, she would start working out at the beginning of her weight loss journey to enjoy more significant results.
Finding the Right Weight Loss Program
Sarah discovered Big Tree through a fellow mom who shared similar struggles with weight loss and management. Big Tree has assisted thousands of patients in achieving their ideal weight while also providing strategies for successful long-term weight management through simple techniques and safe, effective medication.
We specialize in making weight loss medications affordable by working with your insurance to attempt to cover branded medications. Additionally, since many effective medications are listed on the FDA’s shortage list, we collaborate with various sterile compounding pharmacies to provide access to affordable versions of name-brand medications.
Are you inspired by Sarah’s successful weight loss and management journey? Contact us today to share your own weight loss story and inspire others!
