Nov 15, 2021, 16:10 PM
by
GoodHealth Magazine
Tom Cantella Dropped 40 Pounds and
Resolved Multiple Medical Issues through
the Doctors’ Weight Management Program
Since its inception in 1986, the
Doctors’ Weight Management
Program, our medically supervised,
behavior based weight loss program, has
helped thousands of people successfully
take off weight and gain health. The
program partners with
HMR, Health
Management Resources, who supplies
participants with a menu of meal
replacement products for a structured but
simple and nutritious diet plan.
The program is divided into two parts:
Phase 1 focuses on fast and healthy
weight loss. Phase 2 is where people
work on weight management – learning
how to keep that weight off forever! In
February, we had the pleasure of sitting
down (virtually) with Tom, one of our
Phase 2 participants, to hear about his
success with managing his weight loss
that he achieved in Phase 1. From joining
the program in the middle of a pandemic
to experiencing new adventures in a
healthier, happier body, he is certainly
making the most of what the Doctors’
Weight Management Program (DWMP)
offers. We hope you enjoy his story!
DWMP: How did you first get
connected with the doctors’ weight management
program?
Tom: I was starting to have some health issues and knew I
wanted to make a change. My wife, Valerie, had gone through
the program and thought it might be something that would
work for me. Other diets had brought temporary weight loss
and she said DWMP/HMR wasn’t just another diet, but a
complete lifestyle change. I decided I had nothing to lose and
everything to gain!
DWMP: You began your DWMP journey at the start
of 2020, which turned out to be an unpredictable
year. what is
the most important thing you have
learned from the experience of managing your
weight in a pandemic?
Tom: Times of crisis or uncertainty can be seen as challenges
or opportunities. Because I was ‘All In’ in my pursuit of optimal
health, I looked for the things I did have control over to make
positive improvements. Being home allowed me to focus on
menu planning and food prep because there were no outside
temptations of dining out in restaurants or attending parties, etc. I started running outdoors because my weekly basketball
games at the YMCA were no longer an option. I now run or
walk almost every day of the week. I also started listening to
various podcasts on health and fitness that complement the
DWMP/HMR approach.
DWMP: What are some of the most useful tools,
principles, or strategies from phase 1 that you still
use in phase 2?
Tom: I’ve learned to incorporate a variety of fruits and
vegetables into my diet so that 80% of my meals are now plant-based. Mentally tracking my daily calorie consumption and
reporting my numbers twice a week keeps me accountable.
Movement and exercise are a critical part of feeling good.
Meal planning, food prep, and environmental control are also
important components I’ve taken from Phase 1 into Phase 2.
DWMP: Keeping weight off is not easy. how do
you respond when things get difficult- when
you are really tempted by some unhealthy food
or you notice the number on the scale starts
creeping upward?
Tom: As my health coach Jordan says, “You can do hard
things.” My personal experience is that I can do hard things,
and I have. I got sober through a 12-step program in 2015 and
it’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. So I knew if I
applied the same level of determination and focus to DWMP/
HMR, I could achieve my weight loss goals. When I am facing
temptations or an uptick on the scale, I know I can go back
to Healthy Solutions or Decision-Free, and I’m constantly
exploring healthy snack alternatives like yogurt and fruit
instead of chocolate, doughnuts or cookies.
DWMP: How has your quality of life changed since
losing weight and keeping it off? are there any
activities or events you have particularly enjoyed
as a result of being 40 pounds lighter?
Tom: With the weight loss, everything has become easier –
from tying my shoes to running on the beach – things I could
never do comfortably before. I’ve always loved the beach.
Feeling comfortable in a bathing suit is something I haven’t felt
in many years, and now I do. Travel is easier. My sleep is better.
My blood pressure and cholesterol numbers have come way
down, and my wife hasn’t complained about my snoring in a
long time.
This summer I’m planning a backcountry trip on horseback
with my son, and the weight limit is 200 pounds. I wouldn’t
have been able to experience this adventure with him if I hadn’t
found DWMP/HMR and lost the weight.
DWMP: Which snack, piece of exercise equipment,
or kitchen gadget is one useful tool that you
think everyone should know about?
Tom: By far, the air fryer is the best piece of equipment we’ve
added to our kitchen. We have used it almost every day for the
last 10 months and love making broccoli, cauliflower, onions,
sweet potatoes, green beans, and more in it. Definitely a good
investment and an extremely useful tool for healthy meal
preparation.
Thank you, Tom, for taking the time to share your story with
all of us. We are so grateful to work with you, so delighted with
your progress, and we wish you all the best on your horseback
adventure this summer. Giddy up!
To schedule an appointment with Sansum Clinic’s Doctors’
Weight Management Program, please call (805) 563-6190.
Visit online at:
www.sansumclinic.org/doctors-weight-management-program
Photo caption (top): Before picture
Photo caption (middle): After picture
Photo caption (bottom): Tom Cantella comfortable in a bathing suit after many years