Building Sustainable Habits One Step at a Time
Shelley, age 53, shared her experience working toward her personal wellness goals with the support of licensed healthcare providers and long-term lifestyle changes.
The following reflects one individual's personal experience. Individual experiences and outcomes vary.
After feeling stuck and gaining weight during the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided it was time to make changes to my overall wellness routine.
Working with licensed healthcare providers, I developed an individualized plan that included improvements to my nutrition, increased physical activity and other provider-directed recommendations based on my personal health needs.
Looking back, I realized that the biggest changes came from developing consistent habits rather than expecting immediate results.
Along the way, I learned several lessons that helped me stay focused on my long-term goals.
Lessons I Learned Along the Way
1. Make Yourself a Priority
Commit to making changes because they are meaningful to you. Long-term habits are often easier to maintain when they are connected to your own personal goals.
2. Look Beyond the Scale
Body weight is only one way to measure progress.
I found it more encouraging to pay attention to how I felt, how my clothes fit and the healthy habits I was building rather than focusing only on the number on the scale.
3. Develop Consistent Eating Habits
One of the biggest changes for me was becoming more consistent with my eating routine.
Work with your healthcare provider to determine whether approaches such as meal timing or intermittent fasting are appropriate for your individual health needs and goals.
4. Keep a Food Journal
Tracking meals helped me better understand my eating habits and recognize areas where I could make more mindful choices.
5. Learn About Protein
Working with my healthcare team helped me better understand how protein fits into a balanced eating plan and supports my overall nutrition.
Individual protein needs vary depending on factors such as age, activity level and medical history.
6. Focus on Long-Term Habits
I learned to think beyond short-term changes and instead focus on building eating habits that I could realistically maintain over time.
7. Include Strength Training
Regular resistance exercise became an important part of my overall wellness routine.
Strength training can support muscle strength, physical function and healthy aging when incorporated into an appropriate exercise program.
8. Be Patient With Yourself
Meaningful lifestyle changes take time.
Celebrate small victories, learn from setbacks and remember that long-term wellness is a process rather than a race.
9. Surround Yourself With Positive Support
Having supportive people around me helped me stay motivated during both the easy and challenging moments.
A Quote That Inspired Me
"If you don't sacrifice for what you want, what you want will become your sacrifice."
— Shelley R., Age 53
Interested in Learning More?
TeleWellnessMD® connects patients with licensed healthcare providers who can discuss individualized wellness plans based on each person's medical history, health goals and provider evaluation.
If you're interested in learning more about provider-guided wellness options, schedule a consultation to discuss your individual needs.
This story reflects one individual's personal experience. Individual experiences and outcomes vary. Testimonials do not guarantee similar results and should not be interpreted as evidence that any therapy is safe or effective for every individual.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice. TeleWellnessMD® is a technology platform that connects patients with licensed healthcare providers. TeleWellnessMD® does not practice medicine, provide medical advice, or dispense medications. All therapies require evaluation and approval by a licensed healthcare provider. Results may vary. Compounded drugs are not FDA approved. This means that the FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of compounded drugs before they are marketed.