Elizabeth’s Story: A Cancer Survivor’s Journey to Sustainable Health

Elizabeth, a busy professional in her early 50s, came to us in late July 2024 after struggling with her weight and relationship with food for decades. Standing at 5'6", she had a history of extreme calorie restriction, often resorting to fad diets like keto, Whole30, and Atkins. As a cancer survivor, Elizabeth was determined to prioritize her health and find a sustainable approach to weight loss.

"I needed to improve my health and relationship with food," Elizabeth shared.

"I've starved myself and done fad diets my entire life, and I need to become more healthy."

Her previous attempts at weight loss had left her feeling depleted and frustrated. She was looking for accountability, support, and a plan that would fit into her busy lifestyle.

Elizabeth's days were filled with long hours, frequent travel, and spending time with her husband, adult children and pets. She was also an avid exerciser, focusing on cardio, walks with her husband and pups, and yoga. However, her combination of intense workouts and a severely restricted diet of around 1,200 calories per day had led to a loss of lean muscle mass. This slowed her metabolism, making it increasingly difficult to lose weight and maintain it.

Our approach with Elizabeth was to focus on introducing additional nutrients and calories into her diet, and to incorporate a strength training program to build lean muscle mass. This would help to boost her metabolism and create a more sustainable approach to weight loss.

Additionally, we addressed some of Elizabeth's unhealthy eating habits. She enjoyed wine, Bailey's in her coffee, and dining out with adult beverages. She also skipped breakfast, believing it would help with fat loss, but often found herself overeating later in the day.  Extreme calorie restriction made it challenging to add additional calories, but she was committed.  She quickly realized the increased energy felt fantastic, and learned that increased calories did not mean she was going to gain fat. 

Together, we worked to create a sustainable lifestyle change. We started by adding a high-protein breakfast to her daily routine and emphasizing the importance of all three macronutrients: protein, fat, and carbs. We also helped her to incorporate meal prep into her busy schedule and prioritize self-care.

While Elizabeth was already at a healthy body weight when she started working with us, we focused on her overall well-being and relationship with food. We emphasized the importance of energy levels, how she felt, how her clothes fit, and the changes she would see in her body composition. We encouraged her to take weekly progress pictures and measurements to track her progress and celebrate her achievements.

Elizabeth worked with us for about a year, during which time she formed healthy habits and achieved sustainable weight loss. She discovered new All Day Coach recipes, modified her favorite dishes, and prioritized protein and strength training. As a result, she lost over 12 inches, her clothes fit much better, and she experienced significant improvements in her body composition.

Despite the minimal movement on the scale, Elizabeth's progress was remarkable. She increased her daily calorie intake by over 500 calories and is now working to continue building lean muscle mass to reach her goal of a more “toned look”.  This requires a commitment to strength training and increased calories - you can’t build that “toned” look without eating additional calories to create that muscle!

Elizabeth's story is inspiring and resonates with many people who have struggled with yo-yo dieting, inconsistency, and negative body image. By shifting her focus to healthy eating, strength training, and overall well-being, Elizabeth was able to achieve sustainable weight loss and improve her quality of life.