Weight loss is a multifaceted journey, influenced by various factors ranging from diet and exercise to mindset and medical interventions. This article explores different paths to weight loss, highlighting the experiences of individuals like Naomie Olindo from "Southern Charm" and Dani Arnedo, who underwent a sleeve gastrectomy.
Naomie Olindo's Transformation: A Holistic Approach
Naomie Olindo, known for her role on "Southern Charm," has garnered attention for her remarkable physical and mental transformation. Her journey exemplifies a holistic approach to health that goes beyond mere weight loss. It encompasses diet, exercise, and a positive mindset.
Intermittent Fasting and Blender Bombs
Naomie's transformation involved incorporating intermittent fasting and Blender Bombs into her daily routine. Intermittent fasting, specifically the 16/8 method (16 hours of fasting followed by an 8-hour eating window), helped her regulate her eating habits and prevent overeating. She would only eat between the hours of 12pm and 8pm. At 12 she would break her fast with a BB Smoothie, then she would have a snack a few hours later if she was hungry, and for dinner she would also enjoy a planted-based or pescatarian dinner ( plus a glass of wine, duh ).
Blender Bombs, nutrient-dense smoothie boosters, became a staple in her diet. Naomie started swapping out her Taco Bell lunch for a homemade Blender Bomb Smoothie instead. Specifically, 2 Blender Bombs + ½ cup spinach + ¼ cup mango + ¼ cup strawberries + water and ice. These smoothies provided her body with essential nutrients, aiding in her weight loss efforts.
Strategic Exercise
Naomie's workout routine evolved over time. Initially, she focused on 30-minute workouts twice a week, incorporating both cardio and weightlifting. However, a longboarding accident that resulted in a broken foot inadvertently led to a significant shift in her approach.
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During her cardio sabbatical, Naomie discovered that "less is more" when it comes to cardio. Her stubborn weight started falling off when she focused on eating well and doing cardio less. This experience highlighted the importance of balanced eating and the potential drawbacks of excessive cardio.
Currently, Naomie engages in workouts three times a week, balancing cardio and weight training. She has found a routine that she enjoys and that works effectively for her body.
Mindset and Self-Care
Naomie emphasizes the crucial role of mindset in her transformation. She believes that inner peace and a positive outlook are essential for achieving lasting results. Intentional acts of self-care, personal development, and mindfulness have helped her maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Specifically for Naomie, she found that inner peace by reading personal development books, removing herself from toxic situations and relationships, meditating here and there, and started going to counseling. She also advocates for removing oneself from toxic situations and relationships to foster a happier and healthier life.
Sustainable Habits
Naomie's journey underscores the importance of sustainable habits. She has adopted an 80/20 approach, allowing herself to indulge in occasional treats while maintaining a healthy lifestyle most of the time. Some weeks she might eat 60×40, some 70×30, but most weeks she sticks to 80×20. Some weeks she works out four times. Other weeks she only works out twice. Some weeks she intermittent fasts three mornings, and other weeks she intermittent fasts for five mornings. This flexibility has enabled her to maintain her transformation long-term.
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Dani Arnedo's Story: Bariatric Surgery and Community Support
Dani Arnedo's weight loss journey took a different path: bariatric surgery. Dani has been creating more and more videos since she received a sleeve gastrectomy at Columbia last summer. Having struggled with obesity since childhood, Dani decided to explore surgical intervention after years of losing and regaining weight.
Sleeve Gastrectomy
Dani underwent a sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure that involves removing about three-quarters of the stomach. The surgery was recommended by her care team at Columbia's Center for Metabolic and Weight Loss Surgery, considering her weight and medical history. The procedure would remove about three-quarters of Dani’s stomach.
Pre- and Post-Operative Care
In the lead-up to her operation, Dani dutifully followed the routine prescribed by her care team: a liquid diet, a 6-month weight log, and an abdomen ultrasound. Adjusting to the diet was the hardest part. “The first three days, I was not in the mood,” Dani recalls. “I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But things got easier after the fourth day, and Dani stayed positive. Following the surgery, she adhered to a strict liquid diet for three weeks before gradually transitioning to solid foods.
Online Community
Dani found invaluable support in an online community of individuals who had undergone weight loss surgery. Through videos, comments, and messages, users get to know each other and make connections. “I’ve made friends with complete strangers,” Dani shares. This community provided her with a platform to share her experiences, connect with others, and receive encouragement.
Non-Scale Victories
Now, seven months later, Dani is reaching new milestones nearly every day. She’s just two pounds from her goal weight, and she’s made many “non-scale” victories, too-like going up and down the subway stairs without feeling out of breath. Dani celebrates "non-scale" victories such as being able to climb stairs without feeling winded. These milestones highlight the positive impact of the surgery on her overall well-being. Dani usually feels winded after going up flights of stairs, but today was different: “I was in the train station, and I went up the stairs, and when I came outside, I was not out of breath. I was like: Oh. My.
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The Broader Context of Weight Loss
Obesity is a prevalent and complex health issue that is influenced by a multitude of factors. Despite its prevalence around the world, obesity is notoriously under-researched and poorly understood. Its range of intersecting biological and social drivers makes it difficult to study, demanding interdisciplinary research teams and complex methodology. Cultural stigma has also been a factor: obesity was long dismissed as a matter of self-control, rather than a medical condition worth researching. However, in recent years, investigators have begun to shed light on the complex interplay of physiological, genetic, social, and environmental factors that contribute to obesity.
Emerging Treatments
Emerging weight-loss medications-such as single receptor GLP-1 agonists, and more recently dual action GLP-1 and GIP receptor agonists-have been heralded as game-changers for the field. However, for some people with obesity, bariatric surgery may still be the best option to meet their needs. For some individuals, bariatric surgery remains the most effective option.
Bariatric Surgery Advancements
While forms of modern bariatric surgery have been in use since the 1960s, the field hit its stride in the mid-1990s. Laparoscopic techniques-the use of smaller incisions and video technology to make surgeries less invasive-revolutionized the field, reducing patients’ discomfort, risk of complications, and recovery time. Surgical methodology has continued to evolve with robotic surgery, as well as the growing body of knowledge about the complex role gastrointestinal hormones play in metabolism. Advancements in surgical techniques have made bariatric surgery less invasive and more effective.