Dr. John Cleek’s personal weight loss journey began with his first diet in the third grade. As a Roper St. Francis Healthcare affiliated bariatrician, he’s fascinated by the intricate inner workings of the hormones that control hunger and metabolism. His common-sense approach to wellness and weight loss emphasizes balance and understanding.
I wish my patients knew: “What a reasonable meal plan looks like. These days, everybody is looking for a quick fix—no carb, keto, caveman, cabbage soup, whatever diet. Restricting ourselves to certain foods doesn’t work in the long term. We really need to focus on a balanced meal plan and lifestyle to maintain our health.”
I frequently recommend: “Dr. Judith Beck’s The Diet Trap Solution for emotional eating. The book focuses on practical behavioral changes that can improve dietary outcomes.”
Let me set the record straight: “Obesity is not a direct result of calories in versus calories out or a matter of willpower. Weight is influenced by so much more than that, including what constitutes those calories, stress in all its forms, hormonal changes and sleep, which plays a major role in metabolic rate and hunger control.”
I often tell patients: “There is no secret diet or pill that will take careof weight. If I were to publish a diet book, it would be called There Ain’t No Magic. Successfully losing weight takes emotional and physical energy.”
My refrigerator always holds: “Protein drink supplements. When I haven’t made a meal or don’t have time to eat, which happens two or three times a week, I grab a Premier Protein as a meal replacement.”
To live better every day: “Balance is the key. Get enough sleep, engage in adequate activity and make reasonable food choices with the least amount of unprocessed foods.”
Photograph (Dr. Cleek) by Erica Navarro
You must log in to post a comment.