Nike’s Journey
Finding a path to lasting weight loss at the Wellness Institute
Positively Healthy Fall 2025 – The Seven Oaks General Hospital Campus Newsletter
Nike’s journey continues!
Since this article was written, she’s lost an additional 20lbs. bringing the total to over 80lbs as she continues to build healthy habits that last.
For Nike, the decision to embark on a weight loss journey began with a lot of reflection and research. Her lifestyle change was not about taking drastic measures. It was about finding a path she could stay on for the long term, driven by a desire to head off health issues and be there for her son.
“I have a young son and he is in all of it. I didn’t have an active childhood, and I wanted to be that active parent,” explained Nike, “to be present.”
Having experienced lifelong weight issues and some health complications, she felt, “Either I do something now or I don’t, and there’s going to be something that happens where you can’t turn back.”
After looking into wide-ranging options, Nike found herself drawn to The Wellness Institute’s Weight Loss & Risk Reduction Clinic. The comprehensive approach, which includes access to dietitians, exercise professionals, and doctors, resonated with her. She valued the program’s focus on sustainable adjustments rather than drastic
diets or hours at the gym.
“This program probably creates the least amount of resistance to losing weight because you’re not pulling the pin and throwing a green grenade on your life,” she explains, speaking to the ability to personalize the program with changes that fit within your situation. “It’s about finding that balance.”
The structure provided by the six-month commitment would become a framework for many positive changes: physical, mental and social.
Through the core program plus three months of maintenance support, Nike lost just over 60 pounds at a healthy rate of 1.7 pounds per week. Putting her achievement in perspective, she laughs, “Every time I carry my toddler up the stairs, he’s 40 (pounds)!”
“This program probably creates the least amount of resistance to losing weight because you’re not pulling the pin and throwing a green grenade on your life. It’s about finding that balance.”
As Nike continues on her weight loss journey, she feels equipped with the tools and support she needs. She has learned to identify barriers and adapt her exercise routine to continue her progress. Mentally, the program helped her find greater self-compassion and a non-judgmental approach to her choices.
Support from the Wellness Institute’s staff – Brennan, Jill, and Dr. Saunders – has been crucial. For Nike, the medical intervention offered surprising validation. Speaking with a doctor who acknowledged the complex factors that influence weight beyond the usual “calories in and calories out” mantra was refreshing. It set the tone for a program that was accepting and empowering. Appointments with staff became a “safe place” to discuss challenges without judgment and to find solutions that respected her circumstances.
From this safe place, Nike found motivation in making positive changes for herself and seeing personal successes.
“The results are the motivation,” she says, describing the impact of recognizing personal successes along the way, such as improved A1C levels or wearing a “gorgeous shirt” that is now a little big.
Still, Nike acknowledges that finding balance between lifestyle changes, work, and family life was sometimes tricky. Being honest about both her obstacles and strengths is something Nike encourages. She reminds us that weight loss is a “long game” and setbacks are normal.
For anyone looking to start their own journey with The Wellness Institute’s Weight Loss & Risk Reduction Clinic, she says “it’s the best chance you have of achieving success.”