Dan's Story: An Extraordinary Patient

My name is Dan, and I'm 37 years old. I used to weigh 420 pounds, and life was a struggle. I work at a government job that keeps me mostly sedentary, and my mild hypertension was under control, but I knew I needed to make a change. I had tried various weight loss programs, like Nutri-System, Herbalife, Weight Watchers, and OA. Each of them helped me to some extent, but ultimately, I felt they all failed me.

That's when I discovered Holland Clinic and started following a very low-fat diet while walking for just 5 minutes per day. I also began taking Phentermine, 37.5 mg per day. At first, I experienced mild insomnia, but thankfully, it resolved within two weeks. To my delight, after the first 4 weeks, I lost 16 pounds, and my blood pressure was normal!

As the weeks went by, my weight kept dropping. In the next 28 days, I lost an additional 21 pounds, and I had to buy a whole new wardrobe. My spirits were soaring, and I felt unstoppable. But then, I hit a plateau.

After losing only 9 pounds in the following month, I was disappointed, but I refused to give up. Dr. Holland increased my Phentermine dosage to 56.25 mg, and I persevered. The next month, I lost 17 more pounds! Eager to keep the momentum going, Dr. Holland raised my dosage to 75 mg per day.

However, life threw me another curveball. In the next 28 days, I lost only 4 pounds, and frustration began to set in. But Dr. Holland reminded me of the progress I had made: a total weight loss of 67 pounds, bringing me down to 353. My walking had improved dramatically, and the extreme swelling in my ankles had significantly decreased.

Even when I regained 2 pounds in the following month, I remained positive. I knew that setbacks were inevitable, but I had come so far, and I was determined to keep pushing forward. For the first time, I started carefully counting fat grams and took even greater control of my diet.

As I reflect on my journey, I am proud of the incredible progress I've made. I have learned to celebrate my achievements and to stay motivated, even during challenging times. Holland Clinic has given me the tools and support to change my life, and I am determined to continue on this road to better health.

My story is a testament to the power of persistence and the incredible support of the Holland Clinic. I hope that by sharing my experience, I can inspire others who face similar challenges to never give up and to believe in the possibility of change. Together, we can achieve our weight loss goals and live healthier, happier lives.

Editor's Note: The patient is real but the details of his or her life are deliberately altered to protect the patient's identity. Also, these are EXTRAORDINARY results. You should not assume that you will necessarily do as well. Still, we offer this story to encourage people that this really can be done.

Note From Holland Clinic: These results are NOT typical. 'Dan' is one of our most succesful patients. We offer his story here in the hope that it might encourage people to lose weight.