Your Journey to Sustainable Weight Loss with Dr. Mark Holland MD at Holland Clinic

Welcome to the Holland Clinic, where your journey to sustainable weight loss begins. I'm Dr. Mark Holland MD, with over 32 years of experience in weight loss management. I've dedicated my life to helping people like you make significant, lasting changes that lead to healthier and happier lives.

Here at Holland Clinic, we believe in a balanced approach to weight loss. While we prescribe effective weight loss medications, we understand that they're not a substitute for dietary change. They're a tool, an aid in your weight loss journey to help you make healthier food choices and develop sustainable eating habits. Think of it as a supportive friend, easing the path while you walk towards your weight loss goals.

You'll find two ways to approach dieting in our program:

You can start with any safe diet of your choice. This diet may not be sustainable in the long run, but it's a starting point you're comfortable with. The downside? You'll have to make significant changes to your diet mid-course, which can be disruptive. However, the familiarity of starting with a known diet can provide a comforting sense of control.
Alternatively, you can start with the most sustainable diet from day one. This approach requires learning and adapting to new eating habits right at the onset, but it saves you from the disruption of a mid-course change.

So, what are the diet options available? Well, when you look really carefully at all the diets that have ever existed, that are proven safe and proven effective, there are basically just three choices:

Calorie-counting diets, which focus on limiting your daily calorie intake.
Low-carbohydrate diets, which restrict your intake of carbs in favor of proteins and fats.
Low-fat diets, which limit your intake of fats and emphasize fruits, vegetables, and lean meats.

While the first two diets are beneficial for initiating weight loss, the ultimate long-term solution is the third option: a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy products—a diet quite similar to the renowned Mediterranean Diet. It's low-fat, low-inflammatory, and, most importantly, sustainable.

This means you have three choices:

Start with a calorie-focused diet and transition to a low-fat diet later.
Start with a low-carb diet and transition to a low-fat diet later.
Start with a sustainable low-fat diet and maintain it throughout your journey.

Based on my observations over the years, all these approaches work about equally well (in the short-term). This is backed up by abundant science. Low calorie, low carbohydrate and low-fat diets all work (IN THE SHORT-TERM) pretty well though only low-fat works in the long-term. Therefore I slightly favor starting with a low-fat diet because it's the most sustainable choice in the long run.

During your first visit, we'll spend considerable time discussing your dietary preferences, your lifestyle, and your weight loss goals. Together, we'll design a personalized approach that best fits your needs. But no matter which path you choose, my team and I are here to support you every step of the way.

Embarking on a weight loss journey is a significant undertaking, and we understand the challenges you may face. We're here to guide you, support you, and celebrate your victories with you. With over three decades of experience, the diet approach at Holland Clinic is rooted in both science and firsthand observations.

We've seen transformations that have changed lives, and we believe that you too can experience this change. When you truly embrace this program, your perception of food will shift dramatically. You'll learn to see food as a source of nourishment and enjoyment, rather than a source of stress.

Your journey to a healthier, happier you starts here. Welcome to the Holland Clinic. Let's embark on this journey together.