Many thanks to my patient Rachael B. for writing this testimonial, which in the office we call "Client Love."

I was running out of options. Despite being a runner – and in 2017, having logged 1,000 miles of long runs, marathons and ultras. My body was pretty beat up; an observation confirmed by a visit to the Rothman Institute. I left the visit with a prescription for physical therapy, and a brace for my right ankle.

My physical therapist was confident a return to running waspossible. And over the course of several months, and twice weekly sessions, Imade a slow return to running. Meanwhile, I was looking for an exit strategy atmy job – it had been a toxic workplace – and despite helping force manypositive changes; I knew I needed to leave. Kind colleagues were curious if Iwas pregnant or just getting fat. If I was pregnant, they were ready to preparea party; if I was just getting fat, well, they were concerned about my health.

Like I said, I was running out of options. In 2010, I had lost alot of weight with the help of a nutritionist and running. Now, at the end of2017, I had gained back a lot of that weight and was losing the gains I hadmade through running because of injury. At the physical therapist’s office, Itook note of a brochure from Dr. Seltzer’s office.

In 2018, I quit my job, started by own business. Surprisingly, mystress level decreased. I wasn’t back to full time running and my own attemptsat losing weight by invoking what I learned in 2010 weren’t working. I had thebrochure from Charlie’s office – I picked up the phone and called.

It was February and I weighed 164 pounds when I came in for myfirst appointment. I then spent more than an hour with Dr. Seltzer and wasintroduced to Emily – my nutritionist and later my trainer.

It was a different approach to weight loss than my experience in2010. Just a few rules – track everything in a food diary, drink lots of water,pay attention to protein intake and mind the total calories.

Fast track to today. I have lost 27 pounds, my cholesterol isdown, my blood pressure is down, Dr. Seltzer properly diagnosed my thyroid diseaseas an auto-immune disorder, my migraines have ceased, and I can deadlift 145pounds. My body composition has been radically altered by training with EmilyNorthington –  Dr. Seltzer’s lead trainer- I am leaner and stronger than I have ever been. This is the big deal for me –I am 51 years old and I feel like I am in my twenties.

I see Charlie once a month, I see Emily once a week for trainingsessions and speak with her once a month about my nutrition needs. Appointmentswith Charlie are insightful and fun. When he reviews my food diary, he does sowith an eye to make sure I am eating and drinking the things I love, like wineand chocolate. One of the things I learned about this experience opposed to myother weight-loss effort has been the importance of a varied and fun diet. Lasttime, I was regimented – eating nearly the same thing over and over againbecause I was afraid to go off script and gain weight. Of course, when Ieventually did go off script, I went way off. The approach in this office forpatients recognizes the simple fact that we are not robots programmed to eatthe same thing every day.

When my old friends see me; they are kinda dumbfounded. Theyassume that I have lots of rules in my life around eating; after all, this iswhat we believe works. Even after I tell them I don’t – they still question me!When I see my colleagues at the old job, they are concerned that I am nowgetting too lean. I am not. I am 5’ 7”, 137 pounds, a size 4 or 6, and I havemuscles, definition, energy, optimism. I am confident that this loss will bemaintained. While I have decided to take a year off from running, I havediscovered a new passion – powerlifting. And, with Charlie and Emily’s help andencouragement, I am going to try my hand at competition.

I look forward to my appointments at Seltzer’s office. It is a welcoming and fun office. Inevitably, I learn something new and if corrections need to be made, they are clear and understandable. As I think back on the conversations with Charlie and Emily, I realize that everything they said about the weight loss, body composition, and maintenance has borne out. I know it is rooted in science and understandings of human behavior ; and yet it feels magical. I started 2018 with few options and carrying around lot of weight. I am closing in 2018 full of energy and optimism, confidence and strength; and I cannot wait for 2019. Thank you all!

Rachael B.

Do you have more questions about this blog post or Dr. Charlie Seltzer’s weight loss program? Contact Us, and we’ll get back to you within 24 hours.