Strategic Planning Lessons I Learned from My Ozempic Weight Loss Journey

Life was good. My career was on a great trajectory. My children were healthy. I was healthy, fit, and comfortable in my size 8 body. Then, I turned 45.

Overnight, my cholesterol soared. And the pounds began to mount.

Despite a disciplined diet and maintaining a regular exercise routine, the weight continued to climb. It was time to seek expert help.

How many executives cruise along with seemingly happy teams, hitting sales targets, and serving their communities until growth plateaus and employee turnover begins to rise? Do they see this as a time to seek outside input?

SEEKING SOLUTIONS BEYOND THE NORM (OBVIOUS)

I went to a D.O. who might look beyond the norms of an M.D.

“Doctor,” I explained, “I’m eating 1,000 calories a day and exercising five times a week. Why am I gaining weight?”

He reviewed my vital signs and blood work.

“Terri,” he responded, “You are healthy, and your test results are within normal limits. Your weight gain might have something to do with portions or snacking.” Clearly, he wasn’t listening to me and wasn’t going to look beyond the obvious to support me.

Have you worked with outside consultants who fail to listen to you and your team? Have industry professionals suggested generic solutions that don’t align with your vision?

FINDING THE RIGHT SPECIALIST

Feeling unheard and dejected, I remained determined to seek answers. Trusting my instincts, I embarked on a 25-year journey toward optimal health. I worked with a naturopathic doctor who helped me shed a few pounds but was unable to uncover the root cause of my problem. I attended Weight Watchers, cooked Paleo recipes, read books on the keto diet, took Jazzercise classes, and joined a CrossFit club—all with minimal results. But I wasn’t going to give up.

In 2023, more than 20 years after my visit to the D.O., my family medicine doctor referred me to Dr. S, a weight specialist. Skeptical, I made an appointment. From our first visit, I knew I had found the support I had been seeking.

• Within minutes of meeting the doctor, he asked me to write out my goals. This was going to be an individualized program. At the beginning of each visit, we revisited goals to highlight the progress I was making based on the goals I had set.
• He spent an hour, not 15 minutes, asking strategic questions, understanding my situation, and discussing options.
• He helped me establish realistic, achievable, and sustainable long-term goals.
• He shared the latest research and resources with me. ?
• He listened to me, never once dismissing my conviction that I had an undiagnosed metabolic issue.
• He worked with me to create a plan.
• We scheduled regular check-ins and adjusted the plan based on my results.
• He never stopped looking for the underlying cause.
• In prioritizing my individual needs, he was willing to break with conventional medical thinking to offer solutions for my optimal health.

What is the mindset of your coaches, consultants, and advisors? Do those professionals challenge industry standards and dig deep to create a plan to reach goals and sustain growth?

VITAL TOOLS TO REACH MY GOALS

After trying unsuccessful approaches, my pursuit of health seemed unattainable.

Then Dr. S introduced me to a phased approach to weight management that mirrored the RPIE (Research, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation) planning stages. This approach closely aligns with my proven TST VITAL strategic planning framework:

• Validating (Research phase) Gathering data through testing and comprehensive discovery to assess my current health.
• Interpreting (Planning phase): Analyzing the significance and implication of my progress and effects of treatment protocols.
• Targeting (Planning phase): Developing the next step recommendations based on these interpretations.
• Action (Implementation phase): Committing to lifestyle changes and consistently following prescribed protocols.
• Learning (Evaluation phase): Identifying lessons learned and refine strategies for ongoing sustained health.

We repeated this approach monthly for more than two years. As I transitioned from poor health to optimal well-being, my actions steps evolved. We began with Ozempic to kick-start my metabolism and implemented food sequencing to minimize glucose spikes. Later, we increased protein intake and incorporated strength training to minimize muscle mass loss.

Only after achieving my weight goals did we uncover the root cause of weight gain that had plagued me for years. My pursuit of optimal health continues daily, much like the ongoing journey toward organizational health in business.

Does your organization implement ongoing, proven processes of planning and evaluation that allow for growth and adaptation from quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year?

CLOSING THOUGHTS

Today I am back in my size 8 and 71 pounds lighter than at the height of my undiagnosed thyroid imbalance. My quest required discipline, resilience, teamwork between my doctor and me, clear communication, and an ongoing commitment to a RPIE-like structure.

My journey to health reinforced a profound truth: achieving transformational growth requires a strategic framework rooted in clarity, action, and adaptability. Specifically:

• Ambitious, outcome-focused goals that inspire transformation and innovation. Goals must challenge the status quo and create clear pathways to significant change.
• Tactical, data-driven actions tied to measurable milestones. Each step in the plan is purposeful, ensuring that progress can be tracked and celebrated along the way.
• Collaborative partnerships with visionary experts. The best advisors are those who push you to think differently, challenge assumptions, and co-create customized solutions.
• Dynamic adaptation informed by real-time insights. A successful plan requires flexibility and responsiveness to evolving circumstances and feedback.

Whether you’re managing a nonprofit, leading a corporation, or working to improve your personal health, solutions exist; obstacles can be overcome. Achieving goals depends on clarity, commitment, and the courage to seek support. As I’ve learned from my weight loss journey, results are often just on the other side of aligned support advisors, a workable plan, and a tenacious mindset.

Ready to move beyond the one-and-done approach to organizational improvement and co-create actionable strategies for lasting impact? Let’s connect. Email me at [email protected] to schedule your complimentary discovery session.