6 Steps to Break Free from What’s Not Working in Your Weight Loss Practice
Sep 02, 2025You don’t have to stay stuck.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in your weight loss practice – doing the same things over and over again, even when they’re clearly not working – you are not alone. As a practice administrator for over 20 years, and a consultant working with practices across the U.S. for the past 10+ years, I frequently see this happening.
I understand how easy it is to slip into familiar patterns such as:
- Running the same marketing strategy that isn’t bringing in new patients.
- Holding onto outdated front desk workflows that frustrate patients (and burn out your team).
- Jumping in to “fix” every problem yourself instead of empowering your staff.
These habits feel safe. However, you likely realize this reality – if you keep doing the same thing, you’ll keep getting the same results.
The good news? You don’t have to stay stuck. Below are six practical steps that consistently work to break free from what’s not working and create meaningful change in your weight loss practice.
Step 1: Name It
Awareness is always the first step. Get real about what’s not working and write it down. Be specific.
Instead of: “Our marketing isn’t great.” Say: “We’ve been running the same social media ads for a year without results.”
When you name it clearly, you strip away the power it has over you and put it out in the open where it can be addressed.
Step 2: Get Curious, Not Critical
It’s tempting to blame yourself or your team for letting a problem drag on. But self-blame doesn’t fix anything.
Instead, ask:
- Why have we kept doing it this way?
- What benefit (real or perceived) were we getting?
- What are the consequences of keeping it the same?
Curiosity opens the door to better solutions. Criticism closes it. And as I mention all the time, be sure to include your team throughout this process! They tend to have great ideas and, if they are A-players, they want to be a part of the solution and contribute to success.
Step 3: Reimagine What Success Looks Like
Before rushing to fix things, define what you actually want instead.
- If patient onboarding isn’t smooth, what would a welcoming and efficient process look like?
- If your marketing isn’t consistent, what would a steady lead flow mean for your team and revenue?
Clarity here cuts through clutter and helps you set a new standard for success.
Step 4: Commit to One Change at a Time
I know you want to fix everything at once, but that’s a fast track to overwhelm. I recommend that you pick one area to improve first. Break it into clear steps, assign ownership, and set deadlines.
In reality, small, focused changes implemented well, create momentum. Just like your patients gain motivation from early wins on the scale, your practice will gain energy from small victories.
Step 5: Build Accountability Into the Process
When you’re busy caring for patients, practice improvements can easily slide to the bottom of the list. That’s why accountability is a critical to your success.
This could look like:
- A weekly team meeting.
- A simple metrics dashboard (I’m a huge fan of tracking KPIs).
- Working with a consultant for outside accountability and support.
What matters most is that progress is being tracked to identify areas for improvement and areas to celebrate.
Step 6: Celebrate Progress—Big and Small
Change takes persistence. Recognize the wins, even the small ones, and share them with your team. Celebration reinforces positive change, builds momentum, and reminds everyone why the effort is worth it.
You’re Not Stuck Because You Lack Talent
If something isn’t working in your practice, it’s not because you’re not smart enough or that you don’t care. It’s simply because familiar patterns feel safe (even when they’re not effective).
The key is to break those patterns, one step at a time.
- Name what’s not working.
- Reimagine what success looks like.
- Commit to one change.
- Build accountability.
- Celebrate the wins.
At the end of the day, you deserve a practice that runs smoothly, delights your patients, and leaves you with energy, not frustration.
If you would like support in mapping out your blueprint for change, I’d love to help. You can email me at [email protected] or explore free resources at WeightLossPracticeBuilder.com/free.
Because meaningful change doesn’t happen by accident—it happens by design.
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