Bill’s journey to maintaining a 100-pound weight loss

In 2019, a medical scare prompted Bill Fischer to lose weight. After starting the Mayo Clinic Diet, Bill lost 100 pounds and is proud to say he has maintained his amazing weight loss since 2021. He credits his success to not only changing his lifestyle but to giving himself the needed time to reach his goal through slow, gradual changes and exercise.

A renewed mindset for life

Bill declared that the Mayo Clinic Diet has not only transformed his life but also changed his mindset about living a healthy lifestyle. “I worked hard to lose the weight,” he stated. “It took me two-and-a-half years to lose 100 pounds.” He said the plan taught him to look at food differently—both the quantity and quality. “It’s not just about waking up and eating less. It’s a holistic picture for the long term. I knew breaking my poor eating habits and taking the weight off slowly would be the keys to my success. The Mayo Clinic Diet is a course for life. It gives you the tools and knowledge you need to be successful, and I am living proof of that.”

The medical wake-up call that started it all

“It was discovered that my blood sugar was dangerously high, reaching 480,” Bill admitted. “I suppose I was in denial that I was a Type 2 diabetic, but my doctor warned me that I needed to lose weight. That was the wake-up call I needed to get healthy. But what plan could I trust?”

Trusting a plan that worked

Bill did not have to look too far to find the Mayo Clinic Diet. He explained how about 15 years ago he spent two months recovering at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota after undergoing surgery to treat a serious medical condition.

Bill's wake-up call was a blood sugar test that returned dangerously high values.

“Back then, I put my trust in the doctors at Mayo Clinic to help me heal. It was a scary time. Choosing the Mayo Clinic Diet was a no-brainer for me. I’ve never been on a diet, so finding a plan that I could trust—that wasn’t a fad, but science-based—was key for me.”

Beginning his journey

As a retired professional, Bill has lived his life expecting instant results. When it came to his weight-loss journey, however, he took a different approach. “I took a ‘soft landing’ approach to losing weight,” he said proudly. “I wasn’t in a hurry. I knew by eating a healthy, balanced diet, changing my poor eating habits, exercising, and staying accountable would be the keys to being successful.” At 287 pounds, Bill was on his way to reaching his target weight of 185 pounds. 

With his wife, Kris, by his side, Bill stated that being on the Mayo Clinic Diet has been a game changer. “Having spousal support was a huge piece of my success. Kris even lost weight along the way, too!” When it came down to the tools and benefits of the Mayo Clinic Diet, Bill said staying accountable and learning the fundamentals of breaking poor eating habits made all the difference. “Weighing myself regularly in my ‘birthday suit’ and charting my weight was instrumental in keeping me motivated,” he explained. “It not only helped me to see my progress over time but kept me focused on how to gauge my day.” Bill realized that being a ‘sugar junkie’ would be one of the hardest habits to break—but learning how to swap poor eating habits for positive ones made all the difference. “I have curbed my cravings and have more energy than ever, which is something I never thought possible.”

Bill relied heavily on the support from his wife Kris

And when it came to exercise, Bill knew what he needed to do. “I was a competitive cyclist in my early years, but today I’m all about walking; every chance I get and in all kinds of weather.” Living in the northern part of Wisconsin, Bill experiences all kinds of weather, especially bitter cold winters. “I never let the weather stop me,” he said. “I believe in not putting barriers before exercise. My rule is that exercising has to be easy. I need to be able to walk at a moment’s notice—with no excuses. I always have my walking sneakers, Fitbit, and music ready to go. If you’re consistent and patient, the weight will come off.”

A roadmap to success

Over the course of the program, Bill has achieved many on- and off-scale victories. “In addition to losing 100 pounds, my blood sugar and overall health have greatly improved,” he said happily. “When I started the program, my waistline was heading toward 42 inches. I still wear my old belt from time to time as a ‘badge of honor’ to remind myself how hard I’ve worked. It motivates me to never gain the weight back.”

Bill’s tips for keeping the weight off

When asked what advice he would give someone to maintain their weight loss, Bill offered some helpful tips that worked for him:

Bill lost a total of 100 pounds with the Mayo Clinic Diet

• Keep mindful of what you’re eating—both the quantity and quality of your food.
• Don’t give up on exercise.
• Keep a journal or weight log.
• Stay committed and give yourself the time to succeed. Don’t let plateaus discourage you.

Encouraging others

Bill concludes with this bit of advice to others considering losing weight: “The Mayo Clinic Diet is a great roadmap for a renewed lifestyle to be as healthy as you can be. It’s been a remarkable journey, and a lifestyle change for health—and beyond. Believe in yourself and trust that you can do it.”

Inspired by Bill? Learn more about the Mayo Clinic Diet and how sustainable habits, accountability tools, and expert-backed guidance can help you lose weight—and keep it off for the long term.