Weight loss can often be a hit-or-miss proposition. You may try a new eating and exercise plan or a new medication, and you start to see results. Unfortunately, for most of us, those results don’t last, and that can be frustrating, to say the least.
Our providers know this struggle all too well, and we have a solution that has helped many reach their goals.
Our medically supervised weight loss program is more than just getting you skinnier, although that’s a great benefit. We’re here to make sure you’re as healthy as you can be so you live a long, happy, productive life.
A study conducted at Duke University has shown a decreased life expectancy for Gen Xers and Millennials. This is the first time in decades that this has happened. Being overweight or obese is the root cause of many chronic diseases, including:
It’s important to note that even “skinny” people can be at risk for health issues caused by being overweight. You may not be technically overweight, but if you carry excess fat around your abdomen, you are at a higher risk of a shorter life expectancy.
“Skinny” fat, also known as visceral fat, is associated with higher levels of inflammation. It also puts you at greater risk for high blood sugar and insulin levels and predisposes you to prediabetes.
A healthy weight reduces many risks. We want to help you achieve a healthy lifestyle and weight.
We understand fad diets can provide quick weight loss. But as you’ve read, most people on these diets gain the weight back as soon as they stop. Also, some fad diets are highly calorie-restricted and can cause more harm than good.
That’s why our program includes a GLP-1 medication, either semaglutide or tirzepatide. Studies have shown that these medications reduce appetite, improve eating control, reduce food cravings, and improve blood sugar control.
You have likely already heard about semaglutide and tirzepatide. These medications can regulate appetite, reduce cravings, and improve insulin sensitivity. Plus, they can achieve significant weight loss: up to 15% of total body weight for semaglutide and more for tirzepatide.
These drugs are NOT stimulants, so you don’t have to worry about unpleasant side effects like not being able to sleep or having the jitters.
Semaglutide mimics the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1. Tirzepatide combines the benefits of two hormones — GLP-1 and GIP. Your provider will determine the best medication for you based on your needs, medical history, and lab results.
Many people on these medications have also said they’ve lost the ever-present “food noise” in their head. That’s a fantastic benefit, as it helps you get on with your day without worrying about when or where your next meal will be.
However, we also want to ensure you eat enough of the right foods since these medications can significantly reduce appetite. One key point is to eat enough protein so you don’t lose muscle mass as you lose weight. That’s why we take measurements on a Tanita body composition scale as part of your program.
Both semaglutide and tirzepatide are FDA-approved for weight loss, and we start all patients off at a low, compounded dose for the first month and then increase the dosage as needed.
We ensure you are on the correct medication dosage throughout your program. Patients may continue to increase their dosage when they don’t need to, which adds unnecessary cost.
These drugs are compounded at one of two highly reputable pharmacies. We thoroughly vet and background check our pharmacy partners so you can be sure you’re taking medication you can completely trust.
You inject semaglutide or tirzepatide subcutaneously (under the skin) and not into a muscle. The needle is small, and the injection is painless. However, even the smallest needle can make some patients squeamish. If you’d prefer not to inject yourself once a week, the pharmacy staff will do it for a nominal fee.
A key benefit of doing our program is that Dr. Elwell, a board-certified obesity specialist, oversees it. Did you know that less than 1% of all doctors in the US are board-certified in obesity medicine? Here’s why this is so important for you:
Our comprehensive weight loss program includes:
You are welcome to come in weekly to complete your Tanita measurements, and we recommend you do so. These measurements include weight, fat mass, muscle mass, bone mass, and water weight.
Lab testing is the foundation of our weight loss program. By analyzing a wide range of biomarkers, we can uncover the specific imbalances and deficiencies that are unique to you.
We perform the following lab tests:
Armed with these insights, your practitioner can create a weight loss plan tailored to you.
The program is 60 or 90 days, depending on which medication your provider prescribes (60 days with tirzepatide, 90 days with semaglutide). However, you can repeat the program as needed to reach your goal. If you want to lose only 20 or 30 pounds, you may not need to repeat the program. If you want to lose more weight, we suggest taking a month or so off after the program and repeating as needed. For those wishing to lose a lot of weight, it could take 6 to 8 months. causing symptoms associated with a slow metabolism.
Patients typically lose 1 to 3 pounds per week, but this can vary depending on their weight. Patients who have more weight to lose can see greater results. You can expect to lose an average of 15% of your body weight.
There are no food restrictions. However, you will not feel good while on the program if you do not eat a healthy diet. Eating healthier will make you feel much better and give you more energy. We recommend incorporating protein and nutrient-dense foods into your daily diet.
This program does not require exercise, but we recommend incorporating an exercise regimen into your lifestyle because of its health benefits. Walking can be the perfect way to start if you aren’t used to exercising.
We don’t just prescribe medication and leave it at that. Instead, we focus on identifying exactly what’s causing your body to keep the weight on, so we can address those factors. After all, there’s no point in taking the weight off with a medication only to see it come right back on because no one addressed the underlying factors.
As Dr. Elwell says, “We’re not doing this just for people to be skinny… we’re doing it for people to be metabolically healthy. And being skinny is a bonus.”
The most common side-effect of semaglutide or tirzepatide is nausea and possibly other digestive issues. But we take proactive measures to ensure that the chance of this happening to you is slim.
For your first month, we will start you on a lower dose to help your body get used to it. We typically increase incrementally in months two and three; however, everyone is different. The goal is for you to lose a few pounds a week with no nausea.
If you find you are not losing any weight initially, we can increase your dosage slightly until we reach the “sweet spot” for you.
The medication is also compounded with Vitamin B-6, which will help curb any nausea.
Absolute contraindications to the medically supervised weight loss program are:
Our Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program is administered by our highly skilled Nurse Practitioner, Debbie Bluestein, and overseen by Dr. Elwell.
We will meet with you regularly throughout your program. However, if you have questions or need adjustments to your dosing, please contact your provider at any time. The best way to reach her is through the patient portal.
We hope you’re as excited about this as we are!
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