Weight Loss Therapy: Do You Want Lasting Results?

August 17, 2019 3 Comments

Weight Loss Therapy

Obesity is one of the top health issues in the country. And while many people believe weight gain is due to poor eating choices, the root cause of obesity and weight gain is more complicated.

Virtually everyone goes on a diet at some point in their lives. Some folks shed a few pounds with relative ease and keep their weight and BMI stable for years to come.

But sometimes, successfully losing and maintaining your weight is not an easy venture. More often than not, this isn’t because of a lack of willpower or follow-through.

Feeling Worse?

In fact, many people who try to lose weight, end up feeling worse after weeks, months, or even years of dieting. They think their efforts were not successful, and they feel it’s due to a failure on their part.

If this sounds like you, you are certainly not alone! A recent study found an alarming 95% of diets fail. And the majority of people regain the weight they lost in just a year after their diet has ended!

Surprising Signs

Several factors contribute to weight fluctuations outside of the “calorie in/calorie out” formula, which is why so many people struggle to lose weight, despite making drastic changes to their diet and lifestyle.

What signs could be contributing to your weight gain outside of what you consume and what you burn? The answers may surprise you.

If you can relate with any of the following signs, it’s time to contact the Silhouette Health & Wellness to determine the underlying reasons you’re struggling with weight.

Together, we can move forward with a successful medical weight loss therapy plan that will have real and lasting results.

1. You’re not losing weight.

If you cut your calories, increase your exercise, and are still not seeing any difference when you step on the scale, it could be an indication there is an issue with your metabolism.

People with slow metabolisms have a hard time losing weight. And in some cases, the less you eat, the more you gain, simply because your body is storing away all that precious but limited energy.

2. You’re always hungry.

Being constantly hungry isn’t normal. Doctors link hunger to several other medical conditions or factors such as thyroid disease. If you’re constantly craving food, even when your calorie intake is normal, it’s a sign you need expert assistance.

3. Your weight fluctuates.

Losing weight and gaining it back on a loop is very unhealthy. Gaining weight can increase your risk for a far-reaching range of medical conditions, including:

- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Heart attacks and heart failure

Simply put, yo-yo dieting is dangerous. It can have long-term consequences, which is why it’s imperative to find a smart and professionally guided diet plan that works.

4. You want to lose and keep the weight off for good.

To lose weight and keep it off, you need to start smart with medical weight loss therapy and nutritional counseling.

With professional, individualized, and expert assistance and consultations provided by Silhouette Health & Wellness, you can maximize your chances of adopting a healthier lifestyle for decades to come.

5. You’re not sleeping well.

Regular sleep deprivation is associated with obesity and diabetes. Simply put, sleep plays a crucial role in hormone production. Research has shown the less sleep you receive regularly, the more likely you are to store fat and retain calories.

Part of this is attributed to sleep’s influence on the production of two major hormones linked to hunger:

- Ghrelin – Ghrelin stimulates appetite and promotes fat storage.
- Leptin – Leptin works to suppress the appetite.

Without sleep, ghrelin levels rise while leptin levels drop, resulting in increased food intake.

Also, obstructive sleep apnea, a common condition where you have trouble breathing throughout the night, and weight gain are inherently linked. But losing excess weight can help you breathe easier.

If you have undiagnosed sleep apnea, you’ll naturally be able to sleep better. There will be less fat around your neck and throat muscles, so there is less pressure on your airways.

6. You’re not as young as you use to be.

Muscles naturally tend to be replaced with fat as we get older, starting in our late 20s and continuing well into adulthood and middle age.

As a result, your metabolism slows down continually and keeps slowing down as more muscle cells are replaced with fat. This creates a quiet but difficult-to-reverse cycle where, despite maintaining a steady daily caloric intake, you start to gain weight.

7. You have a family history of obesity.

Genetics plays a subtle but significant role in how, when, and where we gain weight. Studies suggest genes are responsible for anywhere from 30-70% of our likelihood of being overweight.

Genes can determine how much fat your body stores and where it is located. This fact is especially true when it comes to unusual gene mutations, which includes varieties that can directly cause obesity.

8. You’re on certain medications.

Medications can have a world of unintended side effects, particularly when it comes to appetites and weight gain.

The following medications are all prime offenders when it comes to increasing food cravings, especially for unhealthy foods that are high in carbohydrates and sugar.

- Antidepressants
- Antihypertensives
- Diabetes medications
- Steroids
- Anticonvulsants for neurological conditions

9. You’re addicted to food.

Many high fat and sugar-heavy foods are addictive, which can kick off the start of a vicious cycle that makes these junk foods hard to put down.

Because these foods reward the pleasure center in the brain, it’s highly possible to become addictive to the “high” that junk food provides.

Smart weight loss naturally results in becoming a more mindful eater. As a result, foods will taste better as you appreciate the flavor and enjoy every bite – as opposed to mindless eating or binging.

10. Your feet hurt.

Excess weight automatically puts more pressure on your feet, especially when standing or walking. If you suffer from mild or sporadic foot pain, losing weight may provide a natural cure!

In fact, a recent study found people who were able to lose 50-80 pounds saw an 83% reduction in regular foot pain.

11. You feel dull mentally.

Recent research has shown that losing weight can improve your cognitive abilities, especially when it comes to your memory! In fact, people at a normal weight were far less likely to develop cognitive diseases such as dementia than those who classified as overweight or obese.

12. Your allergies are worsening.

Sounds strange, but researchers have found weight loss and allergies are surprisingly related. This is because being overweight can put added pressure on your adrenal glands, which are instrumental in managing allergic reactions as well as asthma.

In addition, excess weight can also strain your respiratory system, which makes the symptoms of asthma or allergies worse.

13. Your skin is dull.

Your skin elasticity and color have a lot to do with what you eat. Poor nutrition due to diets that are high in carbohydrates or sugars can create pale skin, discolorations, dryness, and skin tags.

In addition, a deficiency in key vitamins and minerals – such as iron – can lead to dark circles under the eyes and additional signs of aging. But a smart diet that’s packed with fruits, vegetables, and other good-for-you foods can have the opposite effect and can make your skin glow from head to toe.

14. Your attitude is dull.

When you lose weight, you’ll enjoy a natural confidence boost for sure. And there are other ways weight loss can positively impact your mood!

Nutrition also plays a big role in our hormone production, which includes stress hormones like cortisol, as well as “happy” chemicals like serotonin. A healthy diet can ensure the production of these chemicals and hormones stays in check, leading to brighter days and moods ahead.

The Benefits are Crystal Clear

The main benefits of losing weight are typically crystal clear. Not only will you look and feel better, but your health naturally improves with reduced risks for everything from diabetes to heart disease.

But did you know that as you lose weight, you may enjoy some additional and unexpected benefits as well? There are surprising side effects that may occur as you start to shed those extra pounds healthily. We’ll take it!

Let’s Work Together

Clearly, there are lots of inherent factors at work when it comes to your likelihood to gain or lose weight. The good news is there are effective treatments available to identify and address these root causes to tip the scales in a positive direction.

Ready to reap the many benefits of weight loss? Contact us today, and let’s get started on crafting a weight loss solution that will have you feeling better, inside and out.

Reach out to us for a personalized assessment and treatment that goes miles beyond the calorie counting. Together, we can pinpoint the challenges that may be affecting your ability to lose weight successfully.