Why Can’t I Lose Weight?

If you have tried time and again to lose weight, you know how frustrating it can be.  You spend endless hours in the gym, but the scales won’t budge.  You restrict calories, perhaps limit your consumption of a specific food group such as carbohydrates or fats, and still those stubborn pounds persist.  But the truth is that successful weight loss does not depend solely on what you put in your mouth.  Yes, calories consumed should equal calories burned, but many more factors are involved in the process.  Lifestyle issues, hormonal dysfunction, exercise, fiber intake, sleep, and hydration are all crucial to the weight-loss process.  Our approach helps you to gain greater control over your nutrition, your fitness program and your life.

Why Will This Approach Be Successful?

At Taylor Integrative Medicine Clinic, we care for our patients by thoughtfully combining proven therapies from both conventional and complementary medicine.   Medical weight loss goes far beyond diet and exercise.  If indicated, you will start with a food-based detoxification plan.  You will get personalized, science-backed insights on your ideal diet, fitness, supplements & more.  A comprehensive medical approach will ensure fat reduction strategies that will fit your unique needs.

We prioritize the longevity of your weight loss goals.  Our plan is for you not only to take the weight off and keep it off, but also to achieve your desired body composition.   If you need it, the doctor will prescribe Lipotropic and B12 injections, and if indicated, holistic or FDA-approved peptides such as semaglutide or tirzepatide.  Any weight loss medication should be viewed as a “tool” to help facilitate timely results while personalized goals help you sustain weight loss and promote your health and wellness long-term.

So, How Do I Get Where I Want to Go?

First, it is mandatory to know exactly where you are starting from.

Initial measurements include:

• Body mass index (BMI), a calculation based on height and weight
• Hydration status – how well hydrated are you? What percent of your total body weight is water?
• Body composition
  • What is your current body fat percent?
  • What is your desired or recommended body fat percent?
    • Based on gender, age, fitness and other factors
  • What is your lean body mass?
    • This includes muscle, bone, organs and blood
    • Essentially, this is a calculation of total body weight with water and fat subtracted
  • Laboratory tests will help identify any underlying medical conditions that may contribute to weight issues.
  • Laboratory tests can also help us identify nutritional deficiencies and the need for targeted supplements.

Next, in collaboration with your physician, you will develop your goals for weight and body composition, and a timeline for getting there.  Your goals need to be realistic, measurable and sustainable.  We will help you develop strategies to ensure that your weight loss is the desired fat loss, and NOT loss of muscle.  Should you elect to use the weight-management peptides, we focus on keeping the doses low and the side effects minimal.  Your program will include tools for monitoring your calories and macro targets (fat, protein, fiber, and carbohydrates).

Experts in the medical field increasingly agree that muscle mass is a key factor in improving both longevity and the quality of our lives.  This is because muscle tissue is highly metabolic; meaning that having more muscle helps you burn more calories whether you’re at rest, working out, or staying active all day.     We emphasize the importance of protein intake along with hormone balance and physical movement to help you maintain muscle mass.

OK, I’ve lost the Weight.  Great.  How Do I Keep it Off?

• Everybody knows the statistics on people regaining weight after dieting and weight loss are pretty grim. Throughout your weight loss journey we work with you to focus on behavior changes that support your long-term goals. With all the tools at our disposal, it’s relatively easy to help people to lose weight.  However, it's still tricky to get that weight to stay off.  As food decreases its power over you, you will feel enabled to make better choices and plan your meals and intake more effectively.  But the truth is, there’s no “going back”.  The new way of living stays the new way of living.
• Recognize that physical activity plays a vital role in maintaining weight loss.  The good news is that as you lose the extra body fat, you decrease your overall inflammation and generally feel a lot more energetic and able to exercise.
• If you have been using the GLP-1 agonist peptides to assist your weight loss, the long-term goal is to maintain the weight loss, but no longer need the assistance of these medications. We will work with you to taper down your medication dose and still maintain the weight loss that is the new you.

Whether you have 5 pounds or 150 pounds to lose, we’ll be with you every step of the way!