Hello dear patients – Happy New Year! Are you ready for a new you? One of the joys of working with patients for weight loss is seeing their success stories. Each person has a unique path, and with some hard work and sometimes medication, they can achieve tremendous results. Obesity is a silent disease that is also very sneaky. Many people don’t know that they’ve gained weight but there are some triggers and symptoms that can clue you in that’s it’s time to work on weight loss:
Fatigue
Snoring
Poor Concentration/Focus
Sluggishness
Poorly Fitting Clothing
Some May Have or Develop Health Conditions that Result from Obesity:
Diabetes
Hypertension
Arthritis
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
GERD/Acid Reflux
Obesity is also implicated in the following diseases:
Cancer
Dementia
Autoimmune Disease
If you have any of the conditions listed above, it’s important to work on weight loss to prevent secondary disease and to extend and enrich your life. Let’s say that you are interested in weight loss – what should you do now?
The first thing to do is make a plan that addresses your eating and dietary habits, decide what exercise or physical activity you can add, and consider if you need any professional medical help to lose weight. Many people can start their weight loss journey themselves with little to no intervention from health care providers, but if you have any of the symptoms or diseases listed above, I highly recommend that you start your weight loss journey with a trip to your doctor.
I’ve included some excellent websites to help patients who are ready to begin their journey towards a better state of health. The information and handouts listed below are all free, so there is not need to let finances affect your decisions.
Resources for A Healthy Diet:
For Everyone:
https://www.nutrition.gov/topics/basic-nutrition/healthy-eating - this is a good website to find out about all the dietary and food requirements needed for your age, recipes and tips, and downloads to monitor your progress.
https://www.myplate.gov/myplate-plan - The My Plate Plan lets you personalize your dietary choices and keep track of calorie intake.
For those with Cardiovascular Disease:
https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating - The American Heart Association has information on eating a heart healthy diet, and this is the preferred diet for those with hypertension or a history of heart attack or stroke.
For Diabetics:
https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/managing/eat-well.html and https://diabetes.org/food-nutrition are excellent sites for diabetics to find out which foods can help lower their HbA1c and lose weight at the same time.
Anti-Inflammatory Diet for those with Arthritis, Cancer, Autoimmune, Alzheimer’s Disease, and Thyroid Disease:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320233 and https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/anti-inflammatory-diet and https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/quick-start-guide-to-an-antiinflammation-diet - Really an anti-inflammatory diet is a promising diet for everyone, but especially for those who have inflammatory conditions that contribute to a significant decline in their quality of life.
Need any additional help getting started? Come by and see us at Touch of Grace or Lilies MediSpa and we’re happy to help you get your weight loss underway!