If the clean start of a new year inspires you to set ambitious goals, establish healthier habits, and make meaningful life changes, you’re not alone — many people feel the same motivation, and express it by making a New Year’s resolution with enthusiasm.
Weight loss ranks as both one of the most popular and one of the least fulfilled New Year’s resolutions. But why does the strong urge to shed pounds and get fitter often fizzle into total inaction by early February? Often it comes down to:
It doesn’t have to be this way. With the expertise, guidance, and full support of board-certified primary care provider Heather Kennedy, PA-C, and our skilled team at Refine Medical in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, healthy, sustainable weight loss is within reach.
Here are five key elements of our medically supervised weight loss management approach.
Before you dive into any weight loss plan, it’s important to get clear about your weight loss intentions (also known as your personal motivators) and set realistic goals.
When you name what’s motivating you to lose weight, your intentions have the power to keep you motivated as you work toward your goals. You may want to get fitter and stronger, fit into a smaller pair of jeans, have better sex, improve your sleep, lift your mood, alleviate joint pain, reduce your chronic disease risk, or all the above.
Attainable goal setting is less about your “ideal weight” and more about what constitutes a healthy weight for you. A realistic initial weight loss goal is a 10% reduction from your current, baseline weight, achieved through the gradual loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week. Once you reach your target, we establish your goal for further weight loss as indicated.
Losing weight isn’t just a matter of eating fewer calories and getting more exercise. Why? A multitude of factors can affect your health and weight, and considering each one can help set you up for success. To ensure we meet your personal needs, we evaluate and consider your:
To gain further insight on your personal starting point, we may also conduct blood work to check for any issues — such as a nutritional deficiency or a hormonal imbalance — that could make weight loss harder. Addressing these “hidden” issues from the start can help you set the stage for weight loss success.
Created with your history, health, and needs in mind, your personal weight loss action plan is built on two core concepts:
Calorie restriction isn’t the primary focus of your weight loss diet. Instead, we emphasize getting the right number of high-quality calories, the kind that are packed with essential vitamins and minerals, satiating nutrients, health-supporting antioxidants, and dietary fiber.
Eating well — and avoiding junk food — can keep you energized, boost your metabolism, and even activate your body’s natural fat-burning mechanisms. We also help you with healthy cooking methods, portion control, smart snacking, and strategies to reduce unhealthy cravings.
Regular exercise, the other key driver of weight loss, helps you gain fitness as you shed extra pounds. Like healthy eating, physical activity also boosts your metabolism and helps you burn fat more efficiently.
An effective, sustainable workout plan is tailored to your current fitness level, features activities you enjoy, and helps you safely advance to the next level through a comprehensive routine. Your well-rounded plan includes cardio, strength, and flexibility training.
Above all, our medically supported weight loss management approach recognizes that you’re an individual with unique support needs. Once the foundational elements of your plan are in place, we assess your need for:
Weight loss medication isn’t for everyone; we generally recommend short-term appetite suppressant use for those with a high BMI and weight-related health concerns like Type 2 diabetes or high blood pressure (hypertension).
We’re here to help you reach your weight loss goal — but we’re also here to lend our support once you reach your long-term maintenance phase. Whether you find yourself regaining a few pounds and want to reverse course quickly, or you need help getting past a fitness plateau, we’re here for you.
Are you ready for weight loss success? We can help. Call 405-609-7369 today to learn more, or schedule a visit online at Refine Medical any time.