Nava Health member Suzanne C. came to Nava when she began to experience symptoms of perimenopause. She experienced sleep disruption, mood changes, and weight gain, in addition to some challenges with digestion. Here’s how NAVA worked with her to not only diagnose the root cause of her issues but also provide support across the spectrum of symptoms so she could begin a journey to wellness.
At 49 years old, I was overweight, perpetually exhausted, and frazzled. I felt slightly unhinged in general and did not feel, well, “good” anymore. In addition, I had been struggling to lose weight for what felt like a decade. There was not much I had not tried: diets, exercise plans, even meal replacement shakes.
I have a family, a full-time job, and dogs – chicken nuggets are my life!
How Fast Does Semaglutide Work?
My Custom Vitality Plan
I joined Nava Health back in May of 2022. I went through diagnostic testing, a formal review of my medical history, and a detailed discussion with my Nava physician. Turns out, I was in perimenopause.
My hormone levels were not in balance, which left me feeling not in balance. I also met with the Nava Clinical Nutrition team, who quickly identified some food sensitivities I needed to be aware of.
I felt like I finally had some answers and a little less crazy.
BHRT to the Rescue
The Nava team started me on my bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to get my levels back into balance. I worked through my nutrition, making key swaps (bye dairy), and started to turn the corner on my careless diet.
By November, things were improving, and I had the lab work to prove it. At that point, my physician and nutritionist determined I was ready to tackle the rest of my weight loss. It’s not just a vanity project; maintaining a healthy weight is critical to avoiding many chronic diseases as we age.
Semaglutide and Medical Weight Loss
You would have to live under a rock not to have heard about Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro and their amazing impact on weight loss. I learned about Ozempic from a friend who was prescribed Ozempic for her diabetes back in January and had lost about 20lbs.
The Nava team and I discussed their NavaRX medical weight loss program, and I learned that the medication they used was semaglutide, which is identical to Ozempic. Like Ozempic, semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which means it works by mimicking the effects of a naturally occurring hormone called GLP-1. GLP-1 helps to regulate blood sugar levels, reduce appetite, and slow down digestion.
I was intrigued by semaglutide, but I was also hesitant. My friend did not have an easy time, experiencing side effects like nausea and vomiting. But I was making such great progress with my overall health; the final piece was getting the weight off once and for all.
My Nava team worked through all of my questions regarding semaglutide, and with my nutritionist, we had a game plan to use my nutrition plan to combat any potential side effects.
I started taking the NavaRX featuring semaglutide in November 2022.
Maintaining Weight Loss with Clinical Nutrition Support
While on the semaglutide medication and NavaRX program, I continued to work regularly with the Nava Clinical Nutrition team. They taught me mindful eating tips and strategies for meal planning and how to optimize my weight loss.
My NavaRX experience was free from the scary symptoms, but I know that was because of my expert nutrition coaches. The nutrition team was clear about what I needed to do, like how important hydration is while on semaglutide and what foods to avoid entirely because they can trigger nausea (say goodbye to anything fried).
Within a few weeks, I noticed a difference. I was eating less and feeling fuller longer. I also had more energy, which made me actually WANT to exercise. The weight came off consistently, but it was a manageable amount each week. I was losing around 1-2 pounds a week.
When I was coming to the end of my program, the amount I had lost in total felt like a shock.
After six months on the program, I had lost 28 pounds.
To say that I was thrilled is an understatement.
People who had not seen me in a while did a double take, and I felt more confident than I had felt in years. Everyone wanted to know how I was doing it, and I was more than happy to shout about NavaRX to friends and family.
Coming up on one year since I started and seven months since ending my program, I have maintained 20 pounds of my weight loss. I feel healthier and happier than ever before.
I give 100% of the credit for maintaining this weight loss to the Nava Health Clinical Nutrition team. Without the skills and new behaviors learned throughout my time with Nava, this likely became another failed attempt at weight loss.
But, because the changes I’ve made are part of my day-to-day, and I have strategies to help deal with whatever comes my way, I plan to keep it off for good this time.
How Can I Get Semaglutide? Nava Can Help!
Semaglutide has emerged as a promising solution for individuals seeing assistance with weight loss. It’s important to remember that successful and sustainable weight loss involves a holistic approach. This is where partnering with the Nava Health Clinical Nutrition team can make a significant difference. Start your weight loss journey today and experience the transformation that medical weight loss can offer. Ready to start seeing results?
Nour Amri is a Licensed Integrative Nutritionist, a Certified Nutrition Specialist, and a Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist. She earned her Master’s degree from the Maryland University of Integrative Health. She also received her certification for mind-body medicine facilitation from Georgetown University School of Medicine. In her approach, Nour applies the principles of Integrative and Functional Nutrition, which emphasize healthy eating personalized to the client’s genetics, environment, lifestyle, and health concerns.