To make a long story short, the answer is yes. Sustained weight loss is possible. But if you struggle with the scales, you know it’s more complicated than that! You need commitment as well as a healthy diet and exercise.
And worse, from viral videos circulating on TikTok – under the hashtag MyOzempicJourney – you can be led into thinking that weight loss medication is the way to go. But “skinny” is not healthy.
These metabolic medications improve your metabolism so that you can regain and maintain a healthy weight for you long term. They’re not the aesthetic “thinness” tool social media influencers imply. And without a healthcare provider to monitor your weight loss, you’re running risks.
So – let’s look at sustained weight loss as a journey – one that requires commitment on your part to continue with healthy eating habits, getting enough sleep, and regular physical activities.
And remember, your weight loss will not be linear. It depends on your
- medical history,
- genetics,
- age,
- diet, and
- exercise strategies.
That’s also why gaining and sustaining a healthy weight is more challenging for some people than others. And medication may be appropriate at the right time.
Overall, sustained weight loss is possible. So let’s look at how to reach and maintain a healthy weight for you.
Sustained Weight Loss is Good for Your Health
Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. If you’re part of these statistics, you may have heard about (and tried) various methods of losing weight.
Most of them involve calories. The problem is, regulating your weight is about much more than calories in vs. calories out. It’s a health issue.
But the efforts you make pay off.
You’ll experience an increase in your life expectancy and a better quality of life by reaching and maintaining a healthy weight.
You’ll also likely avoid unwanted issues (e.g. heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension) due to having
- low cholesterol,
- controlled blood pressure, and
- healthy blood sugar levels.
Caveat: Avoid Shortcuts to Sustained Weight Loss
Unfortunately, losing weight is not always easy, and keeping it off may be even harder for some people. There are studies that prove you often regain up to 80 percent of your weight within five years.
That’s why you’re best to not take short cuts!
For example, you might find it tempting to start an overlyrestricted diet to get fast results. But radically cutting calories isn’t a sustainable way to lose weight, or healthy. Your metabolism slows down and counteracts your efforts!
In addition, you can end up with disordered eating, depression, and that well-known yo-yo effect of weight off, weight on, weight off, etc.
What you’ll find more sustainable is combininghealthy eating habits with nutritious, lower-calorie foods, and regular exercise.
Sustained Weight Loss: Set Achievable Goals and Time Frames.
In other words, be realistic. That means not buying that dress two sizes too small for a wedding in six weeks’ time!
Certainly, a diet of fewer than 1000 calories per day may cause you to lose the weight within that time scale, but it doesn’t provide enough daily nutrition for your health.
A realistic weight loss goal is perhaps a 5-10 per cent reduction in your body weight over six months.
And the benefit is it’s easier to keep to long term. So, consider reducing your calorie intake to somewhere between 1000 to 1600 calories per day – as well as adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
But as we said up top, there are many background issues that you need to take into account.
For that reason, a board-certified nutritionist can help to create a customized health plan for you. They’ll consider your goals and your metabolism.
At Nava Health, our functional nutritionists provide comprehensive nutritional assessments and a full health analysis before creating a personalized plan for sustained weight loss until you reach your goal – and then help you maintain it.
Contact us now if you’ve already realized you’ll benefit from this kind of tailored support. Otherwise, read on…
How to Maintain a Healthy Weight
Maintaining your healthy weight takes commitment because your rate of weight loss often reduces after six months of your new eating habits.
Of course, you don’t want to continue losing weight beyond what’s healthy. But when weight loss stalls, you need to work with your nutritionist on a weight management program.
Such a monitored program may also include some medication, as we mentioned up top.
Medications and Surgery
Some people may need extra help to achieve a healthy weight. That’s especially true where healthy foods and exercise haven’t worked for you.
If this is you, your doctor may
- recommend medication to help you lose weight or
- suggest interventions such as bariatric surgery.
Medications
Semaglutide (sold as Ozempic, Wegovy, or Rybelsus) is a glucagon-like peptide that’s highly effective for helping you to reach a healthy weight.
In the case of obesity or insulin resistance, especially, it’s groundbreaking, because it leads to better metabolism, fewer hunger pangs, and more glycemic control.
It’s also less invasive than surgery.
Bariatric surgery
Surgery is also an effective option for tackling obesity to achieve sustained weight loss. You’re eligible for bariatric surgery if:
- Your body mass index (BMI) is 40 or higher (extreme obesity).
- Your BMI is 35 to 39.9 (obesity) with comorbidities or weight-related severe health problems, including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, or apnea.
However, it’s important to talk to your doctor to help you find the best treatment to achieve sustainable weight loss and a healthier life.
What About Sagging Skin?
In other words, how do you keep your skin tight while losing weight? Does your saggy skin ever go away?
These are legitimate concerns!
Once your body loses a significant amount of fat, it’s only natural your skin sags. But there’s help available without the need for surgery.
At Nava Health, we provide a revolutionary, non-invasive body-shaping procedure that simultaneously eliminates fat and builds muscle through high-intensity focused electromagnetic energy.
It’s called Emsculpt Neo and supports your sustained weight loss journey by helping solve any sagging skin problem! We’ll return to this subject soon.
Nava Health’s Functional Nutritionists Can Help
At Nava Health, we know that losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy weight is as challenging as running a marathon. That’s why we don’t want you to go through this by yourself.
Our functional nutritionists are highly qualified to help you lose your extra pounds (and keep them off) with a personalized health plan made especially for you. Schedule a consultation today, and let’s start your journey!