We’re officially midway through the year. How are you doing on that New Year’s resolution to lose weight? If you’re like most Americans … not too well. But before you find yourself overwhelmed by feelings of guilt and failure, take heart: Losing weight isn’t easy for anyone, and it’s not because you’re not trying. Instead, your biology could be to blame.
Research shows that when we try to lose weight, our bodies often respond by fighting back, trying to retain more calories (and pounds) by slowing down our metabolism and producing hormones that actually make us feel hungrier! Scientists aren’t 100% sure why that is, but it probably has something to do with your body’s built-in defense against what it perceives as starvation or stress.So if your own body is conspiring against you, does that mean it’s time to throw in the towel on weight loss? Not at all. Maintaining a healthy weight is essential for your heart health (and overall health, too), reducing your risks of:
- Heart attackCoronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Blood clots
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
Plus, losing excess pounds helps you feel better, sleep better, and stay more active, too.The key is to optimize your weight loss efforts to suit your body and your unique health needs. To do that, it helps — a lot — to work with a medical professional. With locations in Glendale, Goodyear, Anthem, and Canyon City, Arizona, Phoenix Heart, PLLC, is a respected provider of custom weight loss therapies aimed at helping patients enjoy better health and healthier hearts, too. If you’re struggling with losing weight, here’s how we can help.
The problem with diets
First, there’s the name. Diet sounds like deprivation, which immediately works against your efforts, if only psychologically. Instead, what you want is an eating plan you can follow for life — one that’s based on your health needs, your age, your food preferences, and other factors.Second, commercial diets are developed based on broad principles, not on individual factors that could be influencing your weight. This one-size-fits-all approach neglects important factors, like:
- Your age
- Underlying medical issues
- Your lifestyle
- Emotional issues, like anxiety or depression
- Your personal eating habits
- Hormonal changes
- Nutritional deficiencies
In fact, these diets are kind of like those well-meaning friends and relatives who offer sage advice like, “If you want to lose weight, just eat less and exercise more.” The underpinnings make sense — but that kind of approach leaves out all the underlying factors that make weight loss so difficult.
Why medical weight loss is different
With medical weight loss, your healthy weight journey starts with a physical exam and a review of your medical history and personal factors that could be interfering with your goals. We may order lab tests, as well.Next, we’ll work with you to set realistic goals and develop a plan that meets those goals and suits your lifestyle and unique personal and health needs. Your goals don’t need to be dramatic — even a 5-10% weight loss can benefit your health, reducing your blood pressure, the strain on your heart, and your risks of cardiovascular diseases.Most patients benefit from a combination of healthy eating and lifestyle changes aimed at improving their overall wellness, as well as their cardiovascular health. And of course, our team will work with you throughout your journey, giving you support and encouragement and adjusting your plan as needed.
Lose the weight — and keep it off
Losing weight takes commitment and effort, but it’s one of the most important things you can do to help your heart stay healthy, especially as you get older. To learn how a custom weight loss plan can help you shed those stubborn pounds, book an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Phoenix Heart today.
