- Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October 9, 2023
- Weight Loss - August 11, 2022
Weight loss journeys look different to everyone- perhaps it’s a total overhaul on lifestyle, or small changes that help you reach your goal. I wanted to take this time to open the conversation about weight loss, and healthy lifestyle changes.
Many people find themselves initially motivated, but then lose steam with family gatherings, vacation, celebrations, kids’ activities, and work. Do you find yourself in this dilemma? Many people do.
Physiologically, weight loss is simple—burn more than you consume. Reality: it’s hard to do. You cannot exercise your way out of a bad diet—it must be a part of the equation. I urge my patients to start with diet changes and eliminations to help with weight loss. Did you know that with enough weight loss you can reverse high blood pressure, diabetes, and fatty liver disease? Pretty impressive. At Summit Internal Medicine Associates we are fortunate enough to have a wonderful Nutritionist here in the office to meet with, establish goals, and keep you accountable.
Let’s talk about exercise. I want to emphasize the difference between living an active lifestyle and getting dedicated exercise. Exercise is time spent with the intention of raising your heart rate- aerobic activities.
I encourage you to find exercise you enjoy doing- perhaps walking, biking, gym, swimming, or group fitness classes- and do that at least 30minutes three times a week. If you have restrictions due to previous injuries, chat with your primary care doctor about this and see if there is another way to get you moving. Not only can this help with weight loss, but it will also improve mood, decrease blood pressure, and improve heart health.
Many people are curious about medications to assist with weight loss. There are several options on the market, including injectables, and oral medications. I encourage you to reach out to your primary care physician to make an appointment to discuss those options and see if one is a good fit for you.
Some people have attempted diet and exercise, plus or minus medications, without success and want more information about surgeries. We have many services in Knoxville to open the discussion about weight loss surgeries, how to become a candidate, and what surgeries are available.
I challenge you to reflect on your current goals, make a list of questions and set up a meeting with your primary care physician to see how we can help you attain your weight loss target.