You’ve done everything you’re supposed to. You count calories, avoid deserts and joined a gym but the pounds still aren’t coming off. Sometimes when you are in the thick of yo-yo dieting it can be hard to pinpoint your main problems. This issue can become especially frustrating when you are constantly waiting for the numbers on the scale to drop. By stepping back and enlisting the help of a professional like Monica Gavin, M.D., of the Azani Medical Spa, and diplomat of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine who will meet with you for a one-on-one consultation, you can evaluate your lifestyle and make improvements to help you reach your goal weight.
The first step in creating a specialized weight loss program is to find out more about your regular routine and what hasn’t worked for you in the past.
- Do you exercise regularly?
- What do your typical meals consist of?
- What foods are hard to resist?
- What diets have you tried that have failed in the past?
- What are stress triggers that drive you to eat?
- What times of the day are you most likely to binge?
- What parts of your schedule have made it difficult to stick to diets in the past?
Next, Dr. Gavin will review your medical history as well as any diseases that run in your family that may be attributing to your weight loss struggle.
- Do you or any relatives suffer from diabetes?
- Do you have a thyroid problem that could be making it difficult to lose weight?
- Are any heart conditions or physical disabilities limiting the amount of exercise you can do?
In conjunction with discussing medical issues, a complete medical workup will be conducted including various blood tests. Your weight-loss specialist should also be in contact with your primary care physician so he is aware of your efforts to shed weight.
If you are a good fit for the plan then you can begin.
The secret to Dr. Gavin’s weight-loss program is HCG, a medical prescription hormone that is found naturally in pregnant women. While you will also be required to stick to a specific diet and caloric intake of 500 calories a day, the hormone works to stifle hunger and cravings.
For the first phase of the program, which lasts 42 days, you will inject the hormone into your muscle, usually the thigh, once daily.
Phase two is considered the transition phase and is a six-week guided diet. During this phase, you will be reintroduced to proteins and fruits. This is followed by phase three which allows you to slowly work in complex carbohydrates and some fats into your diet.
While the HCG makes this plan remarkably easy to stick to, it also takes a conscience effort on the part of the dieter to continue the habits he learned while on the program. For people who want to lose a significant amount of weight or find that they are starting to regain some of the lost pounds, phase one can be repeated six weeks after the completion of phase three.
The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your healthcare provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate healthcare provider.
