Why Excessive Exercise Can Make it Difficult to Follow a Diet

Many people who start a weight loss program incorporate exercise in the reasonable belief that exercise increases their rate of metabolism, thereby burning off more calories – and burning them off faster. However, it’s common for those seeking to lose a significant amount of weight to suddenly go from sedentary to the other extreme, throwing themselves full on into an intensive workout regimen.

Unfortunately, this approach is doomed to failure. Excessive exercise actually hinders weight loss because it can lead to increased hunger, hormonal imbalances such as high cortisol levels, and a potential adaptation where your body becomes more efficient at burning calories – thereby making it harder to create a calorie deficit necessary for weight loss. Our blog post – “What is a Calorie Deficit?” – explains this weight loss method in detail.

Essentially, your body may start to conserve energy by slowing down your metabolism when pushed too hard with exercise without a balanced diet or medical weight loss treatment to support it.

Reasons Why Too Much Exercise Can Hinder Weight Loss

Increased appetite:

Strenuous workouts can trigger hunger hormones, causing you to eat more than you burn, thus negating the calorie deficit needed for weight loss. 

Stress hormone elevation (cortisol):

Overtraining can lead to high cortisol levels, which can promote fat storage and hinder fat burning. 

Metabolic adaptation:

Your body can adapt to intense exercise by becoming more efficient at using energy, meaning you may burn fewer calories during workouts over time. 

Muscle gain:

While building muscle is generally beneficial, if you are not adjusting your calorie intake accordingly, significant muscle gain can lead to a higher overall weight even if body fat percentage decreases. 

Overtraining injuries:

Pushing yourself too hard can lead to injuries that may prevent you from exercising consistently, impacting your weight loss efforts.

How Evolution Works Against Us in Exercising to Lose Weight

Humans have developed and adapted over the eons to survive long periods of time without food. After all, our early ancestors weren’t always successful in their hunting-gathering efforts. Evolutionary anthropologist Herman Pontzer, PhD – author of the bestselling book, Burn – makes the case that human metabolism evolved over millions of years to defend against weight loss. As a result, the calories we burn every day stay within a fairly narrow range, whether we hit the gym every day or stay put on the couch.

Here are the words of Dr. Pontzer himself, from the Colloquy podcast hosted by Paul Massari:

“The simple answer, if it’s a simple answer, is that, for a half a billion years of evolution in animals, losing weight’s been a really bad sign … If you’re losing weight, your economics are not sustainable … You’re not bringing in enough to cover your expenses, and that pathway leads to death. And so, your body is built to be really good about defending its body weight. It doesn’t want to change weight very easily.

“And if it’s going to make a mistake one direction or the other, it surely doesn’t want to lose weight. And so, your body works really hard to never lose weight. And if you do lose it, to sort of get back to where you were before. So, the word ‘set point’ gets thrown around, I think, too much. I think maybe that’s too much stock that gets put into that as some sort of a hard-wired set point, but your body does seem to want to keep itself at its current weight.”

Dr. Pontzer had the rare opportunity to put this to the test. In the years 2009 and 2010, he and a group of colleagues spent time with the Hadza – a traditional hunter-gatherer community in northern Tanzania. Although assuming that the Hadza people would burn more calories than Americans thanks to their very physically active way of life, he was surprised to learn that such was not the case.

“And in fact, when you account for things like body size, fat percentage, age, no matter how you want to sort of slice it, there’s actually no difference at all in daily energy expenditure between Hadza men and women and adults in the US and in Europe and other industrialized populations. So, a total shock. They are 5 to 10 times more physically active, but there is no discernible difference in the total calories burned per day.

“It’s just more evidence that exercise alone is a pretty poor tool for weight loss. If you absolutely push it as hard as you can for as long as you can, you might see some weight loss, at least initially until your body kind of rights the ship. But the long-term expected weight loss from exercise alone is something like 2 kilograms. Right? Less than five pounds.”

Moderation is the Key to a Successful Exercise Program

The take-home message is that overdoing any exercise routine is counterproductive if weight loss is your goal. As mentioned earlier, pushing yourself too much can result in injury or a medical emergency. Here is a basic guideline to following a beneficial exercise program:

Consult a professional – Meet with a certified trainer or nutritionist to develop a personalized exercise plan that aligns with your weight loss goals. 

Find a balance – Aim for a moderate exercise routine that includes both cardio and strength training, while ensuring you are eating a healthy diet to maintain a calorie deficit. While we’ve quoted Dr. Pontzer extensively, here is an observation by our own William E. Newsome, M.D., Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss.

“Intense exercise increases hunger, and most of the time people compensate by eating more calories which eliminates the calorie deficit. It’s easier to lose weight by simply eating less calories and casually walking 5,000-10,000 steps daily.”

Listen to your body – Pay attention to signs of overtraining like fatigue, decreased performance, and muscle soreness, and adjust your workout intensity or duration accordingly.

Exercise and Diet Need to Work Together

Going back to the Hadza community, even though their high level of physical activity doesn’t burn any more calories than the typical industrialized society couch potato, Dr. Pontzer notes that its members are free of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer. But working out as a way of life rather than a lifestyle doesn’t completely account for their excellent health. The Hadza community members aren’t doing their hunting and gathering at fast food eateries or supermarkets to fill their shopping carts with highly processed foods. Diet (as opposed to dieting) makes a big difference!

How a Supervised Medical Weight Loss Program Can Help Your Achieve Your Goals

Being aware of the calories you consume on a daily basis, the types of foods you eat and the amount of exercise you get will put you in the right mindset to succeed on a weight loss program. But if you’ve already tried specific types of diet plans and programs without long-term results, do not think that you’re destined to fail in your weight loss goals! Medical appetite control could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Medical weight loss medications can treat those living with overweight and obesity by controlling your appetite – thereby making it possible to follow a low-calorie diet without constant feelings of gnawing hunger! Solutions Weight Loss provides today’s most advanced weight loss medications under the guidance of Dr. Newsome. From the very start of your medical weight loss journey with us, Dr. Newsome conducts your in-depth initial consultation, and will evaluate and prescribe for you the best treatment to achieve your goals. He brings his own personal weight loss experiences, and a lifelong dedication to health and fitness.

As we say at Solutions Weight Loss, the future of weight loss is here! We offer high-quality, safe and affordable, compounded GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide – which you probably know under brand names like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®.  Research shows that when combined with one-on-one physician coaching, low-calorie diet and lifestyle changes, they are the safest and most effective approach to achieve sustainable weight loss.

Because we prescribe, compound and dispense these medications, shortages of the brand-name drugs will never affect your access. In fact, you can leave our office with your medication the same day! Moreover, we understand that people have busy schedules that may not allow them to visit our office on a weekly basis. That’s why we can dispense up to 12 weeks of your weight loss medication at a time. 

One foundation of our practice is the importance of the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Newsome and our entire Solutions Weight Loss team are with you on every step of your medical weight loss journey! You’ll never feel that you’re on your own, or have to deal with an impersonal online chat or text with whoever is working at a telehealth service at the time when you happen to have a question. You will know us, and we will know you – which allows us to give you the individual help and advice you need!

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!

Because many people are unfamiliar with compounding pharmacies and the valuable purpose they serve, our blog post will look at what they do, and why you can trust the GLP-1 weight loss medications (as well as all others) they produce.

The Role of Compounding Pharmacies

According to the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC), pharmacy compounding plays an essential role in the American healthcare system.

“In traditional compounding, pharmacists create a customized medication, most often from pure ingredients, for an individual patient pursuant to a prescription. Pharmacists’ ability to compound medications is authorized in federal law for good reason: While manufactured drugs are the standard, those don’t come in strengths and dosage forms that are right for everyone, and healthcare practitioners need to be able to prescribe customized medications when, in their judgment, a manufactured drug is not the best course of therapy for a human or animal patient.

“Compounded drugs are not ‘knockoffs,’ ‘dupes,’ or ‘counterfeits’ as they have been referred to in some recent media stories. Rather, they are legitimate therapies created from pure bulk ingredients by pharmacies that adhere to the rigorous compounding standards of the US Pharmacopeia, are licensed by state boards of pharmacy, and are inspected by those state boards, and sometimes by FDA as well.

“Note that when a compounded medication is dispensed, it’s because a prescriber – doctor, physicians’ assistant, nurse practitioner, or veterinarian – wrote the prescription for that compounded medication. The compounded drug is not a substitution for an FDA-approved drug; rather, the prescriber has intentionally prescribed a compounded drug in a specific dosage strength or form or combination of medications that they believe is right for their patient.”

Compounding Pharmacies, GLP-1 Medications and Your Medical Weight Loss Journey

Brand-name GLP-1 medications are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies and dispensed by prescription. GLP-1 medications prepared by compounding pharmacies use semaglutide (the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy) and tirzepatide (the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound), and are also dispensed by prescription. Brand-name and compounded GLP-1 drugs are identical in purity and efficacy (effectiveness).

Moreover, most compounding pharmacies are locally owned and operated. Their owners/pharmacists are members of your community, and therefore committed to providing quality medications in keeping with all regulations. They have a strong incentive – as well as obligation – to practice business in an ethical manner and uphold a good reputation.

One of the many advantages of choosing Solutions Weight Loss for your medical weight loss journey is that we can compound and dispense the GLP-1 medication that William E. Newsome, M.D. – Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss – prescribes for your individual situation and weight loss goals, based upon your in-depth consultation and evaluation. You can leave our office with your medication the same day it’s prescribed!

What About Websites Dispensing GLP-1 Drugs Directly to Consumers?

APC says it best. “Those aren’t pharmacies at all and shouldn’t be conflated with compounding pharmacies. Legitimate compounded drugs are prescribed by a physician or other prescriber for a specific patient. They are prepared and dispensed by state-licensed compounding pharmacies using documented pure active pharmaceutical ingredients that come from FDA-registered facilities. Compounding pharmacies are authorized by federal law and follow FDA Guidance for Industry in preparing copies of FDA-approved drugs when that drug is listed as ‘currently in shortage’ on FDA’s Drug Shortage list – as semaglutide and tirzepatide currently are. FDA guidance is plainly worded on this subject.

“The selling of substances – counterfeit, research-grade, or otherwise – purporting to be FDA-approved drugs direct-to-consumer without a prescription is illegal [emphasis ours]. It’s important to note that those aren’t compounded substances at all. It’s not even pharmacy, and we strongly support FDA’s efforts to end the sale of illicit substances, which put consumers at risk.”

Not far behind are direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth companies that provide prescription medications for conditions ranging from hair loss to sexual health – and have now added GLP-1 weight loss medications to their roster. As our blog post – “Why You Shouldn’t Order GLP-1 Medications Online” – points out, these sites invert the usual practice of medicine by turning the act of prescribing drugs into a service. Instead of doctors making diagnoses and then suggesting treatments, patients request drugs and physicians serve largely as gatekeepers.

You may be surprised to learn that there is no single federal or state agency in charge of overseeing DTC services. These companies describe themselves as tech platforms, not health providers – giving them a legal excuse to avoid responsibility should you experience an adverse reaction or bad outcome. Protection for consumers is minimal or non-existent. 

The lack of a one-on-one, in-person doctor-patient relationship is another serious drawback. Such companies may offer an online consultation with a doctor, but the doctor is affiliated with the company. If you can choose the doctor for your video conference, you’ll only be able to choose from those within its network. Some companies let you skip even this step, allowing you to order GLP-1 medications (as well as any other medications the company offers) simply by answering a brief questionnaire and/or filling out a form.

Do You Have Questions About Starting Your Medical Weight Loss Journey? Schedule Your Appointment with Dr. Newsome Today!

Compounded GLP-1 medications are just as effective as their brand-name counterparts, so you can begin – and maintain – your medical weight loss program with confidence! However, medication is only part (although a very important part) of successful, long-term weight loss. Being under the guidance of a physician who specializes in weight loss is key to monitoring your progress, as well as helping you achieve the diet and lifestyle improvements that make a significant difference.

Dr. Newsome has practiced in Orlando for more than 20 years. He is a board-certified family physician and an active member of the American Academy of Aesthetic Medicine. As mentioned earlier, Dr. Newsome will conduct your in-depth initial consultation, and will evaluate and prescribe for you the best treatment to achieve your goals. He brings his own personal weight loss experiences, and a lifelong dedication to health and fitness. Dr. Newsome and our entire team are committed to your success, and are with you at every step of your medical weight loss journey!

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!

We thank the APC for its commitment to educating consumers and members of the media about pharmacy compounded GLP-1 drugs. 

Many of us are comfortable with doing everything online – from ordering meals to even buying a house. But one thing you shouldn’t do online is order GLP-1 medications. Because the healthcare industry has undergone significant changes in recent years – especially during the COVID-19 pandemic – some practices that have become acceptable can put your health at risk, with no accountability to you should something go wrong.

Case in point: Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth companies that provide prescription medications for conditions ranging from hair loss to sexual health – and have now added GLP-1 weight loss medications to their roster.

What is a Direct-to-Consumer Telehealth Company?

This is an industry designation for any online-based company that offers prescription medications directly to consumers without requiring an in-person appointment with a physician.

When used as originally intended, telehealth helps to serve people who can’t easily visit their healthcare provider in person. DTC telehealth companies, on the other hand, basically exist to write and/or fill prescriptions on demand for their subscribers. If you’re beginning to see some potential problems with this, Missouri Medicine – The Journal of the Missouri State Medical Association – spells them out as follows:

“Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telemedicine is increasingly popular and enables patients to obtain medical advice and treatment via electronic media (e.g., computer, telephone, or smartphone) without a prior doctor-patient relationship. Convenience, accessibility, and home delivery make DTC telemedicine attractive to patients. Concerns about DTC telemedicine include: a lack of regulation, transparency, and an established patient-provider relationship (physician and pharmacist).”

Issues with DTC Telehealth Companies

So what could go wrong? As reported by Natasha Singer and Katie Thomas in their article for The New York Times – Drug Sites Upend Doctor-Patient Relations: ‘It’s Restaurant-Menu Medicine’ – “The sites invert the usual practice of medicine by turning the act of prescribing drugs into a service. Instead of doctors making diagnoses and then suggesting treatments, patients request drugs and physicians serve largely as gatekeepers.

“Some of these companies operate in a regulatory vacuum that could increase public health risks, according to interviews with physicians, former federal health regulators and legal experts. And federal and state health laws, written to ensure competent medical care and drug safety, have not kept pace with online services, they say.”

To this point, most people don’t know that there is no single federal or state agency in charge of overseeing DTC services. These companies describe themselves as tech platforms, not health providers – giving them a legal excuse to avoid responsibility should you experience an adverse reaction or bad outcome. In plain language, you won’t be able to sue them. Protection for consumers is minimal or non-existent. 

The lack of a one-on-one, in-person doctor-patient relationship is another serious drawback. Such companies may offer an online consultation with a doctor, but the doctor is affiliated with the company. If you can choose the doctor for your video conference, you’ll only be able to choose from those within its network. Some companies let you skip even this step, allowing you to order GLP-1 medications (as well as any other medications the company offers) simply by answering a brief questionnaire and/or filling out a form.

Why You Need a One-on-One Doctor-Patient Relationship for Your Medical Weight Loss Journey

Medical weight loss treatment is, after all, medical treatment that needs to be in the hands of an experienced, licensed physician. William E. Newsome, M.D., is Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss. Instead of filling out an online form, you’ll have an in-person consultation with Dr. Newsome. During your first appointment, he will measure your body mass index (BMI), take your vital signs (body temperature, pulse rate, respiratory rate and blood pressure) and talk with you about your medical history to learn about any health conditions you’ve had or currently have.

Of course, during this appointment, Dr. Newsome will have an in-depth conversation with you about your weight loss goals. If you feel frustrated by the lack of results and setbacks from previous weight loss programs you’ve tried, Dr. Newsome has been where you are – and knows that losing excess weight is a difficult and emotional process.

Based upon your consultation, Dr. Newsome will evaluate and prescribe for you the best GLP-1 medication treatment plan to achieve your goals. We offer high-quality, safe and affordable, compounded GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide – which you probably know under brand names like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®. Research shows that when combined with one-on-one physician coaching, low-calorie diet and lifestyle changes, they are the safest and most effective approach to achieve sustainable weight loss.

Because we prescribe, compound and dispense these medications, shortages of the brand-name drugs will never affect your access. In fact, you can leave our office with your medication the same day – offering you both confidence in the quality of your GLP-1 medication AND convenience that DTC telehealth services can’t match! Moreover, we understand that people have busy schedules that may not allow them to visit our office on a weekly basis. That’s why we can dispense up to 12 weeks of your weight loss medication at a time. 

Keeping in mind the importance of the doctor-patient relationship, Dr. Newsome and our entire Solutions Weight Loss team are with you on every step of your medical weight loss journey! You’ll never feel that you’re on your own, or have to deal with an impersonal online chat or text with whoever is working at the telehealth service at the time when you happen to have a question. You will know us, and we will know you – which allows us to give you the individual help and advice you need!

Our Proven Track Record in Getting Results for Our Patients

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

Your weight loss goals – and your health – are too important to be left to a DTC telehealth company. A medical weight loss treatment plan provided and supervised by Dr. Newsome can help you achieve success in a safe, proven way, making sure you have all the support you need.

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!

Of all the weight loss methods out there, running a calorie deficit is perhaps the most basic. A calorie deficit occurs when you consume fewer calories than your body needs to perform its functions. For example, if you burn 2,000 calories a day but only consume 1,500, you’ll be in a 500 calorie deficit. When this happens, your body uses stored fat for energy instead of food, which can lead to weight loss.

However, this isn’t as simplistic as the “advice” that people who don’t struggle with losing weight too often offer – that is, eat less and exercise more. There’s a specific approach to following a calorie deficit diet in order to get results. We thank Healthline, Medscape and WebMD for the helpful information our blog post provides!

What Exactly is a Calorie, Anyway?

Everyone talks about calories, but what is the definition of a calorie? Basically, calories are the units of energy you get from foods and beverages. Calorie expenditure refers to the amount you expend, or burn, each day. It includes three components:

• Resting energy expenditure (REE), which refers to the calories your body uses at rest for functions that keep you alive, such as breathing and blood circulation.
• Thermic effect of food, which involves the calories your body burns digesting, absorbing and metabolizing food.
•  Activity energy expenditure (AEE), which refers to the calories you expend during movements, such as exercising, fidgeting and performing household chores.

How Can I Calculate My Calorie Deficit?

This requires 10 days of dedicated self-observation and old-fashioned calorie-counting. Here’s the three-step method:

1. Weigh yourself at the same time of day, wearing the same clothes, or nothing at all. 
2. Divide the total number of calories you consumed over 10 days by 10 to find your average daily calorie intake. 
3. Subtract your calorie deficit goal from that number. For example, if your daily calorie need is 1,800 calories and you want a 500-calorie deficit, your new daily calorie target is 1,300 calories. 

What is Considered a Safe Calorie Deficit?

Research suggests that a 500-calorie deficit may help with weight loss. But this number depends on many factors and is different for everyone. A calorie deficit of 1,200 calories per day or less is generally considered safe and sustainable for weight loss, resulting in one to two pounds of weight loss per week. This is based on a starting point of at least 1,200 to 1,500 calories a day for women, and 1,500 to 1,800 calories a day for men.

However, weight loss can fluctuate depending on factors like water retention and muscle gain. Other factors may also influence weight, such as:

• physical activity
• hormones
• lifestyle habits
• stress
• underlying health conditions
•  taking certain medications
• genetics
• sleeping habits

Because each person’s daily calorie requirements are different, this calculator can help you determine yours. Known as the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, it is a widely used tool to predict daily energy expenditure in healthy adults.

What to Eat to Achieve a Healthy Calorie Deficit

To achieve a healthy calorie deficit, focus on eating nutrient-dense whole foods like lean proteins (chicken, fish, tofu), fruits, vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats, while limiting highly processed foods, sugary drinks and excessive amounts of unhealthy fats; prioritize foods high in fiber to feel fuller for longer and include protein with every meal to aid in satiety. 

Key food groups to include: 

• Lean protein: Chicken breast, fish, turkey, beans, lentils, tofu, low-fat dairy. 
• Fruits and vegetables: Abundant variety of fresh, frozen, or canned with no added sugar.
• Whole grains: Brown rice, quinoa, whole wheat bread, oats. 
•  Healthy fats: Avocados, nuts, seeds, olive oil.

Important considerations: 

• Fiber intake: Prioritize foods high in fiber to promote fullness and regulate digestion. 
• Portion control: Be mindful of serving sizes to manage calorie intake. 
• Drink water:  Stay hydrated with water instead of sugary beverages.
• Limit processed foods: Avoid fast food, candy, and highly processed snacks.

Of course, combining a calorie deficit diet with regular exercise can enhance weight loss and improve overall health. 

Is a Calorie Deficit Diet Recommended for Everyone?

In a word, no. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not follow a calorie-deficit diet, nor should athletes, as they need energy to perform. Such a diet could also make certain existing health conditions worse. Even for healthy adults, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider or registered dietitian before starting a calorie deficit diet to determine a safe and appropriate calorie target based on your individual needs.

Moreover, following this type of diet requires a great deal of willpower and constant calorie-counting. As most people lead a busy life, performing such ongoing calculations is demanding of one’s time. Not to say that a calorie deficit diet can’t succeed, but following through and staying with it takes a level of commitment that you may not be able to sustain over the long term – regardless of how well-intentioned or motivated you are.

Calories Do Count – But There are Many Paths to Long-term Weight Loss

Ultimately, being aware of the calories you consume on a daily basis, the types of foods you eat and the amount of exercise you get will put you in the right mindset to succeed on a weight loss program. But if you’ve already tried a calorie deficit diet and found it wasn’t right for you, do not think that you’re destined to fail in your weight loss goals! Medical appetite control could be the answer you’ve been looking for.

Medical weight loss medications can treat those living with overweight and obesity by controlling your appetite – thereby making it possible to follow a low-calorie diet without constant feelings of gnawing hunger! Solutions Weight Loss provides today’s most advanced weight loss medications under the guidance of William E. Newsome, M.D., Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss. From the very start of your medical weight loss journey with us, Dr. Newsome conducts your in-depth initial consultation, and will evaluate and prescribe for you the best treatment to achieve your goals. He brings his own personal weight loss experiences, and a lifelong dedication to health and fitness.

As we say at Solutions Weight Loss, the future of weight loss is here! We offer high-quality, safe and affordable, compounded GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide – which you probably know under brand names like Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, or Mounjaro®.  Research shows that when combined with one-on-one physician coaching, low-calorie diet and lifestyle changes, they are the safest and most effective approach to achieve sustainable weight loss.

Because we prescribe, compound and dispense these medications, shortages of the brand-name drugs will never affect your access. In fact, you can leave our office with your medication the same day!

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!

You want to learn about safe, effective ways to lose weight, but when you start to research online, you feel like you’re back in chemistry class! Case in point: The effect of carbohydrates on weight loss.

Let’s start at the beginning. “Carbohydrates” is a word commonly tossed around, but little understood. Fortunately, MedlinePlus provides this simple definition:

“Carbohydrates, or carbs, are sugar molecules. Along with proteins and fats, carbohydrates are one of three main nutrients found in foods and drinks. Your body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose. Glucose, or blood sugar, is the main source of energy for your body’s cells, tissues, and organs.”

Not All Carbohydrates are the Same – And Why it Matters to Weight Loss

However, not all carbohydrates are the same, and don’t have the same effect on your body. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health explains the difference as follows:

“The healthiest sources of carbohydrates—unprocessed or minimally processed whole grains, vegetables, fruits and beans—promote good health by delivering vitamins, minerals, fiber, and a host of important phytonutrients.

“Unhealthier sources of carbohydrates include white bread, pastries, sodas, and other highly processed or refined foods.  These items contain easily digested carbohydrates that may contribute to weight gain, interfere with weight loss, and promote diabetes and heart disease.”

If your objective is to lose weight by reducing carbs, start by removing these unhealthy sources from your diet. Moreover, doing so can have benefits of their own – such as reducing your risk for type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

What is a Low-Carb Diet?

A low-carb diet not only limits carbohydrates, it focuses on foods high in protein and fat. Many types of low-carb diets exist, each with varying limits on the type and amount of carbs you can eat. The most popular include the following:

• Atkins diet
• Ketogenic diet
• South Beach diet
• Paleo diet
• Zone diet

According to Mayo Clinic, “A daily limit of 0.7 to 2 ounces (20 to 57 grams) of carbohydrates is typical with a low-carb diet. These amounts of carbohydrates provide 80 to 240 calories. Some low-carb diets greatly limit carbs during the early phase of the diet. Then those diets allow more carbs over time.

“In contrast, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that carbohydrates make up 45% to 65% of your total daily calorie intake. So if you eat or drink 2,000 calories a day, carbs would account for between 900 and 1,300 calories a day.

“Most people can lose weight if they limit calories and boost their physical activity. To lose 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.7 kilograms) a week, you need to eat 500 to 750 fewer calories each day.”

Of course, deciding exactly how many carbs you should eat depends on individual factors – such as your age, weight, level of physical activity and medical history.

Benefits of a Low-Carb Diet

According to Healthline, one major benefit is that a low-carb diet reduces your appetite.

“Hunger tends to be the worst side effect of dieting. It is one of the main reasons why many people feel miserable and eventually give up. However, low-carb eating leads to an automatic reduction in appetite. Studies consistently show that when people cut carbs and eat more protein and fat, they end up eating far fewer calories.”

Other benefits include:

• Studies illustrate that people on low-carb diets lose more weight, faster, than those on low-fat diets — even when the latter are actively restricting calories. This is because low-carb diets act to rid excess water from your body, lowering insulin levels and leading to rapid weight loss in the first week or two.

• A large percentage of the fat lost on low-carb diets tends to be harmful abdominal fat that is known to cause serious metabolic problems.

Is There a Down Side to a Low-Carb Diet?

Mayo Clinic points out that while low-carb diets – especially very low-carb diets – may lead to greater short-term weight loss, most studies have found that at 12 or 24 months, the benefits of a low-carb diet aren’t very large.

There’s also the possibility of becoming bored with a low-carb diet. If you’ve tried other types of diets and ultimately returned to your regular eating habits, a low-carb diet could join this frustrating list, making you feel like you’re destined to fail at any kind of long-term successful weight loss.

The Advantages of a Medically Supervised Weight Loss Program

If you’re reading this, it’s probably safe to assume you’re looking for a reliable weight loss program that will help you achieve long-term results. It’s probably also safe to assume you’ve tried a number of diets that made a lot of sense on paper – and perhaps achieved short-term results – but ultimately didn’t work for you. But don’t blame yourself! For most people, successful long-term weight loss isn’t a do-it-yourself project. Fortunately, a real solution is just a phone call or click away!

Solutions Weight Loss provides today’s most advanced weight loss medications under the guidance of William E. Newsome, M.D., Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss. From the very start of your medical weight loss journey with us, Dr. Newsome conducts your in-depth initial consultation, and will evaluate and prescribe for you the best treatment to achieve your goals. He brings his own personal weight loss experiences, and a lifelong dedication to health and fitness.

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

There are frequent reports of shortages of brand-name medications, such as Ozempic – developed specifically to manage type 2 diabetes, but used off-label for weight loss – and Wegovy – developed specifically for weight loss; as well as  Mounjaro – developed specifically to manage type 2 diabetes, but used off-label for weight loss – and Zepbound – developed specifically for weight loss. Our blog post – “The Benefits of Medical Appetite Control” – covers these medications in greater detail.

Due to high demand, pharmaceutical companies sometimes are unable to provide the supply needed. This situation will never be a concern when you choose Solutions Weight Loss! This is because semaglutide – the class for Ozempic and Wegovy, and tirzepatide – the class for Mounjaro and Zepbound – are generic ingredients. We prescribe and dispense both, offering high-quality compounded GLP-1 medications at an affordable price. You can leave our office with your medication the same day!

Just as importantly, you will have the ongoing support, encouragement and guidance of Dr. Newsome and our entire staff – all dedicated to your successful weight loss journey. During each return visit, we will ask you to step on the scale to assess your progress. Rechecks do not require an appointment, and you do not need to come every week! Some choose to return weekly for accountability, while others prefer to return less frequently to fit their schedule. Also, there are no contracts or obligations.

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!

You’ve no doubt heard about the revolutionary medications to treat overweight and obesity: semaglutide and tirzepatide. But what are they, how do they work and which is right for your personal weight loss goal? Here’s what you need to know!

Similarities Between Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the well-known brands Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelus. It is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an adjunct to lifestyle changes for weight management in adults who are clinically obese or overweight. Tirzepatide is also a GLP-1 drug that’s FDA-approved. It is the active ingredient in the popular brands Mounjaro and Zepbound. However, unlike semaglutide, it’s also a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist, which means it’s in a class of medications that includes both GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonists. 

But before we delve into why this difference is important, let’s look more closely at the GLP-1 hormone. This hormone is released by the gut after eating. It’s a 30–31 amino acid peptide derived from the proglucagon peptide. GLP-1 helps with insulin release, glucagon suppression, gastric emptying and satiety. As Mayo Clinic states its effect in plain language, GLP-1 also slows the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine. As a result, you feel full faster and longer, so you eat less.

Moreover, GLP-1 aids in lowering your body’s set point (the weight your body fights to maintain) by impacting areas in the brain to help increase your energy expenditure.

Semaglutide for Weight Loss

Semaglutide’s single-action mechanism solely activates the GLP-1 receptor to regulate insulin and appetite. As our blog post – “The Benefits of Medical Appetite Control” – covers, one role of GLP-1 is to prompt the body to produce more insulin, which reduces blood sugar (glucose). For that reason, health care providers have used semaglutide for more than 15 years to treat type 2 diabetes – so while it’s relatively new as a weight loss medication, semaglutide is an established medication that has proven its effectiveness.

Tirzepatide for Weight Loss

As mentioned earlier, tirzepatide has an advantage over semaglutide in that it is a dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor co-agonist. GLP-1 and GIP are both incretin hormones, which are hormones that are released after eating. Tirzepatide works by mimicking their effects, offering a broader span of metabolic benefits and appetite control than semaglutide alone. GIP induces weight loss by stimulating satiety in the hypothalamus – the area of the brain that produces hormones that control hunger. This also includes telling the pancreas to release insulin after eating and signaling the liver to lower the amount of glucose it’s making. These effects help lower blood glucose.

Tirzepatide’s benefits for weight loss in adults are as follows:

• Enhanced appetite suppression
• Insulin regulation
• Increased metabolism

Which of These Popular Weight Loss Drugs is Right for You?

Considering the advantages of tirzepatide over the earlier-generation drug semaglutide, you may wonder why there’s even a choice! However, each person is different. What is effective or appropriate for one individual may not be right for you. The only way to know is to schedule an appointment with a doctor who specializes in medical weight loss.

If you are reading this, we assume you’re looking for a doctor who can successfully guide you on your weight loss journey. William E. Newsome, M.D., is Medical Director and co-owner of Solutions Weight Loss. From the very start, Dr. Newsome conducts your in-depth initial consultation, and will evaluate and prescribe for you the best treatment to achieve your goal. He brings his own personal weight loss experiences, and a lifelong dedication to health and fitness.

Solutions Weight Loss internal results prove our medically supervised program is effective at driving long-term improvements to metabolic health and weight loss, with an average of 21% weight loss at 12 months; 19.1% at 18 months, and 18.9% at 24 months. Our members have also decreased their waist circumference by 7 inches, on average. These results are superior to the weight loss seen in clinical trials for GLP-1 medications. Regardless of which medication they take, our members have demonstrated significant and sustained results!

You may have heard about shortages of the brand-name medications mentioned in this article. Due to high demand, pharmaceutical companies sometimes are unable to provide the supply needed. This situation will never be a concern when you choose Solutions Weight Loss! Moreover, the brand-name medication is very expensive. However, semaglutide and tirzepatide are generic ingredients. We prescribe and dispense both, offering high-quality compounded GLP-1 medications at an affordable price. This gives you the following major advantages:

• Not having to ask for an expensive prescription that your health insurance most likely won’t cover. During a 30-minute consultation, Dr. Newsome will determine which medication is most clinically appropriate for your individual situation.
• Upon determining the best medication for you, the prescription will be filled and you will leave with it that same day. Shortages of any brand-name medication will never impact your medical weight loss program.
• We understand that people have busy schedules that may not allow them to visit our office on a weekly basis. That’s why we can dispense up to 12 weeks of your weight loss medication at a time. We smooth the path to make your weight loss journey as easy as possible to follow!

The Take-Home Message About Semaglutide and Tirzepatide

There’s a lot to learn about these breakthrough GLP-1 drugs, but many articles are written in language that’s difficult for those without a degree in medicine to decipher. We hope we’ve been able to explain the similarities, differences and benefits of each in a way that gives you the information you need to take that all-important first step in achieving your weight loss goal!

See what makes Solutions Weight Loss the #1 weight loss clinic in Florida! Schedule your consultation with Dr. Newsome here, or call 407-413-5503, and experience the benefits of today’s metabolic approach to sustainable weight loss! Don’t wait another day to start living your best life!