Unveiling the Man Behind the Curtain: Semaglutide and Medical Weight Loss in Houston, TX
Semaglutide was originally a medication for diabetics only but has worked its way into the medical weight loss realm. While it seems like treating diabetes is a far cry from weight loss, it’s not.
Weight gain and diabetes are interconnected. Plus, a decreased appetite and delayed gastric emptying have perks for diabetics, not just those who want to lose weight but can’t from diet and exercise alone.
With all that being said, Dr. Shel offers medical weight loss in Houston, TX, using semaglutide for a reason – it works whether you have diabetes or not.
But before you book a consultation, you may want a bit of a clearer picture of how it provides such impressive weight loss results, with the average person losing 34 pounds in less than 16 weeks when taking semaglutide.
Jumpstart your weight loss journey with semaglutide, even if you’ve not had luck slimming down in the past.
Taking the Drug
Semaglutide is a once-weekly injection given subcutaneously (under the skin). At your consultation, we’ll discuss whether you should come into our office for the injection or if at-home self-administration is possible.
Regardless, you’ll need to visit us once monthly at first to monitor your progress and check for any side effects. The follow-up appointments for monitoring become less frequent once you’ve been on the drug for a little while, and our doctor is sure it’s working and you’re not having dangerous side effects.
By the way, you’ll gradually work your way up to the desired dose, which helps to reduce/prevent unwanted effects.
How Semaglutide Works for Weight Loss
As you compare your options for shedding pounds and consider medical weight loss program in Houston, TX, make sure you do your homework and understand how the treatment works to see if it’s right for you.
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Replicates GLP-1’s Action
Semaglutide falls in the category of GLP-1 agonist, meaning it activates a certain receptor, and in return, that receptor generates a physiological reaction.
To make more sense of this, your body naturally has a substance called GLP-1 – a hormone your stomach releases after you eat. This hormone regulates your blood sugar and helps you feel full after meals.
GLP-1 also inhibits the release of glucagon, which is a hormone that enhances your blood sugar levels after you eat. By suppressing it, GLP-1 keeps your sugar levels low following a meal.
A GLP-1 agonist has the effects because it works on the same receptors in the body.
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Regulates Appetite and Food Intake
One area where you have GLP-1 receptors is in your brain. These play the role of encouraging a feeling of fullness and limiting how much you’re eating, and this drug works on them to provide these effects.
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Increases Your Energy Expenditure
Moreover, GLP receptors also impact your energy expenditure, which influences your weight.
By altering how your body burns calories, you can find it easier to expend energy when at rest or in motion.
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Enhances Insulin Regulation
Insulin contributes to weight loss by regulating your metabolism. For one, it prevents unwanted blood sugar spikes and crashes. As your blood sugar goes on an up-and-down rollercoaster ride, you end up craving unhealthy foods to compensate. When semaglutide stimulates insulin, you’re less likely to eat those calorie-dense foods.
Moreover, insulin works closely with other hormones, specifically leptin and ghrelin, which regulate your appetite.
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Reduces Glucagon Secretion
Your pancreas produces glucagon – a hormone that prohibits your sugar from dropping too low by triggering your liver to release glucose.
By reducing glucagon secretions, your blood sugar levels won’t rise, and you’ll have fewer drastic ups and downs.
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Slows Gastric Emptying
Your intestines and stomach have GLP-1 receptors, which, when stimulated by semaglutide, will cause your stomach to empty slowly. Ultimately, this means you remain fuller longer, so you’re not eating as much.
Works Best With Lifestyle Changes
As you can see, semaglutide works as a triple, well, a five-alarm threat. It works in multiple ways to help you lose weight, even if you don’t exercise and change your diet.
But you won’t see the results you want just by taking the medication.
The highest level of results comes when you’re putting in the work, meaning you’re exercising and eating right while taking it.
You ideally want to follow a diet rich in high-protein, low-fat foods, such as chicken, turkey, and fish.
Choose whole-grain carbohydrates like brown rice and whole-grain bread because these carbs don’t cause sharp spikes in your blood sugar, which helps to regulate your glucose level better.
These carbs are also high in fiber, which helps with digestion. Not to mention, whole-grain carbs help you feel fuller and reduce the number of calories you intake overall as opposed to more processed grains.
Besides eating right, make sure you’re staying hydrated as well. For one, your body can’t always distinguish between hunger and thirst. Therefore, you could be eating when your body really needs fluid.
Drinking plenty of fluid can also make you feel full by adding volume to your stomach. Water also helps with digestion and metabolism, and it has the ability to reduce any nausea from semaglutide and reduce your risk of any kidney-related side effects.
For exercise, even if it’s walking each day, strive to be active daily. If you have to, start by walking for 15 minutes and increasing as you build up stamina.
Learn more here: Signs Your Weight Loss Journey Has Stalled: Weight Loss Clinic in Sugar Land, TX
Contact Us Today for a Medical Weight Loss Program in Houston, TX
If you feel that semaglutide could be just what you need to achieve your dream body, reach your target weight, and just feel better overall with less excess weight, reach out to Dr. Shel Wellness & Aesthetic Center for medical weight loss in Houston, TX.
What once seemed impossible may no longer be out of reach with semaglutide, especially considering it’s giving you a multifaceted approach to weight loss.
Particularly if you’re postmenopausal, your weight gain and struggle to lose it might not be directly related to anything you’re doing or not doing. While you could still benefit from medical weight loss, it may not be what your body really needs.
Instead, undergoing hormone replacement therapy might be the most effective solution. And it’ll ease your other unwanted symptoms as well!
No matter what treatment you choose with us, rest assured you’ll receive outstanding results with a caring team. Read what past patients had to say click here.
Contact us today at (281) 609-4439 to schedule a consultation to discuss your weight loss options.
