Is Ozempic the Only Answer? Do You Need Obesity Drugs?

Do you really need drugs to lose weight?

Let’s talk about it.

Over 50% of adult Americans are overweight. Obesity is in an epidemic. The GLP-1 medication to help lose weight targets the hypothalamus – the controller of your appetite, weight, and metabolism. While effective, they do not provide long-term weight loss.

So what natural alternatives do you have to lose the weight and get your life back?

Prescription drugs really aren’t always the answer because they do not address lifestyle habits that led to the weight gain in the first place and they only address one aspect of hypothalamic metabolic control. Plus their side effects, including G.I. disturbances and metabolic disruption. These medications are costly and can be difficult to access. 

GLP-1s or glucagon-like peptide one is an incretin hormone that plays an important role in regulating glucose. GLP-1 receptor sites are scattered throughout the small and large intestine and also are located in the hypothalamus. GLP-1 release in the hypothalamus is primarily stimulated by macronutrients – glucose and fatty acids. GLP neurons regulate normal body weight, body fat, and food intake. 

Fat cells produce the hormone leptin which interacts with GLP-1 and its receptor sites to tell your hypothalamus that your fat cells are full enough. GLP-1 stimulates POMC – a hormone that controls your thyroid, adrenals, glucose metabolism, and day-night cycles.  Because GLP-1 affects so many different hormones in the body, it is vital that your hormones are in proper balance in order to sustain long-term weight loss.

I have found in my patients who are struggling to lose weight that if they support their hypothalamus with Genesis Gold® and Sacred Seven®, their hormones stay in proper balance including insulin cortisol, and leptin, and their metabolism raises leading to more energy production and loss of body fat. They don’t lose lean body mass if they continue to be physically active, and they are able to maintain long-term weight loss.

It’s important to understand that GLP-1 can be stimulated by protein rich foods. Dietary protein triggers the release of GLP-1 as well as peptide YY, which is a satiation hormone. Lean sources of protein, like poultry, fish, and legumes increase GLP-1 levels leading to improved appetite control and weight management.

Physical Activity

Physical activity is important to weight management, not just for burning calories but for boosting your metabolism, increasing insulin sensitivity, and maintaining lean body mass. Your muscles are critical to your metabolism. You don’t just want to lose weight, you want to lose body fat.  Physical activity, which includes weight resistance exercise at least twice a week and aerobic exercise at least three times a week helps you maintain lean body mass. Your muscles produce more mitochondria when you’re physically active, which means your metabolism is higher to prevent gaining the fat back when you start eating normally again.

Mindful Eating

It’s also important that you practice mindful eating. My patients who are emotional eaters have the toughest time with weight loss. Dealing with the psychospiritual aspects of why they are eating in the first place may require therapy, journaling, and mindful eating practices. Learning to manage their stress with stress reduction techniques can help emotional eating. Meditation, mind-body connection through yoga, and being in nature can help. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Sleep is important not just to reduce stress, but to maintain your metabolism. Sleeping in the dark at least seven and nine hours a night can ensure a healthy metabolism.

Fortunately, there are natural supplements that aid in metabolism, by specifically targeting GLP-1 like berberine, tea, curcumin, cinnamon, and resveratrol. Genesis Gold® is rich in GLP-1 influencing phytonutrients to help initiate and maintain far loss. , By supporting your hypothalamus with Genesis Gold®, all your hormones are better balanced and you’ll get the additional benefit of becoming more aware of your emotional eating.

Here’s some tips to start your natural weight loss journey:

1.  Start with small manageable changes. What is your biggest issue? Are you not going to bed on time, not getting enough sleep? Are you an emotional eater? Are you eating too much and exercising too little?   To change a habit takes at least 14 days. Take one at a time.
   
   
2. Support your hypothalamus. Genesis Gold® not only helps by supporting your metabolism and hormonal balance but also helps with some of the subconscious thought processes that influence your habits. Over time you become much more aware of why eating what you’re eating and you’re able to stop yourself from eating too much. You become much more motivated to start exercising and sticking with a good nutritional plan. 
   
   
3. Focus on the best nutrition to build lean body mass and support your hormonal health. I recommend the Mediterranean diet. Make sure that you’re eating a plant-based diet that’s rich in protein, healthy fats, and complex carbohydrates, avoiding starchy and sugary carbohydrates and all processed foods. 
   
   
4. When you eat counts. Limit eating to just during the day, not after dark, so you can really enhance your metabolism. make sure you’re eating a healthy breakfast that your lunch is the biggest meal of the day and that your dinner is early and light.
   
   
5. Make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Sleep in the dark, turn off your devices after dusk, read a book instead, and establish healthy sleep habits. During sleep, you make the most growth hormone, which helps to increase your lean body mass, lose body fat, and lower cortisol levels.
   
   
6. Practice stress reduction techniques. Try my CALM meditation which helps train your body to make GABA. You can get access to it in my free Hormone Reboot Training, along with diets and exercise tips. Consider therapy if you’re emotionally eating or you have an eating disorder.

Heal your hypothalamus and shed the weight permanently. You can learn more about Genesis Gold® in our free Hormone Reboot Training where I give you deeper insights on hormonal health and natural weight management.

Your body was designed to heal. Let’s unlock its full potential naturally.

Resources:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34981502/#:~:text=In%20the%20current%20study%2C%20we,influence%20on%20GLP%2D1%20release.