It’s tempting to think that your weight is like a dial that you can adjust at will. However, weight is part of your body’s much larger overall system of health. Weight management isn’t always solved by changing your diet or working out more. Getting a full understanding of your body’s unique processes requires taking a closer look at everything that’s happening under the surface.
This is why the medical evaluation is one of the first things that will happen at a VeraVia weight loss retreat. Our medical team knows that decreasing your caloric intake and increasing the intensity of your workouts is only half of the equation. Safe and healthy weight loss requires understanding the complete picture of your health.
Determining a healthy goal weight
Setting a realistic and achievable goal for your weight is an important step because it charts the course for where you hope to ultimately end up. Your future weight should not be an arbitrary number, percentage of your current weight, or clothing size. Managing your expectations is key. A medical professional will help you determine your current body mass index and your ideal weight for your height and build. They’ll also fill you in on how long it will take to see results.
Look for hormonal imbalance
Hormones play a huge role in how your body handles weight. In women, reproductive issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can cause weight gain or result in weight that is difficult to manage. Andropause—also known as male menopause—decreases testosterone levels in men and can lead to weight gain. Hypothyroidism, underactivity of the thyroid gland, leads to weight gain and difficulty keeping weight off in both men and women. Your doctor can perform a complete panel of tests to evaluate your hormone levels and determine if there are any factors at play that might be interfering with your weight loss goals.
The influence of medications
Weight gain is one of the most common side effects of medication. Steroids, antidepressants, anti-anxiety and hypertension medications are a few of the most widely seen culprits. We ask that all guests at our weight loss retreats bring a complete list of medications, so our medical team can determine how these medications might impact weight loss. You should never toss your medications simply because weight gain is a side effect. However, by looking at your weight in context, your doctor can possibly suggest alternatives or put together a plan that takes into account the role that your medication will play.
Exposing injuries
Noticeable pain or chronic discomfort, even if it seems minor, can indicate a more serious medical issue. Speak to your physician about your daily aches and pains, especially those that influence how often you exercise or the types of activities you do. Further tests might reveal a more serious issue that can be exacerbated by the wrong type of exercise. Conversely, your doctor might determine that there are certain areas of your body that require stretching or strengthening. Understanding what is happening within your musculoskeletal system can help your physician and training team determine a weight loss program that will improve your body, not further damage it.
Weight loss isn’t just about skipping the junk food and hitting the gym more frequently. A medical evaluation brings together all the factors happening within your body that play a role. Equipped with this important information, you can tailor a weight loss plan that matches your own needs and limitations.
Contact our weight loss experts today to learn more about how VeraVia can help you live your best life.