More than 40 percent of the adult population is affected by obesity. If you are overweight, losing weight could help you feel more energized and reduce the risk of conditions like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. There are a lot of things you can do to shed those extra pounds, ranging from medications to diet to supplements and other alternatives. Every body is different, and what works for one person may not for another. This guide provides the information you need to know about how to lose weight through a variety of options so you can find what works best for reaching your goals.
How to Lose Weight with Diet and Exercise
One of the tried-and-true ways to lose weight is to maintain a caloric deficit by eating less and exercising more. Nutrition and physical activity are both very important when it comes to overall health and how to lose weight. Eating fewer calories can help your body burn more fat through physical activity, and exercising helps keep the pounds off by boosting your metabolism. However, if you cut too many calories, you could actually slow down your metabolism and deprive your body of necessary nutrients, making it even harder to lose weight. If you want to lose weight, you can lower your calorie intake in a healthy way by eating more plant-based foods. For effective weight loss, try these safe diet tips:
- Eat at least three servings of fruits and four servings of vegetables each day.
- Replace refined carbohydrates with whole grains.
- Choose low-fat dairy products and lean meat in limited amounts.
- Reduce your sugar intake as much as possible (except for those in fruit).
- Eat modest amounts of healthy fats like avocados, nuts, nut butters, olive oil, and nut oils.
- Add variety to your diet to achieve your goals without compromising on taste or nutrition.
How to Lose Weight with Medications
It can be difficult to lose weight through diet and exercise alone, especially if you have health conditions that contribute to your weight. In certain cases, weight loss medications can be beneficial to help people who are overweight and obese achieve weight loss goals. It’s important to remember that these medications are not a magical cure for weight loss and long-term weight management. Even with medication, your weight management plan should also include nutrition, physical activity, sleep, and stress management to achieve lasting results. Some people stay on weight loss medications for a few months while working on diet and exercise regimens, while others stay on them indefinitely. Popular medications currently approved for weight loss include:
- Wegovy - This is a weekly injection that uses semaglutide as the active ingredient. Wegovy is FDA-approved for weight management for people with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, or those with a BMI of 27 who have another weight-related condition.
- Saxenda - This is a daily injection that uses liraglutide, which is a GLP-1 receptor agonist that works similarly to semaglutide. Saxenda is considered slightly less effective, but it can still cause up to an 8 percent weight loss in individuals with a BMI of 30 or higher.
- Sublingual semaglutide - This is a newer option that is available at certain compounding pharmacies as an alternative to injectable weight loss medications. Sublingual semaglutide works similarly to Wegovy but has fewer side effects.
How to Lose Weight with Over-the-Counter Alternatives
If you don’t want to turn to medication for weight loss or you don’t qualify for a prescription, there are over-the-counter alternatives that can be effective in aiding weight loss efforts.
- GluNOzym is a supplement that offers a natural way to lower blood sugar after meals, which has a lot of health benefits including weight control. This supplement works by blocking carb digestion, activating your body’s “full” signal, and slowing the release of sugars in your gut. This can also contribute to reduced cravings and provide a fat-burning boost to help you reach your weight loss goals.
- ProLon Fasting Mimicking Diet is a clinically tested 5-day nutrition program that is designed to nourish your body with premium quality-based food while inducing the cellular, metabolic, and emotional benefits of prolonged fasting. This encourages a state of cellular clean-up to guide you toward cellular rejuvenation, healthy aging, and weight management.
- Drinking unsweetened green tea and taking probiotics are other safe, natural ways to promote weight loss by increasing fat burning and improving digestive health.
If you want to learn more about how to lose weight, our knowledgeable pharmacy team is here to help! Here at Magnolia Pharmacy, we can answer your questions about weight loss and provide advice about diet, exercise, medications, supplements, and other options to help you reach your goals. Please reach out to us today so we can help you make progress along your health journey!
