Diet Chronicles: Demystifying Medical Weight Loss Programs

Sticking to a diet plan isn’t easy, especially when stress-induced snacking and evil sweet tooth cravings sneak their way into your everyday routine more that you’d like to admit. If you’re looking for some extra ammo against gooey pastries and good ol’ comfort food, medical weight loss programs follow three basic steps including a diet plan, exercise regimen and appetite suppressant or injections to keep you on track.

Programs are physician supervised and require weekly check-ups for shots, body fat screenings and weigh-ins. But before you get pricked by a needle, swallow strange pills or go on a radical new diet plan, be a smart cookie and do your homework. We’ve dug deep into the world of medical weight loss to give you a healthy serving of the most popular diet programs available and medical spas today.

HCG Weight Loss System: Problem Area Quick Fix

The latest weight loss program to hit med spas and weight loss clinics relies on a naturally occurring hormone called Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG). HCG is produced by the body during pregnancy to metabolize fat into energy so extra baby weight is evenly distributed and doesn’t settle into problem areas. HCG works with the hypothalamus gland, a part of the brain that regulates appetite, digestion, metabolism and fluid levels. What makes HCG different from dieting alone is that many restrictive diets can trigger “starvation mode,” putting the breaks on your metabolism and signaling fat storage. Oral or injected HCG combined with a reduced calorie meal plan helps to mobilize fat, making it available to your body as an energy source. This means fat is burned off before muscle and bone and doesn’t have the chance to accumulate into those oh-so-dreaded lumps and bumps.

The HCG diets revolve around a 3 or 6-week plan promising a drop of 1 to 3 pounds per week. HCG diets allow only low-key activity like walking and sit-ups for a maximum of 20 minutes each day. Just a warning: Because of the increased popularity of HCG diets, cheaper forms of oral HCG are being sold over the internet. Stick with a medically supervised program to ensure you’re not getting questionable ingredients.

Get it at: La Bella Vita Health & Wellness Center in Scottsdale

Lipotropic Injections: The Scale Tipping Shot

If you’re stuck in a rut and feel like you’ll never see your goal weight on the scale, lipotropic injections offer a boost of amino acids that increase the body’s natural fat burning process when combined with diet and exercise. Lipotropic injections contain liver-supporting amino acids naturally found in the body to flush fat and toxins. The shot cocktail contains fatigue-fighting methionine, fat and cholesterol metabolizing choline, and mood-enhancing and appetite-controlling inositol. With lipotropic therapy, you don’t have to change your diet and workout plan and get a weekly shot that helps you lose an average of an additional 1 pound per week.

Get it at: SKINovative in Gilbert

Ultra Lite: The Vitamin Packed Fat Burner

If you’d rather starve than bite into a chalky meal replacement bar for breakfast and lunch, Ultra Lite lets you eat three balanced protein and carbohydrate meals each day straight from the kitchen. The only catch is a vitamin, amino acid and mineral packed power drink four times a day between meals (most clients say it’s pretty painless). On top of the vitamin drinks Ultra Lite focuses on eating real foods that heighten biochemical processes in your body so nutrients are broken down after digestion which increases tissue growth, gives you more energy and burns fat.

Get it at: Carefree Health Path & Med Spa in Carefree

FirstLine Therapy: The Health Nut Slimmer

If you swear that your daily bowl of ice cream and big juicy burger keep you squeezing into your size 2 jeans, don’t think you’re safe from chronic conditions like heart disease and high cholesterol. Skinny doesn’t always mean healthy. That’s why FirstLine Therapy focuses on body composition testing, healthy mini meals, exercise and dietary supplements for a well-rounded, healthy lifestyle. This 12-week program trains you to make simple lifestyle changes for weight loss, lean muscle building and overall health.

Get it at: Paradise Medspa & Wellness in Phoenix

Vitamin B-12 Shots: The Power-Packed Pinch

If early morning workouts and mini-sized portions have thrown you into a full-on coma, Vitamin B-12 injections offer a quick dose of energy to get you through the day. Vitamin B12 is found in many animal products such as meat, fish, milk, cheese and eggs and is vital in the production of energy-rich red blood cells. With a quick needle pinch, B12 is absorbed quickly into the body and is known to help fight stress and depression, makes you feel more alert and even promotes a good night’s sleep. Although B12 is not directly linked to weight loss, its endorphin-boosting properties may get you to the gym and help you stick out calorie-burning workouts.

Get it at: La Bella Vita Health & Wellness Center in Scottsdale

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