I Can't Seem to Lose Weight on My Own: Can You Help?

It’s hard to lose weight when you’re going it alone. How do you know which diet is the best for you? How much exercise should you be incorporating? What happens when the pounds don’t come off?

At Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic, board-certified psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, and our staff offer a medical weight loss program at our office in Palm Harbor, Florida. When you have questions, we have answers, and we stick by you every step of the way. Here’s what’s involved.

Why do I need to lose weight?

Being overweight or obese comes with a number of serious health risks. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, in 2019, a high body mass index (BMI) led to 5 million deaths worldwide from noncommunicable diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 1 in 5 children and 1 in 3 adults is obese (a BMI of 30 or above). These individuals carry the associated risks for preventable conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure (hypertension), Type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.

Even losing just 5-10% of your body weight can decrease your risk for heart disease and make your cells less insulin-resistant.

What is medical weight loss?

Medical weight loss is a supervised program that allows you to lose weight gradually but steadily while remaining healthy. It starts with a complete medical exam and extensive testing to identify if you’re deficient in certain nutrients or have other weight-related problems that need to be addressed before you start.

At Sidhu Psychiatric, Kavi also uses the initial assessment to get an idea of your body image and weight loss goals, so she can tailor the treatment plan to that information. She also brings with her specialized knowledge about nutrition, supplements, and prescription medications that can help you on your weight loss journey.

How medical weight loss can help you

Participating in a medical weight loss program offers a number of advantages.

Provides a customized diet plan tailored to your needs

When you go on a diet on your own, you don’t know if it takes all your personal health issues into account or if it meets your specific nutritional needs for macro- and micronutrients. And what happens if you plateau somewhere along the way and can’t get unstuck?

A medical weight loss program creates a plan that meets all of your needs. It’s also easy to understand and easy to stick to. Our team will show you better ways to structure the calories you consume and help you focus on the lifestyle changes that give you the best opportunity for long-term success, from an exercise regimen to rethinking your relationship with food.

In addition, if you need extra help, Kavi can prescribe medication, such as the newly repurposed diabetes GLP-1 agonist drugs semaglutide and tirzepatide. These increase your metabolic rate and make you feel full faster, so you don’t eat more than you need.

Matches exercise plan with your physical abilities

Regular exercise is essential for dropping the pounds, but not all exercise is right for you. For example, if you have arthritis in your knees, pounding the pavement with long-distance running probably wouldn’t be a great idea. Because our team knows you, your lifestyle, and your abilities, they can make appropriate recommendations about what type of exercise will best meet your needs.

Provides accountability and support

When you try to lose weight on your own, you have only yourself to report to, and it becomes easy to sneak in an extra treat or not exercise when you don’t feel like it.

With a supervised weight loss program, though, we hold you accountable to the plan you’re on and to your weight loss goals. If you hit a plateau, we can help you move forward. We can offer encouragement and support. And with regular weigh-ins, it’s really hard to cheat on the plan.

In addition, we regularly review the plan to ensure it’s up-to-date and reflects your current status and weight loss goals, which may change as you go along. We’re always here to lend an ear if you need it, too.

Ready to lose the excess weight? The team at Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic can help you do that. Call our office at 727-382-1383, or contact us online today.