What is it?

If you’re reading this, you’ve likely tried the fad diets, decreased calorie intake and worked out “harder”. Maybe you lost some weight while on your diet, but the moment you stopped it all came back. Or maybe you’ve tried a diet and your weight didn’t budge. Or worse yet, you didn’t lose any weight and actually felt worse on it. In any case I can imagine you’re frustrated and looking for support.

While regular exercise and eating a whole foods diet are important for overall health, many still find that they are doing “all the right things” and still aren’t losing weight. Your frustrations are valid and - drumroll please - there are answers as to WHY you’re not losing the weight.

Weight loss resistance is often due to a hormonal imbalance. There are a few main hormonal imbalances to investigate when it comes to weight loss resistance: thyroid (low functioning), insulin dysregulation, cortisol dysregulation or excess estrogen.

By finding out the root cause of weight loss resistance, we can successfully target weight loss so that you finally see lasting results.

Step-by-step approach to treatment

Comprehensive intake and relevant lab testing
We always start by gathering your complete health history, assessing not only the symptoms specific to your weight gain and difficulty losing weight, but also those which relate to the foundations of health, including your stress and energy levels, your sleep and your digestive health. Relevant lab testing is always discussed. By obtaining lab results - specifically bloodwork - we get a clearer insight into the function of your body’s physiology. These insights are a great tool for guiding treatment. Naturopathic doctors are trained to look for lab results to be within optimal ranges, not just what may be considered conventionally “normal”. This is because you may be within all the normal lab parameters but still experiencing very real symptoms.

Lab tests we commonly run to assess for weight loss resistance include:

• Blood glucose and insulin markers

• Cholesterol panel

• Female hormones

• Thyroid panel

• Cortisol

• Liver panel

• Inflammatory markers
  

Supporting the foundations of health
With any health concern, supporting the foundations of health is essential, and always where treatment starts.This includes assessing and addressing stress levels, sleep quality, energy levels, inflammation, digestive function and nutrient deficiencies.

Customized treatment plan
Once lab results have been interpreted and the root cause of weight loss resistance has been identified, a customized treatment plan will be created just for YOU. This is not a one-size-fits-all treatment plan, but rather one that is specific to your individual health concerns and addresses your body’s physiology. You will leave your appointment with your written treatment plan as well as any relevant handouts so that you feel equipped to start your treatments when you get home.
We understand that starting on a new regime of supplements and implementing lifestyle and dietary changes can be overwhelming. If you need support along the way, know that we are here for you. Additional check-in appointments can be made to support you on your journey to optimal health.

Common treatments for weight loss resistance depend on root cause, but may include:

• Nutrition planned aimed at lowering insulin levels in the body

• Insulin lowering supplements

• Nutrients to support estrogen detoxification

• Sleep hygiene to manage cortisol levels

• Digestive support often with antimicrobial herbs

Follow up testing and treatment adjustments
Typically we book a follow up appointment 3 months and 6 months after starting your treatment plan so we can assess symptoms and retest necessary labs. It is our goal that after treatment has begun, you will start to feel noticeable improvements. In some cases it’s not that simple and further assessment is required. Know that if you’re not seeing improvements, we can always reassess, do further testing and make adjustments to your plan along the way. The goal is to get you not only feeling better, but feeling like YOU again!

Maintenance - addressing any new concerns
While we are here for you at any time along your health journey, it is not our goal to have you come in for regular appoints. Once you’ve started to have success with your treatment plan you may only require annual, bi-annual or as-needed appointments. In these appointments we assess the original concerns you presented with as well as any new symptoms or concerns you are experiencing.