Every weight loss journey is unique. Different people have different goals for their weight loss plan, and each person will hit different milestones at different times. At Forum Health, we know there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to health and weight loss. That’s why we tailor each of our weight loss plans in Michigan to the individual, because people need a plan that’s as unique as they are.
Since our plans are so highly individualized, it’s likely that your weight loss timeline will differ from another patient’s. This is why it’s misguided to compare your weight loss to someone else’s, and why you shouldn’t worry if someone is losing weight at a faster rate than you. The reality is, that person may be on a more aggressive weight loss plan based on their lifestyle, goals, travel plans, and more.
However, if you aren’t seeing your desired results, there may be some additional elements that could affect your timeline. Today, we’ll go over some of the most common factors that affect a person’s weight loss timeline.
Age and Sex Factors
Your age and sex are both going to play huge roles in how quickly you lose weight. One of the most unfortunate realities of getting older is that our bodies start to slowly break down. You start to lose muscle, your metabolism slows down, and many people also develop hormone deficiencies as they age.
Add that in with family and work obligations, and it becomes a lot tougher to stay on top of your weight loss plan. Added stress from everyday life also takes its toll. Even with a dedicated plan, people over the age of 40 tend to lose weight at a slower rate than those who are younger.
Your sex most likely also affects how fast you can lose weight. While each person’s body type is different, most females will naturally have more fat and less muscle on their bodies than males.
There are also additional factors such as pregnancy and menopause at play here. Pregnancy naturally leads to an increase in body fat, and the stress and lack of sleep from raising a newborn can make it hard to shed extra fat post-pregnancy. And while older men will often have to deal with issues of testosterone deficiency, women also tend to gain weight due to hormone loss from menopause.
Activity level
This may go without saying, but it’s a lot harder to achieve your weight loss goals if you live a sedentary lifestyle.
Your diet undoubtedly plays the biggest role in long-term weight loss and maintenance, but regular exercise is also crucial to get your desired results. The more calories you can burn during your diet plan, the higher your daily calorie deficit will be. Consistently being in a calorie deficit ultimately helps you lose weight.
Ideally, the CDC recommends people spend 150 minutes per week (about 20 minutes per day) doing moderate aerobic activity such as walking. Or if you prefer, 75 minutes per week (about 10 minutes per day) doing vigorous aerobic activity such as jogging or running. It recommends this in addition to at least two days of muscle strength training per week.
We understand that the stresses of everyday life can make it difficult to find time to exercise. In this case, some exercise is better than none at all, and there are creative ways you can reach your activity goals. Some examples include playing with your kids, walking/biking to work, or even just doing simple exercises during moments of downtime.
Adherence to Your Plan
Medical professionals develop your weight loss plan at Forum Health in Michigan. We help thousands of people across the state achieve their ideal body goals and not just lose weight, but keep it off, too. Our team has a proven process based on the unique needs of each of our clients. This process includes:
- Guided meal plans
- All-natural vitamin supplements and weight loss injections
- Prescription appetite suppressants
- Optional protein products
Many people have achieved fantastic results by closely adhering to this routine. That’s the kicker, though. In order to see the results you want, you have to follow this routine in its entirety.
We aren’t going to tell you that you can never have your favorite foods again. In fact, treating yourself every now and again can potentially be a great way to help keep your mental health balanced as you try to lose weight.
Where most people struggle, however, is when those cheat meals turn into cheat days, which can turn into cheat weeks. Suddenly, you’re losing out on all the progress you made up to this point. Along with regular physical activity, sticking closely to your professionally made plan is how to see the best possible results.
The same applies to alcohol consumption. Drinking a fruity cocktail every now and again isn’t the worst thing in the world, but businesses tend to load these drinks with sugar and calories. Therefore, you should only enjoy them infrequently.
If you are going to treat yourself, make sure it’s on rare occasions so that it feels more like a reward. And after that meal or drink, hold yourself accountable and make sure you get right back to your plan.
One of the best ways to do this is through the nutritional coaching offered at Forum Health. With our coaches, you’ll get the benefit of twice-weekly check-ins from trained medical assistants and weight loss coaches to ensure accountability. You’ll also receive help with personal guidance and advice as you continue your weight loss journey.
Hormone Status
We touched on this a bit earlier, but your hormonal balance can also have a huge effect on how quickly you lose weight. Hormone deficiencies are directly linked to weight problems and even obesity. If you follow your plan properly and still do not see your desired results, it could mean you have a hormone imbalance.
Our hormones decrease naturally as we age, but even younger patients can have issues with imbalances. In these cases, it may mean that you’re low on natural testosterone or thyroid production. Additionally, many weight loss patients experience insulin resistance.
Fortunately, Forum Health can use a few different methods to combat these issues. These include Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) and weight loss injections.
For HRT, we start by taking a full blood panel in order to get an accurate gauge of the issues you experience. After a consultation, we develop a treatment plan based on your symptoms and the results of your blood work before beginning therapy.
For injections, we often find that patients have one or multiple vitamin deficiencies potentially slowing their progress. Twice-weekly injections at one of our clinics in Michigan can help replenish your body with the vitamins you need to supplement your weight loss. Our available injections include:
- LipoDen Plus Injections
- Vitamin B12 Injections
- L-Carnitine injections
Each of these injections offers different specific functions. However, we design each of them to help boost your energy and facilitate your weight loss. Not only that, our injections can help ensure that your body is getting the proper vitamin intake it needs to continue a healthy lifestyle.
How Forum Health Helps Your Weight Loss Timeline
As the top center for weight loss in Michigan, Forum Health has the expertise and experience to ensure that our clients safely lose weight and keep it off. We certify our weight loss plans with physicians and medical providers. Additionally, each member of our staff has been thoroughly trained to help patients get the most from their experience with us.
Because of our experience, our team can help you stay on track with your weight loss timeline. We do this by helping you set realistic goals and milestones in your personalized plan, while also offering guidance and additional supplements when needed.
We care deeply about your progress, and our extensive knowledge helps people achieve better results than diet and exercise alone. Factors such as age and gender, hormone status, plan adherence, and activity level will all play a role in your timeline. However, having the right team of experts behind you will help ensure that you stay on track to meet your goals.
If you have questions about our customized weight loss plans or want additional information and guidance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.
Schedule Your Consultation with Forum Health—the best weight loss specialist in Michigan!
When you work with Forum Health, you’ll benefit from professional weight-loss support and a plan that’s personalized to your needs. Each aspect of your diet, lifestyle, activity level, travel plans, and more will be taken into account. With this information, our team will create a highly specialized plan that’s catered to your goals.
Schedule a consultation today and see the difference that an experienced, professional weight loss specialist can provide!
