A Journey with Semaglutide

Semaglutide is a weight loss medication that works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist (the branded forms are also known as Wegovy and Ozempic). One of the main mechanisms of action is on the satiety center of the brain, where it can suppress appetite and cravings. This treatment targets the source of weight gain—eating excess calories.  While using it as a tool to help with appetite – we can dial in a lifestyle diet that can end up being the gift that keeps on giving, as this is the path to weight loss maintenance. With all of the patients that do our Semaglutide program at The Natural Path, my goal is to help them lose weight, and, most importantly is to maintain those losses.

A Semaglutide Patient Perspective

Patients often report that one of the first things they notice is that they feel full sooner when eating a meal. Many report that they will eat half of a meal and then need to stop eating. They also report that cravings diminish. We have patients consume nutrient-dense food to be sure they get all the nutrients they need.  If you are eating less on this medication, it is even more important to be sure your calories are nutrient-rich.

Many patients report feeling full longer. Semaglutide delays gastric emptying, and patients report eating less frequently. For a large percentage of our patients, the dopamine surge with cravings no longer occurs, and they find that “food noise” disappears. This can also play into decreasing addictions that someone may experience in their life, such as gambling, smoking, drinking, shopping, etc.

The most common side effect can be mild nausea on the day of or the day after injection.  The good news is that most patients will “outgrow” side effects within the first 2 months of the program. Everyone is different and has a unique experience with Semaglutide. .

Dietary Tips with Semaglutide

The way to make Semaglutide effective long term is through diet modification. Since the primary mechanism is appetite suppression, leveraging this is the primary way to lose weight while dialing in a healthy eating plan that will become second nature! Here are tips that have been useful to our patients:

• Decrease portion size
• Reduce sugar and alcohol intake- focus on clean proteins, low-carb veggies, and healthy fats in moderation. 
• Narrow your eating window to 6-8 hours ( intermittent fasting)
• Read food labels and pay attention to nutritional information
• Don’t wait until you are starving to eat (or you will overeat)- stay food-prepped for when this happens.
• Drink plenty of water- 2-4 liters daily
• Plan ahead 
• You can’t eat or drink it if it’s not in the house!

Have goals! Exercise! Stay Motivated!

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