10 Weight Loss Questions Answered | Weight Loss in KY & FL

Weight Loss Questions

Your Top Weight-Loss Questions Answered

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Get in contact with one of our medical weight loss professionals near you. We can discuss the goals you have and see how we can help.

What are the facts about fat?

Avoiding foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol is one way to reduce your risk for heart disease. Despite what you may have heard, though, fats aren’t necessarily bad for you – your body needs a certain amount of fat to function. However, all fats are not created equal. This is how the different fats compare, and how they fit into a healthy eating plan.

 

Trans-fats are produced during the processing of margarines and vegetable shortenings. Any processed foods made with partially hydrogenated oil (read the label for ingredients) contain trans-fatty acids, which also raise cholesterol levels. Foods that contain these fats are margarines, vegetable shortenings, certain baked goods (cookies, crackers, pastries), deep-fried foods.

Will I go hungry on your medical weight loss program?

No, not at all. In fact, many of our patients report an increase in energy and reduced hunger!

What types of foods will I be allowed to eat?

The program at Horizon Weight Loss is different from many mainstream weight loss programs in that it is not based on prepackaged foods. We encourage a diet that consists of real, grocery-store food. Most importantly, we will work to educate you on appropriate portion sizes and food choices to create long-term results.

What are calories & why do they count?

Losing, gaining or maintaining your weight depends on how many calories you take in and use up during the day. It’s a simple equation called Energy Balance:

  • If you eat more than your body needs, you store the extra calories as fat.
  • If you don’t take in enough calories to meet your body’s energy needs, your body will use the stored fat.

People who want to lose weight often focus on counting the number of calories they take in, but overlook the calories they expend. The best route to lasting and healthy weight loss is combining dietary changes (lowering the calories consumed) with exercise (boosting your caloric output).

 

The Calorie Tally
A calorie represents energy. Each pound of fat your body stores represents 3,500 calories of unused energy. To lose one pound, you have to create a deficit of 3,500 calories by taking in 3,500 less calories over a period of time than you need, or doing 3,500 calories worth of exercise.

 

Adding 15 minutes of moderate exercise to your daily schedule will use up 100 extra calories per day. Maintaining this schedule would result in 700 extra calories burned per week, or a loss of about 10 pounds in one year, assuming your food intake stays the same.

 

To look at energy balance another way, just one extra slice of bread a day – or any other food that contains approximately 100 calories – can add up to 10 extra pounds in a year if you don’t increase your physical activity!

Exercise – What’s right for you?

Our bodies need regular activity, especially if they are carrying around extra weight. Satisfying this need requires a definite plan, and a commitment.

 

Although any kind of physical movement will burn calories, the type of exercise that uses the most energy is aerobic exercise. Regular aerobic exercise will improve your ability to use oxygen to produce energy needed for activity. You’ll build a healthier body and get rid of excess body fat.

 

Do different types of aerobic activities. Mix it up! Try walking one day, riding a bike the next. Make sure you choose an activity that can be done regularly, and is enjoyable for you. If music helps, blast the radio or wear a personal stereo.

 

The important thing to remember is not to skip too many days between workouts or you’ll lose the fitness benefits. As a rule of thumb, space your workouts throughout the week and avoid consecutive days of hard exercise.

 

How hard is hard enough?
It is important to exercise at an intensity level that’s hard enough to cause your heart rate and breathing to increase. How hard you should exercise depends to a certain degree on your age, and is determined by measuring your heart rate in beats per minute.

 

The heart rate you should maintain is called your target heart rate. Use a target heart rate guide to see what you should aim for. Beginners should maintain the 60 percent level of that figure; if you’re more advanced, you can work up to the 80 percent level. This is just a guide, however. Talk to your physician about the right heart rate for you.

 

In addition to the aerobic exercise, round out your program with muscle strengthening and stretching exercises. The stronger your muscles, the longer you will be able to keep going during aerobic activity, and the less chance of injury. And always remember that each workout should begin with a warmup and end with a cool down.

 

What are some physical limitations to exercise?

  • morbid obesity
  • having the use of only one arm or leg
  • fibromyalgia
  • malnutrition
  • blindness
  • spinal cord injury
  • allergies
  • broken bones
  • heart disease

Can I exercise if I have a physical limitation?
If you have a physical limitation that you think might affect your fitness plans, talk with your health professional before you start any exercise. A health care professional can give you guidance on:

  • What kinds of exercises to avoid.
  • The risks and benefits of exercising with your physical abilities.
  • Signs to watch for while exercising that show something might be wrong.

Tips to get you started

  • Get your doctor’s “OK” before starting an exercise program.
  • Choose activities that you think you’ll enjoy.
  • Set aside a regular exercise time — make time for this addition to your routine and don’t let anything get in your way.
  • Be realistic — set short term goals. Don’t expect to lose 20 pounds in two weeks.
  • Keep a record of your progress and tell your friends and family about your achievements.
  • Vary your exercise program. There is no “best” exercise – just one that works best for you.
  • It won’t be easy, especially at the start. But as you begin to feel better and look better, you’ll see that the effort is more than worthwhile.

Tips to keep you going

  • Create a plan and write it down.
  • Keep a log to record your progress.
  • Upgrade your fitness program as you build strength.
  • Avoid injuries by pacing yourself and including a warmup and cool down in every workout.
  • Try new sports, equipment, classes, to stay motivated.
  • Reward yourself for a job well done!

Why exercise?

Maybe you’ve never exercised before and you’re afraid to start. Or perhaps you’ve started an exercise program – more than once – that fell by the wayside. However many reasons you have for not exercising, there are at least as many for you to get moving.

What you’ll get:

  • Stronger heart muscle
  • More energy
  • Stronger bones, ligaments and tendons
  • Improved self-esteem
  • Stronger immune system
  • Increased metabolism – you’ll burn calories faster!
  • Increased blood flow to all muscles, including the heart
  • Increased HDL (good) cholesterol
  • Improved balance
  • Improved muscle endurance for everyday activities
  • Improved diabetes management (if you have diabetes)
  • Improved mood – exercise is a natural mood-booster

What you’ll reduce:

  • Your risk for heart disease
  • Your risk for certain cancers
  • Your risk for developing diabetes
  • Body fat and body weight
  • Your resting heart rate
  • Your blood pressure
  • LDL (bad) cholesterol
  • Total cholesterol
  • Triglycerides
  • Blood sugar
  • Your risk for developing or worsening osteoporosis
  • Stress and its effects on your mind and body

You don’t have to run a marathon. Start slow. Any regular exercise effort can translate into some gains in your health, especially if you increase from doing almost no exercise to exercising several days per week. Remember to talk to your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

Will my insurance cover any portion of the program’s cost?

The best way to answer this question is to speak with your insurance provider directly. Your agent will be able to help you determine whether your treatment will be eligible for reimbursement.

Will I be required to pay in advance or sign a contract?

No. Our patients are never required to pay in advance or sign a contract.

Will I be able to use a flex spending program or health savings account?

Yes, if you have a credit card for the account. However, Horizon Weight Loss does not accept personal checks as a form of payment.

Can I participate in the program if I am currently on a variety of medications?

Fortunately, there are very few medications which interact negatively with our medical weight loss program. When you visit our office for a consultation, a practitioner will review your medical history thoroughly and discuss your options with you.

Can I participate in the program if I have diabetes?

Yes! Our medical weight loss program is closely supervised by a physician. So if you’re suffering from a medical condition, like diabetes, you can be treated with your physician’s permission.

What is obesity and how can it be handled?

As the fastest growing health concern for Americans, obesity affects one in every three U.S. adults— and is the 2nd leading cause of preventable death. According to The World Health Organization, obesity is “one of the greatest neglected health problems of our time.”

 

Here at Horizon Weight Loss, we are dedicated to fighting the battle against obesity. With our help, you’ll obtain the fitness, maintenance, nutrition, and motivation you need to lose weight healthily. On average, our patients lose up to five to ten pounds within the first week, and as much as 20 pounds within the first month! The medical weight loss program at Horizon Weight Loss is truly effective.

Can I participate in the Horizon Weight Loss program if I am not overweight?

To be eligible for the Horizon Weight Loss program, a patient must have a BMI of 27 or higher. In special situations, we may approve a patient who has a 25 or 26 BMI—the best course of action is to contact us to determine if you are eligible. If you would like to check your BMI, use our convenient BMI Calculator.

Medical Weight Loss Questions In Kentucky

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We offer a FREE Personalized Consultation for all patients. We look forward to meeting you and discussing your personal goals. Call a Horizon Weight Loss location near you to schedule an appointment or submit the form to start the path of becoming a renewed you!

 

 

*The Horizon Weight Loss program includes a healthy diet and exercise to produce the best results. Food intake, rates of metabolism and levels of exercise vary from person to person. This means weight loss results will also vary from person to person. No individual result should be seen as typical.

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