How Does Weight Management Work?

If you’re overweight, chances are you’ve tried to lose weight more than once, and it just hasn’t worked. Maybe you’ve tried the latest diet craze, or maybe you’ve been super determined, but then a few weeks in, you drift back to your old habits.

At Physicians Medical Primary Care, we understand the difficulty of losing weight. The reality is that diets and determination rarely work on their own. What you need is a healthy, sustainable lifestyle that lets you achieve your goals.

We use an approach called weight management to make this happen. Here’s how it can work for you.

Why should you lose weight?

People who are overweight don’t just need to lose weight so they look better. They’re also causing serious stress to their body in multiple ways. Obesity increases your risk for many serious health conditions, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, arthritis, sleep apnea, various types of cancer, mental illness, and more.

Losing weight doesn’t only improve your clothing size — it just may save your life.

What is weight management? 

Weight management is an approach to losing weight that uses lifestyle changes, exercise, and nutritional counseling to help you lose weight and then live a healthy, active life at a weight that’s right for you.

Of course you want to lose weight as quickly as possible, but you’re more likely to keep weight off if you lose at a slow and steady pace. The key is designing a plan that works for your life, and then consistently sticking with the plan.

At Physicians Primary Medical Care, we begin your weight management program with a discussion about nutrition. You won’t lose weight if you don’t eat a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, protein, and grains, while drinking plenty of water. We’ll work with you on breaking unhealthy eating habits, and give you step-by-step instructions on how to set up and manage a healthy eating plan.

Next, we’ll work with you to develop an exercise routine that aligns with your specific situation. It isn’t easy to begin an exercise program when you’re overweight, but our providers know exactly how to ease you into exercise before increasing the intensity of your workouts as the weight comes off and you’re able to handle more.

These are the basic building blocks of losing weight, but if you’re using them consistently and you’re not seeing the results you want, you may be dealing with some type of autoimmune or chronic condition that requires prescription medication or nutritional supplements to let your body lose weight. Our providers will review your medical history, run any necessary tests, and determine the best solution to fit your needs.

If you’re ready to jump off the hamster wheel of dieting over and over, contact any of the Physicians Medical Primary Care offices in San Jose. Our caring, knowledgeable team will set you up with an appointment to begin your new weight loss journey in a sustainable way that will last a lifetime.