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The Skinny on Weight Loss Injections

The Skinny on Weight Loss Injections

by | Jul 20, 2023 | Perimenopause, Weight Loss

Weight loss injections
I have been resisting this topic, but finally I’m going to talk about weight loss injections. I’m asked a lot about these as a lot of my clients are looking for weight loss and I’ve resisted commenting about these as I’m not an expert. However I’m seeing a lot of misinformation out there. I’m only going to talk about these injections in the context of weight loss and nothing else. This is not medical advice in the slightest. This is purely for education and entertainment purposes. If you are considering weight loss injections, please talk to your medical practitioner about that. The information I’m providing today is purely things that I have read in the literature and is by no means medical advice. I think I’ve made that clear. Let’s get into it.

First things first, what exactly are weight loss injections?

Well, weight loss injections are a medical treatment that may aid in the battle against excess body fat. They involve injecting specific substances into the body, which are believed to promote weight loss in various ways. It’s essential to understand that these injections are not magical potions; they are often used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise regime to maximise their effectiveness.

The most common types of weight loss injections include:

1. Lipotropic Injections: These are a blend of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, including methionine, inositol, choline, and vitamin B12. The goal of lipotropic injections is to boost metabolism, enhance fat breakdown, and improve overall liver function.

2. Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) Injections: HCG is a hormone produced during pregnancy. When used for weight loss, it is claimed to suppress appetite and help the body burn stored fat.

3. B12 Injections: Vitamin B12 is known for its role in energy metabolism. Advocates of B12 injections claim that they boost energy levels and metabolism, potentially aiding in weight loss.

4. GLP-1 Agonist Injections: These work by mimicking the hormone GLP-1, which helps regulate appetite and food intake. These are the ones that are receiving the most publicity at the moment.

Now that we know the types of weight loss injections let’s have a candid discussion about their potential benefits.

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Benefits of Weight Loss Injections

1. Speeding up Weight Loss: Weight loss injections can offer a jumpstart to your weight loss journey. The combination of nutrients and hormones in these injections is believed to rev up your metabolism, leading to increased fat burning and faster weight loss.

2. Appetite Suppression: Some weight loss injections, like GLP-1 Agonists, curb hunger which can reduce overall food intake and therefore lead to weight loss. I’m in two minds about whether this is actually a benefit or not as once this is stopped the problem comes back and weight can be regained.

3. Enhanced Energy Levels: The vitamin B12 present in lipotropic and B12 injections may give you an energy boost, which could potentially improve your workout performance and overall activity levels.

4. Targeting Stubborn Fat: Weight loss injections, especially lipotropic injections, are said to aid in breaking down stubborn fat deposits, which can be challenging to eliminate through diet and exercise alone.

5. Practitioner Supervision: Weight loss injections are typically administered by healthcare professionals, ensuring that you are under practitioner supervision throughout your weight loss journey.

Now, let’s get real about the potential risks and side effects because weight loss injections aren’t without their downsides.

Risks and Side Effects of Weight Loss Injections

 

1. Infections and Injection Site Reactions: As with any injection, there is a risk of infection and reactions at the injection site, such as redness, swelling, or pain.

2. Hormonal Imbalances: HCG injections can lead to hormonal imbalances in the body, potentially causing adverse effects.

3. Nutrient Imbalances: Overusing lipotropic injections, which contain specific vitamins and minerals, could lead to imbalances in your body’s nutrient levels.

4. Gastrointestinal Disturbances: GLP-1 Agonist injections may cause gastrointestinal side effects like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

5. Sustainability: These injections have limited long term effects and once you stop using them, you could regain the lost weight if you haven’t adopted a sustainable lifestyle change.

The Controversy Surrounding Weight Loss Injections:

Weight loss injections have been met with mixed opinions in the medical and fitness communities. Some practitioners argue that they can be beneficial as a short-term aid to kickstart weight loss, especially for individuals who have struggled to see results through traditional methods alone. However, others believe that relying solely on injections may lead to a failure to address the root cause of weight gain and an inability to develop sustainable habits. Plus, the widespread use of the GLP-1 Agonists have lead to shortages which have negatively impact people with diabetes who also are prescribed these.

It’s essential to recognise that weight loss is a complex journey that involves multiple factors, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, exercise, and mental health. While weight loss injections might provide a helpful nudge in the right direction, they cannot replace a comprehensive and holistic approach to overall well-being.

Weight loss injections are an intriguing option in the world of weight management. They can offer a helping hand, especially for those struggling to kickstart their weight loss journey. However, they are not a magic fix and should be approached with caution and qualified professional guidance.

As with any weight loss method, the most important aspect is creating a lifestyle that promotes long-term health and well-being. It’s essential to find joy in the process, celebrate small victories, and be patient with yourself. Remember, the ultimate goal is not just losing weight but also embracing a healthier, happier, and more balanced version of yourself.

Photo by Diana Polekhina on Unsplash

 

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Susie Garden | Clinical Nutritionist & Naturopath

Are you a woman feeling stressed, flat and experiencing the challenges of peri/menopause?
It’s time to reclaim your youthful energy, radiance and self-assurance (and your ideal weight).
I’m here to help with my proven method.

Book your complimentary Pre-Screening Call here, and let’s see how I might help you.

Peanut Butter Oats…You’re Welcome!

Peanut Butter Oats…You’re Welcome!

by | Jul 18, 2023 | Immunity, Recipes, Weight Loss

Woman with brain fog

I am seriously addicted to peanut butter (PB).

Luckily it’s pretty good for you, as long as you have the natural PB, not the heavily processed ones that have added sugar and all sorts of nasties (seriously, just have a look at the label of most PBs – it’s crazy!).  The BEST PB is from the health food store, that you make yourself. Just feed those peanuts into the machine and out comes your fresh peanut butter, nothing but nuts!

In summer, I’m a serious smoothie lover for weekday breakfasts, but sometimes I just feel like something different.  Particularly after teaching an early morning yoga class, I just want to come home and EAT!

My Peanut Butter Oats recipe is super easy to make, and it’s a night before job, so there’s no time needed in the morning – just eat it!  This is also perfect for a breakfast on the go and you can warm it up in the cooler months.

The oats are a good source of protein and provide long lasting fuel, with beta glucan, which is cardioprotective, stabilises blood glucose levels and supports the immune system.  Oats also provide a nice boost of minerals including manganese (anti-oxidant), phosphorous (bone health and energy supporting) and molybdenum (anti-carcinogenic) in high amounts.  The chia seeds in this recipe provide protein and omega 3s and the peanut butter contains Vitamin B1, B3, folate, Vitamin C & E, magnesium, protein and healthy fats. These nutrients are important to support a healthy stress response, and have an anti-ageing effect due to the high antioxidant content.

Soaking the oats breaks down the phytates which can bind the minerals and make them hard for the body to digest.  Same with the chia seeds, soaking them allows the body to digest them easily.

Adding some fresh blueberries and cacao nibs for extra antioxidants just tops this breakfast off nicely!

Best of all – this tastes sooooo good!

Want my free age-defying secrets? (Silly question, i know!) click here now

Ingredients (One serve)

⅓ – ½ cup rolled oats (or quinoa flakes if gluten free)

1 tblsp chia seeds (any colour)

1 tblsp natural peanut butter 

½ tsp natural honey or maple syrup (optional)

¾ cup non-dairy milk (I’ve tried Oat, Rice and Organic Soy – it all works)

OPTIONAL ADD INS:

1 tblsp LSA (ground linseed, sunflower seed and almond mix)

Fresh berries or other fruit

Nuts and seeds of your choice

Cacao nibs

Whatever really!

Method

Place the oats, chia seeds, PB, honey/maple syrup and milk into the jar (or bowl) and mix them together. Cover and place in the fridge overnight (6 hours does the trick).

Pop your add ins onto the oats the next morning, and enjoy x

Let’s jump on a FREE Pre-Screening Call to talk about how we can get you feeling (and looking) amazing now and for decades to come!

 

Ready to live your best life? Click to Book your free pre-screening call now

Susie Garden | Clinical Nutritionist & Naturopath

Are you a woman feeling stressed, flat and experiencing the challenges of peri/menopause?
It’s time to reclaim your youthful energy, radiance and self-assurance (and your ideal weight).
I’m here to help with my proven method.

Book your complimentary Pre-Screening Call here, and let’s see how I might help you.

How To Manage Your Hormones and Not Stack on the Kilos in Party Season

How To Manage Your Hormones and Not Stack on the Kilos in Party Season

by | Dec 12, 2022 | Perimenopause, Weight Loss

Ever wondered how health experts navigate the holiday season? I’m a big advocate for balance & enjoying your favourite goodies with loved ones – AND not depriving yourself! I’ve also become very aware of how hormones are impacted by the party season so I’m here to help you navigate this time without feeling hormonally challenged (is that a thing??) and without stacking on the kilos.

Did you know that studies show that around 40% of Aussies put on weight over Christmas and New Year – with an average of nearly 3kg! The group most susceptible to weight gain is those of us aged between 35-54 years. AND many people never lose that weight. 

So this year, I thought I would share my practical tips for enjoying Christmas and New Year in a healthy way.

How a naturopath approaches the festive season

 

HYDRATION IS A TOP PRIORITY

Getting plenty of water is a must in any situation. But over the holidays, it’s even more essential – we’re eating saltier foods, drinking alcohol, getting less sleep and generally putting more stress on the body.

That’s why I make sure I’m drinking plenty of freshly filtered water every single day. It helps to keep my energy high, gives me a healthy glow, and helps with detoxification which is critical for hormone balance.

CHOOSE TREATS WISELY & MINDFULLY

Now first up, let me say: everyone should enjoy their favourite foods over Christmas and New Year! But for me, the goal is to be choosy and go for the absolute must-haves.

For example, I have a MAJOR sweet tooth, and prefer to have a small amount of something utterly luxe rather than a massive serving of junk food that I know is going to make me feel like crap. 

Choose your top 2-3 favourite goodies, and whenever possible, choose the best quality in a small quantity. As an example, enjoy 3-5 pieces of decadent handmade dark chocolate rather than wolfing down an entire block of Cadbury’s!

PORTION CONTROL IS YOUR BEST FRIEND

The same theory goes for the meals you eat while out and about – not just treat foods. I avoid refilling my plate and going back for extra servings because I simply don’t need them!

Another way to make portion control easy? Fill your plate with 50% veggies whenever you can. This will help to satiate you, add in a big dose of fibre and micronutrients, and prevents you from going overboard on the more calorie-dense foods.

FOCUS ON EATING WELL MOST OF THE TIME

So many people focus on restricting what they eat at parties and events. But they completely overlook what they eat between those events – aka the bulk of your nutrition!

Rather than getting too worried about what I’m going to eat on Christmas Day or the treats at a New Year’s party, I focus on packing nutrition into my meals at home.

This can include adding in a nutrient-dense meal or snack before heading out for the evening. One easy option I often reach for is a half portion of a green smoothie. Having a smoothie allows me to get micronutrients, protein, fibre and hydration into my system. The greens support healthy detox to keep my hormones happy as well. And of course, it’s much easier to make mindful choices when I’m out because I’m not hangry!

KEEP ALCOHOL TO A MINIMUM

Now I’m not opposed to alcohol – but I prefer to avoid consuming alcohol too much over the festive season.

Why? There are so many reasons:

  • Alcohol can rapidly dehydrate you and make you feel crummy

  • It tend to lead to poor food choices not only at the event but the next day as well as you’re dealing with your blood sugar being all over the place.

  • Too much alcohol aggravates perimenopause symptoms such as hot flushes and mood swings

  • It takes priority for your liver to detox (as it’s a toxin) which means it can impact your hormone balance.

  • It contains a dense amount of calories and has minimal micronutrients to justify those calories

One or two glasses at an event isn’t a big deal, as long as you’re mindful to drink water in between. But if you’re consuming more than that, it might be time to explore why you feel the need to.

READY TO TRANSFORM YOUR HEALTH IN 2024?

There is a sustainable way for you to reach your health goals based on your body’s individual needs!

Let’s jump on a FREE Pre-Screening Call to talk about how we can get you feeling and looking amazing in the New Year!

Book your time here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

The Link Between Insulin Resistance & Chronic Inflammation

The Link Between Insulin Resistance & Chronic Inflammation

by | Oct 4, 2022 | Weight Loss

Did you know that there’s an important link between insulin resistance and chronic inflammation? These two conditions have a lot in common – they are often silent to begin with, and many people will go undiagnosed for years before discovering them. But when both occur, it can cause even greater health concerns.

What is insulin resistance?

As we’ve touched on previously, insulin resistance (IR) occurs when you have consistently high levels of insulin. You might see it referred to as pre-diabetes.

In IR, your body is producing plenty of insulin, but your cells don’t get the ‘message’. In an attempt to fix the problem, your body will produce more insulin. Unfortunately, this just perpetuates the cycle by increasing the cells’ resistance to insulin.

What is chronic inflammation?

Chronic inflammation is a long-term condition that takes many months and even years to develop. As the name suggests, it is when you are in an ongoing state of inflammation. Usually this inflammation is low-grade so it might not even cause symptoms to begin with (unlike acute inflammation).

When the body is in this state of chronic inflammation, it is also in a constant state of alert, always looking for danger. This causes a considerable amount of stress and oxidative damage within the tissues, leading to impaired organ function, damaged DNA and accelerated ageing (eek!)

This is where it’s important to touch on inflammaging.

Inflammaging is one of the long-term impacts of untreated chronic inflammation. The unrelenting inflammation drastically increases the rate of ageing. And the effects of this further feed into inflammation and other body processes.

How are the two conditions linked?

There is a two-way street between these conditions – they both feed into one another. So it is often a chicken-or-egg situation, depending on your underlying factors and health history!

For example, let’s look at insulin resistance. When there is too much insulin in the bloodstream, it can cause inflammation. Then there’s also more sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream because cells aren’t ‘listening’ to insulin, which is a double-whammy for inflammation!

But inflammation can also trigger insulin resistance. This is believed to be thanks to inflammation’s effect on insulin signalling and insulin sensitivity of the muscles and liver.

So where do you start first if you’re dealing with both conditions? I like to say both – because there is plenty of overlap in how we address them anyway! Make sure you check out my top tips for addressing insulin resistance here.

CAN SUPPLEMENTS HELP REDUCE INSULIN RESISTANCE AND INFLAMMATION?

Supplements can‘t replace a balanced diet and exercise regime, but they can support pathways involved with insulin resistance and inflammation. However, not all supplements are created equal!

That’s why I’ve formulated my own innovative supplement designed to support healthy ageing! It helps to support healthy blood glucose & metabolism of carbohydrates – both of which play a critical role in insulin resistance.

In terms of inflammation, it can reduce free radicals formed in the body, support body tissue regeneration and healthy immune system function, as well as working as an antioxidant. Learn more about Energy Glow NR here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

Is Your Blood Sugar The Reason You’re So Tired All The Time?

Is Your Blood Sugar The Reason You’re So Tired All The Time?

by | Sep 27, 2022 | Weight Loss

There are many reasons that you feel constantly fatigued. But a commonly overlooked one? How your body regulates blood sugar levels.

The food that you eat, the rate that you absorb energy and your body’s ability to move the energy into your cells via insulin can all alter your sense of energy. So let’s take a closer look at how your blood sugar level could be exhausting you.

The links between blood sugar and fatigue

EATING HIGH-CARB, LOW-FIBRE FOODS

Hands up who has eaten a carb-heavy meal like a massive bowl of pasta and needed a nap right afterwards? Welcome to the effect of your blood sugar level!

When you eat these types of food, the energy suddenly floods into the bloodstream. But too much glucose in the system can be damaging, so your body kicks into overdrive to store it away safely.

You produce a large dose of insulin, which will store it away in the cells and into fat stores. As a result, you’ll have a burst of energy, followed by a crash as your blood sugar level drops rapidly.

If that isn’t enough reason for a ‘food coma’, there’s a secondary action as well. The increased insulin level increases tryptophan uptake into the brain, causing you to feel tired.

INSULIN & BLOOD SUGAR BALANCE

Over time, consistently elevated insulin levels can lead to the development of insulin resistance (IR).

In IR, your body is producing plenty of insulin, but your cells don’t get the ‘message’. To try and fix the problem, your body will produce more insulin. Unfortunately, this just perpetuates the cycle by increasing the cells’ resistance to insulin.

How does this affect your energy? The primary cause is that the cells won’t accept the glucose they need to fuel them. Without fuel, the cells can’t work efficiently, and therefore cannot produce sufficient energy for your daily needs.

There are some indirect mechanisms that cause fatigue as well. For example, when there is too much insulin in the bloodstream, it can cause inflammation. Then there’s also more sugar (glucose) in the bloodstream because cells aren’t ‘listening’ to insulin, which is a double-whammy for inflammation!

Chronic low-grade inflammation can further reduce the energy available to your cells. Plus it also reduces your insulin sensitivity, causing a vicious cycle!

IS FATIGUE CAUSED BY BLOOD SUGAR LEVELS ONLY EXPERIENCED BY DIABETICS?

Not at all! While it’s more common for those diagnosed with diabetes to experience these effects, it’s not exclusive to them.

Fatigue is a well-recognised symptom of insulin resistance, which is considered a pre-diabetic state. But anyone can experience the effects of a rapidly changing blood sugar level, including lower energy or a sudden crash in energy.

If you’ve noticed a pattern of fatigue around your meals, it’s worth investigating if insulin resistance is to blame. Here are some simple management tips if IR is an issue for you.

CAN SUPPLEMENTS HELP TO BALANCE YOUR BLOOD SUGAR?

Supplements can‘t replace a balanced diet and exercise regime, but they can support pathways involved with insulin resistance and sensitivity. However, not all supplements are created equal!

That’s why I’ve formulated my own innovative supplement designed to support healthy ageing! Plus it helps to support healthy blood glucose & metabolism of carbohydrates, both of which play a critical role in insulin resistance. Learn more about Energy Glow NR here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.

How To Tackle Insulin Resistance At The Root

How To Tackle Insulin Resistance At The Root

by | Sep 20, 2022 | Weight Loss

Looking for ways to manage your insulin resistance naturally? While there are medications available, many prefer to address the underlying causes to improve insulin sensitivity.

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to tackle insulin resistance at the root through diet and lifestyle changes.

How to manage your insulin resistance naturally

EAT 3 MEALS A DAY

Until recently, health practitioners thought that the best way to manage glucose and insulin levels is to have small frequent meals during the day. But now research has uncovered that better glucose control in (even in) diabetic patients is achieved with 3 meals a day.

Why is this the case? When we eat frequently, insulin is continually being secreted by the pancreas and doesn’t have a chance to return to a baseline level.

So ditch the frequent snacks and stick to your three square meals as it’s not just people with diabetes that this is beneficial for. We ca all benefit from this (and this is coming from a reformed snacker lol).

INCLUDE PROTEIN AND FIBRE IN EVERY MEAL

One way we can get insulin resistance under control is by minimising glucose and insulin spikes on a daily basis. And a simple way to make this happen? Having a source of protein and fibre in every single meal.

Both protein and fibre help to slow the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. As a result, you get a steady stream of energy over a longer period of time, and less insulin is produced to manage it.

DITCH THE CALORIE RESTRICTION AND COOKIE-CUTTER DIETS

As weight gain is a common side effect of insulin resistance, people often turn to restrictive calorie counting or fad diets to kickstart weight loss. But all this is going to do is increase the stress on your body and make it hold tighter to that body fat!

The nutrition plan that you want? One that tailors to your needs and how your body processes nutrients, including glucose. To learn more about how I can help with this, check out The Glow Protocol here.

MANAGE YOUR STRESS

Stress is often a massive contributor to insulin resistance. And unfortunately, insulin resistance adds to your stress load! So looking at natural ways of managing your stress load needs to be a focus.

Of course, we can’t avoid every kind of stress forever. And small amounts of stress can actually be beneficial for us! But we do want to prevent a build-up of chronic stress. For tips around how to reduce your stress naturally, make sure you give this a read.

GET A GOOD NIGHT OF SLEEP

Did you know that even one night of sleep deprivation can induce a state of insulin resistance? If that is what one night of missed sleep can cause, you can imagine what happens when you’re skimping on sleep regularly!

Getting 7-9hrs of deep, restful sleep is one of the most important steps to support insulin sensitivity. For some simple sleep tips to get you started, give this a read.

MOVE YOUR BODY REGULARLY

Physical activity has countless benefits for your health. So it’s no surprise that research has found it can improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake into the cells!

Any form of movement is a good start. However, resistance training can offer even greater benefits thanks to the increase in muscle mass (which means more glucose uptake)

A word of caution – if you are under significant chronic stress or going through perimenopause, keep your high-intensity training on the low side. Otherwise, it could have the opposite effect by increasing the physical stress load on your body!

REDUCE YOUR INFLAMMATION LEVEL

Insulin resistance and inflammation feed into each other. The more insulin resistant you become, the greater your inflammation, and vice versa. So if you want to tackle one, you have to consider the other.

You can learn more about inflammation (and its partner in crime, inflammaging) and how to address it here.

USE TARGETED SUPPLEMENTATION

Supplements can‘t replace a balanced diet and exercise regime, but they can support pathways involved with insulin resistance and sensitivity. However, not all supplements are created equal!

That’s why I’ve formulated my own innovative supplement designed to support healthy ageing! Plus it helps to support healthy blood glucose & metabolism of carbohydrates, both of which play a critical role in insulin resistance. Learn more about Energy Glow NR here.

Susie Garden

I help women feeling stressed, flat and older than they’d like regain their youthful energy and glow using a proven method so their natural beauty and confidence shines through.