Category: Weight Loss

Can the Advanced HCG Weight Loss Diet Help You Lose That Weight for Good?

A number of high profile media outlets like CNN, the Morning Show, and Dr. Oz have all endorsed the HCG Diet as an intense yet effective weight loss plan for those struggling with obesity. But the question is, can the HCG Diet help you reach your specific weight loss goals? It essentially pairs the hormone human chorionic gonadotropin, or HCG, with a low-calorie meal plan in order to generate fast, dramatic, and efficient weight loss results.

How the HCG Diet Works

HCG is a hormone that exists naturally in the body to help produce even more hormones. This means that HCG is responsible for placing the body in the anabolic state that supports muscle-building and prevents muscle-breakdown. This is critical because rapid weight loss tends to cause muscle loss as well. With HCG, your body will burn pure fat while retaining important muscle, meaning your metabolism will remain stronger and further propel your weight loss.

If those benefits weren’t enough, HCG can reduce feelings of hunger and cravings, so it supports the ability to stick to a lower-calorie meal plan than you might be used to. HCG even has the potential to help balance hormone-related conditions like hypothyroidism, menopause, and andropause that lead to unwanted weight gain.

Components of the HCG Diet Program

The HCG Diet program is simple and streamlined. After talking to a doctor about your plans, you will receive a prescription for the HCG injections, which have been proven to work. Under medical supervision, you will use the injections along with a lower-calorie diet of healthy, wholesome foods to lose your weight. By the time you are done with the HCG injections, you will have lost your unwanted weight and adjusted to the lifestyle habits that will ensure you keep the weight off.

Medical supervision is the key to a successful HCG Diet, because only a professional can properly gauge your doses of HCG and track your progress appropriately.

Sermorelin, HGH And Anti Aging

Sermorelin has generated a lot of buzz recently within the scientific community as a safe and effective way to increase growth hormone production naturally.  Sermorelin is an FDA approved prescription drug, first developed in the 1970’s, which stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and release human growth hormone (HGH).  Unlike HGH therapy, which directly replaces declining levels of HGH from genetically engineered growth hormone, Sermorelin stimulates the pituitary gland to produce and secrete HGH naturally.  As such, Sermorelin is known as a ‘secretagogue’ which means it causes the pituitary gland to produce and secrete HGH.

The amount of HGH produced in the body declines with age. The body’s HGH output tends to be highest in our mid 20’s, however, declines anywhere from 30% to 50% by the time we reach our 40’s; this steep drop off leads to many of the signs and symptoms associated with aging, such as: loss of vitality, increased body fat, reduced muscle mass, reduced bone mineral content, insomnia, and a weakened immune, to name a few.  These changes can eventually lead to an increased risk for heart disease, insulin resistance, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Health benefits that have been reported with Sermorelin use include: increased energy and vitality, increased skin elasticity, improved bone density (strengthening of the bones), increased development of lean muscle mass, decrease in fat tissue, improved memory, improved sexual function, improved cardiovascular strength, lower blood pressure, higher HDL and improved immunity.

Sermorelin is usually taken as a subcutaneous injection for best results.  The cost of Sermorelin therapy is significantly less expensive than the cost of HGH therapy, making it a widely sought after treatment. To learn more about Semorelin and if could be right for you, call New Leaf Centers at 888-728-7555 for a FREE consult today!

What You Need To Know About Melatonin

Melatonin has commonly been used as an over-the counter remedy to sleep better. But it is so much more! Here’s what you need to know about Melatonin:

Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland. It is a circadian rhythm hormone- thereby affecting the patterns of sleep. Research has shown that the cells of the body rejuvenate and repair during the deeper stages of sleep. It is during the deeper stages of sleep that the body produces natural killer cells or CD4 cells.

Melatonin increases the deep stage of sleep and stage IV sleep, thereby increasing and enhancing immunity.

Improved sleep patterns serve to energize the body and improve mood.

Melatonin has powerful antioxidant effects which accounts for disease prevention qualities.

Melatonin has tremendous cancer prevention effects due to its enhancement of the immune system.

Melatonin deficiency results in poor sleep, jet lag, irritability, hypersensitivity and premature aging.

The Benefits of Testosterone

Modern science has taught us much about the benefits and importance of the body’s hormones. Scientists and doctors now understand how important the balance of hormones in our bodies is, and how critical it is to maintain that balance.

Imbalance Side Effects

The side effects of a testosterone imbalance can be dangerous, and this is true for both men and women. In men, low testosterone is most commonly linked to a low sex drive, causing disruptions in romantic partnerships, as well as self-esteem issues. Clearly, the issue goes far beyond sexual performance.

Pros of Testosterone in Men

Properly balanced testosterone in a man results in decreased fat and increased muscle mass, impacting cardiovascular and muscular health. Recent studies have also found an interesting link between low testosterone and life expectancy. Men with less testosterone are statistically more likely to have shorter lives than men with high testosterone.

Women too?

Women also feel the effects of testosterone imbalance. Common knowledge holds that testosterone is just for men, but that’s not true. Low testosterone in women results in a wide variety of hard to diagnose symptoms: fatigue, anxiety, sleeplessness, depression, and weight gain are some common symptoms. These effects are commonly seen after menopause, but hormone imbalances can happen at any age. Properly balancing the body’s natural testosterone and estrogen levels prevents these symptoms.

Men + Women

In both men and women, imbalances in testosterone result in health issues like diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and osteoporosis. So testosterone is important for more than just men’s health issues; it crosses gender boundaries and affects all areas of the body. The Providers at New Leaf Wellness are aware of the risks and inconveniences that imbalanced hormone levels bring to the human body, and we are pleased to offer Natural Hormone Therapy to our clients.

NHT works to reach a targeted level of hormones in your body, restoring your body’s natural ability to keep healthy and fit. Hormones are beneficial at any age, but most commonly we administer the therapy to people in their 40’s, when your body naturally begins to slow production of certain hormones. Supplementing these declining hormones can keep your body fit and active for much longer. Bio-identical hormones are made from plants and are identical to the hormones naturally produced by your own body. We never use synthetic hormones, which have been shown to increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes.

Benefits of Natural Hormone Therapy include:

  • Increased bone density
  • Weight loss
  • Sleep improvement
  • Increased vitality and energy
  • Higher libido
  • More muscle mass

Our clients love the results and energy they’ve get once their hormonal levels are fully balanced. Because hormones are so important, we’re proud to lend our medical expertise to ensure all our hormonal treatments are tailored to your specific needs. If you’re curious about NHT, you can take a short quiz to see if NHT would be a good fit for your body.

For MEN

For WOMEN

Why Men Should Consider Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy

NHT (Natural Hormone Therapy) is not just for the ladies, so guys pay attention! Why? Because your hormones have been on a decline since your 20’s (sad but true), and if you are approaching middle-age, are currently there, or have surpassed it, there’s a good chance you are experiencing hormone imbalance or even andropause (the unofficial medical term for “male menopause” and the result of a gradual drop in testosterone).

Certain signs of andropause and other related hormone imbalance issues:

  • Memory loss
  • Muscle loss
  • Weight gain
  • Sleep problems
  • Lower sex drive
  • Irritability
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Hair loss
  • Urinary problems
  • Memory loss
  • Night sweats
  • Erectile dysfunction

While hormone imbalance and replacement treatments tend to be a hot topic amongst women, men seem to have a harder time discussing their own issues with hormone imbalance and the symptoms causing them discomfort. However, many men (the ones that want to talk about it) can attest to the many benefits to hormone restoration and treatments such as NHT. Therefore, not only should men start to feel more comfortable with the conversation of hormone issues, they should be open to the idea of fixing them. Here are a few reasons why…

Testosterone Balance May Reduce Risk for Disease

Several studies have linked low testosterone levels to diabetes, stroke, heart disease, prostate cancer, and other chronic diseases. By choosing hormone restoration treatments such as BHRT, you not only feel better, you also take drastic measures to protecting your health.

Balanced Hormones Help Men Feel Younger

We all want to know the secret to feeling younger, and NHT might just be the answer. Results of hormone imbalance such as memory and muscle loss, fatigue, depression, lower sex drive, and other symptoms listed above can improve or even be reversed with hormone restoration treatments.

Why should you live everyday life with the discomfort of hormone imbalance?

With NHT, you can live the active lifestyle that you desire, and there’s no better time than now to take action! For more information on our Natural Hormone Therapy, please give us a call.

Hormone Replacement Therapy

 Many people are turning toward hormone therapy due to its many benefits and long lasting healthy effects on the human body. These hormone replacement therapy methods are mostly required as a person gets older, probably in their thirties or after. People turn towards NHT because there must have been changes in his or her body and life that could be interfering with productivity, healthfulness, pleasure, vitality, and enjoyment. Hormone treatments are not just taken up by everyone, blood analysis is used to determine what will best suit for that specific individual.

Estrogen/testosterone therapy:

Women go for estrogen and progesterone hormone therapy. Mostly, men think about testosterone hormone replacement therapy to aid them in proper erectile function and improve their muscle tone. NHT also improves immunity and recovery, enhances cognitive abilities, stimulates production of thicker and fuller hair, enhances memory and concentration, improves sexual functioning, desire and also is known to lower cholesterol levels.

Anti-aging benefits:

For some people HT is a lot about the anti-aging benefits that you can get with it. The list of physiological enhancements talks about the inner working of the body like improved regeneration of new cells of skin, hair, muscles, nails, bones. All this along with improved lean muscle mass of a physically toned body and a lot more. Keep in mind that each of the main types of hormone replacement therapy that are used in adults has a particular purpose. It is not just a treatment that will help you age gracefully without putting your lives basic functions at rest. Detailed blood testing is what will show if any of these vital levels has declined in the body, and if you are in need of a hormone treatment or not, if so, which ones and to what extent.

Take our Hormone Health Quiz!

For WOMEN

For MEN

Morning or Night Workouts: Which is Best for Weight Loss?

Welcome Kris Wiese, fitness expert from MyGenetx today for her guest blogging for New Leaf Wellness.

Whether you are an early bird that gets the worm or a night owl that burns the oil, a workout regimen based on your optimum time of day can provide benefits. According to many sources, one is not better than the other. They both have advantages.

Morning Workout Benefits:

  • Boosting endorphins in the morning revs up your metabolism for the day!
  • Raising your body temperature helps wake you up quickly.
  • The quiet of the morning can mean less distractions and temptations to to ditch the workout.
  • When you finish an early workout, the tone is set for the day and you are more likely to eat healthy.
  • Sleep should come easy after a morning workout and full day of activity.

Evening Workout Benefits:

  • Late afternoons and early evenings are great to work off any stress of the day, which will reduce your levels of the stress hormone, cortisol that can lead to over eating.
  • Less warm-up time is required. (You may need an hour or two cool down before bed to prepare your body for good night’s sleep.)
  • Between 2pm-6pm is the peak time for a workout based on enzyme activity and muscular function.
  • If the workout is the last task of the day, you will have no time constraints.

On days when you feel great, you can extend your workout time!

When combined with a healthy diet, four workouts a week are encouraged for weight loss. If you are not sure what your optimum time is, try two morning workouts and two night workouts the first week to determine the best fit.

Information provided by Kris Wiese, Healthcare Content Specialist Director of Communications at MyGenetx. For more on fitness, contact Kris at info@newleafcenters.com.

 

For more helpful articles, check out:

http://www.self.com/story/is-it-better-to-work-out-in-the-morning-or-at-night

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/best-time-to-work-out

http://www.shape.com/blogs/fit-list-jay-cardiello/which-better-am-vs-pm-workouts

Vitamin IV Nutrition Boosts Weight Loss

How to boost your weight loss efforts…

It is a rare person who likes needles. Sharp and pointy- they aren’t the most pleasant thing to have stuck into you, right? Why then, would someone voluntarily roll up their sleeves and ask for a vitamin drip?

The answer is simple – to be the healthiest version you can be.

Vitamin IV Nutrition boost weight loss by making you the healthiest version of yourself.

When your body works better, you can lose weight more easily. With an IV Vitamin Drip, you can give your weight loss goals a boost. And, here are five reasons why:

1. Optimizing Vitamin Levels Restores Your Energy Level

As you try and lose weight, it’s not uncommon to limit calories and workout hard. This can cause your energy levels to dip. Vitamin IV Drips, like our “Revive Me” Slow Drip, deliver a big dose of electrolytes so you can feel energized quickly.

2. Improving Your Sleep Increases Weight Loss

While you’re awake, your body has to work hard simply tackling the daily business of living. It’s while you’re asleep that your body can heal and really begin to repair any abnormalities in its daily function. This is why sleep is one of the essential elements of an effective weight loss strategy. Unfortunately, when you are vitamin deficient, your sleep becomes irregular. This hinders your weight loss goals, causing you to hold onto excess fat.

3. IV Drips Maximize Your Vitamin Absorption

Even with the most efficient digestive system, you only absorb 15 – 25 percent of the vitamins and minerals you ingest orally. With a Vitamin IV Drip, you’re able to immediately receive 100 percent of the key nutrients you need.

When your body works better, you lose weight more easily. Vitamin IV Drips help your body work better.

4. Recovering More Quickly From a Workout Lets You Get Back at It

As you work to achieve your weight loss goals, you put your body under an immense amount of strain. A deficiency of any level can make it more difficult for your body to recover, in turn hampering your ability to lose weight.

5. IV Drips Give Your Adrenal Gland a Boost

When you are trying to lose weight, you want to burn as many calories as possible. If your metabolism isn’t operating at its peak, you won’t be able to do so. Vitamin IV Drips can help you fight adrenal fatigue so you can shed your excess pounds.

At New Leaf Wellness, we have 2 IV Nutrition treatments specifically written to support weight loss.

  • 30 minute treatment
  • 60 minute treatment

Take our quiz to learn if you would be a good candidate!

FOR WOMEN

FOR MEN

Lick Your Way To Thin—With A Weight Loss Lollipop

Watching your weight can be a full-time job. Dodging doughnuts in the break room at work and avoiding the chocolate cake that’s calling your name at home can leave you stressed — and hungry! Not to fear, though; there’s a sweet solution to your sticky situation: weight-loss lollipops.

Okay, candy is generally not what you would look to for shedding pounds, but thanks to a weight loss lollipop, candy can keep you slender this slim-down season. The lollipop is packed with a  proprietary blend that includes vitamins to combat cravings and increase energy.

“I have found that a lot of patients generally have a hard time with cravings and appetite,” says Kristin Dwyer, Pharmacist In Charge at New Leaf Specialty Pharmacy. “The phentermine decreases appetite and helps with energy.”

Our lollipops are ideal for busy people who find themselves tired and hungry throughout the day.

“You can carry them anywhere, and people won’t even know you’re on a diet,” Dwyer says. “A consistent patient can lose about half a pound a day.”  The lollipop is a proprietary formula of New Leaf Specialty Pharmacy

At New Leaf Wellness, the Weight Loss Program starts with drawing blood from patients to determine if they are healthy and able to move forward with the Weight Loss Program and the lollipop. The Weight Loss Program also comes with an eating plan and journal, which helps patients become more knowledgeable about appropriate portions as well as how to exercise to stay healthy.

Not only do these lollipops suppress hunger and charge the body with energy, but they also get the nervous system working more efficiently, which plays a big role in weight loss.

Most Americans are constipated because the nervous system is not working properly and that can be a cause of constipation, that can make it harder to lose weight. With the right eating plan and the lollipops, patients are better equipped for success on the weight loss program. This is a perfect answer for people who struggle getting to their desired weight…

At New Leaf Wellness, our Advanced Weight Loss Program is great for both men and women.

The Importance of Proper Hydration on your Weight Loss Journey

As you start your journey of weight loss, one thing you are very likely looking at is your meals. You want to make sure that you’re giving your body precisely what it needs but not over feed it where it stores fat. But, are you overlooking another critical element in the game? Many people aren’t giving nearly as much consideration to what they’re drinking in and around weight loss…but they should.

The impacts of dehydration on weight loss are significant and this could be one factor that improves weight loss. Let’s look at how dehydration will impact you so that you can get straight how important this is.

Muscular Endurance
The very first manner in which dehydration impacts you is with your muscular endurance. Basically, you are going to feel fatigue quicker during the day. Your body needs to move in order to loose weight.

Fluid losses equal to just 1-2% of your total body weight will negatively impact your weight loss. The primary reason this tends to occur is because the maximum pumping capacity of the heart that can be achieved during the day will decrease, which then decreases overall activity capacity. In addition, the decrease in plasma volume will mean that there is a lower blood pressure and blood is thicker, which can also induce feelings of fatigue.

Muscular Strength
Don’t think that if you aren’t exercising you’re protected from these harmful effects of dehydration. That is not the case at all.

In addition to seeing declines in endurance, you’ll also see declines in physical strength. When around 3% of total body weight in dehydration occurs, this can result in strength losses of up to 5%, showing a greater magnitude than the dehydration itself.

Therefore, this is going to be very problematic for those who have more weight to loose. This again is going to be due to decreased reduction in blood flow and blood pressure along with an increase in core temperature.

One additional point to know here is that dehydration can also increase the rate of glycogen use by the muscle tissues, and since during strenuous activities muscle glycogen is the primary fuel being utilized, this will have a significant influence on your ability to generate force over time.

Focus And Concentration
Finally, dehydration can also influence your ability to focus and concentration. This is huge as weigh loss takes a lot of focus and concentration. When we loos focus we tend to look at the here and now not the what can be. At this point it is easy to give up.

If you don’t have the mental tenacity that you need to pursue weight loss due to dehydration, you won’t be concentrating on your future goal, thus you will be mentally weaker overall and give into temptation.

Maintaining a strong level of concentration is imperative for weight loss and dehydration will prevent you from doing so. Some may also find they start experiencing headaches during weight loss as well and some may even become light-headed or dizzy if blood pressure gets too low. This could then go on to impact balance, making it harder to focus.

So there you have the main areas that dehydration will influence your weight loss. To maintain adequate hydration, make sure to drink when you are thirsty. At New Leaf Wellness we recommend at least 96 oz– but you could do an IV Nutrition session, that will help also.

If you do this, you can rest assured you are keeping yourself well hydrated.