Have you struggled to lose weight with little to no success? Do you follow the latest wellness trends and fad diets but still haven’t seen results? Perhaps you’ve previously dropped some pounds but ended up gaining back even more than you lost. Or maybe your weight constantly fluctuates due to yo-yo dieting.
Unfortunately, trying to lose weight can be an uphill battle, and it can affect some people for most of their lives. Those who didn’t need to worry about it when they were younger often find that weight gain affects them more dramatically as they age or after having children.
Constant weight fluctuations are not only frustrating, but they can have a negative impact on your overall health. While weight loss may seem like a losing battle, there are tried and true methods for losing excess weight and keeping it at bay.
A Medical Weight Loss Program That Works for You
Our weight loss service, Elite Living Medical Weight Loss, is designed to educate patients and provide the tools needed to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. This customized plan focuses mainly on nutrition and healthy eating, with exercise being encouraged as a secondary element.
The goal is to provide a plan that supports your long-term weight loss and healthy living. We understand that weight loss is a journey, and we aim to create a positive experience for our patients. We will teach you about nutrition and sustainable changes to maintain a healthy lifestyle without feeling deprived or restricted.
Led by Our Weight Loss Expert and Certified Nurse Practitioner
Kaitlyn Wheelan, MSN, ARNP, NP-C, is our practice’s weight loss expert who provides this service to patients. In addition to being a board-certified nurse practitioner (NP-C), Kaitlyn has earned her Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and completed a graduate-level educational program that earned her the title of advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP).
With the extensive training and experience she has beyond her RN education, Kaitlyn offers a unique understanding of how the body works and responds to specific foods and exercises. Unlike a dietician who determines the best foods to help treat clinical conditions, Kaitlyn is a medical provider who develops a plan, offers the best weight-loss tips and may recommend medication specifically for weight loss.
What Does Elite Living Medical Weight Loss Involve?
This 12-week program is centered around a methodology of calories in versus calories out and involves food logging and weight tracking. Medication for weight loss and an exercise program can be incorporated if desired by qualified patients.
A Customized Nutrition Plan
At your initial consultation visit, we will discuss your health and diet history. Our practice will obtain basic lab work, or if you’ve had lab work done within the last month by another physician, you can bring the results. We use this information to evaluate your health and weight-related factors such as BMI.
Our weight loss expert will then review your nutritional IQ, explain how fat loss works and develop an individualized nutrition plan for fat loss. This plan will specify the amount of each macronutrient you should aim to consume along with your maximum caloric intake.
Food Tracking
The best way to learn which habits help lose weight is to track your dietary intake every day. Patients will be shown how to track the foods they consume and their nutrient totals. This food log will allow you to understand which foods are helping you reach your nutritional goals while staying below your calorie limit and which foods are not conducive to your weight loss.
Weight Loss Medication (Optional)
If you are considering medication to help with your weight loss, we will discuss the use of phentermine and its benefits. However, not every client is a candidate for medication-assisted weight loss, including those with cardiovascular risks. Patients will be evaluated to determine if they qualify for the safe use of this appetite suppressant medication.
Phentermine stimulates the nerves and brain to elevate heart rate and blood pressure while decreasing appetite. When combined with healthy lifestyle choices, it can effectively help with fat loss and reaching a healthy weight.
A Customized Exercise Program (Optional)
Because dietary changes account for the majority of weight loss, our program is nutrition-based. However, we encourage robust and diverse exercise routines to improve the cardiovascular health and strength of our patients.
Patients interested in the benefits of an exercise program can have a fitness routine designed around their goals. Whether you’d like to build muscle, burn more fat or increase your endurance, we can develop a workout program for you.
How Often Do Patients Meet With Their Provider?
After the initial consultation when your weight loss program is created, you will meet with your provider, Kaitlyn Wheelan, MSN, ARNP, NP-C, several times. If your plan involves medication-assisted weight loss, you will meet with Kaitlyn one week after starting your medication and the program. Depending on your individual plan, you may come in every two weeks or once per month for us to check your vital signs and BMI to gauge and discuss your progress.
This accountability from our nurse practitioner is crucial for those losing weight, and we highly recommend that patients do not skip these appointments.
After 12 weeks in this weight loss coaching program, you will come in for your final meeting with us. At this three-month visit, we will review your progress and discuss how you can sustain your weight loss in the long term to make sure you never go through yo-yo dieting again.
If you wish to continue with the program, we can re-evaluate your goals and nutrition plan to start the process over.
Learn How Our Weight Loss Program Can Work for You
While there are a lot of medical weight loss and wellness programs out there, it’s important to find one that works for you. We are dedicated to creating a plan customized to meet your needs and achieve your weight-loss goals.
To learn about medical weight loss in Coralville, Iowa, call our office at 319-450-7619.