In the quest for weight loss in menopause, weight loss for diabetes, reducing hormonal weight gain or simply looking to lose some fat, many individuals turn to pharmaceutical aids like Ozempic and other GLP Agonists. While these drugs promise quick results, it's essential to understand their limitations and potential risks, especially when compared to safer but slower alternatives. At Ideal Nutrition Weight Loss Clinic our fat loss coaches teach the Ideal Protein Protocol, and we advocate for holistic, yet medically backed approaches that prioritize sustainable lifestyle changes over quick fixes, and here's why: How Does Ozempic and GLP Agonists Work? I bet you’ve searched for the best diet plan for weight loss and maybe somewhere in your searches you’ve come across weight loss drugs. Ozempic (a type of semaglutide which is just medical speak for a type of drug) and other GLP Agonists belong to a class of medications primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. They work by acting like a hormone called GLP-1, which helps control blood sugar by increasing insulin and reducing glucagon, as well as slowing down how fast your stomach empties. These drugs can also cause weight loss, so they're sometimes used to help with obesity, even though they're not officially approved for that purpose. Weight Loss… But At What Cost? While the prospect of fast weight loss may seem appealing, it's crucial to recognize the drawbacks of relying solely on pharmaceutical interventions for weight loss. Research has shown that extreme weight loss, such as that induced by Ozempic, GLP Agonists or other weight loss drugs, can lead to the loss of substantial lean muscle mass along with the fat mass. This might actually be doing more harm than good on the inside because our lean muscle mass is the organ that helps us keep our weight off long-term! In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, researchers found that individuals treated with GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as Ozempic, experienced a notable reduction in lean body mass compared to those who did not receive the medication. Lean body mass includes muscles, bones, organs, and other non-fat tissues in the body. Losing muscle mass can have detrimental effects on metabolism because muscles are metabolically active tissues that burn calories even when you're at rest. Muscle loss from GLP-1 receptor agonists can slow down your metabolism, making it harder to maintain weight loss over time. This is because a lower muscle mass means your body burns fewer calories, making it easier to regain lost weight. Additionally, maintaining muscle mass is important for overall health and function. Reduced muscle mass can lead to decreased strength, mobility, and increased risk of injury. It's important to note that while GLP-1 receptor agonists can be effective for weight loss, they may also cause muscle loss as a side effect. This highlights the importance of combining medication with other strategies such as exercise and strength training to preserve muscle mass and support long-term weight management. Working with a weight management program or medical weight loss clinic can provide guidance on incorporating these strategies into your lifestyle for optimal results. Maintaining Weight Loss After Taking Ozempic: While Ozempic and GLP Agonists may offer initial weight loss benefits, they do not address the underlying behaviors and habits that contribute to weight gain in the first place. Without addressing these root causes, individuals may struggle to maintain their weight loss over time and may be at risk for regaining lost weight faster once they discontinue the medication. In contrast, adopting a comprehensive approach to faster weight loss (like the Ideal Protein Diet) that includes personalized coaching and support, can empower individuals to make lasting changes that promote long-term success. By focusing on building confidence through healthy habits and getting educated about nutrition, our local weight loss clinic aims to help clients achieve their health goals in a way that prioritizes their overall well-being. Here are some key strategies to help you keep the weight off even after stopping the medication: 1. Focus on Building Muscle: After discontinuing Ozempic, it's essential to focus on building and maintaining muscle mass. Resistance training exercises such as weightlifting or bodyweight exercises can help preserve lean muscle tissue and prevent the loss of metabolism-boosting muscle mass. Muscle tissue is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories at rest compared to fat tissue. By incorporating strength training into your routine, you can increase your resting metabolic rate, making it easier to maintain weight loss. Consider working with a fat loss coach to develop a personalized diet plan for weight loss and muscle maintenance. 2. Adopt a Balanced Diet: Transition to a balanced, nutrient-dense diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. Avoid restrictive diets or extreme calorie-cutting, as these can lead to rebound weight gain. This approach is especially important for individuals dealing with hormonal weight gain or weight loss in menopause. A balanced diet provides essential nutrients that support overall health and metabolism. For those struggling with hormonal weight gain or weight loss in menopause, a personalized diet plan for weight loss that focuses on hormone balance may be beneficial. Working with a certified dietitian, nutritionist or weight loss coach can help you develop a plan that meets your unique needs. 3. Practice Mindful Eating: Pay attention to your body's hunger and fullness cues, and eat slowly to give your brain time to register feelings of satisfaction. Avoid emotional or stress eating by finding alternative ways to cope with negative emotions. This approach is also beneficial for individuals participating in a diabetic weight loss program or blood sugar management program. Mindful eating helps you develop a healthier relationship with food and prevents overeating. By tuning into your body's signals, you can better regulate your food intake and avoid mindless snacking or binge eating. This is particularly important for individuals with diabetes, as blood sugar management is crucial for overall health. 4. Stay Active: Continue to incorporate regular physical activity into your routine, aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week. Find activities you enjoy and make them a regular part of your lifestyle. Working with a fat loss coach can help you design an exercise program that supports your weight loss goals. Exercise not only burns calories but also helps maintain weight loss by preventing metabolic slowdown and promoting overall well-being. It's an essential component of any weight loss program, especially for individuals with diabetes or those participating in a diabetic weight loss program. Regular physical activity can improve blood sugar management and reduce the risk of complications associated with diabetes. 5. Monitor Your Progress: Keep track of your weight, food intake, and physical activity to stay accountable and identify any potential areas for improvement. Regular self-monitoring can help you catch and address any weight regain early on. Monitoring your progress allows you to identify patterns and make adjustments as needed to maintain your weight loss success. It's a valuable tool for staying on track and preventing relapse, especially for individuals participating in a blood sugar management program or diabetic weight loss program. Maintaining weight loss after taking Ozempic (or any weight loss drugs) requires a commitment to healthy habits and lifestyle changes. By focusing on building muscle, adopting a balanced diet, practicing mindful eating, staying active, and monitoring your progress, you can keep the weight off and enjoy long-term success in your weight loss journey. Our Ideal Protein Program focuses on a sustainable approach that maintains muscle mass and burns fat. Plus our health coaches meet weekly with clients to ensure their muscle mass is safe, they are in an optimal fat burn and to guide them through the weight loss journey mentally. Whether you’re dealing with hormonal weight gain (from PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome), Diabetes, imbalanced blood sugars, emotional eating, self-sabotage, or just ready to make a serious change to your lifestyle - personalized coaching and tailored medical weight loss protocols can be particularly beneficial. Research has shown that lifestyle modifications, including dietary changes and increased physical activity, are effective in managing symptoms of PCOS, Diabetes or blood sugar imbalance and promoting weight loss. In Conclusion While pharmaceutical aids like Ozempic and GLP Agonists may offer a quick fix for weight loss, they come with potential risks and limitations, including the loss of lean muscle mass. At Ideal Nutrition Weight Loss Clinic, we advocate for safer, more sustainable alternatives that prioritize holistic health and long-term maintenance. By focusing on personalized coaching, ideal nutrition, and lifestyle modifications, we empower our clients to achieve their weight loss goals in a way that supports their overall well-being for years to come. Here at Ideal Weight Loss Clinic in White Rock, we are here to help you not only learn how to combat your hormonal cravings, diabetes management, and menopausal weight gain,… We are here to help you make a lifestyle change you can be proud of and actually achieve! We are a weight management clinic (facilitating the Ideal Protein Diet) that helps you get to your weightloss goals! Get coached with a meal plan so you have the structure and knowledge you need to succeed. With our weight loss coaches and Ideal Protein diet, weight loss AND weight management can be achieved! Give our clinic a call to schedule a FREE nutrition consultation with our professional nutritionists for weight loss. Whether you’re looking for weight loss in White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam or beyond (hello virtual coaching), our team is here to help.

In the journey toward optimal health and wellness, setbacks are not roadblocks but rather detours on the path to weight loss success. Diet plans for weight loss (like the Ideal Protein Program) provide us with invaluable lessons and opportunities for growth. Whether it's hormonal weight gain, menopause, blood sugar imbalances, a lapse in our exercise routine, a slip in our dietary habits, or unexpected health challenges, on the road to weight loss success setbacks are inevitable. However, it's how we respond to these setbacks that truly defines our progress. Imagine working with a work weight loss coach, professional nutritionist or weight loss doctor to implement a specific weight management program at a local weight loss clinic where you get to work on behaviour change for sustainable weight loss (or virtual weight loss coaching!) and do an enjoyable weight loss program with a coach. In this blog post, we delve into the art of crafting a strategic comeback plan, empowering you to navigate setbacks with resilience, grace, and determination on your quest for a healthier, happier life. When it comes to losing weight safely and quickly, setbacks can feel particularly disheartening. Whether it's hitting a plateau, succumbing to temptation, or facing unexpected obstacles, weight loss setbacks can derail progress and leave us feeling frustrated and defeated. Blood sugar and hormonal imbalances (and more!) may affect weight gain, mood and appetite that have absolutely nothing to do with willpower! Our weight loss coaches often get questions about how to achieve weight loss in menopause, diabetic weight loss programs, and if our program will address these hormonal weight gains. The quick answer is YES! Our keto weight loss program will generally work on your menopause weight gain, PCOS weight gain, Diabetes weight management, blood sugar management, and more! However, it's essential to recognize that setbacks are a natural part of the process and do not define our ultimate success on the path to successful weight reduction. By adopting a strategic approach to overcoming setbacks and receiving weight loss coaching that works long term, we can regain momentum, refocus our efforts, and ultimately achieve our weight loss goals. In the following sections, we'll explore actionable strategies to bounce back from weight loss setbacks, empowering you to stay committed to your health and wellness journey. If you… Have regained some weight: Plan ahead for this possibility. You might want to decide, with the guidance of your weight loss coach, what your “take action” weight will be and the steps you’ll take if you hit that number on your scale. Try reducing your carbs for a select period of time to see if that helps curb the sugar addiction. Maybe a Tune-up–returning to Phase 1 of the Ideal Protein Protocol – will do the trick. Above all, don’t be hard on yourself; weight gain is ordinary and common—but not permanent. Are returning to old eating patterns: This might happen for a few reasons. Stress and life events may have taken top priority but refocusing on how good you feel when taking care of yourself! For instance, you haven’t been using your IP app or Daily Planner & Journal every day. Has sugar addiction crept back in? Or you’re less careful about checking labels and adhering to your Macro Code. Maybe you’ve ventured too often into the Poor Value food category. Go through your food-related handouts for Phase 3 to refresh y our knowledge of label claims, Ideal Value meals, using your Macro Code, and so on. At our weight loss clinic, you can always book random check in’s with your Ideal Protein coach when you feel life circumstances have changed so a coach can help you identify challenges and create a custom plan with strategies to navigate your new lifestyle. Find your motivation has stalled: Pretend you’re the Ideal Protein weight loss coach - remind yourself of what you’ve gained as you’ve lost: more stamina, less stress, greater confidence, better sleep, behaviour change, etc. Then revisit your goals. Even if you updated them when you entered Maintenance, it’s possible one or two weren’t quite right, or no longer resonate for you, so revise as necessary. Visualize yourself at a healthy weight, imagine what it will feel like , what outfits you will wear and what kinds of foods you will be eating once you’re there. Find your old, favorite outfit that no longer fits you and put it out. Leave it out as a reminder to keep you going to be able to wear it once again. Imagine it fitting perfectly and what you will be feeling in that moment. Our fat loss coaches love to remind that, to successfully maintain weight loss, choose intrinsic, or personally meaningful, goals that aren’t based on physical appearance. Go back up and read our 5 tips to tackle a weight loss OR weight management setback!

Eating out at restaurants isn’t only used to help quench a craving or two, but often looked at as something social. Who doesn’t love getting together with loved ones to spend quality time together?! We know we do… While on the Ideal Protein program with our White Rock weight loss coaches, you’ll potentially have to stray away from your restaurant “go-tos”; however you may be shocked to know you’re not totally banned from enjoying restaurants while on our medical weight loss program. Eating food shouldn’t cause guilt. Our weight loss coaches came up with a list of restaurants you can still enjoy, with the foods you’re able to indulge in. - All while still focusing on your lifestyle change and a diet plan for weight loss! A&W: Teen Burger: Both patties are 3oz of protein which means when you double up you’ll be hitting your 6oz of your daily meat protein. Changes to make: Ask for a lettuce burger without mayo or cheese. Cactus Club: Raincoast Greens: All you have to remove is the feta and pecans and you’ll be set! The Med Bowl: Ask for no rice, feta or yogurt. You can replace those items with olive oil and lemon for dressing, and add extra veggies to replace the rice. Crispy Tofu Bowl: Ask for plain tofu instead of crispy & remove the rice and mango. For a sauce, ask for either Olive Oil and lemon on the side, soy sauce or hot sauce! Original Joe’s: California Cobb: Cheddar, bacon, avocado and the dressing are to be removed and replaced with an olive oil vinaigrette dressing and you’re set! Sushi: This one you may feel a bit restricted if you’re not a fan of sashimi, however if you love it, sushi will be perfect for you! You’re even allowed a daily dose of soy sauce! Don’t forget you’re allowed radishes, so the daikon radish they served with sashimi can be apart of your meal too. Chinese Food: Steamed Veggies: You can ask for them to be steamed in garlic then add your own soy sauce Beef & Broccoli: When ordering this, ask for no sauce or sauce on the side as it’s not allowed. You’re able to add soy sauce or chili oil to make it a delicious, on program meal! Subway: Did you know at Subway you can make your own salads!? Remember to bring your vegetable grocery list so you can create your perfect “on program” meal. Denny’s: Sauteed Zucchini is a little Denny’s hack! No changes needed. All also have a plethora of whole protein options to choose from! When eating out on program, remember not to tempt yourself. If you’re someone who easily gives into temptation, don’t put yourself in a situation where you might fail. Remember that you got this! Another Weight Loss Coach tip is to check out the menus before you commit to going. It’s easy to assume all restaurants will have something for you but unfortunately that’s not the case. Set yourself up for success and plan ahead so it’s easy for you to stick to your diet plan for weight loss. It’s all in what works best for you. If you’re questioning things on the menu, remember to remove any items that are not on your grocery list from your meals and text us if you need reassurance! Don’t forget… “Eat the Sheet!” We know it can be daunting but our team of professional coaches, nutritionists and doctors are here to help make this process a breeze! You’re in charge of your own weight loss goal, and you can make it happen if you put in the time! Here at Ideal Weight Loss Clinic in White Rock, we are here to help you not only learn how to combat your sugar cravings… We are here to help you make a lifestyle change you can be proud of and actually achieve! We are a weight management clinic that helps you get to your weight loss goal, coach and help with a meal plan and pass along the knowledge you need to succeed. With our weight loss coaches and Ideal Protein diet, weight loss AND weight management can be achieved! Give our clinic a call to schedule a FREE nutrition consultation with our professional nutritionists for weight loss. Whether you’re looking for weight loss in White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby or beyond (hello virtual coaching), our team is here to help.

Happy New Year to our Ideal Nutrition White Rock family. It’s officially the season of being intentional, starting fresh and setting goals. A common January goal is to put a focus on “Dry January.” You may be partaking because you feel like you need a break after all the holiday festivities, maybe it’s something you do annually or maybe you just want to see if taking a month long break is possible. Those who partake in dry January have their own reasons and that’s a-okay! Dry January can make a huge difference in your overall health so today we want to break down WHY taking a break from Alcohol is a fantastic idea, for not just those on our medical weight loss program, but for everyone. When you’re on the Ideal Protein Protocol at our weight loss clinic, our weight loss coaches will advise you that alcohol is not allowed while on the program. You may be wondering why? - It’s because your liver is the main organ that processes fat. It’s also the organ that processes alcohol in your body. While on this weight loss program, our liver processes EVEN MORE fat than usual, that's why it’s so important that we don't overload it with extra work by adding alcohol to the mix. When you’re trying to lose weight and you continue to drink, your liver puts a focus on breaking down the alcohol in your system and completely stops burning fat. This is not conducive for those trying to get rid of body fat as your liver cannot put a focus on breaking down both. Another common downfall of overconsumption of alcohol is diseases that come along with it. Did you know one of the main illnesses is Liver Disease? To help prevent this, our health coaches will remind you that moderation is key. Oftentimes people assume beer and wine are safer than sugary spirits but unfortunately that is not the case. Liver disease isn’t the only condition that can be developed… Cirrhosis is another disease associated with drinking and can happen when scar tissue overtakes almost all the healthy liver tissue. Once this condition takes over, it cannot be reversed. Alcohol is toxic to liver cells, so the more someone drinks the higher the risk of developing some level of alcohol-associated disease. Even people who drink moderately may still be at risk. Our weight loss coaches understand that you may miss having a glass of wine after work or a beer with your buddies. We recommend avoiding any alcohol, but we do have some options for you that you can take advantage of while on the weight loss program that may help make things easier for you: Adding your Ideal Protein water enhancers to sparkling water or club soda is a hack our weight loss coaches love to recommend. The fizz changes up your drink from typical water which is great for those moments when you’re craving something different. For those of you who like cocktails, try out the White Peach Ideal Protein enhancer as it has the same flavour profile as a bellini. You can even blend it with water and ice to make it the real deal! Brands like Zevia and Aelo are PERFECT for those who like more flavour in their drinks. Zevia is a zero sugar soda that has a plethora of options such as Cola, Dr Zevia and even energy drink options. Aelo is a zero calorie, zero alcohol mocktail brand. Their flavours are delicious and range from options such as Margarita, Aperol Sprits and even Gin and Tonic! Lastly we always suggest adding a lemon or lime slice or even rimming the glass with salt or stevia to make any drink to mock the feeling of having a fancy garnish on your drinks. The Ideal Nutrition program isn’t only for those who want to shed a mass amount of weight. We are here to help create a lifestyle that suits YOU and help change your eating habits & relationship with food when you feel like self-sabotage and cravings are taking center stage. It’s up to you to decide that it’s time to make the change. At our White Rock Weightloss Clinic we help clients from all across the lower mainland in Vancouver, Burnaby, Langley, South Surrey and beyond who have health conditions from Heart Diseases, diabetes and even liver issues. We are here to help put your mind at ease and put the lifestyle change into effect. There are a lot of ways to make the program work for you, it’s just a matter of trial and error to figure out what makes the most sense depending on your personal needs. Here at Ideal Weight Loss Clinic in White Rock, we are here to help you not only learn how to combat your sugar cravings with a diet plan for weight loss… We are here to help you make a lifestyle change you can be proud of and actually achieve! We are a weight management clinic that helps you get to your weightloss goal, coach and help with a meal plan and pass along the knowledge you need to succeed. Give our clinic a call to schedule a FREE nutrition consultation with our professional nutritionists for weight loss. Whether you’re looking for weight loss in White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby or beyond (hello virtual coaching), our team is here to help.

Did you know when you’re craving something sweet, reach for it & consume it… the sugar you eat lights up the same centers of your brain as narcotics (like cocaine)… THAT’S how addicting sugar is! When you feel like reaching for those gummies, chocolate bars or your favourite sugary Starbucks drink, your body is feeding into the addiction. Our coaches at Ideal Nutrition know breaking the cycle of habits is so hard, especially when it comes to sugar. The Ideal Protein program is an amazing tool we can use to reclaim our relationship with sugar! Sugar hijacks the dopamine reward pathway which is why we feel so good when we eat it. To get a better understanding of the dopamine reward cycle… Let’s discuss how dopamine works, our habits, and how we can help to break the vicious cycle that may be a leading cause for your weight loss struggle. To help break the sugar habit, it’s beneficial to ask yourself “why do we crave sugar” and “what are the cravings telling us?” When on the Ideal Protein Protocol, our coaches are working with you week by week to change this habit. When we crave certain foods, it’s because our body is lacking in nutrients that it needs to thrive. If your body does not have what it needs, it will keep asking you for more food. *Hence, cravings.* If you don’t get enough nutrition from eating whole foods or taking supplements, you’ll be more likely to have cravings. When the craving hits, it’s a sign! Another question we often ask our clients to ask themself on our weight management program is “WHY am I gravitating towards sugar?” Is there a reason outside of food? What’s my relationship with food? What’s my relationship with stress that leads to eating? You may be reaching for sugary items to combat boredom, you may be having a stressful day or going through something difficult. It’s easy to reach for comfort items to help console yourself, but in the long run you’ll end up doing more harm than good. PLUS it perpetuates the problem. Having a weight loss nutritionist help narrow down WHAT and WHY will be a game changer when it comes to combating your cravings. Dopamine is known as “The reward Hormone” and it’s the hormone that’s triggered when you eat sugar. It’s released after your brain achieves any goal. Sometimes that goal can be as simple as “I am craving something sweet…” So when you reach for that treat, you’re lighting up your dopamine receptors and rewarding yourself. The more goals you achieve on a regular basis, the neural pathways in your brain get stronger. A diet plan for weight loss can help reduce sugar cravings but ultimately it’s a lifestyle change that’s needed. So, here’s how we can hack craving and reaching for the sugar… The more regularly you achieve the goals you set, the hit of dopamine will become stronger. The trick to this is to set yourself very small, achievable goals every day, and actually achieve them for regular hits of dopamine. This can be something as simple as waking up at a certain time, going for daily walks or journaling. The goal is to find ways to increase your dopamine that don’t include food. Whenever you achieve these simple goals, your dopamine reward levels will light up and your body will feel like it’s achieved something great! With confidence and continuity, it won’t take long before new neural connections literally “change our mind” and rewire a healthier new habit. A medical weight loss protocol with a specific weight management program can be a much easier way to achieve and maintain breaking the sugar addiction! Instead of finding yourself reaching for the sweets, you’ll be shocked to find your rewired brain will be craving on program foods in no time! Here at Ideal Weight Loss Clinic in White Rock, we are here to help you not only learn how to combat your sugar cravings… We are here to help you make a lifestyle change you can be proud of and actually achieve! We are a weight management clinic that helps you get to your weightloss goal, coach and help with a meal plan and pass along the knowledge you need to succeed. Give our clinic a call to schedule a FREE nutrition consultation with our professional nutritionists for weight loss. Whether you’re looking for weight loss in White Rock, Surrey, Langley, Vancouver, Burnaby or beyond (hello virtual coaching), our team is here to help.