Semaglutide is one of the GLP-1 peptides recently FDA-approved for both diabetes and Weight Loss. Semaglutide which sells under the brand names of Ozempic, Wygovy, and Rybelsus has been proven to help the user lose over 15% of their body weight in a year and can go far beyond that if diet and exercise are implemented. Our Fort Myers Semaglutide clinic cannot only supply our clients with Semaglutide at an affordable price but can also guide our clients through a diet and exercise plan that will help each client lose their desired weight in no time.
Semaglutide is a Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) receptor agonist. GLP-1 exerts its main effect by stimulating glucose-dependent insulin release from the pancreatic islets. This action helps the pancreas to release the correct amount of insulin when blood sugar levels get elevated. Preventing volatile blood sugar and volatile blood glucose levels. When you typically eat food your pancreas releases insulin but for some people this amount is not enough allowing the blood sugar levels to get much higher which will prevent fat burning and will also later be stored as body fat. Controlling blood sugar levels will also reduce the desire for sugary or starchy foods which tend to increase blood sugar levels. One of the reasons diabetics have a harder time losing weight is their blood sugar tends to be higher and prevents their bodies from wanting to burn body fat as energy because the blood sugar gets in the way.
Semaglutide mimics the natural GLP-1 peptide our body’s hormones create in response to eating food. In all our brains we have receptors for GLP-1 that tell our appetite to become reduced as we being to eat and get full. Have you ever noticed how when you get to a restaurant everything on the menu sounds amazing, then once you have your appetizer or the bread brought to the table the food you couldn’t wait to eat doesn’t sound as good? This is because the small amount of food you started to eat started sending small amounts of GLP-1 to the brain which started the process to turn off your appetite. As you continue to eat those receptors get more and more full and eventually, you will completely lose your appetite and no longer want any more food, or anything sounds good to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide you are artificially filling those receptors with each injection of Semaglutide, so you are halfway there to having little to no appetite throughout the entire time you are using Semaglutide. Semaglutide is a once-week injection because the half-life of Semaglutide has lasting effects for the entire week. Throughout the week these hunger receptors in your brain are being filled with artificial GLP-1 from Semaglutide making your appetite dramatically reduced. When you do eat a small portion of food the parts of the receptors that are not filled will then fill up to the point where you feel full and thus you want to have that second portion or dessert goes away.
Your stomach also has GLP-1 receptors to tell your stomach how fast to release a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin is the hunger hormone and dictates the speed you digest food and how fast that digested food moves out of your stomach and into your GI tract. When you use Semaglutide you are sending an artificial signal to the stomach’s GLP-1 receptors which is telling your body to release less ghrelin and to slow down the digestion of the food you have or are about to eat. If this slowing of the gastric emptying keeps the small portion of food, you eat physically in your stomach longer then the feeling of getting full and having a distended stomach will happen from a much smaller portion of food. The first few bites will feel like an entire meal and the want to continue to eat will be reduced which will also stop you from wanting that mid-afternoon snack or that extra portion you may typically want. Semaglutide users typically don’t feel their stomach growl when they are not eating or have that empty stomach feeling when they are reducing their calories while on a low-calorie diet.
Now that you understand how Semaglutide works and how these 3 benefits can help you achieve the weight loss goals you have been looking for, you may be wondering why I wouldn’t want this amazing medication in my life. Like most things in life, good comes with its flaws. Let’s take a look at the possible side effects and how we help our clients at our Fort Myers Semaglutide clinic avoid them:
- Nausea - One of the most often felt and reported side effects of Semaglutide is the feeling of nausea or sick in your stomach and even vomiting. This is a side effect that can be looked at as good or as bad. If you feel sick to your stomach your appetite is going to be reduced and will further help you not want to eat. But no. one wants to feel so sick that enjoying everyday life or vomit while they are trying to go through their day. We do combine a Vitamin B12, B6, and amino acid injection to our Semaglutide plan not only because of its energy-boosting benefits but because B12 has a natural anti-nausea effect and B6 has an anti-convulsion effect. Proper dosing is also very important and having a skilled team to lean on to help know when the correct time to increase your dose of Semaglutide is very important to also reduce the nausea and potential vomiting some people who go use Semaglutide and are not properly coached. What you eat or drink will also play a role in how you feel while on Semaglutide. We have outlined diet plans and recommend food choices since certain foods or drinks can be more difficult to tolerate while using Semaglutide.
- Acid Reflux or Heart burn - Since Semaglutide slows down the food digestion in your stomach, those who have acid reflux or heartburn issues typically see an increase in their symptoms while using Semaglutide. Consuming certain types of foods and then lying down can trigger a reflux response due to the food sitting in your stomach. It is recommended to not eat within a few hours of when you intend to lie down, especially before going to sleep. Typical antacids or over-the-counter heartburn products can combat these symptoms and following a nutrition plan that we provide can also reduce these symptoms.
- Low energy/ Fatigue - Because Semaglutide has a lowering of blood sugar affect the adjustment to this now lower blood sugar level can leave you feeling lower in energy and rundown. Most of the time people who have higher blood sugar values and Hemoglobin A1C will feel this impact more than a person who had lower or normal blood sugar levels to begin with. Nutrition plans can help with this adjustment as well as taking the B12/B6 vitamin injections that we provide.
- Feeling great - Ok, this isn’t a side effect but it’s a result of being on Semaglutide. When your blood sugar is regulated and your stomach is not bloated you will find yourself feeling great. Aches and pains, stiff joints, better sleep, and increase water intake desire are all great “side effects” from using Semaglutide.