Struggling with your weight? Have you dieted and exercised but feel like nothing you do makes a significant difference? Wondering if you’re doomed to always be overweight?

Most people don’t realize that weight issues are far more complex than self-control. You’re told that weight management is as simple as calories in and calories out, but it simply isn’t true. Hormone imbalances, sluggish metabolism, nutrition and sleep are additional factors that typically get overlooked as we try to eat fewer calories and exercise more. Frustrated by lack of results, we give up before we discover the issues that could truly bring lasting weight management results.

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Weight Loss Best Practices: A Multi-Pronged Approach

Your body is a complex network of systems, each inter-dependent upon another. For example, if you aren’t getting enough sleep, your body will experience powerful hunger because your body is trying to supplement (with calories) the natural hormones and restorative properties normally provided by restful sleep. Likewise, if you have exercised hard, your body signals that you need to eat more or will crave foods higher in calories to prevent your body from going into starvation mode.

• An effective weight loss plan entails all of the following:
• Good nutrition so your body isn’t craving missing nutrients
• Sensible calorie intake (not too little or too much)
• Adequate and restful sleep (so your body will not experience hormonal imbalances or excessive hunger signals)
• Hormone balancing and stimulation of metabolism through healthful methods
• Moderate exercise (neither too much or too little)
• Acupuncture

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Wait! Acupuncture for Weight Loss? Why?

You might have heard of most of the suggestions mentioned thus far, but most conventional doctors don’t suggest acupuncture because they aren’t trained in it. Research has shown that acupuncture supports weight loss in many ways.

Acupuncture for weight loss encourages the flow of energy (chi) to and from the hypothalamus, the part of your brain responsible for regulating hormones and neurochemicals including controlling your body’s temperature, circadian rhythm (affecting sleep), thirst and hunger (which is key to weight management). In addition to stimulating healthy performance of the hypothalamus, acupuncture also influences obesity hormones. Acupuncture treatments have been proven to increase the body’s production of a hormone called ghrelin (that affects appetite) and decreased production of leptin, the hormone that regulates metabolism and storage of fat.

Acupuncture curbs appetite, quells cravings, enhances metabolism, improves digestion and encourages absorption and use of nutrients. It also helps you feel full sooner (by improving tone of smooth muscle of your stomach).

Imagine this: you sleep better, so you feel rested and capable of making good decisions about the foods you eat. You are not bombarded by cravings or hunger, so you can resist temptation and choose healthful foods. Your metabolism is revved (without the terrible side effects of most metabolism boosters, many of which are dangerous), so you burn calories at a higher rate. Your body is using the nutrients you ingest more efficiently, boosting your overall wellness.

It isn’t so hard to follow a weight loss plan when you take away the cravings and hunger. If you have energy and feel good, it’s easier to exercise and take the time to plan meals. This is why acupuncture is such an essential piece of any weight loss plan: it sets you up for success, enabling you to do the real work required to lose and keep off excess weight.

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But Isn’t Acupuncture Kind of Scary? What About Those Needles?

Dr. Doyle typically uses electroacupuncture, an efficient method that does not require needles and is painless. Sometimes he will use traditional acupuncture needles or “ear seeds” (tiny beads) that you will wear home and can occasionally massage into acupuncture points on your ears to further manage cravings. Whichever acupuncture method you choose, you’ll discover that the experience is painless (at the worst, slightly uncomfortable).

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Interested in Huntersville Acupuncture for Weight Loss?

Do you live in the Lake Norman area? Interested in natural weight loss support? Give us a call at 704-947-7272 or use our online form to schedule a first appointment. We’ll help you determine what the best weight loss plan is for your lifestyle.