Tips on How to Be Healthier in the Fall

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, b12 shots, diet, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, pittsburgh, testosterone replacement, testosterone therapy, weight loss, weirtonLeave a comment 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online hereBook an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

pumpkins

Summer is coming to an end and cooler weather is just around the corner. With the temperature drop usually comes less outdoor activities and the inevitable cold and flu season. Here are some tips for enjoying a happy and healthy fall this year. Pumpkins, for instance, are good for more than just carving as they are jam-packed with immune-boosting vitamin A, and are a low-calorie and low carb snack. They can be roasted, mashed, turned into soup and baked. Fall veggies, like fiber packed beets and vitamin  packed Brussel sprouts, can also add a healthy bump to your diet.

pumpkin latte

  • Avoid the Pumpkin Spice Latte trap! You know it’s fall when Pumpkin spice drinks make its debut. Although they may make you get into the fall spirit, they are sky-high in sugar and fat, which adds up to hundreds of calories. Make drinks healthier by choosing non-fat milk instead of whole, no whipped cream, and ask for less syrup. Cinnamon is great fall spice and a better substitute for sweetener.
  • Get a flu shot! The flu shot can cut your risk of getting the flu by up to 60 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These natural immune boosters can help you stave off the virus as well as recover more quickly if you do get sick.
  • Even if everyone around you is sniffling, you should still take steps to protect yourself. Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze, wash your hands regularly. get plenty of rest, and eat a healthy diet.
  • Fall also means Halloween, which means candy. The best advice for buying Halloween candy is to buy candy that you do not like. Sounds simple, but it will work.
  • Even though there is less sunlight, try to keep the same routine. Your body will thank you.

These are just a few of the things you can do to stay healthy during this jam packed season, but same as the rest of the year we can’t overstate the positive effects of a properly balanced diet and regular exercise.

Additional Office Days for Weigh-ins & B-12 Injections

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, b12 shots, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, pittsburgh, sermorelin, testosterone replacementLeave a comment

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By popular request, we are adding on another day of office hours for weigh-ins and B-12 injections to both of our clinic locations.

Weirton will be open on Wednesday, and Green Tree will be opening on Monday effective this week.

WEIRTON HOURS & INFO
Elevation Medical Weight Loss of Weirton 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062
304-914-3112
WEIRTON GENERAL OFFICE HOURS (shots and weigh-in) WEIRTON PHYSICIAN CLINIC HOURS (weight loss evaluations)
Mon: CLOSED
Tues – Thurs: 11am – 5pm
Fri: 10pm – 2pm
Sat: 1pm – 5pm

Tues: 12pm – 3pm
Fri: 11am – 1pm
Sat: 3pm – 5pm
Walk-ins are always welcome during these hours

 
PITTSBURGH HOURS & INFO
Elevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh
 2350 Noblestown Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15205
 412-304-2016
PITTSBURGH GENERAL OFFICE HOURS (shots and weigh-in) PITTSBURGH PHYSICIAN CLINIC HOURS (weight loss evaluations)
Mon : 10am – 4pm
Tues: CLOSED
Weds – Fri: 12pm – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 3pm		 Weds: 11am – 2pm
Fri: 3pm – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 1pm
Walk-ins are always welcome during these hours

You can schedule an appointment in Pittsburgh or Weirton by clicking below

Book an appointment using SetMore

or contact us HERE
Please allow up to 24 hours for response.

There’s No Shame in the Gain

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, b12 shots, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, physician supervised weight loss, pittsburgh, sermorelin, weight loss, weirtonLeave a comment 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online hereBook an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

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If there is one subject that any weight loss organization doesn’t want to talk about, it’s gaining weight.  It’s an unfortunate reality for some of us, and it’s not one we are proud of.  Why is it that we feel like a complete failure when we gain a pound or two?  Most of the time, we know why it happens:  i.e., the 2 pieces of pizza we ate, the 2 glasses of wine, the ice cream we devoured. We know when we are doing it that it is wrong, at the time, we don’t care.  It’s afterward that we feel the guilt.  For that moment, we give up what we want the most, for what we want at that minute.

Now we are in no way telling you that it’s ‘ok’ to gain, that is definitely not part of our program, we are just letting you know that if it happens, how to deal with it.  Consistent gains are not what we are referring to. We are talking about mere “snaccidents”, not full binges.

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Behavioral Medicine reports that you’re most tempted to stray from a healthy eating plan when:

  • It’s late at night
  • You’re tired
  • Alcohol is involved
  • You’re hanging out with friends.

Sound familiar? It may be impossible to completely avoid these things, but it’s good to be aware.  Also, just because a food is considered “healthy”, it doesn’t mean you can eat an unhealthy amount of it.

Do you feel like you are angry at yourself for being “weak” and caving to your cravings? Do you feel like you have failed yet again? -Accept it. You did it, own it.  Don’t beat yourself up, but rather just move on.  You are human. You make mistakes. Yes, we all do.  Failure?  Not so much. Quit being so hard on yourself.

Pick yourself up and let us help you get back on track!  You can’t change the past. Focus on what is within your control–today and the future. With our help, you can do it.  The key is accountability.

If you haven’t seen us in months, and don’t want to come back because you have gained, please do.  Come back, you could use our help now more than ever. No judgement…just get back on track.  You’ll be glad you did! Our goal has always been to help you reach yours!

Real Results From A Real Mom

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, b12 shots, hcg, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, physician supervised weight loss, pittsburgh, weight loss, weirton4 Comments 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online here
Book an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

me-2

I started this journey on a whim on May 1st, 2017 weighing 235 pounds. What killed me the most is that I weighed more than when I was pregnant with my twins 19 years ago, and they weighed 7 lbs 5 oz each. I had a hysterectomy in 2005 after which my weight just continued to increase. I have never dieted nor exercised more than walking on a trail. I have a very happy marriage and my husband has never complained about my weight, but I just became comfortable with being so overweight.  To celebrate almost any occasion we would go out to dinner, which was a large part of the problem.

I was very nervous going into my first appointment at the Elevation Medical Weight Loss clinic but the doctor was very understanding and gave me a plan.  This has became more than a just diet, but a new way of life. I now look at EVERY single label, whereas before I never even glanced at food labels.  I couldn’t believe the amount of calories and carbs in some of the drinks and foods I was consuming every day.

At my first appointment I rattled off a goal weight number, which I never really expected to see. Now, here I am on Sept 21st, 2017, just 4 and 1/2 months later and I have reached my goal weight of 180 pounds. I have lost 7 inches from around my waist, and can now fit into regular size clothing instead of plus size.  When I take selfies with my friends, I can hold the phone down instead of way up in the air to get a slimmer angle. I can now walk flights of stairs that before left me completely out of breath, I even stepped outside of my comfort zone and started beat boxing with friends and actually love doing it!  If I can do this and make it work, anyone can.   I not only did this for myself but for our 4 sons, since I have found that a healthy mom is a happy mom. We still celebrate by going out to dinner, only now I am much more conscious of my choices and my order has far fewer calories and carbs.

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Meal Planning for Weight Loss Success

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, hcg, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, physician supervised weight loss, pittsburgh, sermorelin, testosterone therapy, weight loss, weirtonLeave a comment 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online here
Book an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

When you decide to live a healthier lifestyle and talk to us about wanting to lose weight,   we discuss the nutritional aspect of the types of foods in order to help you choose a weight loss program to fit your goals.  We further recommend that you set a plan for your meals as a way to more easily stay on task and get to your goals.

One aspect of dieting that we would like to emphasize is setting aside a day to plan ahead for your week’s meals.   This includes getting groceries for the week (preferably) from the list of foods that we recommend), prepping the necessary items to make the meals, and cooking ALL of the food needed for the week. If you have 12 containers, you can lay it all out and partition each meal in each container.  Since we often recommend eating 2 large meals a day, you can plan ahead for the other 6 days of the week.

The 9 days meal plan that we prescribed consists of larger meal portions.  Depending on if you are taking the diet medications (phentermine, or Adipex) for weight loss, your caloric goal may be 800-1300 calories a day split into 2 large meals.  If you are on the HCG injection rapid weight loss program, your calorie goal may be around 600 calories a day, which is also split into 2 large meals. Even at 300 calories per meal, the meal consists of a larger serving of meats (4 oz of chicken, 10 oz of vegetables, and 2 large glass of water) to keep you full since you will be eating leaner cuts of meats and fill the tank with plenty of vegetables and water.

So what does meal prepping look like? It takes effort, but you get what you put into it– in the end, it helps you get a step closer to your goal.

Have all the ingredients laid out
Lots of lean meats and tons of vegetables

Have all your ingredients laid out — lots of lean meats and tons of vegetables.

Green, leafy vegetables like collard greens, turnip greens, mustard greens are low calorie and taste great.

Preparing all the asparagus and broccoli in aluminum foil for grilling.

Summer squash makes another flavorful side dish.  It will serve as a rice/potato/bread substitute.

Roasting sliced tomatoes on a pan and simmering thinly cut beef.

Setting shrimp on the skewers and have chicken tenderloins marinated and ready to grill with several lean burgers.

Shrimp and chicken take no time on the grill.

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400 calorie meal

 

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Another 400 calorie meal

 

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This is what a 300 calories meal look like

Overall, the entire process of getting groceries, prepping food, cooking, storing, and cleaning up took 6 hours to make 14 meals for 1 person. But this small sacrifice means that you are done for the week and one step closer to being a better you.

 

 

 

Humans Don’t Hibernate…

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, age-management, b12 shots, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, physician supervised weight loss, pittsburgh, sermorelin, side effects, testosterone replacement, testosterone therapy, weight loss, weirtonLeave a comment 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online here
Book an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

As the summer is winding down, it’s common for us who live in a four season climate to subtly change our lifestyles in negative ways, sometimes regressing to the point of starting over. Whether its reducing our physical activity due to less enjoyable weather, or eating more in response to the chilly temperatures; these behaviors feel natural but contribute to the all-to-common cyclical nature of weight loss/gain. While they may feel natural, it is important to remember that we are not bears, and therefore do not require preparations for hibernation.

There are some things we can do to counter these tendencies however; such as recommitting to calorie counting, or finding new ways to exercise indoors (wherever your schedule permits). Also keep in mind that certain types of foods will have different effects on your appetite, which becomes increasingly important as the seasons are accompanied by certain stables like pies, cookies, cakes, and other assorted sweets. It’s the sugar in these foods that creates the terrible feedback loop of insulin spikes and crashes and their associated cravings. Additionally much of this food is lacking in sufficient amounts of protein to satisfy you appetite.

Now may also be the perfect time to find a gym or start a new exercise routine, finding ways to stay active and engaged with fitness will no doubt help you stave off the consequences of having less time to walk or play outdoors.

Whatever you do, I implore you to take in mind what your goals are for yourself, and if you’ve already made progress hold on to it and don’t let the change of seasons throw you off track. There is no need to wait until the New Year to recommit to getting healthy, keep focused year round; count your calories, move as much as possible, and always remember that weight loss is a marathon rather than a sprint,  just keep plodding forward and you will get there.

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After drinking all the milk, Remy hibernates

It Turns Out That Home Cookin’ Really is Better

On By ElevationWeightLossIn adipex, b12 shots, diet, hcg, hcg diet, medical weight loss, phentermine, physician supervised weight loss, pittsburgh, sermorelin, testosterone therapy, weight loss, weirtonLeave a comment 
To make an appt, call us or schedule an appointment online here
Book an appointment using SetMoreElevation Medical Weight Loss of Pittsburgh & Weirton
2350 Noblestown Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 (412) 304-2016 
241 Three Springs Dr. Weirton, WV 26062 (304) 914-3112

I recently stumbled across a video that immediately brought to mind a myriad of questions that get brought up by our weight loss patients. While we tend to focus on calorie counting during consultations, we often don’t have the chance to really dig into too much detail different types of foods. While there are many reasons that most of our food suggestions are “whole foods,” (by which I mean meals for which you buy ingredients and prepare yourself) the most important reason is the accuracy with which you can count calories.

As the following video, originally posted by the NY Times and author Casey Neistat, shows nutritional content labels on prepackaged foods are notoriously inaccurate. Using apps and journals is only as effective as the information that you input, so be careful as you count your calories and remember, if the nutritional content seems too good to be true, and you didn’t weigh out the ingredients yourself, there is a good chance that it is in fact not true.

 

Full credit to Author Casey Neistat and the NY Times Opdocs for the video content.

I don’t want this information to induce a calorie counting panic attack for our more meticulous patients, just be aware that if you want the tightest possible control over you Calories In/ Calories Out ratio, you will be better served making your own foods. Also, if you are trying your best and not seeing progress you might want to take a closer look at the details of the food you are consuming, you may actually be eating more than you think, and that’s not necessarily your fault.