Over 70% of American adults are medically overweight, and almost half of them are considered obese. We’re not here to judge or lecture you—we recognize that nobody wants to struggle with their weight.
Often, our family’s habits growing up contribute to our own eating and exercise habits, and breaking them isn’t easy. Plus, some factors like genetic predispositions are beyond your control.
At Galt Dermatology & Concierge Medicine, we’re here to give you the tools and support you need to achieve your goals. We don’t simply prescribe a weight loss medication and send you on your way; we’re here with you every step of your journey.
Here’s how our holistic approach to semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale is changing people’s lives long-term, not just their bodies.
Our Unique Approach to Weight Loss
There is no one-size-fits-all weight loss program in Fort Lauderdale. Our doctors tailor every aspect of their approach to align with your specific needs, blending the most cutting-edge technology on the market with compassionate expertise.
Almost 90% of people who lose a significant amount of weight regain almost all of it. Why? They’re not making sustainable lifestyle changes. There is no “quick fix” or magic diet that offers lasting results. While weight loss medications like semaglutide give you a significant upper hand, working with professionals to make the most of your investment is key to reaching and staying at a healthy weight—safely.
Beyond weight loss, our goal is to help you build healthy habits that last a lifetime so that you can live better for longer. From having the energy to stay active to lowering your risks of heart disease, our program’s focus goes beyond the number on the scale.
How We See the Bigger Picture
We use semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale as a tool, not a quick fix. Here’s how we craft your custom weight loss plan by determining the root causes of your concerns.
Sleep
More than a third of Americans don’t get enough sleep. Chronic sleep deprivation doesn’t just make you groggy—it negatively affects important physiological processes like regulating your appetite and metabolism, playing an important role in weight loss that many overlook. Beyond your weight, sleep apnea is connected to other chronic health issues like hypertension.
Without ample rest, your body doesn’t have time to recover from the day and rebalance on a cellular level. This disrupts your hormones, including your ghrelin and leptin levels, which determine your appetite. Poor sleeping habits can also spike your cortisol levels—your “stress hormones”—which can make your body hold on to excess fat, especially in your abdomen.
Everything is connected. That’s why we prioritize improving your sleep habits before turning to medication as a temporary band-aid.
Hormones
Your hormones are constantly fluctuating, and one small shift can have big consequences. For example, a thyroid imbalance can slow down your metabolism—how quickly your body converts food into fuel. When your sex hormones (estrogen and testosterone) levels change, it can change your body composition.
A hormonal imbalance can trigger a change in what you eat, too, not just the amount of food. When an imbalance leaves you tired and in a bad mood, you’re more likely to turn to “comfort foods” like carbs. We’re genetically programmed to get satisfaction from those foods, as they trigger dopamine and serotonin release, altering our brain’s reward system.
This makes us crave more, creating a toxic cycle of negative eating habits because we can’t recognize when we’re full—we’re focused on the mental satisfaction instead.
Genetics
Your genes can influence everything from your appetite to your metabolism and your body fat distribution. While we can’t change your genetics, gaining a clear understanding of your predispositions is key to helping you overcome them, whether it’s with semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale or not.
Mental Health
Weight gain—and weight loss—is just as mental as it is physical. Depression and anxiety can make it feel impossible to stay active and eat a balanced diet. However, it goes both ways; obesity can also cause depression and anxiety. People suffering from depression are more likely to become obese, and vice versa.
For example, chronic stress can spike your cortisol levels, making it easier to gain weight and more challenging to lose it. Improving your mental and physical health is key to seeing long-term results from a weight loss program.
What to Expect From Our Weight Loss Program
Now that we’ve covered why our comprehensive approach to weight loss in Fort Lauderdale works, let’s talk about how it works.
→ What to Expect From a Concierge Doctor in Fort Lauderdale
Initial Assessment and Consultation
Before we determine if semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale is right for you, you’ll sit down with your doctor for an open and honest conversation. During your consultation, we’ll discuss your exercise and eating habits. In a space free of judgment, we’ll seek to understand more about your lifestyle, including your food choices, portion sizes, meal schedule, and other details. This will help us see any patterns, and we can also talk about possible triggers, like stress or specific environments.
Don’t feel limited to discussing weight loss; we’re here to help you achieve all of your health goals.
Detailed Questionnaire
We’ll ask you to complete a questionnaire to give us more direct insights into your eating and physical activity habits. This helps us tailor our care around your unique challenges and preferences—from dietary restrictions to work travel that can make it hard to follow a traditional plan.
Food Log Review
Your doctor will also provide instructions on how to keep a food log for two weeks, documenting when and how much of everything you eat and drink. Then, we can work together to identify areas for improvement that align with and can sustainability fit into your routine.
Body Composition Analysis
The number on the scale isn’t all that matters. In fact, it can be deceiving because muscle weighs more than fat.
We’re taking the guesswork out of weight loss with InBody body composition scanning, which helps us establish your unique baseline and precisely track your progress. Beyond your weight, we also track your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and total body water.
Especially if you’re using semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale, it’s important to measure your muscle mass to ensure that you’re losing fat while taking the medication, not muscle. That’s why exercising and eating plenty of protein—typically 0.8 grams per pound of your body weight per day—is so important throughout your weight loss journey. Keep in mind that you may require more or less protein to achieve your goals, but Dr. Villacorta will tailor her recommendations accordingly.
Lab Work
We also perform extensive lab tests to determine any underlying health issues that may play a role in your weight loss plan and overall care. From your hormones to your blood sugar levels, we make sure these health markers are optimized first to maximize your results and improve your overall health long-term.
Creating Your Personalized Plan
Once we’ve gathered all of this information, we’ll help you decide if you’re a good candidate for semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale. Remember, if we determine that weight loss medication is right for you, that’s not the only part of your plan.
Here are a few examples of how we’ve tailored patients’ plans to suit their lifestyles.
For Frequent Travelers
We recognize that traveling can make it difficult to stick to a routine, especially when it comes to eating and exercising. That’s why we help patients who travel regularly find portable, nutrient-dense snacks like nuts and dried fruits to keep them satisfied throughout the day. We’ll also help you develop strategies to make healthier habits when dining out or recommend meal-delivery options to suit your schedule.
For Busy Professionals
Making time to prepare 3 meals a day, especially balanced meals, can be challenging. We’ll help you find quick meal-prep ideas or pre-packaged meals—like salads with grilled protein. Grab-and-go snacks, like protein shakes and string cheese, can also be easy options that work with your plan. If you don’t have time to squeeze in a trip to the gym every day, we’ll help you start with “micro-exercises,” like short at-home workouts and walks, to accommodate your schedule.
For At-Home Patients
When you’re cooking for your entire family, finding recipes that suit your needs and satisfy your significant other and kids is key. Plus, it helps them develop healthy habits that can influence them for life. We’ll work with you to find healthy recipes for batch cooking that integrate more fresh produce, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Ongoing Monitoring and Adjustments
As we’ve mentioned, there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to weight loss. That’s why we check in with you regularly to track your progress and adjust your plan as needed, working around your lifestyle. If your plan includes semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale, we may adjust your dosage over the course of your program to minimize any negative side effects while keeping you on track.
Progress Tracking
Using the InBody scanner, we’ll show you exactly how your body has changed during your check-ins. We’ll also perform labs regularly to keep an eye on your internal health, such as monitoring your glucose and cholesterol levels.
Exercise Adjustments
If you’re new to exercise, we won’t recommend that you start by running a marathon. Instead, we focus on setting achievable goals and building as you go. It doesn’t have to be complicated—taking a 30-minute walk every day can help you lose weight, improve your balance, lower your health risks, and improve your mood.
For patients with more exercise experience, we’ll help you refine your routine to align with your specific goals. For example, we may recommend pilates for low-endurance muscle building and flexibility or treadmill intervals for those looking to improve their endurance.
Whether you’d prefer to work out at home, in the gym, or outside, we’ll incorporate your preferences to make these changes into realistic and enjoyable habits.
Medications
Depending on your situation, we may incorporate medications like semaglutide into your plan to help you get a head start on your weight loss journey. Semaglutide is a weekly injection, using a formula that mimics your body’s natural glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) hormones that regulate your appetite.
This formula stops cravings at the source, so you can feel more satisfied from fewer calories, making it easier to maintain a caloric deficit. A calorie deficit is when you burn more calories than you consume, which is how you lose weight. Remember that your body burns calories at rest, too—something referred to as your basal metabolic rate, which we’ll calculate with our InBody scan.
We use medications like semaglutide as a trampoline to better health. That’s what makes our weight loss program unique—we’re focused on optimizing your habits for long-term changes and avoiding weight gain once you’ve gone off medication.
Get to and Stay at Your Best
At Galt Dermatology & Concierge Medicine, you’re always our top priority. We’re dedicated to providing the healthcare experience you deserve—one that’s transparent, convenient, and personalized. If you’re ready to clear the path to the happiest, healthiest version of yourself, reach out!
If you still have questions about how semaglutide in Fort Lauderdale can fit into your weight loss plan, we’re here to help. We recognize that there’s a lot of information—and misinformation—out there, so we’re committed to making things simple and empowering you to make informed decisions about your care.
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