85 www.ReadMPM.com | www.MountPleasantMagazine.com | www.MountPleasantPodcast.com Oh, joy. Not again. It’s 4:45 a.m. and the alarm is blaring. It’s another glorious day for gains or at least that’s what I tell myself. Losing 93 pounds since October 2023 has been no easy feat but it has been done. I’m a single mom of four and a business professional. If I can do it, so can you. In recent years, the weight loss industry has seen a significant evolution with new and innovative options emerging to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals. Today, the landscape of weight loss options continues to evolve, offering a wide range of choices for people looking to shed those extra pounds and improve their overall health. PERSONALIZED NUTRITION PLANS One of the most popular weight loss options in 2024 is the rise of personalized nutrition plans. With the advancement of technology and the availability of genetic testing, individuals can now receive customized nutrition plans tailored to their specific genetic makeup. By analyzing genetic markers related to metabolism, food sensitivities and nutrient absorption, individuals can receive personalized recommendations on what to eat and how to structure their meals to optimize weight loss. This personalized approach takes the guesswork out of dieting and allows individuals to make informed choices that are most likely to lead to successful weight loss outcomes. While this option will help some people, my trip to the doctor in September 2023 revealed that I was battling being pre-diabetic. I even left the office with the privilege of being part cyborg. Not really. I did earn myself a label and a sensor though. I began having to monitor my body’s glucose levels (sugar) through a sensor that kept a catheter-style probe in my skin at all times. Through modest meal planning such as programs like 12 Week Grind and watching the numbers on the monitor, my doctor and I were able to stabilize my sugars. Walking daily and cutting out soda played a huge role in this measure. Honestly, I felt better overall when those numbers were in the green. WEARABLE TECHNOLOGY/MOBILE APPS Another cutting-edge weight loss option gaining popularity in the present day is the use of wearable technology and mobile apps to track and monitor progress. Wearable devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers can provide real-time feedback on metrics such as heart rate, activity levels and calorie expenditure, allowing individuals to stay on top of their weight loss goals and make adjustments as needed. Additionally, mobile apps offer tools for tracking food intake, setting goals and accessing virtual coaching and support, making weight loss more accessible and convenient than ever before. My personal victories were tracked with the MyFitnessPal app. The free version or paid accounts were both fantastic for accountability, reminding me when I needed to enter and inquiring if I had eaten. It helped me manage macros and micros. I synced the app on my Apple Watch. This helped me track steps and physical activity. The integration was intuitive and automated, recording my burned calories and providing caloric intake. Being aware of what I was consuming versus what I was burning was a ginormous piece to my success puzzle. MEDICAL WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAMS For people looking for more intensive support, medical weight loss programs are a viable option in this modern era as well. These programs are supervised by healthcare professionals such as doctors, dietitians and Weight Loss Journey Routes to health and happiness BY BRITTANY GEORGE health and wellness
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjcyNTM1