Weight loss is a common concern for many middle-aged women. With the natural changes that occur with aging, including hormonal shifts and a slower metabolism, losing weight can become more challenging. In this blog, we will explore how a functional medicine approach can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight through personalized strategies and addressing underlying issues.

The Challenge of Weight Loss for Middle-Aged Women

As women age, several factors can contribute to weight gain or difficulty losing weight:

• Hormonal Changes: Decreased levels of estrogen and other hormones can affect metabolism and fat distribution.
• Slower Metabolism: Metabolic rate naturally decreases with age, making it easier to gain weight.
• Muscle Loss: Age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia) can reduce the body's ability to burn calories.
• Lifestyle Factors: Stress, lack of sleep, and sedentary lifestyles can contribute to weight gain.

Functional Medicine Approach to Weight Loss

Functional medicine...

As healthcare continues to evolve, medical professionals are constantly seeking ways to provide the best possible care for their patients. When it comes to understanding your health, laboratory tests play a crucial role in diagnosing and preventing potential issues. While many standard tests are routinely conducted, there are some lesser-known but equally important lab tests that your physician might not be running – but should be. Are you wondering if the tests they are running are correct? Are you wondering why your results are "within normal limits" but you still feel like $#!T?  In this blog post, we'll explore the top five lab tests that deserve a place on your medical radar and you can click the link below to order our Functional Blood Report and take control of your health.

1. Vitamin D Levels (25-Hydroxy Vitamin D): Vitamin D is often referred to as the "sunshine vitamin" due to its production when our skin is exposed to sunlight. It plays a critical role in bone...

I’m a physician not a chef. The following are my personal collection of a handful of easy and portable meals. Since the arrival of Mr Parker I knew it was my responsibility to raise a happy and healthy human being - and diet played a HUGE role in my goal. Actually that responsibility started the minute I found out I was pregnant. I minimized sugar, grains and dairy and cleaned up my diet at home and on the road.

We bring food with us everywhere (except maybe the grocery store). And always in glass containers. More on the dangers of plastics in a later blog.

This is what I made this last weekend - in just a few hours we had breakfasts and dinners taken care of for the week. I added in frozen veggies to compliment some of the meals as well as frozen cauliflower rice. Leftovers can be used for lunch.

Pan Roasted Chicken & Root Vegetables - 

I literally grabbed everything that looked good in the produce section of Whole Foods; rough chopped it and threw it in...

I’m a big fan of healthy habits. I even created a FREE facebook group to help manage stress & wrap up the year on a high note - simply by instilling a few healthy habits. If you’ve found yourself doing these things and still struggling to lose weight the answer may be in your gut! Did you know your gut bacteria impacts what you crave, how hungry you are and how well you absorb the nutrition from the foods you consume? It may be the key to your weight loss struggles!

It’s been a stressful few months for a lot of us and if you’re holding onto a few extra pounds that you’d like to lose the answer may be below.  I’ve done them all and find them easy to implement and notice great results when I follow my plan.

• Intermittent Fasting - there are many ways to integrate fasting. I like the 16 off and 8 on plan. For instance, I eat dinner about 6:30pm and do not consume any food after 8:00pm until I eat lunch the next day after...

For those of you that live near our brick and mortar office, you’re spoiled and you have access to incredible pre-made paleo meals by Real Clean Paleo.  This recipe is for the rest of you. Or for those of you that LOVE what RCP does and want a chance to expand the offerings for dinner at home.

What is Paleo? Essentially the “Paleo Diet” is one of the easiest to follow. If you picture what a hunter/gatherer population would eat - those are the foods allowed on a Paleo Diet.

Paleo is what existed before the agricultural way of eating came about. Prior to mass farming and the development of more processed foods, we ate very simply. Think fruits, vegetables, and meats/fish. 

I made this recipe this week and everyone LOVED it!  #MrParker was a huge fan and felt it paired well with corn on the cob and peas. (his personal favorite).  I hope that my take on Paleo Italian Meatloaf is a win at hour house as well.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 lbs 85% lean...

Chia seeds are a magical food that need their time in the spot light!  I’ve been using chia in my protein shakes for awhile now, knowing they were a super food, but never knowing ALL the benefits they possess.

Chia seeds originated in Mexico where they were viewed with such admiration they were even used as currency.  The Aztecs used chia to sustain their energy while running long distances or during battle.  They would say a spoonful would give them enough endurance for 24 hours.  This all makes sense since In the Mayan language, chia means “strength”.

Chia seeds are filled with everything from Omega 3’s, protein, fiber , vitamins, minerals AND antioxidants.  Due to their content, they have a vast array of health benefits.

Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

• Digestive Health – Due to the high amount of fiber alone, chia seeds will help with digestion.  The appropriate amount of fiber will help with regular bowel...

Non-invasive body sculpting or contouring as it is often called is gaining heavy traction in the marketplace. There are multiple options from cold laser to freezing the fat to radio waves. We’ve done our best to scour the internet to get you details on some current options. This list highlights the top contenders but we recommend that you still research what is best for you. It’s always recommended to complete a complimentary consultation so that you can determine the best treatment for your specific needs and goals. You should always be assessed by a physician to see if you are a candidate for any body sculpting procedure. 

When researching body sculpting options we found it best to compare pricing, side effects and results. Being from a conservative background, side effects and possible complications are rated very highly in my book. We’ve had personal encounters with individuals with irreversible damage to their body from certain techniques...

We all know that the foods/drinks we consume contribute to the body shape we carry around. Did you know that even “healthy” foods can be inflammatory? Depending on the health of your gut you could be consuming organic, grass fed, wild caught, prairie raised eggs, fish, meat and fruits/vegetables that don’t agree with you so they cause inflammation in your body and thus you hold onto extra weight.

The eight most inflammatory foods include: Soy, Wheat, Dairy, Sugar (Alcohol), Peanuts, Eggs, Corn, Artificial Sweeteners.  Minimizing or completely eliminating the foods above will help you to drop a few extra pounds of inflammation. 

Not sure or want concrete evidence that your body doesn’t react well to those inflammatory foods? You have two options - complete an elimination diet or run a food sensitivity testing panel. Both will help you decide which specific diet modifications are right for you.

Studies show that upwards of 75% of Americans are...

Determine Your Body Fat Percentage

Body fat percentage is simply the percentage of fat that your body contains. For your body to function properly it is essential that your body contains a certain amount of fat. Body fat helps regulate your body temperature, it cushions and insulates organs and is the main form of the body’s energy storage. It is important for everyone to have a healthy amount of body fat.

When people say they want to lose weight it is implied that they want to lose fat.

Calculating your body fat percentage is a better way to determine what your weight loss goals should be and if they are realistic. Rather than just stepping on a scale and deciding how much weight you want to lose, it is better to determine your body fat percentage and achieve a healthy range. So before you decide you need to lose 20 pounds, first remember that your body weight consists of lean body mass and body fat.

The amount of body fat that you do or do not have can be potentially...