Medical Weight Loss

Why a diet plan like we offer is CRUCIAL in your Weight Loss Journey!

Why a diet plan like we offer is CRUCIAL in your Weight Loss Journey!

Published by on November 29, 2023

The Crucial Role of Meal Planning in Maximizing Weight Loss with Semaglutide, Tirzeptide or any other weight loss medication!

Embarking on a weight loss journey often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, including dietary modifications and, in some cases, medications. Semaglutide and Tirzepitide, promisings weight loss medications, have gained attention for its efficacy in helping individuals shed excess pounds. However, the key to unlocking these medication’s full potential lies not only in the medication itself… but also in adopting a well-structured meal plan.

In this blog post, we’ll explore the importance of following a meal plan when incorporating weight loss medications like semaglutide and tirzepitide.

  1. Enhanced Medication Effectiveness:

Semaglutide and Tirzepitide work by mimicking the action of a hormone that regulates blood sugar, slowing down the digestive process and promoting a feeling of fullness. When combined with a strategic meal plan, the medication’s effects are maximized. A carefully crafted meal plan ensures that the food consumed complements the medication’s mechanism, leading to better control over calorie intake and improved weight loss outcomes.

  1. Balanced Nutrition:

Following a meal plan encourages a well-balanced and nutritious diet. It ensures that your body receives the essential vitamins, minerals, and macronutrients needed for optimal functioning. This is particularly important when on weight loss medications, as deficiencies can hinder progress and lead to adverse effects. A balanced diet supports overall health and boosts the efficacy of these medications.

  1. Controlled Caloric Intake:

Weight loss is fundamentally tied to the concept of burning more calories than you consume. A structured meal plan helps in monitoring and controlling your caloric intake. By understanding portion sizes, choosing nutrient-dense foods, and spreading meals throughout the day, you can create a sustainable calorie deficit, a crucial factor in successful weight loss when using medications like semaglutide or tirzepitide.

  1. Stabilized Blood Sugar Levels:

Semaglutide and tirzepitide’s primary functions are to regulate blood sugar levels. A well-designed meal plan complements this by preventing spikes in blood sugar, promoting stable energy levels, and reducing cravings. This synergy between medication and nutrition contributes to a more consistent and sustainable weight loss journey.

  1. Establishing Healthy Habits:

The adoption of a meal plan isn’t just about short-term weight loss; it’s a commitment to long-term health. Developing healthy eating habits is CRUCIAL for maintaining weight loss achievements and preventing weight regain. A meal plan provides structure and guidance, making it easier to adhere to positive dietary practices even after discontinuing the medication.

  1. Personalized Approach:

Every individual is unique, and what works for one person may not work for another. Following a meal plan such as ours allows for personalization based on individual preferences (food exchange option) , dietary restrictions, and lifestyle factors. Tailoring your approach ensures that the meal plan is realistic, enjoyable, and sustainable, increasing the likelihood of long-term success with semaglutide, tirzepitide or ANY weight loss program!

In conclusion, the importance of following a meal plan when incorporating weight loss medications such as semaglutide or tirzepitide cannot be overstated. We offer a plans writing by dieticians to address all the above needs and have a plan specific to using medications for obesity and diabetes.

A well-thought-out meal plan not only enhances the effectiveness of the medications… but also promotes overall health, balanced nutrition, and the development of sustainable lifestyle habits. Combining the power of semaglutide or tirzepitide with a strategic meal plan is a holistic approach that maximizes the potential for successful and lasting weight loss. Visit our nutrition page to get started today!

Always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your diet or medication regimen.

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Happy New Year! Ready for a NEW YOU?

Happy New Year! Ready for a NEW YOU?

Published by on January 1, 2022 | Leave a response

Healthy weight loss tips for long-lasting health benefits for the New Year!

Happy New Year!!!

Weight loss often tops the list of many people’s New Year’s resolutions. Setting a realistic weight loss plan where you’re making healthier food choices and exercising more can help you achieve your goal. Ensuring there is not other cause for not being able to shed the weight with smarter choices should be your first step, however!  Occasionally you need help with medications for hormones, thyroid, or insulin resistance that may be causing barriers to reaching your goals or preventing you from performing your best with your new workout routines!  To Your Health and Wellness, LLC.- we can help!

If losing weight is your resolution, set a goal, stay on track and stay motivated. Give us a call and get scheduled with our office- We have helped so many reach and maintain their goals with our LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS (LIPs)

To get you started, the following are weight loss tips to help you reach your weight loss goal and make your resolution a successful one. And remember, losing weight is a resolution you can make any time of the year!  But, the sooner you invest in your HEALTH the sooner you will be rewarded- with WELLNESS!

1. Avoid quick weight loss schemes

People often make resolutions to lose weight and turn to quick fixes that may not be right for them. Eating fewer than 800 calories a day drops pounds quickly, but when you return to more normal eating patterns, your metabolism will have slowed, and weight will creep back.

For most people, we always recommend starting with one small change and building healthy eating and activity habits from there. Cutting cooking oil and avoiding fried foods are a good start. So is focusing more on eating fruits and vegetables. Our LIPs program provides you with a complete diet plan at your fingertips that you can use as a guide to make small changes to lead to BIG results!

Fruits and veggies lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels and help stave off heart disease and obesity. Just remember that when it comes to plant–based diets, you have many options- and if you are stuck- we can help!

2. Check serving sizes

Watch your portions. Serving sizes for pasta, rice and other packaged foods are often smaller than you’d expect. It can be shocking to measure out a serving and realize we are often eating several servings at each meal or snack. Check the nutrition facts label for information about serving sizes and calories and see if you really need more than one serving. Also, use the label to help you make healthier choices about fat, sugar and salt.

3. Know “fat-free” doesn’t mean low-calorie

A low-fat or fat-free food may have fewer calories than its full-fat equivalent, but not always. In fact, added sugar or starches can raise the calorie count.  You’ll often hear me say in clinic to be mindful of the fat-free trap- when you see “fat free” think “chemical shit storm”.

4. Try to slow down eating

It takes your body about 20 minutes to send the “I’m full” signal to your brain. When you eat quickly, you tend to eat more. Eat mindfully, chewing every bite 15 to 20 times and enjoying the taste, smell and texture of your food.  We have had great success with patients taking a new ONCE A WEEK PRESCRIPTION WEIGHTLOSS SHOT called Wegovy- which helps control your portion size and “shuts off” the part of your brain that tells you to keep eating.  We have patients who have lost 50+ pounds with a combination of tools we can help with!

5. Drink water before you eat

Water can help curb your appetite. A study found that overweight individuals who drank two cups of water before every meal lost more weight than those who did not. Moreover, people often mistake thirst for hunger, and reach for a snack when a glass of water is really all they need. Add a small splash of fruit juice or squeeze of lemon to water if you want more flavor.

6. Build a healthier plate

A restaurant-size serving of potatoes or a “gourmet” hamburger is far more than most people need to (or should) eat.  An old weight loss trick is serving healthy choices on larger plates and less healthy foods on smaller plates, to trick the brain into feeling satisfied with less.

A healthy eating plan includes lots of vegetables and fruits. When you eat at home, cover half of the plate with fruits and vegetables, a quarter with lean protein, and a quarter with whole grains.

If you’re watching costs, remember you can eat healthy on a budget. The US Department of Agriculture has a dedicated website – CheckMyPlate.gov – with the most current information on healthy eating, including healthy eating on a budget. Eat the season – BERRY SEASON IS HERE!!!

7. Know what you are eating when dining out

If you need a quick meal while you’re out, read the calorie information on menus before you order. Look for places that offer fresh salads but watch the salad dressings, which are often high on calories. Often, a simple swap of the fries/sides can save HUNDREDS of calories!

Build your own sandwiches but skip the mayonnaise and other calorie-laden condiments. Order a baked potato, but avoid loading it with sour cream, cheese and bacon. Choose grilled or baked chicken or fish. Swap fries for fruit or yogurt and select water or a low-calorie drink.

Little changes yield BIG results and build a healthy LIFESTYLE, not based on “dieting”.

8. Make time to exercise

Healthy eating combined with physical activity can help you to reach and maintain a healthy weight. Getting active is easier than you may think. Find something you like to do, such as walking, swimming or hiking, and just do it. Mark it on your calendar so you don’t make excuses about not having time to exercise. Remember, it’s better to do moderate and consistent exercise every day than to try to be a weekend warrior and risk injury or giving up.

Federal guidelines recommend that for substantial health benefits adults do 150 to 300 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a week (or 75 to 150 minutes if done vigorously). Adults should also mix in muscle strengthening activities at least two days a week.  We have partnered with a few GREAT personal trainers that will help you develop a plan that you can stick to, adjust to your level and have FUN!

9. Get your family involved

Your spouse and kids can also benefit. Get creative together; mix up healthier versions of grandma’s favorite sauce or dessert. Exercising with others is usually more fun too. Invite a family member, relative or a friend who also wants to lose weight to join you. We have successful couples in our practice that have lost a COMBINED 100LBS!  Together, you can keep each other motivated and on track.

We know- making healthy changes can be challenging. We invite you to follow these weight loss tips to help you meet your weight-loss goal.  We happily with help you with other tools (such as diet plans, exercise plans, medical management etc.) Our medically managed weight loss programs are affordable, as low as $50/month and we are accessible for your needs!

Be patient. Results will not happen overnight. If you take in fewer calories while burning more, you will get results. Give us a call or text today to get started! 352-363-1034 or visit our website and “enroll now” to join our DIRECT PRIMARY CARE which INCLUDES all your primary care needs AND medical weight loss!!

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To Your Health and Wellness, LLC- Direct Primary Care: A Modern Healthcare Solution

Published by on October 5, 2021 | Leave a response


Many of us have been affected by COVID-19 in so many ways, and some of the most common things we are hearing is that people have either lost their jobs/reduced hours- (and in turn have lost their health insurance) or they have been putting off their healthcare needs because they are avoiding in-person appointments. Many have struggled with finding affordable care when sick- or just simply not knowing what to do when an illness occurs.

Now, more than ever, patients are looking for better ways to meet their healthcare needs. Here are some of the reasons why our office and Direct Primary Care membership may work for you!

• It’s affordable: Whether or not you have health insurance, direct primary care is a cost effective option. The low cost monthly membership fee covers all visits in our office with no co-pays, as well as call/text/video chat with your provider , many of which can be done when YOU need it- including evenings and weekends! In addition, patients have access to low cost labs. With the state of our economy and the economic impact of COVID, we can expect deductibles will continue to climb year after year. Finding more cost-effective ways to save money on routine care will become imperative- while keeping/utilizing health insurance for bigger things such as hospitalizations, surgery, and specialist care. Direct primary care is also very valuable for those who can’t get health insurance. In addition to the costs savings of the services performed in our office, we are very cost conscious and can help you “shop” around for the best prices when you need services outside of our office (such as imaging, specialist care, etc). Healthcare costs have become so complex and we feel that it is part of our job to help you navigate the healthcare system! We have many partnerships and good working relationships with specialists to get you what you need, at sometimes a fraction of the cost! Not to mention, TIME is money!

o Example: A patient calls (or texts) your provider (DIRECTLY) in the morning that they think they have a urinary tract infection. They discuss the symptoms and may or may not decide to schedule an appointment, depending on the severity of the symptoms and “classic” presentation. We often can send a prescription for an antibiotic to the pharmacy, which the patient picks up that same day, or even dispense common antibiotics directly to the patient at a FRACTION of the cost of retail pharmacies! The patient was able to get care that worked around their schedule and the best part is it was included in their monthly membership fee (no additional charge for the visit or the urinalysis if indicated). The only extra cost they incurred was for the antibiotic prescription at the pharmacy, or in our office (again for a fraction of the cost!)

o In addition to medication savings, our members benefit from HALF OFF our IV therapy, B12 Lipo shots (weight loss plans included in membership!), and COVID rapid testing for $20. We even make house calls if indicated!

o Acute care/close follow up – we are with you every step of the way for unexpected illnesses- we will follow you closely, get you the medications you need and you’ll always know when to seek further care! We follow the FLCCC COVID care guidelines.

o Transparent pricing- You will know EXACTLY the cost of common labs, procedures, mediations, etc. NO SURPRISE INVOICES!

• It’s convenient: Because we have a smaller patient panel than many doctors’ offices, we are usually able to see patients for same or next business day appointments, so you’ll be seeing your provider who knows you and your medical history. We also space out our appointments so that they’re not rushed and you’re also not usually waiting in the waiting room.

• It’s accessible: Your provider will be available to you by phone/text/video chat so that you can receive care when you need it. If you have a concern you can text your provider directly. We also offer telemedicine visits so that you can receive care for most things from the comfort of your home.

• It’s personalized: Our patient panel size is smaller than many practices in order to provide personalized care. Our appointments are not rushed and we want to spend time addressing your concerns and questions. We take a holistic approach to medicine so it’s important to have the time to discuss various aspects of a patient’s life that can be contributing to their health – no more 15 minute rushed visit with your provider typing the whole time you are in the office!!

• It works for small businesses too: The economic impact of COVID-19 has made it increasingly hard for businesses to provide affordable health care options for their employees. Direct primary care is an affordable way for employers to provide primary care to their employees. Providing this benefit has been shown to improve employee satisfaction, retention, and health while lowering overall costs. Our clinic offers special pricing for businesses with 5 or more employees enrolled. Let us show you the benefits of direct primary care! Contact us to find out more.

So, whether you have insurance or not, this past year has certainly impacted all of us and the lasting impacts on our healthcare system (and insurance) is yet to be determined.  Don’t wait until you cannot afford your care or insurance!  Establish with us today and have that piece of mind knowing you will have the care you need, when you need it!   Get started here: https://toyourhealthandwellness.atlas.md/enrollment/index.html?account=i41rxhln3xaym8SZLy7K

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Even With Insurance, You Probably CAN’T Beat Our Prices at To Your Health and Wellness DPC!

Published by on September 1, 2021 | Leave a response

As a member of our Direct Primary Care, we charge an affordable monthly fee, for a principle Primary Care (and more!) service that includes 24/7 access to a certified, quality provider! Phone calls, text messages, telehealth visits, well visits, sick visits, specialty visits such as hormone pellet evaluations and weight loss, select procedures (abrasions, incision & draining and more), and more are all included.

From there, we charge for very low and transparent prices for prescriptions, in-office tests and lab panels. Still not sure?  Just look at the difference between what you’ll pay in a traditional model….

Even with insurance, it gets insane how expensive these items get. Take for instance, in office testing.  Our non-member RAPID COVID tests (now required for some sporting events, work/school events etc) are $75 for non-members and only $15 for members! Your monthly membership PLUS a test is STILL less than most places are charging for each test! And, if you are positive, your care is INCLUDED!

Meanwhile, the local market is charging $100-150 at many local offices and pharmacies, if you can even find a convenient testing location! Now, some of those out of pocket expenses are covered, we know, if patients have met their deductible and have premium insurance coverage. But if they’re still in most cases needing meeting their deductible, that’s a ton of cash to drop for one test to be “covered”. Not to mention they are ONLY getting test results, not follow up care if needed!

The savings annually are real, even if you have most insurance plans! For preventative care, lab panels are recommended to be done yearly.  Every year, you START over paying towards your deductible. Our patients can subscribe to our model, have every panel and test done once, and add in a couple prescriptions with a pill a day and STILL PAY LESS THAN JUST THEIR PREMIUM TOTAL MONTHLY PREMIUM ON A PPO!  Not to mention we do not let insurance dictate what and when you need certain labs or are “allowed” to get them… if you need them, we get them!

Now, take small business owners or self-employed families.  Some may have a marketplace plan or HSA that cover emergencies. However, the majority of time, these would include a very high deductible… and high premiums monthly! Think of it like your car insurance where you have to pay the first $1000-$5,000 even if the accident is someone else’s fault…. So, our low costs negate even having the high-cost insurance plan to begin with… therefore you can save those deductibles for “catastrophic” needs! In a time where it is hard to retain good employees, what a wonderful benefit this would be, ensuring they have access to affordable health care!

But, what if patients are getting insurance coverage through an employer? We STILL believe in our benefits! We are not only affordable, but ACCESSIBLE! By focusing on preventive care, ease of scheduling and overall cost savings… even WITH insurance you can’t get our type of service model in traditional practices! You cannot text, or email in most cases your provider DIRECTLY…  You can be seen sooner, and back to work sooner!

And yes, we made a big claim up at the top of this blog today… But we are proud to be transparent! Here’s a complete cost breakdown of just some of the medications we offer to our members:

Antibiotics- 

Bactrim $.75 for a 5 day supply

Azithromycin $5.97 for a 5 day supply (retail)

Steroids-  

Prednisone $.97 for a 6 day supply

Blood pressure medications–

HCTZ 25mg 100 day supply $2.12

Lisinopril 10mg 100 day supply $3.97

Antidepressants-

Fluoxetine (Prozac)- 100 day supply $3.97

Sertraline – 30 day supply $1.97

Buspar/Wellbutrin- 60 day supply for $20

Other popular prescriptions: 

Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) – 30 tabs- $2.13

Benzonatate (Cough medicine/Tessalon Perles)- 10 doses for $1.33

Ambien – 30 tabs for $1.75

Progesterone 200mg – 100 tabs for $40

Zofran – 4mg 30 tabs for $3.88

We’d love to have a meet and greet with you to see if we are a good fit to take care of your family or employees!  Contact our office today at 352-363-1034 or Jmunksgardnp@outlook.com to make an appointment to learn more!  Ready to enroll?  Click HERE!

Stay well!  Jennifer Munksgard, APRN

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To Your Health & Wellness introduces Direct Primary Care in Levy, Dixie and Gilchrist Counties!

Published by on July 30, 2021 | Leave a response

Our last blog discussed our new direction for To Your Health and Wellness, and the communities we are now caring for.  It has not only been extremely rewarding for us, it has also opened the door to be able to provide a BETTER primary care service for the Levy/Dixie/Gilchrist County areas!

In the upcoming months, we will roll out a way to save your money, increase your access to local health care and introduce you to To Your Health and Wellness, LLC’s Direct Primary Care… Right in your hometown!

You may ask, what is a direct primary care?

It is an innovative alternative payment model improving access to high functioning, local healthcare with a simple, flat, affordable membership fee.

There is no need to go to the office (or Gainesville!) for needless visits! With direct primary care (DPC) you can easily call, text or email your provider to decide if you need an appointment or not. You have access to your provider when you need it, with no insurance company to hassle with! We offer predictable/affordable costs and transparent pricing. No more unexpected medical bills! We also will soon be able to offer inexpensive medications dispensed in-house, affordable in-house labs offered and so much more! A complete list of our services will soon be available, including discounts for our current Biote hormone pellet therapy patients and for our current weight loss management patients!

At To Your Health and Wellness, as most of you know, insurance is not accepted. But to expand our services and what we can offer you- what we will soon offer, is an affordable monthly memberships, which covers your primary care needs, including annual physicals, sick visits, various urgent care and in-office procedures, well woman visits, school/sports physicals, medically guided weight loss, etc.

We will still be offering hormone optimization to non-members, however if you become a DPC member, you will save !5% on your pellet insertions, and specialty labs related to hormone optimization! We strongly encourage membership to our hormone optimization patients as we believe your BEST care is for the entire person (and saving money helps too!).

Unfortunately, due to government restrictions, we cannot accept Medicaid or Medicare patients.

The monthly membership fees for our Direct Primary Care Program are:

               $50.00 a month for adults
$25.00 a month for kids

To honor our first responders, veterans and law enforcement, we will offer 10% off memberships, and half off enrollment fees. Please inquire about families larger than 5, single parent rates and small business pricing/billing.

Additionally, we offer a family membership for, $150.00 per month for the whole family (up to 5, two adults and 3 children). There is a one-time enrollment fee of $80 per adult, $50.00 per child or a max enrollment fee of of $200 for a family, however for the month of August, we will WAIVE the enrollment fees, so you can get started today!

Do you own a small business? Small businesses may qualify for group discounts as well as the ability to provide your employees with an affordable option for ensuring they have access to quality, local health care.  This not only improves employee satisfaction, retention and productivity, but decreases absences and time away from the office/job going to Gainesville for appointments!

Benefits of choosing direct primary care (DPC) include the following:
• Convenient, cost effective way for patients to receive high quality local healthcare.
• Patients have a direct relationship with their provider.
° Providers respond to patient’s text, emails and phone calls the same day!
° Sick visits frequently can be handled via “telehealth”. Therefore, reducing the need for the patient to travel to the medical office.
° Providers spend more time with each patient seen, resulting in:
■ More time for questions and formulating individualized treatment plans.
■ Broader scope of care, drastically reducing the amount of specialist referrals.
° Takes healthcare for patients and their provider back to the “good old days” when patients knew their provider personally and you pay for services directly with no middle man (insurance company).
° Most healthcare services the patients need can be taken care of in the office, eliminating long wait times or entire day spent going to appointments!
• Patients, or their employer, only pay a month membership fee directly to the practice via a convenient autopay billing system, for primary care services. We do have options to pay annually, as well as seasonally for part-time residents/students etc. No co-pays for general office visits and very affordable labs, medication and a nominal, affordable prices for many in-office procedures such as skin-tag removals, simple sutures, splints, foreign body removal (such as splinter/glass etc), ear wax impaction cleansing and many more! Up front prices mean NO surprise bills after the fact or fears of addressing issues due to cost!
° Direct Primary Care is not insurance- it is a collaboration between patients and providers to provide primary care in a setting of comfort, affordability and accessibility.
° No bills to insurance, no insurance claims to be processed ie- more time with your provider and no surprise bills in the mail!  This model is not just for the uninsured.. works well with high deductible plans or plans that chose your provider for you. We work WITH you and you ALWAYS know who you will see at your visit!
° We, being YOUR Primary Care Provider take a needs-driven approach to their patient interactions… rather than being driven by a reimbursement model.  This means we have no incentive to force patients into the office for an unnecessary face-to-face visit in person, when a webcam, phone call, or email exchange would do. (saving you time, money and PTO for those vacations you so deserve!)
° For one monthly membership fee, the patient can be seen as many times as necessary to address your primary and situational medical needs.
° Inexpensive medications offered at our in-house pharmacy (coming soon!) often saving patients HUNDREDS of dollars on prescription medications! We have the ability to offer MANY common medications for 90% off what you normally pay “with insurance”.
° We can help coordinate agreements with specialists, imaging centers, and lab companies to lower the costs incurred by the patient overall, with or without insurance!

Have more questions, or interested in learning more about us… visit our website- be sure to join our email list for updates or call 352-363-1034 to ask any questions you may have!

Ready to join and start taking control of YOUR CARE???  Here is the enrollment info – click here!

As a reminder, direct primary care is not insurance- and patients that choose to enroll will still need to consider catastrophic/major medical insurance coverage in the event of an emergency, hospital stay or surgery. We suggests checking into a cost sharing ministry such as Christian Healthcare Ministries as an option.  We will be happy to help you explore these plans that is right for your family!

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A New Direction!

Published by on July 15, 2021 | Leave a response

It’s been a while since we have been able to sit down and write a blog and update our FANS!  We have been crazy busy between summer, starting new locations, and re-modeling our focus and business plan!  If you have ever started a new business, you know this is common.  We prayed for direction and we have been led there!

If you know me, (Jen) you know I am all about WELLNESS.  Throughout my career, I have seen the many results of lives without wellness, and it has over the years become not only a hobby for me (running and clean eating) but also a passion to show others just how easy it is!

We were asked a few months ago to bring our wellness services to the Tri-County area, Levy, Dixie, Gilchrist. The amazing women at the Chiefland Elite Medispa recognized the need for care of the WHOLE person, and called on me to assist.  We could not have asked for a bigger blessing!  Chiefland is a place we called home for many years and we have many fond memories and ties to the community.  During my time in Cardiology, I spent 4 years going to Chiefland twice a week to provide Cardiology services to that area, and fell in love with small town medicine, as well as being honored to provide care to the community I loved.  I was absolutely delighted to be asked to return and bring my primary care, weightloss and hormone pellet services to that area!  It truly felt like home!

After a few weeks of a great response to our new direction, another wonderful woman, Dee from The Little Cottage Medispa in High Springs asked me to join her team at her location as well.  We look forward to starting there later this week and building relationships with yet another small town that is so welcoming to our healthcare services in their area!

With these changes, in addition to being a full time mom and homeschool teacher, I had to make the hard decision to re-structure To Your Health and Wellness, as we definitely were led in a new direction!  We are now focusing on Primary Care, Wellness, Weightloss and Hormone Pellets/Therapy.  We are armed with an incredible team of professionals for ALL your health and wellness needs, FROM INSIDE TO OUT! We will be practicing via Telehealth, in our Chiefland/Trenton locations and in High Springs.

Though our locations have changed (for the good) I will still be offering AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE Primary Care, and SOON will be offering a DIRECT PRIMARY CARE MODEL to these areas, which as a small business owner, is INCREDIBLE! (Stay tuned for a new blog soon on that!).  I truly have been given a wonderful opportunity to find my balance, live my dream and share my passions.  Who could ask for anything more!!!?  I look forward to caring for you and your families, and more importantly, KEEPING YOU HEALTHY!!!

If you have trusted us with your care THANK YOU, and if we haven’t met you yet, we are looking forward to it! Kind words on Google reviews help spread the word about how we have served you well and instill trust in future patients and clients. If you have 2-3 minutes right now, would you share that with us here?

If you are a Laser patient, we will gladly still be referring you to Erin Caudle, APRN for all your laser skin needs such as spider vein treatments and hair removal!

Be sure to join our mailing list to keep up to date with our launch of our new membership-based plans and for specials we will be offering in coordination with our entire SKIN CARE TEAM!!!

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New Product Alert! Lipotropic Injections Available Now - Gainesville, FL

New Product Alert! Lipotropic Injections Available Now – Gainesville, FL

Published by on March 20, 2021 | Leave a response

We are almost through the first QUARTER of 2021!

Have you already bailed on your New Year’s weight loss or fitness resolutions?? Why? Because hard work that yields little or even no results doesn’t seem worth it…. If you aren’t seeing results you want, you have likely fallen back into old habits or just thrown in the towel!

The biggest motivator in any weight loss or fitness program is seeing those pounds melt off and muscle tone sneak through. We talk a lot about weight loss, especially not being about starving yourself, spending 40 hours a week at the gym or beating yourself up for missing a day.  But really, it’s about providing your body with what it needs to FUNCTION OPTIMALLY!

Is your body missing essential nutrients that support the metabolic process, which often happens when you are eliminating food groups or are just starting and significantly cutting calories?  Even a healthy diet and exercise routine may not be enough. At To Your Health and Wellness, LLC we have a new product  we are seeing many patients finally shed those stubborn unwanted pounds with the help of lipotropic injections! And, getting other benefits along the way!

SO, WHAT ARE LIPOTROPIC INJECTIONS?

A lipotropic injection is a shot (intramuscular or subcutaneous) that contains a combination of nutrients that enhance liver function and speed up the breakdown and removal of fat from your body. The exact formula of each lipotropic injection varies, but they all contain one or more fat-burning compounds, such as:

• Chromium picolinate

• Choline

• Methionine

• Vitamin B6

• Vitamin B12

• L-Carnitine

Lipotropic injections help to maximize the impacts of a healthy diet and exercise routine by optimizing your body’s ability to burn fat. Weight loss is not the only health benefit of lipotropic injections, though and again you know we talk about NON-SCALE victories!  They can also help lower cholesterol, prevent liver damage, balance hormones, boost the immune system, increase energy levels, and improve overall wellness.

WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT FROM LIPOTROPIC INJECTIONS?

When you come in for your first consultation, we will discuss your health and wellness goals and determine if a lipotropic formula will possibly help you meet them.

As with any healthy weight management program, it’s important to be realistic about your results. But more importantly, we to aim for long-term lifestyle changes that help you feel great and motivate you to continue making healthy choices.

HOW OFTEN DO I NEED LIPOTROPIC SHOTS

Although everyone is different, as a general rule, we recommend coming in for weekly or biweekly lipotropic shots. Each week, you’ll receive an injection in your thigh, hip, upper arm, or buttocks to replenish the nutrients that optimize your liver’s fat-burning functions.  Again, it depends on your goals and your current dietary restrictions/intake.

MORE ENERGY

L-Carnitine, choline, and other compounds in the lipotropic injection increase the metabolism of your fat cells and turn them into energy.  Say goodbye to the sluggish feeling that sets in after lunch. Unlike a caffeine jolt that barely helps you make it to 5:00, lipotropic injections provide an energy boost that is both natural and long-lasting.

WEIGHT LOSS

Lipotropic injections work best when used in combination with a healthy diet and exercise routine. When feelings of sluggishness are replaced with the abundant energy of an increased fat metabolism, you can expect to get more impact from each visit to the gym, your daily run or whatever you physical activity of choice is! Additionally, lipotropic injections help to preserve lean muscle mass, further enhancing your metabolism so that you continue burning calories for hours after you work out.

IMPROVED MENTAL CLARITY

The B vitamins that aid in the fat-burning process also provides a number of brain benefits, including a memory boost, improved clarity and concentration, balanced mood, and the prevention of mental fatigue. If you’re deficient in the B vitamins contained in your lipotropic injection, you can expect to feel an improvement in overall wellness right away. We encourage lab work regularly to keep your levels in mind when dosing for you (we can do that too!).

HEALTHY SKIN, HAIR, AND NAILS

Although having stronger hair and nails doesn’t translate to weight loss in any way, it’s a welcome perk for those who receive regular lipotropic injections. The combination of nutrients in many lipotropic formulas support healthy hair, skin, and nails by detoxifying the body, supporting the production of new skin cells, and aiding in the creation of proteins that strengthen hair and nails.

If you think Lipotropic injections may be right for you and your wellness, weight loss or fitness journey, call us today! 352-363-1034

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The “Perfect” Diet

Published by on March 1, 2021 | Leave a response

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Today is Part 2 of exploring what is a perfect, healthy diet & what supplements one needs for a healthy life.

You could make yourself crazy trying to know what is the best thing—keto, paleo, gluten free, fat free, no carb, low carb, vegan, meal replacement shakes and more…

In medicine, when we diagnose a condition, if there are 20 different treatments for a condition, there would not be much confidence in the diagnosis. Patients expect a diagnosis and treatment to “cure” them.

For example, if you have appendicitis- there is only one treatment for it—have your appendix out. That is because it is essentially the only treatment.

Unfortunately though, diets and treatment of diet-related conditions, such as obesity, sexual dysfunction, generalized pain, high cholesterol, diabetes (type 2) all often fall into another category.  There are so many recommendations out there, that there probably is not one single good answer or “cure”.  As providers, our patients often ask for the “perfect” diet when we discuss the effects of lifestyle and diet on many of these conditions.

At To Your Health and Wellness, LLC., our providers believe the “perfect” diet is the healthy diet for you in which you can maintain.  We help our patients explore several diet plans, which fit your need to be both generally healthy and palatable enough for you to keep it up. We focus on LIFESTYLE CHANGES you can maintain!  This does not mean you will not have occasional lapses, but it does mean that the diet is actually not a diet, it is a lifestyle.

It is a way you eat on a daily basis, with your HEALTH in mind, that is both satisfying and helps you meet your health goals.  From a medical standpoint, this typically does not mean eliminating any one category of food, but rather, focusing on eating whole foods, such as plentiful fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins.

You will hear us talk about the “number one killer in the world” – Cardiovascular disease.  A Mediterranean type of diet is probably the most sensible diet from a clean eating, cardiovascular standpoint, with an overall focus on mostly plant-based foods, and has good data behind it. A “way of eating”, if you will, that follows this type of diet can show great improvements in your overall health, including decreased blood pressure, weight loss and decreased insulin resistance/glucose levels and cholesterol. Thus, some may consider this a “perfect diet”. We are happy to discuss and explore this type of eating with you and monitor your progress and ability to maintain this type of “diet”.

Call us today to start your wellness journey and improve your overall health discussing how you could possibly benefit from supplements or dietary changes that may be making you not feel your best!

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The Importance of Supplements

Published by on February 23, 2021 | Leave a response

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Today is Part 1 of 2 – to be able to talk about a healthy lifestyle and way of eating, we have to talk about supplementation. No matter what social media platform you use, or what wellness blog/magazine/show you follow, you will likely hear so much conflicting information and so many commercialized sources telling us their “science based” diet, shakes, supplement etc. is the best way to lose weight or stay healthy.

Beyond “which diet”, we are also often asked which vitamins are necessary, if any, to maintain healthy lifestyle? Most studies show that very few diets meet all our nutritional needs. Even those of us that eat very “clean” end up falling short on certain key nutrients. This is in part due to the lack of nutrients in our food supply, or the lack of the ability to be able to afford 100% fresh, nutrient-filled diets. Additionally, years of commercialized farming has demineralized some of our soil and our food. Choosing organic and locally grown produce has a slight advantage but still often falls short and again, can be expensive!

Another problem is that certain nutrients are not readily found in food. For example, Vitamin D3 (an essential hormone and vitamin— key for immune support, mood, bone health, muscle strength and more) is not found in significant quantities in food. There are some foods, such as liver that do contain large amounts of D3, but again it is rare. D3 is obtained from sun exposure. However, most of us do not sit in the sun shirtless, year round (hello skin cancer risk) to get adequate vitamin D. The epidemic of vitamin D deficiency, and its impact, has been brought further to light by the COVID crisis, as you may have seen an increase in the media recently about studies showing this important vitamin on your immune system!

Other nutrients are added only to certain processed foods, such as iodine. Those who avoid processed foods and table salt (for good health reasons) may become iodine deficient, which results in lowering metabolism and other negative effects on your health. Likewise, in the name of better health (such as following a Mediterranean or plant-based diet) many avoid eating red meat. In doing so, they can become iron deficient and have low total body iron stores leading to low energy, fatigue, thinning hair and more.

Yes, good healthy diet is important for so many reasons, yet, as above, it is not always enough!  A “personalized vitamin” approach that takes into account your dietary habits, lifestyle and health concerns is the best way to get the exact nutrients you need.  Just as vitamin deficiencies an be harmful so can taking too many vitamins. Taking the wrong vitamins can lead to a waste of money and simply really expensive pee!  Our providers can help round out your healthy habits so that you can benefit from both eating well and filling in nutritional gaps.

There are so many different supplements out there on the market. Many people often want to pursue a healthier lifestyle and try supplements, but it can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out which ones to take, what brand to use, if they are safe and if they are “good quality”.

It is important to note that Dietary supplements are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). So unlike drugs, they aren’t required to meet the same strict standards. Also, supplements are not permitted to be marketed for the purpose of treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing diseases. That means supplements should not make disease claims, such as “lowers high cholesterol” or “treats heart disease.” You’ll often see a play on wording such as “patient reports improved energy” or “COULD help lower cholesterol”. Basically, a supplement can have a small amount of the “usable” vitamin or mineral a patient seeks, and other fillers, oils, gelatins, etc., which allow the company to mass-produce the supplement and sell them for cheap. No one really regulates this industry unfortunately!

There are good, high-quality products out there, but there are also many not-so-good ones as above.

At To Your Health and Wellness, LLC, you will often hear us say “there is no magic pill”.  We believe that supplements often have a great role in the “cycle” of healthy habits.  We offer affordable, HIGH quality BioTe nutraceuticals that may meet your needs. BioTE® CORE+ is the only nutraceutical line specially created to supplement bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), however they are also very beneficial in everyday health in patients, who do not require or who have not yet started BHRT, as part of their wellness plans! Here are some of the supplements we offer and benefits:

DIM SGS+

As we age, our testosterone levels drop naturally. This in turn increases our estrogen levels. An overload of estrogen can significantly damage our bodies. People with higher levels of estrogen have increased risk of weight gain, bloating, water retention and other complications. Do you suffer from any of these symptoms? DIM SGS+ might work for you!

This product is derived from broccoli and pomegranate. DIM is short for diindolylmethane, which is a hormone “balancer.” DIM will stimulate your metabolism, and it could help regulate the ratio of estrogen, so you feel great!

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is for men and women to balance estrogen.

ADK 5 & 10 (doses)

Osteocalcin, a protein secreted in bones, assists your bones by reabsorbing older bone and laying down new bone. Vitamin D3 helps produce osteocalcin and improves the absorption of calcium. D3 needs assistance from vitamin K2. K2 helps strengthen the bone and improves blood circulation. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that supports these two vitamins and the immune system.

ADK 10 has a higher dose of D3. We help you determine which dosage is right for you!

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is for men and women to support improved bone, metabolism and immune system health.

BioTE® PROBIOTICS

Your body needs probiotics, which are living microorganisms, like bacteria and yeast.

Both BioTE Multi-Strain Probiotics 20B help support your gut health. They can help with digestive issues and bloating.

These products are soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. They are designed for men and women to support hormone balance and overall gut health.

BioTE® OMEGA 3 + COQ10

As we age, our body’s production of CoQ10 starts to decrease. This helps your body’s cells generate energy.

This nutraceutical includes EPA and DHA from fish oil with Coenzyme Q10.

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. They are designed for men and women to support heart, blood vessel, brain, bone and muscle health. They often are reported to help patients with joint pain and stiffness.

BioTE® IODINE PLUS

Your body depends on two hormones – thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) – to regulate your body’s metabolism of proteins, fats and carbohydrates. Thyroid health is a big problem in our country and often leads to weight gain, inability to lose weight and decreased energy.

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is designed for men and women to boost energy levels, metabolism and natural hormone production to aid in thyroid-related health.

BioTE® METHYL FACTORS+

Methylation is a biochemical process that impacts your body’s ability to efficiently regulate cardiovascular, neurological, reproductive and detoxification systems. To encourage methylation, you need specific nutrients.

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is designed for men and women to promote a happy heart, quick cognition, improve energy levels (Vitamin B) and bone health.

BioTE® ARTEROSIL HP

Your arteries and veins have a protective lining called the endothelial glycocalyx. This lining prevents cholesterol from adhering to the endothelial wall. High blood glucose, high cholesterol, oxidative stress (smoking) and inflammation can damage this delicate lining.

This product is soy-free, dairy-free and gluten-free. It is clinically proven to restore the endothelium’s protective lining for improved heart, circulation, skin and sexual health.

Call us today to start your wellness journey and improve your overall health discussing how you could possibly benefit from supplements or dietary changes that may be making you not feel your best!

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Weight Loss - You Don’t Have to Do it Alone - Medical Weight Loss, Gainesville, FL

Weight Loss – You Don’t Have to Do it Alone – Medical Weight Loss, Gainesville, FL

Published by on February 4, 2021 | Leave a response

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy is one tool we can help you Improve Your Weight Loss Efforts, in addition to our other medically guided weight loss plans!

How Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy may help you lose weight!

Jennifer Munksgard, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC talks with you about BioTE bio identical hormone pellets & how they can help you feel better and reach your goals.

Do you find it overwhelming and downright frustrating to lose weight? You’re not alone. So-called “proven” diet trends come and go, all the while making outrageous claims of pounds lost. You give up carbs, nosh like a caveman, count your calories, and, even if you do drop the weight, it seems to come back with a vengeance once you resume a more typical lifestyle. And what if you don’t have a ton of weight to lose, but maybe just those last stubborn pounds?

If you’re eating a healthy diet, watching your portions, and skipping dessert  and just can’t shed those stubborn pounds,  the odds are your metabolism is thwarting your weight loss efforts.  We all know age, a sedentary lifestyle, and yo-yo dieting all impact your metabolism… but what’s at the very core of making your body burn away those calories from that spaghetti dinner? And what can be done to turn up your metabolism and boost your weight loss?

THE HORMONE CONNECTION

It’s hard to overstate how much control hormones have over what goes on with your body. Your growth and development, fertility, immune system, cardiovascular system, and even your behavior all rely on these chemical messengers to keep things running in good order. Your ability to metabolize food for fuel is directly connected to your hormones.

Two of the primary hormones that regulate things like cravings and metabolism are estrogen and progesterone. When one or both levels fall, you will not only have a difficult time losing weight, but you will see your weight increase, despite your best efforts. Adjusting your hormones to the proper levels is necessary to prevent additional weight gain and improve your ability to lose weight.

Beginning at around age 30, your body curtails how much of certain growth hormones it produces. At about 40, women’s production of estrogen begins to slow down, as does progesterone, and in men, testosterone wanes. Believe it or not, testosterone also sharply declines in women, and is responsible for many of the same effects in women as men (Think- “dadbod”).

This decrease in hormones interferes significantly with your body’s ability to lose weight. You have less energy, which may cut into motivation when it comes to exercise. Your metabolism slows to a crawl, your fat-burning muscle mass decreases, and you’ll notice an increase in abdominal fat.

HORMONAL IMBALANCE CAN LEAVE YOU FEELING UNMOTIVATED

Out-of-whack hormones affect you in so many ways. Aside from a lack of energy and a slowed metabolism, you may also feel depressed and irritable, and experience some serious food cravings. Think about this: If you’re cranky, tired, depressed, and want nothing to eat but chocolate, caffeine to have energy and potato chips, you might have a tough time losing weight. And imbalanced hormones are at the core of this struggle.

Hormone replacement therapy and optimizing your hormones,  can help you balance your hormones, which decline with age and reclaim control of your life. Bioidentical hormones, which are made from plant sources, offer a safe and natural solution to restore this hormonal balance.

Individual patient’s results vary, however we have seen many many patients through bioidentical hormone replacement therapy begin to feel as one should: vibrant, energetic, calm and healthy. And you’ll likely begin to see a payoff for all of your weight loss efforts.

THE BENEFITS OF BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT

Managing your hormone imbalance with bioidentical hormone replacement therapy benefits you in so many ways: from restoring your libido, to giving you back that energy you once had, and helping you achieve your weight loss goals.

However, every case is unique and you’ll need a full assessment before we can customize the right formula to restore balance. Many factors can come into play when it comes to trying to lose weight — and if you succeed, to keeping those pounds from coming back.

If you’ve tried a thoughtful, focused approach to lose weight and find that those stubborn pounds just won’t budge, you may be the ideal candidate for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). We are happy to discuss BHRT and other options for effective, safe and medical guided weight loss!   Contact To Your Health and Wellness, LLC today.

We have flexible office hours in our Gainesville, FL, office and are ready to help you achieve your wellness goals!!

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