How to Lose Weight Sustainably Before the Holidays: GLP-1, Phentermine & Medical Weight Loss in Memphis
If you’ve been searching for fast weight loss before the holidays, you’re not alone. Holiday photos and family dinners put a deadline on goals that felt flexible in August. The calendar always seems to “fast forward” once fall hits, though, doesn’t it? From mid-October, Thanksgiving is about six weeks out and Christmas is around ten.
At De La Belle Body & Wellness in Memphis, owner and nurse practitioner Renee Pinlac, MSN, FNP, helps patients make the most of that window. Renee specializes in comprehensive weight loss management and endocrinology, and she brings more than 17 years of experience at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to every plan she builds. Her approach to the holiday rush starts with an honest timeline.
What 8 to 10 Weeks Can Realistically Do
Safe weight loss has a speed limit. According to the CDC, people who lose about 1 to 2 pounds per week are more successful at keeping the weight off. Over 8 to 10 weeks, that pace can add up to roughly 8 to 20 pounds, depending on your starting point.
A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that adults gained less than a pound on average over the holiday season. The catch is that they didn’t lose the weight back in spring or summer. The same research found that people who were already overweight were more likely to gain five pounds.
Sustainable weight loss is weight you haven’t regained by January. Crash diets rarely pass that test. Severe restriction often leaves you hungrier, and one holiday buffet can undo weeks of effort.
How GLP-1 Medications Work on a Holiday Timeline
GLP-1 medications mimic a hormone your gut releases after you eat. They tell your brain you’re full and slow how quickly food leaves your stomach. Many patients describe the effect as quieter “food noise,” with fewer cravings between meals.
The research behind them is strong. In the STEP 1 trial, adults taking brand-name semaglutide lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo. Participants started at 0.25 mg per week, and doses rose every four weeks until they reached the full dose at week 16.
If you begin GLP-1 weight loss in Memphis this fall, you’ll still be on a lower dose when the holidays arrive. That works in your favor, since gradual dosing helps limit side effects like nausea and gives you time to build new eating habits while your appetite settles. Our team offers a compounded GLP-1 as a weekly injection you’ll learn to give at home, with regular check-ins to adjust your dose.
Phentermine: A Shorter Tool With a Built-In Exit Plan
Phentermine takes a different route. It’s a daily prescription pill that acts on the nervous system to reduce hunger, with no months-long dose climb. It’s also one of the oldest weight loss medications available. According to the National Institutes of Health, phentermine was approved in 1959 and is recommended for short-term use of less than 12 weeks. A holiday season fits inside that window.
Phentermine may be a good fit if you have a BMI of 30 or higher or 27 or higher with risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. It isn’t right for everyone. People with heart disease, uncontrolled high blood pressure or an overactive thyroid should explore other options, as should anyone who is pregnant.
Because phentermine is short-term, the plan for what comes next matters as much as the prescription. At our phentermine weight loss clinic in Memphis, we can pair it with the Ideal Protein Diet. As an authorized Ideal Protein Clinic, we provide weekly support and structured nutrition that carry your results past your last refill.
What Your First Visit at De La Belle Looks Like
Every plan starts with a consultation at our office in The Shops of Chickasaw Oaks on Poplar Avenue. You can fill out the weight loss medical history form ahead of time on our client resources page.
During your visit, we’ll review your health history and goals, then take baseline measurements that go beyond the scale, including BMI, body fat percentage and muscle mass. From there, we’ll talk through which medication, if any, makes sense for you. Some patients do best with a medical weight loss program that adds B12 or lipotropic injections, wellness supplements or nutrition coaching with our nurse practitioners. You’ll leave with a plan and a follow-up schedule.
Your Holiday Game Plan: Make Maintenance the Win
Think of Thanksgiving through New Year’s as a checkpoint. If you weigh the same or less on January 2 as you did before Thanksgiving dinner, you’ve broken the pattern the research describes.
A few habits help. Fill your plate with protein and vegetables before the casseroles and desserts, and use a smaller plate when you can. If you’re on a GLP-1, notice your fullness cues, which often show up sooner than you’re used to, and go easy on alcohol. It’s also smart to book a check-in during Thanksgiving week so your provider can fine-tune your plan before the season’s busiest stretch. Our lifestyle counseling covers this kind of planning, and our Fall Reset guide has more seasonal ideas.
Start Your Medically Supervised Weight Loss Plan in Memphis
Fall is a smart time to start a plan you’ll still be following in the new year. Beginning now gives your body time to adjust to a new medication before the first holiday invitation arrives, with a few weeks to practice new habits along the way. Whether GLP-1 therapy, phentermine or a structured program like Ideal Protein is the right fit, Renee and our team will build your plan around your health history and goals. We’ll also stay with you through the season with regular check-ins and adjustments as you go.
To schedule a consultation at De La Belle Body & Wellness, call 901-459-3338 or request an appointment online.