Paper work and a brief physical exam are needed before beginning a weight loss program at a diet clinic. Goals are discussed and measurements taken.
Blood Test and Clinical Exam Before Starting Diet Pills and Shots
Usually, if diet pills of any amphetamine type composition such as phentermine or phendimetrazine are given, an EKG is done along with lab work. This electrocardiogram is typically done on an automatic read-out machine. There are false reads due to hairy chests, obesity, or misplacement of electrodes, among other reasons. Abnormalities should be referred to an internist or cardiologist to determine if they are significant or meaningless.
For diet purposes, the CBC (complete blood count) will reveal infection or anemia. If a chemistry panel is also drawn, sugar is looked at for diabetes or liver enzymes for any problem with the liver since drugs go through that organ. A thyroid panel may be drawn. Thyroid disorders account for a very small portion of weight gain and most people cannot blame obesity on a sluggish thyroid. Do not consider a diet clinic exam a general health exam since the weight loss clinic is only there for weight loss. Blood pressure should also be taken. Although the injections wont raise BP, medication, fasting, dehydration or over-hydration may alter the readings.
MIC and the Diet Lipotropic Shot
Although some clinics give B12 shots to promote weight loss, most will combine a cocktail: B6 may be a separate shot since it stings, isn’t a daily or even weekly injection and doesn’t always mix well. Both of these injections can also be found in pill form.
MIC shots, sometimes called lipo shots, are composed of a variety of amino acids or vitamins and part of the weight loss diet. They can be given subcutaneously with a tiny needle. Sometimes they are weekly; sometimes they are monthly depending on the office schedule and what else is part of the visit.
- Lidocaine, a cardiac drug and anesthetic can be added to the cocktail to reduce discomfort but really isn’t necessary.
- Methionine is a sulfur-containing amino acid, responsible for reducing fat, thus lowering cholesterol.
- Inositol, an enzyme amino acid, also falls in to the B vitamin category and is said to aid fat burning, thus weight loss. It too can be found in pill form.
- Choline, for dietary purposes, assists in the mobilization of fatty acids or lipid metabolism. It is found in many foods and rarely a deficiency in lieu of alcoholism.
All are found in foods and usually not needed. It is the diet itself that causes the need and not necessarily the product that causes the diet or weight loss.
Calcium Pyruvate
Calcium loss or bone loss with any starvation diet is a concern. Some clinics prescribe, and sell a calcium supplement to speed weight loss. Some diet clinics combine this with other injections such as HCG.
Pyruvate occurs naturally in the body as part of the starch and sugar breakdown process. Diet programs sell calcium pyruvate to increase metabolism and energy and encourage continued weight loss. A good program will add in small letters somewhere that none of this is FDA approved.
Calorie Restriction Diet
The diet must contain enough protein and amino acids to be life sustaining. The MIC diets are part of an extremely low calorie diet with the aid of diet pills to suppress the appetite. With calorie restriction comes loss of fluid. A potassium (K) supplement may be added. Too much potassium affects the heart rhythm. Adding this without medical monitoring is dangerous.
Without anorexic or appetite suppressant supplements weight loss with MIC shots is gradual and most likely safe. Exercise should be encouraged and smoking discouraged.
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Sources
Science News 2009. web edition Dec 2. Amino acid recipe could be right for long life, Saey, T.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed. 2005, Effects of calcium Pyruvate. PK Koh-Banerjee
Physicians’ Desk Reference. 61st ed. Montvale, NJ: Thomson PDR; 2007
Amy Andersen - Amy Andersen, MSN, ARNP, family & pediatrics certified, practices yoga and explores the inter-relationships of mind body fitness and ...
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