Semaglutide is an injectable medication used for treating type 2 diabetes and chronic weight management. It helps lower blood sugar levels and reduce appetite by mimicking the hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). Semaglutide shots lead to significant weight loss over time by reducing hunger and calorie intake.
Benefits of semaglutide include:
Semaglutide is given as a weekly subcutaneous injection using a prefilled, disposable pen device. The most common side effects are mild gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. These typically resolve within a few weeks as the body adjusts.
Hormone imbalances occur when glands produce too much or too little of key hormones like testosterone, estrogen, cortisol etc. This affects metabolism, sleep, mood, sexual function and more. Common causes are aging, chronic stress, obesity, medications or endocrine disorders.
Treating the root hormonal imbalance can vastly improve wellbeing and quality of life. Treatment options include hormone replacement therapy like:
Finding an experienced hormone specialist physician is crucial for correctly diagnosing issues through bloodwork and physical evaluation. They can safely prescribe bioidentical hormone treatments customized to individual needs and goals.
The Vitality Balance Clinic medical team has over 15 years of experience optimizing hormone levels and helping patients regain health. We offer cutting-edge therapies like:
What sets Vitality Balance Clinic apart is how we personalize care for your unique situation while educating patients every step of the way. Our goal is to uncover the root causes of hormone dysfunction and empower you to take charge of your health.
The first step is getting comprehensive lab testing and analysis to check key hormone, vitamin and inflammation markers. Common tests include:
This allows us to identify specific deficient hormones. Full testing is crucial because many hormones work synergistically so imbalances in one can affect others.
Low testosterone symptoms for example include low libido, erectile dysfunction, depleted muscle mass, brain fog, fatigue and depression. However similar symptoms could also stem from vitamin D deficiency, high SHBG levels lowering usable testosterone or estrogen imbalance in aging men.
That's why we dig deeper through testing before creating a customized treatment plan.
Semaglutide, sold under the brand name Ozempic, was originally developed as a treatment for diabetes but has gained significant attention recently as an effective weight loss medication. In clinical trials, semaglutide shots helped overweight and obese patients lose an average of 15% of their body weight over 68 weeks, making it one of the most effective medications for long-term weight management.
Once hormone deficiencies are identified, bioidentical replacement therapy can help restore optimal balance.
We often start patients with semaglutide shots for 1-2 months which:
Next we initiate testosterone therapy, the mainstay for treating low T levels. Options include:
Intramuscular Injections: Long acting testosterone cypionate or enanthate injections, usually every 7-10 days. Very effective at normalizing testosterone levels.
Subcutaneous Pellets: Concentrated pellets implanted under the skin every 3-6 months. Release consistent testosterone amounts. Local numbing ensures comfort.
Gels & Creams: Topical gels provide daily testosterone directly through the skin. Easy to adjust dosing.
Oral capsules: While less common, these offer convenient oral testosterone.
Along with testosterone therapy we might add other bioidentical hormones like:
The goal is balancing hormones based on treatment goals - whether that's more energy, better sleep, weight loss, sexual function or mood.
We start with lower hormone doses, checking blood levels after 6 weeks and adjusting from there. Follow up blood panels are done quarterly to ensure optimal levels are achieved and maintained long-term without overtreatment.
Nutrition, exercise, sleep and stress reduction enhance any hormone therapy protocol by:
We provide customized plans to help improve treatment response like:
A balanced anti-inflammatory diet high in healthy fats, quality proteins and micronutrient-dense vegetables and fruits ensures the body has building blocks to produce key hormones and stays metabolically efficient. Our RDs offer meal plans targeting needs around:
Intermittent fasting may enhance TRT therapy by allowing testosterone peaks to remain higher. We provide fasting protocols based on preferences and health factors.
Regular exercise boosts testosterone while lowering estrogen and cortisol. It also builds muscle mass which requires more testosterone, creating a positive feedback loop.
We suggest:
Exercise helps manage blood sugar and BMI for better hormone balance. We offer custom fitness guides factoring abilities and injuries.
Adjunctive therapies like intermittent saunas, massage and acupuncture lower inflammatory cytokines. Meditation and yoga reduce perceived stress and cortisol. Supplements like zinc, magnesium, vitamin D3 and antioxidants provide cofactors for hormone synthesis and metabolism.
Improving sleep quality and getting 7-9 hours nightly gives the body time to produce testosterone along with tissue repair and recovery.
Good stress management through self-care activities, talk therapy or group support normalizes cortisol fluctuations.
These lifestyle components accelerate treatment progress when consistently followed. Our team provides supplementation guidance and referrals to local allied providers like gyms, spas and therapists to make integrative care more accessible.
New Braunfels offers a vibrant yet low key community in the Texas Hill Country, making it the perfect setting to embrace hormone optimization therapies.
The warm climate with 300 days of sunshine yearly means plenty of opportunities to be active outdoors year-round - hiking scenic parks and trails, golfing, water sports on the Guadalupe River, cycling through farmland, strolls in charming historic neighborhoods, birdwatching for 400 regional species or just relaxing in healing mineral hot springs.
Stress melting away amid nature allows hormones like testosterone and growth hormone to flow more freely. And the regional farm-to-table cuisine, along with a growing wellness community into meditation/yoga, biohacking, float therapy and more, makes healthy living second nature.
Yet modern amenities remain close by in San Antonio, Austin, New Braunfels and neighboring cities for work or city entertainment getaways.
There’s no better surrounding to immerse in hormone optimizing therapies - losing weight, toning up at brand new fitness studios, releasing anxiety against Hill Country vistas, entering a meditative, balanced headspace. Let our treatments enhance and be enhanced by the regional peace and vitality!
We view every patient uniquely, seeking to understand lifestyle stressors and barriers that have contributed to suboptimal hormone levels.
Our goal is simple - help you reclaim the energy, mental clarity and wellbeing you deserve through expert testing, cutting edge treatments and guiding sustainable lifestyle changes.
We handle all paperwork hassles with insurance companies when applicable, strive to make costs affordable, and walk by your side each step in the process.
If you’re struggling with low testosterone, menopausal symptoms, unrelenting fatigue or other issues stemming from hormonal imbalance, we encourage taking that first step toward relief.
The future you’ve been waiting for starts now!
