If you’ve struggled with stubborn weight gain or yo-yo dieting, you’ve likely wondered: “How do I lose weight without medications?” At Sheen Vein & Cosmetics in St. Louis, we hear this question daily. And the good news is—lasting, medication-free weight loss is possible when you address the root causes of why your body is holding onto weight in the first place.

Functional medicine offers a personalized, systems-based approach that helps your body naturally reset metabolism, balance hormones, and reduce inflammation—so weight loss becomes a side effect of healing, not punishment.

Why Most Diets Fail

Traditional diets often focus on short-term calorie restriction without addressing the underlying metabolic imbalances that drive weight gain. These may include:

• Insulin resistance
• Hormonal imbalances
• Chronic inflammation
• Gut dysbiosis
• Poor sleep or high stress
• Nutrient deficiencies

This is why patients come to us after trying every fad diet, cleanse, or fitness challenge—only to gain the weight back. A medication-free solution starts with understanding why your body is resisting fat loss.

1. Fix Insulin Resistance and Blood Sugar Imbalance

Insulin is your body’s fat-storage hormone. When you eat refined carbs or sugar frequently—or have underlying insulin resistance—your cells stop responding properly to insulin, which leads to fat storage (especially in the belly), cravings, and fatigue.

At our clinic, we use fasting insulin, HbA1c, and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to detect these issues early—even when your labs appear “normal.”

What helps:

• A high-protein, moderate-healthy-fat, low-glycemic diet
• Intermittent fasting or time-restricted eating
• Movement after meals (like 10-minute walks)
• Blood sugar stabilizing nutrients (magnesium, chromium, berberine)

Learn more: The Gut-Immune-Hormone Connection

2. Address Cortisol and Chronic Stress

Cortisol is your body’s primary stress hormone. When it’s too high for too long, it increases fat storage (especially visceral fat), disrupts sleep, and throws off hunger hormones like leptin and ghrelin.

If you feel tired but wired, crave sugar or caffeine, or gain weight despite dieting, chronic stress may be the issue.

What helps:

• Gentle movement like walking or yoga
• Breathwork or vagus nerve stimulation
• Adaptogens like ashwagandha or rhodiola
• Mindful eating and blood sugar regulation
• Addressing sleep disturbances

Explore more: How Do I Handle Stress?

3. Balance Sex Hormones and Thyroid Function

Many women and men gain weight as they enter midlife—even with no changes to diet or activity. That’s because estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and thyroid hormones all impact metabolic rate, muscle mass, and fat distribution.

Functional medicine looks beyond standard TSH tests. We run full hormone panels—including free T3, reverse T3, testosterone, DHEA, and cortisol—to uncover hidden imbalances.

What helps:

• Supporting adrenal and thyroid health
• Bioidentical hormone support if appropriate
• Nutrients like zinc, selenium, iodine, and vitamin D
• Resistance training to maintain muscle and metabolism

Related: Menopause and Weight Gain

4. Heal the Gut to Reduce Inflammation

Chronic low-grade inflammation is a major driver of weight gain and metabolic slowdown. A disrupted gut microbiome, leaky gut, or food sensitivities can all contribute to this process—without obvious digestive symptoms.

We use stool testing, food sensitivity panels, and comprehensive inflammation markers to guide gut-healing protocols.

What helps:

• Anti-inflammatory, whole-foods diet (think: colorful veggies, lean proteins, healthy fats)
• Cutting out processed foods and added sugars
• Identifying and eliminating food triggers (e.g., gluten, dairy for some)
• Targeted probiotics, glutamine, or digestive enzymes

5. Build Muscle and Improve Mitochondrial Function

Muscle is metabolically active tissue. The more lean mass you have, the more calories you burn at rest. But as we age, muscle naturally declines unless we actively preserve it through resistance training and targeted nutrition.

Functional medicine also supports mitochondrial health—helping your cells burn fat efficiently and produce energy.

What helps:

• Strength training 2–3x per week
• Creatine, CoQ10, and magnesium for energy support
• Red light therapy or PEMF for mitochondrial function
• Protein-rich meals (30–40g per meal is ideal for most adults)

Explore: Benefits of Red Light and PEMF Therapy

What You Won’t Find in Our Approach

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all plans or overly restrictive diets. Our weight loss protocols are:

✅ Sustainable
✅ Root-cause focused
✅ Medication-free (unless medically necessary)
✅ Tailored to your hormones, metabolism, and lifestyle

We work with both men and women throughout St. Louis and beyond, offering in-person and telemedicine consults for patients ready to take a different approach to weight loss.

Ready to Lose Weight Naturally?

If you’re tired of dieting without results and want a comprehensive, medication-free approach to weight loss, we’re here to help.

📞 Call 314-842-1441 to schedule your consultation
💻 Visit www.sheenveinandcosmetics.com to learn more about our functional medicine services

Losing weight doesn’t start with restriction—it starts with healing. Let’s get to the root and reset your metabolism naturally.

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