At this time of year, they are on everyone’s minds – New Year’s Resolutions. We start to heavily focus on what we can do to improve ourselves. How can I do better at [insert your particular dilemma here] than I did last year?

And with the holidays having just passed, the results of the extra merriment you just partook in might be sticking around. So maybe losing weight is high on your list.

It’s easy to say “I want to resolve to get healthier!” But that’s not much of a plan. It’s a nebulous goal that you probably won’t stick with, so your chances of success are less likely, and by Valentine’s Day, you’re back to lounging on the couch in your loosest pair of sweatpants, slamming chocolate bars and binge-watching Netflix.

That sounds like heaven, but it’s probably not your fastest path to the picture of good health.

Instead, consider these three simple resolutions that will increase your chance of achieving wellness success in the New Year.

New Year’s Resolution No. 1: Go See Your Direct Primary Care Physician

Do you have a direct primary care physician? Whether you do or don’t, now is the time to find one and schedule an appointment.

If you’re not familiar with the healthcare model, direct primary care is based on the idea that the patient and doctor are a team of equals with the shared focus of helping the patient reach their health goals.

Some direct primary physician programs are especially helpful for patients with chronic illness or age-related hormonal issues where as part of a monthly membership program, your healthcare team tailors your care specifically to your needs based on initial screening and lab tests that have been performed.

Easy access and extended time with your doctor are just some of the perks these direct primary care programs can provide to patients. So go. Now! Make an appointment.

New Year’s Resolution No. 2: Sign Up for a Weight Management Program

Sure, it’s easy to start a diet, and that gym membership could probably use some dusting off, but have you considered other treatment options?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has been shown to help the body regulate the processes that help shed pounds and optimize the body for weight loss. Supplements like CJC 1295/Ipamorelin can increase the body’s fat-burning ability and Low-Dose Naltrexone can help curb alcohol and food cravings.

If you haven’t had success with the old-fashioned approaches to weight loss – joining a gym, eating healthy, etc. – you may want to consider a different plan of attack to help shed those pounds. A weight management program might be a good place to start.

New Year’s Resolution No. 3: Consider Hormone Replacement Therapy

If you’ve been feeling funky for a long time, and exercise, diet and the other usual fixes just don’t seem to be doing the trick, you may have success with hormone replacement therapy.

Adults over 30 may already be feeling the effects of aging, and that’s because once this period of life is reached, our bodies slow down the production of key hormones, which can affect your quality of life. The result can potentially be reduced mental clarity, declining libido, weight gain and depression.

With hormone replacement therapy, these hormone levels can be restored with long-lasting results that can be felt for up to three to five months.

Hormone replacement therapy may sound like it would require a serious surgical procedure, but don’t worry – this path to health isn’t as invasive as it sounds. Smaller than a grain of rice, hormone pellets are implanted in the fatty tissue underneath the skin during an in-office procedure. They closely mimic the actions of healthy ovaries and testicles with regard to hormone release into the bloodstream.

If oral or topical therapies don’t seem to be doing the trick, and you’re finding that they don’t provide the constant supply of hormones you need, give hormone replacement therapy a try.

Start Making New Year’s Resolutions for Your Health Today

You don’t need a new year to compel you to start thinking about ways you can improve your health and overall wellness, but it’s as good a time as any to start being proactive.

At Duke City Health, we can give you the tools you need to start taking steps to improve your overall wellness this year that will improve your overall quality of life. Contact us today to see how we can help.