Weight Loss Expert Reveals Natural Alternative to Ozempic That Burns 441 More Calories Daily

Over the past few years, Ozempic and similar GLP-1 medications have revolutionized the weight loss industry, helping millions of people who struggled to lose weight lose it fast. However, there are some serious drawbacks to the “miracle” weight loss drug – including less-than-optimal side effects and the fact that many people gain rebound weight after stopping the injections. The good news is, scientists believe they have made a serious weight loss breakthrough that could result in an even more effective drug than Ozempic.

Researchers Unlock "Cheat Code" for Boosting Calorie Burn

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco, believe they have found a “cheat code” for burning calories in the fat-burning mechanism beige fat. Three types of fat cells exist in the majority of mammals, including humans — white, which serves as energy reserves for the body, brown, which burns energy to release heat, and beige, a more efficient combination of them. Scientists already knew that white fat cells naturally turn into beige ones in response to diet or a cold environment. However, they wanted to determine how to manually trigger the mechanism.

In the paper published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the researchers claim they discovered how to “turn ordinary white fat cells, which store calories, into beige fat cells that burn calories to maintain body temperature.” The secret? Limiting the production of a certain protein.

RELATED: 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss

Converting White Fat to Beige Fat is Easier Than Previously Thought

“A lot of people thought this wasn’t feasible,” Brian Feldman, MD, PhD, the Walter L. Miller, MD Distinguished Professor in Pediatric Endocrinology and senior author of the study, explains in a press release. “We showed not only that this approach works to turn these white fat cells into beige ones but also that the bar to doing so isn’t as high as we’d thought.”

“For most of us, white fat is not rare, and we’re happy to part with some of it,” he said. Feldman had already determined that a protein, KLF-15, impacts metabolism and the function of fat cells. He teamed up with postdoctoral scholar Liang Li, PhD, to examine how the protein reacted in mice, which retain brown fat throughout their lives.

KLF-15 Protein May Surpass GLP-1 Treatments

They learned that KLF-15 was less prevalent in white fat cells than in brown or beige fat cells. Through their tests, Feldman determined that a different drug targeting the Adrb1 receptor in humans is more likely to work and be more long-lasting than GLP-1 drugs and without side effects like nausea.

“We’re certainly not at the finish line, but we’re close enough that you can clearly see how these discoveries could have a big impact on treating obesity,” he said. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time.

Do you want to lose weight fast without having to go on a weight loss drug? There are a few ways to do it, according to one expert. Thomas DeLauer is a wellness enthusiast with over 3.68 million subscribers who shares content about how to improve your life and lose weight. In a new viral clip, he reveals two ways to drop weight fast without taking a weight loss drug.

“You've probably seen all the rage of people talking about semaglutide using it for weight loss, using it for fat loss, using it for glucose modulation, really being used off-label a lot,” he says in the clip. However, he notes that by understanding the mechanism of semaglutide, there are ways “that we can do things that work just as well in a relatively healthy or metabolically healthy person.” Here are the two most powerful alternatives to Ozempic, he says.

Ozempic Sends a Signal to the Brain to “Manage Fuel Appropriately”

He starts off by explaining how Ozempic works. “GLP-1 one is a gut incretin,” he explains. “What that means is it sort of receives a signal from food that we consumed, and it receives that signal from the gut, and it ultimately sends a signal to the brain to manage fuel appropriately,” DeLaurer says in his post.

It Helps with Satiety and Glucose Modulation

“It can help your satiety. Although that's somewhat indirect, it can help glucose modulation. The reason that it potentially works so well for weight loss a lot of times is you see improvements in metabolic function. So, improvements in fuel utilization, like the mitochondria, are potentially able to use fuel better. But indirectly, people get serious appetite suppression from it,” he continues.

RELATED: 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss

Specific Quantities of Protein Can Help Do the Same Thing, He Claims

“If you're getting appetite suppression from it, typically it's suggested that that's too much. Now, I'm not here to discuss this. What I'm here to talk about is something that might work better for people who are still trying to reduce their appetite. I've got two things. The first one is simple; it's protein, but in specific quantities,” he explains, citing a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Upping Protein Decreases Hunger Hormones and Increases GLP-1

“This was very eye-opening,” he says, noting that it involved women and compared people consuming “an adequate protein diet, which is essentially what is recommended we consume” to those on a high protein diet, “which in this case was 30% protein.” They found that those on the higher protein diet experienced increased satiety. “It decreased ghrelin, the hunger hormone, which is great, but it also increased GLP-1 glucagon-like peptide one, and it increased it quite a bit.” The more that you increase protein, the more that you influence GLP-1.

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Two Studies Support This

He also cites research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition looking at men. “They measured a bunch of biomarkers three hours after eating an isocaloric breakfast with either high protein or adequate protein. So that means the same amount of calories; just one had high protein, and one had adequate protein and higher carbohydrates,” he says. “In men, they found increases in satiety, decreases in ghrelin, increases in cholecystokinin.”

He notes that “this directly communicates with the hypothalamus to influence satiety. So powerful, very much so like GLP-1, but in a different pathway and to boot.”

He Notes That This Also Helps During the Maintenance Stage of Weight Loss

“When you look at larger scale data in like observational research, they found that when they put subjects on maintenance calories and then put them on just varying interventions, and then finally put them on ad libitum eating as much as they wanted to, whatever they wanted to, as long as their protein was 30%, they found higher protein groups consumed 441 calories less on average,” she says. “So compared to other groups, when you put this into real-world data, increasing protein to 30% with each meal could effectively help you consume 441 calories less per day.”

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Some People Do Need the Drug, However, If They Are in a “Serious Metabolic Hard Place”

“So if you had the option of just increasing your protein or getting on semaglutide, personally, I would pick a protein, right?” he points out. “I'm not saying this to negate the effects of semaglutide. Semaglutide is designed to be used for people who are in a serious metabolic hard place, glucose being very mismanaged, metabolic syndrome, all of that, which is a lot of people. I'm not suggesting you don't get on that if your doctor recommends it. I'm suggesting that by increasing protein, you do a lot of the same thing.”

Increasing Protein May Be Helpful While You Are Getting Off Ozempic

What is the other thing you may want to consider? “You have been using semaglutide, and you need to get off of it, and you're concerned about the potential rebound effect and how it can affect dopamine and the brain and everything like that; increasing protein might be a good way to offset the negative aspects of coming off of semaglutide,” he says.

RELATED:A Nutritionist Reveals 5 Simple Rules That Made Her Stubborn Belly Fat Vanish in 90 Days

Taking Rauwolscine Can Also Help You Lose Weight

He also reveals that rauwolscine, a supplement, can also help you lose weight. “Although it's a stimulant and it's not something that I would recommend people take all the time, it has profound appetite suppression effects,” he says. “People are always looking for a quick hit or a shortcut. I wouldn't exactly call it a shortcut, but it is tremendous when it comes to libido. It is tremendous when it comes to energy and sort of a stimulant effect,” he says. “A lot of people say it just crushes their appetite. So if you're coming off of a GLP-1 receptor agonist like semaglutide, rauwolscine might be a good sort of transition or a good alternative, but the lowest hanging fruit is right in front of you with the protein.”

Here Are His Protein Rules

His rules are to “stack most of your protein in the morning, so the satiety carries over throughout the rest of the day,” he says. “My other rules would be 30% with each meal, as much as you can. My other rule would be to keep it proportionate with whatever the amount of food you're eating. Otherwise, it is 30% no matter what, larger meal, larger protein, smaller meal, smaller protein, keep it proportionate.” And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time.

Coach Susie is a Canadian personal trainer, fitness educator, and online coach who helps her clients get in shape without relying on medication. In a viral YouTube video, she reveals a diet to help you lose weight, comparable to Ozempic. “The thing that is more effective than ozempic is a healthy lifestyle,” she says in the clip. She goes on to reveal the exact food and meal plan you should follow to mimic the weight loss effects.

She Always Recommends a Healthy Lifestyle Over Medication

When she was young, she “started taking vitamins, eating a paleo diet, and spending more time outside, and I stopped taking medications,” which made her “so passionate about a lifestyle approach instead of medication.”

RELATED: 20 Things You Need to Know About Ozempic and Weight Loss

You Can Increase GLP-1 Without Ozempic

“In this video, we're going to be focused on what kinds of foods to eat and what kinds of exercises stimulate GLP-1, which is the hormone that Ozempic affects,” she says. “So basically, how to get really effective weight loss results without needing to take drugs.”

She Has Talked to a Lot of People Who Have Taken Ozempic

“I am a personal trainer, so I'm an expert at exercise, nutrition, and coaching and not medications, although I have done my fair share of research on ozempic because I talk to so many people who have taken it or are currently taking it,” she says.

RELATED:20 Possible Ozempic Side Effects

What Is GLP-1

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“GLP-1 is a hormone that is produced in the gut and the brain that slows digestion and lowers appetite. Your body is really good at making it on its own without any medical intervention.”

These Foods Can Increase GLP-1 Production

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“There are foods you can eat that increase the production of GLP-1, which will make weight loss easier. Eggs, avocado nuts, and complex carbohydrates all have been shown to increase GLP-1,” she says. “Yerba mate tea and black coffee also lower appetite.”

The Ideal Fat Loss Diet Is “Pretty Close to Keto”

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“The ideal fat loss diet that stimulates a lot of GLP-1” is “pretty close to a ketogenic diet, which is very effective for reversing insulin resistance and losing fat,” she says. She adds that “fat loss is the goal, not weight loss because we wanna keep our muscle and lose the fat.”

RELATED:What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Taking Ozempic

Breakfast

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For breakfast, she recommends keeping it simple. Eggs, avocado, and coffee are the perfect combination of fat-burning food.

Lunch

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For lunch, she recommends a clean protein, veggies, and healthy fat. Grilled salmon, cauliflower rice, green pepper, EVOO, is an example she uses.

Dinner

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For dinner, she also recommends protein, veggies, and probiotics. Grass-fed ribeye, spaghetti squash, and sauerkraut is a great example.

RELATED: I Lost 45 Pounds and Got Rid of Stomach Fat by Cutting Out These 6 Foods

Also, Do These Types of Exercise

“So basically, exercise makes you jacked and smart. Ozempic actually stops you from releasing growth hormone, which is why those who take it tend to gain fat and lose muscle. So in most cases, ozempic actually makes us lose the wrong type of weight,” she says. “The best exercises are called primal movements. They are movements that your body is actually designed to do. Injury and pain are the result of not being able to do primal movements. There are five of them, and they are squatting, hinging, lunging, pushing and pulling.” And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time.

Struggling to maintain your weight loss progress because Ozempic is out of reach? You're not alone. Dr. Daniel Burton, an obesity expert with a passion for preventative medicine, understands your frustration. With extensive experience in both hospital and community settings, Dr. Burton specializes in managing Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome, including diabetes and hypertension care.

However, it's important to note that medication isn't the only path to effective weight loss. As Dr. Cecilia Low Wangtells UC Health, "I'm glad we now have potent medications for obesity, but these drugs are not a replacement for healthy lifestyle changes. To be healthy, people need to make sure they exercise most days of the week and consistently choose healthy foods."

Read on to discover a range of alternatives to Ozempic, from other medications to lifestyle changes, to help you stay on track with your weight loss journey.

Understanding the Ozempic Shortage

Dr. Dan explains the current situation: "If Ozempic is no longer available, what are the alternatives? What can we turn to not only continue managing our weight, but also managing our blood sugars?" In his video, he notes that the shortage, initially a U.S. problem, has become a global issue. In Canada, for instance, the shortage that began in August 2023 is expected to continue into early 2024.

The reasons for this shortage are complex. As Dr. Dan points out, "One of the big things, though, is the unprecedented demand. These medications are very, very effective at not only managing weight but also managing blood sugar levels." This high demand, coupled with lingering supply chain issues from the COVID-19 pandemic, has created a perfect storm of scarcity.

Rybelsus: The Oral Ozempic

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"One of the easiest and most straightforward switches that people could make is switching over to Rybelsus," Dr. Dan suggests. Often called the "oral Ozempic," Rybelsus contains the same active ingredient (semaglutide) but is taken as a daily tablet rather than a weekly injection.

However, Dr. Dan cautions about its limitations: "The big problem with Rybelsus is that even at the dose of 14 milligrams once per day, it's probably only equivalent to about 0.5 milligrams once per week of ozempic." He adds, "Unfortunately, you can't go and double up the dose. So take two 14 milligram tablets to try and get more effectiveness out of the drug."

RELATED:20 Possible Ozempic Side Effects

Trulicity: A Weekly Option

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For those who prefer a weekly injection similar to Ozempic, Dr. Dan recommends considering Trulicity. "Trulicity is made by Eli Lilly. It's a once-weekly injection, just like Ozempic. It's just not as effective," he explains. While it may not continue your weight loss, it could help maintain the progress you've already made. Dr. Dan notes, "Maybe you're not going to continue losing weight on Trulicity, but you might also just be able to keep maintaining the weight that you lost until, again, Ozempic comes back to the market."

According to Diabetes UK, "Trulicity is prescribed when diet and exercise have failed to bring blood glucose levels under control. It may also be prescribed instead of metformin, if metformin is unsuitable for you."

Victoza or Saxenda: Daily Injection Options

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Dr. Dan suggests Victoza or Saxenda as alternatives, noting, "Victoza and Saxenda contain again the same molecule. Liraglutide. Victoza is just the one that's indicated for diabetes management, and Saxenda is indicated for obesity management." These options require daily injections but can be effective for both weight and blood sugar management. He adds, "You do become a bit of a human pin cushion because you are giving yourself a daily injection, but again, this is kind of maybe an interim thing that we're looking at until ozempic is more readily available."

The Cleveland Clinic provides additional insight: "Liraglutide promotes weight loss. It may also be used to maintain weight loss. It works by decreasing appetite. Changes to diet and exercise are often combined with this medication."

Contrave: Focusing on Weight Loss

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For those primarily focused on weight loss rather than blood sugar management, Dr. Dan mentions Contrave as an option. "Contrave, which is a combination of two medications, bupropion and Naltrexone, don't really have a specific mechanism like the GLP one medications and helping us to manage our blood sugars," he explains. Its effectiveness varies from person to person, but it could be a suitable alternative for some.

RELATED:What Happens to Your Body When You Stop Taking Ozempic

Wegovy: Prescribed for Weight Loss

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Unlike Ozempic, Wegovy is actually prescribed as a weight loss drug, not a diabetes medication. Like Ozempic, it is a semaglutide drug. Dr. Mihir Sanghvitells the British Heart Foundation, "Wegovy acts on areas of the brain which are involved in regulating your appetite. It increases feelings of fullness, reduces feelings of hunger and reduces the preference for high-fat foods. It also reduces blood sugar by promoting the release of insulin when blood sugar levels are high."

Mounjaro and Zepbound: New Options on the Horizon

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Dr. Dan concludes with an exciting development: "Maro is the big dog that is coming to market." He expresses optimism about Maro's potential effectiveness and availability, stating, "In speaking with the representatives from Eli Lilly, the makers of Maro, they have assured me that they're doing their utmost to learn from everything that has happened with Novo Nordisk and Ozempic and Wegovy to ensure that there is no supply chain, no shortage issues in terms of Maro and IT coming to market."

Dr. Cecilia Low Wangprovides additional context: "Zepbound is the brand name for the drug tirzepatide when doctors prescribe it for weight loss. Mounjaro is the name of the medication used to treat diabetes. Both Zepbound and Mounjaro are brand names for the generic drug, tirzepatide."

While prescription medications can be effective, there are also non-prescription alternatives that can aid in weight loss:

Alli: Over-the-Counter Option

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Alli (orlistat) is an over-the-counter weight loss drug that works by stopping dietary fat from being absorbed. The Mayo Clinic explains, "Lipase, an enzyme found in the digestive tract, helps break down dietary fat into smaller parts, so it can be used or stored for energy. Orlistat blocks the work of lipase. When you take the drug with a meal, about 25% of the fat you eat isn't broken down. The fat is passed through bowel movements." If prescription or over-the-counter medication is not a choice or an option, certain foods can help encourage fullness and support weight loss.

Flaxseed For Fullness

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If prescription or over-the-counter medication is not a choice or an option, certain foods—like flaxseed—are not only healthy but can help encourage fullness. Look for foods high in fiber and protein. “Flaxseed's health benefits come from the fact that it's high in fiber and omega-3 fatty acids, as well as phytochemicals called lignans,” Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., tells the Mayo Clinic.

RELATED:20 Things to Avoid While on Ozempic

Vegetable Soup

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Soups are filling and tend to be low-calorie. “Binding water into foods slows down gastric emptying, which means your stomach stays fuller for longer,” Barbara Rolls, professor of nutritional sciences at Pennsylvania State University and author of the ‘Ultimate Volumetrics Diet’ tells CNN. “The most effective way to reduce calories is to bulk up food with water. You get lots of volume without calories.”

Whole Grains

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“Whole grains are the best option because they're higher in fiber and other important nutrients,” says the Mayo Clinic. “Emphasize whole grains by simply choosing whole-grain options instead of refined grains, including foods made with sugar or white flour.”

Eat Your Calories

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Enjoy high-fiber fruit instead of drinking it. "I like to use the example of eating a 100-calorie orange versus drinking 100 calories of orange juice," dietitian Kylie Arrindell tells Houston Methodist. "You're going to feel full or more satisfied for longer after eating the orange, and you're going to get hungry pretty quickly after drinking the juice."

Broccoli

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Broccoli is a filling, low-calorie food. “Broccoli is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family,” says UnityPoint Health. “It's known for its high water and fiber content, which is a great combination to help you feel full.”

High-Protein Foods

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High-protein foods are ideal for appetite suppression. "Protein is the macronutrient that will likely leave you feeling more sated,” Arrindell tells Houston Methodist. “But fiber-rich carbohydrates — whole grains, beans, lentils, oatmeal, raspberries and even some vegetables like collard greens, kale and artichokes — are a close second.”

RELATED:10 Side Effects of Rapid Weight Loss

Find Your Best Path Forward

The best alternative for you depends on your individual health profile and goals. As Dr. Dan advises, "Be sure to talk to your care team and getting set up to make sure you figure out what is going to be the best option for you not only to continue managing your blood sugars, but also looking at managing your weight."

Whether you opt for a medication alternative or focus on lifestyle changes, the key is to find a sustainable approach that works for you. Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any new medication or making significant changes to your diet or exercise routine. And if you enjoyed this article, don't miss 20 Incredible Ozempic Success Stories of All Time.