Every January, people feel a renewed sense of motivation. There is energy, hope, and a genuine desire to feel better. More energy. Better digestion. Less pain. Maybe some weight loss too.
And then, for many people, real life steps back in.
Old habits return. Stress increases. Schedules fill up. The things that felt manageable for a few weeks start to feel harder again. Most of us have been there. That does not mean the intention was weak or insincere. It usually means the support underneath it was not strong enough to hold.
That part often gets overlooked.
People do not necessarily struggle because they lack motivation. They struggle because their bodies are still dealing with stress, fatigue, hormone shifts, poor sleep, digestion issues, and cravings. Those things quietly drive behavior whether we want them to or not.
That understanding shapes how I think about weight, digestion, and health.
People often ask me if acupuncture helps with weight loss.
The honest answer is yes, indirectly.
Acupuncture does not force weight loss or override biology. What it does is help regulate the systems that influence weight in the first place. Digestion. Nervous system response. Hormones. Sleep. Inflammation. Energy. Cravings. When those systems are supported, the body is far more capable of changing on its own.
That is not just something I say as a practitioner. It is something I am actively working through myself.
When Weight Gain Makes Sense
About fifteen years ago, I lost someone very close to me. He was not my son’s biological father, but he was a father figure to him and an important part of our lives. He died by suicide while we were living in Oshkosh. At the time, I had recently moved there from the Northwest Suburbs, and from the outside, life looked stable.
In the three months following his death, I gained close to one hundred pounds and even more over the years.
It was fast and disorienting. Looking back now, it makes complete physiological sense. Severe loss and trauma do not just affect emotions. They change nervous system tone, hormone signaling, digestion, sleep, and metabolism. The body shifts into survival mode, and survival does not prioritize efficiency or weight regulation.
Then in 2024, I went through another prolonged period of stress involving stalking – and probably the main reason I moved to Land O’ Lakes, if I’m being completely transparent. I have written openly about that chapter here for anyone who wants the full context:
https://appletonacu.com/a-new-chapter-in-my-own-words/
Those experiences shaped how I understand weight, fatigue, and cravings. Not as personal failures, but as biological responses to life events.
Perimenopause Changes the Equation
At this stage of life, there is another layer to consider.
I am in perimenopause, a time when hormonal shifts can make weight loss more challenging for many women. Insulin sensitivity changes. Sleep is often disrupted. Cortisol is less forgiving. What worked earlier in life does not always work the same way now.
That matters, and it is worth saying out loud.
I have only been intentionally working with this current approach for about a month, and I am already down twenty pounds. That is not a finish line or a promise. It is early feedback. It tells me the systems we are supporting are responding, even during a phase of life where weight loss is often harder. And my energy hasn’t ever been better – I still like my espresso, but it’s habit not a need.
So Can Acupuncture Help With Weight Loss?
Yes, but not directly.
Acupuncture does not burn calories or suppress appetite. It helps calm the nervous system so digestion, blood sugar regulation, hormonal communication, and energy production can work the way they are meant to.
When stress comes down, cortisol shifts.
When digestion improves, bloating and inflammation decrease.
When sleep improves, appetite signaling stabilizes.
When energy improves, movement becomes easier.
Weight often changes as a result, not because it is being forced, but because the systems that influence it are finally being supported.
What About Cravings?
Cravings are one of the most common frustrations I hear about, and they are often misunderstood.
Cravings are not about willpower. They are signals. They can reflect blood sugar swings, stress chemistry, digestive dysfunction, disrupted sleep, or hormonal imbalance. Often more than one at the same time.
In my practice, I have developed treatment plans that specifically address cravings by focusing on nervous system regulation, digestion, and metabolic signaling. When those systems stabilize, cravings often become quieter and more manageable without force or restriction.
Cravings do not need to be battled. They need to be addressed at the system level.
Support Does Not Mean Doing More
One of the biggest misconceptions I see in the wellness world is the idea that progress requires extremes.
Support does not mean fasting for days, doing aggressive detoxes, or taking ten thousand supplements a day. In most cases, that creates more stress on an already stressed system.
Right now, I am taking one Chinese herbal formula and two digestive products from Standard Process. That is it. These are foundational supports that many people could benefit from, especially when digestion and stress are part of the picture. Personally, I think anyone over 40 should be taking Zypan with meals anyway.
Real support means understanding where your body is and responding accordingly. Not copying someone else’s protocol. Not buying a kit. Not forcing a reset.
Everyone is different. What works for one person may not work for another. That is why individualized care matters.
Practicing My Own Medicine Without Extremes
One of the biggest shifts in my life right now is that I finally have the space to take my own advice.
My kids are grown. They are building their own lives. I am no longer in a season dominated by caretaking and constant demands. Right now, my responsibilities are my patients, my dog, and myself.
What I am doing is not extreme. There are no GLP-1 medications. No crash diets. No cutting out life.
I still go out to eat. You’ll still see me at the Bear Trap, Forest Lake and Asana Suka. This is real life, not a detox retreat.
What is different is that I am supporting my body instead of fighting it.
That includes regular acupuncture, frequency specific microcurrent, and red light therapy. I am working with another acupuncturist Madison so I am not self prescribing Chinese herbs. I am also consulting with trusted functional medicine colleagues I train with in Boca Raton, Florida, where I attend quarterly continuing education. That allows any supplements to be used appropriately.
Between acupuncture, FSM, red light therapy, Chinese herbal medicine, functional medicine guidance, and strength training with Erin, everything I am doing is supportive. None of it is about punishment or restriction.
When digestion improves, energy improves.
When stress settles, sleep improves.
When the nervous system is not constantly braced, the body starts to respond on its own timeline.
Support in Land O’ Lakes, WI
One of the unexpected gifts of being in Land O’ Lakes is how much support is built into daily life. Training with Erin at Luoto’s is a big part of that. It is truly a gem of a place. Having access to a gym, a sauna, and a community that values movement and recovery makes a real difference.
On cold winter days, it’s awesome jumping out in the snow and then back into the sauna. That contrast supports circulation, recovery, and nervous system regulation in a way that feels natural and sustainable – and my skin glows after!
That environment matters, and it is one of the reasons I love practicing medicine here.
A Sustainable Way Forward
This is not about starting over every January. It is about changing the conditions so progress can actually last.
Acupuncture cannot do everything. But it can help create the conditions where digestion improves, cravings settle, energy returns, and weight changes become possible, even during perimenopause.
Not because anything was forced.
Because the body was finally supported.
If this approach to health resonates, focusing on individualized support rather than extremes, you are welcome to reach out. Whether the goal is digestion, energy, cravings, or overall balance, that is the work I do every day.
There is no rush. Just a thoughtful place to start. Here’s to a fantastic 2026!
