Why Waiting Until January for Your Health Goals is a Massive Mistake (And What to Do Instead)

We’ve all said it.

“I’m just going to enjoy the holidays. I’ll get serious about my health on January 1st.”

It sounds logical. The holidays are full of travel, stress, and heavy meals. Why fight the current? As a Naturopathic Doctor, I understand that impulse. But I also see the results of that mindset every February in my practice.

Patients come in exhausted, inflammation levels spiked, and carrying an extra 5-10 pounds that are much harder to lose than they were to gain.

But there is a bigger reason why waiting until January is a mistake. It’s not just about the holiday weight gain—it’s about the Medical Lag Time.

The biggest misconception about hormone replacement therapy (TRT), perimenopause support, or GLP-1 weight loss treatments is that they work instantly.

They don’t. Biology takes time.

If you wait until January 2nd to book your consultation:

1. Week 1: You have your visit and order labs.

2. Week 2: You wait for lab results.

3. Week 3: We review results and prescribe medication.

4. Week 4-6: The medication (whether it’s Testosterone or Semaglutide) begins to saturate your system and your body adapts.

The Reality: If you start “Day 1” in January, you likely won’t feel the full benefits until March. You spend the first two months of the year just waiting at the starting line.

Athletes don’t start training on game day. They have a pre-season. You need one too.

November and December are the perfect time for Data Collection.

By ordering your labs and having your initial consultation now:

• We identify the root cause (Low T? Insulin Resistance? Thyroid issues?) before the chaos of the New Year.

• We can implement a “damage control” plan to support your metabolism through holiday meals.

• We can have your medication ready and waiting for you when you decide to hit the accelerator.

For my patients on GLP-1 agonists, the holidays look very different. Instead of fighting white-knuckle cravings at the buffet, they feel in control. They can enjoy a small portion of their favorite foods without the urge to overindulge. They enter January at the same weight they were in November—which puts them ahead of 90% of the population.

For men on TRT, having optimized testosterone levels means better stress management (cortisol control) during one of the most stressful times of the year.

Resolutions often fail because they are vague. “I’ll eat better” is a wish. “I will optimize my Free Testosterone to 20 pg/mL” is a plan.

This year, skip the resolution. Make a medical plan instead.

Ready to beat the rush? At ND On Demand, we specialize in convenient, at-home testing and telehealth visits. You can get your labs done from the comfort of your home this week and have your plan in place before you open a single present.