Weight Loss Clinic Tips

Things to Consider Before Choosing a Weight Loss Clinic  and Part With Your Hard-Earned Money

Choosing a weight loss clinic is something that should be done with careful thought and consideration.  The truth is, many programs are extremely costly – and you may not get the results you hope to get.  Today, there are more scams than ever before; many clinics and diet centers are in it only for the money, and not genuinely concerned about helping the client reach his or her weight loss goal.  If you’re thinking about joining a weight loss clinic, there are a few things you should consider before you hand over your hard-earned money.

Location.  Does the weight loss clinic offer a physical location that is close to where you live?  If you have to drive for 30 minutes or an hour to get to the clinic, chances are you will find excuses not to go.  It’s best if you can join a reputable program that’s close by, so you can jump in the car (or even better, walk) and be there in just a few minutes.

Additionally, some weight loss clinics are online now, and offer support, forums, meal planners and other features on the internet.  While this may work for some who are very self-disciplined, it may not work if you need a more structured environment in order to follow a healthy diet and engage in the necessary exercise.

Reputation.  This is very important, as it’s not a good idea to join a weight loss clinic that you know nothing about for the reasons stated above.  Some are focused solely on selling their own special foods, shakes and supplements, and don’t offer the individual support you need to be successful.

You can learn more about the clinic you have in mind by going online and looking for reviews, or by asking around the community if the weight loss clinic is local, and not a nationwide company.  Ask friends, co-workers and family members about their experience with the clinic; visit in person, ask plenty of questions, and even for references you can call.

Cost.  This is an important factor for most people, particularly in light of current economic conditions.  While one weight loss clinic may be within your budget, another may be so costly that there is simply no way you can afford it. You need to know how much the cost per month will be, if food/supplements cost extra, or if there are any “hidden” costs that you may not be aware of before you join.

Some programs are relatively within any budget, and may cost only $20 or $30 per month; others may cost much more, but have other “perks” included in the cost.  Should you choose a weight loss clinic that is staffed by physicians, dieticians and physical fitness experts, you should expect to pay a bit more, as these clinics provide the individual focus and guidance you need to make a healthier, lifelong change in the way you look at food and exercising.  Many programs prefer to focus on healthier eating and a more active lifestyle rather than the word “diet,” which can in itself lead to failure simply because of the psychological impact.

Keep these things in mind when searching for a weight loss clinic, and you’ll likely find a program that is well-suited to not only your fitness and weight loss needs, but your budget as well.  With a little patience and research, you can avoid spending money only to see that the results are disappointing.

Choosing a weight loss clinic is something that should be done only after plenty of research and consideration, as not all are alike. Unfortunately, many of these facilities view those with a weight problem as a sales opportunity rather than an opportunity to help an individual with what could lead to serious health problems if not properly addressed.

Before you choose a weight loss clinic, consider the following:

Seek a referral from your doctor. Most doctors are familiar with other doctors who specialize in various fields. Your doctor may be able to refer you to someone who specializes in eating disorders and weight management.

Trust your own instincts. It is a good idea to visit around and check out several different clinics, so that you can see which one seems most comfortable and professional to you. This is a time when it is good to trust your own intuition; if those you meet with don’t seem sincere or give you the impression they are money-hungry, run in the other direction. Those that you feel are honest, personable and interested in helping you are usually the ones that will offer you the results you want.

Learn about the fees before you join. When choosing a weight loss clinic, the last thing you want is to be surprised (or shocked) by additional fees or costs that you were not expecting. Ask for a complete list of fees, and never feel pressured to join clinics that seem to push injections, powders, supplements and other extras on you.

Ask what you can expect on return visits. When you are researching a weight loss clinic, ask plenty of questions so that you know what to expect. Find out if you will be seen by the doctor on return visits, or at the very least a nurse and/or dietician. When the answer to your questions seem a bit evasive, it could mean that upon your return visit, you will be seen by an assistant whose primary goal is to sell you vitamins or supplements.

Avoid obvious scams. To date, there are no “shots” for weight loss that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Some weight loss scams include those using B-12 shots, HCG shots, 500 calorie or DNA based diets, “magic shakes,” fasting diets in which you drink only grapefruit juice for 10 days, etc. As the old saying goes, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” This holds true when it comes to magical weight loss.

Other information you will want to know before choosing a weight loss clinic include how long the program has been in business, whether you have to sign a contract, if the program is supervised by medical professionals, whether you have to commit to a long-term program that isn’t suited to your needs, etc.

Also, be aware that there is a huge difference between a professional clinic and a “plan” that gives you access to resources online, such as Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig. For lasting results, it takes a healthy lifestyle change tokeep the weight off, which only professionals can provide through metabolic testing, dietary needs, and monitoring health conditions such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

When you find a reputable clinic that is run by professionals and takes a true interest in the individual needs of their clients, be prepared to spend a substantial amount of money. The goal here is to find the right clinic the first time, so that you don’t look back in a year to find that you’ve thrown thousands of dollars away.

Mark South
Weight Loss Clinic

Today, the majority of people needing to lose weight tend to go for the popular diet plans and trends before trying a weight loss clinic. This may be an effort to save money, or it could just be that most people feel it will be easier to reach their goals. However, it is really to the advantage of most individuals to go with a weight loss clinic; we will explain why in this article.

There are several well-known diet plans available today, including Weight Watchers, Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig among others. Most of these have been around for years, some even decades, so they must work, right? The truth is that they DO work – at least for a while, but those looking for healthy, permanent weight loss would do well to find a reputable weight loss clinic. Why?

Most of the popular plans advertised today offer some support, but it is limited. The foods that are offered with the plans are limited as well, because most of these programs come with “meal plans” or meals that are shipped to your door ready to be microwaved and eaten. These meals can be very costly, and are usually limited in variety so after a week or two you’re likely to be eating the same meals over again. A weight loss clinic teaches you how to choose healthy foods, how to cook them in a healthy manner and how to eat in a way that allows you to lose weight and keep it off.

Sure, choosing one of the other plans is easier and you have less planning and preparation to do, but think of the hassles and cost if you have a family. Your husband and children are not likely going to be on the diet with you, which means double trouble when it comes to preparing meals and huge expense between buying foods at the supermarket for your family, and buying the meals on your weight loss program. By choosing a respected weight loss clinic you will learn how to prepare everyday foods so that not only will you lose weight, your entire family will be healthier for it.

It is important that you understand how you are losing weight, why it makes a difference when you eat “good” fats in place of bad fats, what makes processed foods so unhealthy and other topics. A trusted weight loss clinic will explain the reasons that some foods are effective for weight loss while others cause you to gain weight. Most weight loss clinics also have dieticians, nutritionists and physicians on board that help you in every area while you are working toward your goal, including any health issues you may have such as diabetes, high cholesterol or heart disease.

The typical diet programs that are so popular today really don’t go in-depth in to the “hows” and “whys” of losing weight. In general, you are following a diet plan that consists of the program’s meals, and perhaps a few supplements. You will probably lose weight, but that result may not be permanent because 1) you still don’t understand the importance of healthy foods and why a healthy lifestyle change is necessary and, 2) most people simply cannot exist on these meal plans indefinitely, which means you are likely to gain weight once you stop the program. It just makes more sense to join a weight loss clinic where you will learn how to make healthy lifestyle changes, how to eat right and how to maintain your weight loss.

Find a good weight loss clinic that offers professionals who work one-on-one with you to help you reach your goals, and you can enjoy a slim, healthy body for life – and get off of the “yo-yo” dieting bandwagon.

Mark South
Weight Loss Clinic