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Ruby Cortinas had a hard time dealing with the many problems that
were caused by her obesity. “I was so big when I started the
program last year I could hardly walk. My diabetes was out of control
and I was taking very large dosages of insulin. I also had Sleep
Apnea, knee problems and would end up at the ER often.” Her
primary care physician steered her away from gastric surgery, and
referred her to Lite-Weighs in Redlands.
The weight loss program offers a variety of programs for people
who need to lose 20 or 200+ pounds. Like many other patients on
medication for diabetes, hypertension or other obesity-related diseases,
Ruby needed a program that included careful supervision by a physician.
Ruby is almost halfway to her weight-loss goal after losing 90 pounds,
and has already seen all of her medical problems greatly improve
or disappear. “This last holiday was the first time I wasn’t
in the hospital.” She no longer has to wear a mask for Sleep
Apnea, and she has gone from taking large shots of insulin to controlling
her diabetes with a single pill.
Gordon Phillips, MD, the Medical Director
at Lite-Weighs sees Ruby every two weeks. As she has improved her
health through weight loss, he adjusted her prescriptions accordingly.
“Most type 2 diabetics are able to get off all medication if
they lose weight and continue to maintain their life-style changes.
We are also able to take about 75% of our patients off their blood
pressure, arthritis, and heartburn/reflux medications,” said
Dr. Phillips.
Patients first attend a free orientation program and then make an
appointment with a physician. About 80% of patients are given a
personalized intensive weight-loss program which uses HMR meal-replacement
shakes and meals. Others with less weight to lose are given one
of the more moderate plans. A physician monitors the patient’s
progress every week to every month, depending on his or her needs.
Participants also attend weekly classes to learn healthier life-style
skills. The classes are based upon The Solution method developed
at University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine.
Dr. Sylvia Cramer, the Executive Director of Lite-Weighs said, “The
Solution method helps the patient learn to eat for both health and
pleasure, and most importantly it helps the patient turn off the
drive to overeat.” In addition, exercise is another major component
of the program and participants are taught to track calories burned
during exercise.
Yvonne Ash, a nurse at Redlands Community Hospital, lost 90 pounds
between February of 2000 and February of 2001, and has kept the
weight off. “The HMR diet greatly assisted my weight loss.
But more important, is the profound changes in self-esteem and peace
within myself that has occurred since starting The Solution class.
Most importantly, it has taught me how to love myself, to know it’s
okay to feel, and to find other ways to nurture myself other than
food.”
Free orientation programs are held every week in Redlands. Call
793-2506 to sign up or to receive more information.
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