Diet Clinic 144.4

In case anyone was wondering about diet clinics, I thought I'd share my experience as it unfolds. One of the first things I found out is that there is definitely some differences between programs. So if you are considering signing up with one, you will want to shop around.

The only one I checked out is 5 minutes from my house and I was satisfied enough with it that I didn't look any further. But my daughter had gone to a diet clinic about a year ago to lose the weight she'd gained from pregnancy and her program was very different. She lost all the weight she'd wanted to in two months and her program was $150 a month, including Vitamin B shots and diet pills. She didn't follow any diet at all, she just wasn't very hungry due to the diet pills. She was actually supposed to go for four months, because they like to wean you off the last month with half doses of everything. But, since she'd lost all the weight she wanted to, she didn't want to spend any more money. She still looks great, but she has gained some of the weight back.

My program is different, and costs more. But it also includes Vitamin B shots and, if I'm going to make that trip 3 times a week, I want somewhere close.

My first visit, the free consultation where the program was explained to me, was last Wednesday, March 31. I went in the next day to get blood drawn and an EKG. The charge was $110. My daughter said she had only gotten an EKG, which was included in her program price, but the blood work may have been added because of my age. I haven't had blood tests done in a few years, so I'm hoping not to get any unpleasant surprises when I see the doctor tomorrow.

I was weighed on the big digital scale and was pretty surprised to see the numbers stop at 144.4. When asked how much weight I wanted to lose, I said 35 to 40 pounds. I'm just a hair over 5'1" tall and have bones the size of a 10 year old. Until I got pregnant for the first time at 25 years old, I'd never weighed more than 110, usually closer to 105. So it's not like I'm going for an anorexic look, just one that fits my size and bone structure.

The biggest difference between my program and my daughter's is that mine very definitely includes a diet. It starts with a 3 day high protein no carb regimen, which I was told to start on Sunday so that I could attend a 1 on 1 diet class Monday with the nutritionist to learn what I could eat after the 3 days were over. Then Tuesday would be my first visit with the doctor. The program includes 1 visit a month with the doctor, who will supervise the diet pill portion of the program, Vitamin B shots - 6 & 12 - administered 3 times a week, the diet class with the nutritionist and access to her for questions, and diet pills for a cost of $205 a month. If I wanted to skip the diet pills, which would remove the necessity of a doctor's supervision, and just get the vitamin shots, it would be $150 a month.

They also offer various types of supplements available for purchase. I bought the fat burner pills, a bottle of 90 to be taken 30 to 60 minutes before meals, for $60. I find they actually have a bit of a mild appetite suppressant effect and, after looking up the ingredients, I realized why. They are made of 2.5 mg Bioperine, 100 mcg chromium polynicotinate and 500 mg garcinia cambogia fruit.

I tried over the counter diet pills once, trying to lose weight after my first baby, and they very much disagreed with me. I've also experienced the dreaded crash you get with amphetamines and that's not something I will voluntarily experience again. Plus, the people in my family seem to have particularly sensitive body chemistry. I just recently heard from a cousin that a doctor said the reason they were having such a problem adjusting her mother's medication is that her "engine doesn't run like everyone else's". So I'm wondering if the vitamin shots, diet and fat burner pills won't be enough to do the trick on their own. I'll find out tomorrow when I get the first of the diet pills.

Costwise, adding the fat burner pills is actually $5 more than the doctor/diet pills. But since I'm planning to use them regardless, the difference would be between $265 a month for the program plus the fat burner pills or $210 for the program without doctor/diet pills but with the fat burner pills. If I don't react well to the diet pills, I'm definitely going with the latter.

Another supplement I tried was a wild berry flavored protein drink...no carbs. I was hoping it would help with the sweet cravings that make me crazy. So I bought a box of 7 for $15 and am allowed to have 2 a day even while on the strict 3 day diet that I'm kickstarting the program with. Unfortunately, I didn't look at the label until after fixing my second drink. It's got aspartame in it. That shit's poison, as far as I'm concerned, so I'm not using anymore. When I was there yesterday, I found that they also have a supplement that can be made into a shake or a pudding. It probably has aspartame, too. If by any great good luck it doesn't, though, I'll definitely pick up some of that.

So, the 3 day diet I had to start with? 2 eggs a day, unlimited amount of meat and green vegetables - except no pork, peas and green peppers. 2 oranges a day are allowed to prevent carb withdrawal headaches and/or nausea. Don't overeat and drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. Nothing after 6 p.m., although I just read the other day that that's a diet myth.

I'm very motivated and, in fact, plan to start kickboxing classes nearby at least 2 to 4 times a week. The question will be, between the diet and the exercise - plus fat burner pills if necessary, do I really need to pay for the diet clinic's program? We'll just have to see how it goes.

Next post is about my second visit.