What type of food plan will I be on?

Many of our patients choose to use Nutrimed meal replacements in the form of shakes, bars, soups and smoothies. These are research-backed, pre-packaged supplements engineered to be precise nutrition for optimum weight loss. They are highly effective and patients love them. However, many patients choose to use grocery food or a combination of the two. For our grocery plan, Dr. Huegel will provide basic guidelines which will be the framework of your food plan. The foods chosen will be based on each individual’s likes and dislikes as well as intolerances. It will typically include lean meats and fish, plenty of vegetables and low glycemic fruits, low fat dairy, nuts and seeds, legumes and whole grains.

Will I be able to eat out if I choose to use Nutrimed meal replacements?

Will I be able to eat out if I choose to use Nutrimed meal replacements? Absolutely! In fact, we encourage it. Our highly trained and experienced staff will educate you on how to navigate every possible social situation from restaurants to parties, weddings, barbecues, etc. You will know exactly what to eat, when and how much.

 

Will I be able to go on vacation while using Nutrimed meal replacements?

Certainly. At some point or another, almost every patient we treat has taken a trip while on our plan. Again, we will show you exactly how to survive this challenging circumstance with ease.

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How much weight can I expect to lose each week? 

Every person is different and results, of course, vary. Factors like age, gender, starting weight, medical problems and medications can affect the outcome. However, rest assured, if anything is getting in the way of your weight loss, Dr. Huegel and her competent team of professionals will get to the bottom of it and ensure you see the results you expect. That being said, the average weight loss using our full meal replacement program averages about 3-5 lbs per week. Using a combination of meal replacements and grocery food typically yields an average of 2-4 lbs per week. Using all grocery food, you could expect to see about 1-2 lbs per week.

 

What is the first step?

We encourage you to schedule an appointment for a consultation. This way, you can meet the team and have all questions answered. After the consultation, if you are ready to change your life, we ask that you leave a small deposit that will be applied toward the cost of your program and you will then schedule your first office visit. At the initial visit, you will have an extensive panel of blood drawn, you will receive an EKG and our nursing staff will weigh you on our body composition analysis scale. You will then meet one-on-one with Dr. Huegel. She will take an extensive bariatric history and physical exam to assess your health status. Finally, our behavioral counselor, Lisa Kaplan, will review your eating plan and equip you with your first set of behavioral tools to ensure a successful start to your program. You will follow up each week for 12 weeks to get weighed and receive behavioral counseling from Lisa. Once a month, (or more often, as needed), you will meet with Dr. Huegel for medical monitoring.

 

Do you prescribe appetite suppressants or any other weight loss medication?

There are several FDA-approved medications that can assist with weight loss. As we are treating the chronic condition of weight, medication often has an important role in putting patients into remission and keeping them there. Therefore, we see medication as a tool, not a cure. This decision is very individual and Dr. Huegel will discuss the pros and cons with each interested patient based on their unique situation. It is not a decision to be taken lightly and Dr. Huegel insists on regularly scheduled medical monitoring. Any additional medical interventions will be prescribed on an individual basis as well.

 

What is the cost of the program? 

Dr. Huegel has many different programs – each individualized for the best needs of the patient. It is best to schedule a consultation to determine what your cost will be. There are also several payment options that we can discuss with you. Call us at 732.389.0131.

 

What if I need to lose more weight after the initial 12 weeks? 

At your final visit, you and Dr. Huegel will discuss your accomplishments. Together, you will decide what the next step in your journey will be. Most patients choose to continue with weekly visits while others decide to come biweekly, for example. Again, this decision is made as a team with the doctor and is based on your personal needs.

 

Is anything off-limits on this program? 

Nothing is off-limits unless there is something that you shouldn’t have because of health issues. Portion control is key and staying within your calorie range is important. If you have upcoming social situations such as a wedding, or parties, talk to Dr. Huegel about the best strategy. For patients following one of our NutriMed eating plans, there will be temporary restrictions during the weight loss phase of the program while utilizing meal replacements.

 

Are there payment options?

Our program is an investment in your health and payment is part of your treatment. Studies have shown that when you have more “skin in the game”, you will take your health and your program more seriously. That said, we never want financial hardship to be a barrier to treatment. Therefore, we offer interest-free payment plans over the 12 weeks. We also offer CareCredit for patients who would like longer payment plans. We accept all major credit cards, cash and checks. As mentioned above, we also accept Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). What if I need to lose more weight after the initial 12 weeks? At your twelfth visit, we will discuss your accomplishments. Based on your ongoing needs, we will decide, together, what the next step in your journey will be. Most patients require ongoing treatment, as excess weight is a chronic condition. Therefore, we have several options for continuing, which we will review with you at that time. The cost to continue is affordable and will enable you to continue on your journey. 

 

Is anything off-limits on this program?

While on replacements, you will be given a list of “free” foods that you can eat in moderation. There is nothing that is absolutely off-limits. We will work with you to create a meal plan that you are comfortable with and still see results. 1 cup of caffeinated coffee or other caffeinated beverage per day is allowed. Consumption of alcohol during treatment is addressed on an individual basis.