Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What meal plans are available?
A: We offer an Exchange Plan and fasting programs.
The Exchange Plan is primarily based on the latest recommendations
from the American Diabetes Association, and can be used for: weight
loss, weight maintenance, improvement of other conditions (high
cholesterol, diabetes, etc), and food preferences (vegetarian diets, low
gluten, food intolerances, etc). The recommendations are
individualized - we can go as low with the calorie count as necessary
to achieve rapid weight loss, or not quite as low for gradual weight
loss. We also utilize the Exchange Plan for our patients to help
maintain weight loss.
We also offer two fasting programs: The Modified Fast and the
Nutrifast Program. These programs are very low calorie diets which
provide you with only the necessary protein your body needs to
prevent muscle loss. They are structured to maximize your rate of
weight loss and get things off to a quick start; however, they are not
intended for long-term use. On the Modified Fast, you will primarily
eat lean meat, fish, fowl, and a small side salad. On the Nutrifast, you
will primarily eat a high-quality protein supplement that we will provide.
We can also combine elements from the Modified Fast and Nutrifast
programs for added flexibility. Most patients experience little hunger or
fatigue while on these programs, after the first few days.
Please click here for more information.
Q: I've heard that fasting is dangerous. Is this true?
A: Yes - complete fasting is hazardous and not a medically-acceptable
method for weight loss. Our fasting programs are based on the
concept of a Protein Sparing Modified Fast, in which we meet the
body's protein, vitamin, mineral, and fluid needs. When utilized
appropriately with medical supervision, these programs are both
effective for weight loss and quite safe. We monitor blood pressure,
blood work, rate of weight loss, and other variables, and adjust as
needed to ensure safe success. The supplements used for the
Nutrifast program were developed specifically for use in this type of
meal plan, and should only be used with appropriate supervision.
Q: Are these diets expensive?
A: No, they are not. Our programs emphasize teaching and high
quality foods, not expensive "neutraceutical" supplements. By
emphasizing healthy food choices, high quality protein supplements
when desired (not expensive), and stocking our own high quality
multivitamin, mineral supplement, and medications, we are able to
keep our costs as low as possible. Many patients have told us that
even with medical supervision, registered dietitians, appropriate use of
medications, and blood work monitoring, our programs cost less than
many of the commercialized weight loss programs (that often
emphasize purchasing products and meeting with "counselors" who
are in fact highly trained sales people).
Q: Will my insurance pay for my diet?
A: Because we are medically supervised, some insurance carriers do
offer partial reimbursement, especially if there are other weight-related
medical conditions. Also, some patients are able to apply their fees
towards the deductible for their Health Savings Accounts, or receive
payment from their Flex Spending Accounts. We encourage you to
discuss coverage with your carrier to see what your coverage is, and
are happy to provide you with receipts that you can then submit to
your insurance carrier.
Q: Why should I choose Clinical Nutrition Center?
A: CNC takes a comprehensive approach to weight loss and weight
maintenance. We treat weight problems with the same respect as any
medical condition, like Diabetes or Heart Disease. We have found that
by treating weight problems with the respect they deserve, our patients
can often come off of medications for the related conditions (like
insulin, blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medications, etc) and
manage the conditions with weight management instead.
In approaching weight problems with the same respect as other
medical conditions, we emphasize the following:
1) Medical supervision by a physician well-trained not only in the
science of weight loss, but in all of the medical conditions associated
with excess weight. Dr. Lazarus's Board Certification in Family
Medicine means he can optimize treatment for: Diabetes,
Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Insomnia, Depression, Thyroid
Problems, etc. Often medications that help control the weight can be
substituted for medications that cause weight gain. Also, it is critical to
identify and treat related problems to ensure safe weight loss and
maintenance. Why work so hard to lose weight if your undiagnosed
thyroid condition will make weight maintenance so difficult? By
identifying all other potential problems, you will maximize your chances
at success! Only by treating obesity as a medical condition can these
goals be met.
2) Nutritional Supervision by a highly experienced Registered
Dietitian. CNC is proud to offer the most highly trained and
experienced Registered Dietitians in the Denver area. They will teach
you the latest in nutritional science. No more fad diets. No more
excuses. By utilizing the latest in nutritional thinking and behavior
modification, you will find that our dietitians give you somebody to be
accountable to, and can actually make your weight loss/maintenance
experience enjoyable.
3) A support system. While Dr. Lazarus can help treat depression
and other psychological issues medically, and the Dietitians can help
manage eating behavior, some patients need a more intensive
behavioral approach. We are pleased to offer both psychotherapy
and psychiatric services for those patients needing more help.
4) Use of prescription medications. Unlike many of the unsafe
medications used in past years, and unlike the over-the-counter weight
loss aids, prescription medications can be very helpful for weight loss
and weight maintenance. Dr. Lazarus will evaluate to see if you can
safely use prescription medication, and make this available only if
appropriate. When used appropriately in the right individuals, these
medications are safe, effective, and not expensive.
5) Experience. CNC was originally started in the early 1970's by Dr.
Jim Berry. Our staff offers you a depth of experience that is difficult to
match. Our psychotherapist, Mickey, has been with us since the
beginning. Our office manager, Lisa, has been with us for over 15
years. And several of our registered dietitians have been with us for
15 to 20 years. Our more recent additions were all hand-picked from a
large pool of potential applicants, and all have over 10 years of clinical
experience.
6) Stop wasting your money! Many people spend so much of their
money on useless OTC products for weight loss, nutritional
supplements, unnecessary vitamin supplements, fruit and vegetable
extracts, etc. It is likely that many of these products, despite being
expensive, can cause more harm than good. CNC encourages
discontinuation of all these products unless they are recommended by
your physician to treat a specific condition. We will not promote these
types of products, or try to sell you useless fads. At CNC, you will not
find useless weight loss shots (none of them are effective), "cellulite
reduction" wraps or shots (again, not money well spent), useless
supplements or useless expensive products. Our goal is to teach
YOU to do it!
Q: What if I don't want to take medication in my diet?
A: The use of appetite suppressant medication is completely optional.
Many of our patients successfully follow all of our programs and never
use medication. We will customize your program to meet your unique
preferences. However, even in the absence of appetite control
medications, we do require close monitoring and supervision of
patients on fasting programs to ensure that they are done safely.
Q: What will I do to maintain weight loss?
A: CNC offers a comprehensive maintenance program. The reality is,
most diets "fail" because the diet comes to an end. People do a
short-term fad diet, then go back to the old habits. It's no surprise,
then, that they go back to their old weight. Only by addressing the
habits that are getting you into trouble can we prevent weight regain.
Your dietitian will work with you to develop realistic, achievable goals,
and to implement a plan with you to reach and stay at those goals. We
have been working successfully with patients in the Denver area for
over 35 years, and are a thriving practice. We will be around to help
you manage your weight for the long-term.
Optimization and periodic re-assessment of any other health
conditions is another key to successful weight maintenance, as
discussed above.
Q: What if I have other medical problems?
A: Dr. Lazarus will review with you how all of your medical problems will
be impacted by our meal plans and/or medications. For many
conditions, he will help manage them while you are a patient with us
(especially diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol), while for
other conditions, he may work in conjunction with your primary care
provider and other specialists.
A: We offer an Exchange Plan and fasting programs.
The Exchange Plan is primarily based on the latest recommendations
from the American Diabetes Association, and can be used for: weight
loss, weight maintenance, improvement of other conditions (high
cholesterol, diabetes, etc), and food preferences (vegetarian diets, low
gluten, food intolerances, etc). The recommendations are
individualized - we can go as low with the calorie count as necessary
to achieve rapid weight loss, or not quite as low for gradual weight
loss. We also utilize the Exchange Plan for our patients to help
maintain weight loss.
We also offer two fasting programs: The Modified Fast and the
Nutrifast Program. These programs are very low calorie diets which
provide you with only the necessary protein your body needs to
prevent muscle loss. They are structured to maximize your rate of
weight loss and get things off to a quick start; however, they are not
intended for long-term use. On the Modified Fast, you will primarily
eat lean meat, fish, fowl, and a small side salad. On the Nutrifast, you
will primarily eat a high-quality protein supplement that we will provide.
We can also combine elements from the Modified Fast and Nutrifast
programs for added flexibility. Most patients experience little hunger or
fatigue while on these programs, after the first few days.
Please click here for more information.
Q: I've heard that fasting is dangerous. Is this true?
A: Yes - complete fasting is hazardous and not a medically-acceptable
method for weight loss. Our fasting programs are based on the
concept of a Protein Sparing Modified Fast, in which we meet the
body's protein, vitamin, mineral, and fluid needs. When utilized
appropriately with medical supervision, these programs are both
effective for weight loss and quite safe. We monitor blood pressure,
blood work, rate of weight loss, and other variables, and adjust as
needed to ensure safe success. The supplements used for the
Nutrifast program were developed specifically for use in this type of
meal plan, and should only be used with appropriate supervision.
Q: Are these diets expensive?
A: No, they are not. Our programs emphasize teaching and high
quality foods, not expensive "neutraceutical" supplements. By
emphasizing healthy food choices, high quality protein supplements
when desired (not expensive), and stocking our own high quality
multivitamin, mineral supplement, and medications, we are able to
keep our costs as low as possible. Many patients have told us that
even with medical supervision, registered dietitians, appropriate use of
medications, and blood work monitoring, our programs cost less than
many of the commercialized weight loss programs (that often
emphasize purchasing products and meeting with "counselors" who
are in fact highly trained sales people).
Q: Will my insurance pay for my diet?
A: Because we are medically supervised, some insurance carriers do
offer partial reimbursement, especially if there are other weight-related
medical conditions. Also, some patients are able to apply their fees
towards the deductible for their Health Savings Accounts, or receive
payment from their Flex Spending Accounts. We encourage you to
discuss coverage with your carrier to see what your coverage is, and
are happy to provide you with receipts that you can then submit to
your insurance carrier.
Q: Why should I choose Clinical Nutrition Center?
A: CNC takes a comprehensive approach to weight loss and weight
maintenance. We treat weight problems with the same respect as any
medical condition, like Diabetes or Heart Disease. We have found that
by treating weight problems with the respect they deserve, our patients
can often come off of medications for the related conditions (like
insulin, blood pressure medicine, cholesterol medications, etc) and
manage the conditions with weight management instead.
In approaching weight problems with the same respect as other
medical conditions, we emphasize the following:
1) Medical supervision by a physician well-trained not only in the
science of weight loss, but in all of the medical conditions associated
with excess weight. Dr. Lazarus's Board Certification in Family
Medicine means he can optimize treatment for: Diabetes,
Hypertension, High Cholesterol, Insomnia, Depression, Thyroid
Problems, etc. Often medications that help control the weight can be
substituted for medications that cause weight gain. Also, it is critical to
identify and treat related problems to ensure safe weight loss and
maintenance. Why work so hard to lose weight if your undiagnosed
thyroid condition will make weight maintenance so difficult? By
identifying all other potential problems, you will maximize your chances
at success! Only by treating obesity as a medical condition can these
goals be met.
2) Nutritional Supervision by a highly experienced Registered
Dietitian. CNC is proud to offer the most highly trained and
experienced Registered Dietitians in the Denver area. They will teach
you the latest in nutritional science. No more fad diets. No more
excuses. By utilizing the latest in nutritional thinking and behavior
modification, you will find that our dietitians give you somebody to be
accountable to, and can actually make your weight loss/maintenance
experience enjoyable.
3) A support system. While Dr. Lazarus can help treat depression
and other psychological issues medically, and the Dietitians can help
manage eating behavior, some patients need a more intensive
behavioral approach. We are pleased to offer both psychotherapy
and psychiatric services for those patients needing more help.
4) Use of prescription medications. Unlike many of the unsafe
medications used in past years, and unlike the over-the-counter weight
loss aids, prescription medications can be very helpful for weight loss
and weight maintenance. Dr. Lazarus will evaluate to see if you can
safely use prescription medication, and make this available only if
appropriate. When used appropriately in the right individuals, these
medications are safe, effective, and not expensive.
5) Experience. CNC was originally started in the early 1970's by Dr.
Jim Berry. Our staff offers you a depth of experience that is difficult to
match. Our psychotherapist, Mickey, has been with us since the
beginning. Our office manager, Lisa, has been with us for over 15
years. And several of our registered dietitians have been with us for
15 to 20 years. Our more recent additions were all hand-picked from a
large pool of potential applicants, and all have over 10 years of clinical
experience.
6) Stop wasting your money! Many people spend so much of their
money on useless OTC products for weight loss, nutritional
supplements, unnecessary vitamin supplements, fruit and vegetable
extracts, etc. It is likely that many of these products, despite being
expensive, can cause more harm than good. CNC encourages
discontinuation of all these products unless they are recommended by
your physician to treat a specific condition. We will not promote these
types of products, or try to sell you useless fads. At CNC, you will not
find useless weight loss shots (none of them are effective), "cellulite
reduction" wraps or shots (again, not money well spent), useless
supplements or useless expensive products. Our goal is to teach
YOU to do it!
Q: What if I don't want to take medication in my diet?
A: The use of appetite suppressant medication is completely optional.
Many of our patients successfully follow all of our programs and never
use medication. We will customize your program to meet your unique
preferences. However, even in the absence of appetite control
medications, we do require close monitoring and supervision of
patients on fasting programs to ensure that they are done safely.
Q: What will I do to maintain weight loss?
A: CNC offers a comprehensive maintenance program. The reality is,
most diets "fail" because the diet comes to an end. People do a
short-term fad diet, then go back to the old habits. It's no surprise,
then, that they go back to their old weight. Only by addressing the
habits that are getting you into trouble can we prevent weight regain.
Your dietitian will work with you to develop realistic, achievable goals,
and to implement a plan with you to reach and stay at those goals. We
have been working successfully with patients in the Denver area for
over 35 years, and are a thriving practice. We will be around to help
you manage your weight for the long-term.
Optimization and periodic re-assessment of any other health
conditions is another key to successful weight maintenance, as
discussed above.
Q: What if I have other medical problems?
A: Dr. Lazarus will review with you how all of your medical problems will
be impacted by our meal plans and/or medications. For many
conditions, he will help manage them while you are a patient with us
(especially diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol), while for
other conditions, he may work in conjunction with your primary care
provider and other specialists.
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