I'm going to check it out as I have several friends who have had amazing things to say about the program. I haven't even stepped into my first appointment but I will be very transparent about my experience. So far, having to reschedule and getting phone calls and emails responding has been a ten! Stay tuned! read more

Having lost almost 30 pounds with the excellent nutritional guidance and counseling of Arleen in the Redwood City office, I can highly recommend Jumpstart for anyone ready to make a serious commitment to improve their overall health. Over the 4 months that I was on the plan Arleen patiently explained how I needed to change my diet and exercise plan to make sure I stayed healthy and strong during my weight loss. The office staff was also very helpful when needing to change appointments sometimes at the last minute. read more

It's a lifestyle change and the best program I've done because it changed how I think about food as mac nutrients needed throughout the day. The clinicians are qualified and sensitive to individual challenges and the lab work and body in takes insure you're not losing muscle mass but excess fat. If you err you can be human and restart easily. read more

As a man in my 40's I was finding it frustrating to get on a plan and stick to it. I had always been active, lifting, running etc but just couldn't seem to get the cut I had when I was younger. Jumpstart's dietician helped me dial in my goals for macros and they provide a pretty easy to follow guide for what to eat and when to eat it. I've lost almost 25lbs and only 1/2 a pound of muscle in the process. My abs are starting to pop...in my 40's. This program works, it's worth it and my energy level hasn't been this good since my early 30's. I would strongly recommend this program to any man or woman who could use a little bit of help. read more

BAMBOOZLED! This program works if you take the drugs prescribed, but is that realistic- NO. I tried Jumpstart, b/c I thought they took a deep dive at your profile and would tailor your diet needs to the program. You are just a number as if you were to go to the doctor. Health care is a business and the US makes billions around weight management. 1st week- intro/testing 2nd week- meet with the dietician. - Came in and they were double booked, so we did a phone call the following day. I drive across the Dumbarton, so I wasted time, money and gas. - The phone call was a standard program overview, basic lingo, which I called out. We went over my numbers, towards the end of the call. She said she would meet with me week 3 and did not, it was someone else. 3rd week- Program review - She showed me a portion of chicken/portion of steak, suggested what my macros should be and that was it. She gave me the program guide book and showed me 4 out of 103 pages. - Oh, and she kept the dietary journal b/c I use myfitness pal. Nah, girl... gimme that- I paid $328 for this first month of BS. - The problem with having someone meet with you ever week is they do not follow your dietary issues/needs. So when I asked her, do you know my background, she did not. This is SUPER important, b/c if I have dietary restrictions or issues, or if I am trying to get Pregnant.. they should track that and be able to speak to it, by week 3. - The kid at the front usually asks to schedules your next appointment and he didn't ask until I asked him (keep in mind I already cancelled), his response was, "Well, your account is active". - No, [fill in the blank]. See you next week. So, I'm three weeks in with no information regarding my health and $600+ out of pocket. I have to stick it out for another month b/c I thought this program was different. BAMBOOZLED. They make clients pay an extra month for the money when they cancel. If a client wants out b/c it is not working- let them! Now, they'll have to deal with an unhappy client weekly. Depressing.. read more

I've been going to JumpstartMD for a while. Arlene is absolutely wonderful. Arlene is extremely knowledgeable and has helped keep me on track with my health goals. Theresa is also wonderful and always makes you feel welcomed with her friendly attitude. I love this place and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to stay healthy and happy! read more

Seems like a lot of unexplained impersonal "babble"and "nonsense". Sales person didn't ask about my goals and was unable to "sell" me. Didn't see the point in dishing out $1200 to attempt to lose 5-10 LBS max in my case. Maybe more suited to folks with excessive weight to lose. They need to offer a more varied menu and tailor the pricing to suit different needs. Also the online reviews about this business left me wondering if it is a decent program. Sounded like a bit of a rip off based on the reviews I read. It's a NO for me. read more

Best weight loss program I have ever used. I've had extra weight (60-80 lbs) on me for years and have tried numerous programs to get it off. In the short term, I lose weight but then I've always put it back on - until the last seven years. I lost 30 lbs in 2015/2016 and kept it off. More recently I've joined again and lost another 20lbs. This program works. It's not a quick easy fix. It's a different way of eating and staying healthy. I miss the taste of sugary carbs but I don't miss the sluggish fuzzy way they make me feel. I feel great. read more

I've been going to JumpstartMD since March '19. I will say that this is the best weight loss program I've ever been a part of. During the time here I have lost about 46 lbs to date and are about 20 lbs from my "ideal weight." As someone who has struggled with their weight their entire life, I have tried every "diet" on the market. Each time resulted in disappointment and weight re-gain. JumpstartMD guides you step by step in the process. If you follow their instructions and take the plan seriously, you will lose weight. One of the things I love about the plan is the scientific and medical approach they take with weight loss. They will do routine blood tests as well as body fat scans which give you a much better picture that simply "weight loss." End of the day, it is all about body fat percentage. This undoubtedly removes what many call "skinny fat." On this plan you will know the absolute "type" of weight and not simply the number on the scale. I am close to my goal and I know I will reach it in the next several months. With that said, I was also very concerned about what happens after I hit my goal weight. With JumpstartMD they continue to monitor and counsel you even after you reach your ideal weight. You are to continue meeting with them 2 years thereafter to make sure you don't lose the weight. The only thing that may put someone off is that it is a very expensive program. The monthly payment for it is as much as a car payment. For me, the price was worth it. What price can you place on your overall health? Give it a chance. You won't be disappointed. read more

Having struggled with my weight for most of my adult life, I had small bursts of success in the past, only to regain and go back to unhealthy life habits. As the number on the scale was increasing, I knew I couldn't embark on a healthier way of life by myself. I needed help. From my first interaction with the JumpstartMD staff, I felt supported. Utilizing Dr. Bourke's science-based program, I was amazed to see my A1C improve, my lipid numbers and visceral fat decrease, and my blood pressure improve. Week by week, month by month, I learned to make better choices when grocery shopping or eating out all while increasing my activity levels. As I was losing weight, I had more energy. What I appreciate most about the JumpstartMD program is the team. Veronica and Payal provided great insights, suggestions and helpful tips. Theresa and Brittney are the experts at scheduling and billing. The weekly coaching sessions were key for me as adding that extra layer of accountability kept me on track. Arlene is so wonderful. She worked with me on short term and long term goals, while providing strategies for success. Her support and encouragement was amazing even when I didn't think I could accomplish my goals. I could not have reached maintenance without her guidance. Changing behaviors and learning new lifestyle options take time and effort, but it's so worth it! If you're like me and have a lot of weight to lose or perhaps you have less to lose but want to get more healthy, give JumpstartMD a call and start today. You will be thrilled at your results. read more

I've been getting hormone replacement therapy for 9 months now and it truly has been life changing in a positive way. Not only has my intimate relationship with my husband blossomed, my entire being has has gone back in time. I feel like I'm 30 again, I'm 51 years young.my muscle mass continues to improve.. but my sleep is awesome.. I've had problems for years.. I fall right asleep now..lastly the staff and doctor are welcoming and knowledgeable.. I really love it here.. I recommend everyone that struggles with menopause!!! P.S No more Hot Flashes read more

I love going to my sessions at the Redwood City office. The staff is very professional, knowledgeable and courteous. Plenty of parking space too! read more

I have to recommend Arlene, who is professional, thoughtful and a good listener. Committing to lifestyle change is not a simple endeavor and partnering with a trusted person is highly recommended. Try it, you might feel better, and even lose pounds while taking care of yourself! read more

I have been a client of Jumpstart MD since the end of May and I have lost over 20 lbs. Every member of the team has been so helpful and encouraging. They always have a new suggestion or way to approach a challenge for me each week. This is a life changing program and I feel that I have been given the tools to continue on the road to success. I would highly recommend JumpstartMD and the team at the Redwood City office. read more

A week after I cancelled my membership, I received a "Welcome to our Practice" email. I probably wouldn't be writing this review but the email asked for feedback and so it goes. There system--along with everything else--just doesn't seem to have things quite straight. I moved my initial appointment and kept getting reminders for my appointment after I had already gone to my first one. I am disappointed for over $200 on my first visit I did not see an MD. To me, it's a sham. Also, I was shocked to find out that what the practice does is really no carbs and diet pills. Granted, diet pills are very helpful to some people. I came to jump start MD because I'm on quite a few medications that have caused weight gain and I was hoping to work with an MD and a nutrition expert to find the right kinds of foods for me which--could include carbs--and not discuss how ketosis is the end all and be all for weight loss. I understand it has it's benefits but I was looking for a program for me. I just couldn't by into a system where I didn't get a more personalized program. To think the program is almost $400 per month and each week you see someone (not a doctor) for 15 minutes? I guess that's where you make your money. I wonder if I am the only person who has had this kind of experience. It seems like all of the reviews are glowing...I read them too before going in. The service just isn't for me. read more

I was very skeptical about this program going in because I had tried other diet programs in the past and hadn't succeeded. Plus, the clientele was mostly women. But I was quite relieved with the results that I saw almost immediately. I was a very compliant patient and didn't cheat (nothing substantial). I started in Thanksgiving 2008 and ended the acute weight loss phase at the end of March 2009 - in that time I lost 58 pounds total. It's life changing. I felt more energetic, I got rid of my cholesterol control and acid reflux medicines. On the waist size, I went down from a portly size 44 waist (which was a struggle to fit into) and now I'm wearing size 33 pants. It feels great. Even my feet shrank! Same size but my shoes are fitting looser. I worked closely with Dr. Bourke and with Ester, dietician who helped me through the program - both were friendly and direct. It is rather expensive given that they don't include food but well worth it. read more

Seriously, do not use their hormone therapy. I would stay away from them all together. They literally gave me early uterine cancer. I'm very fortunate that it was caught early. I should have sued them, but did not want to add more stress to my life. I did the bio identical hormone therapy. Immediately, started bleeding and having heart palpitations, severe gastrointestinal issues. They told me to stop taking the thyroid medicine they gave me, stop the other medicine, but they could not remove the implant because it was in me already so I had to wait for it to dissolve. It took weeks for the constant diarrhea to stop, They gave me half my money back. I should have sued but I'm not litigious. Literally, in addition to this, they also caused an overproduction of estrogen in my uterus which led to uterine cancer. Thank God, caught early. Kaiser all but said it was the estrogen they gave me. Stay away. They're so lucky i didn't sue them. Only finally wrote this out of obligation to protect others from their quackery. I never do reviews. They don't deserve any stars. They deserve a class action suit. read more

I have been working with the Jumpstart Redwood City team and program since Oct 31, 2012 and have lost a total of 97.8 lbs as of today! This LIFESTYLE change was not easy but with the constant encouragement and support from the program counselors whom I meet with on a weekly basis, (optional) assistance from appetite suppressants the program offers, and also easy to follow nutrition plan, I have continued to lose the necessary weight to decrease the many health risks of being obese. My BMI has gone from 56 to 37! The nutrition plan involves portion control, lean proteins, as well as a low-carb foundation which translates to getting carb intake from fruits and vegetables.Jumpstart provides you with a great deal of information and guides to help with what foods you should or should not eat as well as going over portions of what certain foods look like and how to put together a meal (and snacks). The flexibility with the foods that I can eat have been crucial to my success. Making the lifestyle change of no or low carb hasn't been easy at times, but with the guidance of the program counselors as well as suggestions for recipes and combinations of foods to increase energy and help with my healthy appetite, as well as support with nighttime eating has been INCREDIBLE! My meals never get boring, they get better! I highly recommend this program to anyone who is ready to make a lifestyle change. I am very appreciative to the whole team in Redwood City! I definitely couldn't have gotten where I am without all of you. read more

OMG! OMG! There is no other diet that works.as great as this one. In 3 months I went from a size 12 to a perfect size 4. Outside of doing the program and not cheating, I walked for 1 hour 5 - 6 days a week. My whole BODY got transformed but the best was my legs and my butt. I am so greatful to have found this program because I have never looked so GREAT! I stopped the program in September of 2008 and I have not gained one pound. It has been very easy to maintain. I do go in the office once a month to check in and I will continue to do so. If there is a dollar to be spent, I would very much advise whoever wants to look good and feel great to try this program,it is worth every penny. I was a walking bill board at work, people say my success and made their own success happen. I am very happy to have helped may people (both men and women) get started on a great way to look great! Anne read more

I joined in August of 2018. I came in with a multitude of issues and concerns. My weight had sky rocketed and I had not felt my self in a long time. In discussing this with the staff, I was weighed, measured and given the info and tools needed to lose the weight. I also scheduled an appt. to meet with the BHRT team to figure out how much menopause was impacting not only my ability to lose weight but my over all quality of life. They drew the blood work, determined were the problem areas were and gave me the medications needed to make me feel better. I cannot believe I waited this long to do something about it! I now feel like my normal self and I highly recommend anyone in menopause to doing the same! Don't suffer anymore! Ask about BHRT! read more

I've been going to jumpstart in Redwood City for six months now. I reached my goal weight in five months but I plan on continuing because I do best with a weekly or bi-weekly check in for accountability. Everyone that I have dealt with on staff has been very helpful and professional. I especially like Arlene. She's very knowledgeable, a good listener, and she always has realistic and doable suggestions to maybe change a recipe to make it more low carb or to add a little exercise to my regime. I've tried many diets and diet programs. Jumpstart seems to work for me. read more

Yet another update: Since my last review in July JumpstartMD had contacted me to discuss the review and where I'm at with my weight loss goals. I ended up going back last fall, and have been taking on my journey with them with a different perspective. I've learned more about the medication and what works for my body. As my other reviews have stated: the staff is great. They are accommodating, friendly, and helpful through your weight loss journey. A word of advise: Make sure this is in your budget before starting; and that you can afford sticking with this program through the weight loss phase and through the maintenance phase. Depending on how much weight you have to lose it can be a long journey versus a few months. I had to stop the program my first go around for financial reasons; which didn't give me a fair chance to taper off my meds (which gave me a nasty withdrawal), or give me a solid foundation to maintain my weight loss. It is expensive, so it's imperative to be able to afford it before starting. It is worth it if you work the program! Overall it's a very good program - yep, it's hard but you WILL see results if you follow it. I'm very glad about going back and giving it another chance. read more

I joined in June of this year. The first visit I was made to feel welcome straight off. All the staff are great and very friendly and encouraging to my needs, I have lost a good amount, so much so, the last time I was this weight I was a teenager at school. I am healthier and have lost 2 inches of my waistline. I would recommend the Redwood City team at jumpstartMD read more

I lost 20 lbs. in a month. Thank you Jumpstart. I met Dr. Lai for the first time in the newly opened Burlingame clinic. He was very nice and took the time to explained the results of my lab work. Congratulations Jumpstart Burlingame. Beautiful office. read more

I've been a client of Jumpstart MD for over 6 months and have had great success. I had been working out and been eating low carbs for a while now and not getting results and stagnating in weight. It was recommend to me by my OB to contact them. My success is due to the analysis and the design of the program, but most of all is attributed to the coaching model. Sylvia, my nutritionist, has been such a great support and eating advisor and has helped me reset my metabolism. The recipes, products, and flexibility of the schedule and the sunny Theresa that runs the office is definitely a plus! read more

The best!! I have done jumpstart twice (before and after my last child). Both times at the RWC location. They are awesome. I lost 35 lbs and kept it off for well over a year, this stuff works! I have totally changed how I live (not just eat) and I feel amazing. I even have donated my old clothes, because I know I will NEVER need that size again!! Thank you to all the awesome ladies and RWC jumpstart, you guys are motivating and super instructive! Can't give this place enough props!! read more

If you are looking to lose weight, Jumpstart is the place to go!! They have a great, friendly staff who were always willing to help with any obstacles I had. The program was easy to fit into my life, and I actually made a whole lifestyle change!! I feel great! If there was a time or week when I started to get discouraged or wanted to give up, someone was always there to pick me up and motivate me! I'm 5'3'' and started the program at 180 lbs. Now I wear a size 6 dress and am very confident! read more

WATCH OUT! I could not tell you if you lose weight as I could not get through the sales pitch. The person who calls you to set up appointments and lab work will only do so after taking a credit card, but is hesitant to tell you up front what the lab work will be and thus what the total cost of the labs will be. When I protested this was bait and switch, the representative hung up on me. I suspect that has more to do with it being almost closing time than to genuine umbrage. I hope KQED pulls their ads: predatory. read more

I suffer from back issues and was encouraged by my spine doctor to lose weight. Thanks to a couple co-workers, I was introduced to JumpStartMD. All staff I have encountered at the Redwood City office have been exceptionally friendly and service-oriented making me feel welcome and comfortable. The visits are efficient yet thorough and helpful. It has been 10 months since I started the program and I have lost over 40 lbs and have kept it off. The best part of losing weight is that my back feels a lot better and so does my confidence. Thank you, JumpStartMD RWC Team for your assistance during my weight loss journey. read more

I have been going to Jump Start for many years now. My main draw was to lose weight. Lose weight I did! I still go there monthly for maintenance. Another big draw is the personnel. From Theresa at the front desk to Arlene the gal I check in with.......friendly, patient and knowledgeable. I have been on many weight loss programs in my 59 years......and Jump Start is the one I have stuck with the longest and has helped me maintain my weight loss the longest - this wouldn't happen without the wonderful personnel. read more

I have been a member of the Redwood City Jumpstart program for a little over a year. The customer service has been amazing. The staff are super friendly, attentive, and knowledgeable. During the pandemic they have made a concerted effort to keep patients safe and to make sure that I continued to have the resources, as well as the support needed to continue my success in the program. I highly recommend Jumpstart Redwood City!!! read more

I wanted to lose some of the COVID weight and my doctor recommended Jumpstart MD. I went to the Laurel Heights campus. This review is specifically regarding their shady and fraudulent billing practices. Yes, they are expensive. 388$ membership doesn't give you much, they will charge you several hundreds of dollars for everything else they recommend: BHRT club membership, consult fees, etc. You would think for 388$ that everything would be included, but no. In addition, I gave them my HSA card which had over 2000$. After placing 6 charges of several hundred dollars and emptying that one out, they claimed the charges were denied and billed an additional 1600$ on my credit card. I never got a receipt for any of these services. When I asked to speak to their manager and provided copies of the multiple duplicate charges, I got crickets of silence in return. What kind of shady practice charges over 3000$ worth of repeat charges and never provides a single receipt? This one, apparently! I have had to get a small claims court process going. COMPLETE NIGHTMARE. read more

My experience at JumpstartMD in Redwood City has been nothing short of amazing in terms of resource, support and compassion. At the start of the year, I decided it was time to work towards a healthier version of myself -- particularly as the "Big 4-0" was fast approaching. Workouts alone weren't doing the trick, so it was time I started getting more serious about my nutrition. JumpstartMD provided me with a better understanding of why and how my body responds to certain foods/beverages and supplied me with the data necessary to make better, healthier choices. I found that having precise information about my body's composition (fat, water and muscle percentages, for example) was a motivating factor. I could see tangible and irrefutable data pointing towards my progress -- dropping 3 pants sizes also helped. If you're interested in making serious and lasting changes to your health and body, definitely consider checking out JumpstartMD, it's worth the investment. Not to mention, the staff is incredibly warm, understanding and knowledgeable. Thank you, JumpstartMD in RWC! read more

Each and every time I enter the RWC JumpstartMD doors, I am greeted with encouragement and warmth. Seriously, it is true. This increadible team is consistently compassionate, friendly and professional. As a few of us know, weight loss & wellness is a very personal journey full of ups and downs. Each week, the awesome RWC team has the finesse to determine what I need. There is no one magic bullet for weight loss, but I do believe Jumpstart offers the formula of support, education, and what I personally think is most important, accountability. Thank you Thank you Thank you to the RWC Jumpstart team. read more

I joined JumpstartMD after hearing about them from a radio commercial. I looked into the program and decided to give it a try. I needed to lose weight and get some premenopausal guidance. I must admit I was skeptical at first, and I thought I wouldn't adhere to the eating plan. But 6 months later I am down almost 50 pounds. Weight loss - I really enjoy my weekly appointments and find all the staff very helpful. They provide you with coaching and tips and how to think about food. I am not quite to maintenance yet, but I do feel I will continue on this eating plan indefinitely. I feel better. I enjoy the energy and for me it was more than just weight loss; it was also becoming healthy and staying healthy. My diet does not contain much sugar and all the research I have read links sugar to so many health concerns. My blood pressure is wonderful. I didn't have an issue but it's even better now! I struggle at times with the fitness aspect but I do make the effort. My husband didn't join but benefited because of the foods I was buying and preparing. And he started to exercise too. I do take an appetite suppressant. However, I have started to reduce the frequency and haven't had any issues or experienced increased appetite. I also didn't start them right away. And I actually brought the subject of them back up. It seems people feel they push this, I didn't find this to be true. They did ask and I declined. Then I decided to try it a month or so later! Hormone therapy - I met with the doctor and we spent a good amount of time together. I did some blood work and found that my thyroid was a bit slow. And some other labs were a bit abnormal. I did start on a few hormone replacement medications and it took some time to find the right combination. I would like a bit more physician time; however, I am able to speak with the doctor and she is always responsive to my calls or requests. I have had labs done routinely and feel I am being monitored closely. I have received routine insurance checks to help reimburse me for the monthly expense as well. I have found them to be very timely with their insurance billing. Whether your insurance pays depends on your coverage. I would highly recommend this program and am so grateful. I truly appreciate the staff and all of their kindness and encouragement. I have been going to the office located in Mountain View. read more

STAY AWAY! From my initial appointment when I had registered online, and they didn't know who I was, all sorts of apologies, and it was downhill from there. I am 5'4" and 115 lbs. When the office manager came out to try to "resolve" this miscommunication-( not knowing who I was in the system-when in fact they had me in twice! ) her first remark was: Are you here for weight-loss? I was there for hormone testing-post menopause. I was not told to fast for the scheduled blood work appointment, and therefore, had to return. The tech who took blood was very friendly which gave me reason to make a follow up appointment with a DR. Tandon which would cost $225 out of pocket. (insurance does not cover and they do not take insurance) When I arrived for the follow-up appointment with the Dr., I was told I was in the system 5 times, but they didn't have my paperwork! I had filled in out already- AND I was actually booked with a Nurse Practitioner. The NP suggested I "join" at a $600+ annual rate to receive a $20 per month testosterone cream claiming that only Jumpstart had access to that compound cream. And to add DHEA supplement - to buy it from them of course. When I didn't, I was notinformed of what dose they recommended. Afterwards, I was charged AT THE SAME RATE for the NP appointment as the Dr. would have been @ $225 -without the courteousy of being told ahead of time I would not be seeing a DR. as I had scheduled. If I had a dentist appointment do they think it would be ok to be passed off on a hygentist instead without rescheduling? I made a $225 appointment to see a M.D.- NOT a NP! I would have rescheduled. Again, silly apologies, actually stating they "did not know ahead of time the Dr. wouldn't be in" - absolutely lacking any professionalism. To make it worse, I had to email several times to get copies of my correct bills and they never provided me with the recommendations I was given during the NP visit-just a generi plan for both men and women. A concern I have for weight loss patients is that when I told the NP of my initial visit and that the manager asked if I was there for weight loss-the NP response was that they treat people smaller than I am for weight loss all of the time! Are they promosting anorexia? RED FLAG they are ALL about making money. See your own M.D. and get a referral for weight loss professionals or your gynecologist. Your gynocologist can also prescribe compounds as most are affilitated with pharmicies that can supply the same that Jumpstart claims to have exclusivity with. I was really taken for the $225 and should have cancelled the appointment-unfortunately, the NP identified herself AFTER we had begun. read more

This program WORKS! I lost 35 pounds. I went from a size 8 to a size 2. To be honest, I didn't follow the program 100%... more like 80% :) I did have my cheat days, but, still lost! I have reached my goal, and have been able to maintain the weight. I felt no side effects from the medication other then being really thirsty- which is good b/c that helped with the 100oz of water a day you should drink. (Really 3, 32 oz water bottles incase that sounded daunting :) No jitters, or anything like that since most of the medication they give is naturally occurring in our bodies. 1- Enzyme shot (Optional, but HIGHLY recommended) 2- Chromium (Optional, but recommended) 3- B12 (Optional) 4- Appetite Suppressant (Optional, but HIGHLY recommended) 5- Multi Vitamin (optional) No workouts for the first few months, so get your body adjusted to the reduce calorie intake. Then moved to just simply walking for an hour on weekends! This program was very do-able and does not feel like a "diet". Especially for someone like me who LOVES FOOD! It's a life style change- now that I reached my goal, I am on maintenance, and am used to my new way of eating, small meals every 2-3 hours. It is 2nd nature to me. Now, I simply incorporate three 20 min workouts a week to keep me where I am. I like the Jillian Michaels 20 mins work out on Comcast On Demand. Also if you have Atnea PPO health insurance, the cost may be 80% reimbursable! Three words- JUST DO IT!! read more

I've only attended my introductory meeting, so time will tell if I give this place an additional star. With all of the five star reviews, I felt this place needed a bit of a reality check. The good: - Really Friendly Staff - Focus on realistic, healthy goals. - a Program based in High Protein / Low Carb focused on real foods that is the ideal way to lose weight and sustain it - Focus on your body fat % vs weight - Weekly individual check in appointments - If you follow the program, you will lose weight. There is no way you cannot lose weight on this program. Because you're eating about 800 calories per day and going into ketosis. It's like Atkins but a healthier version since you're supposed to eat lean meat and can have a reasonable amount of veggies/fruits (carbs) for the antioxidants. Still, on 800 calories per day, if you can maintain this for months, you will lose weight. Unlike other diets, you're given appetite suppressants, so this should be achievable, at least for a while. - The focus on diet changes first, then slow introduction of exercise is good for someone who isn't healthy - They are a medical institution so they can give you FDA approved drugs, which might help. - They don't push their own food/products on you, even though they are displayed prominently around the office. - Flexible hours (you can have a meeting on 7am on Saturday if you'd like.) - No fees for missed weekly meetings, but you don't get your money back if you miss them. The bad: - The program is extremely expensive. for my budget, it's not sustainable after a few months. so I'm hoping just a few months gets me on the right track. - The diet portion seems to not be customized for your gender, weight or height. This concerns me as I know a lot about low carb diets, and it's still important to eat the right amount of calories per day, and that is different for men and women, or people of different heights. Even if women are ok on 800 calories per day, I'd guess that men would need a few hundred more for the same effect. - Even though this program is created by Stanford-trained doctors, there's various trains of thought on whether 500-800 calorie diets are good for you, even if they help with rapid weightloss. Ketosis has some nasty side effects, so says the internet. I guess I'll find out soon enough. - There are no recipes provided, just a list of foods you can and cannot eat, along with shopping guides. Recipes would be greatly helpful. Ie, you are allowed jam/jelly but not bread - what do I use this jam/jelly with? My greek yogurt allowance? They need to write a Jumpstart MD recipe book, and then they can sell it and make additional profits globally all while also selling it to their customers so we know what to make for dinner. - After the initial appointment, you pay nearly $400 a month for 15 minute check in appointments once a week. For $400 a month, I want a counselor I can email daily when I'm being tempted to eat. - They talk the talk of having all these different medical trained professionals on staff available for meeting, but I didn't get a full picture of this at the initial visit. They should have a psychologist on staff to help regarding food issues. - For $400 a month, I expect an iPhone app where I can track my food (or usage of an existing one) - instead, I have a paper flip book that is tiny and easy to forget or lose. They should take some of their profits and make a mobile tracker app. As I said, time will tell whether this program gets the extra star. I'm confident IF I can stick to the program I will lose weight, the question is whether or not I can. Overall, this is important to me in my life right now that I'm making an investment in myself to get healthy. I hope I can update this review and give this program five stars in 3 months. read more

I got a card in the mail... then made a call and an appointment without really looking into the program. I did tell the person that I had been severely ill with digestive issues that nearly killed me two years ago. I asked about insurance and was told that many medical PPO's do cover this. But then I got the email with all the forms... first thing, no one told me I would have to pay $200+ out of pocket at the first appointment without even knowing what the program is. I emailed back to them the next day, with questions, no response. I called twice today, finally, after reading what this was, I just cancelled my appointment. WORD TO THE WISE if it seems to good to be true, it probably is too good to be true! read more

I cannot say enough about how great I feel after getting rid of what was filling size 14. I'm now 8-10 :-) Healthy, best program ever. I saw people who do marketing for me lose their weight and figured I'd try it. So glad I did. read more