What a scam! I joined Jumpstart MD ( Laurel Heights) due to a suggestion from a friend, who admittedly never used the program itself. Well why not try it? They promise miracles and l was desperate (but not as desperate, or naive, as they thought) to shift 15lbs. Before they meet with you, you must fill out an extensive questionnaire about your medical history which is a good thing. But, that was the last professional aspect of the program l encountered! l was informed to arrive 15 minutes early to check in, which l did. However, when l arrived, the door was unlocked, but they were closed for lunch. Huh? I entered the waiting room and encountered a very young, 20-something petulant kid who snarled at me as l was early. I tried to ask her a question, but she curtly replied that it was lunch time and she couldn't talk to me! lt made me feel extremely uncomfortable! Unfortunately, the same petulant, non- medically trained kid was to be my advisor. It was a red flag! She quickly recommended Mounjaro. I was a bit open to it, but very reluctant. I wasn't about to go on this lifelong medication without checking with my PCP who strongly advised against it as l am neither obese nor diabetic. My next meeting was a telehealth session with a hormone specialist. More bad advice! I had my thyroid removed as a teenager due to benign tumors. I have been on Synthroid for decades. The therapist suggested l switch to a desiccated pig formula ( due to T3 inclusion). However, my very informed PCP was just stunned! Nope! Not a good idea! The last straw came when l met with a so-called nutritionist. This was a joke! She suggested what was essentially a ketogenic diet. Not only was l expected to keep my carb intake below 30g per day, but to increase my fats and sodium intake. WTF! Did you even bother to read my medical history which was clearly laid out in the intake questionnaire? Obviously not! I have high blood pressure, so no, l am not willing to take in more sodium. I also have familial hyperlipidemia, so no, I was also not willing to increase my fat intake! My research (and l am a researcher) clearly demonstrated that any carb intake under 150g is considered a keto diet. So these so-called medical professionals at Jumpstart MD ( and l take the MD part with a grain of salt) were setting me up for medical disaster with possible medical consequences! Just avoid this scam of a business ( not a medical practice, but a money-earning venture) if you value your health. My pharmacist is convinced that they are getting financial kickbacks from the semaglutide drug companies. Finally, if you do decide to cancel your membership, you will still receive multiple texts from them despite unsubscribing multiple times! It feels like harassment! So, make your own judgement, but proceed with caution. And, l urge you to discuss any of Jumpstart's recommendations with your physician before jumping on Jumpstart's money making bandwagon! read more

Absolutely the best decision of my life, I was about to give up and just deal with the complete exhaustion and being depressed from no Energy and wanting to sleep non stop...They have helped me more than the all the Doctors combined that ignored or didn't seem to care what I had to say before I was referred to this Place...The Dr I met with after my bloodwork was amazing,,, and he took his time and knew exactly what I was talking about,,, I have never felt better and I'm actually loving my menapause journey.. and have more energy than ever! Even my RA/Fibromyalgia has improved from the HRT.., The staff is incredible and patient (I'm not a needle fan) even that was great and I didn't even pass out,,,I have and will continue to refer them. read more

Embarcadero office does not have appt flexibility and only open three days a week until 1pm. It's very hard to get a hold of people in the office since they are often close. For such an expensive service, there should be more staff to take care of needs. read more

Tired. Tired. Tired. So tired I could barely get through the day. Got fat shamed by a Sutter doc, saying I was becoming borderline overweight, pre-diabetic & I must be eating everything. In truth, I wasn't eating much. I was tired all the time. Working out didn't help. A friend called, saying the Jumpstart MD hormone specialist found her thyroid was under functioning. Maybe that was my case.So, I checked them out. I'm lucky; my work insurance covers 70%, so I thought I'd go for it. I still find it expensive compared to other programs, yet, I'm sticking around for the accountability, the thyroid help and bio-identical hormone, got my blood sugar in check, all of which has made me feel FANTASTIC. 6 months in, I've lost 27 pounds, got nature-thyroid (Armour) that my primary doc poo-pooed, and feel SO much better! The brain fog has lifted and Stella got her groove back. ;) read more

First trip was already educational. It has really pushed me into wanting to tone my body and zoom in on the problem areas and hopefully the appetite suppresants will help. So far I havent really felt any effects from taking them. Review will be updated passed the first month! Ladies in this office are AMAZING. Super helpful and extremely knowledgeable on what you need to do. Love it! read more

Yes this place is expensive. $388/month. Sometimes they have promotions - they advertise on KFOG so you can listen for deals (usually $50 off first month) Or $100 off if a friend refers you. I knew I was getting married this year and had been dieting, I lost 10 pounds last year and 10 pounds this year, then - BANG it was 3 months before my wedding and my weight really wasn't moving. So I bit the (expensive) bullet. In 3 months I lost another 10 - which was great -would have loved to have lost 15. The gal I liked the most left in the middle of my time there. The others were nice - but no fun. The "diet" part is really what you expect in a fast weight loss diet - SUPER low carbs, and not that much food... I started on the "baby" (lowest dose) of app suppressants - they worked great for the 1st month. then they didn't - for the last month I was on the program I get stepped up to the least dose of 30mg Phen... (something or other). This worked much better. So I was happy - I lost weight for the wedding, I wish I had joined 4 months before the wedding. But really this plan is too expensive to stay on long term unless you are rich. It is now 4 months after I quit and I have gained back about 2- 3 pounds depending on the day, but I am trying to stay off the (DELICIOUS) carbs. Though funny if you read my recent Yelp reviews it sure doesn't sound like it. (Most days I do pack a veggie-based lunch & make a light dinner) I will say it is annoying that I keep getting emails from them after I quit saying the are going to charge my credit card the $388, and then when I call to talk to them about it - they assure me I am canceled. It is just annoying, but I suspect it might be a marketing ploy to get me to rejoin. read more

In a word - or rather two - it works! The team here REALLY know what they are doing. I consider myself a pretty savvy person who understands healthy eating, how to lose weight, I already track everything I eat, and yes, I'd done keto. I am a pretty fit person but was not feeling good about myself. I weighed 148 and my goal was 125. And at 48, I had put on 20 lbs in one year and after trying EVERYTHING over the course of several months and failing, I finally decided to call in the professionals. Not gonna lie - I was skeptical. They gave me some very clear guidelines on what to eat: specifically, they provided me with very specific numbers on how many grams of carbs, protein, and fat I could eat. It seemed like a version of keto, but tailored to me, and with a different - and noticeable - variation of macros than I'd done before. The first two weeks were the hardest. Now I love the food I'm making, am actually eating three meals a day, and I've gotten to where I actually like it. It's been just over 8 weeks and I've lost 14 lbs! I honestly don't know how this is working when nothing else worked. It must be the food guidance, the tailoring of macros to me, and definitely accountability (getting weighed every week) helps! They are supportive and wonderful - even when I'm skeptical! Truly, if you are at the end of your rope, feel like you know how to lose weight but for some reason nothing is working, CALL THEM! I need to add: weightloss was 100% my primary goal, but I also FEEL better, and sleep better, than I have in years. They really are amazing! read more

Results = $Cha-Ching$ I set up my husband with Jump Start in January. They had a deal for free initial consultation which would have cost $250. The monthly is another $380. For that cost you get diet pills if you are approved and weekly check ins. My guy didn't want the pills and would only have gotten them in his 1st week anyway. He killed it the first week and lost a bit over 10lbs. Then it slowed to 1/2-5lbs per week. He was consistent and liked the nurse who he met with. The thing is we couldn't afford the monthly when all he was getting was four 10 minute weigh-ins a month. In all he lost a little over 20lbs but after a few months it's all back. Wish the price was more in line with the actual service because he would have stayed on. read more

Why can't anyone answer the phone! Super frustrating. A call back a day or two later is useless. For the amount paid, seems absurd they under staffed at the front desk. This has happened to me at least 6x since March. read more

I started one month ago. I made a commitment to myself thar I would be true to the program and not cheat. I figured I would starve, but succeed. I was wrong! After relearning how to eat, I find that I eat way more than I use to and often stuggle to get it all in. After 10 days, my carb craving disappeared. Being a vegetarian, I was concerned that the plan would not accommodate my personal beliefs. Wrong. They tailored a program for me! Today marks one month. I am down 20 pounds, feel great, lost 5 inches in my waist, and have a lot of energy. I am very pleased with my results! read more

Welp, post-pregnancy, the weight really started to pile on...and, I'm pretty short--So, YIKES! It had gotten to the point where I was, literally, embarrassed to be seen. :( I can't say enough about how great Jumpstart has been for me. This awesome program was exactly what I was looking for in a weight loss program. The counsellors are friendly and helpful, the nutritionalist is knowledgable and supportive. Best part is that there's no pre-packed crappy food to buy. As someone who loves to cook and prepare meals, this was pretty key for me. They give you drugs to curb your hunger--which helps a lot, though after a while i didn't even need them as my results kept me motivated. I'm at my halfway point now and will post an update when I complete the program--hopefully in the next 2 months. YAY, Jumpstart! You guys rock. read more

I've been on the program a few times over the last few years and rejoined again a few months ago. After Jodi left the Laurel Heights location, I started seeing Erika on a pretty regular basis. Let's just say she "gets it!" She helps me see things just a little differently. By providing helpful tips (it could be changing my perspective or choosing different phrases like I've always used, "I deserve this") or showing me new ways to see how my patterns and habits have been created, I always leave my meetings feeling better and like I've learned something new. I so look forward to seeing her on a weekly basis because she not only holds me accountable, but like a friend would do, she remembers the details of where our previous conversations ended. She's super authentic, real and the perfect person to be rooting for me and my success every step of the way. Also, gotta say that seeing Cristina's familiar, smiling face at the front every week is also like seeing a good friend. She's always so accommodating, easy to work with and getting to see these two every week motivates me to stay on track wanting more! Thank you ladies for all you do! read more

I am wondering if the other reviews on here were written by staff members of Jumpstart MD. My experience was different. This is not specifically geared towards Jumpstart on Laurel, but just the business in general. I heard about it from Renee on KFOG and finally I decided to do something about losing the 15 pounds I shouldn't have. I went to the initial consultation, and I was feeling good. I lost 11 pounds. But, here's why 2 stars- For the amount of money, I expected more. My insurance doesn't cover it, so I was paying out of pocket on my teacher salary. I thought my health should come first. I even got a second job so I could pay for this. I was encouraged not to exercise because it would 'make me hungry', I had appetite suppressants given to me even though I don't want them, and no one told me I'd be injected with shots every week. For that amount of money, I'd expect a cooking class, or a coach (instead I saw someone different almost every time I went). I asked about blood sugar and diabetes and just got generic answers. I spoke to someone about the price being so high and I got a second job, and when they told me that PPO s cover it, I was livid! So some people are getting this for free!!!! If it was free, I'd think it was worth it. There's not even an APP on the iphone to keep track of food! I had to use other apps. I mean, for over $300 a month, I'd expect more. I was dissapointed. I missed my last appointment. No one even called to follow up. read more

This is a followup review to my original posting last September. I have successfully completed my Jumpstart program.. it has been 10 months since I started the program and I have lost 95 lbs!! I wholeheartedly recommend this program to anyone. Dr. Lai is a very compassionate doctor and his staff is great as well....Thanks Jumpstart! read more

Everyone is so knowledgeable. I find this is the best way to attend your program on Saturdays because every new person brings new insight into your lifestyle change. read more

I'm only 3 weeks in and am experiencing good results. But I'm not surprised since I knew going in that my body does not like carbs even though my mind does. I don't plan to stay on the program longer than 2 months. Why? It's too expensive for the service provided. It's Great for what the name suggests-a jump start. By all means, it's great if you need a nudge like I did. But I wish they had a different rate for those of us without insurance that covers (I.e., Kaiser.). But if you have insurance, go for it. There are add'l charges for some extra tests. Very friendly and kind folks at the Laurel Street location! read more

I was inspired by my cousin, Nandita Weigel, who is a program counselor at Jumpstart MD. Nandita embodies the Jumpstart principles in her daily life and I wanted to get in as great shape as she is. She also has her Master's Degree in Health Management and I knew she would not recommend this program unless it was merited. I found the Jumpstart program very easy to follow. I have lost close to 30 lbs in 3 1/2 months. I was very lucky to have had Evelyn Thai as my counselor and found her suggestions for dealing with particular cravings and on adhering to a diet when on business travel most helpful. Reena Gupta who I also saw twice a month as part of the medical component of the course also was very helpful with recommending particular nutrition supplements, etc. While on the diet some minor health issues came to bear. It was very reassuring to hear from my doctor that my having lost weight and my current diet regime would help alleviate some of my symptoms. read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE THIS OFFICE! I just started back to take off the last of the weight and the office staff are as professional and friendly as they were the first time we met. This program is amazing and teaches you a healthier way to eat for the rest of your life. read more

I have struggled with keeping my weight steady and combating my constant bloating/messed up digestion. Cutting sugar was tough but its been one year and my skin clear, I don't have any cravings for late night chocolate and my energy is stable. Carbs and me still struggle, however, I"m doing pretty good with the support of JumpstartMD. Welcoming reception and staff - I love my peeps! read more

This program works, if you follow it, expect to lose 10+ pounds in 4 to 6 weeks. You will lose the most amount of weight the first week and then 1 to 2 pounds there after. It is essentially a keto diet with the first three weeks being the most restrictive and after that you can reintroduce certain fruits etc. I didn't realize how easy it would be to go keto and the program will introduce you to chocolate drinks and snacks that help you alleviate any cravings for sweets. JumpstartMD provides hormone optimization which is very cutting edge and an important key to weight loss. The program could do a better job of offering recipes and updating their grocery lists. There are a lot of great recipes that fit into the diet but you have to do your own searching to find them. Their instagram has no recipes either and just very generic postings. Don't be deterred by the price, it is easy to figure out this diet and quit after a month or two after you know how to navigate it without having to pay JumpstartMD. If they offered more support in this realm of recipes etc, I'd be more inclined to stay long term read more

I have been very successful on Jumpstart. Everyone is very friendly, encouraging and well informed. I usually see 1 of 3 clinicians and they are all good. Even Christina at the front desk is very friendly. I know it is expensive, but if I went to Weight Watchers, it would have taken twice as long at least to lose the weight. So Jumpstart is the one for me. beverlee H. read more

THIS review is about the BHRT program. DO NOT GET SUCKERED IN. I went in for my Thyroid and was talked into the Pellet injection. HORRIBLE, you are not told about the entire experience. All they said is we insert the pellet to your butt and there could be side effects. But the dosage is so low, do not worry. REALLY! My butt took over a month to heal, for 2 weeks I had this large bandage on my butt. Then I had all the side affects you could image. I still have hair growth on my face and chin (which was NEVER a problem for me in the past). I went through menopause with no issues and then BAM... this was the worst experience I have ever had. I only did one treatment and will not go back for another nor would I recommend this experience to anyone. See your physician if you really feel you need hormone replacement. This is money driven team, and they only care about the $$$$$$$$$$$ not your health. I wanted to continue the Thyroid medication, when I went to renew my RX all of a sudden ( please not this is my 2nd renewal), I am to pay an annual fee. This is crazy, I already paid and was told I am good for one year. Now, they are saying this is not true.... SCAM! read more

Speaking from the perspective of a guy who had never, ever participated in a franchise diet program, I can't say I was looking forward to this. I have always struggled with weight, on a roller coaster over the years. I have lost a ton (85lbs) of weight with this program, but even more important (cause I have lost the weight before), is the fact that I now have the knowledge and tools to keep the weight off. The staff are professional and supportive. I don't use the "box system" that JumpStartMD promotes, but I do follow the ratios (protein to carbs). I prefer to use the app "MyFitnessPal" to track all my calories - so easy to do. I also use a Fitbit to track calories burned. But, the basis of my program is the structure and support that JumpStartMD provides. My wife does the program too - so the support at home is great too. Yes, my wife suggested I do the program. Always listen to your wife! read more

This program was life-changing for me - I've lost over 25 pounds in six months, without crazy amounts of exercise, obsessing about points or food, or feeling deprived (unlike my efforts at Jennie Craig, Weightwatchers or trying exercise alone.) My doctor is pleased as all my vitals & lean muscle mass have improved significantly, and the food program is consistent with the latest medical thinking on weight control (e.g. low-fat doesn't work). I can eat easily and enjoyably in most social settings without needing special meals -- I eat whatever protein and veggies everyone else is eating and quietly skip the starchy carbs(bread, rice, potatoes, etc.) Cutting back on starchy carbs ended up being easier and more pleasant than I expected, with Jumpstart's help, and using the excellent shopping sheets they give you for each store, listing brand-names and sizes. Although I wanted to hate the dieticians and nurses and counselors at first for being skinny, they have all lost weight themselves and were very supportive and non-judgmental, approaching it as a medical/science/behavioral challenge, not a moral one. (I know this review sounds like an infomercial but I have zero connection with this company, other than as a very enthusiastic patient.) I didn't mind the financial outlay for such a big improvement in my health. This was the most successful weight loss program I've ever done, by far, and the easiest. I recommend it highly for anyone with stubborn or lots of weight to lose, especially other post-menopausal women who want to get seriously healthier (and drop 6 sizes) without having to obsess constantly over food & exercise. And for people who have gotten discouraged over time with minimal results in other programs. Here, following the program was pretty easy, and yielded real results for me. Good luck. read more

JumpstartMD has been a great change for my well being! It's a solid way to approach a lifestyle change that will absolutely improve your life. I lost about 14 lbs in 30 days following my meal plan with healthy options, nothing frozen, totally all my own meal prep and cooking. Super simple and everything makes sense. Dr. Bourke and Betsy have been absolutely game changing on the diet side and then I decided to venture into the BHRT side. I've got the diet plan down so I've decided to invest in something that I hadn't tried before and it's been amazing to have my energy and other levels return to a good place. I was experiencing a thyroid issue and have normalized now following Dr. Bourke's coaching and recommendations that I hadn't really explored previously. I feel much better after 6 months and I've validated the diet side so I'll now be able to lose even more weight on a steady timeline. I did so well on my weight loss that I guess I've been a bit arrogant and decided to insert visits to the manufactory for some pain suisse croissants. I know once I return to the Jumpstart plan I'll lose the weight. The staff is so nice really, Collin, Dr. Tandon and Devin. I'm in good hands and totally down to make some behavioral changes that will keep me on a path to fitness and well being. I am a great supporter of the BHRT if you're in that time of your life. It's worth checking out. read more

I went to the Jumpstart SF office and had the worse experience. Tulay, the clinician was rude and totally belittled me. Her scare tactics and bad counseling made it a nightmare. Hey, I'm coming to you for help not a scolding like a child. Your medical advice was even wrong. Sorry, the Burlingmae office was much more welcoming. Will never go back again. read more

All staff I have encountered have been exceptionally friendly and service-oriented making me feel welcome and comfortable. They are always on time. The visits are efficient yet thorough and helpful. I have tried almost every diet out there. This is the first sustainable eating plan that has made a difference. read more

I had high hopes for this place but it was really difficult. They are not experienced in Diabetes and the diet pills they put on on raised my blood pressure so it took my regular Dr. almost 3 months to get my body straightened out. It was a total waste of money and the Dr.s @ Jumpstart never see you so your only seeing employee's the ones I saw could not even take a blood pressure correctly. They do not want you to Exercise @ all. They want the weight loss to come from diet pill only, then when you stop going there you Gain all the weight back. Total rip off but most important "Dangerous." read more

I've been coming to Jumpstart for the past 5 months or so and I am in love. Where should I start? When I walk in I'm greeted so kindly, every single time I might add. The beautiful, young woman at the front says hello to everyone by their first names and I sit in awe wondering how she remembers us all. The office is cute and quaint and the area is gorgeous !!! My only complaint is the parking can be difficult at times, but it's worth it. The ladies I meet with each week are extremely knowledgeable, and I'm almost certain I've met with all of them. Each of them offer something different but equally valuable. I think their backgrounds are mostly in nutrition and it's refreshing to see folks so passionate about what they do. I mean they have trained me so well, and if you are going to commit to something like this, you better be ready to make a true lifestyle change. I've changed my ways dramatically and it was hard and I was hesitant at first, but once the weight started melting away, I knew it was the right change for me. It's hard to break those habits that I've built up over my lifetime, but slowly and surely I'm changing them. Tulay, the nurse practitioner, is very motivating, caring and awesome. She is so friendly and I feel really comfortable opening up to her about practically anything! Now, for the best part...I've lost almost 45 pounds! I've tried weight watchers and other diets that claim to be "low carb" but I was never able to lose this much weight and keep it off. I will most certainly do maintenance once I reach my goal weight (which is right around the corner) because they've assured me that it will be helpful in maintaining the new me !!! At first I thought they were just pushing something extra on me because everyone kept mentioning it, but after looking at the statistics for myself, I'm sold. It is scary to think how easy I might gain it all back, but I am not going to let all my hard work go to waste. I could probably go on and on but I will leave it there, Jumpstart is amazing! read more