Innovative Aesthetics: Finally, your last diet – LIVING WELL Magazine

Finally, Your Last Diet

By Courtney Albritton, PA-C, MPA, Clinical Director, Innovative Aesthetics, Linn County LIVING WELL Magazine 

As a medical provider, I hear all too often from my patients, “I eat a balanced diet, but I keep gaining weight,” “I exercise daily, but continue to gain weight,” or they ask for a weight loss prescription medication just to “give them a boost.” Quite frankly, I couldn’t respond beyond telling everyone to eat healthier, incorporate better lifestyle habits, and exercise more. I, personally, have struggled with my weight over the years. I was the classic yo-yo dieter, self-proclaimed carb addict, and I have heard the classic line to “diet and exercise.” So, if everyone KNOWS how to do this, then why are we still struggling?

In the search to more effectively help my patients, I wanted to find a program that wasn’t a fad, involved prescription medications, shots or pills, and I wanted to recommend something that was professionally sound AND effective. Eventually, after reviewing different weight loss programs, weekly support groups, diets, and even mail order food supplements, I came across the Ideal Protein Diet.

After personally going to hospitals that ran this medically supervised program and further research, I decided the best way to determine if this diet program worked was to do it myself. If I couldn’t follow it, how could I recommend it? So, I did. After three weeks I was down 16 pounds, then at five weeks I was down 25 pounds. All while maintaining my muscle mass, energy, and my sanity. My cholesterol levels dropped and I felt better not carrying around the extra weight.

So our journey began. We started offering the Ideal Protein Diet within Innovative Aesthetics Medical Spa & Laser Center in May 2010, the first in the Cedar Rapids area.  The first clients were patients that witnessed my weight loss and many had previously been on prescription weight loss medications. They continued to succeed and started to surpass my own expectations. This diet REALLY works and I felt I was finally able to offer my patients something that was healthy, FDA approved, and medically supervised.

Ideal Protein isn’t a new concept. It has been around for over 20 years and was developed by a physician. Dr. Tran Tien’s concept was to develop a diet that would help stabilize insulin dysfunction, hyper/hypoglycemic conditions, and allow the body to use the energy within its fat stores. It has been FDA approved in the U.S. for over four years and is only offered within healthcare facilities.

There is a four-phase protocol that helps stabilize blood sugars, burn fat, all while keeping muscle mass and other lean tissue. Innovative Aesthetics has a diet coordinator that is trained in the medical profession and is available daily. Initially, a one-on-one consultation reviews the diet plan, records body fat, body measurements, blood pressure, weight, and a baseline laboratory workup is ordered to include cholesterol panels.  Weekly follow-up visits are then used to help educate, motivate and focus our dieter.  These include reviewing diet journals, recording blood pressure, weight and body fat measurements. Healthy recipes and tips are also provided during weekly coaching sessions.

We have watched the transformation of so many of our clients physically, but also mentally. In 2011 alone, we are proud of the 2,000-plus pounds shed within our program.  We have established a great rapport with surrounding primary care providers, general practitioners, family medicine and internists. Free diet seminars are available to learn more about the diet protocol, meet the diet coordinators, witness testimonials from current and past clients and to see our facility.

To learn more, visit our website www.IAMedicalSpa.com.