When I was 16, my parents told me they were going to take me somewhere for help. It sounded cryptic, but they told me it was a doctor who specialized in weight loss. Needless to say, I was not happy about this. They got me out of school early, and we headed down to Naples. I was pleasantly surprised.

I’ve struggled with weight my whole life. I’m on the bottom rung of the genetic totem-pole. Right after the stubby legs, I’ve got a metabolism that is about the pace of a snail. I was always winded, always sick, and had knees that seemed to be mad at me. The biggest problem, definitely had to be how depressed I was. I wore a hooded sweatshirt every day, no matter the climate. I’ve tried everything under the sun since the elementary school age. Weight Watchers, E-Diets, not eating meat, not eating anything. Nothing at all worked.

At Cederquist Wellness Center, I relearned everything. I learned how to not diet, but instead take every day in stride and look for a logical answer. I’ve never felt the need to make excuses. No one has ever talked down to me, like I’m a kid. I feel like I’m actually listened to. I’ve learned why your body uses things, what is actually good for you, and what it does.

In about three years, I’ve lost over 50 pounds. It still baffles me. Some days I still can’t fathom that I’ve done it. I can buy clothes in normal stores, girls’ clothes, even. I can go up the stairs without having to stop for oxygen. I can look in the mirror and go “I look ok today”. At my job people I don’t know come up and tell me they see a difference. I can make a good decision on what I’m going to eat. I know when to stop.

Exercising was the enemy, I hated it. Now, I like exercising (that’s just crazy). I hit plateaus and wanted to quit about a million times. It’s all been worth it in the long run, though. I hope to keep taking it off and maintaining it. It’ll be a life long struggle, but now at least I know I can do it. It’s funny to think of how against coming here I was in the beginning, and really I couldn’t have done it without the help.

Alexis Hoffman

My name is Doug. I am a retired executive and seasonal Naples resident, and I have struggled with my weight since childhood. I remember always being on a diet, with some success, but the weight just seemed to creep back up every time and I found myself in a cycle of “yo-yo dieting.” After I gained 20 pounds from taking some medication for my diabetes, my doctor suggested going to a bariatric physician for help.

When I first met with Dr. Cederquist, my goal was to lose 100 pounds; a tall order, but that is exactly what I did with her help. I diligently followed the routine of a healthy weight loss diet prescribed by Dr. Cederquist, and regular exercise. I met with Dr. Cederquist and my lifestyle counselor regularly when I was in town and maintained my healthy habits on my own during the 6 months I spent up north. It took me only 2 years to accomplish my goal. I still meet with Dr. Cederquist and her staff regularly to keep on track and I weigh myself at home daily.

I love the fact that Dr. Cederquist’s program is supermarket-based, and I feel more in control of my weight and my diet. I also found the weekly sessions with a nutritionist very helpful in keeping me accountable and in giving me tips and support along the way. I loved the handouts created by Dr. Cederquist addressing a variety of topics that affect weight loss and felt they were very helpful and well-written.

Through Dr. Cederquist’s total weight loss program I learned how to take care of myself by improving my diet, increasing exercise, and sleeping better. I learned about portion control, what foods to choose, and my trigger foods. I also learned not to buy foods that I shouldn’t eat.

My health improved rapidly as I lost weight. I was able to decrease or discontinue many of my medications. I feel better, look better, and have more energy. I sleep better at night, and now I can buy clothes off the rack in normal sizes. I regularly get compliments from my doctors and friends. I know how to shop healthy by getting food mainly from the perimeter of the store, and as a result, many of my health and dental problems have resolved.

Doug

For several years I had heard great things about Dr. Cederquist from patients and friends. However, I was dealing with multiple health problems, including high blood pressure, light-headedness, and chronic digestive problems, therefore I wrongly felt that losing weight was not a priority.

Since starting on Dr. Cederquist’s program 12 weeks ago I have lost 15 pounds. What I like about this program is the guidance and direction given to you by the staff. Once I adjusted to the change it was going to make in my daily routine, I appreciated the structure of the diet and how easy it was to stay on it.

The hardest part of the losing the weight for me was the adjustment in my thoughts about protein. I have been on every diet known to mankind! All they meant to me was “DIET” – something to make me look thin – something temporary until I got to my goal weight.

What I learned with this program is that this is life changing – not temporary, and for me, it is more about feeling better and having more energy. And thanks to Dr. Cederquist’s wisdom, encouragement, thorough food allergy testing, I have discovered what food works best for me.

Charlotte Soster

I discovered Dr. Cederquist’s program through a co-worker who recommended her to me. Before I came to see her, I had high cholesterol, high blood sugar, and a lot of waist-heaviness. By following the program and getting adequate protein and snacks in, I was able to lose 15 pounds and it took me three to four months.

The best part of the program for me was that I had a variety of choices of food, and the portions are large. I was eating often and felt full. The protein stays with you.

The hardest part of losing weight for me at the beginning was readjusting my routine and shopping for the right foods. But once I was used to the program, it became second nature. I had not tried other methods to lose weight before. I learned so much from doing Dr. Cederquist’s program, about how to have the right amounts of protein and to control the amount of carbohydrates I ate, to lower my high blood sugars and cholesterol level.

I know I’ll be able to maintain the weight loss, because it’s not difficult to follow and stick with it. The biggest benefits of losing the weight are better health in general, and also staying away from medications!

Carol Loebs

I discovered Dr. Cederquist’s program through my doctor, who recommended that I see her for weight loss. I had breathing problems, was retaining a lot of water, and generally feeling very sick and exhausted. By following Dr. Cederquist’s program I lost 45 pounds and it took me about 1 year.

The best part of the program to me was finding out why I had these problems, and then the comfort I felt when Dr. Cederquist knew exactly how to treat it. We found out that I had an elevated blood sugar, and that this was one of the biggest reasons that I was overweight. I learned so much about how to life a healthy lifestyle.

For me, it was not difficult. Of course you have to change your eating habits, but I was never hungry on the program. The program gives you enough snacks and meals that you are not uncomfortable at all. I did not try other diets -- I only did things on my own that never worked. Here, I learned how to eat, how to ensure I got in all my snacks, and how to avoid gaining weight again. I love this program and I am definitely going to stay on it. I feel more in control of myself, and confident that I am not going to gain the weight back. I feel so much better about myself in so many ways.

I look so much better, and I am more energized. I can do my work better, and I am constantly receiving compliments from people that I look so much younger and that I look so great. I love it!

Carla

Each time I would visit Dr. Venable’s cardiology office, I would have put on extra pounds. Each time he told me I needed to lose weight, and I would tell him I’d try. This last time he insisted that I do something about the situation and suggested Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig as examples. I told him I’d been there and done that and it didn’t work for me. Then he suggested your program. He explained to me that it was doctors and nutritionists. Bingo! I found what I had given up looking for.

I needed to lose 90 pounds, and I was anxious to get started. I was sick of being sick. It wasn’t as much the health problems I had as the health problems that were going to be ahead of me if I didn’t change the course on my body weight. I’ve lost 40 pounds in 5 months. I’m about half way on my weight loss. This change is not a short term solution or a quick fix.

There are a number of things that I appreciate about your program. You value my time. My appointments happen according to schedule so I can get back to work. All of your staff are friendly and courteous. I like being provided reading material for between visits to educate me in the program.

I am involved a lot with the public, and management. Healthy, fit people command more respect. It’s easier to handle daily stress when you are fit. I now understand how my metabolism works and what I need to eat and when. The benefits of losing the weight have been gaining back a quality of life that had been lost.

Gary Putaansuu

My doctor felt that my physical condition was good except for my weight and recommended that I see Dr. Cederquist. I had been experiencing some health problems, such as difficulty moving around, but the worst was the shock of a heart attack at 47 years of age. To date I am still on the program and have lost 53 pounds. The thing I like best about the program was the one-on-one discussion with the nutritionist who is completely attentive to my weight loss issues and successes.

The hardest part of losing weight was cutting back on sweet fruits, which are higher in carbohydrates. I had tried Weight Watchers before and wasn’t successful. I have learned many things from the program, first of all that weight loss can be successful. I’ve also realized that there are other avenues and outlets besides eating, and that I don’t have to eat until I’m really full.

I feel that I will be able to maintain this weight loss because I have made lifestyle changes that I’m going to stick with. I will not stop this program yet, it took me 50 years to develop bad habits, and I need time and support to replace them with good ones.

Wow! There are so many benefits to losing the weight. I have more energy, my self-esteem has improved, along with my self-confidence. I applied for and got a new job position, and I have generally more happiness and health!

Lisa Coto

Dear Dr. Cederquist,

Three months ago when I walked into your office I was desperate for help. I have tried for years on yo-yo diets to lose weight only to gain it back plus more. My health has deteriorated to where I suffer daily with back pain, muscle and joint aches and pains, and headaches; the headaches would often turn into migraines. I didn’t want to do anything that would just mean walking around for long periods of time and took many pain reliever drugs just so I could feel normal again.

Dr. Cederquist, I came to you for help with weight loss but you gave me so much more. In our initial consultation you felt I was suffering from food sensitivities and that my body was suffering from inflammation from these sensitivities. The 28-day food elimination program you prescribed worked wonders. To do this elimination diet I was not to worry about losing weight, as that was not the goal, but I did lose weight! Within week of being on this diet I suffered no headaches and as the days went on the pain in my body completely went away! I found out to my amazement that I actually had food sensitivities to dairy and soy. Keeping these out of my diet has made me feel normal again without the use of pain relievers. I have had one bad headache in 12 weeks! This in itself is so refreshing; you must understand I used to have a headache every day!

My dietitian helped me learn to eat the proper food for my body and lose weight while feeling good and not deprived. My dietitian was very knowledgeable of the foods out there in the grocery store’s shelves and would suggest things to avoid and things to purchase to keep me on track but not bored.

I came to you for weight loss 12 weeks ago, but I have gotten so much more. I lost approximately 10 pounds of fat, not water, no muscle, but fat! I lost pain which is more important than any weight lost. I am no longer doing damage on my liver, pancreas, or stomach from the painkillers, because I am no longer in pain.

Thank you again and I will take the knowledge your practice has taught me to make a lifestyle change that will keep me feeling well, rested, and full of life.

Belinda, Female , Age 56