Testimonials

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