Patient Stories

Over the last 10 years or so I have gained a lot of weight. It wasn’t till the last year that it really started bothering me. Two cholesterol tests were done over a six month time period which revealed my cholesterol levels had substantially increased. As a result, I ended up on cholesterol medication. Other concerns included being embarrassed about going out and not wanting to go out into public, ashamed of my appearance, coming to terms with the fact that I am not fit, the lack of cloths in stores that would fit me and look good on me, and not wanting to have my picture taken due to my “horrible” appearance.

In the past, I have tried a few other diets with good, but short lived results. At the beginning of last year a group of co-workers tried to get me to go to the gym and work out with them. They were always put off. Having heard of Medical Weight Loss of New York several years ago and knowing another person that attended with great results, I decided that this might be the program for me. In September of 2010 I called and setup a time to attend an information session. In late September we did the initial testing and another problem was revealed. I was now a borderline diabetic. Also around this time I walked up two flights of stairs at work and by the time I arrived on the second floor I thought I was going to die. My heart was racing, unable to catch my breath and thinking this might be it, I knew it was time to make a change. Due to a professional conference, a personal class that I wanted to take and having to bring my daughter back from her college externship that delayed me from starting the program. On Tuesday October 12, 2010 I started the full diet program.

On September 30^th, while at a polysomnography conference, our keynote speaker was a contestant from season 5 of the Biggest Loser. He shared many tips about weight loss with one main tip he kept repeating. Weight loss is about “Lifestyle Change.” I believe that is the key and that is what makes Medical Weight Loss of New York successful. Dr. Scinta’s approach is based on a team, one that treats all aspects of obesity. The team is composed of the doctor, a nurse practitioner, a nutritionist, psychologist, fitness trainer and support group. Right from the start everything is being addressed. Medical issues, diet, reeducation on proportions/nutrition, exercise, personal support. Lifestyle change is what Dr. Scinta’s approach is all about.

Medical Weight Loss of New York has really changed my life for the better. Just recently I have gone to transitional status where I am eating a wider verity food. They have given me the confidence to make better choices about what and how I eat. I no longer need cholesterol medication, no longer a borderline diabetic, now I am able to climb 50 flights of stairs at a time with no problem, working out several times a week and just completed two hikes in one day. The hikes included Cascade and Porter Mountains in the High Peaks area of the Adirondacks. Both mountains are over 4000’ in elevation and are the 36^th and 38^th tallest mountains in New York State. My current weight is the lowest that I have been since 2000 and I am the fittest that I have been since at least 1995. It’s very rewarding to be able to walk around and feel so much better.

With sixteen years experience as a healthcare professional this is by far the best program that I have seen for treating obesity. Furthermore, the kindness, caring and compassion that you receive from Dr. Scinta’s staff is better than you would find at any doctor’s office. They make you feel like a person and not just another patient. Time is spent with you addressing your needs or concerns. I want to thank Dr. Scinta and her staff for helping me make a lifestyle change. There is still a ways to go to reach my goal weight and I am confident that we can reach my goal.