Hello World, The intent of this review is to summarize my journey with LeanMD. I started my journey April 28th, 2019 weighing in at about 355 Lbs and as of January 1st, 2020 I was down to 280 and still counting down. Down -75Lbs in 8 months. Before entrusting this program, I was lost and scared that I was going to die quite literally.. I was literally killing myself with food due to down spiraling mindset. The worst part was knowing I am killing myself and still being powerless over my own decisions and actions. I was so sad, depressed, angry, resentful, and not in a good place. It is very rare to find genuine people whose sole purpose is to empower others with no expectation of us returning the favor. I was very reluctant to take the advice that was given due to many times trying and failing before. So I thought, "How is this going to be any different?" I was in denial about everything in my life, partly because I felt I had done everything in my power to lose weight on my own and to show any progress toward a healthier way of living. I realized I was powerless over my own decisions and I had no control over my destructive patterns of food choices and I came to realize how I was completely addicted to all the wrong things. Merli, Jonnesha, and Sarina have to be some of the most compassionate empathetic and kind people I have ever met. It never mattered if I had a good week or bad week or an okay week they were there by my side every step of the way. They helped me open my eyes to see my worth and to recognize just how valuable I am, as me. There came a point in my life where I contemplated a lot of things but I never knew life would have been one of them. I developed a sick mentality over time and I remember thinking at one point, "If I was going to die I was going to go out eating everything that made me feel good about myself in my life. If I've learned anything from this program, I've learned that micro steps equals macro wins. If I just take things minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, or decade by decade, that I can achieve anything I set my mind to. I know it sounds cliche, but by having the accountability, empathy, and to truly feel the genuine passion of my LeanMD team of wanting to make me better, some times more than I wanted to make me better, it instilled a strong belief in myself to succeed. Jonnesha taught me that emotions are like the weather they change every day and that every new day is a new start. I have the ability to live my life by Design instead of letting it pass me by; if I just focus on taking small steps towards a sustainable lifestyle. For me, it was never about calories in or calories out, or eat this eat that. They gave me structure, confidence, and validation that I was right to feel how I was feeling in that moment. They validated everything that I needed in order to accept my situational circumstances of being so far away from where I want to be which allowed me to see the path to where I want to go. The first few months were brutal and I contemplated if I was going to do be able to do this at all, but with the help of Merli, Jonnesha, Sarina, and Dr. Sayles, I was able to overcome my emotional barriers that kept me from progressing. After I was able to get my mind back on track after a few months, I gained so much confidence in the program and in myself! I knew the LeanMD Team just wanted the best for me because they have shown such genuine empathy towards me as a person and my goals. I will forever be grateful to this LeanMD team for helping me get my life back and give me a second chance to live the life I always thought I would live. They have taught me that it's never too late to be what I could have been and they have helped me connect with my life-long dream of becoming a motivational speaker and to continue my goals of opening a nonprofit for other dreamers to fulfill their dreams and to reach ultimate peace. I am beyond blessed for the help LeanMD has provided me. When I say I tried everything, I truly feel that I tried everything. I was even contemplating gastric bypass surgery. I probably did every fad diet you can think of, every type of workout, read books, but at the end of the day sometimes we know exactly what we really need to do but there's a mental block the forces us to avoid all difficult things. This journey has allowed me to understand who I am and why I am the way I am, not to mention, where I truly developed these bad habits and why. The quote "Everyone dies, but very few live." has never been so clear to me. The ladies, (Merli, Jonnesha, Sarina) have helped me understand the strong foundation from which I come from. A strong foundation helped me develop such a bigger vision for where I want to go, which ultimately allows me to be 1000% focus in the present which is going to help me progress that much more in my personal and physical development. (OutOfRoom) Call4MoreInfo. read more

LeanMD - Merli Valladares, Jonnesha Belleci, and Sarina Soffiotto have to be some of the most compassionate people. Thank you! - Medical Spas Near Me - San Ramon, California

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Warning! Please check your bank statements and/or your Flex Spending Account immediately. This organization is engaging in fraudulent activity. I have discovered multiple days of charges for visits I never attended--there is no record of my attendance, yet both my Flex Spending Account and bank account have been riddled with unauthorized charges. This group is a fraudulent organization. Protect yourself: review your accounts for any suspicious activity and report any discrepancies right away. read more

I lost 20 lbs in 8-weeks and was surprised at how easy it was, or at least not difficult. The B12 shots and appetite suppressant increased my energy as we went along. Overall, I am very happy with the program and the results. I did not count calories or enter meal details into the app (I did that last year with MyFitnessPal and it didn't help). Jonnesha is a great coach and helped me plan around upcoming travel, Thanksgiving, and Xmas holidays. Gave very pragmatic advice and suggestions. At $69/week, I think I came out ahead with reduced meal/beverage savings. Cut out the carbs and sugar (beer, wine, fast food, bad snack choices,...) and portion sizes. Eating less and healthier, plus enjoying vodka/soda now :) My experiences and Tips: * After years of promising to loose weight I jumped in with an aspirational goal of 20 lbs in 2-months. Was surprised I actually made it. * I stopped waiting for that perfect time and accepted that it will never happen (thanks for giving my the nudge Dr. Mark!) Jonnesha helped me plan around travel, parties, special occasions, and work craziness since I work for a start-up in San Jose. * Forgive yourself if don't lose anything one week. Happened to me 2 out of the 8-weeks. * Drank gallons of water and still got constipated, cutting down on the fiber helped. * No energy for exercise at 1200 calories/day, but did not atrophy as I feared I would. * Buy smaller clothes - that is the fun part. Now to keep it off. I moved to the maintain plan now to continue the coaching and keeping myself honest. I look at food much differently now (junk food is evil now - I do miss chips and salsa). read more

My doctor has been a part of Diablo Family Physicians for years. I learned about LeanMD several years ago and used it to lose some significant weight. I go back to it when I need to "get back on track" and find it so easy to follow - you're eating REAL food and they offer great recipes - and especially easy now that they have the app and scales that I can keep at home and "talk" to them in the office! Win, win!! When I find myself slipping again (I guess we all do, right??!?!), I will go back. The price is quite competitive and the people are so friendly and knowledgeable. read more

I walked into the LeanMD offices on Monday August 14, 2017 after several failed attempts over the years at calorie counting amongst other diets which left me losing and gaining the same 5 lbs over and over again (and then gaining a lot more!) I had a thorough but intimidating first appointment. I was given my weight and body mass by the smart scale in the office, and I was given information about how their plan works. I was so inspired (and a little intimidated too), I decided to start that very day. I cleaned out my kitchen cabinets and shopped for whole foods on the lists and pamphlets I got at the first appointment. It made it incredibly easy to shop! I used their recipe book to make delicious recipes and their portion guidelines when I weighed and measured my food. I set my iPhone alarm with the appropriate times to eat that worked for me and my schedule. The weight started flying off! I visited the office once a week and the staff were nothing but gracious, courteous, informative and supportive. Over the first 2 weeks, I had so many questions, and all of them were answered! After the first month of being completely dedicated to the plan, I finally felt comfortable with the plan and this way of eating became habit. Unfortunately I had to move from Oakland, CA to Austin, TX for work and I was unable to follow the plan through to my goal weight of 140 lbs. Fortunately, the 18 weeks I had with LeanMD prepared me to be able to continue my weight loss far into the future on my own. In those 18 weeks I lost 28 lbs. I was even able to stick to it throughout the holidays, and since moving to Texas, I've lost 5 lbs in the last month by sticking to the plan! I'm currently 10 lbs away from my goal weight and I feel better than ever. If you can stick to the plan, it works! The first month or so is the most difficult, but if you don't give up it's so worth it for the long-term. read more

There's a reason why everyone gives Lean MD 5 stars; it works. You don't eat "premade" food or fads like the "all shakes" diet. It's just learning the best foods to eat, portion control and weekly visits to re-enforce your accountability / commitment to losing weight. You don't starve, just eat better and often. After a while, eating better becomes your new normal. The nutrition assistants that you meet with weekly, Jonnesha, Sarina and Jennifer are knowledgeable and patient. No judgements here. Just regular advice / tips to keep going. What can I say? I started March 1st at 255 pounds and, today, 6 months later, I'm in the promised land under 200. Get off the couch and try it. Your health is worth it. If you follow their advice, you will lose weight. read more

I like to think that I am a living proof that this program works. I lost 24 pounds in 12 weeks and for about 4 weeks I've been able to maintain the results. It is still a work In progress but I am confident. This team is the best. With commitment and discipline everyone can reach their goal because they teach you the way and give you all the support you need. You are in the best hands for this challenging change in your lifestyle. It's not a diet, you have to embrace it as a new lifestyle.. read more

I have tried several diets over the years and realize that I need guidance. One of the things about LeanMD is the accountability aspect! I was able to lose the 20 pounds I wanted to lose in under 3 months and the 2 months following have kept it off. Jonnesha has been great to work with and I will continue on the maintenance schedule for the foreseeable future, visiting once a month for check-in. I am very happy with the results and it was not at all difficult. read more

Seriously the best diet out there. The diet teaches you to live a life of making good food choices and eating the right size portions to take the weight off and keep it off. My husband and I did the diet together. He was willing to "try it" and I could tell by his lack of excitement that he probably wasn't going to stick with it. The weight started falling off of both of us so fast it got him more motivated than me! The diet was easy to follow and even though the calories were very low for both of us we never felt hungry or cheated. Neither of us used the appetite suppressants and we had no problem with keeping satisfied as long as we ate the recommended every 2-3 hours. In 9 weeks time my husband dropped 35 pounds and I lost 20. We went on 3 trips during our 9 weeks, including a trip to Las Vegas, and we both lost weight on all 3 trips. We made good decisions and watched our portions but we also splurged a bit. We did make sure to exercise while away. I did have 2 1/2 weeks where I was on a plateau and I was very frustrated, especially since my husband continued to lose like crazy. I stuck with it because even though the scale wasn't changing, my body was. I was definitely losing inches even though I wasn't losing pounds. I've done fad diets and I've done Jenny Craig three times (after each kid). Lead MD is SO successful (and less expensive) and teaches you how to eat in the real world that there is no reason to try anything else. Loved the recipes provided. We made the Green Chile Frittata and Chili every Sunday so we had breakfast and lunch ready to go during the week. Can we talk about the office staff? They are awesome! I never felt like they were disappointed if I didn't lose a whole bunch in a week. They were so realistic with their expectations. The week we went to Vegas I only lost a half pound but they were such cheerleaders, telling me how great that I lost anything at all that week. The girls are very knowledgeable, patient and easy to talk to. Thanks Lead MD, for making this journey so simple and successful!! Best...Diet...Ever!! read more

This has been an amazing experience. I have lost 26 pounds in 4 months. It was easy to stick with it and I never felt deprived. I feel amazing and the staff is great. Dr. Mark Musco is a great listener and his staff are very good. I always had Marilee as my MA and she was great and efficient and I never felt like it was a chore to check in. Always supportive!! If i could do this, anyone can!! Even drank wine while on the plan!! read more

Sachi And her team of dedicated professionals make you feel very comfortable. I have been going here for two years and just had a restart appointment. Nothing has changed, courteous staff and a wealth of information to help me succeed at my renewed goals.... read more

Lean MD was the best decision I have made...I am healthier and feel great about myself. The staff is awesome and really care about your progress. Thank You again. read more

Finally a weight loss program that actually works!! I did the program for 3 months and I lost 25 lbs. I am in my 120s right now and don't remember in the last 10 years when I have been this low. The program works with your lifestyle and changes your mindset towards food. The beauty of the program is that you do not need to eat any pre-made meals or shakes. I not only lost the weight but I am also able to maintain and keep it off with their guidance. The ladies there are amazing and I can't say enough good things about them. I used to look forward to my weekly visits for motivation. If you are serious about losing weight and don't want to spend a lifetime getting to your goal weight, then LeanMD is the program for you !! read more

I can't thank Lean MD enough for giving me my life back! Jonnesha and Sarina proved to be more than just coaches, they became my friend, confidant and inspiration. The Lean MD program taught me portion control, accountability and making the right food choices and why. Lean MD is by no means a dieting gimmick, it promotes its clients to embark upon a healthy lifestyle change and then gives the tools to be successful. The staff celebrates with you and is proud of you when you reach your weight loss milestones, and when you have an off week, instead of chastising you they encourage you to not slow down or take it too hard. This was exactly what I needed to be successful , and thanks to those ladies I was! I have attained my weight loss goal and know that I will be able to maintain my weight due to the coaching and healthy lifestyle living I was taught. But better yet, I contribute my positive mindset to The way that my weight loss, and the way that I did it, makes me feel. Once again, thank you Lean MD, Jonnesha and Sarina for helping me get my life back! read more

Thank you Lean MD & Diablo Valley Physicians for helping me get healthy and feel much better! I am so grateful to your fun, caring and supportive staff. When I started Lean MD, I was my heaviest ever, heavier than when I was 9 months pregnant. Ugh. I lost 5 lbs the first week and 30 lbs in approx 3 months. My goal is another 20 lbs, I have this! I'm now starting to exercise because I feel so much better! The best thing is.... it has taught me how to eat to stay healthy. I'm no longer sleeping excessively, waking up tired, and not feeling well. I feel fabulous! read more

This physician directed program really works! I have been very satisfied with the results and would highly recommend it to anyone who really wants to lose weight safely and effectively. If you are serious about wanting to reach your ideal weight, LeanMD's team of physicians and support staff will help you achieve your goals. read more

My husband and I participated in the program for three months and we were really surprised by how easy it was. The results were much better than we anticipated. It was no problem to cut down on sugar and carbs by following the recipes and the written materials that are well thought-out. We enjoyed being able to support each other plus we had a great Lean Md mentor, Merli. We feel strongly that we can maintain this healthier way of eating. read more

I wanted to wait to write this review based on my experience with the Lean MD program when I had specific results to share. I am 63 years old and have always struggled with taking off and putting back on weight. You name the weight loss program....I am sure at one point in my life...I did it! Over the 2016 holidays and then extended into February 2017 I put on an additional 10 pounds on top of my overweight 20 lbs. even though I consistently exercised. I came to the same road block that I have faced many times and said to myself that I was tired of my up and down dieting behavior and the physical effects that I was experiencing due to inflammation. I started exploring medical programs that emphasized the importance of your overall health, not just the number on the scale. I knew that I needed a program to keep me mindful and accountable. After reading many reviews on Yelp regarding many weight loss programs in the area, I chose the Lean MD program on Camino Ramon in San Ramon. I started the program at the beginning of March 2017 and made a personal commitment to follow the program exactly as it was presented. Weekly weigh-ins and personal attention to my specific needs were key in keeping me on course. It is now August and I have lost 35 pounds and more important is that my BMI and visceral fat is within the normal range. I am now enrolled in the one year maintenance program, which I feel is the most important part of the program. Mindful eating and accountability is the only way that weight stays off. In June, when the results of my weight loss was becoming very obvious, my husband decided he wanted to attend the program too. He has also lost 30 pounds and more importantly, his visceral fat and BMI score are almost within the normal range. His family has a history of heart disease so seeing a drop in those scores are extremely significant to his overall health. I always read Yelp reviews...but never write a review... but this program exceeded my expectations and assisted me in sticking to my personal goals. I look forward to writing another review in one year when I have kept the weight off with the maintenance program. read more

Lost 15 lbs in 3 weeks. Awesome program that makes sense and is easy to follow. Its lack of gimmicks makes it rewarding and easier to stick with. Great team as well. read more

Lean MD is amazing! I had 10 pounds to lose leftover from my pregnancy and just needed some help. Needless to say I lost the weight fast and I have maintained the weight loss by making the smarter choices that I learned at LeanMD. Im' in my 40's now and weigh the same as I did in my 20's... There is no reason to be carrying the extra weight if you don't want to! read more

I was in a vicious cycle and had tried all of the different weight-loss programs. I would lose the weight, but then gain it all back (plus more). I had tried everything, and was ultra frustrated. Then I found LeanMD. Simply put - it works. The program is easy to follow, and you eat real actual food. My set-up initially with Sachie was thorough & extremely detailed. My weekly follow-ups with Andrea have been crucial to my success. Her unwavering support, encouragement and knowledge has been invaluable. If you're finally ready to make a change, if you're finally ready to start feeling better, and lose your unwanted weight, make an appointment and start the LeanMD program. You won't be disappointed. read more

Love the LeanMD program! Struggled with losing the baby weight for several years but started LeanMD and the pounds just fell off. Easy to follow diet with real food and you don't have to go hungry. Reading the reviews, it almost sounds too good to be true but it really is!! My only regret is not doing it sooner, highly recommend it. read more

This is one great organization that truly cares for their patients. Highly knowledgeable and service-driven professional with extensive experience in quality patient care. Consistency exceed my expectations. I signed up for their program and saw great results! If you are interested in loosing weight and changing your life style to be more healthy, to feel great about yourselves, this is the place to go. read more

I am a 53 year old woman and was always in great shape when I was younger; however, since then, I have been ~80 lbs overweight. I have done Jenny Craig, Nutri-System and Chef's Diet (where they deliver your meals fresh every morning). All of them were very expensive and complicated; and success, if any, was temporary and wiped away after ending the programs. I am sure others have experienced the same. Since October 2015, when I started LeanMD, I have lost almost 50 lbs and I have never felt better. Within five days of the program start, I lost nine pounds, and while that was great, the most important difference was the way I felt; no achy pain all over my body and joints, I could jump out of bed in the morning with energy. Probably most importantly, my blood pressure dropped significantly. It was at this point I decided this diet and lifestyle change was really going to work this time. The program is not like any other I have pursued before in that it is so realistic, easy, totally manageable and affordable. I travel at least one week a month on business, often two. In spite of eating out for almost every meal on the road, I continuously am able to drop weight without ever feeling hungry or weak. This is mostly attributable to the approach of setting a daily calorie limit and then the easy allocation of proteins, fats and good carbs contained in fruits and vegetables for each meal. Even in Bakersfield, CA, where the restaurants are predominantly chains and fast food, I came back to a three pound weight loss and only because the diet is designed to accommodate almost any dietary environment. Yes, you have to make a few sacrifices, i.e., no bad carbs like breads, rice, pasta (my absolute favorite), and potatoes and other white starchy vegetables, but I have discovered that the health effects are so much more beneficial than the short-term satisfaction from any of these foods, that it is easy to turn them away. The plan is very reasonably priced and worth every penny I have invested in my health and well-being. In fact, the cost is supplemented by the fact that I do not go out to lunch every day at the office and in SF, that is a big savings. I will continue to pursue my goal, and I am confident that once that is obtained, the maintenance thereafter will be a result of a very comfortable and sustainable lifestyle change. I highly recommend this diet/program to anyone who desires to drop 10+ pounds, be healthy and keep it off. The doctors and staff at the Diablo Family Physicians clinic in San Ramon are extremely knowledgeable and some, if not all, have actually done the diet themselves. They are a fantastic, flexible and very supportive team, without putting you on any guilt trips should there be a bad week, which I must say, is extremely rare. read more

I am 55 years old and weight 145 lbs, about 25 lbs above my ideal body weight. I have been always healthy and had no difficulty to maintain steady weight up until last 6-12 months. My weight started to climb and never went down despite regular exercise and healthy eating. Surprisingly, I was classified in the category of overweight. Along with other health issues, I decided to give this program a try. Over 7 week, I have lost about 15 lbs. I like the program and I am impressed with the results. I find the program is safe and sustainable. The recommended diet is easy to follow and can be easily applied even dining out. Most importantly, I was not craving to eat more. I am more impressed that I only gained 3 lbs after one week of vacation in Cancun (week 6) where food and drink are inclusive and available 24/7. My food portion at this trip was a bit bigger than recommended but I was able to stay away from the high caloric food. That proves to me that this program is works and sustainable. My ideal weight should be 120 lbs which I dont recall the last time I weight that light. I am very excited to see how far this program can take me. I am enjoying it and having fun! read more