Diet of Hope Institute

"I have been going to The Diet of Hope for about 8 weeks now and it has already changed my life for the better! I have tried a few different diets in the past and had no success but this diet is very easy to follow and keeps me full. I have lost close to 20 pounds at this point and have been taken off my blood pressure medicine! All of the employees are very nice and the nurse practitioners are very helpful and answer all the questions I may have. I highly recommend The Diet of Hope and am looking forward to losing more weight and bettering my health!"

"Hi The diet of hope is an excellent program. The staff is super nice and friendly. The hardest part is following the diet exactly. I guarantee if you follow it, you will lose. I lost 20 pounds in 8 weeks. They test you and st every visit you are counseled by a dietician. It is a great program. I liked that I had to check in every week and weigh in."

"I am a patient at DoH and I have received excellent service from everyone at this institute. They give great advice and really care about my progress as they look over my weekly menu and ask questions that show they listen. I have been seen mostly by Carrie, who is knowledgeable and is always able to answer my questions. The techs are wonderful and I am always greeted kindly at the front desk when I walk in. Great experience, and looking forward to continuing to achieve my goals in 2024."

"Just finished stage one and lost almost 30 pounds! The guidance and professionalism of this program exceeds any I’ve ever tried to lose stubborn weight. It’s important to realize that we’re doing it for ourselves first and foremost; it will help you stay focused at the job at hand and stop the cravings for the things that aren’t good for you. Talking to someone weekly or biweekly really helps guide you through the ups and downs of creating a new lifestyle that will provide better health. Doing this with simply diet and understanding the true value of yourself is far better than any of the so-called medicines that help with weight loss. Maybe it’s old school without appetite suppressants but it sure does give you great results!"

"Today I had my check-in with FNP-C Cynthia Parkhurst. She was the most ill mannered and rudest provider I have ever experienced. I shared with her having to modify the given diet plan by adding tofu and increasing protein based drinks as it was meat based and not inclusive of vegetarians (although I did mention this in my last appt). I told her how I received suggestions from medical professionals at my own work and my colleagues who are familiar with keto as I was struggling with how to meal prep. Cynthia proceeded to blame me for not saying I was vegetarian although I rehearsed the exact conversation that was said in the previous visit. In a demeaning manner she told me how I would not lose weight fast if I did not eat meat and in the same disgusted tone told me this program was not keto as this program was stricter than keto. She left to get the vegetarian menu and told me I needed to consume 400 grams of protein. After reviewing the vegetarian plan, I was delighted but surprised Boca was allowed as I had ironically been following an alternate more restrictive plan where Boca was not allowed. I expressed my challenges with struggling to reach 100 grams of protein and asked for suggestions or meal plans to increase it to her 400 grams as I am desperate to meet my health goals. She appeared very annoyed as she bluntly stated “eat eggs and figure it out”. Afterwards, I told her my backstory of the increased weight gain after receiving a depo shot and my weight struggles afterwards. I shared how previous to this I was in the military with a rigorous workout routine and never struggled with my weight prior to getting on birth control. I asked if it would be beneficial to have my hormones or thyroid levels checked and she snipped at me “get that done with your PCP”. She followed up with a raised voiced saying, “weight gain is 80% unhealthy eating and 20% not exercising”. Not answering my question, I asked if her medical opinion was that birth control had nothing to do with my weight gain and it was only my unhealthy eating although I was eating healthy and working out. She leaned forward and stated “YES”. I came to the clinic feeling excited to share my weight loss and that my blood monitor showed I was in ketosis. I had so many questions to ask related to knowing my body better and nutrition that I never got to ask. I left the clinic in shock, discouraged and frustrated. I most certainly did not feel Hope from the program or from Cynthia who represented the clinic. As a professional myself who works in patient care, I thought to myself, what would have been a healthy response to my own client were I in Cynthia's position? This is the response that I immediately came up with: "First, I want to congratulate you on losing 8 pounds. (Praise.) That shows dedication toward your goals and willingness to do the work. (Encouragement). I want to apologize we didn't give you the vegetarian list but I'll resolve that now. (Accountability). I know you did a lot of work in researching keto but we don't consider ourselves keto and I would really appreciate you following our program for maximum benefits now that you have the necessary tools. (Corrective actions). Are there any questions I could answer to further help you towards your treatment plan goals? (Follow up). I'm a strong advocate for holistic care including mental health. We never know where a person may be and what challenges they may be facing. As a professional, it is my job to ensure the safety and well-being of my clients and patients awhile they are in my care. I strive for this myself every time I am at work and I also expect the same of other professionals towards me. Cynthia did not show patient care, her behaviors towards me as a client is a safety concern and she does not highlight the spirit of what Diet of Hope endorses. At this point, I am not only advocating for myself but I am advocating for others who have ever been harmed awhile in Cynthia's care."