Our weight management program uses a scientifically proven diet and exercise and methods to increase metabolism, remove toxic build and optimize insulin, cortisol and thyroid function. Our program works for everyone regardless of age, sex, or body type.

Health Minute - Weight Management

Fatigue, Insomnia, Low Libido, Anxiety, Depression, Aging Skin

SaJune Medical Management Program

What sets us apart from other weight management programs?

The SaJune Medical Weight management program aims to correct the underlying metabolic imbalances that lead to weight gain in the first place. We have a wide range of options, which are individualized to your specific metabolic imbalances, unlike many medical weight management programs, which have a cookie-cutter approach to every patient. We have helped over a thousand people lose weight and recover their metabolism using combinations of:

• Physician evaluation aimed at correction of basic imbalances that prevent you from feeling your best
• Dietary plans (Non-calorie and calorie restricted) eating your own foods modified individually by a personal nutritional advisor
• Optimizing of hormones (for example, thyroid)
• Natural weight-loss supplements
• Detoxification of the bowel and liver
• HCG injections and other metabolism boosting injections/li>
• Exercise program individualized by a certified personal trainer
• Life style modifications which help with stressors
• Love and understanding: We are aware of the emotional strain that extra weight places on your life, so we approach each person individually with love and attention. Patients say they actually look forward to their weekly visits.

Why are you exercising and dieting and still carrying around extra weight ?

Weight gain is caused by imbalance of hormones and nutrients, accumulation of toxins in the bowel and liver, which do not allow stubborn fat to be released, and stressors in the mind and body. Hence, we find ourselves faced with “stubborn” weight and fat, which is resistant to calorie restriction and exercise. This program is designed to restore optimal metabolic balance and give you back your shape!

Hormones: The main hormones responsible for weight gain are insulin, cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid. As we age, and other hormones decline, we may become “insulin resistant”. In times of stress, the stress hormone cortisol increases and adds to this picture (see section on the Role of cortisol and stress on weight gain). In this state, there are insulin highs and insulin lows. We store fat in insulin-dependent areas such as the lower abdomen, thighs, under the arms and under the chin. When insulin and sugars swing low, approximately 30-60 minutes after a meal (see graph), we “crash” (i.e. cravings, severe fatigue, headache, dizziness).

As we age, thyroid hormone function declines. Sometimes your lab for thyroid may be within the “normal” range, but it is still not in the “optimal” range for your metabolism. In this program, we will optimize these hormones, so you feel good and lose weight.

Nutrients: Specific nutrients are required to activate each hormone. For example, your body may have plenty of thyroid hormone, but without the iodine to activate it, it does not work. So attention to getting the high dose nutrients on board is critical. In this program, we will optimize nutrients.

Toxins: As we age, we accumulate various toxins in our body from the environment, food, medications and other exposures. The accumulation of toxins in the bowel, liver and tissues creates a toxic and acidic pH which will not allow fats to be released even with adequate exercise. Detoxification is the removal of these toxins and is an essential step for weight loss. In this program, removal of bowel and liver toxins and correction of pH are paramount.

Mind and body stressors: Stresses in your life are a major stumbling block to weight loss. This program works to help you correct mind and body stressors.

How is the program structured?

Initial Medical Evaluation

1. A board-certified physician will review your medical history, including any medications and other pertinent information.
2. A baseline examination will be done, including measurements (waist, hip, & thigh circumference), body-mass index and body composition analysis.
3. Appropriate lab tests will be ordered.
4. The physician and you will discuss the appropriate individual program for you.

7-day detoxification

1. See the section on the Role of Detoxification
2. Nutrients and dietary modifications supporting detoxification processes in the body will be recommended at your initial visit.
3. Instructions will be provided for a 7-day detoxification while you get your lab tests performed.

12-week intensive phase

The initial 12 weeks is intensive and will require weekly visits. This phase may continue beyond the initial 12 weeks, if medically appropriate, to safely reach your goal. This phase includes:

1. See the section on the Role of Detoxification
   1. how to balance meals with metabolically balanced recipes
   2. making choices when eating out
   3. making choices while shopping and interpreting labels on food products
   4. optimal sources for sugars, fat, protein, carbohydrates and fiber
2. Nutritional supplements to boost metabolism, increase insulin sensitivity, fat metabolism and muscle support.
3. Medications such as HCG, appetite suppressants (like phentermine or phendimetrazine) when appropriate,
4. Injections with B-12/B-6/ methionine/inositol/choline as appropriate
5. Individual exercise program with personal trainer
6. Behavioral tools,
7. Love and understanding
8. Physician follow up every 3-4 weeks

Transition and Maintenance:

Anyone that has attempted to lose weight knows how difficult it is to lose weight and to maintain it. Thus, one of the most important parts of a comprehensive program is maintenance.

This phase will commence when you are close to your goal weight, gradually slowing down the rate of weight loss and shifting to maintaining a healthy weight. This program is physician supervised to maintain an optimal balance of hormones and nutrients while continuing to reduce toxins. The maintenance phase is individualized. If you have been taking prescription appetite suppressants, the physician may gradually decrease your dose as you transition.

When you have achieved your weight loss goal, we hope that you have incorporated all the information we have tailored specifically for you in your daily life so you can maintain a healthy weight. The maintenance phase includes:

1. follow-up every 1-3 months
2. ongoing support and access to information and program improvements
3. continued monitoring of metabolism and thyroid function and labs
4. prescription medication renewals
5. Individualized personal fitness consultations may be arranged during this phase of the program should you specifically desire it.

Supplements and medications that may be used

+These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease.

Patients report following:

1. Reduction of insulin resistance, cholesterol, diabetic control and inflammation
2. Body shape change: reduction of insulin-dependent areas in lower abdomen, arms, thighs and chin.
3. Average loss of 10 inches and 15 pounds in first 6 weeks. Average weight loss of 10-15 pounds per month after that.
4. Please visit the web site for testimonials from patients

*Results are not gtuaranteed and can vary for each individual.

Cost of Program

The cost of the program will vary from $300 to $600 per month depending on the intensity of the individualized program. The minimum commitment needed is 3 months. This cost includes:

1. Some basic metabolic supplements and nutritional injections;
2. Weekly visits (alternating with nutritional advisor and personal trainer); and,
3. Monthly Physician follow-up

The following are not included:

1. Initial medical evaluation with board-certified physician, who will help you identify the imbalances that need to be corrected. You will get a written individualized program for weight loss. The fee for a 30-minute evaluation is $170.
2. Initial detoxification instruction session;
3. The cost of HCG, appetite suppressants and/or other prescription drugs;
4. Far-infra red detoxification, massage (fees extra);
5. Essentials 5 in 1 and RxOmega supplements.

How to get started

Call 407-478-9797 and ask for a free initial consultation with Denise or Margaret. For those who have already decided to enroll in this program ask them to schedule your 30-minute initial medical evaluation with Dr. Ilagan and initial detoxification consult with Margaret at the same time.

Role of detoxification

In the U.S. we are exposed daily to 50 times the level of toxins (i.e. chemicals, pesticides, water contaminants, food preservatives, heavy metals and electromagnetic radiation) compared to other developed countries. These toxins lodge in the bowel, liver, kidneys and especially fat tissue. The toxic build up prevents the normal uptake and utilization of nutrients, carbohydrates and proteins. It reduces the body’s oxygen uptake and creates an acidic, low-energy state of inflammation which makes all other efforts to cure disease or lose weight futile.

Specifically related to weight, toxins create an acidic environment leading to inflammation, which does not allow fat molecules to be eliminated from cells (i.e. oil will not mix with acidic vinegar). Additionally bowel toxins prevent the normal absorption of nutrients, which are required for hormone activation (insulin, thyroid, cortisol) and the breakdown of fat, protein and carbohydrate. Toxic build up not only contributes to weight gain, but is also an underlying cause of illnesses such as allergies, pain, digestive problems (such as irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease), hormonal imbalance (such as PMS and menopausal symptoms), skin conditions (like acne, eczema, and psoriasis), chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and arthritis.

What is the problem with an acid pH?

All body functions are based in chemical and electrical activity, which functions optimally at pH 7.0 and above (alkaline pH). Any drop in tissue pH by 0.1 will cause approximately a 10% drop in chemical and electrical functions, which means an acidic state leads to inflammation, which underlies all disease conditions. In an acidic state, the body cannot let go of fat even if we exercise and starve.

What does cleansing do?

The aim of cleansing is to stimulate the body's natural means of processing and eliminating by decreasing toxins, increasing alkalinity and increasing oxygenation and circulation, which reduces inflammation. During the cleansing regimen your insulin receptor is also “starved”, which is critical in overcoming insulin resistance and storage of fat. This allows optimal unhindered function of the intestines and liver.

Who should cleanse?

It is not a question of whether you've been exposed to toxins – the question is how much impact they are having on your health. So, anyone who desires well-being, correction of disease or prevention of disease should cleanse seasonally. Specifically, cleansing is critical for anyone wanting to reduce acidity, disease, insulin resistance and fat storage.

How to cleanse?

There are various methods and levels of cleansing that vary based upon the level of imbalance/disease and what organs are being targeted for cleansing. In this program, we will be doing a level 1 cleanse of the bowel, liver and tissues. The major aim will be to create an alkaline tissue pH by:

• increasing fresh vegetables, lemon water and pure water,
• increasing oxygenation and circulation (through deep breath, movement, exercise and pure water to carry away toxins)
• stress reduction
• cleansing the body, they create a large burden of elimination on our systems and therefore impede the clearance of toxins.
• avoiding toxins (i.e. processed foods, additives, preservatives) !!

Role of Cortisol and Stress in weight gain

Although, we have limited control of most external stressors; we can alter the way in which we respond internally. This becomes critical to the reversal of any imbalance on the body. Stress contributes to weight gain in the same way that it contributes to all other diseases. Stress increases cortisol which causes:

1. increase in inflammation and decrease in pH (increased acidity)
2. decreased hormonal action of steroids and thyroid, since cortisol acts like a blank key and latches on to similar hormone receptor sites and blocks hormone action.

This leads to symptoms such as:

• increased storage of fat in the mid-abdomen
• fatigue
• brain fog
• low sex drive
• mood swings
• insomnia
• carbohydrate cravings
• salt cravings if prolonged caused by low aldosterone
• aches and pains
• low immunity

Cortisol

Regulates blood sugar and works with insulin. Cortisol drives blood glucose up and insulin drives it into the cells and causes fat deposition. One first sign of adrenal fatigue is high cortisol in AM and low at 3-4 PM (causing an afternoon slump) and then high again at night (causing insomnia). When cortisol is high in AM you do not feel like eating breakfast. Prolonged cortisol elevation keeps blood sugar up too high. When glycogen stores are finally exhausted, the body starts to tear down proteins (muscles) for sugar.

• Thin skin
• Poor wound healing
• Muscle loss
• Bone loss
• Loss of collagen

When cortisol ends up too low: low blood sugar, carbohydrate cravings, low BP, orthostatic hypotension, allergies and hives.

Fight or flight

Adrenaline is released from adrenal glands during times of immediate stress causing increased heart rate, respiratory rate, blood flow, blood sugar. Although this is a desired effect, when stress is repetitive and constant, the body cannot recuperate in between stressful episodes and the body heads towards adrenal fatigue.

Stress reduction techniques are critical to any program to prevent or reverse disease, especially weight gain in the middle. Simple techniques to use during this 6 weeks program include:

• Conscious deep breathing for 5 minutes three times a day.
• Uncommit your schedule, especially weekends and evenings should have limited commitments.
• Soak in Epsom salt bath with 4-5 cups of salt 10-20 minutes, three times a week.
• Try Qi-gong or Yoga.
• Get a body treatment like body exfoliation and far-infra red treatment this week and week 4.

Instructions for vegan diet (modified) to reduce inflammation 8-12 weeks

Based on your clinical presentation and results, we recommend the following detox for addressing toxic build up:

Purpose and indications: A vegan diet is used primarily to reduce the digestive load on the bowel, increase alkalinization, encourage healing and to decrease inflammation. This diet should be followed for at least 8 weeks in any patient who has allergies, chronic sinusitis, rheumatoid arthritis, any arthritis variety, fibromyalgia, hives, skin conditions and other inflammatory conditions.

• For metabolic balance, each meal or snack should be approximately 50% vegetables, 25% protein, 25% complex carbohydrate.
  • For protein, eat lentil, legumes, whole grains (quinoa), sprouts and fermented soy sources such as Miso, Tempeh, and Natto.
  • Complex carbohydrates include
    • whole grains such as wheat berry, amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, cracked wheat, kamut, millet, cut oats, salba (white Chia seeds/blanco salvia), quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, wild rice and black rice
    • Legumes such as (garbanzo beans, mung beans, lentils, kidney beans, black beans). Dried beans which are soaked overnight is preferable to canned.
    • Butternut squash, acorn squash, spaghetti squash, sweet potato
  • Vegetables 8 servings of different colors as each color equates to different phytonutrients with different minerals and vitamins. One serving is about ½ cup (cooked). Wash and soak all vegetables with citrus based spray, distilled or apple cider vinegar.
  • Fruits or berries 3 servings
  • Raw nuts and seeds ¼ cup or one handful per day, or 2 tablespoons almond or nut butter

Individualized Metabolic Balance Program

Cellular imbalance due to imbalance of hormones, nutrients, toxins and mind and body stress cause weight gain. Just like every other disease, excess body fat is a result of imbalances in hormones, nutrition, mind and body and the presence of toxins in the bowel and liver. The main hormones responsible for weight gain are insulin, cortisol (the stress hormone) and thyroid. As we age, and other hormones decline, we all become "insulin resistant". In times of stress, the stress hormone cortisol increases and adds to this picture. In this state, we store fat in insulin-dependent areas such as the lower abdomen, thighs, under arms and under chin. Hence, we find ourselves faced with "stubborn" weight and fat, which is resistant to calorie restriction and exercise. This program is designed to restore optimal metabolic balance and give you back your shape!

Components of Program

The program is a 12-week physician supervised program to restore an optimal balance of hormones and nutrients while reducing toxins and alkalizing the body. There is no calorie restriction in this program. This is an individualized program followed at home with the option of enrolling in a structured program for those in need of more support.

Weeks 1 thru 12 covers:

• 7-day intestinal cleanse and liver cleanse through diet modification and supplementation.
• Nutritional supplements to increase insulin sensitivity, fat metabolism and muscle support.
• Education on:
  • how to balance meals with metabolically balanced recipes
  • making choices when eating out
  • making choices while shopping and interpreting labels on food products
  • optimal sources for sugars, fat, protein, carbohydrates and fiber
• Exercise instruction to oxygenate the body and reduce acidity.
• Stress management and breathing techniques to reduce the impact of stress on metabolism.

Testimonials