Author: John Cotey

Tina Russell was like many who have struggled with their weight their entire life. She was a yo-yo dieter, who tried the all of the usual get-skinny plans, and in the end, found herself more miserable, and heavier, than before.

After adding more weight while working at home during Covid-19, she finally got serious. In February 2021, she signed up at the Lutz location of Medi-Weightloss weighing 236 pounds.

One year later, Russell, a 36-year-old mother of two living here in Wesley Chapel, is tipping the scales at 134 pounds, a remarkable 102-pound loss.

“I feel completely different,” says Russell, pictured left. “I feel younger than I was when I was in my 20s.”

While Medi-Weightloss is available for weight problems of all kinds, owners Tom & Gerri Willett say the pandemic has ultimately driven many new patients, like Tina, to the practice, which is located on S.R. 54, less than two miles west of where it meets S.R. 56 (near the Tampa Premium Outlets). 

Since it opened in 2006, Gerri says Medi-Weightloss of Lutz has helped patients lose nearly 141,000 pounds. It’s easy to get started, as completely free assessments are always offered. 

Today, there are 91 Medi-Weightloss locations nationwide. Tom & Gerri own the locations in both Lutz and Brandon, operating the two as a local, family-owned business, which has been their passion for the past 16 years. 

The success patients see when they try the Medi-Weightloss program is what continues to drive people to the practice. A large part of their new patients come from patient referrals.

“Our patients refer their friends because we do a really a good job,” Gerri says.

Tina says that when people ask her if they should do it, she doesn’t hesitate with her response.

“Do it,” she says. “One hundred percent, do it!”

Medically Supervised

The Medi-Weightloss program is supervised by Howard Riker, D.O., and Mandy Johnson, P.A. The program combines diet and exercise plans with supplements, managed by a doctor and a physician’s assistant to help people lose weight and keep it off.

And, to accommodate those still uncomfortable due to the pandemic, “We also offer telemedicine,” says Gerri. “We do whatever you feel comfortable with, whether that’s telemedicine, or coming in to be weighed when we’re otherwise closed to patients, so you’re the only one in the office, or driving through the parking lot to pick up a prescription.”

Those who take part in the Medi-Weightloss program have a built-in support group. Gerri says the staff is compassionate and understanding, cheering their patients on to reach their goals.

“It can be very difficult for people to step foot into a weight-loss clinic because, a lot of times, they have already tried so many different things,” says Gerri. “People beat themselves up horribly about their weight.”

Whether it’s newfound weight gain as your body changes due to age, weight that was lost in the past but has crept back on, or pounds put on during the pandemic, Gerri says, “We want people to know we’ll figure it out and we’ll get them to be successful.”

Getting It Done

During the first phase of the program — also known as the acute or weight-loss phase — clients come in once a week.

After an initial consultation with weight measurements, blood work and an electrocardiogram (EKG), patients receive a binder to store educational handouts, recapping the information shared at each session. They also receive recipes for delicious, healthy meals, with ingredients that are easy to find. Patients also start a detailed journal to log their eating, drinking and sleeping data. They also receive vitamin supplements, a food scale to help with portion control and ketone sticks to detect their level of ketosis.

(Note: Physiologic Ketosis is a normal response to low glucose availability, such as from low-carbohydrate diets or fasting.)

Medi-Weightloss has many ways to help during the weight-loss phase, including injections of Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC Combo) to put B12 vitamins and amino acids into the bloodstream, both of which help with fat metabolism, liver function and fat excretion. Patients also can receive Vitamin B6 and B1 injections (which help reduce water retention and keep your energy up while battling food cravings), as well as B Complex and Vitamin C injections.

Mandy says the goal is always to reduce medications that patients may be taking. She says one of her favorite things is getting patients off blood pressure medications, which is often the result of a significant drop in weight.

After the acute phase of the program ends (once a client reaches his/her target weight), they check in less often during the maintenance and wellness phases.

But, if a client should re-gain weight after completing the program, Gerri says there’s no reason to worry.

“Life happens and we are here to help,” she says. “It doesn’t mean you failed. It means you had stress in your life, or something happened. Just pop back into the program! There is no restart fee.”

Caring, Helpful Staff

Medi-Weightloss of Lutz has a staff of caring professionals who truly understand what it’s like to be in their patient’s shoes. In fact, some are former patients.

Erin Jones had lost her husband in 2010, and ate her way through her depression. In 2011, she started the Medi-Weightloss program and lost 50 pounds.

After that, she joined the team. Erin is now a full-time medical assistant and the office manager at Medi-Weightloss of Lutz and Brandon. 

“Patients can take comfort in knowing that we’ve been down their road before and that we can truly say we know what they’re going through,” Erin says. 

Medical assistant Patty Pinson has been with Medi-Weightloss for a decade and is a retired Registered Nurse (RN). Medi-Weightloss’ Certified Medical Assistants (CMAs) include Karina Gonzalez, Krystal Adams, Kristina Ford and Shannon Bresnen, while Raquel Sanford manages the front office.

Tina says the support may be the best thing about the program.

“They are super helpful,” she says. “If you gain one week, they are like, ‘It’s okay, it’s not the end of the world, we can do this.’ I don’t think I could have done it without them.”

Dr. Riker is an Osteopathic Physician, who earned his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American Board of Family Practice, and was a Medical Staff Chief for many years with the U.S. Air Force in New Jersey, South Carolina and Tampa before coming on board at Medi-Weightloss more than 14 years ago. 

While the goal is to help its patients lose weight, Riker says he also is focused on preventing weight gain, which he says may be different than primary care.

“The main difference is that with primary care, you’re already treating a patient’s disease,” he says. “Here, we’re working strictly with prevention.”

He stresses all three legs of the weight-loss process: diet, exercise and appetite suppression. Dr. Riker and Mandy agree that you have to do all three in order to succeed.

Tina said she was very strict when it came to following the plan, and never cheated. She is maintaining her weight, even though she continues to drop a pound here and there. She still goes monthly, even after proudly earning her gold star for a 100-pound weight loss.

“I was depressed, which made me eat a lot, before I started this,” Tina says. “This has given me something I can stick with. The food is good, it works and it has really taught me how to enjoy food in a healthier way. It’s been great.”

To schedule a free assessment at Medi-Weighloss of Lutz (24420 S.R. 54), call (813) 909-1700. The office is open five days a week: 6:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1 p.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday and 1 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday. More information is available at MediWeightloss.com/locations/lutz.