Medically-Supervised Meal Replacement Program
Your Journey to a Healthier You Starts Here
You’re on a journey to change your health by changing your habits and your relationship with yourself and with eating. We are here to provide you with medical support, guidance and education, and lifelong encouragement through our comprehensive program.
Here you’ll find the resources you need along the way.
We offer a comprehensive program to help you achieve your short- and long-term goals.
Using meal replacements will help you lose weight and manage many health conditions. Our focus is to offer a program that considers your personal goals when it comes to health and well-being. While focusing on your safety and success on the program, we provide the tools for you to focus on maintaining your results.
Each phase of our program is carefully designed to help you experience long-term success.
Program benefits include:
- 75% of people with type 2 diabetes achieve normal fasting blood glucose off of medications; HbA1c drops an average of 2 points
- Improved sleep and energy
- Insulin sensitivity and glucose tolerance increases
- Improved liver health
- Improved blood pressure
- Total blood cholesterol drops an average of 81 points and triglycerides drop 55.6%
- After 8 weeks, the average weight loss is 15% from starting weight and 5 years after weight loss, ⅔ or more people maintain half or more of the weight they lost
Our comprehensive approach
In additional to medical supervision, all programs include weekly, group classes that are available in person or online. Our full and modified program includes an exploration of your relationship with food, eating and weight. Our partial program focuses on nutrition, fitness and stress management. All programs include lifelong education and support.
Meal Replacement Program Options
Full
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- 800 calories per day
- 5 meal replacements daily
- No additional food
- Weekly classes
- Weekly medical visits
- Maintenance program
- Lifelong support
- Remote option available
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Average weight loss:
2-4 lbs weekly (women)
4-6 lbs weekly (men)
Modified
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- 1000 calories per day
- 5 meal replacements daily
- 1 small meal per day
- Weekly classes
- Weekly medical visits
- Maintenance program
- Lifelong support
- Remote option available
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Average weight loss:
2-4 lbs weekly (women)
4-6 lbs weekly (men)
Partial
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- 1100-1400 calories per day
- 4 meal replacements daily
- Additional meals daily
- Menu plans provided
- Weekly classes
- Weekly medical visits
- Lifelong support
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Average weight loss:
1-2 lbs weekly (women)
3-4 lbs weekly (men)
New Remote Option!
Making our programs easily accessible is a priority. We are piloting a new medically-supervised, remote meal replacement program that ships products to your door and monitors your health through an app, Bluetooth scale, video visits with our staff, and uses your local lab. >Learn more
Your journey happens in phases
This is a medically-supervised meal replacement program. You’ll meet with the medical team weekly and you can reach out with questions between visits.
1. Meal Replacement Phase
Your program is week to week, meaning you attend the program as long as you want to. You’ll engage in weekly classes, medical supervision, and regular labs while enrolled.
2. Transitioning Off Phase
When you’re ready, and with the support of our team, you’ll gradually reduce meal replacements and re-introduce food while still attending weekly classes and clinic visits.
3. Maintenance Phase
Following completion of the transition off of meal replacements phase, full- and modified-meal replacement program participants complete a 10-week Maintenance Course. This includes the nutrition, fitness, and healthy habits you need for long-term success.
4. Ongoing Support Phase
Our robust Maintenance and Booster program includes classes, workshops and support groups for our full-, modified-, and partial program participants. These provide ongoing learning and community – important ingredients for staying interested, focused and excited about taking good care of your health.
We’re a phone call or message away.
Contact Our Team
General questions: 858-616-5600
Medical Team: Call 858-616-5789
or message Guiliano Zolin on kp.org
Class instructors (also available via kp.org):
- Ali Chambers, MA, LMFT: (858) 519-1602
- Brandon Hyatt, MS, CSCS, CSPS, CPT, MES: (858) 616-3951
- Brittany Reid, PsyD: (858) 616-5794
- Heather Glover, MA, LMFT: (858) 616-5757
- Janet Klein, MS, CNC, CLE: (858) 616-5729
- Karen Murtfeldt, MPH: (858) 616-5783
- Kari McCloskey, MBA, RD, CPT: (564) 248-2722
- Kay Rethwisch, RD, CDCES, CLE: (858) 616-5755
- Lee Sigall, MA: (858) 616-5725
- Lizzy Kemp, MA: (858) 616-5732
- Monica De Schrijder, MS: (858) 616-5708
- Nicholas Shields, MS, RD: (858) 616-5509
- Osvaldo Gutierrez Castañeda, PhD, M. Ed: (858) 467-3818
- Rebekah Mendoza, MS: (858) 616-5666
- Shannon Nolte, MA: (858) 616-5758
- Shannon Ratliff, MA: (858) 616-5743
- Sharon Ferguson, BS, CPT: (858) 616-5751
- Teresa Lee Balgos, MS, RD: (858) 616-5600
Clinic Locations & Hours
Garfield
Monday – Thursday
7:30 am – 4:30 pm
Friday in-person groups only from 8:30 am – 11:30 am
Vista
Monday & Tuesday
7:30 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
(Closed from 12:30 pm -1:30 pm)
Otay Mesa
Wednesday
9:00 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
(Closed from 12:30 pm -1:30 pm)
Bostonia
Thursday
7:30 am – 12:30 pm & 1:30 pm – 4:30 pm
(Closed from 12:30 pm -1:30 pm)
Full and Modified Program
1. Meal Replacement Phase
Phase 1 of 4
What to expect:
- Weekly medical supervision
- Weekly group classes
- Weekly clinic visits
- Regular lab draws
While on meal replacements, you will attend weekly clinic visits at a Positive Choice location on your class day. During these visits, you will pay your weekly program fee, select and pick-up your meal replacement order, and check in with our medical team. You’ll also attend weekly classes and complete bi-weekly lab draws. These are a requirement while on this medically-supervised program. >View meal replacement ingredients
Program Materials
Meal Replacement Program Guide
Information on how to use meal replacements and program information
A Way In Class Workbook
Your class workbook to supplement your weekly class discussions
A Way In Class Workbook
Explore the art and science of habit change as you discuss your personal experiences with setting and acheiving new goals.
Printable Modified Meal Replacement Plan
Your modified meal planning guide for adding food to your meal replacement program.
Additional Resources
Customize Your Program
Depending on your goals and time in the program, after your first 16 sessions, you may choose to transfer into one of our specialized classes. Work with your instructor to determine which class is right for you.
Our options include:
- Solutions: Support for binge and emotional eating
- Mindful Living
- BLAST in-person fitness class
- Fundamentals Series
You’ll continue to pay the same weekly rate and your weekly clinic visits. You can attend these classes while on meal replacements or when you are back to eating regular food. Separate fee applied if not on meal replacements.
“I’ve felt better on this program than I have in a very long time! I expected to see a change in my monthly budget, but without groceries or eating out, it’s actually stayed the same.”
2. Transitioning Off Meal Replacement Phase
Phase 2 of 4
What to expect:
- 4-Week plan
- Weekly classes
- Support sessions
- Reduced meal replacements
Once you are ready to transition off of meal replacements, you will follow a structured food plan while still attending your weekly class. You’ll let your instructor know when you are ready to start this process, and they will guide you through it as you continue to attend weekly classes.
This gradual transition back to fully eating food allows your mind and body to adjust to eating regular food again, improves your metabolic rate, and minimizes hunger. Most people continue to lose weight during this phase of the program.
As you transition off meal replacements, your program fees reduce with the option to purchase meal replacement as needed.
Since many people are nervous about reintroducing food after being on meal replacements for a while, we offer a unique support session just for people transitioning off meal replacements. This meets on Thursdays from 7:30-8 p.m. Click the link below to log in to the TEAMS session.
“‘I was initially hesitant to join a class, however as the class went on, I realized how helpful it is to know why and how things work and why what was being done wasn’t working. I think the class helps improve a persons knowledge on how to make better choices.“
3. Maintenance Phase
(for full and modified program participants)
Phase 3 of 4
What to expect:
- Maintenance Orientation Session
- 10 sessions on nutrition, fitness, and healthy habit building
- Ability to order meal replacements as needed
- Downloadable program materials
After your time on meal replacements, developing a lifelong routine of supportive habits is important. You’ll learn valuable skills and practice changes during this phase. It starts with an introductory, orientation session.
Once you begin your transition off of meal replacements, you should schedule your Maintenance Orientation Session. This 1-session, 90-minute class is highly recommended (but not required) for a smooth and supported transition from meal replacements to your 10-session Maintenance Class.
Following Maintenance Orientation and ending your meal replacement program, you’ll begin your 10 classes. These will be new classes with a new instructor and group. You will no longer attend your previous weekly group, clinic visits, labs, or pay a weekly fee. You will have pre-paid for these sessions during your meal replacement program.
As long as you are in the Maintenance class or attending monthly Booster classes, you are welcome to purchase up to 8 boxes of meal replacements per month. You can buy these at a Positive Choice clinic location or on our website and have them shipped to you.
Maintenance sessions are available online only at this time. Click here to join a waitlist for in-person sessions.
“I loved the format of maintenance and the support knowing I wasn’t left alone to try to managing eating again.”
4. Lifelong Booster Support Phase
Phase 4 of 4
What to expect:
- Over a dozen monthly classes
- Variety of rotating topics
- Support groups
- Order meal replacements as needed
After completing meal replacements, you are invited to attend unlimited Booster classes for ongoing support. There are a variety of class topics, workshops and support groups offered every month. Take a look at the monthly calendar online and register for as many sessions that interest you… at no further cost!
As long as you are in the Maintenance class or attending monthly Booster classes, you are welcome to purchase up to 8 boxes of meal replacements per month. You can buy these at a Positive Choice clinic location or on our website and have them shipped to you.
“Because of this program, I have much more energy and greater mobility. I can power walk at nearly a jogging pace for an hour and still have energy to spare. I can quickly and easily rise from a kneeling position, which was a struggle prior to the program. My posture has improved when I walk. And the overall good feeling has improved my mental outlook… I see things much more positively now.“