A South Jersey nutritionist and a family therapist have teamed up to open The Diet Center of Cherry Hill (http://www.dietcenternj.com), a weight loss “concierge service” that embraces various lifestyles, special needs and dietary goals. The store-front center’s staff consults with its clients to not only help them lose weight, but keep it off long term and maintain healthy habits.
Lori Shiles, the nutritionist, and Maureen Matteis-Bilbee, the therapist, opened the franchise at 1426 Marlton Pike East after separate careers in the weight loss industry. The longtime friends, both Washington Township residents, saw an opportunity to bring versatile, custom-tailored diet solutions to the area’s overweight population.
“What distinguishes The Diet Center is this is highly individualized – we address the client’s emotional needs and motivations as well as the healthy eating element,” says Matteis-Bilbee. “This usually results in better long-term results, since we make sure the client is in the right place mentally to keep the weight off. In fact, we mostly deal with individuals who’ve lost weight previously or have had success with other programs, only to regain all of that weight…and then some.”
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Matteis-Bilbee notes that many people are “emotional eaters.” Sometimes they have experienced a trauma and gaining weight is the coping mechanism. Besides traumatic experiences, routine life changes such as a move, new job, a birth and even marriage can bring on weight gain.
“There are many different causes of weight gain, and many different motivations for losing it, so we don’t do a one-size-fits-all program,” she says.
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The Diet Center espouses four different programs, called “Exclusively You,” “Instant Shape Up,” “Diet Fast,” and “21 Day Thermogenics® Diet.” Each differs in the specific goals, the number of recommended meals per day, reliance on pre-packaged foods and shakes, and incorporation of regular grocery foods and meals. In addition, The Diet Center offers options for those on kosher, gluten-free and dairy-free diets.
“A soon-to-be bride will have radically different goals and thresholds for success than a father who simply wants to play with his kids in the park without getting exhausted,” says Shiles. “Regardless of their specific needs, our counselors support clients through every phase of weight loss including Conditioning, Reducing, Stabilization, Maintenance and Behavioral Management.”
The Diet Center officially opened for business September 3, 2013. For more information, visit www.dietcenternj.com or call 856-429-3149.
