By JAIME ANTON

The Post staff writer

Ask anyone and they'll probably admit they've been on a diet a time or two.

Some people are successful on their own. Others struggle fighting the weight loss yo-yo.

But people don't have to go it alone. Physicians Weight Loss Centers is always ready and eager to help.

This medically supervised diet plan is a safe and effective way to lose the weight and keep it off for good. The staff is available most days of the week to give advice and keep the client accountable and motivated to succeed.

"My motto is the more I see of you, the less I see of you," said Sarah Brown, manager of the Strongsville location.

A healthy start

Physicians Weight Loss Centers is a nationwide company that's been in business for 31 years. There are currently 80 locations across the nation. The corporate office is located in Akron.

Nancy Marino owns the Strongsville center, as well as one in Parma Heights.

Sarah has worked with Physicians Weight Loss Centers for 20 years, and has managed the Strongsville site for 12 years now.

But before she was hired on, Sarah was a client.

"I lost 42 pounds and have maintained my weight for the last 19 ¬ years," she said.

We all know how trying it can be to lose weight, but it may be even harder to maintain once a healthy weight is achieved. Luckily, Physicians Weight Loss Centers is about more than just weight loss. The staff teaches clients how to live healthy for life.

"That's one of the biggest things that makes us successful is that we work with people to not only lose weight, but we teach how to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so the weight stays off," Sarah said.

When new clients walk through the door, they are assessed so the staff can fit them with a diet plan that will address their individual needs and lifestyles. A complete medical history is done, blood work, and an EKG. Strongsville clients also have an appointment with the on-site physician, Dr. Ronald Sanker, before beginning to ensure they are in good health. Clients are also put on vitamins and minerals, so they receive the nutrition they need.

There are six different diet programs - Very Low Calorie Diet 700, Low Calorie Diet 1000, Low Fat High Energy 900, Low Fat High Energy 1000, Low Fat High Energy 1500 and Physicians Fast.

The low fat diets follow the guidelines recommended by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

All the food for the diets can be found in the grocery store.

"We can also provide meals for convenience purposes, but we really encourage regular eating. Our diets use regular grocery store food. We give them a menu plan they can follow," Sarah said.

Wondering how going out to eat fits into the mix? Don't worry, it's still doable.

"Clients can continue to eat in restaurants and order right off the menu," Sarah said. "They just need to know the right choices to make."

Which meal plan clients are given depends on their individual strengths and weaknesses.

"Somebody who is very physically active is going to need more calories, more carbohydrates. Someone who has problem with sugar would do better on a low carbohydrate diet," she said.

Once clients are comfortable with their weight, the center works with them to gradually add calories back into their diet and maintain their weight loss goal.

One of the keys to maintenance is moderation.

"It's not like you can't have a slice of cheesecake or a piece of pizza," Sarah said.

Proof is in the pudding

So do the diets work?

Sarah is living proof with her 42-pound success.

One of their clients lost 208 pounds in nine months and has maintained his weight for nearly two years.

"He's doing great and maintaining it. It has changed his life," Sarah said.

Another woman in her 60s walked through the door on constant oxygen.

"She has lost over 100 pounds and no longer uses the oxygen, ever," Sarah said. "We can help you lose 200 pounds or we can help you lose 10 pounds. And we've seen people get off cholesterol medication, get off blood pressure medication. We can work with clients with type 2 diabetes and help you get your sugar under control."

The center promises a 48-pound weight loss in four months on its Very Low Calorie Diet, but all of the diets guarantee success if the client sticks with it.

During the first two weeks, a client will come in each day to be weighed and after that he or she will be weighed two or three times a week.

This accountability and individual counseling is what keeps the clients on track.

"They know they have to come in and get on the scale, that someone else is watching over them and giving them that daily encouragement they need. And we have fun.

The center throws parties, helps provide tasty recipes and offers behavioral classes to discuss different topics such as stress eating or dieting at social gatherings.

Measurements are taken every two weeks.

"Usually you see almost as many inches come off as pounds," Sarah said. "It's a very healthy, very safe, very effective method of weight loss.

Some of the staff members, like Sarah, have lost weight on the program, but all employees are certified and trained and have been on at least one of the diets.

"This way they can see what the clients are going through and how they feel. We've all battled our weight and struggled just like our clients, and we want to help them be successful," Sarah said.

Now is the perfect time to join Physicians Weight Loss Centers. Because it is the 31st anniversary, membership is currently 60 percent off. The cost of membership varies depending on how much each individual needs to lose and how long they need to be on the program.

Sarah said she enjoys seeing clients achieve their goals.

"It's a very positive atmosphere to work in. Being in the medical field, you see a lot of sick people. But here, everyone is happy. We get to see people get healthy and happy every day," she said. "I love seeing the results."

The staff works hard to ensure that clients are not just motivated at the beginning of their diet, but all the way through.

"We coach them through and keep them motivated and excited. With diets, people are very excited in the beginning," Sarah said. "But we've got to get them all the way through."

Physicians Weight Loss Centers in Strongsville, managed by Sarah Brown, is 15076 Pearl Road, and the phone number is 440-572-6016. The Parma Heights center is at 6877 W. 130th St. and the phone number there is 440-842-9900. The center manager there is Gina Gazda.

Strongsville hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Parma Heights hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday; and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.