What is LAB?
Lifestyle Alteration Bootcamp is innovative psychological treatment that helps people with weight/fitness-related problems reach their desired body size/composition, and stay there for life.
Where does LAB come from?
Dr. Felberg had suffered from extreme weight fluctuations (yo-yo pattern) from an early age. After attempting to control her size through a series of diets, exercise regiments, and appetite-suppressants, she concluded that all these methods shared one fatal flaw: they were geared toward weight loss. Once Marie achieved her desired weight by following specific, strict rules, she lacked the guidance for what to do next. Sooner or later, she reverted to her old patterns, and the lost bulk came back with interest.
Spurred by this realization, Dr.F developed a program that identified the aspects of her lifestyle that conflicted with her goals, and allowed her to alter her habits in a way that would not only lead to weight loss, but become (with small modifications) a sustainable, healthy lifestyle that would maintain her preferred physique. As Patient Zero, she has lost and kept off over 90lbs!
How does LAB work?
Intake. We start with a comprehensive assessment that includes conversations, questionnaires, measurements, and (in some cases) a visit to your physician for some blood tests. In addition to giving us your starting point, this makes sure that you are healthy enough to participate in this program, and alerts us to any relevant medical problems (such as hypothyroidism).
BA. During the 2-month long Biometrics Adaptation, you will come to weekly one-one-one meetings with Dr.F, where you will collaborate in designing and implementing the “first draft” of your new lifestyle. You will also learn to use and integrate your technological tools.
MS. After you have mastered the basics, edited your lifestyle to fit your goals, and verified it with demonstrated progress, you graduate to Maintaining Success. During this phase, you continue to fine-tune your lifestyle with Dr.F’s help. Frequency of your sessions at this point is dictated by the nature of emotional/behavioral issues (if any) that may be interfering with your progress. While some patients benefit from the ongoing weekly session schedule, others do just fine with once-a-month check-ins.
PHD. Congratulations! You have achieved your desired physique. Now, for the hard part: Perpetual Honing and Design. Depending on your situation, PHD may or may not involve any regular therapy sessions. Patients requiring further support and guidance while they settle into their life-long healthy patterns continue to come in. Others are ready to proceed on their own.
REMEMBER! Time makes fools of us all. As your metabolism changes with age, you may discover that old good habits need to be periodically replaced with new ones. LAB graduates are always welcome back for a tune-up!
What are the risks of participating in LAB?
Significant changes in long-established lifestyle patterns are jarring. Expect a period of physical and mental adjustment.
- You may experience muscle soreness as your fitness regiment ramps up. Exercise can even cause injury. Connect with a personal trainer or a physical therapist for guidance on the best routine for your body, age, and metabolism.
- You may learn things you didn’t want to know about your loved ones – an unsympathetic spouse who “will not eat rabbit food with you!”; a team parent who insists on bringing cupcakes to soccer practice because “you having weight issues is not the kids’ fault”; an envious friend offering back-handed complements, like “you still look young, I can hardly see all the loose skin!” (These “horror stories” are borrowed from LAB patients – with permission, of course!) In extreme cases, you may find yourself reconsidering some of your relationships, as people reveal their true colors while you do what you need to do.
- You will incur wardrobe expenses. Your old sizes and styles will not work after you change your body. While many of us would love to have this problem, it will still cost you. Consignment stores are a fine source for clothes that will only fit for a month!
- Depending on your age and other factors, you may experience skin sagging as you melt off your fat and replace it with far denser (and therefore smaller) muscle. Some or all of it will self-correct within two years of maintaining a stable smaller body, but extreme cases may require cosmetic surgery to remove excess skin.
- You will experience moments of resentment (“why can’t I eat like my husband and stay skinny?”), frustration (“I haven’t lost an ounce in three weeks!”), and despair (“this will not work for me, my metabolism is completely shut down!”). Hang in there. These moments feel horrible, but they will pass. Think of them as your growing pains – your fitness adolescence.
Nothing ventured – nothing… gained. No program, treatment, or approach offers a 100% guarantee of success. Some people really do have severe metabolic issues that render weight loss (or gain) and maintenance very difficult, if not impossible. Dr. Felberg does her best to screen and identify prospective patients whose body imbalance appears to be too medical in nature to attempt improvements through LAB alone. If Dr.F becomes convinced that LAB is unlikely to help, she refers such candidates to their primary physicians for medical follow-up, and to explore more drastic options, such as bariatric surgery, inpatient weight-loss programs, etc.
NOTE: If you are working on your bariatric pre-op weight-loss requirement, LAB can help you!
How long are LAB in-office sessions, and how can I reach out between sessions?
Intake (first session) lasts 90 minutes. You will receive the enrollment package by e-mail after our phone consultation. Be sure to fill everything out, and bring the completed forms to your Intake!
Subsequent sessions last 60 minutes. For patients who choose the pay-as-you-go option, BA phase sessions end 5 minutes early, to allow the time for processing your payment, and scheduling the next visit.
Overruns are sometimes inevitable. Dr.F will not charge for a few extra minutes once in awhile, but any overruns of 10 minutes or more need to be discussed ahead of time to avoid a prorated charge of $2.5/min. Pre-arranged extensions to discuss legitimate LAB-relevant issues will not be charged extra.
Texting between sessions is free within reason. You are welcome to text Dr.F with any questions or clarifications about your program, or any issues that arise and seem too urgent to wait for your next session. Dr.F responds to texts as promptly as she can, but seldom instantaneously, so please be patient, and never use this method to reach out in cases of medical or psychiatric emergencies – call 911!
What if I have a session scheduled, and I can’t make it?
24-hr notice is required for all cancellations. A full session fee ($200) will be charged for no-shows and late cancellations. Dr. Felberg allows one courtesy fee-waiver per phase for a late cancellation or rescheduling (emergencies will happen). However, no fee waiver is available for no-showing without notification.
How do I reach Dr. Felberg in an emergency?
Contact Dr.F between sessions via texting.
If you are having a medical or psychiatric crisis – call 911 first, then text Dr.F!
For scheduling snags – simply send a text or call 650.416.MIND 24hrs before your next session, the time stamp will be honored!
What records does Dr. F maintain, and with whom does she share this information?
As FFS (fee-for-service) provider, Dr. F has not agreed to be paid directly by insurance carriers for her services, and to submit her records and notes for review and/or centralized database upload at insurer’s request.
The bad news: Unless you have insurance with out-of-network clause (which does not require Dr.F to unseal her records), or a health spending account, you will have to pay out of pocket.
The good news: nothing you share in your sessions, and no information about your physical, emotional, or mental health can be shared with anyone without your written permission (except with a valid, judge-signed court order); and none of your confidential information will be channeled through the insurance companies to any hacking-prone aggregate databases.
Dr.Felberg maintains internal records of your treatment in order to fine-tune your program, maximize your progress, and to learn more about psychological aspects of weight management for the benefit of future LAB patients. Her records are stored on password protected, encrypted hard-drive for seven years. Paper records are kept in a strong box and destroyed after scanning.
Dr.F tracks various parameters of her patients’ progress, as a cohort. These data are de-identified (no names or personal info). At the start of your treatment, Dr.F will ask for your permission to use this information for her ongoing refining of LAB, and for other legitimate uses. You may withdraw any permission you grant at any time for any reason, excepting the data already published by the time you withdraw your permission. Your treatment is not contingent on agreeing to share your information.
Are there any exceptions to patient-therapist confidentiality?
Yes! Dr. Felberg will break confidentiality (talk to somebody without your consent) if:
- She becomes concerned that you are an imminent danger to yourself or someone else
- She learns from you that a child, elder, or a disabled person is being harmed or mistreated
- She receives a duly executed court order signed by a judge (this does not apply to subpoenas issued by law offices)
Fees and Discounts
BA phase. Choose from two options:
- Pay-as-you-go: Payment of $150 (25% discount off regular $200 session fee) is due at the end of each session. Your BA total is $1,200 - $400 savings compared to 2 months of therapy with Dr.F!
- Prepay the BA: Payment for the entire BA phase is due before your first session. Your BA total is $999 - over $600 savings compared to 2 months of therapy with Dr.F!
NOTE: If you quit early, the balance of your Prepay is not refundable! Choose Pay-as-you-go if you struggle with follow-through.
What if your fees go up halfway through my LAB, or if I need to come back?
Dr. Felberg is an ethical practitioner who is passionately opposed to bait-and-switch and other manipulative practices. Your fee will not go up during your treatment. End of story. The price you are quoted is the price you pay.
Returning LAB graduates who need a reboot or an adjustment are guaranteed their original hourly fee if returning within five years of graduation, and re-entering at the MS or PHD phase. Unfortunately, Dr.F can not guarantee the original prepay the BA package rate for returning LAB graduates – this deep discount is reserved for the first-timers. Returnees re-entering at BA will be offered the pay-as-you-go rate that was in force during their original enrollment.
Payment options
Accepted forms of payment include cash, in-state personal check, debit/credit/health spending account card. Patients attempting reimbursement from their health insurance carrier will receive a Super Bill – a detailed invoice on Dr.F’s practice letterhead, which includes all the info you will need to file your claim. Please be sure to connect with your insurer before committing to LAB, to avoid unpleasant “surprises” half-way through the BA!
NOTE: Due to high fees charged by the card processor, patients are encouraged to select cash or check as their payment method whenever possible. However, Dr.F does not believe in passing on the pain. If a card it must be – so be it!
If you have any questions about LAB that I had not answered
call or text me at 650.416.6463!
