Our Approach to Fat (weight) Loss

Fitness Program
Nutritional Consultation -> Program with online meal planning
Medical testing periodically
Coaching if needed
Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture, Herbal Medicine and/or Qi Gong Prescriptions) 
Optional "home work"


Being overweight can become a matter of life and death. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop a number of potentially serious health problems. Also, the overall risk of death increases with obesity. If you are obese or overweight your health is at risk. It is important that you loose that weight and develop a healthy lifestyle. There are many weight loss programs out there and it is important to find a program that is fits your needs.


Lose Weight Holistically with Chinese Medicine: A Talk by LeTa B. Jussila, L.Ac, FLT Provider, Personal Trainer

"Your Tongue Doesn't Lie (usually) in Chinese Medicine"


Where: 21511B East Cliff Drive (Santa Cruz Integrative Medicine and Chi Center)

Date: April 23, 2012

Time: 7:00pm–8:00pm


What is acupuncture?  How does it help with weight loss?  How can it help me? An Introduction to Asian medicine diagnosis, theory and treatment. Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture has been used for centuries to naturally help address a wide array of acute as well as chronic ailments and conditions. Come and learn five (5) things you can do right NOW to start shedding those unwanted pounds.

Join us for an informative evening with LeTa Jussila, Licensed Acupuncturist, Chinese Herbalist and Certified Personal Trainer.  LeTa is dedicated to providing quality integrative care for your optimum physical and emotional health.  She will answer your inquiries about this ancient, effective medicine.


Questions beforehand?  Please contact leta@santacruzintegrativemedicine,net or (831) 239-9326 for direct questions.

Features: Open to All

Phone: 831-465-9088 (please confirm your attendance to receive a Discount COUPON handed out at the door)

Email: leta@santacruzintegrativemedicine.net

Price: Free



Weight Loss Program

I am launching a 12-week Weight Loss Program based on the

principles of Chinese Medicine: an integrative approach. I am 

doing a local clinical trial for my doctorate capstone. I am looking

for local individuals who are at least 15 lbs. overweight and who

are ready to shed those unwanted pounds. Please have anyone

interested come to my FREE talk on Monday, April 23rd or set

up an appointment with me to discuss the overview of the program

and see if it's a good match for them.

Program Details:

12 weeks

Acupuncture Treatments 2x/week ($2160)

Weekly Tele-class ($1200)

Workbook/Guidebook ($99)

Qi Gong DVD

2 Qi Gong Classes each week with me ($180)

Herbal Prescription  ($150)

Private Facebook Group (free)

Access to the Doctor ($300)

Physical Fitness Assessment & Exercise Program Design ($150)

3 Bio Impedance Analysis ($150)

3 BioMeridian Assessment Test ($275)

Detailed Initial Health Intake ($150)

Detoxification Questionnaire and assessment ($50)

Lifestyle Inquiry Assessment & Modification ($75)

Coaching (free)

Inspirational, Motivational & Educational Weekly Emails (free)

3 Foam Rolling Classes

Foam Rolling Workbook

Guided Cleanse (optional)

Daily 12-minute Meditation structure (cd)

Healthy Relationship with Money -  4 lectures

VALUE: $5584               PRICE: $1500  (or weekly payments of $125/monthly payments of $500)

** I accept health insurance so if you are covered for Acupuncture this is reduced!

BONUS: Unlimited Outdoor Fitness Classes ($450) -->  only pay $250 extra!

BONUS: 

Sign up with friends and get better discounts! 

1 person: $1500

2 people: $1450 each

3 people: $1400 each

4 people: $1350 each

5 people: $1300 each

6 people: $1250 each

7 people: $1200 each

8 people: $1150 each

9 people: $1100 each

10 people: $1000 each


Contact me ASAP if you or anyone you know wants to join this amazing opportunity.
(831) 239-9326

Nine dangers of being overweight:

  • High Blood Pressure - 26% of obese people have hypertension.
  • Diabetes - 80% of type II is related to obesity. Excess fat makes your body resistant to insulin. When your body is resistant to insulin, your cells can't get the energy they need.
  • Abnormal blood fats - A diet high in saturated fats increases the level of LDL (bad) cholesterol.
  • Stroke - the American Stroke Foundation listed obesity as one of the risks to stroke that can be controlled with medical treatment and lifestyle changes.
  • Osteoarthritis - Excessive body weight adds pressure to joints and wears away at the cartilage that protects them.
  • Sleep apnea - The more overweight a person is, the greater more severe the sleep apnea will be.
  • Cancer - Men and women who are overweight have a higher risk of developing many different kinds of cancer.
  • Gallstones - Gallstones are more common in people who are overweight. According to Chinese medicine gallstones are caused by "damp heat."
  • Physical Discomfort - If fat accumulates, it crowds space occupied by your internal organs. People who are overweight may have difficulty breathing, walking or sitting.
Most weight loss programs in the US focus strictly on diet. Some medical statistics show that nearly 95% of dieters who use conventional weight loss programs either gain some or all of the weight they had lost back. However, with Chinese medicine we look at the root cause of being overweight. Excess weight is considered to be just one symptom of an underlying health problem. It is the outcome of a series of chain reactions in your body that usually begins with a Qi (pronounced chee) or energy deficiency or imbalance. Unless the root cause is addressed, the weight loss won't be permanent. According to Chinese medicine, to have good health you must have sufficient Qi (energy) and your organs must work together in harmony. If there isn't enough Qi, one or more of your organs can be out of balance and will develop an energetic dysfunction. When this happens, your organs cannot perform their responsibilities, like promoting healthy metabolism and ridding your body of excess fat and water.

Perhaps you have experienced problems like headaches, emotional problems, depression and/or allergies prior to a weight gain?

Ever wondered why? Chinese medicine considers these as signs that your body is having functional difficulties. Often the problem is an imbalance in the relationship between your liver and your spleen. Both are crucial to proper digestion. Chinese medicine teaches that when your body is in balance, you won't have weight issues. When your Qi is strong and balanced, weight will be lost naturally and normal weight will be maintained.

Chinese medicine generally views being overweight as "dampness." Dampness is the body is not properly transforming and transporting fluids. Dampness is caused by the failure to burn off moisture in the body. Dampness primarily affects the middle and lower part of the body...hence putting on weight in these areas. We use herbs as well as foods that drain the dampness. Usually a formula is prescribed using many herbs together in a synergistic manner. It is important to get a proper diagnosis by a Chinese medicine professional. Diagnosis includes pulse reading, tongue diagnosis, and health history. Chinese medicine uses very individualized care. The fundamental prescriptive methodology is to treat the patient's personal pattern of disharmony. This kind of treatment is both safe and effective because it addresses that person's own metabolic reasons for being overweight. Using this method, each patient receives their own individually tailored treatment plan, using Chinese herbs, diet and lifestyle modifications. If you want to make your weight loss program even MORE powerful add acupuncture to your treatment regime. Chinese medicine tailors your treatment to your unique energetic disharmony instead of just treating symptoms.

Chinese medicine emphasizes building up your digestive energy. For weight loss, the importance of your digestive system cannot be over emphasized. You depend on your digestive system to absorb and assimilate the nutrients that you require in order to support and sustain your body's normal function. If your digestive system isn't working efficiently you will still gain weight. Frequently we use herbal formulas to help strengthen the energy of your stomach and digestive system. This helps speed up the process of digestion before the food has a chance to change into excess fat. Dieting without sufficient digestive energy results in lose of energy, dehydration and undernourishment of the body. This can eventually lead to further weakening and impairment of the digestive system. Once that happens permanent and natural weight control will become quite difficult It is also important to maintain regular bowel movements. For weight loss with Chinese medicine, we sometimes use herbs and formulas to help facilitate regular bowel movements. Irregular bowel movements over a long period of time will cause stagnant/ undigested food, toxins and other impurities to accumulate in the colon. Excess accumulation of waste material will ultimately overheat and weaken the digestive system, preventing the absorption of essential nutrients. This will gradually lead to symptoms of undernourishment as the body develops a craving for sweets and a constant urge to eat as well as gain weight.

Some herbs help suppress the appetite. Taking Chinese herbal formulas can aid weight loss. They help by increasing the body's metabolism as well as suppressing the appetite.

Sometimes we can treat other problems at the same time in conjunction with weight loss. Several examples are acid reflux, insomnia or depression. Here we may use 2 formulas together. When treating weight loss we also look at a person's emotional health, something Chinese medicine excels at. Chinese medicine treats body, mind and spirit as an integrated, interrelated whole. This means that to have true physical health you must be emotional health. Each of the five organ pairs has a corresponding emotion. For illustration, anger is related to your liver and gallbladder. Worry is associated with your stomach and spleen. Chinese medicine recognizes that chronically held in emotions set up imbalances in your organs function. Are you serious about losing weight? Do you want lasting weight loss that brings the benefits of long term health? Chinese medicine, with its time tested methods of prevention and lifestyle modification, is a truly safe and healing weight loss resource.

Don't let procrastination, hesitation or fear stop you from improving your life and looking better.

This was well written so instead of re-writing it, Steven Sonmore, a fellow Licensed Acupuncturist, Dipl. Ac. gave me permission to re-post. If you would like a consultation, please contact us.