Looking to Jumpstart Your Health with the Healthiest Foods?
President of RLMI, Ted Barnett, MD, FACLM,
introduces the Jumpstart Program
Jumpstart Details
Zoom Meeting Schedule, Diet Specifications, Staff and Medical Support Info
For program details, click each element below:
Why a Jumpstart?
A whole-food plant-based (WFPB) lifestyle will help improve your energy, sleep, and mood by reducing your weight and inflammation and lowering your blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels. Working with your medical provider, you may find that you can reduce your medications and lower your odds of having cardiovascular disease, stroke, and diabetes. A healthier you is just a Jumpstart away—without counting calories or restricting portion size!
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Can Jumpstart help me prevent or cure chronic disease?
The short answer is: Yes! Many chronic diseases—including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, and type 2 diabetes—respond well to the Jumpstart diet. These are all part of an interconnected disease state known as metabolic syndrome. There is also growing evidence that a whole-food plant-based diet can also prevent or slow the progression of cancer and auto-immune disease, and can preserve brain health.
The Jumpstart diet was designed by Caldwell Esselstyn, Jr., MD of the Cleveland Clinic to reverse heart disease in his patients, but its positive impacts extend far beyond heart disease.
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What role does my primary care doctor play in Jumpstart?
If possible, you should take Jumpstart with the involvement of your medical provider, especially if you are on any medications.
o Contact your medical provider or their staff and ask them to go to the RLMI website, https://rochesterlifestylemedicine.org/, where they will find a link on the Home page to submit a referral.You will get a $100 discount if you get this referral.
o If you do not have a medical provider, or do not have one that will support you during Jumpstart, please call or email us to discuss options at 585-484-1254 or [email protected]. We work with Plant-Based Telehealth physicians that can support you: https://plantbasedtelehealth.com/
o After you complete the program, we will send your medical provider a results report, so they can continue to support you on your WFPB lifestyle journey.
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What happens on each day of Jumpstart?
Jumpstart is a 15-day program, plus a pre-Jumpstart Orientation Session and a post-Jumpstart Results Session/Introduction to Alumni Program. Each Jumpstart session is a highly interactive educational experience, but you always have the option to watch and listen, and can choose your own level of engagement.
Orientation: One-hour overview of Jumpstart eating plan with tips on shopping and meal preparation. Includes a review of Zoom skills and an introduction to the Google Classroom with its secure forum.
Day 1: Two hours that launch your two-week whole-food plant-based (WFPB) experience. You will discuss goals, and learn about the connection between food and chronic disease and the “nuts and bolts” of a whole-food plant-based diet.
Day 2: Two-hour cooking class teaches practical skills for success.
Day 5: One-hour check-in with medical facilitator and other staff to answer your questions and discuss challenges and accomplishments.
Day 8: Two-hour “virtual potluck” where participants share recipes and receive PDF illustrated cookbook of class recipes.
Day 12: One-hour check-in with medical facilitator and other staff to answer your questions and discuss challenges and accomplishments.
Day 15: Two hours that end Jumpstart but commence the WFPB journey. Participants share results (always optional) and we discuss next steps, upcoming events and ways RLMI can support your new lifestyle.
Results/Introduction to Alumni Group: One hour of results-sharing (always optional) and discussion of social challenges of being WFPB and ways RLMI provides continuing support.
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What will I be eating?
You will be following a low-fat whole-food plant-based diet which consists of beans, grains, vegetables and fruit; and excludes animal products, bottled oils, and most processed foods (except condiments). We provide you with shopping lists and recipes, and show you how to prepare delicious, nutritious, and satisfying meals and snacks using those food groups. We’ll guide you so you can eat out at restaurants and with friends and family. You can continue to drink coffee and tea; if you use cream or sugar, we explain how to use a small amount of natural sweetener and plant milk.
The best part is: no restrictions on the amount of healthy food, no measuring or weighing food, no calorie counting, and no macronutrient (carbs, protein, fat) tracking! Eat until you are satisfied, just eat what is Jumpstart-friendly.
You will learn all you need to know when you take Jumpstart!
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Can I have coffee and tea on Jumpstart?
Yes. If you take coffee or tea with cream and sugar, you are limited to one tbsp total per day of natural sweetener (maple syrup, agave, or honey). Instead of creamer you can use unsweetened plant milk. We recommend no more than one cup per day of unsweetened plant milk (soy, almond, oat, etc.).
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Can I consume alcohol on Jumpstart?
We recommend up to one half-drink a day (1/2 glass wine, 1/2 bottle or can of beer, or one light beer).
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How will I be supported?
Jumpstart participants get extensive support during Jumpstart and beyond!
Jumpstart provides:
- Eight highly interactive online sessions facilitated by a medical provider and our health facilitators. Jumpstart participants get extensive, interactive support during these sessions. This makes Jumpstart different from other self-paced plant-based programs. Our interactive sessions are a key success factor for Jumpstart participants.
- The 40-page Jumpstart Guide is your roadmap to Jumpstart and whole-food plant-based living after Jumpstart!
- Daily encouraging and informative emails with links to useful resources
- Inclusion in a secure Google Classroom with forum and extensive reference resources (articles, videos, documentaries, etc)
After Jumpstart the journey continues! Jumpstart alumni get extensive, ongoing support, including:
- Monthly Alumni Group meetings
- Extensive online forum resources,
- Optional coaching
- Optional follow-up programs such as Pivio and Lift
- Free Lifestyle as Medicine webinar
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What does Jumpstart cost?
Jumpstart costs $299. You can receive a $100 discount if you receive a referral from your medical provider. Getting a referral is easy to do. Contact your medical provider or their staff and ask them to go to the RLMI website, https://rochesterlifestylemedicine.org/, where they will find a link on the Home page to submit a referral. They will get a discount code to share with you, so you can get the $100 discount. If you get the referral after you sign up, we will refund the $100 to you. If you have financial barriers, contact us about a potential scholarship at 585 484-1254 or [email protected].
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Is Jumpstart a vegan program?
Yes, but … Jumpstart asks you to follow a very low-fat, whole-food plant-based (VLF WFPB) diet. This diet is made up of beans, whole grains, vegetables and fruit; it excludes all animal products (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk and cheese); excludes most processed foods; and excludes high-fat plant foods (nuts, most seeds, coconut, avocado, olives, and all oils). Jumpstart is a vegan diet, but it’s an especially healthy one. So, for example, if you are considering a restaurant menu item or a packaged food, it’s not enough to know that it is vegan: you also want it to be made of whole-food ingredients and, for the duration of Jumpstart, want it to be very low in fat and to exclude high-fat plant foods and oil.
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What about medical providers and students?
Health care professionals and medical students can take Jumpstart for free. We will provide a discount code to use when you sign up. If you are a physician or other health care professional, please email Marion Treece, [email protected] and include a phone number where you can be reached. If you are a medical student or resident, please email [email protected] and include a phone number where you can be reached.
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Are you ready to Jumpstart your health?
Curious about the RLMI 15-Day WFPB Jumpstart Program?
Not quite ready to sign up yet?
Attend a Free Info Session with the RLMI Team from the comfort of your own home (via Zoom). You will meet program facilitators and hosts, get an overview of the program, hear comments from past participants and physicians, and get answers to any questions you have before signing up.
For Medical Professionals
Patient referral forms for providers.
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Testimonials
WHAT MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS AND PARTICIPANTS ARE SAYING ABOUT OUR JUMPSTART!
Huge impact! I lost 10 lbs, I sleep through the entire night, I feel brighter, my skin is clearer, I have less anxiety. It’s been more radical than any “diet” I’ve ever tried.
The Rochester Lifestyle Medicine Institute has created an educational program founded on evidence based science proven to prevent and reverse chronic disease. Participants will readily comprehend the vocabulary of science that will empower them as the locus of control to achieve the goal of lifelong optimal disease free health. The Rochester team, known for its success rate, is now able to offer their skill and knowledge base beyond Rochester nationally and internationally in a format with dignity and simplicity…
Really enjoyed the virtual jumpstart program. It was brief yet thorough, highly relevant and of course evidence based. I am excited to use this tool in my patient population.
My cholesterol has gone down 100 points. The plant based diet works. I am staying on it. Thank you and your team!
Changed my life forever. Also, I want to reiterate that for literally years I’ve had GI issues, and this has put those to rest once and for all.
I learned that it is possible to lower fat intake and not feel hungry. As a physician I am glad I had a chance to experience this program to get insight about what people go through and also how a program like this can be run.
It gave me the tools and resources to completely change my lifestyle. I loved it!
I was delighted to lose 9 pounds and to see all of my levels go down . My blood pressure was 201/98 now it’s 129/75. I saw the difference in my skin; its Glowing now. This program has sent me on a path of becoming more aware of how food can change your life. I started the program with the suggestion of my Kidney doctor. I come from a family that didn’t take care of themselves and now I’m the only one living. I’m feeling wonderful. I made a decision to take control of my health and diet and your program did this for me. I’m looking forward to the next program.
I really appreciated the encouragement and support that I don’t get at home. I truly feel that I did get a “jumpstart” to do what I was having trouble figuring out on my own. Can’t wait to find out about my cholesterol! ???? Thank you so much!!
I feel great. Lower blood pressure, lost 10 pounds, more energy and feel ready to continue on this path.
t really helped me commit to significantly limit processed sugar/starch from my diet, improve my sleep and exercise habits, and increase the amount of whole food plant based meals for my family.
I joined for weight, knee pain, and cholesterol– I released 9.8 lbs and my knees are improving. I am excited to see the impact on my cholesterol.
It felt like the ideal program to experience a radical shift in diet while getting plenty of support and direction. I have been wanting to move in this direction for awhile, but would not have been able to stick with it without this well organized and sustained support. It also gives me a lot of helpful information and experience to share with patients! PB,
I’m quite sure this will be life-changing for me. I can’t thank you enough.
It will give me a program to refer patients to that are highly motivated to treat or reverse disease with diet.
This program is shorter and less expensive (than others). I have seen the amazing results.
I finally after 5 years of knowing about WFPB diet am committed. I thought my previous attempts were good but the program has shown me where I went wrong. I need to lose weight and have been successful in that regard over the past 15 days, however my focus on this program is how to incorporate these changes for the rest of my life. At family get togethers I need to bring my own food. Already trying to plan what I’m going to bring for Thanksgiving. This a life change I’m willing to embrace!
Helped me rejuvenate my commitment to WFPB eating and cooking. Lost 5 pounds.
It provided great opportunity to reconnect with the WFPB community.
I feel much better, have more energy and I lost weight – 7 lbs! I like that I can eat fruits and vegetables – good carbs and not worrying about calories.
My PCP endorsed this program after he was a participant and I agree with him that it was important information to someone who wanted to improve their health, weight, and heart blood values.
It is a great way to start thinking differently about food and the importance of a plant based whole food diet.
What’s included in the Virtual Program?
Interactive, small group Zoom discussions with a medical provider
Educational presentations that introduce the relationships between food and health
Cooking demonstrations
Recipes, sample menus and shopping lists
Virtual pot-luck lunches recipe exchanges… and much more!
You’ll receive a course guide, access to a private Google classroom with a forum, and daily resource emails.
RLMI’s 15-day WFPB jumpstart is a great way to get started on a healthier life!
TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH
Jumpstart is a program that helps you prevent, arrest, and even reverse chronic disease. It follows a whole-food plant-based approach to eating, scientifically proven to give you your health back.
In just 15 days, you will:
- Learn to enjoy healthy food, for a lifetime
- Lose weight and keep it off — while eating more!
- Lower your cholesterol, blood sugar and blood pressure
- Reduce your medication needs and expenses
- Gain energy, feel better and enjoy life again
We’ll teach you about the important role that nutrition plays in discovering your best health and offer support as you change your eating habits. Endorsed by Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, author of Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease, this lifestyle intervention program is designed to help you dramatically change your health and happiness in a short period of time.
Just 2 weeks to start your journey to a happier, healthier life!
Participants are encouraged to receive before-and-after medical consultation from their healthcare provider.
