PHYSICIAN SUPERVISED FITNESS YIELDS DRAMATIC RESULTS AT NAPERVILLE OPTIMAL HEALTH MEDICAL FITNESS
(NAPERVILLE, ILL)- Naperville residents are finding a powerful alternative to traditional diet and exercise plans with medically supervised nutrition and fitness programs from Naperville-based, award-winning, Optimal Health Medical Fitness. Optimal's integrated approach to health and fitness has not only helped people lose hundreds of pounds and regain a healthy lifestyle, but also avoid surgery and even reduce their medications.
"The goal of our center is to help people become healthier, not just lose weight or gain muscle in the gym," said Chris Cichy, Medical Fitness Director at Optimal. "Our physician assessments help people uncover any medical condition that may be interfering with their fitness goals, such as hormonal imbalance, metabolism problems, prior injury, or an undiagnosed disorder. Then in addition to any needed medical treatment, we give our clients a supervised diet and customized exercise program to help them reach their goals."
Founded in 2013, Optimal moved to its current location at 424 Fort Hill Dr. in September 2016. The medical fitness center is part gym and part medical facility, which is an innovative concept and one of a kind in the state of Illinois. The owner and founder of Optimal is Dr. Azlan Tariq, D.O., a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation with a focus on regenerative and sports medicine. Dr. Tariq offers on-site, doctor-referred or patient-requested, medical assessments that provide the foundation for the individualized medical treatment, diet, and fitness programs.
The fitness center offers personalized and small group classes. All workouts are by appointment and clients are held accountable for their weight loss through the use of food journals and weigh in's. Some people, like Aimee Schilling, came to Optimal for medical attention then found a successful diet and exercise program as well.
"I was 43 and about 20 pounds overweight when I tore my meniscus," said Schilling. "Running was painful, but as a dog agility trainer, running with the dogs was part of my job. When I saw Dr. Tariq, I realized that my extra pounds were also contributing to my injury."
Schilling signed up for one of Optimal's challenges, which encourages clients to lose 20 pounds in 42 days, with a refund of their registration fee if they are successful. Her program included a detoxification, followed by a diet with strict guidelines and a regular exercise program. The program worked and a year later, Schilling is 35 pounds lighter and has kept off the weight.
Dr. Tariq also helped Schilling avoid surgery and heal her knee meniscus with a state of the art, medical procedure called PRP (platelet-rich plasma injections). The PRP injections used her own blood cells to regenerate tissue in the injured area. During her recovery, Schilling received physical therapy and medically supervised rehabilitation at Optimal. Today, she is keeping up with her dogs without pain, feeling better, and has more energy thanks to the weight loss.
"The diet and exercise is easy to do," said Schilling. "The hardest part is just making yourself a priority."
According to Cichy, the typical client is very busy and between 35-60 years of age although there are many that fall outside that range. Like Schilling, many were living with pain that may be caused or aggravated by a decline in their level of health and fitness. "With our emphasis on diet, exercise, and nutrition, Optimal Medical Health Fitness can fight the results of aging and illness in a healthy, holistic way," said Cichy. He also went on to explain that sometimes the introduction of regular exercise can also help reduce the need for medication, as it did for an older client of theirs suffering from Parkinson's disease."
Optimal's ongoing challenges to lose weight within a certain period are highly successful for their clients. "Because clients are held accountable and expected to show up and demonstrate progress, they regularly rise to the challenge," Cichy said. Optimal is located at 424 Fort Hill Dr., #123 in Naperville. For more information, call 630.210.1550 or visit www.optimalhealthmedicalfitness.com.
ABOUT OPTIMAL HEALTH MEDICAL FITNESS
Optimal Health Medical Fitness is an award-winning, medical fitness facility that is the first of its kind in Illinois. Established by Dr. Azlan Tariq D.O. in 2013, Optimal has a mission to help restore the health and lives of individuals in Naperville and the surrounding area with a medically supervised weight loss program. Optimal also offers medical assessments and alternative modalities such as prolotherapy and PRP as well as massage, certified nutritionist services and insurance-covered physical therapy. Optimal Health Medical Fitness is located in Naperville, IL at 424 Fort Hill Dr., #123. For more information, call 630.210.1550, visit at www.optimalhealthmedicalfitness.com or follow them on Facebook or Twitter.