ARBODY®

• How will I know how much weight I should lose?
Our staff will work with you and measure your body composition to give you accurate and realistic goals that are safe for you health. Most people have a short term goal of losing approximately 10% of their beginning weight in 3 to 6 months. We use Body Mass Index as an indicator of your healthy weight zone but take into consideration your age and body type. A 5 point reduction in the BMI is a significant benefit from a health standpoint.

• How long does a session usually take?
We schedule one hour for new clients, 15 to 30 minutes for diet follow up appointments. Follow up weight check and body composition analysis only takes approximately 10-15 minutes. Clients using the gym have a flexible time schedule, but should allow at least an hour to include a warm up and cool down with their aerobic workout or strength training.

• Do I need an appointment?
Yes, an appointment is necessary for all diet visits with the physician. You may now schedule an appointment over the internet at www.netappointment.com . Clients who wish to use the gym will need to sign a liability release the first time they use the facility.

• How often do I have to come?
You will only be charged one low monthly fee, regardless of how many visits you need to make that month. Clients needing maximum assistance may start with weekly visits and weigh ins. We try to help you take the guess work out of dieting with effective planning and feedback. You can drop by and weigh as often as you like. Clients experienced in diet techniques who are comfortable with their progress are asked to weigh monthly. Those backsliding will be asked to weigh more often. Once you reach your goal and/or no longer require medication you are encouraged to continue to weigh periodically. BCA monitoring is included for a full year with your initial membership visit. It is important to keep up the lifestyle and behavioral changes that allowed you to reach your goals. You may need to go back on medication for short periods of time to prevent regaining the weight you worked so hard to lose.

• How much does it cost?
Our initial visit with physician evaluation is $100.  Follow up visits with physician are $50 a month. Even if you need to come in every week  to weigh for a period of time, the monthly charge is only $50. There is no obligation to schedule a physician visit unless you need a medication prescription. You may drop in and weigh as often as you like between visits. RESTARTS (6 months or more since last visit) will be charged $75. Member benefits allow for periodic body composition analysis to measure your percent body fat. You may weigh at any time during our normal business hours for a full year without any additional cost unless seeing the doctor for medication refills. Please call for details.

• Do you take Visa or Mastercard?
We will be happy to bill your Visa or Master Card. Payment by personal check is also accepted.

• Are there other costs or materials to purchase?
Yes. Members who need more structure and support, or those who are new to dieting are recommended to purchase a basic workbook and materials for $75. The workbook takes you through week by week lessons and teaches you how to make behavioral modification and lifestyle changes. In addition we provide you with a spiral bound diary for record keeping, a pedometer to monitor your activity level, and a food guide full of information on calorie content & nutritional values of foods. You may purchase these items individually or not at all.

• What obligations are there to becoming a member of Options and do I have to pay a monthly fee?
There are never any long term obligations or contracts required at Options. To receive the maximum benefit it is highly recommended that you follow the programs's guidelines. However, it is a pay-as-you-go type program. You will never be charged additional fees except for diet visits which you voluntarily schedule or for merchandise you purchase.

• How do I become a member of Options?
Your diet membership is included in the price of your initial visit and expires one year after that date. You can drop by and weigh for a full year without any additional costs or obligations.We want to help you reach your goals!

• Does insurance cover my diet program?
Very few insurance programs allow coverage for diet & exercise programs, educational materials, or medications at this time. Check with your individual carrier for details. We do not bill insurance at our office, but will be happy to provide you with a statement of your costs at our clinic and a letter of medical necessity to assist you in filing for reimbursement if your company's policy covers diet services. Your medication alone may be covered by your insurance and we recommend that you check with your individual plan. Many persons have a personal health saving plan which can be used to pay for both diet visits and medications. We can accept checks or Visa/Mastercard charges drawn on these HSA plans.

• What are the membership benefits?
All members may weigh free at any time during our regular business hours without additional cost. Members of Options get free measurements of body fat composition anaylsis as part of their member benefit over the period of one year. We are there to provide you with the help you need with diet information, journals and other materials to help you every step of the way. You will receive computerized analysis of your progress with easy to read graphs and charts at appropriate intervals. The gym is available at no extra charge to our members during regular business hours only.

• Do you sell supplements or food products?
No, we occasionally have coupons off for readily availble diet food products or medications. We teach our clients to use real food from the grocery store and how to chose from restaurant menus. Diet drinks, bars, and frozen dinners may be worked into your diet according to personal preferences and we will assist you in planning your meals and menus. We recommend that all clients take  multiple vitamins and we will help you address any special nutrional needs. For those who want a more structured menu plan, we can work with you while on various commercial programs in which you buy your food products and supplements directly from the company. We can help when you are ready to come off the supplements and assist you in learning to make healthy foods choices.

• Do I have to have a lot of blood work and tests done to start the diet program?
No. Most people do not require expensive blood and laboratory tests. Our recommended diet is a well balanced and healthy diet that you can stay on safely for the rest of your life with adjustments in caloric intake. We only recommend a sustained weight loss of 2 to 3 lbs. per week balanced with an exercise schedule to keep your muscle mass healthy. There is no need for laboratory testing in most individuals. If you have health problems, we may work with your personal doctor to obtain clearance and necessary tests at the beginning or periodically during weight loss.Tests for thyroid function and lipids may be needed for some clients.

• What about measuring my insulin levels?
This is not necessary except in rare cases such as tumors that produce abnormal amounts of insulin. Anyone who is overweight and living a sedentary lifestyle would be expected to have elevated insulin levels in their blood because this physical state causes a relative resistance to the activity of insulin in your body. I don't have to measure your blood level to know this. When you lose weight and exercise, your body becomes more sensitive to your insulin, and your insulin levels will fall naturally. Once again, it is not necessary to measure these levels as the body's own homeostasis mechanisms will take care of things. Lab measurements of insulin are more relevant in disease states and research than for dieting in otherwise healthy people.