Summerlin couple combine medical, fitness backgrounds to transform lives

For those who have fallen off the treadmill in their quest to shed pounds, a new concierge medical practice is available in Las Vegas. It individualizes programs for those looking to renew that New Year’s resolution and get fit.

Dr. Eric Miller is the president and CEO of TransforMD, which launched in January and is headquartered in Summerlin. A board-certified specialist in the treatment of obesity and a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine, he spent eight years in standard medical practice, specializing in bariatrics and internal medicine, in which he is also board certified.

But his earlier life also plays into the concierge practice.

Miller got into bodybuilding as a 16-year-old and even competed before his life goals interfered. But he said he never lost that drive to work out, not even with the extreme time demands of medical school. Now, he uses fitness and modern medicine to help his patients lose weight and get in better shape.

“Everybody has their own journey; there’s no cookie-cutter path to approach this,” he said. “So, we want to hear their stories and learn what their issues are. No one’s plans should be the same because no one is the same.”

Miller goes to the client’s home, where issues and concerns are discussed, taking advantage of the comfortable, familiar environment rather than the sterile doctor’s office atmosphere.

Expect more than the stethoscope and blood pressure cuff: He looks into one’s eating habits, favorite foods and protein intake.

“This is an overlooked issue, where a lot of doctors don’t have the time or the knowledge, so it’s overlooked,” Miller said. “… Almost every medical issue is related to obesity and weight, and that’s part of what frustrated me as a doctor — we were chasing our tails, treating things without looking at the cause. For me, obesity and weight issues, those are the disease. Cancer, diabetes, rheumatologic disease, autoimmune diseases — it’s a very long list of things that obesity contributes to.”

“It is a lifestyle plan and way of life with real food,” client Jill Ranck said. “Their plan is not a fad diet. They show you how to live this plan for the rest of your life without ever feeling deprived from eating. It gets back to basics, and everything is fresh and unprocessed.”

Ranck’s goal is to lose 100 pounds, both to feel better and become healthier for her husband and two kids. In her first 13 days, she said she lost 9 pounds despite “eating more each day then I ever have. It is amazing.”

The unconventional approach of TransforMD goes beyond the doctor coming to the patient, as food consumption also comes into play.

“We’ll go through their cabinets to see what food they’re eating,” Miller said. “We’ll even go food shopping with them.”

He said the food companies have a monopoly on people’s eating habits. He has a special label for fast food: “Frankenfood.”

“We teach them how to prepare meals. We want things to be real life,” he said. “We don’t just tell them to eat healthy. We ‘show’ them healthy.”

After addressing food intake comes addressing the fitness aspect, which is where Miller’s wife, Shannon, comes into the picture.

Shannon, director of health coaching and personal training for TransforMD, helps assess what is needed to get the client on the road to a healthy weight. Then she designs a fitness plan specific to that person. Workouts can take place in the home, at a park or wherever the client feels comfortable before transitioning into a gym setting.

The plan is not handed to the client but formulated around their day.

“We come up with goal setting and figure out how to make it work for them,” she said. “… When they start off, a lot of these folks have never stepped inside a gym, so we start off (addressing) the food first. We want to educate from there first, and once they’re into a routine, add exercise for 30 to 45 minutes, depending on where they’re at.”

TransforMD offers different packages starting at less than $500 per month. Insurance is not accepted. Visit gettransformd.com.

To reach Summerlin Area View reporter Jan Hogan, email jhogan@viewnews.com or call 702-387-2949.