Beyond Weight
“We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.”
Confucius
Beyond Weight is a customized and comprehensive program based on the latest research and advances in weight loss and nutrition. Take your first steps toward losing weight, looking your best, and feeling healthy and confident for the rest of your life.
"I want to talk to patients. To hear their stories and struggles and connect with them about something I am very passionate about: disease prevention, healthy diet, sleep, and stress reduction." Marina Ivanovsky, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Medical Weight Loss Advancements
As part of creating your personalized Beyond Weight program, we will discuss if incorporating medications into your weight loss journey is the right fit for you. Traditional weight loss medications have helped many people, but they were often temporary solutions with side effects and complications.
With recent medical advancements, we can now offer medication options that improve metabolic health and train your brain and gut metabolic pathways to sustain long-term weight management. These options include once-weekly injections (such as Semaglutide or Tirzepatide), daily oral GLP-1 tablets, and daily appetite suppressants. You can read details about these treatments on our dedicated Medical Weight Loss Options page.
What to Expect & Why We Fail Long-Term
Marina and her team know that you are constantly bombarded with advertisements about the best diet, the best supplement, to “eat this, not that”. No one starts a diet with the intention of regaining the weight they lose. Unfortunately, roughly 90 percent of people who lose a lot of weight eventually regain it.
Our team has been studying why this happens to help you succeed at weight loss long term. There are many ways to lose weight, but not all are good for you or contribute to your long-term health. There is no pill, shake, supplement, food delivery service, diet or medical treatment that can help you tackle your emotional triggers and relationship with food.
Even the best athletes with the best abilities have coaches that help them to achieve Olympic results. Losing weight and embarking on your health journey can be hard, emotional, and overwhelming. Marina and her team help you through your journey with an evidence-based and compassionate approach. We help you face the issues that caused you to gain weight in the first place so that you don’t regain your weight.
Our Comprehensive Approach
- Laboratory Baseline Mapping: We start with a blood test and look at laboratory results for inflammation levels, insulin resistance, cholesterol, thyroid, and more.
- Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM): We can incorporate a CGM sensor as a real-time tool to closely monitor your individual blood sugar response to certain food groups, sleep, and exercise.
- Personalized Analysis: We take into consideration your medical history, family history, and current medications.
- Appetite & Lifestyle Evaluation: We look at your appetite, your busy schedule, stress levels, and environmental factors affecting your diet.
- Practical Guidance: We do a grocery store walk-through and pantry purge, looking at labels and learning about what it means.
- Ongoing Clinical Access: We make ourselves available via text or email if you ever have any questions about restaurant menus or grocery store choices on an ongoing basis.
- Regular Progress Toggles: We conduct regular check-ins where we track progress and recommend any changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is an eligible candidate for the Beyond Weight program?
Beyond Weight is for anyone frustrated with stubborn weight, constant dieting cycles, emotional eating, or health concerns like pre-diabetes, high cholesterol, or thyroid sluggishness. We start with blood tests to uncover any hidden hormone or blood sugar hurdles before creating your plan.
Are prescription weight loss medications required as part of Beyond Weight?
No. Prescription weight loss medications are completely optional. While once-weekly GLP-1 injections (such as Semaglutide or Tirzepatide) are popular options, we also prescribe oral medications including Adipex-P (phentermine), Qsymia, and Contrave when clinically appropriate. The foundation of Beyond Weight focuses on real nutrition, continuous glucose monitoring, sustainable daily habits, and repairing your metabolism. Any medication is carefully selected to match your medical history, lifestyle, and comfort level.
How does Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) assist with weight loss?
A small CGM sensor worn on the back of your arm tracks your blood sugar in real time. It shows you exactly how different foods, stress, and sleep affect your body. Instead of following generic diet advice, you get clear feedback on what helps your body burn fat and keep your energy steady.
What side effects might occur with medical weight management, and how are they managed?
Side effects depend on the medication prescribed. For patients taking GLP-1 injections, the most common mild effects are brief nausea, feeling full quickly, or mild digestive changes when first starting or adjusting doses. For patients taking oral medications like phentermine or Qsymia, some individuals may notice a slight blood pressure elevation or sleep interruption. We keep all symptoms to a minimum by starting at low doses, monitoring your vitals closely, and making prompt adjustments whenever needed.
How does Beyond Weight ensure long-term weight maintenance after reaching goal weight?
We focus on preserving lean muscle and protecting your metabolic health while you lose weight, rather than just cutting calories. As you near your goal, we help you gradually taper off medications while offering dedicated follow-up visits for long-term weight maintenance. These continuing check-ins provide ongoing support to dial in your nutrition, sleep, activity, and healthy lifestyle habits so you keep the weight off for good.
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