Hit Your Target Weight with Help from Proactive Wellness Centers

The program described below is for patients with a minimum of 30 lbs to lose and is designed to achieve this safely with the use of lab-driven therapies that help to overcome weight loss resistance and promote fat loss.

Medical Weight Loss in Columbia, MD

Getting fit and healthy is increasingly popular in America. However, a significant portion of our population is still considered obese. According to the CDC, between 2017 and early 2020, 41.9% of adults in the U.S. fell into the obese category, with 9.2% classified as severely obese. These numbers are alarming, especially when you see how many overweight and unhealthy adults are in public places like Columbia Canal and Riverfront Park near Columbia, MD.

The unfortunate reality is that many individuals attempt fad diets and weight loss strategies, only to end up failing and reverting to their old habits. If you're reading this and nodding your head in agreement, you should know that there's hope. Medical weight loss clinics, like Proactive Wellness Centers, are providing a fresh start for overweight men and women by helping them reach a healthier weight. Unlike invasive surgeries or unreliable weight loss pills, medical weight loss in Columbia, MD is tailored to fit your unique needs and comes with the support necessary to help you not only lose weight but also maintain your progress for the rest of your life.

 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD
personalized program

Follow our personalized program to achieve the most Fat loss using safe and effective medications and Program therapies

medications

The Proactive Wellness Approach to Health and Wellness

Our programs are all about reversing and slowing the aging process, preventing disease, and treating chronically ill patients. We utilize a three-pronged approach: Firstly, we equip you with the knowledge that is required to take charge of your health and achieve optimal well-being. Secondly, we focus on disease prevention by providing a thorough evaluation using comprehensive diagnostics and the information provided on your health history form. Finally, we work closely with you to implement a rejuvenation program consisting of science-based treatments that reduce cellular degeneration, promote tissue regeneration, and help you live life at a healthy weight.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD

We do NOT replace the role of the family physician. Instead, we work with your primary care physicians, internists, and other medical professionals to provide optimum integrated care. We consider you and your body as physiologically unique. We don't subscribe to a "one size fits all" approach - especially when it comes to medical weight loss in Columbia, MD. Instead, our programs focus on a customized approach that will address risk factors that, if avoided or modified, could have beneficial effects for reducing premature mortality from chronic conditions like obesity. To help you on your journey, we may prescribe medications like semaglutide to get your weight loss plan started.

At the end of the day, our goal is to be a reliable, expert source of guidance and motivation. Like Robert Mills House and Gardens near Columbia, MD, we stand tall for our patients. We believe that giving them access to holistic treatments, weight loss medications, and weight loss coaching gives them the tools and drive needed to get healthy and lose weight. When they do, our patients report a range of positive results, including:

  • Lower Blood Pressure
  • Lower Cholesterol
  • Less Joint Pain
  • Lower Triglycerides
  • More Energy
  • Increased Libido
  • Better Fitting Clothes
  • Enhanced Overall Well-Being
  • More

Curious to learn more about how losing weight can help you live a healthier life? Contact Proactive Wellness Centers today. Let's set up an initial consultation, where we can answer your questions and length and learn more about your health history.

The Proactive Wellness Medical Weight Loss Program Explained

The program described below is for patients with a minimum of 30 lbs. to lose and is designed to achieve this safely with the use of lab-driven therapies that help to overcome weight loss resistance and promote fat loss. Some of the weight loss medicines and tools we use to help you get healthy may include:

Semaglutide

Proactive Wellness Centers is excited to incorporate semaglutide into our medical weight loss programs. This FDA-approved treatment has demonstrated impressive results, assisting patients in reducing body weight, managing blood glucose levels, and enhancing overall health. Our experienced medical team personalizes semaglutide treatments to align with your specific goals and needs, ensuring a customized approach to your weight loss needs.

An early study of 2,000 obese adults compared people using semaglutide plus a diet and exercise program with people who made the same lifestyle changes without semaglutide. After 68 weeks, half of the participants using semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, and nearly a third lost 20%.

Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD
 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD

Tirzepatide

If you've experimented with diet and weight loss strategies without success, tirzepatide from Proactive Wellness Centers could be the solution you've been looking for. This cutting-edge medical weight loss treatment leverages the advantages of both GLP-1 receptor agonists and GIP receptor agonists, offering a dual mechanism that enhances and accelerates weight loss. Our highly-rated weight loss centers utilize the power of tirzepatide to deliver a comprehensive and effective approach to weight management.

Total Metabolism Tracking with Lumen

The Lumen device measures carb and fat burn using a highly validated test of CO2 that is detected when you breathe into the device. This has been validated to closely approximate real metabolism. All you have to do is breathe into the device daily to get helpful recommendations and better understand how your body burns fat. Once our team understands how your metabolism works and burns fat, we can alter your medical weight loss plan in Columbia, MD.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD
Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD

Weight Loss Coaching from Proactive Wellness Centers

To successfully lose excess weight and keep it off for the rest of your life, it's very important for you to adopt a health-focused lifestyle that prioritizes nutritious eating habits. Our medical professionals are here to provide the support you need to kickstart these lifestyle changes and transform your views on physical activity, diet, and nutrition.

Our weight loss coaching schedule is customized for you and your body. Generally, you'll visit our weight loss clinic eight times over a 12-week period. Here's a breakdown of our health coaching schedule when used in a typical medical weight loss plan:

Visit 1

Discussion of Body Composition and Patient Goals

We'll discuss your body composition in detail. During this first step, you'll come to the office for bi-weekly visits if geographically feasible. We'll discuss the role of our Lumen device in terms of metabolism tracking.

Action: We'll advise you to keep a food diary for the next visit. Use the Lumen device daily.

 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD
Visit 2

Discuss Food Diary and Make Appropriate Suggestions for Improvement

This step focuses on total caloric intake and healthy eating. Go deep here as much as time allows. For your medical weight loss plan to be truly successful, you've got to set the foundation for healthy eating. You can't just go to The Kings Contrivance near Columbia, MD and gorge yourself on your favorite foods after working out. As such, during this step, we'll explain that we do not recommend "dieting." The goal is to change your eating habits so that they can be maintained well after your weight-loss program is over.

Action: We'll ask you to keep an exercise diary for next week. We may also suggest that you get an activity tracker for more accurate tracking.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD
Visit 3

We'll ask you to keep an exercise diary for next week. We may also suggest that you get an activity tracker for more accurate tracking.

This week, we'll focus on anaerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes 4-5 times per week. You should prioritize aerobic exercises. If they only have time for one or the other, then advise anaerobic.

Action: We'll advise you to get a new body composition reading prior to next week's visit.

Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD
Visit 4

Discuss Progress of Lack Thereof vs. Week One Baseline.

Keep in mind that at this point, you're at the building stage of your weight-loss medication, so we are not expecting a lot of fat loss. In terms of medical weight loss in Columbia, MD, losing 3-4 lbs. of fat in the first month while on semaglutide is a big success. Many patients with 75-100 lbs. to lose report losing up to 25 lbs. in the first month. We'll also check in with you to ensure you've been compliant with dietary and exercise recommendations and medication adherence.

Action: If there has been no fat loss or even fat gain, we'll need to discuss the case with our medical director for possible additional interventions. We may advise you to track sleep for next week, preferably with a sleep tracking device, but if not, then just manual tracking (time to bed, time waking up, how many times they awake for the night, sleep hygiene questions).

 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD
Medical Director Visit

Medical Director Visit

During this appointment, we'll try to uncover the reasons for your weight loss resistance. To do so, we'll review your initial lab work, looking for sub-optimal areas that could be impacting weight loss as well as sleep quality.

  1. Food sensitivity testing
  2. Micronutrient testing
  3. Nutrigen testing
  4. Sleep tracking - depending on whether weight loss is going as expected and how they answer questions about sleep.

Action: Our medical director will provide guidance on what they feel is the biggest problem area(s) that require focused attention.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD
Visit 5

Identify Your Biggest Problem Areas

From the areas below, we'll spend time reinforcing needed behavior in 1-2 of the most problematic areas.

  1. Diet/Nutrition (appetite suppressant), Exercise, Medication compliance, Sleep, Low IGF-1 (GHRH therapy), GI issues - GI testing, Other metabolic issues
Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD
Visit 6

Provide Guidance Where You Need the Most Help

From diet and nutrition to exercise, sleep, and detoxification, we'll tackle the areas where you're having trouble.

 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD
Visit 7

Check Progress and Continue to Focus on Problem Areas

We'll check in with you to get a sense of how you're doing in regard to areas where you need help. If you're still struggling, we'll provide guidance and coaching to help.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD
Visit 8

Assess Your Medical Weight Loss Progress

During this visit, we'll assess the progress you've made in your medical weight loss plan in Columbia, MD. We'll then compare the progress you've made vs your Week 4 and baseline testing results. We'll then make recommendations for another round or other continued intervention.

Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD

Top 5 Ways to Maintain Your Medical Weight Loss in Columbia, MD

You'll have the chance to exit and divert from your journey, but by staying the course, you can reach your destination and keep unhealthy weight off for good. But doing so isn't always easy. That's especially true when there are distractions and fast-food restaurants around every corner.

Keep these science-based tips in mind to help stay on track and say "no" to foods and behaviors that will set you back.

  1. Treat Yourself to a Healthy Breakfast Daily

Maintaining a consistent eating routine is crucial for managing your food intake effectively. This might mean eating at the same times every day or opting for similar meals each day. By establishing a structured approach to your eating habits, you create a helpful framework to follow, which can significantly benefit your health without the need to fixate on calories and portion sizes. This structure can aid in regulating your appetite, boosting your energy levels, and enhancing your overall diet. Moreover, starting your day with a large, high-protein breakfast has been linked to better control over your appetite, improved blood sugar levels, and more effective calorie management throughout the day.

 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD
 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD

2. Try to Stay Consistent

At Proactive Wellness Centers, we often highlight how important consistency is for weight loss, as sticking to your health changes is the most effective way to achieve results. However, consistency also plays a key role in keeping unwanted weight off for long periods of time. It's not solely about sticking to change; it's about developing daily habits and routines that pave the way for success.

3. Keep Exercising!

Engaging in regular physical activity is a proven way to effectively manage your weight, as it aids in burning calories and optimizing the use of the food you eat. The amount of exercise needed to keep your weight in check can differ based on individual factors and the types of workouts you choose. At Proactive Wellness Centers, we offer personalized medical weight loss plans in Columbia, MD for our patients and provide exercise tips tailored to your body, age, and other considerations. This approach ensures you find a balance that prevents burnout and helps you avoid overexertion.

Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD
 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD

4. Say "Goodbye" to Processed Food

Enjoying a honey bun occasionally isn't going to kill you. However, when it comes to losing weight, it's crucial to limit or even eliminate processed foods from your meals. Foods that are heavily processed usually have empty calories and tend to contain high amounts of added sugars. Empty calories refer to calories that offer little to no nutritional value or health benefits. That makes them ideal for cutting out of your diet. Although managing your weight revolves around calorie management at its core, studies have associated the consumption of processed foods, particularly those rich in added sugars, with higher body weights and a greater likelihood of weight gain.

Moreover, research indicates that decreasing the intake of heavily processed foods might be more effective for managing weight. One study revealed that the body could burn up to twice as many calories when digesting simple foods compared to heavily processed ones. Additionally, ongoing studies continue to show that a diet predominantly made up of whole foods is linked to improved weight management outcomes.

5. Eat a Lot of Non-Starchy Veggies

Vegetables are packed with nutrition rather than empty calories. They offer a wealth of nutrients while contributing very few calories to your diet. This means you can enjoy greater nutritional benefits without consuming large amounts of food. For instance, two cups of broccoli come in at just 60 calories, while two cups of cooked pasta can spike up to nearly 500 calories. Plus, since our bodies require proper nutrition to function well, some studies suggest that increasing your intake of nutrient-dense foods like non-starchy vegetables can help keep hunger at bay. By loading up on low-calorie veggies, you can feel satisfied without overeating.

 Weight Loss Clinic Columbia, MD

Proactive Wellness Centers: The Premier Choice for Effective Medical Weight Loss in Columbia, MD

When you want healthy produce and foods you can eat, don't go to a fast-food restaurant and expect to get quality food. You go to GrillMarx Columbia Steakhouse Raw Bar near Columbia, MD. When it's time for you to get healthy and lose weight the safe way, you don't go to a gas station and ask for weight-loss pills. You contact Proactive Wellness to learn how medical weight loss can be truly effective.

If you're sick and tired of feeling sluggish, sick, and embarrassed about your weight, it's time to do something about it. At Proactive Wellness Centers, our team of weight loss specialists is ready to guide you every step of the way. Take 5 minutes and call us today to schedule your initial consultation and take the first step toward living your best life.

Medical Weight Loss Columbia, MD

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Latest News in Columbia, MD

Public Garden Details Released In Report Include Pollinator Garden

A newly released report offers a glimpse at the vision for Howard County's first public garden.Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch StaffHOWARD COUNTY, MD — A report detailing plans for the first public garden to be created in Howard County has been released and calls for the creation of herb and vegetable gardens, pollinator gardens, lawn alternative gardens, container gardens and conservation landscapes among other s...

A newly released report offers a glimpse at the vision for Howard County's first public garden.

Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch Staff

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — A report detailing plans for the first public garden to be created in Howard County has been released and calls for the creation of herb and vegetable gardens, pollinator gardens, lawn alternative gardens, container gardens and conservation landscapes among other special features.

The land, which is the former site of the Longwood property in Glenwood, sits at the intersection of Route 97 (Roxbury Mills Road) and Burntwood’s Road. The land includes 29 acres of woods and 71 acres of fields including actively farmed hay ground, open meadows, a black walnut grove, a pine grove, wetlands, a pond, streams, springs and covered slopes.

“This premier destination public garden will be a place of cultivated beauty where residents and visitors of all ages and abilities can come together to embrace Mother Earth and improve their physical and mental well-being in a peaceful setting,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “In its beauty, we also recognize the significance of the Longwood property’s past as a place where human enslavement once occurred. With the support of our community, we hope to determine the most respectful and appropriate way in which we can display this history.”

Structures on the property include the historic house, a smoke house, a doctor's office and the cemetery, believed to be the original features of the farm from the early 1800s, as well as a cinderblock storage shed with a metal roof, a cinderblock horse stable, a cinderblock horse birthing barn, a cinderblock horse bathing barn, a cinder block basement post and a collapsed bean barn.

The report, A Public Garden for Howard County, Maryland, details the recommendations made by the focus group assigned with developing a preliminary concept plan.

Wegmans, Uber Eats To Offer Grocery Deliveries In MD

Customers of the Wegmans Food Markets in Maryland can now have their grocery orders delivered directly to their doors via Uber Eats.Deb Belt, Patch Staff|Updated Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 12:19 pm ETMARYLAND — Customers of the Wegmans Food Markets in Maryland can now have their grocery orders delivered directly to their doors via a new partnership with Uber Eats.Starting this month, Uber Eats users can browse the app...

Customers of the Wegmans Food Markets in Maryland can now have their grocery orders delivered directly to their doors via Uber Eats.

Deb Belt, Patch Staff

|Updated Thu, Jan 23, 2025 at 12:19 pm ET

MARYLAND — Customers of the Wegmans Food Markets in Maryland can now have their grocery orders delivered directly to their doors via a new partnership with Uber Eats.

Starting this month, Uber Eats users can browse the app to order from Wegmans locations in Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C. Customers can shop on the Uber Eats and Uber apps for products from restaurant-quality meals and artisan breads to fresh produce, cheese sourced from around the world, and grocery staples.

Uber One members pay no delivery fee and will receive a 5% discount on all Wegmans orders with a $35 minimum purchase. All new Wegmans' consumers will receive up to 40% off their next order of $60 or more until Feb. 5.

The grocery chain has eight stores in Maryland:

"We're thrilled to welcome Wegmans to the Uber Eats app this January," said Hashim Amin, head of North American Grocery and Retail Delivery at Uber, in a news release. "Wegmans is synonymous with high-quality food and exceptional service, and now customers can easily order everything they need for game day entertaining — from fresh produce to prepared meals and snacks — delivered right to their door."

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

By joining forces with Uber Eats, Wegmans officials said the company aims to bring more options to its customers, allowing them to shop when and how they want.

"Our goal is to make meals easy and help our customers live healthier, better lives through exceptional food," said Erica Tickle, Wegmans Vice President of Marketing and Digital Growth.

Wegmans customers can build group orders with family members, place orders any time of day, and select replacement items with real-time tracking.

Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a regional supermarket chain with 111 stores located along the East Coast. The family company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2016. Wegmans has been named one of the '100 Best Companies to Work For' by FORTUNE magazine for 27 consecutive years, ranking No. 6 in 2024.

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Where To Celebrate New Year’s Eve 2024 In Columbia

On New Year's Eve, Merriweather Symphony of Lights will host the "Midnight at 7" event complete with fireworks, music and food trucks.Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch StaffCOLUMBIA, MD — Ring in the New Year at one of several events being held across Howard County.The Merriweather Symphony of Lights in Columbia offers...

On New Year's Eve, Merriweather Symphony of Lights will host the "Midnight at 7" event complete with fireworks, music and food trucks.

Kristin Danley-Greiner, Patch Staff

COLUMBIA, MD — Ring in the New Year at one of several events being held across Howard County.

The Merriweather Symphony of Lights in Columbia offers a one-mile course of scenic colored lights visitors can drive through to experience the holiday season. The experience opened on Nov. 29 and goes until Jan.4; however, visitors can walk through the light show on select dates.

On New Year’s Eve, the venue will host the “Midnight at 7” event, giving guests the chance to walk through the course one last time this holiday season. Fireworks will be set off at 7 p.m. followed by music and food trucks.

Here is a look at some additional events happening in and around Columbia:

Find out what's happening in Columbiafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

In the United States, one of the most popular New Year’s Eve traditions is the dropping of the giant ball in New York City’s Times Square. Other U.S. cities have their own versions of this celebration, such as the Peeps Chick Drop in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and the giant Potato Drop in Boise, Idaho.

The transition from one year to the next is often marked by the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,” a Scottish folk song whose title roughly translates to “days gone by,” according to Encyclopedia Britannica and History.com.

The tradition of New Year’s resolutions dates back 8,000 years to ancient Babylonians, who made promises to return borrowed items and repay debts at the beginning of the new year, which was in mid-March when they planted their crops.

According to legend, if people kept their word, the pagan gods would grant them favor in the coming year. However, if they broke their promises, they would lose favor with the gods.

Many secular New Year’s resolutions focus on imagining new, improved versions of ourselves.

The failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is about 80 percent, according to U.S. News & World Report. There are many reasons, but a big one is they’re made out of remorse — for gaining weight, for example — and aren’t accompanied by a shift in attitude or a plan for coping with the stress and discomfort that comes with changing a habit or condition.

Hailing from Columbia, the American Girl Doll of the Year mirrors what’s important to kids today

Columbia has a new “it girl.” At 10 years old, she has a dog-walking and treat-making business and teaches other young girls how to work through obstacles, patience and how to treat people and pets as individuals — only she’s 18 inches tall and has limbs made of vinyl.Summer McKinny, sporting a rainbow tie-dye dress and pink glasses to go with matching bracelets and colorful sandals, is the doll that was crowned the ...

Columbia has a new “it girl.” At 10 years old, she has a dog-walking and treat-making business and teaches other young girls how to work through obstacles, patience and how to treat people and pets as individuals — only she’s 18 inches tall and has limbs made of vinyl.

Summer McKinny, sporting a rainbow tie-dye dress and pink glasses to go with matching bracelets and colorful sandals, is the doll that was crowned the 2025 American Girl of the Year. She’s the first American Girl of the Year from Maryland after making her debut in September.

Since Pleasant T. Rowland founded American Girl in 1986, the brand has become a touchstone for millennials and generations after who grew up with the dolls. More than 36 million of the dolls, which typically cost around $125, have been sold in the last four decades, according to American Girl.

Mary Mahoney, a historian and co-host of the popular “Dolls of Our Lives” podcast that retells the stories of each American Girl Doll, said McKinny’s story is defined by her turning her passion into a business, which mirrors what is important to generations today.

“Now we have a Girl of the Year whose dream is to be an entrepreneur. … The girls in the early periods were just pursuing things because they were interested in them. They weren’t trying to make a living,” Mahoney said. “And now it’s interesting that it’s kind of a reflection of our own times that Summer isn’t just interested in making dog treats or loving animals, which is wonderful, but also wants to make a business about it.”

She said Girl of the Year is an attempt to speak to kids, and that every doll’s story can stand as a yearbook or litmus test for the values that Mattel, the company that owns American Girl, thinks are important to children at a certain point.

Sep 18, 2024

Sep 19, 2024

McKinny’s story is told through two books called “My Journal by Summer McKinny” and “Summer Gets to Work,” both written by Clare Hutton, a Columbia native.

Hutton consulted Katie Flory, the community care and advocacy director for the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and Janear Garrus, founder of Chesapeake Educational Alliance, to make McKinny’s story as accurate and authentic as possible, according to American Girl.

Along with McKinny’s baking and dog-walking business, her story features her dog, Crescent, and her Aunt Olivia’s cat, Fettuccine, that bring moments of chaos into McKinny’s life. She learns how to navigate her business venture with her home life, and Hutton hopes readers see themselves in McKinny’s story.

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“While Summer’s not perfect, she is willing to admit when she’s wrong, talk about her feelings, and do what it takes to get a friendship back on track,” Hutton said in an American Girl blog. “I hope that girls will recognize their own relationships in the ones that Summer values and realize that they too can resolve conflicts just as she does.”

McKinny has real emotions that many readers may relate to, and Mahoney said that is what American Girl Dolls and their stories are meant to do.

“I think it’s a really special brand because everything they do is about instilling confidence in girls to love themselves, to explore who they are, to pursue their passions and be unapologetically interested in the world,” she said.

American Girl treats girls as empowered, important people, without rushing them to grow up or rushing them to be defined by a relationship to a boy, Mahoney said.

The dolls are also a way to connect girls to other generations in their families and encourage storytelling and shared play. “And I think all of that is really special,” she said.

abby.zimmardi@thebaltimorebanner.com

Abby Zimmardi is a reporter covering Howard County for The Baltimore Banner. Zimmardi earned her master’s degree from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism in December 2022.

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 Weight Loss Program Columbia, MD