Meet Melissa, the Medical Director of Get Your Body Back Wellness Center in Edgewater, MD. Melissa’s journey to wellness and weight management is one filled with determination, discovery, and an unyielding commitment to finding a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. Her experience with weight loss isn’t just theoretical – it’s deeply personal, shaped by her struggles, successes, and a transformative approach that’s helped her lose and maintain a healthy weight. This is the story behind the Get Your Body Back Wellness Center and the habit-based program Melissa developed to help others achieve their goals.
Melissa’s Story: From Struggle to Solution
Melissa’s struggle with weight began at the age of 12. Like many, she found herself cycling through different fad diets over the years. From the cabbage soup diet she tried with her mom to countless other trends, she experienced short-term success but found the weight creeping back each time. Frustrated with this yo-yo effect, Melissa knew she needed a solution that would be realistic and sustainable in the long run. This search for a true solution inspired her to explore new approaches to weight loss that weren’t just about quick fixes but focused on building healthy habits that could last a lifetime.
In her journey, Melissa took a particular interest in James Clear’s book Atomic Habits, which emphasizes the power of small, consistent actions in building sustainable change. Drawing on this inspiration and her healthcare background, Melissa crafted her own habit-based weight loss program that addresses the root causes of weight regain. This program doesn’t just help people lose weight – it helps them develop the lifelong habits needed to maintain it.
A Transformative Approach to Weight Loss
Melissa’s weight loss journey wasn’t just about shedding pounds; it was about reshaping her approach to wellness. With a step-wise focus on addressing binge-eating tendencies, creating sustainable methods, and maintaining consistency, she designed a unique approach that worked for her. This journey also inspired her to pursue her doctoral degree, with her thesis centered around the habit-based weight loss system she developed.
Melissa’s personal victory came when she successfully lost 80 pounds and, for the first time, kept it off long-term, maintaining a healthy weight for over two years. Through her program, she shifted her mindset from restrictive dieting to a lifestyle of balanced, healthy eating, and self-compassion. Now, she’s helping others do the same, empowering them to identify limiting factors, replace self-defeating habits, and learn sustainable strategies that make weight management easier.
Melissa’s Perspective on Weight Management
Melissa’s philosophy is simple yet profound: “We are a product of what we continuously do – good, bad, or indifferent.” This perspective reflects her belief that our habits shape our outcomes.
“My biggest three challenges with keeping the weight off were trying to lose weight in an unsustainable manner, having binge eating tendencies, and trying to lose weight one way and maintain another,” she says. This realization led her to focus on helping clients address their unique challenges while establishing healthy, sustainable habits.
Her program is designed to help clients overcome the obstacles that prevent lasting success, such as unsustainable methods, emotional eating, and inconsistent approaches to weight maintenance. By focusing on habit formation, Melissa teaches clients how to make small, manageable changes that lead to significant results over time.
What Makes the Get Your Body Back Program Different?
Melissa’s habit-based weight loss program is centered on three key pillars:
Sustainability – A focus on creating routines that are realistic and adaptable for long-term success.
Behavioral Insight – Understanding and addressing limiting factors like binge eating or emotional eating.
Step-Wise Approach – Gradual changes that make it easier to adapt to a healthier lifestyle without feeling overwhelmed.
By incorporating these pillars, Melissa helps her clients not only lose weight but maintain their progress by transforming the habits that matter most.
Q&A: All About Melissa’s Habit-Based Weight Loss Program
Q: What is a habit-based weight loss program?
A: A habit-based weight loss program focuses on developing sustainable, healthy habits that promote weight loss and maintenance over the long term. Instead of restrictive diets or quick fixes, it encourages small, consistent changes that contribute to a balanced lifestyle.
Q: How did Melissa create this program?
A: Melissa was inspired by her personal experiences with weight loss and the challenges of maintaining her progress. Using her healthcare background and insights from Atomic Habits, she developed a program rooted in sustainable habits that helped her successfully lose 80 pounds and keep it off.
Q: What are some of the unique challenges Melissa faced in her weight loss journey?
A: Melissa struggled with unsustainable weight-loss methods, binge-eating tendencies, and the inconsistency of trying to maintain weight loss in a way that differed from how she lost it. Her program addresses these issues, focusing on manageable and realistic changes.
Q: How does the habit-based program differ from traditional diets?
A: Unlike traditional diets that often rely on restriction, Melissa’s program emphasizes a balanced approach. It encourages gradual, realistic changes that build over time, helping individuals develop lifelong habits that naturally support weight loss and health maintenance.
Q: Is medication part of this program?
A: Melissa initially used Semaglutide as a tool to aid in her weight loss journey and her programs can incorporate medications to ease the transitions to new habits, but do not intend for the medications to be a lifelong necessity. However, her program doesn’t depend solely on medication – instead, it focuses on identifying limiting behaviors, creating healthier habits, and empowering clients to make sustainable lifestyle changes.
Q: What types of results can people expect?
A: The program is designed for gradual, consistent weight loss that can be maintained over the long term. While each client’s journey is unique, many see significant progress within a few months as they build habits that support their health and wellness goals.
Q: Who is this program best suited for?
A: This program is ideal for anyone who has struggled with the cycle of weight loss and regain or feels frustrated by restrictive diets that don’t last. It’s especially helpful for those who want to address underlying behaviors and develop a healthy relationship with food.
Q: How can I get started with Get Your Body Back Wellness Center?
A: To get started, you can contact Get Your Body Back Wellness Center to schedule a consultation. During your consultation, Melissa will help you identify key areas to focus on and develop a customized plan that fits your lifestyle.
Ready to Begin Your Journey?
At Get Your Body Back Wellness Center, Melissa and her team are here to support you on your path to sustainable weight loss and wellness. Whether you’ve struggled with weight for years or just need guidance to build better habits, the habit-based weight loss program can help you make lasting changes for a healthier, happier life.
Contact Information
Get Your Body Back Wellness Center
3169 Braverton St, Suite 102
Edgewater, MD 21037
Phone: (443) 852-1611
Begin your journey today and discover the power of habit-based weight management!