Struggling to lose weight? This story is for you

By Patricia Nugent

Michele Mastriano founded her clinical, evidence-based practice—Balanced Body Solutions—to create a supportive space in which she customizes a pharmaceutical approach to lasting weight loss based on your health history and goals.

Last year when Semaglutide injections were FDA-cleared for weight loss—the first drug ever approved for chronic weight management in adults—she did her research to verify the effectiveness and was impressed. Putting together a medically supervised treatment regimen of the most advanced medications and supplements available, she opened her practice in Fairlawn in April.

“These safe and effective once a week injections are game changers to the weight loss arena,” says Michele, who became a nurse practitioner in 2007. “In the clinical trials, patients’ average weight loss was between 15 percent and 22 percent of their total body weight with reduced risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.”

This type of significant weight loss was only attainable through bariatric surgery until now for many whom have struggled with obesity.

The Balanced Body Difference
Michele credits her individualized approach and patient specific guidance as the reasons her patients are losing weight and are able to tolerate these medications, when they have been unable to in the past. These medications require adjustments and dose changes based on each patient’s results and side effects for optimal results.

“First, during the consultation, which can be in-person or virtual, we go over the person’s health history, do lab analysis and discuss goals,” she says. “We spend time going over potential side effects and how to self-administer subcutaneous injections. Then I prescribe customized injections that are delivered to their home. We check in during monthly follow-up sessions focused on progress, what is working well, areas of improvement, and concerns. I treat the whole patient and make appropriate adjustments to spur lasting change.”

To combat side effects, which are nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, she starts the patient off with smaller doses and builds them up over time.

“With slow dosing and titration, most patients experience minimal side effects,” she says. “There is no one size fits all dosing and many factors should be considered and monitored along the way.”

Michele is taking the medication herself. She has lost 23 pounds since February.

“I can relate to my patients and acknowledge the struggle to lose weight despite honest effort. I did not have any significant side effects,” she reports. “Originally created to treat diabetes, Semaglutide works by slowing digestion and signals your brain to take in less food. You feel fuller longer and have overall decreased cravings for certain foods. The feeling of satiation and decrease in cravings is truly remarkable.”

Michele knows her way around the medical field. With the surge in demand, she says there are already significant shortages of this medication, but she’s been able to find providers who can keep her patients in supply.

Meet Joel B.
“After obtaining a prescription for Ozempic and quitting due to side effects and intolerance, Joel came to me and has been a patient for six weeks,” she reports. “He’s lost 19 pounds so far without any side effects thanks to slow dosing, close monitoring and guidance.”

Joel says Michele’s clinical expertise has been invaluable to his weight loss journey.

“I wholeheartedly recommend Michele for her exceptional expertise in navigating the use of medication for weight loss,” says Joel. “Her understanding of medications is evident during every visit. She possesses a wealth of knowledge regarding the various options available and explains complex concepts in a clear and understandable manner. This made it so much easier to make informed decisions about my health.”

In the end, he says what truly sets Michele apart from the negative experience he first had with side effects is her unwavering availability and genuine desire to help her clients.

“She consistently goes above and beyond to ensure I have all the information and support I need,” he adds. “Her consistent accessibility for questions, reassurance, discussion of alternative approaches and recommendations are a direct correlation and have been vital to my success.”

In addition to the Semaglutide and Tirzepatide injections, Michele also offers oral and injectable peptide therapies for gut health, muscle injury, anti-aging, energy/sleep and cognition just to name a few.

Balanced Body Solutions is located at 3200 W. Market Street, Suite 109, in Fairlawn. Call 330-845-6190 or visit BalancedBodySolutions.net for more information.