CORE Energy in Baltimore: One-on-One Health Coaching for Energy, Weight, and Chronic Disease
CORE Energy is a solo health coaching practice in Canton focused on metabolic health, weight management, and chronic disease reversal through personalized nutrition and lifestyle change. Unlike nutritionists who provide meal plans or registered dietitians who bill insurance, owner and Certified Health Coach Leah Sarquis designs custom protocols rooted in metabolic science and works directly with clients to sustain behavior change, making it a middle ground between self-directed wellness apps and clinical nutrition care.
What CORE Energy actually is
CORE Energy operates as a private coaching practice in Canton, not a franchise or group clinic. Sarquis works with adult clients one-on-one, both in-person and by video. The focus is metabolic reset—helping people reverse blood sugar dysregulation, reduce insulin resistance, lose weight without calorie restriction, and manage or reverse type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and fatty liver disease. The coaching approach emphasizes real-food nutrition informed by research on insulin resistance and metabolic dysfunction, paired with strategies for sleep, stress, and movement. Sessions are deeper than nutrition education and leaner than clinical therapy; Sarquis functions as a partner in behavior change, not a prescriber.
Services and pricing
Initial consultation is 60 minutes and costs $125. This covers metabolic assessment, discussion of health goals, and a brief look at current habits to determine whether CORE Energy is the right fit.
Standard coaching packages run 12 weeks. Cost is $1,200, paid upfront, for weekly 30-minute sessions (four sessions per month). Each session includes actionable assignments and a digital portal for check-ins between appointments. No insurance billing is offered; this is an out-of-pocket, private-pay model.
Extended programs are available. Some clients continue beyond 12 weeks for ongoing accountability, at a monthly rate of $400 per month (one session weekly). If a client needs deeper support or more frequent contact, custom packages can be arranged.
Unlike a registered dietitian (RD) covered by most insurance plans, a health coach cannot order labs, diagnose conditions, or prescribe medical nutrition therapy. However, coaching often costs less than a dietitian copay ($40 to $80 per visit for 30 minutes at an in-network provider), especially if you're uninsured or high-deductible.
How CORE Energy compares to other Baltimore-area health coaching options
Baltimore has several paths for nutrition and metabolic guidance. Registered dietitians through Mercy Medical Center or University of Maryland Medical System can offer medically supervised nutrition therapy and often bill insurance, but typically charge $100 to $150 per 45-minute session out-of-pocket and may have 2- to 4-week wait times. Online health coaching platforms (Calibrate, Ro Metabolic Health) use algorithms and occasional coach contact; prices range from $99 to $300 per month, with less personalization than one-on-one coaching.
CORE Energy's strength is continuity and customization in one relationship. Sarquis works with the same person across 12 weeks, learning their triggers, preferences, and what actually sticks. There is no insurance friction and no algorithmic intermediary. The tradeoff: you pay out of pocket, and if your goal is clinical medical nutrition therapy for a specific diagnosis (post-bariatric surgery, renal disease, cancer), an RD referral from your doctor is more appropriate.
Choose CORE Energy if you are insulin resistant, prediabetic, or trying to lose weight without appetite suppressants and want sustained behavior change. Choose an RD if your insurance covers it and you need medical supervision for a complex condition. Choose an online platform if you want lower cost and don't need the same coach every week.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
CORE Energy suits adults with metabolic issues—elevated fasting glucose, insulin resistance, weight gain, energy crashes, type 2 diabetes—who are ready to change diet and habits and benefit from regular accountability. It also works well for people burnt out by dieting culture, since the coaching approach rejects calorie counting and extreme restriction.
CORE Energy is not suitable if you need a medically supervised diet for a complex diagnosis, are currently pregnant, have a history of disordered eating without trauma resolution, or cannot commit to weekly sessions for 12 weeks. It is also not a replacement for psychiatric care if depression or anxiety is the primary barrier to change.
What the first visit involves
You schedule a 60-minute initial consultation, either in the Canton office or by Zoom. Sarquis discusses your health history, current symptoms (energy, digestion, sleep, cravings), weight and metabolic goals, and what you've tried before. She explains the metabolic framework and whether CORE Energy can help. You do not need labs or a doctor's referral, but bringing recent bloodwork (glucose, insulin, lipids) if you have it is helpful. At the end, you decide whether to enroll in the 12-week program or pursue another option. No pressure or sales pitch is typical of solo practices like this.
Hours, location, and logistics
CORE Energy is located in Canton; Sarquis works by appointment only, with flexibility for in-person or video sessions. Confirm current hours and exact address by phone or her website, as solo practices adjust availability seasonally. Parking in Canton is available on street or at nearby lots; if you choose in-person, plan 10 to 15 minutes for parking and walking. Video sessions require a stable internet connection and a quiet space.
Why CORE Energy earns its place in Baltimore
Baltimore has strong conventional medical services but limited one-on-one health coaching focused on metabolic reversal, leaving a gap for people who want to solve insulin resistance and weight without medication or commercial diet programs. CORE Energy fills that gap with a clear protocol, real continuity, and realistic pricing for sustained support.
