GLP-1 Hub: Support, Community, and Weight Loss

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Two people with similar health histories can get completely different answers about GLP-1 coverage at work, and the reason often has less to do with them than with decisions they never see. Annie Gazda, a registered nurse who leads clinical solutions at Vida Health, explains how employers decide whether to cover GLP-1s, why some are cutting them entirely while others keep paying, and how FDA labeling shapes who qualifies. She also shares what she calls responsible prescribing, and why the people who stop their medication because of side effects are the ones...

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Can a GLP-1 actually change your fertility? For many women with PMOS (formerly called PCOS), the answer may be yes, and that changes everything from birth control to baby planning. Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Sasha Hakman walks through the whole arc: how GLP-1-assisted weight loss can help restart ovulation, why the guidance is still to stop two months before trying to conceive, what early data suggests if you get pregnant while on one, and why some birth control pills may be less reliable on these medications. Then she and Ana get honest about...

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After gastric bypass, some people make so much of their own GLP-1 that their blood sugar rockets after a meal and then crashes, and the juice or glucose tabs meant to rescue them can restart the whole cycle. Stanford endocrinologist Dr. Marilyn Tan explains post-bariatric hypoglycemia, a condition many patients live with for years before anyone names it, and whether GLP-1 medications make sense after surgery for weight regain. Then she shares phase 3 results for avexitide, an investigational drug that works in the opposite direction from the GLP-1 medications everyone is talking about.<...

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Does a dinner out or a big trip ever feel like it could undo your progress on a GLP-1? Registered dietitian Holly Larson joins Ana to explain why a GLP-1 is a tool, not a diet, and how to enjoy restaurants and vacations without feeling terrible the next day. You'll learn how to read a menu, what to do with your medication when you travel, and the one word that tells you diet culture is doing the talking.

**IN THIS EPISODE**
- Why a GLP-1 is a tool...

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If the scale has stalled or you're worried about losing muscle on a GLP-1, that number may not be telling you the whole story. Fitness coach and competitive powerlifter Andrew Menechian explains why body composition matters more than your weight or BMI, how to set a protein target that actually fits your body, and the minimum strength training it takes to hold on to muscle. You'll also hear why he thinks cutting calories lower and lower backfires, and the diet-break approach he uses instead.

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Most people think of a GLP-1 as a weight loss medication, but for your heart, the story starts before the scale moves much at all. Board-certified cardiologist and lipidologist Dr. Sirisha Vadali explains what the research shows about GLP-1s and cardiovascular risk, the simple routine she starts her patients on, and what she monitors along the way. You'll also hear why she doesn't recommend a GLP-1 for family history alone, and about one genetic cholesterol marker that diet and exercise can't change, a lab she says everyone should have checked once in...

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A daily GLP-1 pill sounds like an easy way to maintain your weight loss, but what happens when it doesn't work like the shot did? Registered dietitian Whitney Black, who lives with type 1 diabetes, shares what happened when she switched from Zepbound to Foundayo (orforglipron) for maintenance, and why she went back after two months. You'll hear how her fullness cues, blood sugar, and insulin needs changed, and what she tells clients about weight regain. The surprise wasn't the food noise. It was a different signal that quietly went missing. This is one...

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If you're taking a GLP-1, headlines about sudden vision loss can leave you wondering whether the medication helping you lose weight is putting your eyesight at risk. Ana Reisdorf talks with Dr. Luke Sorrell about NAION, a rare optic nerve condition, and the semaglutide research behind those headlines. You'll learn how to put "double the risk" into perspective, what questions to bring to your doctor, and why your health history matters to the conversation.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- What NAION is and how it can affect vision<...

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If breast cancer runs in your family, you may be wondering whether you're getting the right screening and what else you can do to lower your risk. Ana Reisdorf talks with Dr. Anne Peled about how GLP-1s may shift the balance, what everyday habits you should build, and why weight can become harder to manage during and after treatment. You'll learn which questions to bring to your care team, how to protect your nutrition, and what emerging GLP-1 research still hasn't answered.

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How are GLP-1 type medications and weight control changing the landscape of heart health? If you're using a GLP-1 for weight or blood sugar, which habits and risk factors still deserve attention? Ana Reisdorf talks with Dr. Melanie Icard about stress, sleep, muscle, food choices, and questions to bring to your healthcare team when heart disease runs in the family.

Dr. Icard shares how her experience with prediabetes shaped her practice and why she asks patients, "What are you doing to relax?" Ana brings the GLP-1 user's perspective: how to eat...

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If you're taking a GLP-1, you've probably heard plenty about protein and strength training. Where does creatine fit, and what does it mean if the scale rises after you start taking it? Ana Reisdorf talks with Kristin Kirkpatrick about muscle health, the practical choices involved in taking creatine, and what the research can and cannot yet tell us about benefits beyond the gym.

Kristin explains how creatine works alongside resistance training, why a loading phase may not be necessary, and what to consider when choosing a form. She and Ana also...

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What can getting out of a chair tell you about your muscle health? Ana Reisdorf, Registered Dietitian and GLP-1 user, joins muscle and bone researcher Mark Hamrick to explore staying strong during GLP-1 weight loss, perimenopause, and menopause. You'll learn what three simple assessments can reveal about physical function, and why muscle size alone doesn't tell the whole story.

Mark explains the differences between muscle mass, quality, strength, and power, and how they connect to everyday movement and healthy aging. Ana shares her own assessment results and asks whether her regular...

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You've reached your goal weight on a GLP-1. Now what: stay on it, lower the dose, or take a break? Ana Reisdorf, Registered Dietitian and GLP-1 user, joins pharmacist Dr. Stephanie Redmond to explore microdosing, cycling on and off medication, and the questions coming up around perimenopause and menopause. You'll hear where clinical experience meets unanswered questions—and why a smaller dose can still bring surprises.

Stephanie shares her own experience with low-dose side effects and returning hunger. Together, they discuss concerns about weight regain and muscle loss, telehealth screening, and wh...

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You can feel good about your GLP-1 weight loss and still wonder why your face looks different. Ana Reisdorf, Registered Dietitian and GLP-1 user, talks with wound-healing scientist Brian Pilcher, PhD, about what people call "Ozempic face," how volume loss differs from loose skin, and the treatment options available today. Could future treatments help the body rebuild some of its own tissue?

Brian explains the science behind tissue regeneration and what his company, Conexeu Sciences, is studying. Its technology remains preclinical, with safety and effectiveness still to be established in human...

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Your appetite is smaller on a GLP-1, but how do you know whether those few bites are giving you what you need? US Dietitian Ana Reisdorf and UK Nutritionist Rob Hobson explore how to put together balanced meals, make room for protein and fiber, and eat regularly without returning to calorie counting. They also unpack why familiar diet rules can make nourishing yourself harder when you’re already eating less.

**IN THIS EPISODE**
- What “every bite counts” means when your appetite and portions shrink
- Moving beyond...

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Poor sleep, mood changes, low energy, and new weight around the midsection can be easy to blame on aging or GLP-1 treatment alone. In this episode, Ana Reisdorf and Sharon Lemoine explore how hormone changes, thyroid function, insulin resistance, muscle loss, and lifestyle can overlap, and what a more complete evaluation may include. You’ll learn what to look for in a hormone-informed provider, why protein and muscle monitoring matter when using a GLP-1, and why a “normal” test result may not tell the whole story.

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Reaching your goal weight on a GLP-1 can feel like the finish line, until the scale jumps two pounds and the old panic rushes back. In this conversation, Ana Reisdorf and Suzy Chase unpack why maintenance is a different job from active weight loss, how strength and cardiovascular fitness can replace “smaller” as the goal, and how Suzy uses AI-assisted tracking to put day-to-day changes into context. The question underneath it all: does every change on the scale actually require a response?

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You’ve lost weight on a GLP-1, but what does maintaining it look like in everyday life? Dietitian Ana Reisdorf and Dr Linia Patel explore practical ways to build satisfying meals, move more throughout the day, and reconnect with hunger and fullness cues, including if medication is stopped. They also unpack the less obvious influences on appetite that can make “just eat less” advice fall short.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- Why weight maintenance deserves a plan of its own
- Dr Patel’s “satiety stack”: protein, fiber, volum...

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A GLP-1 can quiet food noise, but it may not quiet the voice saying you’re lazy, failing, or still not good enough. Ana talks with author, artist, mental health advocate, and fellow GLP-1 user Tracey Yokas about how decades of dieting, body shame, and learned family patterns can follow us even when the medication is working. You’ll learn how to recognize action driven by shame, build a more compassionate response through therapy, journaling, art, and support, and understand why the discomfort you expect weight loss to erase may need a different kind...

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Why can the same GLP-1 shot feel fine one week and make eating or side effects so much worse the next? In this episode, Ana talks with Dr. Ian Justl Ellis about the difference between the standard doses of GLP-1 and the medicine still in your body, why the standard four-week ladder keeps that level climbing, and how to think about a dose you can actually live on, including maintenance and travel.

**IN THIS EPISODE**
- Why a dose and your medication level are not the same thing<...

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What happens to hunger and food noise when someone lowers their GLP-1 dose or stops taking the medication?

In this episode, Ana Reisdorf talks with Calocurb founder and CEO Sarah Kennedy about a unique supplement designed to support appetite regulation by stimulating the body’s natural satiety hormones.

Sarah walks through the reported results of a 24-week clinical trial involving 150 adults. She says the Calocurb group averaged 5.4% weight loss, reduced fat and visceral fat, and maintained skeletal muscle. Ana asks how the study was conducted, how hunger and cravings we...

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Teresa Keever’s first experience with tirzepatide lasted only eight weeks. The fatigue and digestive side effects consumed her weekends, left her barely able to eat, and made the standard dosing schedule feel impossible to sustain.

Six months later, Teresa tried again, this time working with her provider on a lower, slower, split-dose approach. She shares how that personalized strategy changed her experience, helped make the side effects manageable, and supported a loss of more than 50 pounds.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- Why Teresa stopped tirzepatide af...

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Losing access to a GLP-1 can happen even when treatment is working exactly as intended. A lower BMI, an insurance change, or an employer facing open-ended costs can suddenly turn a prescription into a maze of denials, prior authorizations, and unexpected expenses.

In this episode, Ana Reisdorf speaks with Jay Bregman, founder and CEO of Andel, about why traditional insurance struggles to cover high-demand medications and how direct-to-employer purchasing could offer another path. Jay explains how fixed employer contributions can make GLP-1 benefits more predictable, why he believes prior authorizations add...

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Losing weight with a GLP-1 is only part of the picture. Without regular movement and strength training, losing muscle can affect how you feel today, and your ability to stay active and independent in the years ahead.

In this episode, Ana talks with fitness-industry veteran Craig Lewin about why maintaining strength matters during GLP-1 weight loss and how beginners can start without feeling intimidated. Craig shares approachable options ranging from walking and resistance bands to adjustable dumbbells and home gyms, along with advice for choosing exercise equipment that fits your abilities...

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If you’ve reached your goal weight on a GLP-1, you may be wondering what comes next. Do you stay on the same dose indefinitely, move to a lower dose, or gradually taper off?

Ana speaks with Henrik Gudbergsen, MD, PhD, about the emerging evidence around personalized GLP-1 dosing and structured tapering. They examine what early observational research suggests, why lifestyle and behavioral support may matter during maintenance, and why stopping medication will not be appropriate, or possible, for everyone.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- Why th...

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Fiber is suddenly showing up everywhere, from soda and candy to pasta and protein snacks. But more fiber isn’t automatically better, especially when it leaves you feeling bloated, uncomfortable, or confused about what your body actually needs.

Registered dietitian and GLP-1 user Ana Reisdorf sits down with David Istier, founder and CEO of gutzy Organic, to discuss the gut microbiome, prebiotics, probiotics, and why different sources of fiber can feel different in your body. David also shares how his experience helping launch GoGo squeeZ in the United States—and the heal...

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Tara Rothenhoefer was one of the earliest participants in a tirzepatide clinical trial, before the medication had a brand name. After a lifelong battle with obesity, she began the trial in 2020 at 342 pounds. Eighteen months later, she had lost 132 pounds. But when the study ended, she faced a year without medication, uncertainty around access, and the emotional work of learning how to live in a body she had never known before.

In this episode, Tara shares what changed when food noise finally quieted, why medication alone was never the whole story...

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Your scale isn't measuring weight...it's measuring fear, shame, and whether you believe your GLP-1 is working.

Registered dietitian Ana Reisdorf sits down with Brian Baumal, a registered psychotherapist who lost 100 pounds, kept it off for 14 years, and recovered from two eating disorders. He explains how the scale can become exposure therapy, why shame drives the "lose it fast" thinking that sets you up to fail on Ozempic or Zepbound, and how to stop tying your worth to a number.

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- Why weight...

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That "miracle" peptide in an unlabeled vial isn't the same science as your GLP-1,  and the FDA is meeting this week to decide the fate of seven of them.

Registered dietitian and GLP-1 user Ana Reisdorf sits down with Tanna Donalson, PA-C, owner of Redbud Medical in Denver, where she prescribes, manages, and monitors peptides for her patients every day. After 15 years in trauma and emergency medicine, Tanna built a practice around exactly this: knowing what each peptide is, what it actually does for a patient, and how to run it s...

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Your GLP-1 can quiet the food noise, but the psychologist who helped big food companies engineer your cravings says it can't erase them...and thinking it will is why weight comes back.

Ana Reisdorf, registered dietitian and GLP-1 user, talks with Dr. Glenn Livingston, psychologist and author of Defeat Your Cravings (2M+ readers), who spent years consulting for big food companies before losing 80 pounds himself. They break down why the craving center of your brain has no concept of long-term goals, why "everything in moderation" backfires, and how to use Ozempic...

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Most people treat GLP-1s as a lifelong prescription. Jason Nelson gives clients 90 days on the medication...then takes them off on purpose.

Registered dietitian Ana Reisdorf talks with Jason Nelson, former competitive bodybuilder and founder of Body Image in Williston Park, NY, about using Ozempic, Wegovy, and other GLP-1 medications as the starting line of a longevity plan — not the finish line. He explains how his team decides when clients taper off, the metabolic markers he tracks, and why physical function matters more than the scale after 60 — including one 64-year-old brea...

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Your health insurance only makes money when you're sick, which is exactly why GLP-1 coverage keeps getting cut, and why one former WebMD exec is building a model to flip the incentive.

Ana Reisdorf, registered dietitian and GLP-1 user, sits down with Jeremy Shane, founder of Life for Health and former WebMD and Medscape executive, to unpack why the value of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound shows up 10 to 20 years from now — and nobody in the current system gets paid for that. Jeremy lays out a model that would pay GLP-1 users ca...

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Her A1C was perfect. Her kidneys failed anyway, and Dr. Jason Shumard says it's the same blind spot facing anyone losing weight on a GLP-1.

Registered dietitian Ana Reisdorf talks with Dr. Jason Shumard, DC, a functional medicine practitioner who's spent his career working with type 2 diabetics, about what an A1C number can't tell you. They get into the cholesterol ratio that flags insulin resistance years before your glucose moves, why "eating healthy" usually isn't, and his real concern about staying on Ozempic or another GLP-1 long-term without addressing...

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In Sweden, universal healthcare won't cover GLP-1s for weight loss, and the $500/month price tag still isn't the biggest barrier to getting a prescription.

Registered dietitian Ana Reisdorf talks with Emma Lidell, host of Sweden's first dedicated weight medicine podcast, about what GLP-1 access really looks like outside the US. They compare out-of-pocket costs for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro (Zepbound), unpack Sweden's institutionalized Saturday candy culture, and get into why Emma says the best part of a year on GLP-1s has nothing to do with the scale.
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