Advertise on podcast: The Life During And After GLP-1 Podcast

Rachel has lost 100 pounds more than once. She has also regained it, gone through cancer treatment, dealt with steroids, stress, major life changes, and reached a point where the strategies that had worked for her in the past were no longer giving her the same results. In this conversation, Rachel shares what led her to start exploring GLP 1 medications, what happened when insurance would not cover the prescription her doctor wrote, and why her first experience with a compounded option left her feeling extremely sick and unable to eat. We also talk about what changed when she found an approach that felt more manageable, why she views GLP 1 medication as another tool in the toolbox, and how she responds to people who call medication assisted weight loss “cheating” or “the easy way out.” Rachel is very open about emotional eating, food addiction, weight regain, social media judgment, and the reality that knowing what worked before does not always mean it will work the same way now. One of the biggest themes in this conversation is adaptability. Life changes. Bodies change. Circumstances change. The plan may need to change too. Rachel is not promising that this is the final answer forever. She is sharing what is helping her right now, what she has learned along the way, and why she continues to focus on movement, nutrition, and using the tools available to her while figuring things out one step at a time. Follow Rachel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rachels_journey3.0/

What happens when a GLP-1 gives you relief from Food Noise, but part of you is already worried about what happens if that relief changes? I think that fear is incredibly understandable. If you spent years or decades thinking about food, dieting, losing weight, regaining weight, and trying to control your eating, having some of that mental noise become quieter can feel like a huge relief. It also creates a new question. What happens if it comes back? In this episode, I talk about why the fear may not only be about Food Noise itself. It may be about what you think the return of Food Noise means. Will I regain the weight? Will I lose control? Will I fall back into old habits? Will I become the version of myself I was trying to get away from? I also get into something I think some people may quietly wrestle with after losing weight on a GLP-1. Did I take the easy way out? I do not believe using a GLP-1 means you took the easy way out. You used a tool that helped you. But if part of you believes otherwise, I think it is worth knowing. Because if you secretly believe the medication did all the work, the thought of stopping it or having its effects change can understandably create a lot of fear. I also talk about why I do not think every period of relief needs to immediately become another self-improvement project. If Food Noise has gotten quieter, you are allowed to enjoy that. You do not necessarily have to immediately build the perfect eating plan, perfect exercise routine, perfect maintenance strategy, and perfect mindset. When you are ready, you can start figuring out what works for you. And if Food Noise does come back, that does not mean you are back at square one. You can describe what you are experiencing. You can notice what it means to you. You can decide what you want to do next. Your past does not have to become your future simply because an old thought returns. New to Your Level Fitness? Start here: https://yourlevelfitness.com

GLP-1 conversations are often presented as simple success stories. You start the medication, the food noise gets quieter, the weight comes off, and everything moves in the right direction. But for a lot of people, the reality is much more complicated. In this episode of Life During and After GLP-1, I talk with Janette about a year that included Ozempic, Mounjaro, side effects, pharmacy changes, other medications, long COVID symptoms, fatigue, dehydration concerns, stopping, restarting, and trying to figure out what her body was actually responding to. Janette shares how her first experience with Ozempic initially felt promising, including less food noise and some early weight loss, before other health issues and medication complications made it difficult to know what was causing what. She also talks about trying Mounjaro, dealing with hair loss and feeling physically unwell, and eventually stepping away from medications altogether for a period of time before deciding whether to try again. One of the biggest themes in this conversation is how difficult it can be to separate the effects of a GLP-1 medication from everything else happening in your health at the same time. That is why these conversations matter. Not every experience is linear. Not every medication works the same way for every person. And sometimes the process includes a lot more troubleshooting, uncertainty, and restarting than the advertisements or social media posts make it seem. Janette is now preparing to restart Ozempic again, with a different understanding of what has happened over the last year and a willingness to see how her body responds this time. We also talk about something that matters just as much as the number on the scale. How does your body actually feel while you are doing this? This is a short conversation, but I think it reflects a side of the GLP-1 experience that a lot of people will recognize.

In this episode of Life During and After GLP-1, I’m joined by Jennifer to talk about her personal experience with GLP-1 medication, from the decision to start through weight loss, side effects, rebuilding muscle, and eventually reaching the question of what comes next. Jennifer shares how her fitness routine changed during COVID, how weight regain eventually led her to begin researching weight loss medications, and what happened when the cost and availability of name-brand medication created another obstacle. We talk about her experience using compounded medication, how quickly she noticed changes in how much she could eat, and some of the tradeoffs she experienced along the way. While she didn’t deal with many of the commonly discussed gastrointestinal side effects, she did notice changes in the foods she could comfortably eat, along with hair loss and significant muscle loss. That loss of strength eventually became a turning point. Jennifer shares what happened when she returned to strength-focused group workouts, how much stronger she feels now, and why rebuilding muscle became an important part of her life after losing more than 50 pounds. We also get into something that may become one of the biggest questions for people as GLP-1 use continues to evolve. What happens once you have lost the weight and feel good where you are? Jennifer is now navigating the balance between staying on a maintenance dose and wondering whether she eventually wants to stop taking the medication. We talk about the fear of weight regain, her continued relationship with the scale, rebuilding strength, food noise, and the mental side of deciding what maintenance should actually look like. Most importantly, this is Jennifer’s experience. GLP-1 journeys can look very different from person to person, and her advice for anyone considering medication is simple. Do your research, understand where your medication is coming from, and work with qualified healthcare professionals who can appropriately oversee your care. If you have comments, questions, or your own thoughts about this episode, you can always email me at [email protected].

GLP-1 medications are becoming more mainstream, and the conversation around them is becoming much more nuanced. In this September 2026 trends episode, I’m breaking down what I’m seeing across the biggest searches, the topics people are looking for that aren’t being discussed as much, and the areas where the conversation appears to be heading next. We talk about oral GLP-1 medications, next-generation weight-loss drugs, cost and insurance, what happens after stopping medication, muscle preservation, food becoming less enjoyable, sexual health, under-eating, fertility, reward-driven behavior, body composition, and the growing push toward more personalized treatment. I also share some broader thoughts on what all of this means for the fitness and wellness space. For years, much of the fitness industry has ultimately sold weight loss and transformation, even when the language around it focused on habits, strength, or lifestyle. Now that rapid weight loss is becoming more attainable through medication for many people, I think the industry is being forced to show what else it actually offers. That means the conversation has to get deeper. Lifestyle. Mindset. Self-trust. Adaptability. Problem solving. Quality of life. Helping someone take the tools they and their healthcare team have chosen and build a life around them that they can actually enjoy. I’m not here to tell you whether you should or should not take a GLP-1 medication. Those decisions belong between you and your qualified healthcare team. My goal is to help you think through the lifestyle around whatever tools you’re using, whether you’re considering a GLP-1, taking one now, planning to transition away from one, or expecting it to remain part of your long-term healthcare. Continue the conversation around GLP-1s: https://yourlevelfitness.com/

The GLP-1 conversation is changing quickly, and I want this podcast to change with it. In this update episode, I’m sharing a few changes I’m making to Life During and After GLP-1 so the podcast can become a more practical, useful resource for you. One of the biggest changes is bringing more real people onto the podcast to share their own GLP-1 experiences. These conversations aren’t about presenting someone as an expert. They’re about hearing what another person thought about before starting a GLP-1, what they experienced while taking one, what worked for them, what surprised them, and in some cases what life has looked like afterward. There are so many nuances to this experience, and sometimes hearing someone else’s story can help you recognize something you’re experiencing in your own journey. I’m also changing the monthly GLP-1 trends episodes. Instead of spreading the biggest searches, under-discussed topics, and emerging conversations across several episodes, I’m going to bring those trends together into one shorter monthly episode with my general thoughts on what I’m seeing and where the conversation appears to be going. The goal with all of these changes is simple. I want this podcast to be practical. I want you to hear ideas and experiences that help you think through your own process, ask better questions, and have more useful conversations with the medical professionals you’re working with. There are already plenty of GLP-1 podcasts built around experts and highly technical conversations. I want this one to continue becoming a place for real experiences, practical perspectives, and conversations that reflect what life during and after a GLP-1 actually looks like.

GLP-1 medications have changed the weight loss conversation, but what happens when we move beyond simply asking how much weight someone can lose? In this conversation, I sit down with my longtime friend Rob of Busy Bariatrics to talk about GLP-1s, food noise, bariatric surgery, sustainable weight management, resistance training, body composition, and the mental and emotional side of changing your life. Rob shares his own experience with bariatric surgery and eventually starting a GLP-1 medication after discussing it with his doctor, researching it for about a year, and considering more than just the number on the scale. We talk about his experience navigating weight regain during an incredibly difficult period of injury, grief, and major changes in his everyday life, and why knowing what to do does not make us immune to what happens when life changes. We also get into one of the biggest questions surrounding GLP-1s. What happens to the habits, routines, and relationship with food while the medication is working? There can be tremendous value in having relief from thoughts and feelings around food, especially when those experiences have consumed mental energy for years. I also think there is room to simply experience that relief without immediately turning it into another project that needs to be optimized. At the same time, long-term health still involves building a lifestyle around the tool you are using. Rob and I discuss resistance training, preserving lean tissue during weight loss, using blood work and other health markers to look beyond scale weight, and why sustainable change does not require being all in every minute of every day. Then we dig into food noise. The term can be extremely useful because it gives people language for experiences they may have struggled to describe before. But that does not mean every thought about food is automatically food noise, or that every thought and feeling around food needs to disappear. Sometimes hunger is hunger. Sometimes someone may simply not be eating enough. Sometimes thoughts around food are connected to emotions, habits, culture, family, social experiences, or memories. And sometimes there may genuinely be persistent food noise that deserves further exploration. Food is nuanced because our relationship with food is connected to our relationship with ourselves. This conversation is not about telling you whether you should or should not use a GLP-1. It is about giving you more to consider as you figure out what sustainable health, weight management, and your relationship with food look like for you. Continue With Rob and Busy Bariatrics Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/56aD8jQHxIys99itoSyyIQ Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/pl/podcast/bariatrics-and-glp-1s-for-busy-people-with-rob-dimedio/id1765407351 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwZvWAbVrj0ANxI9uufcfwsGGbSexdkAU Follow Rob on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myweightishistory/ Follow Daryl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/daryltperry

The conversation around GLP-1s continues to evolve, and I think we’re starting to see a shift in the questions people are asking. In this episode, I’m looking at five emerging GLP-1 trends and where I think the larger conversation may be headed. This isn’t just about weight loss anymore. We’re beginning to talk more about what happens during and after weight loss, how people build something sustainable, and how GLP-1s may change the way we think about weight management altogether. Here are the five trends I’m exploring. 1. The conversation will shift from weight loss to weight management. For many people, losing weight has taken up a tremendous amount of mental energy for years or even decades. As GLP-1s change that experience, the next question becomes, what does maintaining this look like for the rest of my life? 2. Personalized nutrition will become more important than generic diet plans. Individual experiences with GLP-1 medications can vary significantly. I talk about why individualized nutrition guidance, including conversations with a registered dietitian and your healthcare team, may become increasingly important instead of simply following another eating plan from the internet. 3. Success will increasingly be measured by quality of life, not just pounds lost. What happens when the scale is no longer the primary focus? That creates an opportunity to think about energy, movement, relationships, experiences, daily routines, and what you actually want your forever active lifestyle to look like. 4. GLP-1s will become part of a broader mental and emotional health conversation. Reducing food noise or losing weight doesn’t necessarily remove the thoughts, emotions, and experiences underneath someone’s relationship with food, exercise, weight, or body image. I think this is an area where the GLP-1 conversation has a lot of room to grow. 5. The next generation may learn weight management completely differently. People growing up with GLP-1 medications as an established option may develop a very different relationship with weight management than those of us who spent decades surrounded by traditional diet culture. My hope is that this evolving conversation also creates more space for body appreciation, self-acceptance, and learning to love who and what you see in the mirror. The technology and tools may change. The larger goal remains building an approach that works for you and that you can realistically see yourself continuing for life. Continue the conversation. Sign up for the Your Level Fitness live streams to continue the conversation around GLP-1s. yourlevelfitness.com/stream

What questions are people beginning to ask after the initial excitement of GLP-1 medications? In this episode, I break down five under-discussed topics that are becoming increasingly important as more people navigate life on, and after, GLP-1 medications. These aren't necessarily the biggest headlines, but they are the conversations that many people are starting to have as their weight loss journey evolves. We explore how relationships can change during rapid weight loss, why becoming a smaller person often requires a significant mental adjustment, and what it means to learn to trust your hunger again. I also discuss the challenges of navigating restaurants and social events while taking a GLP-1, along with an important question many people eventually face: what happens when weight loss becomes part of your identity? Throughout the episode, I share why patience, self-awareness, and building a healthy relationship with yourself are just as important as the physical changes taking place. While every experience is different, understanding these emerging conversations can help you prepare for the road ahead and approach your journey with greater confidence. In this episode: How relationships can shift during GLP-1 weight loss The mental adjustment of becoming a smaller person Learning to trust your hunger and body's signals Navigating restaurants, celebrations, and social events When weight loss begins to shape your identity Why patience and self-compassion matter throughout the process Read the full blog post: https://yourlevelfitness.com/glp1/under-discussed-glp1-topics-worth-watching-august-2026 Continue the conversation around GLP-1s: Join the Your Level Fitness live streams: https://yourlevelfitness.com/stream

In today's podcast episode, I'm breaking down the biggest GLP-1 search trends for August 2026 and, more importantly, what those searches tell us about where the conversation is heading. While GLP-1 medications continue to help people lose weight, the questions people are asking are becoming much more focused on the long term. We're moving beyond "How do I lose weight?" and into conversations about maintaining weight loss, preserving muscle, navigating food noise, improving body image after weight loss, and figuring out what life looks like after GLP-1. In this episode, I share my perspective on five of the biggest topics people are searching for right now and explain why I believe these trends reflect a larger shift toward building a sustainable, forever active lifestyle. We also discuss why your individual experience matters more than the headlines, how to think about trade-offs while using GLP-1 medications, and why your long-term quality of life should remain the priority throughout your journey. If you're currently taking a GLP-1 medication, considering one, or simply trying to understand where this rapidly evolving conversation is headed, I hope this episode gives you practical context and helps you focus on what matters most for your own situation. Referenced in this episode Read the accompanying blog post: https://yourlevelfitness.com/glp1/biggest-glp1-searches-august-2026 Want to continue the conversation? Join the Your Level Fitness live streams, where we have ongoing conversations about GLP-1 medications, food noise, body image, sustainable weight management, and building a forever active lifestyle. Learn more at: https://yourlevelfitness.com/stream

Over the past two episodes, we've explored the biggest GLP-1 topics dominating today's conversations and the emerging trends gaining momentum. In this final installment of the July 2026 GLP-1 Trends Report, we're looking further ahead at where the conversation is beginning to shift. As more people experience success with GLP-1 medications, the focus is moving beyond simply losing weight. Questions about quality of life, long-term maintenance, nutrition, identity, and building a sustainable lifestyle are becoming increasingly important. These aren't just future trends. They're the conversations many people are already beginning to have with themselves, their families, and their healthcare teams. In this episode, I share my perspective on where I believe this space is headed and why these shifts align with a more sustainable, long-term approach to weight management. In this episode: Why the conversation is shifting from weight loss to quality of life How long-term maintenance is becoming the next major challenge Why nutrition is becoming more important than simply counting calories The growing role of identity and mental health throughout the journey How to build a lifestyle that evolves with you instead of chasing another plan Why preference-based habits create a stronger foundation than relying on willpower How to think beyond weight loss and start designing a life you actually enjoy living The goal isn't just to lose weight. The goal is to build a life that supports your health, your happiness, and your future for decades to come. If you want to continue the conversation about GLP-1s, join the live streams at yourlevelfitness.com/stream Check out the full trends report for July: https://yourlevelfitness.com/glp1/glp1-trends-july-2026

This month's GLP-1 trends report looks beyond the headlines and into the conversations that are becoming more important as more people settle into long term weight management. Instead of focusing on medications themselves, this episode explores what happens after some of the biggest changes begin to take place. Topics include: • What happens after food noise gets quieter • Building an identity beyond weight loss • Learning to enjoy restaurants again • Preparing emotionally for life without GLP-1 • Appreciating your body while it is still changing These conversations may not be dominating social media yet, but they are becoming increasingly relevant for people who are thinking beyond losing weight and toward building a sustainable lifestyle. If you are using a GLP-1, considering one, or simply interested in where the conversation is headed, this episode offers a practical, balanced perspective focused on long term success rather than short term extremes. Read the complete July 2026 GLP-1 Trends Report: https://yourlevelfitness.com/glp1/glp1-trends-july-2026 Join the live GLP-1 conversations: https://yourlevelfitness.com/stream

Every month, I'll be taking a closer look at the conversations shaping life during and after GLP-1 medications. Rather than reacting to headlines or social media trends, I'm focusing on what people are actually searching for and how those conversations connect to building a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. This episode is the first in a three-part series based on the July 2026 GLP-1 Trends report. Today, we're exploring the biggest conversations happening right now, including food noise, maintaining weight loss, preserving muscle, eating enough when you're rarely hungry, and navigating body image after significant weight loss. Throughout this conversation, I share my perspective on these topics through the Your Level Fitness philosophy, helping you move beyond the extremes and make sense of where the conversation is heading. In this episode, I discuss: • Why food noise continues to be one of the biggest conversations around GLP-1 medications • Finding purpose beyond food when the mental chatter begins to quiet • Preparing for weight maintenance instead of waiting until you reach your goal • Preserving muscle while losing weight and thinking beyond the short term • Learning to eat intentionally when hunger cues change • Why rapid weight loss can create unexpected body image challenges • Building a lifestyle that fits your preferences instead of relying on extremes • The importance of connecting with yourself throughout your journey This episode isn't about telling you what to think. It's about helping you better understand the conversations surrounding GLP-1 medications so you can make informed decisions alongside your healthcare team while building habits that support you for the long term. Continue the Conversation If you'd like to continue the conversation around GLP-1, join us during one of our live community discussions: YLF Live Streams https://yourlevelfitness.com/stream Next week, we'll continue the July 2026 GLP-1 Trends series by exploring the important topics people are searching for that aren't receiving nearly enough attention. Those under-discussed conversations often provide some of the most valuable insights into life during and after GLP-1 use.

One of the most important conversations in the GLP-1 space isn't about losing weight. It's about what happens after. What does life look like once you've reached your goal weight? What happens when the excitement of weight loss settles down? How do you maintain your progress while continuing to build a life you enjoy? In this episode of Life During and After GLP-1, I explore the transition from active weight loss into long-term maintenance and what that process might look like for you. For many people, GLP-1 medications have made weight loss possible in a way that never felt achievable before. That's an incredible opportunity. But eventually, questions about habits, routines, eating patterns, and long-term sustainability begin to surface. Some people plan to use medication as a temporary tool and eventually transition to relying primarily on habits and routines. Others may work with their healthcare provider to stay on medication long term. Neither approach is right or wrong. Those decisions belong between you and your doctor. What matters is understanding that maintenance is not about perfection. It's about learning to trust yourself. It's about becoming familiar with the habits, structures, and routines that support your health while giving yourself grace as you adjust to this new chapter. I also discuss why therapy can be a valuable part of the process, how our relationship with food often runs deeper than appearance alone, and why developing self-awareness may be one of the most important skills you can build after weight loss. Most importantly, I want to remind you that you already have more experience and knowledge than you may realize. The goal isn't to have all the answers today. The goal is to trust yourself enough to keep learning as you go. In This Episode: • What life after weight loss and maintenance may look like • The difference between losing weight and maintaining weight • Why habits and routines still matter after GLP-1 success • The role therapy can play in navigating food, body image, and self-trust • Learning to trust yourself during the next phase of your journey • Why patience, compassion, and flexibility matter for long-term success Continue the Conversation If you'd like to continue the conversation around life during and after GLP-1s, join the live streams at: yourlevelfitness.com/stream Thank you for listening, and I'll talk to you again soon.

One of the biggest misconceptions in weight loss is the belief that reaching a certain number on the scale will finally make you happy. For years, many of us have been told, either directly or indirectly, that losing weight will solve our problems. And while weight loss can absolutely improve health markers, increase energy, and make it easier to stay active, it doesn't automatically create the deep satisfaction, fulfillment, and self-acceptance that many people are hoping to find. In this episode of Life During and After GLP-1, I talk about what I call the cruel joke of weight loss. You work hard, the weight starts coming off, and you finally achieve something you've wanted for years. At first, it feels amazing. You should celebrate it. You should appreciate the effort and commitment that got you there. But eventually, the excitement settles. Just like a new car eventually becomes your car, weight loss results eventually become your new normal. That's when many people realize that the deeper work still remains. If you've spent years criticizing yourself, tearing yourself down in the mirror, or believing your worth was tied to your weight, those patterns don't automatically disappear when the scale changes. That's why it's so important to build appreciation, self-respect, and self-connection while you're losing weight, not after. In this episode, I share a simple practice called the Body Noise Challenge and discuss how intentional daily actions can help you create the fulfillment, confidence, and happiness you're looking for from the inside out. In This Episode: • Why weight loss often doesn't create the lasting happiness people expect • The difference between external results and internal fulfillment • Why confidence and self-appreciation require intentional practice • How the Body Noise Challenge can improve your relationship with yourself • Building satisfaction and happiness during your journey instead of waiting for a future milestone Continue the Conversation If you'd like to continue the conversation around life during and after GLP-1s, join the live streams at: yourlevelfitness.com/stream Thank you for listening, and I'll talk to you again soon.