Maybe you’ve spent weeks researching Zepbound, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Ozempic. Maybe the box is already sitting in your refrigerator and you’re trying to decide when to take your first dose. Or maybe you’ve already started and are discovering that knowing how the medication works and knowing how to actually live your life while taking it are two very different things.Then there are all the questions.What should I eat before my injection? What if I’m not hungry? How much protein do I really need? Should I be worried about losing muscle? What happens if I get nauseated or constipated? Can I still go out to dinner? Have a glass of wine? Travel?And if you’re starting a GLP-1 in midlife, there’s another layer to the conversation.At … [Read more...] about Starting a GLP-1 in Midlife? 8 Things I’d Focus on in Your First Few Weeks
GLP-1
How to Prepare Before Starting a GLP-1 for Weight Loss
If you’re considering starting a GLP-1 medication, chances are this isn’t your first attempt at change.You’ve likely tried eating differently.Exercising more.Tracking.Restricting.Hiring a personal trainer.And maybe it worked… for a while.But not in a way that lasted.And now you’re wondering:“If I’m going to do this... how do I do it well?”The truth is: GLP-1 medications can be powerful tools. But the women who feel the most steady and successful on them are the ones who prepare before the first injection.Here’s how.1. Build a Protein BaselineOne of the biggest mistakes I see?Women wait until their appetite drops to start thinking about protein.By then, eating can feel like a … [Read more...] about How to Prepare Before Starting a GLP-1 for Weight Loss
GLP-1 Medications for Menopausal Weight Gain: What the Research Says
If you’ve hit your mid-40s or 50s and thought:You’re not imagining that your body is changing.During perimenopause and menopause, changes in estrogen are associated with shifts in body composition and where we store fat, particularly an increase in abdominal and visceral fat. At the same time, age-related muscle loss, sleep changes, activity, stress, genetics, and other factors can all affect weight and metabolic health.In other words: midlife weight changes are complicated.And increasingly, women are wondering whether GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Zepbound might help.So let’s talk about what we actually know.Why Weight Gain During Menopause Can Feel So DifferentOne of the most noticeable changes … [Read more...] about GLP-1 Medications for Menopausal Weight Gain: What the Research Says
What to Expect in Your First Few Weeks on a GLP-1
(The emotional, physical, and practical shifts no one fully prepares you for)Most women don’t talk about this part.The first injection isn’t just medical — it’s emotional.There’s hope.There’s relief.There’s fear.There’s excitement.There’s that quiet thought in the back of your mind:“What if this finally works?”And sometimes right behind it:“What if it doesn’t?”If you’re about to start — or you’re a week or two in — here’s what you can realistically expect in your first few weeks on a GLP-1 medication.Week 1: The Anticipation PhaseFor many women, the first dose feels bigger than it looks.You may feel:Physically, you might notice:And that last one? Is normal.Starter doses are not … [Read more...] about What to Expect in Your First Few Weeks on a GLP-1