Explore every episode of the podcast The Better Living PA: GLP-1s, Metabolic Health & Midlife Hormones

Nicole started with liraglutide, then went looking for a more affordable option and moved to semaglutide through an online provider. She's since switched to tirzepatide and has lost 50 pounds so far, and as she says, she's not done yet.

Nicole is also a special education teacher, so her routine changes dramatically when summer ends and the school year begins. She shares how those schedule changes affect her nutrition, habits and progress, and what she's learned from using three different GLP-1 medications.

In this conversation:

• When rising doses got too expensive, and insurance covering nothing
• The side effects she actually had
• Choosing a well-reviewed compounder
• Worrying she'd have to start over when switching medications
• Why check-ins with a provider mattered more than she expected
• Movement, meal plans and managing expectations

Chapters
00:00 Meet Nicole
02:00 Reflecting and planning the year ahead
04:00 When rising doses got too expensive
06:00 Liraglutide, and insurance covering nothing
08:00 Six months in: working but costly
10:00 The side effects she actually had
12:00 Choosing a well-reviewed compounder
14:00 Why tirzepatide receptors live on fat cells
16:00 Worried she'd have to start over
18:00 What makes Belle different
20:00 "I didn't realize I needed the check-ins"
22:00 When Victoza stopped working
24:00 Different practices, different freedom to prescribe
26:00 Movement yes, diet not so much
28:00 Why meal plans never stuck
30:00 Her advice: just do it, and be patient
32:00 Not eating like it's your last cheeseburger

Follow Nicole
TikTok: @nikki86s
Instagram: @nlsanch
Facebook: Nicole on Facebook

This episode shares one person's experience. Individual results vary.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Jerry has been an over-the-road truck driver for 24 years. Night shifts, truck stop buffets, two packs of cigarettes a day and years of stimulants to stay awake finally caught up with him: a DOT physical flagged high blood pressure, he ended up on four blood pressure medicines, and a failed sleep study put him on a CPAP just to keep his job.

After losing 20 pounds on his own but getting stuck in a diet and binge cycle, Jerry started tirzepatide in January 2026 at 217 pounds. By the end of September he was down 50 pounds to 167. In this raw and honest conversation, he shares the hard parts too, including the risky things online fear pushed him into early on (please don't copy this part!).

In this episode:

• Why trucking makes healthy living so hard
• How an addictive personality can move from drugs to food
• DOT physicals, sleep apnea screening and the CPAP
• The first shot and the hunger finally going quiet
• Stockpiling and stacking: what not to do
• Why weighing in once a week helped
• His six-month plan to test maintenance
• What to do when your doctor says "it's not needed"

Chapters:
0:00 Meet Jerry, over-the-road truck driver
2:08 Can a trucker live a healthy lifestyle?
2:43 Truck stop buffets and sleeping it off
4:13 Coffee, stimulants and an addictive personality
5:27 When drug addiction turns into food addiction
6:14 The DOT physical that flagged high blood pressure
7:53 Why DOT physicals are hard conversations
9:28 Four blood pressure meds and quitting stimulants
10:27 Sleep apnea screening and the CPAP fear
13:01 Keto, bulletproof coffee and Subway
14:32 Weight gain and failing the sleep study
16:07 First time hearing about GLP-1s
17:08 Keto, binge eating and 237 to 217 on his own
18:46 His sister's results and a doctor's prescription
20:18 The first shot and a 72-hour fast
24:06 Stockpiling and stacking: what not to do
26:12 His strict routine and 200 grams of protein
27:23 Finding Belle and thinking long term
28:17 Titrating up with no side effects
29:46 Down 50 pounds: 217 to 167
30:42 Why weighing once a week helped
31:35 His six-month maintenance plan
33:30 When your doctor says "it's not needed"
34:31 Benefits beyond the scale
35:49 Peptides and feeling better at 54
36:25 Thank you, Jerry

Every person's experience with GLP-1 therapy is different. This episode is for education and personal storytelling only.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health with Belle? Start here: https://link.joinbelle.com/Betterlivingpartnerpage
Code BELLE5 saves 5% on your first order and is applied automatically from this page. You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Read the full write-up on my Substack: https://thebetterlivingpa.substack.com/p/patient-spotlight-jerry

Follow along: YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@thebetterlivingPA | Linktree https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA | Instagram https://www.instagram.com/betterliving_pa | TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared here is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping or changing any medication, supplement, peptide or treatment plan.

Meet Tiffany, a mom of four boys from Western North Carolina who lost weight and got her life back from joint pain by microdosing a GLP-1. After almost four years of FASTer Way to Fat Loss, macros, food logging and a strict local weight loss program, she kept hitting the same plateau and regaining weight. Watching her mom's experience on a GLP-1 helped her decide to try it for herself.

Tiffany started tirzepatide in May and has stayed on a low dose (5 mg or less) the whole time, which is what we usually call microdosing. She switched to split dosing to manage dizziness and reflux, and her shoulder pain finally went away after cortisone shots didn't help.

In this episode:

• The myth that GLP-1s are only for people with a lot of weight to lose
• Why there's no trophy for doing it the hard way
• Why maintenance is a range, not one number
• Split dosing, dizziness and the vagus nerve
• Hair shedding after weight loss and perimenopause acne
• Whether she ever plans to come off her GLP-1

Chapters:
0:00 Meet Tiffany, mom of four boys
0:49 When she started her GLP-1
1:10 Four years of diets: FASTer Way and macros
2:04 A strict program, a plateau and regain
2:48 Starting weights: 200, then 160, now 144
3:13 Why food logging burns people out
4:46 Her mom's GLP-1 success
5:28 Myth: GLP-1s are only for a lot of weight loss
6:25 No trophy for doing it the hard way
6:44 The first 15 pounds and an InBody scan
7:46 Maintenance is a range, not one number
9:09 New goals: pull-ups with her son
9:51 When your spouse has doubts
10:27 Why she chose tirzepatide over semaglutide
11:38 Losing weight on a microdose
12:31 Her timeline and switching to split dosing
14:21 Tip: pick a 5 to 7 pound goal range
16:07 Shoulder pain relief
17:16 GLP-1s and inflammation
18:30 Will she ever come off a GLP-1?
19:43 Side effects: reflux, dizziness and nausea
20:26 Dizziness and the vagus nerve
22:43 Hair shedding after weight loss
25:35 Perimenopause acne and "pick two"
26:02 Thank you, Tiffany

Every person's experience with GLP-1 therapy is different. This episode is for education and personal storytelling only and should not be considered medical advice. Always discuss medication decisions with a qualified healthcare professional.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health with Belle? Start here: https://link.joinbelle.com/Betterlivingpartnerpage
Code BELLE5 saves 5% on your first order and is applied automatically from this page. If you're considering treatment options, this is the best place to begin. You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Read the full write-up on my Substack: https://thebetterlivingpa.substack.com/p/patient-spotlight-tiffany

Follow The Better Living PA:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebetterlivingPA
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterliving_pa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterlivingforeveryone

Medical Disclaimer: The information shared here is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching this episode does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan or healthcare regimen.

What do you do about GLP-1 side effects? In this live conversation, Brittany Rose and I get honest about the most common side effects of semaglutide and tirzepatide, what's normal, and practical ways to manage them.

Nausea, sulfur burps, constipation, reflux, fatigue and even skin sensitivity are all things people ask about when starting GLP-1 therapy. Most side effects can be managed, and many improve with time and a few simple changes. We share what we see in practice and in our own experience, and answer live questions from listeners.

In this episode:

• Why some people are more sensitive to medications
• Trigger foods and timing meals around your injection day
• Nausea, sulfur burps and eating slowly
• Zofran and constipation, plus magnesium, MiraLAX and adding fiber slowly
• Reflux that doesn't feel like heartburn, and Pepcid, Prilosec, Nexium and Pepto-Bismol
• Fatigue, dehydration and not eating enough
• Muscle soreness and skin sensitivity (allodynia)
• Emotional flatness and dopamine, and when to talk to your provider

Chapters
00:00 Welcome and meet Brittany Rose
01:02 Why managing side effects matters
03:05 Why some people are more sensitive to medications
05:03 Brittany's Mounjaro start in 2022
06:03 Foods that stop agreeing with you
07:05 Timing meals around your injection day
10:03 Sulfur burps and heavy meals
11:02 Meats, raw veggies and trigger foods
13:03 Nausea and Zofran
14:00 Eating slowly and chewing your food
16:04 Bad breath and hydration
19:03 Preventing constipation
20:03 Magnesium for constipation
22:06 MiraLAX and stool softeners
24:07 Stomach pain from backed-up stool
25:02 Adding fiber slowly
27:07 Reflux that doesn't feel like heartburn
30:01 Pepcid, Prilosec and Nexium
32:00 Pepto-Bismol and black stool
33:04 Fatigue from not eating enough
35:04 Burning fat and the ketosis feeling
37:04 Dehydration early in treatment
38:02 Muscle soreness during weight loss
41:06 Skin sensitivity and tingling (allodynia)
43:02 Overlap with menopause symptoms
46:01 Emotional flatness and dopamine
49:02 When to talk to your provider
53:04 Everyone reacts differently: final takeaways

Follow Brittany Rose
YouTube: @Brittanylosing

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Steve is 64, a software developer in Scottsdale, Arizona, and he's been married for 39 years. When his doctor suggested tirzepatide for his weight and sleep apnea, his insurance said no: he wasn't diabetic, and they wanted him to try an amphetamine diet pill first. So Steve and his wife found another way, and did it together.

Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, talks with Steve about going from a four-week sample of Zepbound to compounded tirzepatide, whether he noticed any difference, and why his wife stopped an oral semaglutide because of nausea. Steve has lost 48 pounds (204 to 156), his wife has lost about 60 to 65 pounds, and together they've lost about 121 pounds. They take their shots together every week.

In this episode:

• When insurance makes you get sicker before it will help
• Going from brand-name to compounded tirzepatide
• Why oral semaglutide caused so much nausea for his wife
• How food noise faded and the McDonald's drive-thru lost its pull
• Why doing this as a couple has made all the difference
• Hitting the gym at 6 a.m. and a Friday rowing class to protect muscle
• Handling side effects, buying new clothes, and before-and-after selfies
• Why one weigh-in shouldn't define your progress

Chapters:
0:00 Meet Steve
1:04 Insurance said no unless he was diabetic
3:36 Going compounded: was he nervous?
5:16 His wife's start on oral semaglutide
6:58 Goodbye, McDonald's drive-thru
8:05 Taking their shots together every week
9:54 Will he stay on a GLP-1?
10:12 6 a.m. gym and a rowing class
11:16 It's not the easy way out
12:15 121 pounds lost together and new clothes
13:41 Before-and-after selfies
15:23 Weight fluctuates: don't trust the scale alone

Every GLP-1 journey is different. This episode is for education and personal storytelling only. Always discuss medication decisions with your own provider.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Read Steve's full story on Substack: thebetterlivingpa.substack.com/p/patient-spotlight-steve

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Every week there's a new GLP-1 lawsuit headline, and if you're on a compounded GLP-1 it can feel like your access could disappear overnight. Should you worry? Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, sits down with Maria Rising, creator of Tirzepatide Tales, who closely tracks about 30 of these cases, to break down what's really going on and what actually matters for patients.

Maria explains why most of these lawsuits are business-vs-business fights over marketing and advertising (not safety), why court cases take years instead of days, and who benefits when headlines make us afraid. They also cover 503A vs 503B compounding pharmacies, how to tell if your telehealth company and pharmacy are legit, the additive debate, and why compounding isn't going away even if access changes.

In this episode:

• Why the GLP-1 lawsuits are really about marketing, not safety
• How fear-mongering works on both sides
• 503A vs 503B compounding pharmacies explained
• How to tell if your telehealth and pharmacy are legit
• Where the additive and "essentially a copy" debate stands
• The cost gap between branded and compounded GLP-1s
• Why lawsuits and FDA warning letters are not verdicts

Chapters:
0:00 Meet Maria Rising of Tirzepatide Tales
1:53 The business-vs-business lawsuits Maria tracks
4:41 It's about marketing, not safety
7:46 Court cases take years, not days
8:47 Who benefits from fear-mongering?
14:02 What could actually change your access?
16:05 503A vs 503B pharmacies explained
19:34 How to tell if your telehealth is legit
23:20 Additives and the "essentially a copy" debate
30:04 The shortage, cash prices and the access gap
35:34 Compounding isn't going away
36:52 Lawsuits and warning letters aren't verdicts

Follow Maria Rising (Tirzepatide Tales):
YouTube: @tirzepatidetales
TikTok: @risinghealthreport
Substack: @tirzepatidetales

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Is phentermine safe for weight loss, and how is it different from GLP-1s like semaglutide and tirzepatide? Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, breaks down what phentermine is, how it works, what the FDA label actually says about short-term use, and what the research shows.

Phentermine is an older, stimulant-like appetite suppressant first approved in 1959. Tiffany explains why so many people love the energy it gives them, why tolerance, insomnia and blood pressure are real concerns, the truth about fen-phen, who shouldn't take phentermine, why weight usually comes back when you stop, why it doesn't address insulin resistance the way GLP-1s do, and how Qsymia (phentermine + topiramate) is different.

Chapters:

0:00 Why phentermine is so debated

1:18 What is phentermine?

1:45 The FDA label and short-term use

2:52 How phentermine works

4:40 Side effects, insomnia and tolerance

5:36 Why people love the energy boost

7:10 Phentermine and amphetamines

7:34 Fen-phen explained

8:53 How long is short-term?

10:48 Who shouldn't take phentermine

11:28 Phentermine in older adults

12:08 What the research shows

13:34 Phentermine vs GLP-1s

14:33 Weight regain after stopping

15:35 Insulin resistance and why GLP-1s are different

15:56 Qsymia (phentermine + topiramate)

17:08 Summary and final thoughts

Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here: https://link.joinbelle.com/betterliving

Coupon code: BELLE15

All my free resources, community and links: https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always talk with your own healthcare provider before starting, stopping or changing any medication.

Can GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide cause depression, anxiety or that flat, "blah" feeling some people call the GLP-1 blues?

In this episode, Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, breaks down what the latest research shows, including the FDA's January 2026 review of 91 placebo-controlled trials with more than 107,000 participants, and why your own experience on a GLP-1 can still be different.

In this episode:

• What people mean by the "GLP-1 blues" and feeling emotionally flat
• Anhedonia vs. clinical depression
• What the FDA review and a 2025 meta-analysis found
• Why you might feel different on a GLP-1: brain reward pathways, food's role in your life, side effects and dose
• What to track and bring to your healthcare provider
• Letting go of shame and blame

If you are having severe or worsening depression or any thoughts of self-harm, please don't wait. In the US, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), or contact your healthcare provider right away.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

After years of living with obesity and Hashimoto's disease, Tammy had vertical sleeve gastrectomy in 2020. Bariatric surgery helped her lose weight, but she realized it hadn't fully addressed the complex biological factors behind her obesity. Eighteen months after surgery, she started GLP-1 therapy. Today she's 150 pounds down from her highest weight and uses her experience to advocate for people seeking access to GLP-1 treatment when insurance coverage falls short.

Tammy shares the reality of combining bariatric surgery with GLP-1 therapy, what she learned along the way, and why obesity deserves to be treated as a chronic, complex medical condition rather than a personal failure.

In this conversation:

• Mindset more than size, and the "if I'd just lost 10 more pounds" trap
• Phentermine and the Fen-Phen history
• Deciding on bariatric surgery and the two-week liquid diet
• Hashimoto's, PCOS and what else was going on
• Shortages, coverage changes and finding another way
• Why this isn't a quick fix, and getting protein in

Chapters
00:00 Meet Tammy
02:00 Looking back: mindset more than size
04:00 Wedding photos and "if I'd just lost 10 more pounds"
06:00 Phentermine and the Fen-Phen history
08:00 Considering bariatric surgery
10:00 The vicious cycle and kidney issues
12:00 The two-week liquid diet before surgery
14:00 Hashimoto's, PCOS and what else was going on
16:00 When Mounjaro stopped being prescribed for obesity
18:00 Shortage again - and finding another way
20:00 "It's not about the weight anymore"
22:00 The sign around her neck nobody checked
24:00 Why this isn't a quick fix
26:00 Getting protein in, and food as fuel
28:00 Wanting a safe place for people to get this
30:00 One-on-one access to the providers
32:00 Her advice: research it and ask questions

Follow Tammy
TikTok: @mom_is_gonna_lose_it
Instagram: @mom_is_gonna_lose_it
Facebook: Tammy on Facebook
Get started with Tammy's link: link.joinbelle.com/tammy-st-germain (code TAMMY)

This episode shares one patient's personal experience. Individual results vary.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

If you take a GLP-1 medication and have surgery or a procedure coming up, when should you stop it, and when is it safe to restart?

In this episode, I explain why GLP-1 medications matter when you receive general anesthesia or deep sedation. The primary concern isn't bleeding or wound healing. It's delayed stomach emptying and the potential risk of aspiration during anesthesia.

In this episode:

• Why GLP-1s can affect stomach emptying, and how anesthesia changes the risk
• Why recommendations vary between providers
• Who may have a higher risk of delayed gastric emptying
• Whether everyone needs to stop their medication
• When you may be able to restart after surgery
• Why missing several doses could mean restarting at a lower dose
• What to tell your surgeon and anesthesia team

Current guidance doesn't automatically require every patient to stop GLP-1 therapy. Your plan may depend on your medication, dose, symptoms, recent dose changes, medical conditions and the type of procedure. Always tell your surgeon and anesthesia team that you take a GLP-1, including the date of your last dose. If you take it for diabetes, speak with your prescribing provider before holding it, because stopping could affect your blood sugar. Always follow the instructions from your surgeon, anesthesia professional and prescribing provider.

Chapters
00:00 Why GLP-1s and surgery is such a confusing topic
00:48 It is not about bleeding or wound healing
01:14 Why every provider gives you a different answer
02:30 Aspiration: the real reason we hold GLP-1s
03:49 The recovery room is the riskiest window
04:25 Who is at higher risk
05:25 Do you actually have to stop? The newer guidance
06:44 Pre-op vs post-op: two different reasons
07:15 What changes if you take a GLP-1 for diabetes
08:12 When it is safe to restart after surgery
08:51 Narcotics plus GLP-1s: nausea and constipation
09:34 Abdominal surgery and post-op ileus
10:31 Do you need to restart at a lower dose?
11:56 Your pre-op appointment and your medication list
12:40 Do not forget to list your injections
13:14 The bottom line

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

When should you start getting mammograms, and how do you know if you're at high risk for breast cancer?

In this episode, Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, sits down with Dr. Kristen Williams, MD, a general surgeon whose practice focuses on breast health, to break down breast cancer screening and what every woman should know.

In this episode:

• Why Dr. Williams recommends a yearly mammogram starting at age 40
• How a mammogram works, and how much radiation it really is
• Why ultrasound isn't a screening tool, and when you need a breast MRI
• High-risk breast programs and the Tyrer-Cuzick risk score (the 20% threshold)
• Family history (including your dad's side), gene mutations like BRCA, CHEK2 and PALB2, and genetic testing
• Why self-exams aren't enough and why catching breast cancer early matters

Check your breast cancer risk with the Tyrer-Cuzick (IBIS) calculator we talked about: ibis-risk-calculator.magview.com

Bring your results to your primary care provider or OB/GYN to talk about next steps.

Follow Dr. Kristen Williams:

TikTok: @thesurgeoninpink

Instagram: @knwilliams01

Interested in women's health care, GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Abbs is a registered nurse with a master's degree who spent much of her twenties slowly gaining weight without realizing how much it could eventually affect her health. Then the pandemic hit. Working in healthcare during such an overwhelming time took a toll, and her weight kept climbing.

Determined to make a change, she joined CrossFit and showed up consistently. But despite years of effort, the scale barely moved. After learning about GLP-1 medications on social media, Abbs began exploring whether they could provide the support she needed. In this interview, she shares how GLP-1 therapy became part of her journey and helped her build an approach that finally felt sustainable.

In this conversation:

• Shift work, sleep and next-day hunger
• Working in the hospital during the pandemic years
• Weightlifting without losing weight
• No PCP, insurance changes and choosing semaglutide or tirzepatide
• The first two weeks and how fast the weight came off
• Fiber, non-scale victories and judging progress by her PRs

This is an honest conversation about effort, biology, healthcare-worker burnout, and why needing medical support doesn't mean someone failed to work hard enough.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Abbs
02:00 How long the struggle actually goes back
04:00 The denial phase
06:00 Shift work, sleep and next-day hunger
08:00 Working in the hospital during the crazy years
10:00 What she tried before GLP-1s
12:00 Weightlifting without losing weight
14:00 When she started thinking about GLP-1s
16:00 The year she realized her body could do it
18:00 No PCP, and insurance changes
20:00 Choosing semaglutide or tirzepatide
22:00 Wanting better nutrition and sleep
24:00 The first two weeks
26:00 How fast the weight came off
28:00 Inflammation, and not a slow responder
30:00 Fiber, and what her body tells her
32:00 Non-scale victories
34:00 Judging progress by her PRs

Individual experiences and results vary.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and blood clots in both lungs after what first looked like a routine calf injury and a superficial clot. As a board-certified physician assistant, I walk through the publicly reported timeline and explain, in plain language, how a clot in the leg can travel to the lungs, who is at higher risk, and the warning signs you should never brush off.

In this episode:

• Superficial clot vs. DVT: what "superficial" and "deep" really mean
• How a pulmonary embolism (PE) forms, and why clots often reach both lungs
• Common risk factors: injury, long travel, surgery, pregnancy, cancer, and oral vs. transdermal hormones
• Warning signs of a DVT or PE
• What blood thinners actually do, and why contact sports are off the table
• Tips for lowering clot risk on long flights and road trips

Note: I'm discussing only what has been publicly released by the Eagles and reported in the news. I don't have access to his medical records. One-sided leg swelling, new shortness of breath or chest pain deserve prompt medical attention.

Chapters
00:00 Jalen Hurts' blood clots: what we'll cover
01:22 The timeline: calf injury, London flight and ultrasound
03:22 Superficial clot vs. deep vein thrombosis
04:48 What a DVT is and how it feels
05:55 How a leg clot reaches the lungs
07:03 What causes blood clots
08:40 Who's at higher risk, including hormones
10:23 Warning signs of a DVT or PE
11:38 What blood thinner treatment really means
12:37 Lowering clot risk on long trips
13:41 Key takeaways

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Are GLP-1 medications cheating? Will you regain the weight if you stop? Are compounded GLP-1s safe? Can you get addicted to semaglutide or tirzepatide?

In this episode, I break down the most frequently asked questions about GLP-1 medications in a simple, science-based way. If you're considering a GLP-1 for weight loss, insulin resistance, perimenopause weight gain or metabolic health, this will help you understand what's real and what's hype.

In this episode:

• How GLP-1 medications work in the body
• Will you have to take it forever, and what maintenance looks like
• How much protein you need
• Are compounded GLP-1s safe and legal, and how the grey market is different
• How to find a vetted provider
• Is this addiction? Obesity as a chronic disease
• Hair shedding, and why shampoos and supplements often aren't worth the money
• The other benefits, from kidney disease and beyond

Chapters
00:00 Why there's so much GLP-1 misinformation
02:00 Where to find nutrition guides and community
03:00 Q1: How GLP-1s actually work in your body
05:00 Q2: Will I have to take this forever?
06:00 What maintenance actually looks like
07:00 How much protein you need
08:00 Why you can't compare your results to anyone else's
09:00 Q3: Are compounded GLP-1s safe and legal?
10:00 The grey market and why it's different
11:00 How to find a vetted provider
12:00 Q4: Is this addiction? Obesity as a chronic disease
13:00 Q5: Hair shedding - why it happens
15:00 Shampoos and supplements: don't waste your money
16:00 You are not broken
17:00 The other benefits: kidney disease and beyond

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Not sure how to talk to your daughter about her period, or when to start? I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant, and in this episode I sit down with educator Janet Throgmorton (Mrs. Janet), who spent 31 years in schools as a teacher, elementary principal and high school principal. We talk about why girls are starting their periods earlier, the right age to begin the conversation, how to frame periods and puberty as a normal, healthy part of growing up, and why boys need to hear it too.

We also talk about period poverty: how many students rely on their school for pads and tampons, why the right-size products matter for young girls, and how educators and communities are stepping in.

In this episode:

• Why girls are starting their periods earlier (some as young as 8 or 9)
• Why so many of us grew up with no "period talk" at home
• What age to start talking to your daughter about periods
• How to start the conversation at home without shame
• Why boys should learn about periods and puberty too
• Period poverty and why girls miss school without period products
• Choosing the right period products for a young girl

Chapters:
0:00 Meet Mrs. Janet: 31 years in education
1:51 Girls are starting their periods earlier
3:32 When schools teach about periods
4:35 Our own first period talks growing up
7:03 What age to start talking about periods
8:31 Why how you talk about periods matters
9:48 Should we talk to boys about periods too?
12:31 How many kids get no guidance at home
13:32 How to start the conversation at home
16:02 Period poverty: girls missing school
17:31 Why the right period products matter
18:27 How schools and communities help
20:24 Period poverty and lack of education
21:32 Final thoughts: we can't ignore women's health

Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones, and metabolic health? START HERE:
https://link.joinbelle.com/betterliving
Coupon code: BELLE15

Join our FREE community for GLP-1 support and nutrition tips: https://the-belle-community.circle.so

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6_MnkZX_hy0
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterliving_pa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterlivingforeveryone

Follow the show so you don't miss new episodes on women's health, GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Listening does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider with questions about your or your child's health.

Your weight has stopped moving on your GLP-1. Are you in maintenance, or are you in a plateau? I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant, and in this episode I break down the difference between a weight loss plateau and planned GLP-1 maintenance, what the research shows about stopping semaglutide or tirzepatide cold turkey, and 4 maintenance strategies to discuss with your provider so you can keep the weight off long term.

In this episode:

• Plateau vs. maintenance, and why the real difference is your intention
• Why a maintenance weight range works better than one number on the scale
• What the STEP 1 extension and SURMOUNT-4 trials showed about stopping GLP-1s
• Why "60% of people regain all their weight" is misleading
• Obesity as a chronic disease, and why food noise can come back
• 4 maintenance strategies: staying on your dose, carefully adjusting it, extending time between doses, and stopping with a plan
• Is microdosing a maintenance strategy?
• How your care team personalizes maintenance, plus nutrition, strength training, cost and access
• The emotional side of maintenance, and why needing ongoing treatment is not a failure
• DMR (duodenal mucosal resurfacing), an investigational procedure being studied for weight maintenance

Chapters:
0:00 Plateau or maintenance?
0:22 Intro: what we'll cover
0:54 Plateau vs. maintenance: what's the difference
2:54 Why you need a maintenance weight range
3:40 When the scale stalls before your goal
4:04 What happens if you stop a GLP-1 cold turkey
4:20 STEP 1 extension trial (semaglutide)
5:15 SURMOUNT-4 trial (tirzepatide)
5:44 The "60% regain all their weight" myth
6:29 Obesity is a chronic disease
7:28 Strategy 1: Stay on the dose that worked
8:40 Strategy 2: Carefully adjust your dose
10:44 Strategy 3: Extend the time between doses
11:43 Strategy 4: Stop with a plan and close monitoring
13:13 Is microdosing a maintenance strategy?
13:53 Your dose is not a willpower test
14:36 How your care team personalizes maintenance
15:54 Health conditions that favor staying on your dose
16:46 Nutrition and strength training
18:03 Cost, access and insurance
18:35 The emotional side of maintenance
19:45 DMR: an investigational procedure for maintenance
21:12 Key takeaways

Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones, and metabolic health? START HERE:
https://link.joinbelle.com/betterliving
Coupon code: BELLE15

Join our FREE community for GLP-1 support and nutrition tips: https://the-belle-community.circle.so

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYGqXvP9578
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betterliving_pa
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@betterlivingforeveryone

Follow the show so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Medical disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Listening does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, or treatment plan.

Carolina struggled with obesity from childhood and spent years searching for a sustainable way to manage her health and weight. Eventually she traveled to Mexico for gastric bypass surgery, and went from 320 to 165 pounds. But she discovered surgery wasn't a permanent fix for the biological and emotional challenges she'd faced her whole life, and when maintaining her results became difficult, she started looking for another option.

In this conversation, Carolina shares her experience with weight-loss surgery, weight regain and discovering GLP-1 therapy, and how it helped her better understand her body and finally build an approach that feels sustainable.

In this conversation:

• Growing up with obesity
• Traveling to Mexico for gastric bypass surgery
• Why weight regain can happen after bariatric surgery
• Pregnancy, a new baby and no family nearby
• What she can and can't eat after bypass
• Why surgery doesn't change obesity hormonally
• Discovering GLP-1 therapy and building a sustainable approach

Carolina's story is an important reminder that obesity is a complex, chronic condition. Needing additional support after bariatric surgery does not mean someone failed.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Carolina
02:30 Starting a new job, and starting a GLP-1
05:00 Being loved for who she was
07:30 Moving away and grieving
10:00 Getting back into the swing of things
12:30 Flying out for gastric bypass surgery
15:00 Throwing away the old X-rays
17:30 Getting down to 165 from 320
20:00 How desperate people get, and a broken system
22:30 Pregnancy and gaining weight
25:00 A new baby with no family nearby
27:30 Her son starting kindergarten
30:00 A torn foot and what the X-ray showed
32:30 Getting back on the bike for herself
35:00 What she can and can't eat after bypass
37:30 Why surgery doesn't change obesity hormonally
40:00 Why compounded lets you inch your dose up

This episode shares one patient's personal experience. Individual results vary.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Can GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide really cause blindness?

In this episode, Tiffany Bailey, PA-C, sits down with optometrist Dr. Kelly Bugg, OD, to talk about GLP-1s and vision loss, what the research on NAION (non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy) actually shows, and what the real risk is for most patients.

In this conversation:

• What optometrists do and how they differ from ophthalmologists
• What NAION is and how it affects the optic nerve
• What the semaglutide research shows, and how rare NAION actually is
• Who has a "crowded disc" and may be at higher risk
• How diabetes and fast blood sugar changes affect your eyes
• Dry eye and blurry vision that comes and goes on GLP-1s
• Why to call your eye doctor, not the ER, for sudden vision changes
• How often to get an eye exam, and dilation vs. retinal photos

Chapters

00:00 Meet Dr. Kelly Bugg, optometrist

01:46 What an optometrist treats

02:30 Optometrist vs. ophthalmologist

04:06 Why see an eye doctor for eye problems

04:47 The scary GLP-1 blindness headlines

05:09 What is NAION?

05:55 What the semaglutide research shows

06:18 How rare is NAION?

08:05 Does she see NAION in her practice?

09:54 Diabetes, GLP-1s and your eyes

10:19 How diabetic retinopathy damages the eye

12:15 Fast blood sugar changes and when to come in

14:34 Crowded discs and who is at higher risk

15:46 Weighing the benefits vs. the risk

18:07 Warning signs of NAION

19:23 If you've already had NAION in one eye

20:37 Dry eye on GLP-1s

22:18 Blurry vision that comes and goes

25:22 Eye doctor vs. the ER for vision changes

27:17 How often to get an eye exam

29:09 A patient story: what an eye exam caught

32:13 Dilation vs. retinal photography

34:04 Final takeaways

Connect with Dr. Kelly Bugg, OD:

Website: keepingyourlifeinfocus.com

Lone Oak Family Eye Care (Paducah, KY): facebook.com/lofamilyeye

Mayfield Family Eye Care (Mayfield, KY): facebook.com/MayfieldFamilyEyeCare

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Is your GLP-1 dose too high? A higher dose is not automatically better. Semaglutide and tirzepatide work best at the dose that helps you reach your goals while still letting you eat, drink, function and feel like yourself.

In this episode, I walk through 7 signs your GLP-1 dose may be too high for your body, why the old "move up every month" titration approach doesn't fit everyone, and why your dose should be judged by how you feel and function, not just the number on the scale.

In this episode:

Why so many people were titrated up every single month

What the Wegovy and Zepbound prescribing information says about tolerability

Nausea that keeps you from eating, drinking or functioning

Repeated vomiting or trouble keeping fluids down

Constipation or diarrhea that becomes a real problem

Food aversion and barely being able to eat

Feeling weak, dizzy or exhausted

Losing strength and muscle

Side effects that get worse with every dose increase

Why returning hunger doesn't always mean you need a higher dose

Symptoms that need prompt medical attention

Chapters

00:00 How to tell if your GLP-1 dose is too high

00:35 Why so many people were moved up every month

01:32 What Wegovy and Zepbound prescribing info says now

02:21 Your dose should be personalized

02:34 Don't judge your dose by the scale

03:00 Sign 1: Nausea that stops you from functioning

04:22 Sign 2: Vomiting or trouble keeping fluids down

05:14 Sign 3: Constipation or diarrhea that becomes a problem

06:25 Sign 4: You can barely eat (food aversion)

08:04 Sign 5: Feeling weak, dizzy or exhausted

09:12 Sign 6: You're losing strength

10:22 Sign 7: Side effects get worse with every dose increase

11:13 Returning hunger doesn't mean you need a higher dose

11:57 Your rate of weight loss vs. your dose

12:47 Symptoms that need prompt evaluation

13:22 Talk to your provider before changing your dose

13:51 Low and slow: individualized GLP-1 dosing

14:30 Tell me your experience

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:

link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)

You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA

Instagram: @betterliving_pa

TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Can GLP-1s help with perimenopause and menopause? In this live conversation, I'm joined by Dr. Pat Taylor, a board-certified family physician specializing in obesity, menopause and metabolic medicine, to talk about GLP-1 therapy, microdosing, menopause and metabolic health.

Perimenopause can start as early as your mid-30s, and the hormonal shifts can bring belly weight gain, insulin resistance, mood changes and more, even when nothing else in your routine has changed. We explain what's happening, how GLP-1s and menopausal hormone therapy may work together, what microdosing means, and who may or may not be a good candidate, plus live Q&A.

In this episode:

• When perimenopause starts and common symptoms
• Estrogen, mood and the brain
• Why weight shifts to your midsection
• Insulin resistance and the labs to check
• Surgical menopause and testosterone
• Why GLP-1s may work differently in menopause
• Hormone therapy plus GLP-1s, and tirzepatide and hot flashes
• What GLP-1 microdosing really means, and who is (and isn't) a good candidate
• Maintenance without BMI cutoffs

Chapters
00:00 Welcome: microdosing and menopause
01:00 Perimenopause starts earlier than you think
03:00 Meet Dr. Pat Taylor
04:03 When perimenopause starts and common symptoms
06:01 Estrogen, mood and the brain
07:05 Why weight shifts to your midsection
08:02 Insulin resistance in perimenopause
09:04 Labs to check for insulin resistance
11:01 Visceral fat and health risks
12:01 Surgical menopause and testosterone
14:03 Why GLP-1s may work differently in menopause
16:00 Estrogen, your cycle and GLP-1 response
17:03 Hormone therapy plus GLP-1s
20:01 Tirzepatide and hot flashes
21:01 Q&A: itchy skin and ears
23:00 Prediabetes, diabetes and your chart
26:06 Diabetes medications and longevity
27:00 BMI and insurance coverage
30:04 Why Dr. Pat joined Belle
31:01 Belle launches GLP-1 microdosing
33:01 Food noise and mental capacity
34:03 Two pathways to start microdosing
36:00 What microdosing really means
39:02 Who's a good candidate for microdosing
43:03 Why menopausal hormone therapy matters
44:04 Who's not a good candidate
47:01 Maintenance with no BMI gates
50:01 How to join the microdosing program
52:06 Q&A: HRT timing and starting doses
54:05 Tirzepatide with B6
55:05 Wrap-up

Learn more about Belle's microdosing program: microdose.joinbelle.com

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Olivia has been on a compounded tirzepatide journey for over a year and is down 98 pounds. In this conversation she shares her wins, what made her journey hard, and why she now spends her time advocating for GLP-1 patients who need access to care.

In this conversation:

• Researching GLP-1s and falling for the flood of marketing ads
• Choosing semaglutide on price, and the side effects she had
• Hitting Onederland, then hitting a stall
• Why eating 800 calories was the wrong move, and focusing on maintaining muscle
• Loose skin, rings that fit differently and other surprises
• Whether she expects to be on a GLP-1 long-term
• Why a GLP-1 is a tool, and she's still doing the work

Chapters
00:00 Meet Olivia
02:30 Researching GLP-1s and the flood of ads
05:00 Falling for marketing campaigns
07:30 Choosing semaglutide on price
10:00 Constipation, and how much nausea she had
12:30 Hitting Onederland
15:00 When weekly drops turn into a stall
17:30 Working out and morning bike rides
20:00 Eating 800 calories, and why that was wrong
22:30 Rings and jewelry feeling strange
25:00 Focusing on maintaining muscle
27:30 Not checking whether she'd fit the booth
30:00 Loose skin as part of the loss
32:30 Did she expect to be on this long-term?
35:00 Her husband dreaming about food
37:30 Not thinking about supper at all
40:00 It's a tool - she's still doing the work

Follow Olivia
TikTok: @glpwitholivia
YouTube: @GLPWithOlivia
Instagram: @glpwitholivia
Get started with Olivia's link: link.joinbelle.com/olivia (code OLIVIA)

This episode shares one person's experience. Individual results vary.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Have you noticed your skin feels sore, burning, tingly or sunburned, even when nothing is touching it but your clothes or your sheets? That symptom has a name: allodynia. It's being reported by some people taking GLP-1 medications like tirzepatide and semaglutide, and it can be confusing and worrying when it shows up.

In this episode, I explain what allodynia is, why it may happen on GLP-1s, what it typically looks like, and what you can do about it, so you know what's expected and when it's worth talking to your provider.

In this episode:

• What allodynia is and what it can feel like
• Burning, tingling and sunburn-like skin sensitivity on GLP-1s
• Which GLP-1 medications it's been reported with, and the role of dose increases
• Why it may happen, including nerve signaling and rapid weight loss
• How long it tends to last
• Practical ways to manage it and when to talk to your provider about your dose
• Symptoms that aren't typical and should be checked out

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Starting GLP-1s, or wishing you could start your GLP-1 journey over? I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant, and after talking with thousands of people on GLP-1 medications, these are the 10 things patients most often tell me they wish they'd done differently from day one.

We cover building a care plan before your first dose, why you shouldn't judge results in the first 4 weeks, eating regularly even when your appetite is low, protecting your muscle, planning ahead for side effects like nausea and acid reflux, tracking progress beyond the scale, weekly vs. split dosing, the mental and emotional side of weight loss, and taking life on GLP-1s one step at a time. Whether you're on week one or month twelve, you can still make these changes.

⏱️ Chapters
0:00 Starting GLP-1s over: what I'd do differently
1:20 #1 Have a care plan before you start
3:18 #2 Don't judge results in the first 4 weeks
4:57 #3 Eat regularly, even when you're not hungry
6:28 #4 Protect your muscle early
7:34 #5 Plan ahead for side effects
8:35 #6 Take before photos and measurements
10:15 #7 Weekly vs. split dosing
11:29 #8 The mental and emotional side + community
12:39 #9 Take others' advice with a grain of salt
13:38 #10 One step at a time (do I stay on it forever?)
15:44 Your turn + free resources

👇 Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones, and metabolic health?

START HERE:
🔗https://link.joinbelle.com/betterliving

Coupon Code- BELLE15

If you're considering treatment options, this is the best place to begin. You'll find information on eligibility, available programs, and next steps.

📌 Subscribe to my channel so you don't miss future videos on:
https://www.youtube.com/@thebetterlivingPA
🔔𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐮𝐛𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐦𝐲 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐮𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬.

• GLP-1 medications
• Peptides
• Perimenopause & menopause
• Weight loss
• Metabolic health
• Healthy aging

Join our FREE community to learn more about GLP1s and get nutritional tips and tricks-
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⚠️ Medical Disclaimer:
The information shared on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Watching these videos does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

✅ Important Link to Follow

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#GLP1 #GLP1Journey #WeightLossJourney

The number one rule every GLP-1 user should practice sounds incredibly simple: eat until you're no longer hungry, not until you feel full.

Those may sound like the same thing, but they're two very different stopping points, and learning the difference is one of the biggest things that separates a smooth GLP-1 journey from a miserable one. In this episode, I explain how GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide can change your appetite faster than they change your lifelong eating habits, why so many of us were conditioned to clean our plates, and why your old portion sizes may suddenly leave you feeling miserable.

In this episode:

• The difference between hunger, satisfaction, fullness and feeling stuffed
• How your stomach, gut hormones, nerves and brain communicate during a meal
• Why slowing down and chewing more can help
• The halfway pause you can practice at your next meal
• How GLP-1s may change food motivation and reward
• How to stop eating when hunger disappears without accidentally under-eating

A GLP-1 can turn down the hunger signal, but it can't put your fork down for you.

Chapters
00:00 The #1 rule most GLP-1 users get wrong
00:23 Eat until you're no longer hungry, not full
01:12 Hunger vs fullness - two different points
01:59 Why we were trained to clean our plates
03:08 Eating too fast and not chewing enough
03:47 How your body knows you have had enough
05:56 What GLP-1s actually change in your stomach
07:03 Practicing the pause during a meal
07:48 Put your fork down - two questions to ask
08:44 The 1 to 10 fullness scale
10:12 Food is not just fuel - the emotional side
11:19 Losing the dopamine hit from food
12:24 Finding non-food rewards
13:11 Hunger vs food noise
14:07 Tell me what has helped you

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Is "GLP-1 divorce" real? Can a GLP-1 medication like semaglutide or tirzepatide actually change your relationship with your partner? I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant and GLP-1 advocate, and in this episode I break down the trend some people call "GLP-1 divorce" or "Ozempic divorce," what the research does (and doesn't) show, and the real factors that can shift a relationship when one partner starts a GLP-1.

We cover:
• What "GLP-1 divorce" means and why it's not a new phenomenon
• What we learned from bariatric surgery patients and relationship changes
• Why most separations start with cracks that were already there
• How new confidence, less food noise, and new interests can feel threatening to a partner
• Feeling emotionally flat on a GLP-1 and how it can affect dates and intimacy
• What early research on GLP-1s and marriage outcomes shows so far
• Why "you look amazing now" can land the wrong way
• GLP-1s, dopamine, and the reward system (food, alcohol, and desire)
• Losing food as a comfort strategy and finding new ways to cope
• When shared routines like dinners, drinks, and movie snacks change

Chapters:
0:00 What is "GLP-1 divorce"?
0:43 Not new: what we saw after bariatric surgery
1:19 Can a GLP-1 actually cause a divorce?
1:52 Scenario: when one partner starts changing
3:40 Feeling emotionally flat on a GLP-1
4:38 New confidence exposes old cracks
5:00 What the research says
6:31 How your partner sees you vs. how you see yourself
7:08 Intimacy and "you look amazing now"
7:51 When old feelings come into focus
8:29 GLP-1s, dopamine and the reward system
8:57 When food is no longer your comfort
10:20 When shared habits and routines change
11:15 GLP-1s, alcohol cravings and desire
12:12 Why partners miss the old routines
12:55 So, is GLP-1 divorce real?
13:21 Share your experience

👇 Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones, and metabolic health?

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• GLP-1 medications
• Peptides
• Perimenopause & menopause
• Weight loss
• Metabolic health
• Healthy aging

Join our FREE community to learn more about GLP1s and get nutritional tips and tricks-
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⚠️ Medical Disclaimer:
The information shared on this show is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to this podcast does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

✅ Important Links to Follow

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#GLP1 #GLP1Divorce #OzempicDivorce #WeightLossJourney #Semaglutide

Do you feel like you're going crazy, or like you just don't feel like yourself anymore? It might be perimenopause.

I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant, and in this episode I break down the sneaky perimenopause symptoms so many women in their late 30s and 40s miss: anxiety and irritability, waking up in the middle of the night, brain fog, and achy, stiff joints. Perimenopause can start up to 10 years before menopause, and you can still have regular periods while it's happening.

In this episode:

• What perimenopause is (and why menopause is really just one day)
• Why regular periods don't rule out perimenopause
• Anxiety, irritability and the emotional roller coaster
• Waking up at night with racing thoughts
• Brain fog, forgetfulness and trouble concentrating
• Physical clues: stiff, achy joints, getting hot at night, vaginal dryness
• Why women get treated symptom by symptom and nobody connects the dots
• Conditions that can mimic perimenopause (thyroid problems, anemia, sleep disorders, anxiety and depression)
• Why starting hormone therapy earlier in perimenopause matters

Belle's women's hormone therapy program launches October 15. Join the waitlist here: link.joinbelle.com/betterliving

Disclosure: I'm the Director of Patient Education at Belle, a telehealth company I talk about in this episode.

Chapters
00:00 Am I crazy or is it perimenopause?
01:03 What is perimenopause?
02:06 You can still have regular periods
02:37 Anxiety, irritability and mood swings
04:06 Waking up at night: sleep changes
05:46 Brain fog and forgetfulness
07:10 Physical clues: joints, night heat, dryness
09:00 How to figure out what's going on
10:53 Conditions that can mimic perimenopause
12:04 Why earlier hormone therapy matters
12:43 Belle's women's hormone therapy program
13:33 Tell me your experience

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Should you get your GLP-1 from telehealth or from your primary care provider? You can love your primary care provider and still choose someone else for your GLP-1 care. I'm Tiffany Bailey, a board certified physician assistant who spent 18 years in primary care and internal medicine, and in this episode I share an honest, inside look at why primary care offices often struggle with GLP-1 care, when staying with your PCP makes the most sense, and what to look for in a telehealth GLP-1 provider.

In this episode:
0:00 Primary care vs. telehealth for GLP-1s
0:26 Why primary care providers are stretched thin
2:13 A prescription vs. a system built for your success
4:09 When staying with your primary care makes sense
4:45 No insurance? The compounding roadblock
6:10 How telehealth works with 503A pharmacies
7:01 Dosing and concentration mix-ups
9:04 What about the relationship with my provider?
9:48 What makes Belle different
11:48 Worried about upsetting your doctor?
13:38 You still need a primary care provider
14:00 Tell me your experience

Interested in learning more about GLP-1s, peptides, hormones, and metabolic health? Start here: https://link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (Coupon code: BELLE15)

All my links: https://linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA

Disclosure: I'm the Director of Patient Education at Belle, a telehealth company I talk about in this episode.

Medical Disclaimer: This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Brittany Rose has built a community of more than 45,000 YouTube subscribers by sharing her GLP-1 journey with honesty, vulnerability and a refreshing sense of humor.

In this deeply personal conversation, Brittany opens up about the childhood trauma that shaped her relationship with her body and how weight became a form of protection. She shares what led her to start Mounjaro in 2022, how losing access to the original $25 savings card changed the course of her treatment, and how she eventually moved to a compounded GLP-1 and has now lost 115 pounds. But this is about so much more than a number on the scale. It's a story of survival, healing, self-discovery and completely changing the way she sees herself.

In this conversation:

• Childhood trauma, food as protection, and how childhood weight becomes adult obesity
• Starting Mounjaro, titrating up and losing 80 pounds in year one
• $550 a month, shortages and the move to compounded GLP-1s (503A vs 503B)
• Why hunger coming back is not the drug failing
• Diet culture, macros over calories and when food tracking helps or hurts
• Maintenance, the fear of losing access, and non-scale victories

Please note: this episode includes a sensitive discussion of childhood trauma and abuse. Please listen with care.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Brittany Rose
01:00 115 pounds down, the short version
03:14 Where the name Brittany Rose came from
05:00 Childhood trauma and food as protection
08:00 How childhood weight becomes adult obesity
12:00 Growing up without sit-down dinners
14:25 Pregnancy and the weight that never came off
16:04 Weight loss, fertility, and finding Mounjaro in 2022
19:11 Being prescribed phentermine at the same time
21:07 Titrating up and losing 80 pounds in year one
22:47 $550 a month and the move to compounded
24:20 Shortages: a prescription for every dose
26:10 Is compounded safe? 503A vs 503B
28:00 Why feeling miserable is not the goal
29:28 Hunger coming back is not the drug failing
31:00 Diet culture and the calorie myth
33:06 Macros over calories: protein first
36:27 Food tracking: when it helps and when it hurts
41:06 Her hardest struggle in maintenance
42:07 Biological hunger vs. appetite
44:00 The fear of losing access
45:00 The boundary she was finally able to set
48:07 Non-scale victories and building her channel
50:16 What her 15-year-old said

Follow Brittany Rose
YouTube: @Brittanylosing

This episode shares one person's experience and is intended for education and support.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Split dosing GLP-1s has become one of the biggest trends in the GLP-1 community, but is it actually necessary? In this episode, I break down what split dosing semaglutide and tirzepatide really does, and why most people don't need it.

We talk about why some people feel their medication "wears off" before the end of the week, what half-life actually means, how semaglutide and tirzepatide stay in your system between injections, and what the research does and doesn't show about splitting your weekly dose.

The potential pitfalls of two injections a week:

• More opportunities to forget a dose
• Confusion about total weekly dosing
• Measuring or calculation mistakes
• Accidentally increasing the weekly dose
• Difficulty telling which dose caused a side effect
• Turning a simple treatment plan into a complicated one

Split dosing may be something a provider considers for certain patients with significant side effects or consistent end-of-week hunger, but it hasn't been proven better than once-weekly dosing. The major clinical trials for injectable semaglutide and tirzepatide used once-weekly treatment. If your once-weekly schedule is working, you're not missing a secret hack. Sometimes simpler really is better.

Chapters
00:00 The split dosing hype - my honest take
01:30 What split dosing actually means
03:06 Why people want to split their dose
04:58 Peaks, troughs and how GLP-1s really work
06:26 What a half-life actually is (and is not)
07:22 The "tirzepatide stops working in 5 days" myth
08:57 Steady state - semaglutide vs tirzepatide
10:02 Hunger is not treatment failure
11:42 What the research says about split dosing
13:06 Pitfall 1 - missed doses and dosing errors
14:49 Pitfall 2 - more shots, supplies and side effects
15:22 Who split dosing might actually be right for
17:00 Check these before you change your dose
18:16 Bottom line - simple is usually better
19:09 Should you switch? Ask yourself this

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Have you lost weight on a GLP-1 but still feel like you're living in your former body? Maybe you reach for your old clothing size, struggle to recognize yourself in photos, or look in the mirror and can't see how much your body has changed. Is this truly body dysmorphia, or is your brain simply taking longer to adjust?

In this episode, I explain the difference between body dysmorphic disorder, negative body image, and the identity adjustment that can happen after significant weight loss with medications like semaglutide or tirzepatide.

In this episode:

• What body dysmorphic disorder actually is
• Why body image may not change as quickly as body size
• Why GLP-1 patients may keep buying or wearing larger clothing
• How weight stigma and fear of regain can affect self-perception
• The difference between body-image adjustment, BDD and disordered eating
• Warning signs that it may be time to seek professional support
• Practical ways to help your mind adjust to your changing body

Direct research on this experience among GLP-1 patients is still limited. Terms like "body-image lag" can help describe it, but they are not formal medical diagnoses.

Have you experienced this after losing weight on a GLP-1? Tell me in the comments.

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose or treat any medical or mental health condition. If concerns about your appearance, eating, or weight are causing significant distress or interfering with your life, please speak with a qualified healthcare or mental health professional. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship.

For most of her life, Teri felt like food was the enemy. Today, after losing 95 pounds with the help of a GLP-1 medication, she finally feels in control.

Teri is a retired teacher who calls her GLP-1 a "miracle drug," but her transformation is about so much more than a number on the scale. She shares how her relationship with food has changed, how her confidence has grown, and how the version of herself that was always there is no longer hiding.

In this conversation:

• A lifetime of diets, the "tomorrow diet" and growing up with a mom who counted every calorie
• When the food noise went quiet
• Starting tirzepatide in 2024, and the side effects she did have
• Her husband's 80-pound journey alongside hers
• The first injection, and why the fear goes away
• What she pays now versus over $1,000 a month
• Confidence, identity and the emotional side of physical transformation

So much of what Teri shared resonated with me personally. If you have ever felt like food controlled your life, I hope her story reminds you that you are not alone.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Teri - retired teacher, Brooklyn to Florida
01:01 A lifetime of diets before GLP-1s
01:31 The food noise went quiet
02:01 Disney World, and the two pounds she lost on vacation
02:47 The tomorrow diet, and why one bad choice used to ruin a month
04:21 A mom who counted every calorie
06:44 215 pounds at five feet tall
08:19 Starting tirzepatide in 2024, and the side effects she did have
10:12 At 7.5 mg: how to know if you can stretch your doses
12:31 Her husband's 80 pounds, and how she knows when his shot is due
14:24 Crying over French fries: what deprivation really felt like
15:16 Her mom wished for a pill - it turned out to be a shot
16:47 The husbands who would not share their food
19:50 Food is my enemy - hearing herself say it out loud
20:40 The first injection, and why the fear goes away
21:39 What she pays now versus over $1,000 a month
23:39 Looking in the mirror below the neck again
25:34 The acting class where she finally strutted
27:37 Teri's message to anyone still waiting

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

This episode shares one person's experience. Individual results vary. Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

We're spilling the GLP-1 tea, but this conversation goes much deeper than gossip.

I sit down with Maria Rising, the smart and funny creator behind Tirzepatide Tales with Maria. Maria has a gift for finding the details most people miss and making complicated GLP-1 research, policy and regulatory news easier to understand.

Maria shares her experience with PCOS, surviving a stroke at 27 and starting her own tirzepatide journey. We also get honest about compounded GLP-1 medications, the rapidly changing rules around compounding, and what the future of GLP-1 care could look like.

In this conversation:

• Maria's journey with PCOS, stroke and tirzepatide, and why she created Tirzepatide Tales
• GLP-1s and addiction: alcohol, smoking and shopping
• GLP-1s in pregnancy, "Ozempic babies" and the birth control label change
• What GLP-1s actually cost, and why the people who need them most have the least access
• Compounded vs. gray market GLP-1s: how to tell the difference
• The policies and legal battles affecting access, including the 503B bulk list change

Chapters
00:00 Meet Maria Rising, the creator behind Tirzepatide Tales
01:53 From embryologist to GLP-1 research nerd
02:48 PCOS, shame, and starting tirzepatide
04:07 The secret TikTok account that started it all
06:22 Why talking about GLP-1s publicly still feels risky
08:42 From 2 studies a week to 200 a day
11:04 Addiction: the most exciting GLP-1 frontier
12:58 What drug trials test, and what they miss
15:56 Alcohol, smoking, shopping: the post-market surprises
17:27 GLP-1s in pregnancy and Ozempic babies
20:18 Periods returning and the birth control label change
21:50 Why we didn't see this with older diabetes drugs
26:58 The real barrier: what GLP-1s actually cost
30:11 Desperation, the gray market, and broken insurance
32:30 How Maria vetted compounded GLP-1s
34:22 Compounding is a staple of medicine
36:11 Compounded vs. gray market: how to tell the difference
37:37 Is compounded access actually at risk?
40:04 The 503B bulk list change and what comes next
41:50 Telehealth, cash pay, and patient empowerment
44:41 What's next: amylin drugs and beyond
46:59 Maria's stroke at 27 and learning what chest pain means
48:56 Wrap-up and where to follow Maria

Follow Maria Rising
TikTok: @risinghealthreport
YouTube: Tirzepatide Tales with Maria
Substack: @tirzepatidetales

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you never miss a new episode.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

Holly struggled with her weight from puberty on. Weight Watchers, calorie deficits, every approach she tried, and nothing ever felt sustainable. Then her doctor told her she was prediabetic.

When her insurance denied coverage for a GLP-1, Holly turned to telehealth. In this interview she shares what finally helped her take that first step, what her journey from semaglutide to tirzepatide really looked like, and how getting her A1C back into a normal range has helped her feel like the best version of herself again for her two kids.

In this conversation:

• Why traditional weight-loss approaches never felt sustainable
• PCOS, emotional eating and self-image
• Getting a prediabetes diagnosis, and getting denied by insurance
• Starting semaglutide (240 down to 193) and switching to tirzepatide
• When the scale stalls but the inches keep coming off
• Blood sugar and A1C back in the normal range
• GLP-1s and pregnancy: what we still do not know
• Doing this alongside her sister, and how it changed their whole family

Holly's story is a powerful reminder that obesity is not a lack of effort or willpower, and asking for medical support is not taking the "easy way out." If her story resonates with you, share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Holly
01:05 Life as a mom and a recreational therapist
02:41 Where it started: puberty, PCOS and self-image
05:44 An injury, softball, and the college weight gain
07:07 Emotional eating, including celebrating with food
09:03 Baby number one in 2020: COVID, NICU and a traumatic birth
10:48 The lab work that changed everything
11:05 Prescribed a GLP-1 and denied by insurance
11:52 Starting semaglutide: 240 down to 193
12:50 Switching to tirzepatide and how the dosing was handled
15:02 Finding the right dose after the switch
16:09 When the scale stalls but the inches keep coming off
16:58 The remodeling phase explained
17:34 Blood sugar and A1C back in normal range
18:14 "I wish I would have started sooner"
19:14 GLP-1s and pregnancy: what we still do not know
22:02 Why Holly put the scale away
22:56 Doing this alongside her sister
24:25 Her husband's turn, and the Dillard's conversation
26:37 What changed for their whole family
27:09 Where to start if this is you

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
TikTok: @betterlivingforeveryone

This episode shares one person's individual experience and is for educational purposes only. Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.

GLP-1s can change the number on the scale, but for many people the biggest changes happen somewhere much deeper.

In this episode, I sit down with Kim Carlos, award-winning podcast creator, GLP-1 advocate and host of The Plus SideZ Podcast, to talk about the side of obesity treatment we don't talk about nearly enough: what it actually feels like when the food noise finally goes quiet.

In this conversation:

• Food noise vs. true hunger, and why you don't notice it until it stops
• Seeing obesity as a chronic disease, not a personal failure
• Insurance hurdles, access to treatment and compounded GLP-1s
• Social media misinformation and healing the rift between patients and providers
• Genetics, twin studies and the "born again obese" experience
• Maintenance, stress and being willing to pivot your treatment
• Weight stigma, and believing you are worthy of care

Whether you're living with obesity, taking a GLP-1, considering treatment or caring for someone who is, I hope this conversation changes the way you think about obesity care.

Chapters
00:00 Meet Kim Carlos of The Plus SideZ
01:01 Kim's story before GLP-1s
02:24 Finding GLP-1s in 2022
04:14 Feeling alone, then finding community
06:12 Food noise: you don't notice it until it stops
08:48 Hunger vs. food noise
15:06 Why real support is still hard to find
16:15 110 pounds down and still learning
19:15 Social media guidance and misinformation
21:08 Insurance games and access to treatment
25:07 Behavior change, movement and stress
26:01 Compounded GLP-1s and falling prices
28:30 Healing the rift between patients and providers
31:00 Why we both make educational content
35:05 Genetics, twin studies, and what you did not choose
38:05 The "born again obese" experience
42:54 Maintenance, stress, and when to reassess
45:37 Being willing to pivot your treatment
49:10 Weight stigma and where to find Kim

Follow Kim Carlos
YouTube: The Plus SideZ
Instagram: @theplussidezpodcast
TikTok: @dmfkim
Website: theplussidez.net

Interested in GLP-1s, peptides, hormones and metabolic health? Start here:
link.joinbelle.com/betterliving (coupon code BELLE15)
You'll find information on eligibility, available programs and next steps.

Follow The Better Living PA so you don't miss new episodes on GLP-1 medications, peptides, perimenopause and menopause, weight loss, metabolic health and healthy aging.

Watch on YouTube: @thebetterlivingPA
All my links: linktr.ee/TiffanyBaileyPA
Instagram: @betterliving_pa
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Medical disclaimer: The information shared on this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Listening to or watching these episodes does not create a provider-patient relationship. Always consult with your own qualified healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication, supplement, peptide, treatment plan, or healthcare regimen.