Behind the Bluff
Uncover best practices to participate in life on your terms. Every week, hosts Jeff Ford and Kendra Till guide listeners with short conversations on trending wellness topics and share interviews with passionate wellness professionals, our private club leaders, and additional subject matter experts offering valuable tips. Each episode conclusion includes Healthy Momentum, five minutes of inspiration to help you reflect and live differently. Subscribe now and discover the keys to living your greatest active lifestyle.
Behind the Bluff
Breaking Down the GLP-1 Weight Loss Craze
GLP-1 medications could be a game-changer for weight loss, but at what cost? Join us, Jeff and Lindsay Ford, as we uncover the secrets behind these intriguing drugs, their origins, and the science that supports their use. Inspired by a unique lizard's ability to maintain stable blood sugar levels, these medications have transitioned from diabetes management to the weight loss frontier. We discuss popular brands like Ozempic and Wegovy, emphasizing the importance of obtaining these medications safely and through proper medical channels.
Our conversation doesn't shy away from addressing the potential drawbacks, such as muscle loss and decreased motivation for physical activity, that some individuals experience when using GLP-1 medications. We dive into personal stories and the role a balanced diet plays in naturally enhancing GLP-1 production. While these medications offer promising results, we also challenge societal factors fueling their popularity and stress the importance of fostering a sustainable relationship with food that goes beyond medication.
In our wrap-up, we highlight the critical balance between taking shortcuts and maintaining healthy habits. Whether it's understanding one's resting metabolic rate or preserving muscle mass through nutrition and strength training, the key lies in intentional effort alongside convenience. We encourage listeners to apply this mindset across all life areas. As we conclude our discussion on GLP-1 medications, we are thrilled to announce our next series on the captivating history of Palmetto Bluff. Stay tuned, and remember, Lindsay is here to answer any lingering questions you may have.
Are you ready to live an active lifestyle? Welcome to Behind the Bluff, where we believe every moment of your life is an opportunity to pursue wellness on your terms is an opportunity to pursue wellness on your terms. I'm your host, Jeff Ford, and I am joined once again with our registered dietician, Lindsay Ford, today. We decided that a brief conversation was in order because we wanted to go through the ins and outs of these new popular GLP-1 medications and what you may wanna think about or be aware of if you intend on using these medications for weight loss. Lindsay, welcome to the show.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much.
Speaker 1:I'm glad we could make this happen. It's kind of an impromptu conversation, but we're seeing more of our members ask about GLP-1 medications and we're seeing a lot of new research about their use.
Speaker 2:Yeah, they are quite popular and I think it's an important topic to discuss, because I do think it's going to be something that's either going to be encouraged or prescribed to people, and I think people want to understand what they are, how they work, what are the potential side effects, what are the benefits. They kind of want to, you know, gather as much information as they can, because these haven't been around all that long.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, there's still a lot of research that will come about as we continue to use these medications. Obviously, they've been around more for diabetes, but now we're seeing their use with weight loss for diabetes.
Speaker 2:But now we're seeing their use with weight loss. Yeah, I would say they've quickly turned into medication for weight loss support.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so let's start really simple. What does GLP stand for?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so GLP is glucagon-like peptide and it's something that everybody, you know, our bodies create it, we produce it, and it's secreted in the gut and that there's receptors in the brain and these receptors in the brain will take on that GLP and it induces satiety and a sense of, you know, fullness, basically in a sense of like all is well. And there's other hormones like leptin and you know there's other things that do this, but this is one specific compound that it has been recognized to help induce satiety and basically lower appetite.
Speaker 1:Interesting, so similar to leptin, the satiety hormone which is secreted from fat.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, yes, so they're very they're different, but you know it's just one compound that they've actually, because there was research on leptin and do we want to prescribe leptin to support weight loss? And they realized it didn't really work, and so this is another avenue that has shown to work and the history of it is really cool, how it even came to be and we can go down that rabbit hole.
Speaker 1:Yeah, Go ahead. Share a little bit about how we discovered this as a potential use for weight loss.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I mean, I think it's safe to say that people that want to lose weight and have pursued weight loss, it oftentimes doesn't stick, it doesn't work. And so in the medical world and when people are, you know, from a research perspective, it's like what you know there's gotta be some sort of medication out that we can either create that can actually help with this and assist the process and assist the process, and the problem's been nothing's really worked.
Speaker 2:Um, things haven't necessarily been sustainable. There's too many risks involved, whatnot. So, um, and I forget who the researchers were, but um, really, this is going to sound absolutely like bonkers, but it's coming from a lizard Um, I said a lizard, um, where the saliva or the venom from this one particular lizard actually has very high levels of glp like compound, and these particular lizards could go very, very, very long periods of time without eating, and yet their blood sugars maintain stability, and so it's like what is happening here that these creatures basically don't need to be foraging for food all the time and they're fine, and so it's basically, hey, our body produces this. Could there be some sort of medication that mimics that in higher concentrations?
Speaker 1:Interesting, yes, yeah. Mix that in higher concentrations. Interesting, yes, yeah.
Speaker 2:So discovered in a non-mammal and then adapted to mammals is what I'm hearing, yeah, which you know, is how a lot of medications work.
Speaker 1:Yeah Now, the rise has certainly been in the last couple of years and there's been so much random information about it. Let's start with what are the brand names and how is it administered?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you have Ozempic, you have Wagovi, there's the trisepatides, which this is different. So they're going to have the GLP, but they're also going to have another compound that's like Manjaro. So that's a common one that people hear of. But they're also going to have another compound that's like Manjaro. So that's a common one that people hear of. But I would say the most common one that we hear of is Ozempic. But these are called semiglutides. So from a medication perspective, if we're just looking at GLP-1, it would be semiglutide.
Speaker 1:Okay, and semiglutides could take on other names, I presume, as the drug continues to get out there more.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so that's going to be the compound and then you're going to have Ozempic take it on, and these other companies take on.
Speaker 1:Yeah, understood. Now how is it administered? I start taking the medication. How do I go about doing it?
Speaker 2:So as of right now, it is approved per injection.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:So if people think that they can take it orally, I would not recommend that that would be more like black market. So you never know what you're going to get out of that. But if you go online, people are trying to get it not through. It can go through a medical practitioner, but it's like a random zoom call that we might have, and so it's always better off if somebody pursues it to, to work with I'd say ideally in person with uh somebody that can supervise it medically.
Speaker 1:Nurse practitioner, doctor uh, concierge doctor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I know, specifically in Bluffton there's more like concierge type practices that are doing it and some aren't accepting new clients because they're literally maxed out.
Speaker 1:It's that popular, it is that popular.
Speaker 2:So people are searching for it. So that's what I mean with the oral is people might be really aching to get it and I wouldn't suggest going, so you advise against oral at this time. At this time Okay.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's great to know right off the bat Now. I think that set the stage of some basics. Okay, here's the brand names out there. Here's what it stands for semi-glutides yeah yeah yeah, Pronounced it right Now let's go into the science a little bit. How does GLP-1 affect blood?
Speaker 2:sugars. Yeah, so GLP is going to do a lot, but one we mentioned the appetite, but two glucagon from these GLPs are going to actually help produce a little bit of insulin. Okay, so they actually enhance that a little bit, but it's more glucose dependent. So when glucose levels increase, these drugs can then help basically secrete a little bit of insulin to bring those blood sugars down.
Speaker 1:Quicker.
Speaker 2:Yes. So the other thing that it does is that it helps suppress glucagon, which is produced basically when times are low, so it also helps just stabilize blood sugars Anytime blood sugars are elevated. This drug is going to work to help keep it, to keep it in the right zone. Yeah so. So that's why, classically, they have always been used for diabetes, and what they also found was just I think a big part of this was appetite regulation is that between the blood sugar management, which also supports weight loss, mixed with appetite suppression when when you have people losing 10 to 20% of their body weight and they feel like when they approach food, it's not the monkey chatter, it's not um, cravings go down and you know there can almost be like, quote, quote too much.
Speaker 2:Not the monkey chatter, it's not um, cravings go down and you know there can almost be like, quote, quote too much of a good thing Isn't a good thing. So I have worked with people where they really don't feel like eating at all and that's not good. So there's definitely um some some how these GLP one medications work. They work.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah. So that's the secret here. They definitely are helping people stabilize.
Speaker 2:They do work and they can support a one to two pound a week.
Speaker 1:Fat loss per week.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I would say fat loss, potentially also muscle loss, so we want to be careful of that.
Speaker 1:So let's dig in there. Since you've brought it up, muscle loss is a big factor that we're seeing with the use of GLP medications. Is that folks who maybe aren't strength training or aren't eating enough have the propensity to build muscle? Could you elaborate on that? Yeah, to lose muscle, yeah.
Speaker 2:And I'll just say this more out of two people that I've worked with that have taken it, and they were on it for there was around the five month time span, so they had been taking it for a bit, and both of them they don't know each other. Both of them um, two different stories, too were strength training working out regularly prior to taking the medication, and they found that once they started taking it, their desire to work out actually went down. They didn't have as much energy. So that's just something to think about. Is for people that do want to take these, they decide to go on it. It's medically supervised. However that looks like is that it can actually I think, can almost and this is just based off of two people, but they said the same thing and I think there's research to support also some muscle loss is, you know, what's the desire, what's?
Speaker 1:the energy level and you'd say that's potentially anecdotal but not necessarily research-based. Like that, motivation to work out goes down.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's more more muscle for sure. Yeah. Cause if you're, if you're in a pretty, if you're in that big of a caloric deficit and you know, yeah, you can definitely lose too much muscle in that.
Speaker 1:Understood. So we we know that we're supplementing with GLP. Now what are natural ways to get it produced in the body At the right levels, of course?
Speaker 2:Yeah, so interesting. I had a conversation earlier today and I was like you know. Let's say, somebody doesn't want to take it, they don't want to take the Ozempic, they don't want to take the semaglutides, they want to go a different route. They don't want to take the ozempic, they don't want to take the semaglutides, they want to go a different route. There's actually a lot of things that we can do in our lifestyle to mimic what these drugs actually do, because if we think about satiety and we think about our appetite, one starving ourself is only going to increase our appetite. So if we don't eat enough, guess what we're going to do Like and this is where it comes to weight loss is and we've, we've seen this, you know, in in the retreat in the retreat setting is like I don't know why I'm not losing, why I'm not losing weight.
Speaker 2:I'm doing all these things and we find out they're only eating a thousand calories a day.
Speaker 2:It's like well, no wonder you're not losing weight in that you're. You know, you find yourself, um, gaining all back and more. So we, you know, one of the best ways to actually suppress appetite is to actually eat. Now, what we eat matters, so we want to make sure we're getting enough protein, enough fiber, we're staying hydrated, we're not going too long in between meals. Skipping meals is not going to help most people. Um, there's a whole separate conversation when it comes to fasting, so I don't want to go down that rabbit hole because I think we already did a podcast on that yeah.
Speaker 2:But it's yeah, so we can mimic satiety and feeling full by eating. Yeah, what types of foods.
Speaker 1:Would we prioritize to have GLP working for us?
Speaker 2:So it's going to be, you know, from from a specific, this is going to produce GLP when we eat. It's going to produce it. But I would say a more balanced meal. So think I'll just give an example pan, seared salmon, baked sweet potato, roasted Brussels sprouts great, hopefully that's enjoyable. So tight, you know we're. You know we're getting healthy, high fiber carbohydrate sources, we're getting adequate protein, we're getting healthy fats those things hitting our gut then absorbing and certain compounds, tons of compounds hitting our brain, to say that was awesome and I feel full. So that's an example meal. But I would say protein and fiber are two very specific things to help induce feeling full, feeling satisfied. I would say fat can be thrown in there too.
Speaker 1:Healthy fats. Yeah yeah, okay. Well, let's go into some of the information that's out there. Any myths associated with GLP-1?
Speaker 2:I would say one is. And I will say I have had so many mixed feelings about these medications, you know, I would say one myth is that they're garbage you know, and I would push back a little bit on that because I do think that they work so you're saying there's a lot of validity to their use there is, I think, the other piece of this, which I think is profound and valid. Also valid is that why do we need these in the first place?
Speaker 2:yeah like, why? Like, where have we gotten as a country? Where and as you know, where these are now people are seeking them like candy, yeah. The other thing is like hey, these were originally for, you know, type two diabetes, and now we've got people that want to lose 10, 15 pounds and they're using them. And are they really, you know, are these the people that really need to be using them?
Speaker 1:Well, I guess the question is you, as a dietician, I would imagine the the long-term problem you're attempting to solve is improving someone's relationship with food and getting them to a place where their nutrition is easy for them to execute. On that it starts to come second nature. So, knowing that that's an approach that does solve this, regardless of if we're going to go the GLP-1 medications or not, how does that work in conjunction? Like I'm going to take the medication, what do I need to be aware of if I know both work?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I would be aware of what happens when you go off of it because, like how they're administered, I have to take it every week because the level in the body starts to go down. So some people their dose increases over time. For some it stays relatively the same.
Speaker 1:All monitored by their doctor.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I ain't even going there as far as how to dose that stuff. But I will say is that most people know when I start these, I can't be on these the rest of my life. Okay, Um, now I think there's more medical conversation on. Could somebody be on these?
Speaker 2:and time will tell time will tell and I will say that, you know, when they know that they have to go off of them, at some point I think for some of them they start to realize, okay, this is kind of scary to be going off of it because it's worked.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so how am I going to? They've seen positive results.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so you know there's going to be the benefits of blood sugar management. There's going to be the weight loss. There could be cardiovascular health benefits. There could be prevention of down the road something like Alzheimer's. I mean there's, you know, we might have somebody that doesn't lose any muscle mass.
Speaker 2:you know, like so there's, there's going to be probably, uh, a fair amount of positive for a lot of people, but then the fear around well, this has been so great, what do I do to go off of it? So there's that transition period that can happen and I think it's having a plan of action of what am I going to do when I do go off of it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's great perspective. And that's where someone like a dietician could come in and help assist with that process and to ensure like the healthy habits are in place.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, I will say this, and this is totally um. A semi-selfish thing to say is, as a dietician is these are chart. These are costing people a thousand bucks a month. I charge less than a thousand bucks a month and I would ideally hopefully set somebody up um where it is helping in the relationship with food while still supporting whatever their health goals are.
Speaker 1:And I get it, it's hard Well that's such a great step back, because the most affordable solution for lifestyle is always the most simple, like foundational stuff in fitness, foundational in nutrition and foundational steps we take with our mental health. And so I think it's important to bear that in mind, and it's refreshing to also know that you, as a dietician, are a believer that we're going to get more information on this we're going to see more happen, and it's a good tool to use at this time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I will say. When I hear somebody say I feel like the chatter in my head and the constant thinking about food is so much quieter, my energy can go towards other things. I'm not always thinking about it. I feel very content off of a portion, whereas before that I would have done that and tripled it. The cravings for alcohol actually can go down tremendously.
Speaker 1:That's huge.
Speaker 2:Which is huge. So, like I don't want to knock that, I think that's all really good stuff. I think there's things that we can do with our lifestyle that can do the same thing. It's just really I think it can be a lot harder because these medications are coming in the body, making this internal change to make our behavior feel like an easier change.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Whereas when we try to make the behavior change, to change the internal, that switch, I think, is much more challenging. However, what's going to be the more lasting thing? And I would say it's when we decide a behavior changes, yeah, and we practice them.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's not necessarily going to be an a behavior changes. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Um, but and we practice them. Yeah, it's not necessarily going to be an overnight routine development? Yeah, but I think for most people they've probably already tried that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know they've tried it and it's like this is just really tough and you know if their insurance can potentially cover it and they're genuinely worried about their health and well being. And they're genuinely worried about their health and well-being and it's like I've got to get something to switch. And you know they might be going through other stuff in their life where it's like I don't want to have the stress of, you know, potential meal prep and this and that and all these other things. I just want something to change for me internally that you know it might be grieving, that might be, you know there's all this other stuff going on too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, understood. Well, I think we've covered kind of the high level. Look at GLP-1 medications, given some ways of thinking about it that are helpful to our listeners. To close out today, what advice would you have for those considering using these medications?
Speaker 2:I would say for those considering so I'm going to go considering, and for those that are actually on it. So for those that are considering, I would do your homework. I would absolutely work with a medical professional. I would not go black market on this. I would probably want to tell um some other accountability source, if possible. So whether that's a personal trainer or just like somebody, like hey, just so you know, I am, you know, and they don't have to, it's their own business, but it might actually help with the support with the support.
Speaker 2:Um, the other thing would be so. So, really, just do your homework. Have it be medically supervised, please. Um the, because if there are symptoms that come up, you don't want to be alone with that.
Speaker 1:All right Okay.
Speaker 2:So the other piece of somebody is on it. It's make sure they're getting enough protein. They might find that eating just two meals a day seems to be sufficient. I would say we got to make sure we're we're getting enough in. Whether you know, making a smoothie sip on it throughout the day, kind of forcing down a snack if need be.
Speaker 1:Is it important for these folks to just be aware of their resting metabolic rate? Like just just have a baseline of how much energy that is For sure For sure Um and I would try to maintain physical activity, especially strength training, if possible. Yeah, Two to three days a week like minimum, right yeah?
Speaker 2:Yeah, because so for people that are on it, it's I still need to make sure I'm taking care of myself, um, in the most basic ways. Even though it, this drug, is doing its job, too much of a good thing might not lead to a good thing, so it's making sure they're still eating enough and also trying to preserve as much muscle mass as possible.
Speaker 1:Understood. Okay, well, thanks, lindsay. I'm glad we could make this brief conversation happen. I know we've been hearing a lot about it on more popular podcasts Not that ours isn't extremely popular, but also I know that you're seeing a lot just in your practice. So thank you for the perspective and we look forward to having you back here soon.
Speaker 2:Absolutely Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you're welcome Listeners. Feel free to hang out for a few more minutes with me and we'll give you a dose of some healthy momentum for the rest of your week. I am absolutely pumped to be in the field of health and wellness because of conversations like this one today with Lindsay. It highlights that we still have so much to learn and there is so many great things happening in health and wellness. We can be sure that the more research that comes out, the more we commit to healthy living, it's going to lead us down the right path.
Speaker 1:Weight loss is a touchy subject and it's easy to jump to judgment of others when we think they are trying to take what could be termed a shortcut. That was my personal immediate reaction a year ago when I first learned about GLP-1 medications for weight loss. But is it really a shortcut, or is it just a more efficient approach to one of the most difficult challenges that so many people face? It truly inspired me to share the concept of what we can call life shortcuts, which can best be defined as quick solutions or alternative approaches, keyword being alternative approaches designed to save time and effort in achieving our goals and solving our deepest problems. Now let me give you some imagery here.
Speaker 1:When we take our members up to North Carolina on the annual Trails and Ales member hiking trip. We take a few shortcuts on those trails. Think about, in your work, your career on those trails. Think about, in your work, your career. We automate tasks with software and delegate responsibilities to maximize efficiency. And when we learn, when we continue to educate ourselves we watch social media these days, or we read condensed versions of books rather than going through the full material All of these steps are helpful and they allow us to make progress, faster progress, which is what life is all about.
Speaker 1:So who can blame us If we're after progress? Any approach, any tool could be of significant value. Any tool could be of significant value. So for this week, I want us to remember that, while shortcuts can add convenience, allow us to make faster progress, balancing them with intentional effort is often necessary to achieve meaningful and sustainable outcomes. So, for example, the use of GLP-1 medications without habit modifications to nutrition, exercise, sleep it may not lead to meaningful or sustainable outcomes. You can apply this concept to any life shortcut, as we term it here today, that you plug into your world. So it's just like any other shortcut hack, if you will. It can be efficient and helpful, but every shortcut sometimes carries risks. For this week, don't overlook the critical details as you refine and create efficiency in your life. This brings us to the end of our time together today.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening all the way through. We hope this information was of value to you today, given the popularity and conversation of GLP-1 medications just about everywhere now. Lindsay Ford is always available for questions. You can comment on the podcast, we can get you her information, and next week we are beginning a very exciting series, a series that I have wanted to bring to Behind the Bluff for quite some time, and it's going to be on the history of Palmetto Bluff. Yes, we're going to take you through the centuries, very early centuries, to today, everything that has happened here, so you won't want to miss out. We will be running those episodes consecutively and, as always, remember to actively participate in life on your terms. Thanks everyone.
