Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

What happens when the medication that's finally helping you is no longer affordable?

If you've had success on Mounjaro or Zepbound but need to switch to a more affordable option like Ozempic for maintenance, you're probably wondering: will this actually work? And if semaglutide didn't help you before, the idea of going back can feel risky, especially when you're worried about regaining weight, increased food noise, or losing the progress you've worked so hard for.

In this episode, I break down when switching medications for cost makes sense, when it's likely to backfire, and what your options are if semaglutide is the only affordable option.

References

https://www.orchardpond.com/

The 30/30 Program (Sept 2026 registration now open)

Audio Stamps

01:08 - Update on Dr. Rentea's retreat planning, plus her new favorite granola discovery.

05:03 - Listener question: Switching from Mounjaro to Ozempic for long-term maintenance due to cost.

05:59 - When it makes sense to switch medications for affordability (and when it doesn't).

08:03 - If semaglutide is your only option: combining GLP-1s with oral medications.

10:48 - Oral (daily) Wegovy vs injections: does steadier dosing actually help?

11:40 - Why no medication is perfect and working with the right clinician is key.

12:58 - The real reason behind this work: preventing disease, not chasing a number on the scale.

14:05 - September 30/30 program update: early registration + monthly Q&A access.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

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Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

Welcome back to Your Friday Five — a quick roundup of products I’ve been loving lately, especially when it comes to easy ways to add more protein.

Here’s what’s in my current rotation:

• Devotion Nutrition Protein Powder – My go-to for protein hot chocolate. Mix hot water, a splash of milk or milk alternative, one scoop of protein, and blend for a cozy 20-gram protein treat. If you use code DrMatthea at checkout you save.

• Meal Boosters Savory Protein Powder (White Cheddar) – Perfect on popcorn for movie nights. Tastes just like classic white cheddar seasoning and adds easy protein without sacrificing flavor.

• Joyburst Protein Soda – said the name wrong on the episode but correctly written here, 20 calories, 4 grams of protein per can. Found at Costco and surprisingly became a regular favorite for both adults and kids.

Cookbooks I recommend:

• Skinnytaste High Protein: 100 Healthy, Simple Recipes to Fuel Your Day
• Devotion Nutrition Cookbook

Have a great weekend — I’ll see you Monday as we head into February!

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

Some of the best conversations start with listener questions, especially the ones that come from feeling stuck, confused, or wondering, 'is this normal?'

In this special Q&A episode, I'm tackling two listener questions. One is about unexpected dryness while taking a GLP-1 medication. The other is a much bigger one: what to do when weight loss slows down after an initial drop, even though you feel like you’re trying.

Join me as I talk about the importance of success beyond the scale, why BMI is useless without body composition data, and why movement matters more for your brain than your waistline.

If you’ve been feeling frustrated, stalled, or unsure what to focus on next, this episode will help you think about your situation a little differently.

References

The Body Intelligence Blueprint

Audio Stamps

00:29 – 30/30 program updates and changes for the September round.

03:40 – Dry lips and skin on Zepbound: what's normal vs. what needs medical attention.

05:28 – Redefining success beyond the scale and celebrating non-scale victories.

07:15 – Why body composition data matters more than BMI for tracking real progress.

08:07 – Exercise as a tool for emotional resilience and stress management.

09:58 – Why checking labs and ruling out physiological causes should always come first.

11:46 – Introducing the Body Intelligence Blueprint: personalized one-on-one coaching with genome analysis and body composition.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

In today’s quick Friday Five episode, we’re talking about something that causes fear for so many people on a weight loss journey: hunger.

If hunger starts returning, many people immediately assume something has gone wrong — that the medication is failing, that weight regain is inevitable, or that they’re losing control. But hunger is not a problem to eliminate.

Hunger is normal. It’s natural. And it’s necessary.

In this episode, we explore why chasing lifelong appetite suppression isn’t realistic, why grazing often keeps you undernourished and unsatisfied, and how learning to live in harmony with hunger is a key part of long-term weight management.

You’ll hear why hunger doesn’t mean failure, how diet culture taught us to fear it, and what it actually looks like to respond to hunger with trust instead of panic.

We also discuss practical strategies like structured meals, adequate hydration, gentle planning, and why eating full meals — not constant snacks — helps your body feel safe and nourished.

Finally, I share resources that helped reshape my own thinking around hunger, including Words to Eat By and Food and Feelings, along with reminders about accessible support through libraries, journaling, and therapy.

We are not chasing suppressed hunger for life.
We are learning how to work with our bodies — not against them.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

We finally have the first-ever FDA-approved oral GLP-1 for treating obesity, and it's a much bigger deal than the headlines suggest…

In this episode, I'm joined by Joseph Zucchi, PA, a clinical supervisor at a weight management clinic who lives and breathes the data behind obesity care. We break down oral Wegovy in practical terms: the real weight loss data, how it compares with weekly injections, why it’s different from Rybelsus, and who it’s best suited for. We also cover cost, insurance disruptions, and what to realistically expect if you’re considering a switch.

If you’re trying to make sense of your options in a fast-changing landscape, whether due to coverage changes, injection concerns, or simple confusion — this conversation helps break it all down using real data.

References

Connect with Joseph Zucchi, PA

Transition Medic Medical Weight Loss

Linkedin

Audio Stamps

01:42 – Meet Joseph Zucchi, PA, clinical supervisor at a comprehensive weight management clinic with an on-site food store.

04:35 – What is oral Wegovy and how does it compare to injectable semaglutide in terms of efficacy and weight loss?

07:21 – The reformulation that makes oral Wegovy different from Rybelsus and why absorption matters.

10:22 – How to take oral Wegovy correctly: timing, dosing instructions, and common mistakes to avoid.

12:02 – Who should consider oral Wegovy and who might be better off sticking with injections?

13:45 – Side effects, dosing transitions, and what to expect when switching from injectable to oral.

22:03 – The importance of specialized care: why working with a weight management expert improves outcomes.

24:00 – Pricing, insurance coverage challenges, and accessibility of oral Wegovy in 2026.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

In this short Friday episode, Dr. Matthea Rentea breaks down a common body composition mistake that causes unnecessary panic: apparent muscle loss that isn’t real.

She explains two very common scenarios where body composition scans can falsely suggest a significant drop in skeletal muscle:

• After an illness (like flu or viral infections)
• After time away from regular strength training, such as vacation

Dr. Rentea explains how temporary drops in muscle glycogen — not true muscle loss — can skew body composition results, and why this typically resolves within a few weeks of returning to normal routines.

Key takeaways:

• Rapid “muscle loss” on body composition scans is often not real
• Illness and vacations commonly affect glycogen, not muscle tissue
• True muscle gain and loss happen much more slowly
• The best response is consistency, not panic-driven changes

She also shares a preview of an upcoming mini-teaching focused on how to properly interpret body composition reports — something most people have never been taught to do in a practical, clinical way. Get on my email list here to not miss this.

If your January feels a little wobbly, this episode is your reminder to refocus, return to your routines, and keep moving forward!

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

Self-love gets talked about a lot… but most of us still don’t really know what it is. Is it positive affirmations? Spa days? Just “being nicer” to yourself?

And if that’s true, why do so many capable, motivated people still feel stuck in cycles of self-criticism, burnout, emotional eating, or fear of failure?

In this episode, licensed therapist and educator Dr Joy Bracey breaks down why self-love is so widely misunderstood and why it’s not a feeling at all, but a daily practice. We talk about how the way you speak to yourself shapes your behavior, your health, and your ability to trust yourself long-term. Plus, we explore what real self-love actually looks like in everyday life.

If you’ve ever thought, “I know I should love myself, but I don’t know how”, this conversation will give you a practical place to start.

References

Connect with Dr. Joy Bracey:

Instagram

Facebook

TikTok

Website

Podcast: The Easy Weigh Out

Audio Stamps

00:30 – Dr. Joy Bracey introduces herself and shares her 25-year struggle with obesity.

03:07 – Self-love is a practice that requires action, not just words.

07:08 – Why tuning into your internal dialogue is the first step toward self-love.

14:19 – How fear of weight regain disappears when you build self-trust.

17:30 – Simple practices to reconnect your mind and body.

23:26 – Self-love examples using the five love language categories.

26:48 – Advice for when you're feeling overwhelmed by the process of self-love.

30:33 – Why committing to yourself is 90% of the effort and the rest is just repetition.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

This week’s Your Friday Five centers around a single question—one that has the power to shift your mindset, your habits, and the way you evaluate progress. I came across it in a video from Jamie Seltzer (linked below), and it stopped me in my tracks:

“If every week was like last week, would I be closer to my goal?”

In this episode, I break down why this question works, how it cuts through perfectionism, and why zooming out to that 30,000-foot view gives you more clarity than obsessing over small slip-ups. We talk about what to do if your answer is “yes,” what to do if your answer is “no,” and why understanding why you had an off week is more important than beating yourself up for it.

You’ll also hear a simple way to build this question into your weekly routine—whether that’s a Friday afternoon alarm, a sticky note, or a reminder tucked into your planner—so it becomes a guide instead of a forgotten moment of inspiration.

This episode is your permission to release perfection, get honest without judgment, and steer yourself gently back on track.

Links:
→ Watch Jamie Seltzer’s original video

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

Support the show