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You know the feeling: you start a new health habit with enthusiasm, but within days (or hours), that inner voice kicks in. "This five-minute walk doesn't even count." "Why bother with one vegetable when I should be meal prepping for the entire week?" "If I can't do it perfectly, I might as well not do it at all."

If that sounds familiar, you're caught in the perfectionism trap—and it's quietly sabotaging every health goal you set. The problem isn't your lack of willpower or motivation. It's that you've been conditioned to believe that anything less than perfect isn't worth doing. So you end up doing nothing, stuck in an endless cycle of elaborate plans that never get started and ambitious goals that always fall short.

But what if those "insignificant" five-minute moments were actually the secret to lasting change? What if good enough was not only okay—but the key to everything you want?

In this episode, I break down why perfectionism is the real enemy of progress and share two powerful strategies that will transform how you think about health habits.

References

Kara Loewentheil: Perfectionist Fantasies + Tomorrow Thinking

Atomic Habits by James Clear

Audio Stamps

00:30 - Dr. Rentea defines perfectionism as "never good enough" and explains why 99% of people dismiss their health progress and set unrealistic goals.

02:58 - The farmer analogy: How five-minute health actions accumulate like harvesting crops to fill your wellness "pantry" over time.

07:20 - "Don't miss it twice" - the key strategy for maintaining health momentum when life gets in the way.

12:52 - How to go from "passive action" (consuming content) to "massive action" (actually implementing one small change).

15:48 - James Clear's insights on what prevents people from reaching potential: lacking courage, trying to please everyone, and dividing attention between too many goals.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

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Headed out for summer adventures? This week’s Your Friday Five is your guide to creating a simple, powerful medicine travel kit—perfect for anyone on GLP-1s or just prone to nausea, headaches, or tummy trouble. Dr. Matthea shares what she personally packs (and rarely needs—but is always grateful to have!), including Tylenol, Pepcid, Zofran, Imodium, stool softeners, and even the trick of using alcohol pads for sudden nausea relief.

She walks you through how to personalize your kit, when to involve your doctor, and why the smallest zip-top bag might just save your vacation.

✈️ Keep this episode handy before your next trip!

🔗 Mentioned: Don’t forget to register soon for the September 30/30 Program — details in the show notes!

Please not, no medical advice is being given on this podcast. Please talk to your medical team before making any changes to your health regimen.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

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Too often, conversations about health start and stop with weight loss. There’s little room for anything else—like metabolic health, quality of life, or what it actually feels like to live in your body. That narrow focus leaves so many people feeling stuck, frustrated, or invisible—especially when they’re doing all the “right” things, and nothing changes.

And for those who’ve worked hard to unlearn diet culture—to separate health from weight—medication can bring up a whole new kind of conflict. It can feel like you’re betraying your values just to feel better. But what if taking care of your health didn’t mean shrinking your body or giving up your beliefs?

In this episode, psychotherapist Kacee Markarian shares her personal story of navigating fatty liver disease, GLP-1 medication, and life in a fat body—while staying rooted in fat liberation. Her journey reveals what it actually looks like to care for your health on your own terms, from dealing with food noise and medical gaslighting to finding body neutrality in a world obsessed with the wrong metrics.

References

https://copperunionapparel.com/

Audio Stamps

01:09 - Psychotherapist Kacee Markarian shares her journey with fatty liver disease, GLP-1 medication, and the complex emotions of body change while staying committed to fat liberation.

07:50 - Casey reflects on how body changes affected her place in the fat liberation community.

09:35 - Kacee opens up about the complexity of navigating fat liberation while using GLP-1 medications for health, not weight loss.

20:02 - Two sides of food freedom: Kacee and Dr. Rentea share completely different experiences with how GLP-1s changed their relationship to eating.

24:13 - Challenging internalized shame, recognizing the power of medication, and redefining success through neutrality.

32:25 - Kacee’s advice for anyone caught between wanting health and refusing diet culture.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

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Every day, people in larger bodies face relentless messages that something is fundamentally wrong with them. From airplane seats that don't fit, to doctors who blame every health issue on weight, the shame runs so deep that many abandon their own needs—believing it's their fault.

What if the problem was never your body, but a society that profits from your self-hatred?

In this episode, I’m joined by psychotherapist Kacee Markarian, who reveals how to break free from internalized shame while caring for your health. From understanding ADHD-binge eating connections to setting "thought boundaries," she shows what it looks like to reclaim your brain and adorn your vessel—regardless of your size. This work isn't about becoming a better version of yourself. It's about discovering that you were never broken to begin with.

References

https://copperunionapparel.com/

https://www.dopaminingdemystified.com/

https://www.queerapy.com/

Audio Stamps

00:30 - Dr. Rentea introduces psychotherapist Kacee Markarian, who specializes in fat liberation and ADHD-binge eating connections.

02:00 - Kacee shares her evolution accepting medical terms like "obesity" as conditions rather than identity markers.

05:12 - Discussion on navigating the conflict between health goals and body acceptance.

09:49 - Kacee reframes daily frustrations like airplane seats as systemic failures rather than personal problems.

19:45 - Kacee explains ADHD and binge eating connections, describing how dopamine dysfunction drives food-seeking behavior as nervous system regulation.

26:20 - Kacee introduces "thought boundaries" as tools for challenging negative self-talk and internalized beliefs.

34:33 - Practical tips for body reconnection through proper clothing and establishing boundaries around body comments.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

Pre-register for the Sep 30/30 group.

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.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

Pre-register for the Sep 30/30 group.

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.

Finding healthy recipes that actually fit your busy lifestyle can feel like a full-time job. Between juggling work, family, and everything else, the last thing you want is to spend hours scrolling through endless recipe sites — only to end up stuck in the same dinner rut or reaching for quick but unhealthy options.

But what if there was an easy, free way to get personalized meal plans designed just for you — hitting your protein goals, respecting your dietary needs, and fitting smoothly into your schedule? Enter AI…

In this episode, I’ll introduce you to how AI can become your personal nutrition assistant, helping you find recipes tailored to your life with smart ingredient swaps, customized protein targets, and organized grocery lists. Even if you’ve never used AI before, you’ll soon see how it can make healthy eating simpler, more flexible, and a lot less overwhelming!

References

Claude

ChatGPT

Audio Stamps

01:35 - A reminder that technology can support your health journey when used mindfully, not obsessively.

04:33 - AI can simplify meal planning—but only if you use clear, detailed prompts.

06:03 - Dr. Rentea walks us through exactly how to craft smarter AI prompts to plan meals that are tailored to your needs and goals.

07:40 - Beyond recipes, AI can build grocery lists, break down macros, and even spot nutrition gaps

10:13 - While AI offers nutrition ideas and insights, it’s important to always fact-check and use your judgment.

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

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General example of how to work with rice paper dessert recipe. For mine I use rice paper, vanilla greek yogurt, and melted frozen fruit (typically strawberry or blueberry).

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

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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.

Is your skin keeping up with your weight loss?

While GLP-1 medications can lead to powerful health changes, they also come with lesser-known side effects, especially for your skin and hair. From sudden dryness and irritation to facial volume loss and unexpected hair shedding, these changes can feel confusing and even discouraging when you're working so hard to improve your health.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Samantha Schneider, a board-certified dermatologist, to break down what’s really going on beneath the surface. We dive into what causes these shifts, from nutrient loss and inflammation to insulin resistance, and how to manage them before they become long-term concerns.

You’ll learn what to expect, when to seek help, and how to build a skin and hair routine that supports your transformation, rather than working against it. Whether you're early in your weight loss journey or navigating the aftermath, this conversation is packed with practical, judgment-free advice from a dermatologist who’s seen it all!

References

SKINCARE PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

• CeraVe moisturizers (recommended brand for skin barrier repair)
• Cetaphil moisturizers (alternative recommended brand)
• AmLactin or ammonium lactate lotion (for acanthosis nigricans texture)
• Tinted sunscreens with iron oxide (for blue light protection)

HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS:

• Minoxidil/Rogaine (topical, 5% for both men and women - avoid the 2.5% "women's" version)
• Ketoconazole shampoo (brand name: Nizoral)
• Nutrofol supplement (hair, skin, nail supplement)
• Hydrolyzed collagen supplements

SKIN CONDITIONS TREATMENT:

• Zeasorb-AF antifungal powder (for yeast infections/intertrigo)

CONNECT WITH DR. SAMANTHA SCHNEIDER:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Tik Tok

Enrollment is now open for the September 30/30 program! JOIN NOW and get immediate access, live calls start in September.

Premium Season 1 of The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain -Dive into real clinical scenarios, from my personal medication journey to tackling weight loss plateaus, understanding insulin resistance, and challenges with GLP-1s. Plus, get a 40+ page guide packed with protein charts, weight loss formulas, and more.

Pre-register for the Sep 30/30 group.