Episode 26 of the Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Ablation Conflation and Healthcare Inflation. The title comes from our In the news segment where we discuss an article from Forbes about a new bariatric procedure called Gastric Mucosal Ablation. This procedure uses a laser to burn the Fundus Mucosa. Does it work? And, will this procedure cause long-term weight loss? Tune in to find out!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Barb who is our Bariatric Coordinator. Barb is unique in that she is a Registered Nurse, has worked in the industry for decades, and is also a bariatric patient. She started with a lap band which was revised to a gastric bypass and is now on GLP-1 medications to help control her weight regain.

In our Nutrition segment, Deidre talks about the benefits of walking after eating. This is especially good for bariatric surgery patients but also aids in digestion for those who haven’t undergone surgery.

In our Economics of Obesity segment, we talk about what to do if you need bariatric surgery and you either don’t have insurance or your insurance won’t cover the surgery. Should you travel to another country where the self-pay costs are cheaper? Dr. Weiner addresses the options for those without coverage for bariatric surgery.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners questions including, whether Ozempic could stop working, constipation after surgery, and alternative options for Protein Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s).

Episode 25 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss podcast is titled, From 369.5 to 19,341: Lynsey’s journey to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. The title comes from our Patient Story where we talk to Lynsey who came to us at 369.5 pounds. She lost a ton of weight after her gastric bypass but she didn’t stop there. She embraced physical activities that led her to the tallest free-standing mountain in the world! Her story is truly inspiring!

Our In the News segment features an article from US News that talks about another beneficial side effect of taking Zepbound. In clinical trials, Zepbound has been proven to drastically reduce sleep apnea. Does that mean that insurance companies will now approve the use of Zepbound for the treatment of sleep apnea? Tune in to find out!

BMI or Body Mass Index is a measure of body fat based on height and weight. It’s used, almost universally, by both the medical and insurance industries. In our Nutrition segment, Zoe explains why BMI is unreliable and, in her words, “trash”.

The Zepbound shortage has left a lot of people struggling without their medication. So, in our Economics of Obesity segment, we talk about the Wegovy coupon and how some patients may be able to switch from Zepbound to Wegovy to help get them through.

Finally, we answer 3 new questions from our listeners including, our thoughts on Poppi prebiotic soda, whether or not Medicare will cover revision surgery, and hypoglycemia while taking GLP-1 medication.

Episode 24 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss podcast is titled, Zepbound to happen: More Drug Shortages. The title comes from our Economics of Obesity segment where we discuss the Zepbound shortages and offer strategies that you can use to ride out the shortage.

In our In the news segment, we discuss an article from the New York Times titled, The Miracle Weight-Loss Drug Is Also a Major Budgetary Threat. In the United States, we pay more for medication than any other country in the world - often 3-4 times more. So, what can we do to bring those prices down? Tune in to find out!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Janet who started gaining weight after pregnancy. She lost well over 100 pounds on Mounjaro and is currently using a creative dosing strategy to save money during maintenance.

For the first few months after surgery and while taking a GLP-1 medications, you might not feel like eating but your body still needs fuel. So, in our Nutrition segment, Zoe offers advice about what to do when you just don’t feel like eating.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listeners' questions including, how to transition from weight loss to weight maintenance, why does a revision carry more risk, and how to keep your set point lower while on weight gaining medications.

Episode 23 of the Pound of Cure Weight Loss Podcast is titled, Big Food, Big Pharma, Big Lies. The title comes from our In the News segment where we discuss an article we found on Yahoo that talks about how big food makers like General Mills are paying social media dietitian influencers to push their products as part of the anti-diet movement. They are actually telling people that products like Coco Puffs are part of a healthy lifestyle! Insane!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Lupe who came to us on a recommendation from her Primary Care Physician. She ended up having a Gastric Bypass and needed GLP-1 medications to increase her weight loss. She is now helping her whole family make positive changes in their lives.

In our Nutrition segment we talk about the single most important strategy to elicit support from your friends and family on your weight loss journey.

In our Economics of Obesity segment we dive into how the gaming of the drug patent process played a role in the generic drug release timeline for Ozempic. It’s Part 2 of our two-part series on drug patents and in it we’ll share when Ozempic will be eligible for a generic version.

Finally, we answer 3 questions from our listeners including, serving size after surgery, compounding pharmacies, and what comes after the Metabolic Reset Diet.

Episode 22 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss podcast is titled, Hot Diggity Dog - Costco’s New Weight Loss Program. The name comes from our In the News segment where we talk about how Costco is entering the medical weight loss space. We dive into what this means for GLP-1 access and whether or not patients benefit.

In our Patient Story segment, we talk to Suzanne who gained weight later in life after an early and then late pregnancy. She had some moderate success losing weight on her own but ended up hitting a stall that she couldn’t overcome so she reached out to us for help.

Zoe shares a strategy on how to incorporate new habits in our Nutrition segment. And Dr. Weiner begins a two-part series on drug patents in our Economics of Obesity segment. Part 1 focuses on how drug patents work and how the system can be manipulated to favor the pharmaceutical companies over patient care. Part 2 will air next week.

We also answer 3 listener submitted questions including, homemade pizza made with cauliflower crust, veggies, and vegan cheese, our thoughts on Contrave, and diagnostic pattern dumping after surgery.

Finally, some exciting news this week! We have added a new Weight Regain program to the practice. This program incorporates the expertise of both myself and Zoe and utilizes nutrition, GLP-1 medication, and behavior modification to help you lose the regain and keep it off. Plus! It’s available to anyone in the country.

Episode 21 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss podcast is titled, Vial Denial and the GLP-1 Shortage. The name comes from our Economics of Obesity segment where we discuss the GLP-1 shortage and how it’s caused by the inability to procure injector pens. Canada recognized this issue a while back and allowed pharmaceutical companies to use single dose vials instead of injector pens. So why aren’t we using single dose vials in the United States? I have some opinions about it.

Our In the News segment comes from an article in Reuters about how Viking Therapeutics is developing a weight loss medication that can be taken orally. The Medication is similar to Mounjaro and Zepbound in that it is both a GLP-1 and a GIP and the initial studies show better weight loss with more responders than Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound in the injectable version. Is the oral version going to be as effective? Tune in to find out!

In our Patient Story, we talk to Shenelle who is a very successful recovering alcoholic and drug addict. She started her weight loss journey after getting sober and is now a coach for bariatric patients struggling with food addiction. Her story of perseverance is truly inspiring.

Zoe introduces the Emotional Eating Umbrella in our Nutrition segment. This is a concept she created to help quantify and qualify all the different attributes that encompass emotional eating so that we can develop new coping strategies for each individual trigger.

Finally, we cover a few of our listener submitted questions including, thoughts on the Keto+ ACV gummies, Omeprazole after surgery, and nutrition and medication changes before pregnancy.

Episode 20 of The Pound of Cure Weight Loss podcast is titled, Here Wegovy: Medicare Coverage for Heart Disease. We called it that because of the NPR article we cover in our In the News segment which states that Medicare will now cover Wegovy for patients who are overweight and suffer from heart disease. How does this impact the future of GLP-1 medications? Tune in to find out.

In our Patient Story, we talk to Larry. He came to us after receiving a high blood pressure diagnosis from his primary care physician. He didn’t want to take medication for the rest of his life so he decided to embrace a gastric bypass and has surpassed our expectations of weight loss by combining the surgical tool with weight training. It’s a truly inspiring story.

In our Nutrition segment, Zoe offers her #1 tip for grocery shopping that will encourage you to be successful in your weight loss efforts.

Our Economics of Obesity segment covers the GLP-1 shortage. Mounjaro, Wegovy, Zepbound, Saxenda, Trulicity, and Ozempic are on the shortage list. So we are offering some creative solutions to get you through.

Finally, we answer 3 of our listener’s questions including, fluid choices for energy and hydration, whether or not revision surgery causes the same amount of weight loss as the initial surgery, and exercise recommendations after weight loss surgery.

If you have a question that you'd like for us to answer on the podcast, please reach out to us through social media (Instagram, Tik Tok, Facebook or YouTube), or the website.

Have you ever lifted weights and felt a surge of accomplishment that goes beyond physical strength? Uncover the transformative power of weightlifting, not just for your body, but also for your mind. Our 19th episode is a celebration of perseverance, unveiling our Weight Regain program tailored for those who've faced setbacks after bariatric surgery. We delve into personalized regimens, group support, and the game-changing use of GLP-1 medications, alongside The Metabolic Reset Diet. Plus, we're bringing you fascinating insights on how weightlifting can be a powerful ally against mental health struggles like anxiety and depression.

Journey with us as Lori recounts the crucial steps she took on her path to gastric bypass surgery, underscoring the importance of 'head work' in achieving health goals. Her narrative is a profound look at the transformative shifts in mindset necessary for long-term wellness. Lori's story isn't just about the weight she lost; it's about the determination and reframed perspective that guided her success. We'll also navigate through the crucial aspects of sleep hygiene and the economics of obesity, providing actionable advice to enhance your overall health and understand how small changes can lead to significant impacts.

Lastly, we're examining the evolution of pharmacy services, discussing Lilly's direct pharmacy model and Amazon's foray into the industry. What could these mean for patient access to essential medications? Moreover, we address listener questions about gut health post-bariatric surgery, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet for a thriving microbiome. And for those curious about medication safety, we take a firm stance on the risks and ethics of prescribing compounded medications. Tune in for a comprehensive exploration of health, fitness, and the innovative changes sweeping through pharmacy care.