GLP-1 Hub: Support, Community, and Weight Loss

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Two people with similar health histories can get completely different answers about GLP-1 coverage at work, and the reason often has less to do with them than with decisions they never see. Annie Gazda, a registered nurse who leads clinical solutions at Vida Health, explains how employers decide whether to cover GLP-1s, why some are cutting them entirely while others keep paying, and how FDA labeling shapes who qualifies. She also shares what she calls responsible prescribing, and why the people who stop their medication because of side effects are the ones employers worry about most.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- Annie's path from the emergency department to digital health
- What a virtual care program like Vida does, and how it works alongside your primary care doctor
- Why so many people get a GLP-1 with almost no follow-up support
- A dinner party story about sarcopenia that says a lot about how GLP-1s are being prescribed
- "Right patient, right time, right treatment": Annie's take on responsible prescribing
- How FDA labeling and an employer's own claims data shape who qualifies
- The two camps of employers: those cutting GLP-1 coverage and those keeping it
- Why the investment falls apart when people stop because of side effects
- What members may be asked to track to keep their prescription
- Medical nutrition therapy and support for tapering off
- Where GLP-1 coverage could be headed as more medications reach the market

**SPONSORS**

Swanson Vitamins: Third-party tested supplements, from daily multivitamins to protein support. Save 20% on your next purchase at https://www.swansonvitamins.com with code GLP1Hub.

**ABOUT THE GUEST**

Annie Gazda, RN, is a clinically trained healthcare leader with experience spanning direct patient care, clinical education, digital health, and healthcare technology. As Director of Clinical Solutions and Interim Head of Sales at Vida Health, she brings a practical perspective to responsible GLP-1 prescribing, emphasizing evidence-based care, patient-centered decision-making, and sustainable support beyond the prescription.

**CONNECT WITH ANNIE GAZDA**

Vida Health: https://www.vida.com/
Vida Health on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vida-health/

**CHAPTERS**

00:00 Who gets coverage, and why
01:14 Welcome, Annie Gazda
01:32 From the ER to digital health
03:33 What Annie does at Vida
04:09 How Vida's care tiers work
05:30 The visit between visits
09:44 How Vida approaches GLP-1 medications
11:47 The dinner party where no one had heard of sarcopenia
13:02 Responsible prescribing: right patient, right time
13:40 Balancing access with the right fit
14:24 FDA labeling and how employers set eligibility
16:01 Why some employers drop GLP-1 coverage and others keep it
18:15 Why the investment fails when people stop
20:42 How comprehensive care keeps people on track
22:19 What members track to keep their prescription
25:30 Medical nutrition therapy
26:16 Where GLP-1 coverage goes next
28:08 Side effects and planning to be strong at 80
30:06 How to find Vida
30:59 Closing

MORE FROM GLP-1 HUB
📬 Get The Steady State, Ana's weekly newsletter with GLP-1 guidance from a dietitian who's on one: http://join.glp-1hub.com

🎙 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if this episode helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🌐 Shop GLP-1 essentials, meal plans, and recipes: https://shop.glp-1hub.com
📷 Follow on Instagram: @glp1hub
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub
*Some of the links shared are affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
*The content of this show is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The goal of this show is to provide various points of view about GLP-1 Medications. The personal and professional opinion of the guests and their content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ana Reisdorf or GLP-1 Hub.

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Can a GLP-1 actually change your fertility? For many women with PMOS (formerly called PCOS), the answer may be yes, and that changes everything from birth control to baby planning. Reproductive endocrinologist Dr. Sasha Hakman walks through the whole arc: how GLP-1-assisted weight loss can help restart ovulation, why the guidance is still to stop two months before trying to conceive, what early data suggests if you get pregnant while on one, and why some birth control pills may be less reliable on these medications. Then she and Ana get honest about prenatals, breastfeeding, the pressure to "bounce back" after a baby, and a pattern she has noticed in a handful of men's semen analyses.

IN THIS EPISODE

- What a fertility doctor does besides IVF
- How PMOS (formerly PCOS) disrupts ovulation, and how GLP-1-assisted weight loss can help restore it
- Why you still stop a GLP-1 two months before trying to conceive
- Metformin as a bridge, and why pregnancy weight gain can be harder after stopping
- What early data suggests about pregnancies that happen while on a GLP-1
- What to do if you find out you're pregnant on a GLP-1
- Early, experimental reports from women with endometriosis
- Why birth control pills may be less reliable on a GLP-1, and which options are less affected
- How GLP-1s can make irregular cycles more predictable
- Why every woman of reproductive age should take a prenatal, and the folic acid vs. methylfolate debate
- Prenatals after 60 and the iron question
- Breastfeeding, milk supply, and when to restart a GLP-1 after delivery
- The postpartum "bounce back" pressure, and why you should give yourself time
- GLP-1s and men's fertility, plus why men should prepare at least three months before trying

ABOUT THE GUEST

Dr. Sasha Hakman, MD, is a Los Angeles-based, double board-certified physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She cares for patients across the full range of reproductive medicine, from fertility testing and optimization before trying to recurrent pregnancy loss and IVF. She is also the host of the podcast Trying with Dr. Hakman, where she covers fertility, hormones, pregnancy, postpartum, and women's health.

CONNECT WITH DR. SASHA HAKMAN

Website: https://www.sashahakmanmd.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashahakmanmd/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@sashahakmanmd
Trying with Dr. Hakman (podcast on YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/@tryingpodwithdrhakman

SPONSORS

This episode is brought to you by Tyde Wellness, the GLP-1 provider Ana uses, with nutrition guidance built for GLP-1s, consults with independent licensed providers, and a care team that answers when something comes up. Go to https://tydewellness.com/GLP1Hub and use code GLP1Hub50 for $50 off your first month.

This episode is also brought to you by Timeline. When you buy a one-month supply of Mitopure Gummies, you'll get a free Discovery Size Mitopure Firming Serum, an $85 value. Go to https://www.timeline.com/glp1bundle to claim yours.

CHAPTERS

00:00 Can a GLP-1 change your fertility?
00:31 Intro
01:42 Welcome, Dr. Sasha Hakman
02:10 What a fertility doctor actually does
03:37 GLP-1s, PMOS, and ovulation
06:52 Why you stop two months before trying to conceive
08:04 Metformin and pregnancy weight after stopping
09:29 What the data shows if you conceive on a GLP-1
09:57 Pregnant on a GLP-1? What to do next
10:47 Endometriosis and early reports
12:10 Birth control that may be less reliable on a GLP-1
13:27 GLP-1s and your menstrual cycle
15:16 Sponsor: Tyde Wellness
16:31 Eating for pregnancy when your appetite is small
18:01 Why every reproductive-age woman needs a prenatal
18:35 Folic acid vs. methylfolate
20:54 Prenatals after 60 and the iron question
22:41 Breastfeeding and restarting a GLP-1
25:36 The postpartum bounce-back pressure
29:24 Sponsor: Timeline
30:32 GLP-1s and men's fertility
32:19 Why not everyone needs a GLP-1
33:26 Men's prenatals and the three-month window
34:42 Where to find Dr. Hakman
35:46 Ana's final thoughts

MORE FROM GLP-1 HUB
📬 Get The Steady State, Ana's weekly newsletter with GLP-1 guidance from a dietitian who's on one: http://join.glp-1hub.com

🎙 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if this episode helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🌐 Shop GLP-1 essentials, meal plans, and recipes: https://shop.glp-1hub.com
📷 Follow on Instagram: @glp1hub
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub
*Some of the links shared are affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
*The content of this show is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The goal of this show is to provide various points of view about GLP-1 Medications. The personal and professional opinion of the guests and their content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ana Reisdorf or GLP-1 Hub.

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After gastric bypass, some people make so much of their own GLP-1 that their blood sugar rockets after a meal and then crashes, and the juice or glucose tabs meant to rescue them can restart the whole cycle. Stanford endocrinologist Dr. Marilyn Tan explains post-bariatric hypoglycemia, a condition many patients live with for years before anyone names it, and whether GLP-1 medications make sense after surgery for weight regain. Then she shares phase 3 results for avexitide, an investigational drug that works in the opposite direction from the GLP-1 medications everyone is talking about.

**IN THIS EPISODE**
- Hypoglycemia vs. hyperglycemia in plain language, including what "level 3" low blood sugar means
- What your body's own GLP-1 does after you eat, and why gastric bypass and sleeve surgery amplify it
- Why diabetes can resolve within days of surgery, before the weight comes off
- Whether GLP-1 medications are safe to use after bariatric surgery for weight regain
- What post-bariatric hypoglycemia (PBH) is, who tends to get it, and why it often shows up six months or more after surgery
- The spike-then-crash pattern one to three hours after a carb-heavy meal
- Why the usual low blood sugar advice can backfire for PBH, and what helps stabilize instead
- The strict PBH diet (about 30 grams of carbs per meal, 15 per snack) and how it can tip into malnutrition
- Why PBH is underdiagnosed, and the new ICD-10 diagnosis code
- Inside the phase 3 LUCIDITY trial of avexitide, a GLP-1 blocker that is not FDA approved
- What GLP-1 agonists do and don't do for people who already have PBH
- What's next for avexitide and who else it may help

**ABOUT THE GUEST**
Dr. Marilyn Tan, MD, FACE, FACP, is double board certified in Endocrinology and Internal Medicine. She is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and Chief of the Endocrine Clinic at Stanford Health Care. Her clinical focus is outpatient and inpatient diabetes management, and her research includes diabetes and post-bariatric hypoglycemia. She is also actively involved in resident and fellow education and mentorship.

**CONNECT WITH DR. MARILYN TAN**
Stanford Health Care profile: https://stanfordhealthcare.org/doctors/t/marilyn-tan.html

**SPONSOR**
This episode is brought to you by Timeline. When you buy a one-month supply of Mitopure Gummies, you'll get a free Discovery Size Mitopure Firming Serum, an $85 value. Go to https://www.timeline.com/glp1bundle to claim yours.

**CHAPTERS**
00:00 Cold open
00:22 Ana's intro
01:23 Welcome, Dr. Marilyn Tan
02:30 Low vs. high blood sugar, explained
04:04 What GLP-1 does when you eat
04:27 Why gastric bypass supercharges your GLP-1 response
07:02 GLP-1, the brain, and appetite after surgery
09:39 Can you take a GLP-1 after bariatric surgery?
10:49 Who gets post-bariatric hypoglycemia
12:05 The spike and the crash, symptoms to know
13:27 Sponsor break, Timeline
14:22 Why juice and glucose tabs can backfire
14:52 Stabilizing lows and the strict PBH diet
17:12 How common PBH is, and its new diagnosis code
19:05 Inside the phase 3 avexitide trial
20:51 How a GLP-1 blocker works
22:04 Do GLP-1 medications help or hurt PBH?
24:56 From Ana, the Beyond the Shot guide
26:04 The results, 55% fewer serious lows
26:51 What happens next for avexitide
27:39 Side effects and daily injections
29:00 Where to learn more
29:50 Beyond bariatric surgery, who else this could help
31:08 Closing

MORE FROM GLP-1 HUB
📬 Get The Steady State, Ana's weekly newsletter with GLP-1 guidance from a dietitian who's on one: http://join.glp-1hub.com

🎙 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if this episode helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🌐 Shop GLP-1 essentials, meal plans, and recipes: https://shop.glp-1hub.com
📷 Follow on Instagram: @glp1hub
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub
*Some of the links shared are affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
*The content of this show is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The goal of this show is to provide various points of view about GLP-1 Medications. The personal and professional opinion of the guests and their content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ana Reisdorf or GLP-1 Hub.

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Does a dinner out or a big trip ever feel like it could undo your progress on a GLP-1? Registered dietitian Holly Larson joins Ana to explain why a GLP-1 is a tool, not a diet, and how to enjoy restaurants and vacations without feeling terrible the next day. You'll learn how to read a menu, what to do with your medication when you travel, and the one word that tells you diet culture is doing the talking.

**IN THIS EPISODE**
- Why a GLP-1 is a tool, not another restrictive diet
- How to spot the "should" voice and talk back to it
- Ordering at a special-occasion restaurant: protein, appetizers as mains, and the foods most likely to cause the "icks"
- Being mindful (not rigid) with bread baskets, alcohol, and fancy coffee drinks
- Everyday restaurant eating: 25 to 30 grams of protein and plenty of fiber
- Continuing or pausing your dose for a trip, and why that decision belongs with your prescriber
- Traveling with your pen: insulin cooler cases, carry-on only, TSA, and international limits
- Planning your vacation meals around the one you're most excited about
- Packing for hydration and GI comfort: electrolytes, prunes, and backup medications

**ABOUT THE GUEST**
Holly Larson is a registered dietitian with almost two decades of experience. She runs a virtual private practice in Ohio supporting women, especially those using GLP-1 medications, with a food-first, no-shame approach.

**CONNECT**
Website: https://hollylarsonnutrition.com
Instagram: @hollylarsonnutrition

**SPONSOR**
Tyde Wellness is the GLP-1 provider Ana uses herself. Visit https://tydewellness.com/GLP1Hub and use code GLP1Hub50 for $50 off your first month.

**CHAPTERS**
00:00 Skip a dose for a food trip?
00:32 Welcome and episode preview
01:25 Meet Holly Larson
03:16 A GLP-1 is a tool, not a diet
05:20 Quieting the "should" voice
09:07 How to order at a special restaurant
10:51 Bread baskets and alcohol
12:05 Sponsor: Tyde Wellness
13:04 Eating out every day
14:48 Drinks and the hidden-calorie salad
16:09 Your medication and travel
18:07 Carrying your pen, TSA, and international trips
21:30 How to eat on vacation
23:22 Ana's Beyond the Shot guide
24:23 Balancing breakfast, steps, and indulgent dinners
26:15 Hydration and GI prep for travel
29:37 Final thoughts and where to find Holly

MORE FROM GLP-1 HUB
📬 Get The Steady State, Ana's weekly newsletter with GLP-1 guidance from a dietitian who's on one: http://join.glp-1hub.com

🎙 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if this episode helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🌐 Shop GLP-1 essentials, meal plans, and recipes: https://shop.glp-1hub.com
📷 Follow on Instagram: @glp1hub
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub
*Some of the links shared are affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
*The content of this show is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The goal of this show is to provide various points of view about GLP-1 Medications. The personal and professional opinion of the guests and their content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ana Reisdorf or GLP-1 Hub.

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If the scale has stalled or you're worried about losing muscle on a GLP-1, that number may not be telling you the whole story. Fitness coach and competitive powerlifter Andrew Menechian explains why body composition matters more than your weight or BMI, how to set a protein target that actually fits your body, and the minimum strength training it takes to hold on to muscle. You'll also hear why he thinks cutting calories lower and lower backfires, and the diet-break approach he uses instead.

**IN THIS EPISODE**

- What body composition means, and why two people at the same weight can look completely different
- Why BMI misses people who are "skinny fat" and labels muscular athletes as obese
- Beginner gains: why people new to strength training can build muscle and lose fat at the same time
- The two things that protect muscle on a GLP-1: protein and resistance training
- How to set a protein target based on lean body mass instead of total body weight
- How much strength training it takes to maintain muscle versus build it
- Why training first thing in the morning makes the habit easier to keep
- Simple options for older adults and people with injuries or physical limitations
- Muscle first or fat loss first when you're already at a healthy weight
- Metabolic adaptation, reverse dieting, and his diet-break strategy for plateaus

**ABOUT THE GUEST**

Andrew Menechian is an online health coach and head of fitness at Fit Commit, with about 15 years of coaching experience. He is a former head coach at the Clean Health Fitness Institute and former education manager at Fitness Playground in Australia. A competitive bodybuilder and powerlifter, he won the 2015 IFBB Australasian Men's League title and unofficially broke an Australian under-90 kg deadlift record.

**CONNECT WITH ANDREW MENECHIAN**

FitCommit
Website: https://fitcommit.ai
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fitcommitai/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fitcommitai

Andrew Menechian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmenechian/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewmenechian
X: https://x.com/andrewmenechian
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewmenechian/

**SPONSOR**

This episode is brought to you by Timeline. When you buy a one-month supply of Mitopure Gummies, you'll get a free Discovery Size Mitopure Firming Serum, an $85 value. Go to https://www.timeline.com/glp1bundle to claim yours.

**CHAPTERS**

00:00 Preview: why the scale isn't the whole story
00:25 What's in this episode
01:21 Welcome, Andrew Menechian
02:19 From shy kid to bodybuilder and record deadlifter
04:51 Why a goal weight can set you up for disappointment
05:45 What body composition really means
08:06 Why BMI falls short
08:52 Can you build muscle and lose fat at the same time?
11:41 Sponsor: Timeline
12:35 How to avoid losing muscle on a GLP-1
13:12 How much protein you really need
16:53 How much strength training it takes to keep muscle
18:36 Why morning workouts make the habit stick
21:09 Strength training with injuries or physical limitations
23:35 The Plateau Breakthrough Playbook
24:57 Fat loss first or muscle first?
26:56 Metabolic adaptation and reverse dieting
27:24 His diet-break strategy for plateaus
30:33 Where to find Andrew

MORE FROM GLP-1 HUB
📬 Get The Steady State, Ana's weekly newsletter with GLP-1 guidance from a dietitian who's on one: http://join.glp-1hub.com

🎙 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts, and if this episode helped, leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it's the single best way to help more people find the show.

🌐 Shop GLP-1 essentials, meal plans, and recipes: https://shop.glp-1hub.com
📷 Follow on Instagram: @glp1hub
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GLP-1hub
*Some of the links shared are affiliate links. When you make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting the show.
*The content of this show is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The goal of this show is to provide various points of view about GLP-1 Medications. The personal and professional opinion of the guests and their content does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Ana Reisdorf or GLP-1 Hub.