E419 - Meghan Garcia-Webb - The Truth About Weight Loss Meds + Ditching Diet Culture

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Speaker A: Hello and welcome to the Liz on Biz podcast, where the guests are barely prepped and I'm m. Barely ready. I'm your host, Liz Theresa, and I help you launch build online businesses you love. Uh, this podcast is all about entrepreneurship, and I hope you like it.

Speaker B: Hey, everybody, and welcome to another episode of Liz on Biz. Here with me today is Megan Garcia Webb. Welcome to the show, Megan.

Speaker C: Thank you so much for having me. I'm delighted to be here.

Speaker B: I am really excited because we already have this, like, we had, like, really good, deep talk before we started recording. And it's like we just met. We just already went deep. We're there, ready for it. I was like, let's go. You were like, let's do this. But yeah, no, we were. I want to talk about. We were talking about. Because I think it's an important topic, but I want to. Let's start by having you tell everybody a little bit more about what you do.

Speaker C: Yeah. Well, thank you so much for having me. I am a doctor. I am. I did primary care for many years, and then I really pivoted to obesity and weight medicine. So I have a practice in one of the larger academic medical centers in Boston. But then I also also opened my own private practice to really address, you know, all the causes that are really, uh, the people are really struggling with. With their weight at whatever BMI that they're at. Um, and I also have a YouTube channel called Weight Medicine with Dr. Megan. Um, so I talk about all things weight all the time.

Speaker B: Wow. Don't wait to talk about your weight.

Speaker C: Don't wait. No, I love saying that.

Speaker B: Oh, you have to say. No, you don't have to. But can you imagine on your show you'd be like, like, just Wait one second. I don't know. There's a, uh, pun in here.

Speaker C: So many coffee opportunities there.

Speaker B: That's the copywriter in me. I'm like, don't wait to talk about your weight schedule. The call today, the jazz hands. Yeah. Um, no. So Now I have 100,000 questions about that. So do you like getting into that world? So you started in primary care like you said. What brought you from primary care to weight world?

Speaker C: Well, I, I realized pretty quickly that when you're in primary care, like, you by default, you do work in obesity medicine. Like you just do. Because there's so many reasons. Like, most of the reasons why people are ill are because of lifestyle reasons. Either people eat too much, drink too much, smoke too much, you know, uh, don't, uh, take care of their mental health. Right. So these, so the big reasons why people have these downstream medical effects. And in my experience, the vast majority were due to weight. And so I, um, I had this great mentor who is the medical director in the practice that I was in, and she had, uh, done her obesity medicine certification and she really just kind of. And this was before, like, WeGovy came along.

Speaker B: Well, I was gonna say. So you've been. You WeGovied before WeGovy.

Speaker C: I did.

Speaker B: I really.

Speaker C: I think I got certified maybe the year before. We'll go right around the same time. Ah, that everything was kind of taking off. Um, but I had really known about this world for a while, and so she really introduced me to that. And then, uh, it's great because I do feel like I can just. I can practice primary care in a totally different way. Like, I can fix people's blood pressure, I can fix their prediabetes, I can fix their medication induced weight gain. Um, and then I also opened my own practice because, you know, what I do in the academic practice is really, I love it, but it's very limited by what insurance will cover. Right. And insurance isn't going to, you know, gold stamp, you know, me talking with somebody for 45 minutes about, like, why it's hard for them to prioritize themselves or why, like, why their schedule doesn't align with their health goals or all these, like, these are the real issues that people have with their weight. Like, it's not a, it's not an information gap. Like, everybody knows what to do.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: And so.

Speaker B: And so after that, I shame anybody. So, like, you don't come in and you're like, oh, here comes obese.

Speaker C: I don't know.

Speaker B: I can't think of an O name. Like the name. Oh, Obese. Alondra. Um, like, shame your client.

Speaker C: I'm not coming from, like, the. No, no. I'm not like a boot camp instructor, but, uh, and also, I think it's really important to respect the diversity of sizes, too. So if somebody comes to me, it's only because they feel like their weight is a problem. Like, there are lots of people who have elevated BMIs, who, including a lot of, like, Olympic athletes, um, that don't feel like their weight is a problem, who are very happy being in a larger body. And, you know, that's great. Like, why do we all have to be one size?

Speaker A: Right.

Speaker C: And so, uh, that kind of dovetailed in with. I got certified as a coach, too, and I really felt like combining that with the obesity medicine has really helped me help people in a way that's more comprehensive and effective.

Speaker B: And what do you make of bmi? Because, like, in the example of, like, you just gave, like, there are Olympic athletes that have, like, a BMI that disagree or that would be unhealthy even though they're an athlete.

Speaker C: Right, right.

Speaker B: So it's like, is it a bit. It's not the. It's not the only marker, or what would you say about it?

Speaker C: I think it's a good jumping off place for a conversation.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Oh, it's a good kind of first data point, but it's definitely not the be all and end all. And I think, you know, BMI doesn't take into account body composition, including, like, percent body fat, the amount of muscle mass you have, like your cardio, cardiovascular fitness, how well you're sleeping. Like, there are so many different aspects to somebody's health. And, um, you know, so the BMI is. I think it's. It's a good place to start a conversation, but after that, it. It really becomes less important.

Speaker B: Yeah. Like, it can't hold a conversation, but it could start a conversation. Like, this is the whole story.

Speaker C: Yes.

Speaker B: Um, because health has so many, um, different variables that make somebody look like they're wholly healthy. Right. Because. Because like you said, too, when people come to you that it's when. Actually, when people do come, are they coming? They're not usually coming because they're like, it might be bmi.

Speaker C: Right.

Speaker B: But it might also just be, I'm in. I'm in a body that I'm like, this isn't me. They're at a size where they're like, this isn't me anymore. Is that kind of it?

Speaker C: Sometimes. I mean, a lot of times when people come to see me in my private practice, it's, um, it's actually. It's twofold. It's, uh, because I also see people outside of state just for coaching. So a lot of times I'm seeing people who are already on weight medicine, but they're like, you know, I still can't get myself to eat or exercise or do these things that really would benefit my health. Like, I'm kind of wasting this money because, you know, the medication's working. But I know it could be working a lot better if I had more of a system or if I really knew what to do, because, uh, I think people get very overwhelmed with all the social media accounts and like, yeah, which protein should I have? And like, no, you're doing it wrong. Do it this way. And so that's one population that I see. And a lot of times I'm seeing a lot of women, you know, at any bmi, um, who are just like, I have so much diet culture in my head. I have so much. You know, I'm really overwhelmed. I feel like I'm just stressing myself out with all these rules. And, And I just want to. They, they. They aren't really.

Speaker B: They.

Speaker C: They know they want something different, but they're not sure what it is.

Speaker B: Yeah, because you go. I mean, you think about how we grew up with a hundred calorie packs, Right? You know, like, that's wild that, like, kids brought, uh, hundred calorie packs to school. I don't know. Like, it's. And then that was supposed to be a cookie. Do you remember the Chips Ahoy one?

Speaker C: Oh, um, yeah.

Speaker B: It was awful. Yeah.

Speaker C: No, it's like cardboard.

Speaker B: It was like a piece. It was the sm. It was not a cookie. It was like a cracker.

Speaker C: Oh.

Speaker B: And it had weird spots in it, on it.

Speaker C: Those will survive the apocalypse for sure.

Speaker B: They're like Twinkies.

Speaker C: Yeah, they'll definitely die. They'll last forever.

Speaker B: It's just weird because diet culture has made weight, so it's such a contentious topic. Like, you must. Dude, you must deal with a lot of feelings.

Speaker C: That's why I got certified as a coach, because I feel like it, uh, a lot of it is really about changing your identity and accepting. I think it's. You know, one of the key things is really accepting yourself before you make these, um, steps. And people find that extremely difficult because they're like, no, I'm going to be happy when I get to the goal. And it's kind of the reverse. It's like, well, you can be happy now and have a much better journey towards the goal. A much easier way to the goal if you really learn how to be okay with yourself at whatever point. But a lot of that is, you know, it's undoing diet culture. It's undoing these, you know, patriarchal, you know, ideals that we were all just taught at such an early age. So yeah, it's a lot of, well, and you can't. I.

Speaker B: There was a lady that posted, um, in one of the groups online and she said something like, it was like she was so upset that she was like, I hate my body, I hate myself. It was so much strong self hate language. And then I just was like, you can't hate yourself then. It's very hard to hate yourself then. Because after I had my son, you know, every woman goes through that when you have a baby and your body changes. And then I was, it's crazy. What it's so dysmorphic the way that I was thinking about my body. Cause I was like, I'm hm. Enormous. But I was actually only £15 more for him. Um, but to me, I was like anonymous. When I was like, that's why when I realized the numbers, like when I actually like understood it, I was like, oh, actually that's not like I, I, my I. My reaction to myself was so hyperbolic. But I think it's like, it's because we're so afraid. I mean, at least for me, I'm like, well, what does it mean if I'm £15 more? Like, what does that really mean? Does that mean I'm not beautiful anymore? Does it mean I'm not pretty? Does it mean nobody wants me?

Speaker C: Right?

Speaker B: People listening to the show are like, Liz had weight issues in her head. And I'm like, girl, yeah.

Speaker C: I mean, if you're a woman in America, doesn't matter what size you are, like, um, I think to your. You're going to have some sort of left. Even if you've solved it for yourself, you, it's still gonna pop in there every once in a while.

Speaker B: And I think it's a journey to

Speaker C: your point of, you know, you can't hate yourself then, like, if that works, there wouldn't be a weight problem. Because women are so, we're so good at like punishing ourselves, right? We're so good at like grinding and hustling our way. So if that worked, there'd be no

Speaker B: weight problem, you know, Isn't that true? I'm like, well, see, now that I know you, I would have Been like, no, call Dr. Megan.

Speaker C: Yeah. Ah, call me.

Speaker B: Call Dr. Megan. Because like, it's your. So nice. Like, I don't think you'd hurt anybody.

Speaker C: I don't bite. No, I don't.

Speaker B: Doctors. Some doctors are bad.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Well, I bet doctors.

Speaker C: It's hard. Weight is a hard thing to talk about for anybody and it's a sensitive topic. Yeah. And I think especially in, especially in medicine, like, you don't, if you work in insurance based medicine, you do not have a lot of time to have these conversations that are really important. And so I think it's easy for a lot of people to just be like, eat less, exercise more, you know, like, just do that. And then like, of course that doesn't. You're, you're just kind of putting a band aid over something and giving them advice that they've heard and, and actually, like, is not helpful.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Um, and so much about weight has to do with acceptance and, you know, getting rid of that shame. And so if, if that's where you're starting, it's, you know, you don't, you don't want to make it worse.

Speaker B: Well, no wonder primary care has such a hard time. Because you're right, they have no time.

Speaker C: They have no time. No, because you, you have this visit, it's a physical. And then, you know, a lot of times people are busy and they're like, well, also since I'm here, you know, my shoulder hurts. Um, I need a dermatology referral. Like, do I need, you know, there's, there's all these.

Speaker B: Really a lot of stuff. Yeah.

Speaker C: And so, um, so that's why I love what I do now. And I still see some patients in primary care too, but that's why I love what I do now because I can have these longer, more in depth conversations and really address what's going on for people.

Speaker B: Yeah. Well, and because it's never, like you said, it's not about knowing what to do, it's about what choices you've made. Right. With the life that you live. Like, I mean, are you having lunch in your car every day as an example?

Speaker C: Um. Oh my gosh, you know, there's so many. Yes. And I think people don't realize that that's a, that's optional. Yeah. I always ask people, like, we'll go through what they're eating, but I always want to know, like, what are you doing while you're eating? Because most, you know, I might pass out if somebody told me. Like, I was sitting and I was eating and it was quiet and it, uh, was just me. And, you know, I was focusing on the table.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker C: Like, I was focusing on my. My bottle and chewing. Right.

Speaker B: Wow, this is nice to chew. Very, very rarely do I think when I chew, like, oh, what a great chewing experience.

Speaker C: Right. Or, like, tasting your food, you know, so people do the wildest things when they're eating, you know?

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: So. And it's. There's no way that you're gonna have a satisfying meal. I think we also ignore this very, you know, the real, um, importance of, like, satisfaction in your food. And, you know, we. We are so on both extremes in America. It's like you're either like a hot mess, quote unquote, like, convenience food, eating in your car, like, go, go, go, doing 500 things while you're eating, or you're in this, like, grind, hustle, track. Everything, um, you know, I'm. Everything's so sciency. I had all these, like, my. My 20 grams of protein. And. And like, that's not fun either. And also, I don't think it works for people.

Speaker B: Right? It's not. It's not.

Speaker C: And actually, like, what the research really shows is that the only thing that works is what you can sustain. So there's no one way of eating that's better than another. It's like, what can you keep doing forever? And if it's. If you feel really burdened by calorie counting and all that, like, you're not gonna do it.

Speaker B: Do you remember that guy, okay. Who went to, like, McDonald's every day and he only ate McDonald's?

Speaker C: Supersizing. Yes.

Speaker B: Yeah. But then he lost. But then wasn't there a guy that lost weight at the end because he had the same thing every single day?

Speaker C: Oh, uh, like, was like. Was this a documentary or this was like a. Ah.

Speaker B: I don't think it was supersized me. I think it was just a guy that did it for attention.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Okay. Maybe they're like.

Speaker C: I don't.

Speaker B: I mean, I ate like, it was. Because it was the same thing. I think it was like he ate a Big Mac every day for dinner or something. So it was the same dinner every day. So there's no way you could have it. Breakfast, lunch and dinner. You'd be so sick.

Speaker C: Oh, no, you'd be incredibly.

Speaker B: You're so sick.

Speaker C: You would be so ill. Yeah, yeah. Um, it would not be good.

Speaker B: Yeah, but consistency. I mean, like, when you say that. So, like, I make smoothies every. And I do have a smoothie every day, and that's because for me, I'm like, oh, it's so nice that I can just put vegetables in there. And then it, like, gets me some vegetables. Even though it's like, it might. You know what I mean? It's not like a romantic Beauty and the Beast type meal, but, like, it's something. But, like, uh. And when I learned the smoothie recipe, I probably did know the grams, but now when I do it, it's a muscle memory.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: So now it's like, I just make it because I know how to make it and I do it every day and I have, like, three or four different ones that I like, will change it up.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: And swap ingredients, keep it interesting. Um, but, like. But that's muscle memory. And I think it's more about the fact that that became easy.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: In my head, that that is really good for me. Because it's not hard. Like, I don't think, like, oh, I gotta make a salad.

Speaker C: Right? Yeah.

Speaker B: Now it's really hard to make a good salad.

Speaker C: Well, I mean, it depends on what kind of salad that you're making.

Speaker B: A very. Like, a very good one.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: You know, like, some salads are so good, but, like, I don't have a goat that can give me goat cheese, you know?

Speaker C: Yeah. Yes. Yeah.

Speaker B: Like one hanging around.

Speaker C: Right, right, right. Yeah.

Speaker B: You know, what do you eat when you eat lunch?

Speaker C: What?

Speaker B: I like, do you, like, eat lunch?

Speaker C: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I. Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person in America, like, eating. This is why I do what I do. I know it can be so good. I know, Um, I know you can be healthy and like your life so much, and I really feel like that I need to, like, share this with as many people as possible because I'm not counting calories, I'm not counting macros. I have a really nice, like. And I have a busy life, you know?

Speaker B: Ah.

Speaker C: But I. I can have a nice meal and I'm not feeling, like, pulled in 5 million directions, so I, um.

Speaker B: It's important to eat lunch.

Speaker C: It's.

Speaker B: So.

Speaker C: I don't. We really treat breakfast and lunch as disposable.

Speaker B: We do.

Speaker C: It's like, well, you can definitely do three other things while you're doing that. Right. And it's. I don't know when that happened. And I think a lot of people still treat dinner as dinners. When I sit down with my family and we talk, and I think a lot of people still do that. But breakfast and lunch, they're like, oh, no, uh, those are car time meals. You Know.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: And, uh, it just makes me so sad because I don't know why we're.

Speaker B: I, like, diet culture had me skip lunch. Like, I used to not have lunch for years. And then I. And then after I had Leo, my. My health coach was like, she's cool. She's a nurse. She's like a nurse and a health coach. She's very nice. So she's like western, like with some eastern, you know, functional medicine in there. And then she was like, but like, if you don't eat lunch, she's like, that's not good. And she had, like, she explained the science of like. Well, then like your, your cortisol.

Speaker C: I don't know.

Speaker B: There was stuff she said and I learned it because I, it like makes you eat a lot more later. That too. So, like, if I don't eat lunch, then I really want Junior mints at like 8 o'. Clock.

Speaker C: Right. Yeah. You. You feel deprived.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker C: And then you. It's very easy when you get into that. Like, I feel like the less it's

Speaker B: not eat less, move more. Because if it were like, it would be so everybody would be thin.

Speaker C: There would be no problem.

Speaker B: Not eat.

Speaker C: Right. Right.

Speaker B: That's not what's always going on.

Speaker C: No, I, I think we're just. We tend to not be honest about what our bodies need. It's like, you know, we, we try to. We're. We're very separate from our physical needs. You know, especially if you are, uh, have a busy job and it's. You're. You're so used to compartmentalizing parts of your life, including like, your actual physical needs of your body.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: And I just don't. I think you're actually more effective if you have a, uh, you know, if you're well fed.

Speaker B: Yes.

Speaker C: And you're not thinking about like, oh my God, I'm trying to ignore these hunger pangs, or I had this huge blood sugar crash. You know, there's. You're actually making your life so difficult if you do that. And, and there's a lot of France,

Speaker B: they go home for lunch.

Speaker C: Right. Right. There's so much, um, drama that we have about food that I think is very optional. Um, so.

Speaker B: I didn't know it was optional. Yes.

Speaker C: No, it totally. In the same way that, like, eating in your car is optional.

Speaker B: Yeah. Well, eating in your car and that it. Just because you're out. This is the other thing. If you're going to be out for the day, actually, you can bring your own food. Like, you don't have to Eat whatever

Speaker C: you don't have to eat. And also, what I found a lot of people have what I call, like, hunger panic. Oh. It's like they're hungry and then they're like, oh, my gosh. I mean, it's kind of the opposite of skipping meals. It's like, if I'm hungry, they're kind of forecasting what's going to happen later. So it's like, oh, I. Now I also. I need to have, like, five different snacks in my car just in case I'm hungry. And. And I do think there is something to be said for, like, looking out for yourself. But I also think that, like, this hunger panic is so exaggerated because, like, you're gonna look, we live in America. You're gonna make it home. And not like, if your pancreas works and you don't have, like, blood pressure issues, like, you're not going to pass out. You'll be fine.

Speaker B: Yeah, no, I think a lot of, like, because I'm like, I. Only if I don't eat for a really long time, do I get weird. Yeah. You know, and.

Speaker C: And I. I'm. I'm not advocating that people, like, skip meals, but I also think, like, if we're hungry, how we talk to ourselves is really interesting to look at because a lot of people go to this place of this is terrible. Like, kind of forecasting these things, and it's like, well, no, I'll. I'll be a little hungry, and then I'll get home and then I'll eat dinner.

Speaker B: I'll eat something.

Speaker C: I'll eat something and it'll be fine. And I. I don't necessarily. I'm not gonna, like, I don't have to eat a lot of things before I have dinner. Like, I could just be a little hungry and then have dinner.

Speaker B: That too. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. I only, like, at those times I. I find it happens if I'm in the car. Cause I get car sick, and then I get. If I get car sick and I'm hungry, it's like the end of the world for me because I'm, um.

Speaker A: Like, I.

Speaker B: My vision gets. And then I'm like leaning my head against the cold of the window. Yeah.

Speaker C: I mean, that's a very valid reason.

Speaker B: It's a very valid reason.

Speaker C: Right?

Speaker B: Yeah. That's. If I drive, I don't get car sick. Not usually.

Speaker C: Oh, interesting.

Speaker B: If I drive. But if I'm not driving.

Speaker C: Passenger.

Speaker B: Yeah. And if I sit in the front, I do a lot better than if I sit in the back. But One day, uh, we were going to. I was going to a concert with, like, this. These are people I don't even see anymore, but some people. And they, like, couldn't find the venue. And so we were driving around in circles so much. I was.

Speaker C: I was.

Speaker B: It was like 30 degrees. I had to put all the window all the way down.

Speaker C: I was like, oh, my God. Nightmare.

Speaker B: This is how I'll die. They're gonna find me and we'll say, how did she die? She got through the whole car. Sick.

Speaker C: He got so car. So that was it.

Speaker B: That was the end of Kill me. I know it was. No, and I think. I think the idea of time. I also feel like there's scar. There's scarcity around food. Like, in the hunger panic that you're talking about. There's also scarcity around time m. I think, where people are like, I don't have time to eat healthy. So are these some things that you work through with clients, too? They have these beliefs where they're like, I don't have time to be healthy, so I can't be healthy. Or.

Speaker C: Right, yeah, right. No, that is. A hundred people are like, oh, I don't have time to sit down and have a meal. And it's like. Like, well, do you have time to have hospital bills later or. Thank you. You also are spending a lot of time, like, hating how you're eating now. So I think a lot of people. It's like learning anything new. It's like you need to put in the initial investment to figure it out. Right. But after, it's really about, like, figuring out a new system. And this is what I do with people, is I really. We build custom systems for them, and then we're testing it while we're working together so we can really see, like, okay, well, this is. This is plan that we came up for you. And it's always driven by the patient or the client. Like, I'm never going to say, like, you know, don't do this, don't do that. You know, um, I'm. I'm there for guidance, but I really want people to. To create something that works for them. And I have, you know, clients who don't like to cook. And so how can you eat healthy if you never want to turn on an oven? Like, that's very possible. Right. Um, I didn't see.

Speaker B: I had to force myself to like cooking more, and now I like it more.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: But for a while I was like, I'm not very good. So then if I wasn't Very good at it. You don't want to do things you're not good at. But I couldn't get better unless I had tried.

Speaker C: And now?

Speaker B: Better.

Speaker C: Now you're a lot better. Right. And I think people are like, you know, that it's like one more thing to do. But it's like, actually, you only have to learn this once, and then it's gonna pay dividends for the rest of your life. Like, if you learn how to eat in a way that you're really happy with that, um, you can do forever. That is both keeping you healthy and you like your life more. Like, you learn that once you're good to go. Yeah. So that's always what I want patients and clients to know is that when I work with them, like, I tell them, this is not like a therapy relationship where you're not sure when it's going to end. It's like, I want you to learn what you need to learn and then graduate.

Speaker B: Well, and the idea of graduating, when I think about the weight loss medications and stuff that you're more. Way more familiar with than me. Like the wegovis and the. The other wegovies, there's lots of. Yes, the Jara ones. Yeah, that one. Yeah. And they're all out there. And then there's some people that are like. Like, some people are like, well, you. If you go on it, you have to stay on it for life. And then there's some people that are like, I don't want to go on it, because I hear that everybody that goes on it, I don't know, grows a tail or something. Like, I'm scared of all medicine because there's some nutbirds, right. That say stuff like that. And m. Can you help us understand it a little more?

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Do you have to stay on it forever?

Speaker C: And you do have to stay on it forever. Yeah. Yeah. Well, I think a lot of people have this idea, which makes total sense that, you know, oh, if I get on this medication, I lose weight, it's going to help me learn how to eat better and, you know, learn these cues for my body, and then I can go off of it. And if that's what it. If that's all it did, that, uh, that is. That would be fine. You could go off of it. But that's not the entire way that it works. Like, it does. It does really strengthen your innate fullness signals, so you have a much better sense of your fullness. And it's much easier for people to just stop when they're comfortably satisfied. But it also really affects how our fat is stored and burned in our brain. So, like, that internal thermostat is very much affected. And so if you take that away, it just goes back eventually to where it was. And now we have good research that shows, you know, generally over, you know, the course of one and a half to two years, most people will regain pretty much all the weight that they've lost. And. And then I see it in real

Speaker B: time, it's not their fault. It's because their brain chemistry changed.

Speaker C: Right. Right.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Uh, in the same. In the. In much the. The opposite way of, like, if somebody went on a medication that was more weight, they could eat exactly the same, but it's going to affect their body in such a way that they will inevitably gain weight regardless. So.

Speaker B: Got you. And so you have to stay on it forever.

Speaker A: But.

Speaker B: And are, uh, there, like, are people where, like, are people afraid of going on it and staying on it forever? Like, is that fear like something that is like a real thing, or do people just get afraid of new things and spread tangrowing lies?

Speaker C: Yeah, no, I mean, I think a lot of people feel like. Like it's some sort of personal failure if they have to go on it forever. I think there's always a lot of, like, stigma around that. And I don't know. I also think, you know, by the time people get to me, a lot of times they're just so ready for something that works that they're like, I'll do whatever it takes.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: So, you know, everybody's, you know, um, there's a lot of people come to me in a lot of different headspaces, but, um. And then some people are like, you know, we talk about it and they're like, well, let me try it again on my own. And then sometimes they come back and we. We start a medication, and sometimes they don't. So.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Um. But, yeah, I think a lot of people have fears about going on something forever. And a lot of people think, well, this is new. And that's not actually really the case because we've had these medications as a class for 20 years. We just haven't used them for weight. And so some of the medications are technically new, but the whole way of, uh, you know, the class of medications is not new at all.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker C: Using them for diabetes for. For a long time, so.

Speaker B: Right.

Speaker C: So they're less new than people think.

Speaker B: Yeah. Because I. Well, and that's what I. I think, like, when I see people are like, oh, we'll find out years from now that I don't know, it's gonna kill us all. And I'm just like, is it? Because I'm like, I think I knew that people were taking it before.

Speaker C: Yeah. And also, you know, the counterargument to that is like, well, if you don't treat a weight that's really unhealthy, like, we know that that's gonna kill people. Right. We already know that. Like, if you have uncontrolled diabetes or you have, you know, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke and joint pain. Like so many different types of cancer are. The risks are elevated with a higher bmi. So, um, so I think that's something that we don't often think about, what the risks are of not treating.

Speaker B: Yeah. No. Why? And, and then the people that are in larger bodies, I mean, it is possible to be in a larger body though, and be healthy. Yeah. Yeah, totally.

Speaker C: And so.

Speaker B: Yeah, that's sometimes surprising, I think, for people.

Speaker C: Yeah. And I think, you know, we really don't think about, I don't think we really take that into account. Like, body composition.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Um, percent muscle mass, um, heritage. You know, some people are just, you know, genetically they are from larger people. You know, and some people are. I always think about, you know, the, the Westminster Dog show, and it's like we're not telling, we're not telling the Chihuahua that they're supposed to look like the German shepherd or the German shepherd. That it has to look like, uh, you know, a Saint Bernard or something. Right. Like, we, we are respecting the, the genetics that somebody has. And so I think you can be, um, a larger person and be healthy.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Or be unhealthy. So there's so many variables.

Speaker B: That's like my, like my dog is a bulldog and they're just really, really, really lazy.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Which is why I like her because she doesn't make, she doesn't make me do stuff. Like, if anything I'll be like, can you please go outside to go to the bathroom? Like you're like, but like, no. And she, but she's good. She's a lot of fun. But like, it's because you don't expect her to be anything different other than what she is.

Speaker C: Right. Yeah, exactly.

Speaker B: It's like dolphins are really good at, like, they're really smart, but adult. You know how everybody's like, oh, dolphins are so intelligent, but they're really intelligent at dolphin related activities. It's not like you could like hire a dolphin to be your doctor.

Speaker C: Correct. Right. You know, expect them to like, know anything about trees?

Speaker B: No, not usually. Although I met a dolphin. They're really fast. Like.

Speaker C: Oh, yeah.

Speaker B: In a dolphin swimming.

Speaker C: I, yes, they are incredibly fast.

Speaker B: I was like, I, I was like, I knew you'd be fast, but, whoa. It's like, it was like, like really, really, really fast. And I was like, oh, my God. That was kind of cool. No. So I, I, I'm. This has been really, really cool. It's time for me to ask you your last question. Um, for your last question, you know how we were talking. We were talking before, and I never really got back to it. But I kind of want to tell everybody a little bit about the idea of time.

Speaker C: Oh, yeah.

Speaker B: And so how you run your. Because you have these, like, two business. Like, it's not two businesses, but, like, these two roles, right? Yeah.

Speaker C: Uh, yeah.

Speaker B: So time for you is a, uh, thing. It's scarce. So what is your relation, like, relationship, like, with time?

Speaker C: Oh, I have a great relationship with time. I, I, I, it wasn't always this way, but I think when I started being, uh, more proactive with time, and really this started around, like, coach training, because I think the program that they did, it's really about, like, really taking full responsibility for everything that you do. And so, you know, I think a lot of times as busy professional people, we have all these ideas of, like, I should do this, I have to do this. You know, And I don't have any of those thoughts anymore because it's really like, no, I planned my day. I know what I'm doing. Like, if it's not on there, like, there are things that don't get done, but it's because I chose to not do them. Like, it wasn't as much of a priority for me. So I do feel like, um, like planning my week ahead of time is really important. Not, like, looking. I think it's important to, like, look at your week and see, like, what you'd like to do next week. But I really believe in, like, you have this time. You can do whatever you want with it. If you have a job, you can go to it or not go to it. Right. Like, you can literally do whatever you want. So what do you want?

Speaker B: Yeah, people don't remember that.

Speaker C: No. Like, you, uh, you don't have to do anything.

Speaker B: We, we always feel like we are at the mercy of our calendar and we forget that we are the designer of the calendar.

Speaker C: Yes, that, that's a perfect way of saying it. Yes. I think the more you can really be in that role of, um, no, this is my time, and I'm gonna do what I want. And it does involve going to work because of these reasons that I really like. And it also involves, like, maybe not doing these things. And. And also, I'm not gonna make myself feel bad about it because I didn't prioritize them and.

Speaker B: And being willing to say no. We were talking about saying no to stuff, and so I have a very hard time saying no to people or, like, holding a boundary, even though, like. Like, it's my. It's part of what project work is that there's boundaries in a project. So it's like, part of. When I sell a project, there's always boundaries. But then when I have to remind people that they're there. Hate it.

Speaker C: Yeah.

Speaker B: Hate it so much. And I was talking to a coach the other day. There was this really amazing person that came on the show, and then she offered me a free coaching session with her, like, in her method. It was very, very cool to do because then it gave me the experience of doing it. And something that I realized that I said to her a lot is that I kept saying, like, oh, I'm really good at handling people, even though I hate handling people. But what I mean by handling, now that I'm telling it to you, is that when I say I'm really good at handling, is. I'm actually very good at holding boundaries. I just hate doing it. But handling, to me, is holding a boundary.

Speaker C: Yes. Okay, that makes sense.

Speaker B: And corralling. But, like, how are you about. Like, are you. Because it sounds like you really clear boundaries for your time. I'm really good at it now, like. But, like, you may not have always been good at it.

Speaker C: Yeah. I think it just takes practice. And then once you realize. I mean, for me, like, there's no other way now, like, this is just. It gives me, like, I feel like I'm. I can do so much more, but I also don't feel like. I don't feel rushed. Like, I'm. I have a lot of things that I do, but I never feel frantic or rushed or that kind of like.

Speaker A: Oh.

Speaker C: Like, kind of like hot mess, sort of. Like there's this sort of trope of, like, a professional woman that I feel like we all watched in movies as we were.

Speaker B: She gets her high heels stuck in the grave, right?

Speaker C: Like, the working mom. She's, like, all over the place, and. And I just, uh.

Speaker B: Like, that's.

Speaker C: That doesn't have to be true, you

Speaker B: know, uh, and they drop stuff and they drop papers and Then a very handsome gentleman is like, here's your papers.

Speaker C: Right. Right. Like, you couldn't possibly, like, actually have a good relationship with time. Right.

Speaker B: Oh, it's impossible. Or that you're always running late. That we had to lose a guy in 10 days. That girl's late because, like, somebody breaks up with her, and it's like her assistant, she goes to her apartment, and she wakes her up, and then they're all late for the meeting. The assistant's just, like, crying. Like, women are not. These are cartoons of women.

Speaker C: But, like, not all women are like that women. And we have to recognize that these, like, you know, there's. That's in the water. And we have to recognize it and realize, like, you do not have to accept that, like, you can be very successful and not be frenzied.

Speaker B: Yeah.

Speaker C: Do a lot and not be, like, you can be intense. I was just having this conversation the other day, m. Like, you can be intense and productive and not, like, feel

Speaker B: rushed and you, like, busy. Like, you know, what. What is it? Like, there's, like, people used to say, oh, I'm so busy. Or things are busy. As if busy is. Or where busy is a badge of honor. Or you brag about you're busy. Yeah, like, oh, business is so busy. Yeah. Like, I'm not busy business. Live on busy business. There's some right here. Yeah, but then, like, busy doesn't always. And then busy. I just think about the girl with the papers, and she drops them everywhere. Like, you don't want to, like, always be that busy. No, because I'm busy. That you're out of control, you know?

Speaker C: Well, it doesn't actually leave time for you to be creative or really plan or, like, all these things that really contribute to your, you know, meeting the goals that you want to meet require, like, you to have some reflection and, like, peace of mind and.

Speaker B: Yeah. Like, what do you. What do you want next for you? Because you have this really great practice, and you have the coaching and, you know, and you help people and all that. But what's. What do you think is next for you?

Speaker C: Oh, uh, my. That's such a great question. Um, I think, you know, I'm just. I'm just building and building. I think, um, I'm working on a book right now.

Speaker B: Me, too.

Speaker C: Yay.

Speaker B: We should talk about it after and not tell anybody else that's listening. Tell us, like, about your story, you mean?

Speaker C: Yeah, but I just feel like there's, um, you know, there's. Now. There's all these kind of Systems that I've put in place that I feel like have been so helpful for my clients and my patients. And I think if I can now kind of build this into a book, give it and, like, that can be a starting point for, you know, for more work that I do, um, or for, you know, because I'm only one person and I can't see a million people. But, you know, I. I do feel like there's a. There's a different way to interact with food, and it can just be so much better. And so I really just want to spread that as much as possible.

Speaker B: Uh, I'm excited to check out. Do you have a name for it yet or. Not yet?

Speaker C: I do not. No, no. It's all in.

Speaker B: No pressure, but I look forward to your book so much, Dr. Megan. So tell everybody how they can find you online.

Speaker C: Yes, absolutely. So you can go to my website, which is, um, wheatmedicinemd.com and I'm also on YouTube, so it's Weight Medicine with Dr. Megan. And I talk mostly about weight medicine there. Um, I love to talk about all things weight related, but, um, mostly when people are there, they really want, like, trustworthy source of, you know, medical, uh, information about all these medications. So, um, you can find me at both of those places or you can schedule a call with me and I can talk with you more.

Speaker B: Yay, you guys. All the links will be in the show notes. Megan, thank you so much for joining us today.

Speaker C: Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much for having me. This is so fun.

Speaker A: Thanks so much for listening today. Be sure to subscribe, Listen again later. Tell your friends, leave a review, because all of that helps me do all of this. For show notes and more information, check out lizparisa.com podcast. Liz on Biz is brought to you by the Women's Business League, the only networking organization where women come together to connect, support, and grow authentically. Whether you're a seasoned entrepreneur or just getting started, WBL is the place where genuine networking brings, uh, real results for your business us.

Speaker B: Join me. I'm a member.

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