But if you're doing this and still struggling—working tirelessly but not yet witnessing the life-changing results you see others getting, know that you have continually been on our hearts and minds. You yearn for success but you feel like your body is so broken it can’t get there. Or, maybe you're just feeling stalled out in your journey… you’ve entered a new hormonal stage and boy have things changed! The Trim Healthy Plan will always be bedrock foundation but we are committed to bringing you some new tools in this next phase of hormone and peptide optimization.

When Effort Doesn't Equal Success

We know for some of you, it’s not for a lack of trying. The reality is that you may be dealing with metabolic challenges that others don't face. We’re ready to break down barriers that others in alternative health and wellness won't. We’ll face push back but we believe an integrative approach to optimal health is how more women (and men) can find breakthroughs.

Marrying Science and Lifestyle

We're going to be pushing boundaries, merging cutting-edge science with foundational nutrition to bring real solutions, including talking openly about the role GLP-1 peptide therapies can play in your health journey. And although these therapies won’t be for everyone (most people don’t need them), we know they can be potentially life changing for a smaller group of people who feel constantly left behind.

Enter Medication: A Taboo Subject?

Medication for weight loss can be a divisive topic. Lots of different opinions are being voiced in the media. Some are touting their benefits… others are warning against them. You hear about scary side effects… that these therapies are unnecessary… that results can be achieved through diet and exercise alone if someone puts in enough effort… and that if you go off them… you’ll gain all the weight back and more. There is also a general skepticism from many of us who are “crunchy” and have a leeriness of physician prescribed meds overall.

But while the stigma persists—that you should simply try harder, eat less, take this or that supplement, and exercise more—we know otherwise. We've worked with people who give it their all, yet due to genetic issues or severe insulin resistance or hormonal mayhem, they still struggle. This includes members of our own family!

We first became interested in these therapies back in 2020 when we heard about them on some biohacking/longevity groups we are members of. They were pretty much an unknown at that point for weight loss (they’d been around for over a decade for blood sugar regulation). The following year we attended a peptide, hormone and longevity convention with practitioners from all over the country. The spotlight beamed on these therapies and their positive effect on metabolic disorders. Although they are termed “medications” since they require a physician to be involved, they are based on a naturally occurring peptide we all make. The problem is some of us make less of it than others. People who make less are typically the ones who struggle more metabolism-wise. GLP - 1 (Glucagon Like Peptide) is a naturally occurring hormone in the body that is secreted after eating. Among the many functions it performs, perhaps the three most powerful are insulin regulation, blood sugar control and appetite satiety.

At that conference the side effects many hear about were explained… the slow gastric emptying can be mediated by dose. The thyroid cancer studies were on rats - in humans, that cancer is a very rare, genetic one that most people are not at risk for. There was some very encouraging research presented indicating these medications are actually powerful cancer fighters due to their blood sugar regulating effects and that they show benefits for those with cardiovascular and kidney issues. We realized the huge impact they could have and became personally involved by getting Sam, Serene’s husband treated with one of them.

Sam’s Story

Sam’s family has some genetic issues that are very challenging. Sam was one of those ones… no matter what he did… his body kept slowly gaining weight. He was a generally healthy eater but it was only when he was super strict that he could perhaps lose just a few pounds, but then all weight loss would stop and those pounds would come right back on again. As he entered his mid to late forties, his body became inflamed, his insulin jumped up, his A1C became pre-diabetic and his inflammation markers were far from optimal. Most people putting in the work he did would be trim and healthy. He’d tried so many things that didn’t work that he started to lose hope.

Sam’s turn around using these therapies has been amazing. His blood work dramatically improved. His reasons for going on the therapy were to get healthier… to get his insulin resistance and inflammation down. That happened but he also shed the stubborn weight. Weight loss was not his main goal but it was a definite side benefit. He kept eating the Trim Healthy way but this time it worked for his body. Sam learned GLP-1 therapies are best used with a low and slow approach. Many of the issues associated with these medications are from the standard titration dosing… which is much higher than most people require.

Introducing Dr. Kay Chandler (Surgeon General of the State of Arkansas): The Expert Behind the Science

Dr. Kay is a  distinguished OBGYN with nearly 30 years of experience and is the lead physician on our medical advisory board.

Dr. Kay demystifies therapies like GLP-1 —once only used for diabetes, but now approved for weight issues. She clarifies how these therapies, including semaglutide and tirzepatide, enhance the body's natural peptide production to better regulate insulin, blood sugar and hunger cues. She has an entirely new approach to using them safely and soundly.

But Who Really Benefits?

There is much talk about “food noise” with these therapies and how they help quell the constant desire to eat. Yes, they can help people experience feeling properly full when they’ve never really known that feeling, but they also help many without that issue. Dr. Kay finds these therapies are especially helpful for women dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome, (PCOS ) of which 1 in 10 women suffer in the US, and they have been beneficial for many with extreme insulin resistance and malfunctioning metabolisms.

While these therapies have been sensationalized in the media of late because they have been abused with too swift and too high doses in order for people to shed weight very quickly… that will NEVER be the Trim Healthy approach. GLP-1 therapies can only be a long term solution if combined with the safe guidelines of wise eating (such as the Trim Healthy Plan). Wise eating and wise movement are foundational. When these therapies are used only to enable people to eat less but still unhealthfully, they fix nothing! They cause a state of skinny fat. The Trim Healthy approach with Dr. Kay is for these therapies to be wisely guided by medical professionals rather than handed out like candy at Med Spas and promoted to people just looking to get bikini bod shredded in 30 days. They will be used to create a lean mean fat burning body machine that retains and even builds body mass. The goal is to wean off them when the time is right and with greater lean body mass… not gain the weight back.

What About the Risks?

Yes, side effects exist. Rapid weight loss can lead to physical problems, but with a properly managed plan emphasizing protein along with intake of essential amino acids, clean foods and strength training, risks can be mitigated and even eliminated entirely. Digestive upsets can occur too but these can be better managed with wise dosing.

The Five Golden Rules from Dr. Kay
1. Low and Slow: Start with the lowest effective dose and stay there for as long as you are seeing baby step results.
2. Don’t skip meals: Make sure you’re getting enough nutrition in every meal even if your meals are smaller.
3. Be a Protein Nerd: Aim for 25 grams of protein per meal or snack and get that four times per day.
4. Be Mindful: Don't misuse these powerful therapies as an excuse to eat devitalized carbs and not enough protein.
5. Strength Training: Incorporate it three times a week, focusing on large muscle groups.

Real Life Transformation: A Patient’s Story

Dr. Kay was skeptical of these therapies at first, but she recalls her turning point moment when one of her patients—a busy mom with PCOS—who tried every imaginable diet plan and exercised religiously asked her to prescribe one for her. Despite her dedication, she had seen little to no results and went to bed hungry just to maintain her weight. Dr. Kay agreed with the stipulation they were not to be used as a quick fix, wise diet and movement would need to stay prioritized and titration would be only if needed and extremely conservative. With these measures in place, not only did this woman lose 30 pounds, she also felt stronger, more energetic, and most importantly, more confident. She finally felt like she was no longer broken metabolically.

Finding Hope in the Struggle

If you’re in a similar struggle, it isn't necessarily a sign of failure; it could be a call for a more personalized solution. If you relate to some of what we are sharing here, don’t lose hope. This could be the beginning of a whole new leg of your journey. Remember, this journey is not just about losing weight; that’s just icing on the healthy cake. The cake itself is losing inflammation, gaining confidence, strength, and overall vitality by giving your body the GLP -1 peptide it has been missing.

~Pearl & Serene