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

What does long-term GLP-1 use actually look like in real life? 
In this episode, Ana sits down with clinical pharmacist Kimmi Le of Solara Labs/Barimelts to talk about the bigger picture of staying on GLP-1 medications over time. They unpack why weight loss alone is not the same thing as better health, what labs and biomarkers matter most, and how to think about muscle, nutrient status, digestion, inflammation, and long-term maintenance. Kimmi shares a practical perspective on microdosing, why some patients may do better staying on a lower long-term dose, and how to avoid the cycle of losing and regaining weight. They also talk about nutrient absorption, supplement quality, bariatric surgery considerations, and what may be coming next in the GLP-1 space.
 In this episode, you’ll learn: 
Why “the scale going down” doesn’t always mean health is improving
The role of exercise and muscle preservation on GLP-1s
How slowed digestion can affect nutrient absorption
What bariatric patients should keep in mind when using GLP-1 medications
Why form and quality matter when choosing supplements
How clinicians are thinking about long-term use, lower dosing, and maintenance
 About Kimmi Le: Kimmi Le is a clinical pharmacist with additional training in nutrition, herbalism, and culinary medicine through Tulane Medical School’s teaching kitchen. She works in the supplement space with Solara Labs/Barimelts, with a focus on practical support for women using GLP-1 medications and bariatric patients. 
Episode Sponsors:
Barimelts: https://www.barimelts.com/
Brello: A GLP-1 telehealth platform connecting you with licensed providers. Visit http://brello.com to learn more.
Timeline Mitopure: Go to timeline.com/glp1hub for up to 20% off.
Want to Learn More about GLP-1 Hub?
Join the Steady State newsletter and get a FREE 7-day meal plan + weekly support and strategy to optimize your journey: 
http://join.glp-1hub.com
Join the membership:
https://glp-1hub.com/membership
Visit our GLP-1 Hub store:
https://shop.glp-1hub.com
Want to connect more with GLP-1 Hub?

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/glp1hub
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glp1hub
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.

Jess Perreca joins Ana Reisdorf to share his powerful personal story of obesity, massive weight loss, regain, bariatric surgery, and what finally feels different in this season of his life with GLP-1 support. He opens up about growing up with obesity, reaching nearly 600 pounds, losing more than 200 pounds twice, and the emotional patterns that kept pulling him backward. Jess also explains why one of the biggest changes hasn’t just been the weight loss itself, but the relief from pain, inflammation, and swelling that has made everyday life feel more manageable. This is an honest conversation about food noise, emotional eating, shame, persistence, and what it looks like to keep going even after setbacks. 
About Our Guest 
Jess Perreca Jr. is the creator of Time4Change365 and Everyday Ascend, where he shares an honest look at weight loss, mindset, and what sustainable change really takes. After reaching a high of 588 pounds, Jess lost well over 200 pounds, experienced regain, and recommitted to his health with structure, accountability, and transparency. His journey has included bariatric surgery, GLP-1 medication, and the ongoing mental battle with food noise, shame, and consistency that so many people living with obesity understand firsthand. A husband, father of two, and full-time IT professional, Jess now uses his platforms to encourage others to keep moving forward and become 1% better each day. 
Guest Links 
Instagram: @time4change365
Instagram: @everydayascendco 
Website: everydayascend.com
Episode Sponsors:
 Harvest Snaps by Calbee America  and enter SNAPS15 at checkout for 15% off your order, now through June 30.
Brello: A GLP-1 telehealth platform connecting you with licensed providers. Visit http://brello.com to learn more.
Want to Learn More about GLP-1 Hub?
Join the Steady State newsletter and get a FREE 7-day meal plan + weekly support and strategy to optimize your journey: 
http://join.glp-1hub.com
Join the membership:
https://glp-1hub.com/membership
Visit our GLP-1 Hub store:
https://shop.glp-1hub.com
Want to connect more with GLP-1 Hub?

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/glp1hub
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glp1hub
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.

If you're on a GLP-1 and trying to eat well when your appetite is low, this episode is full of practical, realistic advice. Ana sits down with Cassandra Lepore, known online as @dietitianCass, to break down what smarter snacking actually looks like on a GLP-1,  such as choosing foods that contain both protein and fiber like Harvest Snaps. They also dig into what Cassandra is seeing inside the food industry as brands adapt products and messaging for GLP-1 users.
Ana also closes the episode by answering a listener question about GLP-1-related hair loss, including what may cause it, what emerging research is suggesting, and what steps may help right now.
About Our Guest:
Cassandra Lepore is a dietitian and social media nutrition educator known online as @dietitianCass. She works full-time behind the scenes with CPG food and beverage brands, including Calbee’s Harvest Snaps. Her work is focused on how products can better support people using GLP-1 medications. Her work centers on translating evidence-based nutrition into practical, easy-to-understand advice.
Connect with Cassandra Lepore
Instagram: @dietitianCass
TikTok: @dietitianCass
LinkedIn: Cassandra Lepore
Resources mentioned
GLP-1 Hair Loss Cheat Sheet: https://join.glp-1hub.com/hairloss
GLP-1 Hub hair loss YouTube Links:
Fixing Hair Loss on a GLP-1: https://youtu.be/06M5ZU9j-Ww
Hair Loss New Study Update: https://youtu.be/OjFQn6gDreY
Episode Sponsors:
Harvest Snaps — 5g protein and 4g fiber per serving. Use code SNAPS15 at HarvestSnaps.com for 15% off through June 30.
Barimelts — Use code GLP1HUB at Barimelts.com for 25% off.
Timeline Mitopure — Go to timeline.com/glp1hub for up to 20% off.
Want to Learn More about GLP-1 Hub?
Join the Steady State newsletter and get a FREE 7-day meal plan + weekly support and strategy to optimize your journey: 
http://join.glp-1hub.com
Join the membership:
https://glp-1hub.com/membership
Visit our GLP-1 Hub store:
https://shop.glp-1hub.com
Want to connect more with GLP-1 Hub?

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/glp1hub
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glp1hub
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.

If you’ve noticed your pain improving on a GLP-1 medication, you may not be imagining it, and it may not be just because of weight loss. In this episode, Ana sits down with Dr. Asare Christian, an integrative pain management physician, to talk about why chronic pain is often treated too narrowly, how inflammation, sleep, trauma, stress, and metabolic health all shape the pain experience, and why GLP-1 medications like semaglutide may have a direct pain-relieving effect even at low doses. They also dig into migraines, how low-dose semaglutide may fit into pain care, the micronutrients that still matter when appetite is lower, and why lasting pain relief usually takes more than a single medication or procedure.
About our Guest:
Dr. Asare B. Christian, MD, MPH, FAAMFM, is a board-certified longevity medicine physician and founder of Aether Medicine, a concierge performance  & longevity clinic in Pennsylvania. Trained at Johns Hopkins and Harvard, he specializes in solving pain, optimizing hormones and metabolism, and advancing healthspan through precision diagnostics and evidence-based cellular therapies. He combines rigorous science with innovative medicine to help patients improve performance, resilience, and long-term vitality.
Connect with Dr. Christian
Website: Aether Medicine - Integrative Pain Management Specialist - Wayne, PA
Episode Sponsors:
Metagenics: Explore our complete collection of science-backed supplements.
Harvest Snaps:  Harvest Snaps by Calbee America Enter SNAPS15 at checkout for 15% off your order, now through June 30.
Want to Learn More about GLP-1 Hub?
Join the Steady State newsletter and get a FREE 7-day meal plan + weekly support and strategy to optimize your journey: 
http://join.glp-1hub.com
Join the membership:
https://glp-1hub.com/membership
Visit our GLP-1 Hub store:
https://shop.glp-1hub.com
Want to connect more with GLP-1 Hub?

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/glp1hub
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glp1hub
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.

If your GLP-1 has quieted more than food noise, this episode will help you understand why. Ana sits down with Dr. Steven Klein, addiction medicine physician at Caron Treatment Centers, PhD in human genetics, person in long-term recovery, and long-term GLP-1 user, to unpack how GLP-1 medications may reduce cravings beyond food.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why food noise and addiction cravings can come from the same brain circuitry
How GLP-1s may reduce alcohol, opioid, and other compulsive urges
Whether these medications blunt pleasure or simply reduce obsession
Why low-dose treatment may still help with cravings
What habits, support, and recovery tools still matter on or off medication
How genetics, epigenetics, and chronic stress may influence addiction risk
Where someone can start if they need help for addiction
About our Guest Dr. Steven Klein:
Dr. Steven Klein is a physician-scientist specializing in addiction medicine with expertise in pediatrics, medical genetics, and the neurobiology of substance use. 
At Caron, he plays a leading role in advancing biologically informed therapies for recovery, including the integration of GLP-1 receptor agonists to reduce cravings and support long-term outcomes. Dr. Klein earned both his MD and PhD in Human Genetics through UCLA’s Medical Scientist Training Program and completed residency and postdoctoral research at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. He is board-certified in pediatrics and addiction medicine and board-eligible in medical genetics.
You can connect with Dr. Klein and Caron here. 
Episode Sponsors:
Timeline / Mitopure: Mitopure® | #1 Doctor Recommended Urolithin A
Harvest Snaps:  Harvest Snaps by Calbee America  and enter SNAPS15 at checkout for 15% off your order, now through June 30.
Barimelts: Go to Barimelts.com and use code GLP1HUB for 25% off your order
Want to Learn More about GLP-1 Hub?
Join the Steady State newsletter and get a FREE 7-day meal plan + weekly support and strategy to optimize your journey: 
http://join.glp-1hub.com
Join the membership:
https://glp-1hub.com/membership
Visit our GLP-1 Hub store:
https://shop.glp-1hub.com
Want to connect more with GLP-1 Hub?

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/glp1hub
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glp1hub
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.