Doctor Drop It with Dr Barbara Hessel
If you've been dieting for years, losing weight and gaining it all back, feeling frustrated that nothing sticks, and wondering if your body is just broken, I want you to know: it's not you.
Your hunger hormones have been reprogrammed by years of restrictive dieting, and until you address what's actually driving your hunger, the cycle won't stop. I'm here to help you break it for good.
Every week, I share science-backed, no-nonsense guidance on sustainable weight loss for women, especially if you're in your 40s, 50s, or 60s.
No fads, no gimmicks, no shame. Just real medical expertise and strategies that work with your body instead of against it.
In this podcast, you'll learn:
👉 Why diets reprogram your hunger hormones to cause weight regain.
👉 The four hunger types (your Hunger Code) and why knowing yours is the key to lasting weight loss.
👉 The truth about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro, including side effects no one warns you about.
👉 How to lose fat without losing muscle, energy, or your sanity.
👉 Why you're always hungry on a diet and how to fix it naturally.
👉 How to stop yo-yo dieting once and for all with the Metabolic Momentum Method.
👉 The best way to lose weight during perimenopause and menopause.
👉 Why "eat less, exercise more" is terrible advice for most women.
I've helped thousands of women in my New York practice and online programs lose weight sustainably using the Metabolic Momentum Method, a doctor-designed, three-step framework (Master Macros, Happy Appetite, Metabolic Switch) that helps women lose up to 20 pounds in 12 weeks without starvation, excessive cardio, or muscle loss.
I also struggled with my own weight for decades before I cracked the code. I know what it's like to try everything and feel like nothing works.
That personal experience, combined with 25 years of medical practice, is why I approach weight loss differently than anyone else in this space.
If you're a smart, driven woman who's ready to stop starting over and finally get results that last, subscribe and turn on notifications. New episodes every week.
🔥 Book a free Hunger Code Assessment: https://doctordropit.com/register
🌐 Website: https://drhesselmd.com
Doctor Drop It with Dr Barbara Hessel
5 Things You Need in Place BEFORE Your First GLP-1 Injection
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📌 Book your free Hunger Code Assessment: https://doctordropit.com/register
GLP-1 medications can work. But most women starting them are missing the foundations that determine whether those results actually stick.
The medication mutes the symptoms. It does not fix the pattern. And if you don't know which of the 4 hunger types is driving your behavior, you'll likely regain everything the moment you stop.
In this episode, I'm going to walk you through the 5 things you need to have in place before your first GLP-1 injection — so the medication window becomes a bridge to permanent change, not a temporary fix.
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 5 Things You Need in Place BEFORE Your First GLP-1 Injection
1:15 Step 1: Get Your Baseline Before the First Injection
2:55 Why Fasting Insulin and a DEXA Scan Are Non-Negotiable
4:22 Step 2: Your Nutrition Plan Must Be Running Before Day 1
5:45 The Protein Target That Protects Your Muscle on GLP-1s
6:04 Step 3: Know Your Hunger Type Before You Start
9:15 Step 4: Plan Your Exit Before You Enter
11:18 What Separates Women Who Keep the Weight Off From Those Who Regain
13:58 The 3 Questions to Ask Your Doctor Before Agreeing to a Prescription
QUESTIONS ANSWERED
What should I do before starting a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Wegovy?
Before starting a GLP-1, get a fasting insulin test and a body composition scan (DEXA) so you have a baseline to protect. Start your nutrition plan — specifically your protein habit — before the medication begins, not after. The window when the drug is suppressing appetite is when that habit is easiest to build.
Why do women regain weight after stopping GLP-1 medications?
Women who regain weight after GLP-1 medications typically haven't addressed the underlying hunger pattern driving their eating behavior. The medication mutes the signal, but the Hungry Brain, Hungry Gut, Slow Burn, or Emotional Eating pattern remains. Without building protein habits, strength training, and an exit strategy during the medication window, most women return to the same behaviors once the drug stops.
How much protein should I eat on GLP-1 medications to protect muscle?
The target is 25 to 35 grams of protein per meal, with protein eaten first. This is not negotiable when appetite is suppressed — if you're eating less overall, every bite needs to be working. Muscle loss is one of the biggest risks of unmonitored GLP-1 use, and protein intake is the primary defense.
📱 RESOURCES
Hunger Code Assessment: https://doctordropit.com/register
Website: https://drhesselmd.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraHesselMD/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbarbarahesselmd/
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ABOUT DR. BARBARA HESSEL
Dr. Barbara Hessel, M.D., has spent 25+ years helping women lose weight without losing muscle. As the creator of the Hunger Code Method, she specializes in identifying the biological hunger pattern driving each patient's behavior — and building a plan around it. Her approach produces sustainable fat loss without the restriction cycles that make traditional diets fail. Learn more at doctordropit.com.
#GLP1 #Ozempic #WeightLoss #WomensHealth #HungerCode