Episode 293

More on GLP-1 Meds & How to Increase GLP-1 Naturally

Published on: 12th March, 2025

It seems like almost everyone is taking GLP-1 medications these days to lose weight. Now a couple years after they’ve been used for this purpose, what do we know? How do we interpret all the headlines about them? Despite how the news makes it sound and what your doctor may have told you, you have options! Tune in to understand more about GLP-1 medications, what Jenn does as a health coach for her clients who are taking them, and how you can naturally support your own GLP-1, empowering you with knowledge and control over your health.

Welcome to Salad with a Side of Fries! In today’s episode, Jenn dives into the impact of GLP-1 medications on metabolic health. She begins by explaining what GLP-1 is and addresses some of the controversy surrounding celebrities who don’t admit to using it for their weight loss. Jenn also uncovers how the secondary benefits of GLP-1 often mislead the public and explores its short term side effects and potential long lasting impacts. She discusses the concept of fat cells having memory, what people can do to support true metabolic health while taking these meds, and shares practical tips for naturally supporting your body’s own GLP-1 for long term metabolic health. 

The Salad With a Side of Fries podcast is hosted by Jenn Trepeck, discussing wellness and weight loss for real life, clearing up the myths, misinformation, bad science & marketing surrounding our nutrition knowledge and the food industry. Let’s dive into wellness and weight loss for real life, including drinking, eating out, and skipping the grocery store. 

IN THIS EPISODE: 

(00:00) Jenn talks about GLP-1 meds, metabolic health and weight loss

(05:07) Defining GLP-1 and how it works in the body

(12:05) How the public is misled by the secondary benefits of taking the medication and discussion of side effects

(21:08) Being cautious and a discussion of the gut brain connection and malnutrition

(26:50) Fat cells have memory, BMI as a metric, and an example of how the Healthy Vibe Tribe brought down blood sugar 70 points for a client

(35:10) How to naturally support your GLP-1 and metabolic health

(43:53) What about insulin

KEY TAKEAWAYS: 

  • GLP-1 medications are more openly discussed with more people openly admitting they’re taking them. This shift contrasts with the early days when celebrities falsely claimed weight loss was solely due to light exercise, misleading the public and creating unrealistic expectations for weight loss.
  • Jenn criticizes the Super Bowl ad from Hers, which she believes "weaponized diet culture" to promote its version of a GLP-1 medication. She expresses frustration with how marketing continues to exploit societal insecurities around weight, comparing it to the more positive and empowering approaches taken by brands like Dove.
  • While GLP-1 medications can be life-transforming in the short term—reducing weight and alleviating joint pain—there are concerns about their long-term impact. Issues like bone density loss, muscle deterioration, and potential joint problems down the line should be considered. This highlights the importance of being proactive and responsible for your long-term health
  • While taking the medications may seem like the “easy button,” there are other considerations to ensure true health, like the nutrition you provide your body when you do eat and the role supplementation can play. 
  • There are nutrition and supplementation choices that can support the body’s own GLP-1 production.

QUOTES: 

(04:55) “GLP stands for Glucagon Like Peptide. Glucagon Like Peptide 1 comes from the large bowel, or the colon. It stimulates insulin secretion, suppresses glucagon, supporting blood sugar regulation.” Jenn Trepeck

(17:21) “Protein and fiber at every meal makes removing fat, no big deal.” Jenn Trepeck

(34:54) “Sometimes while we think this is the easy button, it requires an even more significant commitment to protein, fiber, quality fat, strength training, and a multivitamin to get your micronutrients.” Jenn Trepeck.

(40:23) “When we start to understand low glycemic impact nutrition, we're focusing on nutrient dense foods and less processed foods.” Jenn Trepeck

(42:35) “ Exercise, sleep, water, food. Those are your responsibilities. ” Jenn Trepeck

RESOURCES:

Jenn’s GLP-1 Support Supplements

Become A Member of Salad with a Side of Fries

Jenn’s Free Menu Plan

A Salad With a Side of Fries

A Salad With A Side Of Fries Merch

A Salad With a Side of Fries Instagram

Nutrition Nugget: Ozempic 

Your Fat Cells Have Memory, A New Study Finds (feat. Ferdinand von Meyenn) 

BMI Is BS

Nutrition Nugget: Butter

The Ultimate Biohack

Top 5 Tips for Digesting Nutrition News

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About the Podcast

Salad With a Side of Fries Nutrition, Wellness & Weight Loss
What to eat and when to cheat! Let's decipher between all the “diets” out there. You know what to do but it itsn't working. In fact, your diet could be making you fatter.

Ever wondered if cryo-freezing your fat cells would really work? Should you try acupuncture? A hypnotist? If you do, how do you know if someone’s good?

Salad with a Side of Fries is the podcast that will answer all these questions and more! Talking wellness and weight loss for real life, because most of us are going to drink, eat out, skip the grocery store and who wants a life without fries or dessert?! Host Jenn Trepeck’s expertise as an optimal health coach, in practice for over a decade, along with experts in various modalities will clear up the myths, mis-information, bad science and marketing to reveal the truth of HOW TO EAT and HOW TO CHEAT!*



*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This podcast, its content and guests are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

About your host

Profile picture for Jennifer Trepeck

Jennifer Trepeck

“My passion for nutrition and helping others stems from “kicking my food issues” with my own weight management saga.” ~ Jenn

I believe that the greatest accountability is paying it forward! That’s why I teach the nutrition education we are all supposed to know but no one ever taught us, along with the science behind food, fitness, and health.

After I graduated from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, I founded Better Life Now LLC while working full-time in hedge funds. In 2019, I took my practice from side-hustle to full-time self-employment and launched my podcast, Salad With a Side of Fries. On the show, we offer science-based tips and tricks for how to achieve wellness and weight loss for real life – because who wants a life without fries or dessert?!

Topics we tackle on the podcast include debunking fad diets, food myths, misinformation in marketing, bad science, and general nutrition. I encourage guests whose expertise is different from my own focus on weight management to bring their unique, fact-based perspectives to talk about subjects they are educated in and passionate about.

Due to my decade-long experience of working with clients, I have gained insight into the health and food industry and the how-tos of building a business.

Some specific health and wellness topics I can speak to include debunking fad diets, exposing the BS we are fed by the food and diet industry, how the people around us can positively and negatively impact our health journey, and shifting mindsets in order to overcome inappropriate barometers of success to instead achieve happy, healthy, and meaningful change.

On the subject of business, I can help you by teaching my critical pieces every entrepreneur should know, how to make your side-hustle into your full-time job, ways to sustainably achieve success without burning out, contemporary networking, and how to prioritize wellness while pursuing your projects.

When I find some free time, I’m typically working out at Physique57, discovering hidden gem restaurants in NYC, or traveling to spend time with friends and family.

I’d love to have an in-depth conversation with you, whether it’s leveling up in business or debunking food myths!