Conversations on life, style, beauty and relationships. It's The Velvet's Edge podcast with Kelly Henderson.

Conversations on life, style, beauty and relationships. It's The Velvet's Edge podcast with Kelly Henderson.

All Right, if you guys haven't heard about glp ones, which are weight drugs, weight loss drugs like ozimpic, I would say you're probably living under a rock. Many people have seen these life changing weight loss from these drugs, but there's also a lot of people who are skeptical, and I can be included in that, as you know, what is the longevity of this situation, what are the side effects? And once again, are we just throwing a pill at something that seems to be rooted in a deeper issue. So I figured I would bring an expert on. It's the beginning of the year. I always love to do these deep dives so we can set our intentions for the year. So doctor Alexandra Soa is here.

All Right, if you guys haven't heard about glp ones, which are weight drugs, weight loss drugs like ozimpic, I would say you're probably living under a rock. Many people have seen these life changing weight loss from these drugs, but there's also a lot of people who are skeptical, and I can be included in that, as you know, what is the longevity of this situation, what are the side effects? And once again, are we just throwing a pill at something that seems to be rooted in a deeper issue. So I figured I would bring an expert on. It's the beginning of the year. I always love to do these deep dives so we can set our intentions for the year. So doctor Alexandra Soa is here.

Hi, Doctor Soa, Hi, thank you so much for having me.

Hi, Doctor Soa, Hi, thank you so much for having me.

So I wanted to first and foremost just give listeners. Like I said, if you haven't heard of ozimpic, I mean you even brought up to me earlier before we started the podcast about the Golden Globes last night, and then immediately there's a joke made about Oh, look at all the ozembic faces. It's a huge thing happening in our society. So if you haven't heard of it, it would be crazy. But if someone hasn't, can you just say tell the listeners, what is a GLP one?

So I wanted to first and foremost just give listeners. Like I said, if you haven't heard of ozimpic, I mean you even brought up to me earlier before we started the podcast about the Golden Globes last night, and then immediately there's a joke made about Oh, look at all the ozembic faces. It's a huge thing happening in our society. So if you haven't heard of it, it would be crazy. But if someone hasn't, can you just say tell the listeners, what is a GLP one?

Yes?

Yes?

So my book is called the ozembic Revolution because we've kind of come to lump all of these drugs under the name ozempic, but really we're talking about GLP one drugs. And GLP one is a hormone that occurs in the body, and it has to do with hunger and satiety.

So my book is called the ozembic Revolution because we've kind of come to lump all of these drugs under the name ozempic, but really we're talking about GLP one drugs. And GLP one is a hormone that occurs in the body, and it has to do with hunger and satiety.

Regulation and fat storage.

Regulation and fat storage.

And we've now figured out a way to make it and actually make it lasts longer than it does in our body, and it's become a very effective tool for blood sugar management, weight management, and now we're getting even more indications about how it's helping. So GLP one medications they mimic a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, and that hormone acts all over our body. But really the three big ways that it works our brain, gut, and pancreas at the level of blood sugar. So we've had weight management tools before, and we were practicing this field long before these weekly injectibles came to fruition, but we've never had anything quite as effective, and that's why we're all talking about it, because for the first time ever, we have a weight management tool that's non surgical, that's helping people lose incredible amounts of weight, upwards of twenty five percent or more of their total mind weight.

And we've now figured out a way to make it and actually make it lasts longer than it does in our body, and it's become a very effective tool for blood sugar management, weight management, and now we're getting even more indications about how it's helping. So GLP one medications they mimic a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, and that hormone acts all over our body. But really the three big ways that it works our brain, gut, and pancreas at the level of blood sugar. So we've had weight management tools before, and we were practicing this field long before these weekly injectibles came to fruition, but we've never had anything quite as effective, and that's why we're all talking about it, because for the first time ever, we have a weight management tool that's non surgical, that's helping people lose incredible amounts of weight, upwards of twenty five percent or more of their total mind weight.

So that's what it is.

So that's what it is.

Well, you mentioned blood sugar. Weren't these drugs created initially to help with diabetes.

Well, you mentioned blood sugar. Weren't these drugs created initially to help with diabetes.

Yes, and they've actually been on the market since two thousand and five this type of medication, first for type two diabetes management, and then actually about ten eleven years ago, we had our first drug to market in this class for weight management.

Yes, and they've actually been on the market since two thousand and five this type of medication, first for type two diabetes management, and then actually about ten eleven years ago, we had our first drug to market in this class for weight management.

So we've had them around for a while.

So we've had them around for a while.

That's a misconception and people say, oh, they're just brand new, they're not. Yes, the science was looking for a better answer for blood sugar management other than insulin, which has a whole host of complications, and we were able to find that and with new iterations of the drug they've gotten more effective, and along the way we realized actually there is an independent weight management effect.

That's a misconception and people say, oh, they're just brand new, they're not. Yes, the science was looking for a better answer for blood sugar management other than insulin, which has a whole host of complications, and we were able to find that and with new iterations of the drug they've gotten more effective, and along the way we realized actually there is an independent weight management effect.

And then now we've discovered other.

And then now we've discovered other.

Independent factors like management for sleep apnea and cardiovascular and kidney protection. But yes, it did start with blood sugar.

Independent factors like management for sleep apnea and cardiovascular and kidney protection. But yes, it did start with blood sugar.

We mentioned the book it's called the ozembic Revolution, and we will get to that a little bit more. But why do you think now, so if this drug has been around forever, why are we seeing this massive uptick in the use of things like a zimpic.

We mentioned the book it's called the ozembic Revolution, and we will get to that a little bit more. But why do you think now, so if this drug has been around forever, why are we seeing this massive uptick in the use of things like a zimpic.

Well, I think it's actually very clearly linked to when this drug. So, as I mentioned, it's been out for a while, but with every new iteration of it, it's gotten more active. And the first drug that we had to market for weight management, sex Senda, was a daily injectible and it's weight loss percentages were okay, about ten percent. With the advent of ozepic, which was a weekly injectible, which makes it a lot easier for people to take a one time a week shot versus a daily shot, that one puts it in its new class. And secondly, it just became a lot more effective at both blood sugar management and weight management, so we were starting to see fifteen percent total body weight. And then the newest iterations of the drug, which are two hormone agonists, so two types of hormones are in it, Minjaro or zep bound, we see up boards of twenty three to twenty five percent total body weight loss. So that's what's happened, is that kind of with every new drug release, they've gotten better ways to give the drug and just even more efficacious.

Well, I think it's actually very clearly linked to when this drug. So, as I mentioned, it's been out for a while, but with every new iteration of it, it's gotten more active. And the first drug that we had to market for weight management, sex Senda, was a daily injectible and it's weight loss percentages were okay, about ten percent. With the advent of ozepic, which was a weekly injectible, which makes it a lot easier for people to take a one time a week shot versus a daily shot, that one puts it in its new class. And secondly, it just became a lot more effective at both blood sugar management and weight management, so we were starting to see fifteen percent total body weight. And then the newest iterations of the drug, which are two hormone agonists, so two types of hormones are in it, Minjaro or zep bound, we see up boards of twenty three to twenty five percent total body weight loss. So that's what's happened, is that kind of with every new drug release, they've gotten better ways to give the drug and just even more efficacious.

So that's what we're starting to see also.

So that's what we're starting to see also.

So I will tell you I think the Creator economy, I think TikTok and Instagram over the past few years have really shifted the way that people are talking about weight management and obesity.

So I will tell you I think the Creator economy, I think TikTok and Instagram over the past few years have really shifted the way that people are talking about weight management and obesity.

I was screaming.

I was screaming.

From the rooftops for years that this is a disease, we have tools to treat it.

From the rooftops for years that this is a disease, we have tools to treat it.

And people would be like, look at me, like.

And people would be like, look at me, like.

I was crazy, and I got I don't know, I don't know what you're talking about. That sounds like quackery. And then when these drugs, I know, something magical happen. Like with this availability of people to share their story and people feeling empowered to share their story, people went from being kind of very very private about these journeys. I've even seen this in my practice. People are like, I don't want anyone to.

I was crazy, and I got I don't know, I don't know what you're talking about. That sounds like quackery. And then when these drugs, I know, something magical happen. Like with this availability of people to share their story and people feeling empowered to share their story, people went from being kind of very very private about these journeys. I've even seen this in my practice. People are like, I don't want anyone to.

Know I'm on these medications too.

Know I'm on these medications too.

I'm going to share it and I want everyone to know, and I'm going to be so proud that I'm on these injections and I'm going to share the highs and the lows and create a whole community out of it. So I really do think that that's another big part of the cultural shift, is people's willingness to share and embrace that this is a disease and I'm not to blame here and I'm not going to take on the shame anymore. I'm using a tool to treat my disease, and i want other people to embrace that too.

I'm going to share it and I want everyone to know, and I'm going to be so proud that I'm on these injections and I'm going to share the highs and the lows and create a whole community out of it. So I really do think that that's another big part of the cultural shift, is people's willingness to share and embrace that this is a disease and I'm not to blame here and I'm not going to take on the shame anymore. I'm using a tool to treat my disease, and i want other people to embrace that too.

I want to get to that disease point, because we were talking a little bit about that before the podcast, and your book was very helpful to me and understanding a bigger aspect of obesity than I've ever actually even considered personally. But you just kind of mentioned something that I thought was so interesting about the sharing and all of that stuff, and I was thinking, right, well, I've seen a million fad diets and like the weight loss surgeries like you mentioned, throughout my lifetime. You remember the days of like Atkins and all of those things, and people were seeing massive weight loss from those kind of things, but they felt very temporary in a way, or something that wasn't able to be maintained.

I want to get to that disease point, because we were talking a little bit about that before the podcast, and your book was very helpful to me and understanding a bigger aspect of obesity than I've ever actually even considered personally. But you just kind of mentioned something that I thought was so interesting about the sharing and all of that stuff, and I was thinking, right, well, I've seen a million fad diets and like the weight loss surgeries like you mentioned, throughout my lifetime. You remember the days of like Atkins and all of those things, and people were seeing massive weight loss from those kind of things, but they felt very temporary in a way, or something that wasn't able to be maintained.

So why is this different, Because this is getting to the bottom of the biology component, and so you had.

So why is this different, Because this is getting to the bottom of the biology component, and so you had.

Spoken a little bit about it. At my book.

Spoken a little bit about it. At my book.

It's a user guide to these medications, so it's how can people be successful on them?

It's a user guide to these medications, so it's how can people be successful on them?

But before we get.

But before we get.

To that, I explain about the biology of weight gain and why it is so hard to often lose weight on your own, and why the mantra of eat less exercise more it's a good way to start your life and to prevent it doesn't really work once we've gotten to a place of metabolic dysfunction, and obesity really is a disease. Once excess weight comes on, it is very very hard to get off and sometimes we and I talk about this actually in the book, about how low carbon kytosis can be an effective way to get to kind of fix some of the hormones that have become dysregulated when we put on weight. The problem is is that we as a society and as a species aren't really made to just eliminate whole elements of our diet long long term. And I believe in particular targeted diet interventions. I do, and I really do think that whole foods is the absolute best way, and sometimes I will put people on low carb and I believe in it. The problem is, and I've seen this over the course of my career, is that at year three, maybe even sooner, people just get very tired of it, and the hormones start to outweigh and like, talk to you more. The hormones in your brain say I'm hungry. I don't want to do this anymore. You can't do this anymore. And what's so different about these medications is that these medications are getting to the crux of the metabolic dysfunction and helping fix them, and they are fixing our behaviors and our brain too. They give people the ability to take a pause and do the work that they knew that they might have needed to do. But we're just unable to And we don't need as strict of food dietary intervention, So we don't need to eliminate whole food groups. Now we need to eat very well. And that's like the second tenet of my books, a whole nutrition plan, but it's you're.

To that, I explain about the biology of weight gain and why it is so hard to often lose weight on your own, and why the mantra of eat less exercise more it's a good way to start your life and to prevent it doesn't really work once we've gotten to a place of metabolic dysfunction, and obesity really is a disease. Once excess weight comes on, it is very very hard to get off and sometimes we and I talk about this actually in the book, about how low carbon kytosis can be an effective way to get to kind of fix some of the hormones that have become dysregulated when we put on weight. The problem is is that we as a society and as a species aren't really made to just eliminate whole elements of our diet long long term. And I believe in particular targeted diet interventions. I do, and I really do think that whole foods is the absolute best way, and sometimes I will put people on low carb and I believe in it. The problem is, and I've seen this over the course of my career, is that at year three, maybe even sooner, people just get very tired of it, and the hormones start to outweigh and like, talk to you more. The hormones in your brain say I'm hungry. I don't want to do this anymore. You can't do this anymore. And what's so different about these medications is that these medications are getting to the crux of the metabolic dysfunction and helping fix them, and they are fixing our behaviors and our brain too. They give people the ability to take a pause and do the work that they knew that they might have needed to do. But we're just unable to And we don't need as strict of food dietary intervention, So we don't need to eliminate whole food groups. Now we need to eat very well. And that's like the second tenet of my books, a whole nutrition plan, but it's you're.

Able to kind of just live a little bit.

Able to kind of just live a little bit.

More normally and not as strict on these medications. Because the medication is even more powerful than our ability to restrict that we would be able to achieve just through diet alone. And the evidence on these medications is so strong for long term sustained weight loss, far beyond what we can see with short term fixes through diet and exercise. Now, there are people who are listening to this, or people say, I know somebody. Yes, as a population, we are on a big old bell curve and their outliers on both sides, and so yes, five ten percent of people will be able to keep off weight through diet and exercise alone, But that leaves about ninety plus percent who are unable to. And this medication has become the tool to override all of the hormones that have gone haywire due to the environment we are living in.

More normally and not as strict on these medications. Because the medication is even more powerful than our ability to restrict that we would be able to achieve just through diet alone. And the evidence on these medications is so strong for long term sustained weight loss, far beyond what we can see with short term fixes through diet and exercise. Now, there are people who are listening to this, or people say, I know somebody. Yes, as a population, we are on a big old bell curve and their outliers on both sides, and so yes, five ten percent of people will be able to keep off weight through diet and exercise alone, But that leaves about ninety plus percent who are unable to. And this medication has become the tool to override all of the hormones that have gone haywire due to the environment we are living in.

Yeah, which is a whole other conversation. Obviously, especially in our country, it feels like we really aren't set up to live a healthy lifestyle and that be affordable or things like that, like you really have to make a conscious effort. At the beginning of your book, you state obesity is a fact of biology. And it kind of hit me because, and I'm sure this may sound ignorant to some, but I've always been thin, you know, like that is how I've was born. I came into this world very long and lean, and I've been very active and my parents both eat very healthy, so I grew up just like living that way. And so I've never personally struggled with obesity. So it is hard for me to go, well, we get off your couch or eat better, you know, like that is a mentality that I've had before, and I mean, I hate thinking that now, but it's hard for me to sometimes have empathy for that because I've never gone through it personally. But your book was stating it so clearly to me, of like, no, there's way more to it than just you have to go exercise or you have to eat better for a lot of people. So are you seeing that a lot where there's these people who just cannot relate and so they're kind of hating on these perspectives, and then the people who are struggling with it really finding some finally finding a voice for Hey, I've struggled and I've tried the diets and I've tried the exercise. I need something more.

Yeah, which is a whole other conversation. Obviously, especially in our country, it feels like we really aren't set up to live a healthy lifestyle and that be affordable or things like that, like you really have to make a conscious effort. At the beginning of your book, you state obesity is a fact of biology. And it kind of hit me because, and I'm sure this may sound ignorant to some, but I've always been thin, you know, like that is how I've was born. I came into this world very long and lean, and I've been very active and my parents both eat very healthy, so I grew up just like living that way. And so I've never personally struggled with obesity. So it is hard for me to go, well, we get off your couch or eat better, you know, like that is a mentality that I've had before, and I mean, I hate thinking that now, but it's hard for me to sometimes have empathy for that because I've never gone through it personally. But your book was stating it so clearly to me, of like, no, there's way more to it than just you have to go exercise or you have to eat better for a lot of people. So are you seeing that a lot where there's these people who just cannot relate and so they're kind of hating on these perspectives, and then the people who are struggling with it really finding some finally finding a voice for Hey, I've struggled and I've tried the diets and I've tried the exercise. I need something more.

Yes, thank you for sharing that, because I think it's not something we want to admit, but all of us are getting me as an obesity medicine doctor. We all carry some element of weight bias. It's inherent to how we came to be in this world, right, It's just it's very, very hard. And when we are.

Yes, thank you for sharing that, because I think it's not something we want to admit, but all of us are getting me as an obesity medicine doctor. We all carry some element of weight bias. It's inherent to how we came to be in this world, right, It's just it's very, very hard. And when we are.

Lean and I actually love the ucacity.

Lean and I actually love the ucacity.

It came out long and lean. Lean is actually the word we should be after it's it's.

It came out long and lean. Lean is actually the word we should be after it's it's.

It's a leanness.

It's a leanness.

It's not a skinniness, right, it's a fit. It's a fitness. Yeah, and you have done things in your life to hold on to that. But also probably genetically you were set up for it and then environmentally and epigenetically you were set up for it. So if your parents were fit, you know, actually a mother passes on just even by proxy of in utero children that are born to parents of obesity. If a mother has bariatric surgery in between her first few children and her second children, the children after bariatric surgery, after weight loss, will have a lower incidence of obesity growing up, maybe though they're raised in the same household with the same genes.

It's not a skinniness, right, it's a fit. It's a fitness. Yeah, and you have done things in your life to hold on to that. But also probably genetically you were set up for it and then environmentally and epigenetically you were set up for it. So if your parents were fit, you know, actually a mother passes on just even by proxy of in utero children that are born to parents of obesity. If a mother has bariatric surgery in between her first few children and her second children, the children after bariatric surgery, after weight loss, will have a lower incidence of obesity growing up, maybe though they're raised in the same household with the same genes.

I believe it.

I believe it.

I do.

I do.

Yeah, So you know, some of us are fortunate. I come from a family where.

Yeah, So you know, some of us are fortunate. I come from a family where.

You know, probably let's go back. Let's go back to a little bit fregand family like womens.

You know, probably let's go back. Let's go back to a little bit fregand family like womens.

But up until the nineteen forties, we still had pay people in this world who had obesity about ten percent.

But up until the nineteen forties, we still had pay people in this world who had obesity about ten percent.

And that's genetics.

And that's genetics.

And I was going to say, I come from one of those families, right, I just come from a family that are hardier. They're not the long and lean, they're the short and hardy. And that's genetics. But what's happened is that something around nineteen eighty we just started seeing this obesity rise, rise, rise, rise, And that has to do with our environment and the world around us, and some genetics could outsmart that.

And I was going to say, I come from one of those families, right, I just come from a family that are hardier. They're not the long and lean, they're the short and hardy. And that's genetics. But what's happened is that something around nineteen eighty we just started seeing this obesity rise, rise, rise, rise, And that has to do with our environment and the world around us, and some genetics could outsmart that.

Right.

Right.

And now we're not saying that your genetics kept up in one or two generations, but you were just kind of primed and ready to be able to keep hold on to the leanness. But so many others just could not handle the insults that came at them, right, the high fructose corn syrup that start to creep into your apple sauce at eighteen months true? Right, the fact that we don't aren't set up in urban environments. We get to walk a lot.

And now we're not saying that your genetics kept up in one or two generations, but you were just kind of primed and ready to be able to keep hold on to the leanness. But so many others just could not handle the insults that came at them, right, the high fructose corn syrup that start to creep into your apple sauce at eighteen months true? Right, the fact that we don't aren't set up in urban environments. We get to walk a lot.

I even live in an.

I even live in an.

Area where my kids should be able to bike, but it's too dangerous for them to bike, and I can't let them do that into town because our town was not planned, you know like that. And so there is a lot of sedentary behavior. We sit at a computer, we are just the world has exploded in technology, but then that's made us just beings that just sit still.

Area where my kids should be able to bike, but it's too dangerous for them to bike, and I can't let them do that into town because our town was not planned, you know like that. And so there is a lot of sedentary behavior. We sit at a computer, we are just the world has exploded in technology, but then that's made us just beings that just sit still.

You know.

You know.

Even this is so fascinating, even the fact that we're temperature controlled now we have ac and heat and we don't shiver and we don't sweat.

Even this is so fascinating, even the fact that we're temperature controlled now we have ac and heat and we don't shiver and we don't sweat.

Oh, that's interesting. I never thought of that.

Oh, that's interesting. I never thought of that.

Has impacted our waking over the last fifty years.

Has impacted our waking over the last fifty years.

That makes total sense.

That makes total sense.

And so there are the subset of people, that's the majority of Americans now, whose bodies and environments and the life that they were given and the life that then they modeled for themselves has not allowed them to hold on to where our bodies should be. And it becomes very very hard to lose the weight once it's come on. And I am not saying that environment and food and nutrition and lifestyle aren't important, but the problem is obesity is a disease that has a downstream effect of so many other diseases. And we have an opportunity right now with this medication to say, Okay, we can treat this right now, and we can prevent all this other stuff is going to come over the.

And so there are the subset of people, that's the majority of Americans now, whose bodies and environments and the life that they were given and the life that then they modeled for themselves has not allowed them to hold on to where our bodies should be. And it becomes very very hard to lose the weight once it's come on. And I am not saying that environment and food and nutrition and lifestyle aren't important, but the problem is obesity is a disease that has a downstream effect of so many other diseases. And we have an opportunity right now with this medication to say, Okay, we can treat this right now, and we can prevent all this other stuff is going to come over the.

Next forty years.

Next forty years.

And while we do this, we should take the time and the space and the money that we save from preventing all these diseases to figure out how we can undo what we've done over the past fifty years for the world that we've created for ourselves.

And while we do this, we should take the time and the space and the money that we save from preventing all these diseases to figure out how we can undo what we've done over the past fifty years for the world that we've created for ourselves.

And so I don't.

And so I don't.

Look as this medication as the magic wand that solves everything. I see it as a tool for right now to manage the disease that's in front of us and allows us to kind of have this trickle down effect in our families, our homes, our grocery stores.

Look as this medication as the magic wand that solves everything. I see it as a tool for right now to manage the disease that's in front of us and allows us to kind of have this trickle down effect in our families, our homes, our grocery stores.

And our urban centers and you know, just.

And our urban centers and you know, just.

Everything, and we can start to unravel and get back to where we were in the nineteen seventies.

Everything, and we can start to unravel and get back to where we were in the nineteen seventies.

It's not that long ago. We should be able to get.

It's not that long ago. We should be able to get.

Back there completely. And I do think the conversation that's encouraging to me, as well as seeing people who are directly impacted by taking things like this, are that on the bigger scale, we're starting to look at what's in our food, what are we eating all of those things that you kind of touched on, I think are coming into the conversation. They're entering the chat right now, So it's perfect timing for both of these things to be happening exactly.

Back there completely. And I do think the conversation that's encouraging to me, as well as seeing people who are directly impacted by taking things like this, are that on the bigger scale, we're starting to look at what's in our food, what are we eating all of those things that you kind of touched on, I think are coming into the conversation. They're entering the chat right now, So it's perfect timing for both of these things to be happening exactly.

I do think we have to be careful that I have seen a rising contingency that we can treat the obesity by changing, by fixing our food source, our food ecosystem, and our monment ecosystem. That's prevention. We need to put all the energy there. Treatment is different than prevention. And in no other disease do we look at prevention and treatment as the same. But for some reason obesity I do. And so if for any listeners were like yeah, yeah, and we could no, we have to do both in order to stop the disease.

I do think we have to be careful that I have seen a rising contingency that we can treat the obesity by changing, by fixing our food source, our food ecosystem, and our monment ecosystem. That's prevention. We need to put all the energy there. Treatment is different than prevention. And in no other disease do we look at prevention and treatment as the same. But for some reason obesity I do. And so if for any listeners were like yeah, yeah, and we could no, we have to do both in order to stop the disease.

We have to prevent.

We have to prevent.

That's changing, that's taking the chemicals out, that's improving our food system, it's improving the quality of the air.

That's changing, that's taking the chemicals out, that's improving our food system, it's improving the quality of the air.

It's all the things that you were talking about.

It's all the things that you were talking about.

Yeah, treatment is different, and that's why these medications are so revolutionary. Yeah, and that's why it's so important for me to write this book because we have an opportunity right now. Now. The mets aren't a magic wand you have to do all the other work.

Yeah, treatment is different, and that's why these medications are so revolutionary. Yeah, and that's why it's so important for me to write this book because we have an opportunity right now. Now. The mets aren't a magic wand you have to do all the other work.

And if you do all the other work.

And if you do all the other work.

Change the habits, change your food, change your mental the way you think about these things, exercise, well, then you're really laying the groundwork to change to trickle down for that prevention too.

Change the habits, change your food, change your mental the way you think about these things, exercise, well, then you're really laying the groundwork to change to trickle down for that prevention too.

So like you're.

So like you're.

Changing the way you're doing it in your house, and your kids are going to see a different modeling behavior, you are changing the way you're exercising your community, and then it spreads. So in the treatment, we can also prevent, but it's important that we do all the work and we don't just rely on the medication to have this effect because it won't.

Changing the way you're doing it in your house, and your kids are going to see a different modeling behavior, you are changing the way you're exercising your community, and then it spreads. So in the treatment, we can also prevent, but it's important that we do all the work and we don't just rely on the medication to have this effect because it won't.

Yeah, I mean, I love that that kind of two different perspective, I guess is the word I was looking for those two different things, the prevention versus the treatment, because in my head, I think I have wanted the prevention to be the treatment for people. And that's I mean in what you're saying in the book is like there's a lot more to it and the science behind why that isn't just something that can be You can't use the tools of prevention if you need to treat the disease first. So this is medicine to treat the disease, and then you go into prevention, which you talk about in the book as well. You've actually created an entire method and it's called this so Well method. It's talked about a lot in the book. That was huge for me too, because one of my biggest problems with our society is I feel like we throw a pill at everything. I'm just like, when nobody looks at the root causes. We want the easy fix. I mean, I've been guilty of it too, especially I suffer with sleep issues, and so I'm always like trying not to take a pill, but I need to sleep, you know. It's all of those things. And so I think it's the same thing here where I just don't want to see our society throw another pill at something. And so seeing this method that you've created and that you're talking about in the book was very reassuring to me that there's more to this story. Can you tell the listeners a little bit about the Sowell method and what your point of it even is.

Yeah, I mean, I love that that kind of two different perspective, I guess is the word I was looking for those two different things, the prevention versus the treatment, because in my head, I think I have wanted the prevention to be the treatment for people. And that's I mean in what you're saying in the book is like there's a lot more to it and the science behind why that isn't just something that can be You can't use the tools of prevention if you need to treat the disease first. So this is medicine to treat the disease, and then you go into prevention, which you talk about in the book as well. You've actually created an entire method and it's called this so Well method. It's talked about a lot in the book. That was huge for me too, because one of my biggest problems with our society is I feel like we throw a pill at everything. I'm just like, when nobody looks at the root causes. We want the easy fix. I mean, I've been guilty of it too, especially I suffer with sleep issues, and so I'm always like trying not to take a pill, but I need to sleep, you know. It's all of those things. And so I think it's the same thing here where I just don't want to see our society throw another pill at something. And so seeing this method that you've created and that you're talking about in the book was very reassuring to me that there's more to this story. Can you tell the listeners a little bit about the Sowell method and what your point of it even is.

Thank you. Yes.

Thank you. Yes.

So, over the past ten years in my medical practice, I never felt great.

So, over the past ten years in my medical practice, I never felt great.

I never felt great about just treating the disease. And there's so much more to it.

I never felt great about just treating the disease. And there's so much more to it.

And even though I found this amazing specialty that allowed me to help prevent so many other diseases, I never felt good about just writing a prescription. I needed people to understand why I was having them do certain things and why we were using the medication, and I needed them to fully embrace the habit and all of the lifestyle changes that needed to go along. So I actually created a ten week curriculum in my medical practice, and actually everyone has to go through this, and it worked so amazingly well that I put it. It was the whole reason I wanted to write this book. I thought this, No other doctors are doing it this way. It's really we're limited. Most medical practices are very limited by this. And so I distilled down what we had been teaching in our medical practice into this book. And it's just so well method. And there are three core tenants. We have our habit foundations, our nutritional foundations, and then our mental foundations habits. You've probably heard some of these things before. They're very different when you do them through the lens of a GLP one, though, so things that might have felt like just tearing down your will power, you know, even stepping on the scale is one of the core habits about how what I have people do logging your food, not for courting every calorie, but just thinking about your food, thinking about your hunger scale, thinking about what you're putting into your mouth. Right, You're like, oh, I've heard this doctor, soa this is like this seems so basic. It's very very different when you have this new found willpower for lack of a better word, with these medications, and it helps you rewire what's become so disregulated in your brain and your habits. We kind of have to go back to the foundations. And one of the ways that I approach this is really being emotionally neutral, and it's something we talk about in the book a lot is that we're trying to take out beating oneself up, feeling like we're not good enough, and just looking at this as a process and being as emotionally neutral as possible so that I always help people the habits I want them to become, like brushing your teeth right, just something you do, something you don't have to think too much about, and if you skip it, you don't like not brush your teeth the next day, you just get.

And even though I found this amazing specialty that allowed me to help prevent so many other diseases, I never felt good about just writing a prescription. I needed people to understand why I was having them do certain things and why we were using the medication, and I needed them to fully embrace the habit and all of the lifestyle changes that needed to go along. So I actually created a ten week curriculum in my medical practice, and actually everyone has to go through this, and it worked so amazingly well that I put it. It was the whole reason I wanted to write this book. I thought this, No other doctors are doing it this way. It's really we're limited. Most medical practices are very limited by this. And so I distilled down what we had been teaching in our medical practice into this book. And it's just so well method. And there are three core tenants. We have our habit foundations, our nutritional foundations, and then our mental foundations habits. You've probably heard some of these things before. They're very different when you do them through the lens of a GLP one, though, so things that might have felt like just tearing down your will power, you know, even stepping on the scale is one of the core habits about how what I have people do logging your food, not for courting every calorie, but just thinking about your food, thinking about your hunger scale, thinking about what you're putting into your mouth. Right, You're like, oh, I've heard this doctor, soa this is like this seems so basic. It's very very different when you have this new found willpower for lack of a better word, with these medications, and it helps you rewire what's become so disregulated in your brain and your habits. We kind of have to go back to the foundations. And one of the ways that I approach this is really being emotionally neutral, and it's something we talk about in the book a lot is that we're trying to take out beating oneself up, feeling like we're not good enough, and just looking at this as a process and being as emotionally neutral as possible so that I always help people the habits I want them to become, like brushing your teeth right, just something you do, something you don't have to think too much about, and if you skip it, you don't like not brush your teeth the next day, you just get.

Back to it right, right, And move.

Back to it right, right, And move.

Into how to eat, and this is always the thing that people will right up top. Everyone comes to my first visit with me or the first class and they're like, tell me how to eat, and I'll say not so fast, Like you have to embrace the habits first.

Into how to eat, and this is always the thing that people will right up top. Everyone comes to my first visit with me or the first class and they're like, tell me how to eat, and I'll say not so fast, Like you have to embrace the habits first.

It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter.

I can tell anybody to go on any particular diet and if they adhered to it, they would lose weight. I mean, that's actually what the science shows. So really it has to be about how can you do.

I can tell anybody to go on any particular diet and if they adhered to it, they would lose weight. I mean, that's actually what the science shows. So really it has to be about how can you do.

This for the long term. So then we move into nutrition.

This for the long term. So then we move into nutrition.

I have some very very clear tenants of how to eat when you're on a GOP one. It's different than how our brain was programmed to kind of be calorie reduced. We actually need to really hyper focus on getting in the proper nutrition through macronutrients. So we'll go through that in the book. And then we move through what I think is the most important but potentially the most overlooked component of significant weight loss, which is the mental piece. Our brains will talk us out of success, and we see this at all parts of our life. Right we start to get imposter syndrome that this isn't going to work.

I have some very very clear tenants of how to eat when you're on a GOP one. It's different than how our brain was programmed to kind of be calorie reduced. We actually need to really hyper focus on getting in the proper nutrition through macronutrients. So we'll go through that in the book. And then we move through what I think is the most important but potentially the most overlooked component of significant weight loss, which is the mental piece. Our brains will talk us out of success, and we see this at all parts of our life. Right we start to get imposter syndrome that this isn't going to work.

I can't do it.

I can't do it.

Or you make all sorts of excuses. Your brain will do these weird things sabotage you. We really see it in weight Boss, And I've worked with so many patients over so many years on these medications.

Or you make all sorts of excuses. Your brain will do these weird things sabotage you. We really see it in weight Boss, And I've worked with so many patients over so many years on these medications.

I've realized that most people.

I've realized that most people.

Everyone thinks that they're very unique, but really we're all humans and most people have the same experiences. So we'll talk about things like the ten pound panic, and practically every single one of my patients on these medications will freak out at ten pounds and I'll be why, like, this isn't going to work.

Everyone thinks that they're very unique, but really we're all humans and most people have the same experiences. So we'll talk about things like the ten pound panic, and practically every single one of my patients on these medications will freak out at ten pounds and I'll be why, like, this isn't going to work.

I've done this before.

I've done this before.

I know it's not going to work.

I know it's not going to work.

This was a bad idea. I don't know what to do. Say trust the process, trust the foundations. Keep going.

This was a bad idea. I don't know what to do. Say trust the process, trust the foundations. Keep going.

And then we'll get to a place where a colleague or a coworker.

And then we'll get to a place where a colleague or a coworker.

Says something and they'll say, did you see that headline?

Says something and they'll say, did you see that headline?

You're going to die right or they'll start to think I'm taking the easy way out. Some belief that they've held on to for a long period of time. Time will come up at some point in the future, and so working on your brain is really really important, and I actually ask people to spend a lot of time there because it's the thing that will derail people in the six months, twelve months, two years out of their initial weight loss. They'll think everything's great, and actually then their brain starts to do some funny things. And I give people cognitive new scripts, so like, yeah, they have a belief, and then we have to rewire it. And so I'll give you examples of what you can do to kind of get past that. Anybody who's listening and is like, I know exactly what you're talking about. I've lost a lot of weight and no one's ever put it like that, But it's it's it's something that's universal to this process. I think it's universal to the human experience and one percent, but it just it rears its head. And so that's fundamentally what we teach, and I've just stilled it into this book and tried to make it as easy as possible and really step wise, I'm a big believer in like one, two, three, four, right, Like that's how we learn, that's how we adapt, and so that's how we put it in the book. And we have lots of templates and worksheets and things that will help you and give you structure even if you do just get the prescription at your doctor's office, which honestly is the way the majority of Americans are getting this right now, right And you might need to do more work than someone who comes through my clinic, but it's all here now, and so if you just follow along, you will have success.

You're going to die right or they'll start to think I'm taking the easy way out. Some belief that they've held on to for a long period of time. Time will come up at some point in the future, and so working on your brain is really really important, and I actually ask people to spend a lot of time there because it's the thing that will derail people in the six months, twelve months, two years out of their initial weight loss. They'll think everything's great, and actually then their brain starts to do some funny things. And I give people cognitive new scripts, so like, yeah, they have a belief, and then we have to rewire it. And so I'll give you examples of what you can do to kind of get past that. Anybody who's listening and is like, I know exactly what you're talking about. I've lost a lot of weight and no one's ever put it like that, But it's it's it's something that's universal to this process. I think it's universal to the human experience and one percent, but it just it rears its head. And so that's fundamentally what we teach, and I've just stilled it into this book and tried to make it as easy as possible and really step wise, I'm a big believer in like one, two, three, four, right, Like that's how we learn, that's how we adapt, and so that's how we put it in the book. And we have lots of templates and worksheets and things that will help you and give you structure even if you do just get the prescription at your doctor's office, which honestly is the way the majority of Americans are getting this right now, right And you might need to do more work than someone who comes through my clinic, but it's all here now, and so if you just follow along, you will have success.

The thing that's so fascinating to me and hearing this, and this was what I found in the book as well, is when I start to look at obesity as a disease or as a medicator, even as like a way that someone has learned to survive in life, like as a survival skill for treating with emotion I mean dealing with emotions or stress or anything. It's not different from anything else that we struggle with in mental health. Like truly, I mean everything you were just saying is exactly what I think a good therapist does in a way. It's like, even if you need an antidepressant for a moment, a good therapist is going to actually go. But let's look at what's happening, Like, yes, let's take some of these emotions down so we can process, and that's why you need the medicine, maybe temporarily, but I don't want to look not check out what's going on, because our emotions are talking to us. And that's the same thing here. It's like those narratives are so deeply ingrained and programmed, like you said, and so all of that rewiring. It's the same thing that anyone trying to make any sort of lasting change in their life actually has to do. So I just I just love that you're making those connections. I think that's so beautiful. And I think from a perspective like mine, where it's not something I've personally dealt with, I'm easily able to relate that to many things that I do deal with in my life. I love that you pointed out the terminal uniqueness that we all feel. I mean, I think we all are, like I'm so much more fucked up than the other person. You know, none of us are. It's just like we really just have different ways of coping with life, and so what is your way and how do we get in touch with that? And this is the deeper way to look at weight loss. I'm such a big fan. I just love that you're doing this work. I think it's so amazing and wonderful. The book actually comes out January seventh, so when this podcast airs, it will be out, so I'll be able to put the link for all the listeners. She's holding it up. Friend, it's a cue cover as well, but it's just a good guide. I told you. My co host on my Friday episodes has chip for any of you listeners. He's been on a zembic for a while. But the biggest thing that I've seen for him, even emotionally, is that he's really leaned into like I'm going to start taking care of myself through this though, Like he's adopted a new diet. He's actually really cut back and possibly quitting drinking like things that you know, he's really taking pride in his health at this point. He's working out a lot, and that to me, I've seen the biggest shift in him that I've ever seen over the course of our relationships. So I think it's a part of this whole program like you're talking about.

The thing that's so fascinating to me and hearing this, and this was what I found in the book as well, is when I start to look at obesity as a disease or as a medicator, even as like a way that someone has learned to survive in life, like as a survival skill for treating with emotion I mean dealing with emotions or stress or anything. It's not different from anything else that we struggle with in mental health. Like truly, I mean everything you were just saying is exactly what I think a good therapist does in a way. It's like, even if you need an antidepressant for a moment, a good therapist is going to actually go. But let's look at what's happening, Like, yes, let's take some of these emotions down so we can process, and that's why you need the medicine, maybe temporarily, but I don't want to look not check out what's going on, because our emotions are talking to us. And that's the same thing here. It's like those narratives are so deeply ingrained and programmed, like you said, and so all of that rewiring. It's the same thing that anyone trying to make any sort of lasting change in their life actually has to do. So I just I just love that you're making those connections. I think that's so beautiful. And I think from a perspective like mine, where it's not something I've personally dealt with, I'm easily able to relate that to many things that I do deal with in my life. I love that you pointed out the terminal uniqueness that we all feel. I mean, I think we all are, like I'm so much more fucked up than the other person. You know, none of us are. It's just like we really just have different ways of coping with life, and so what is your way and how do we get in touch with that? And this is the deeper way to look at weight loss. I'm such a big fan. I just love that you're doing this work. I think it's so amazing and wonderful. The book actually comes out January seventh, so when this podcast airs, it will be out, so I'll be able to put the link for all the listeners. She's holding it up. Friend, it's a cue cover as well, but it's just a good guide. I told you. My co host on my Friday episodes has chip for any of you listeners. He's been on a zembic for a while. But the biggest thing that I've seen for him, even emotionally, is that he's really leaned into like I'm going to start taking care of myself through this though, Like he's adopted a new diet. He's actually really cut back and possibly quitting drinking like things that you know, he's really taking pride in his health at this point. He's working out a lot, and that to me, I've seen the biggest shift in him that I've ever seen over the course of our relationships. So I think it's a part of this whole program like you're talking about.

Yes, it's a powerful, powerful tool, and it really gives people the bandwidth. Really I think quiets their brain in many ways so that they can do the work. And you know, just like you were sharing, this is about health. I mean, all those things are telling me that's like the most amazing health journey. I mean, I'm sure his labs have improved and his future profiles, like everything he's doing day to day, that is just you're building this up for longevity, and it's really important that we don't confuse the use of this medication on the health side and longevity for Vanity and thinness, because it has the potential to do that, but that's not going to make for a healthier human and a healthier experience. It's really when we need this for very specific use case scenarios and it's powerful and I love that example.

Yes, it's a powerful, powerful tool, and it really gives people the bandwidth. Really I think quiets their brain in many ways so that they can do the work. And you know, just like you were sharing, this is about health. I mean, all those things are telling me that's like the most amazing health journey. I mean, I'm sure his labs have improved and his future profiles, like everything he's doing day to day, that is just you're building this up for longevity, and it's really important that we don't confuse the use of this medication on the health side and longevity for Vanity and thinness, because it has the potential to do that, but that's not going to make for a healthier human and a healthier experience. It's really when we need this for very specific use case scenarios and it's powerful and I love that example.

Yeah. Well, if people want to keep up with you anywhere else besides the book, where can they find you?

Yeah. Well, if people want to keep up with you anywhere else besides the book, where can they find you?

So you can find me on social media at Alexandra so at m D and you can find more about me and the company I've started at getsowell dot com. We are at telehealth practice, but we also provide for for oh my goodness, we provide support tools for a TLP one users. I've been talking all day interviewed. We are the go to brand for GLP one users. We have a whole support system to help people everything from the book to the toolkits to actually supplements to help minimize side effects. So I'm on a mission to help people feel their absolute best while they're on these medications so they can achieve the most amount of health benefits. So come over and connect with me on all those places.

So you can find me on social media at Alexandra so at m D and you can find more about me and the company I've started at getsowell dot com. We are at telehealth practice, but we also provide for for oh my goodness, we provide support tools for a TLP one users. I've been talking all day interviewed. We are the go to brand for GLP one users. We have a whole support system to help people everything from the book to the toolkits to actually supplements to help minimize side effects. So I'm on a mission to help people feel their absolute best while they're on these medications so they can achieve the most amount of health benefits. So come over and connect with me on all those places.

Amazing. I'm going to put all of that in the description of this podcast and also a link to where you guys can find the book. Highly recommend it. It's really easy to read, even like I just very quickly read through it because it's such a fast read. But it's full of information, diet plans, all of that stuff. So you guys go get the book. Thank you so much for being here.

Amazing. I'm going to put all of that in the description of this podcast and also a link to where you guys can find the book. Highly recommend it. It's really easy to read, even like I just very quickly read through it because it's such a fast read. But it's full of information, diet plans, all of that stuff. So you guys go get the book. Thank you so much for being here.

Thank you so much, Kelly.

Thank you so much, Kelly.

Thanks were listening to the Velvet's Edge podcast with Kelly Henderson, where we believe everyone has a little velvet in a little edge. Subscribe for more conversations on life, style, beauty, and relationships. Search Velvet's Edge wherever you get your podcasts.

Thanks were listening to the Velvet's Edge podcast with Kelly Henderson, where we believe everyone has a little velvet in a little edge. Subscribe for more conversations on life, style, beauty, and relationships. Search Velvet's Edge wherever you get your podcasts.