GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have become incredibly popular for weight loss.
Many people come to me asking about them — or already planning to start.
And the expectations are usually similar:
“If I’m not hungry, eating will finally be easy.”
“The weight will just fall off.”
“This will help me stop failing.”
And to be clear — GLP-1 medications can be a very effective tool.
But they are not a magic solution.
Before starting one, there are a few important questions you should ask yourself.
1. Why Do I Struggle With Food in the First Place?
This is the most important question — and the one most people skip.
If your challenges with food are purely about hunger, a GLP-1 may feel like a perfect solution.
But for many people, food serves other purposes:
- comfort
- stress relief
- distraction
- reward
If emotional eating is part of the picture, a GLP-1 may quiet it temporarily — but it does not fix it.
2. Am I Willing to Do the Work While on the Medication?
Some people approach GLP-1 medications hoping:
“I’ll just take the shot and everything will take care of itself.”
But long-term success usually looks different.
It requires being willing to:
- address emotional eating
- improve food choices
- build healthier habits
- understand your relationship with food
The medication can make this work easier — but it doesn’t replace it.
3. What Is My Plan When I Stop?
This is a big one.
Because when the medication stops:
- hunger returns
- cravings return
- food thoughts return
If nothing else has changed, the patterns usually return as well.
That’s why it’s so important to use the time on a GLP-1 to build skills and habits that will last beyond the medication.
4. Am I Building a Lifestyle I Can Maintain?
The people I see who do well long-term are not just taking a medication.
They are also:
- exercising regularly
- learning how to manage stress
- improving their nutrition
- developing a healthier relationship with food
For many of my clients, a Mediterranean-style way of eating becomes part of that long-term approach.
The goal is not just weight loss.
The goal is a way of living that supports your health after the medication is gone.
A Real Example
Latoya was referred to me by her doctor after being diagnosed with pre-diabetes and obesity.
Her doctor recommended starting a GLP-1, along with nutrition counseling.
At first glance, Latoya’s diet wasn’t terrible overall.
But when we looked more closely, a pattern emerged.
She tended to overeat — especially high-carb foods — when she was upset.
In our first session, she described a moment from the day before.
She had received a stressful phone call from her son at college.
As soon as she hung up, she went straight to the pantry for chips and salsa.
For the first time she recognized something important:
She was using food to avoid difficult emotions.
And she had learned this pattern early — her mother coped the same way.
Latoya started the GLP-1 at a low dose while also working through my Feelings and Fries course.
For the first time, she began to see the connection between her emotions and her eating.
Our work focused on two things:
- understanding how to properly fuel her body (calories, macros)
- developing the insight and skills to respond differently when she felt triggered
Six months later:
- Latoya had lost 34 pounds
- she was training for her first 5K
- she had discovered new foods she enjoyed (like mango)
- and most importantly, she could tolerate uncomfortable emotions without turning to food
The medication helped.
But the real transformation came from changing her relationship with food.
The Bottom Line
GLP-1 medications can be a powerful tool.
But they work best when they are part of a bigger plan.
Before starting, ask yourself:
- Why do I struggle with food?
- Am I willing to do the work beyond the medication?
- What is my plan when I stop?
Because the goal isn’t just to lose weight while on the medication.
It’s to build the habits, skills, and mindset that allow you to keep the weight off after it’s gone.
