EPISODE 62: How GLP-1s Helped Her Lose 150+ Pounds After Bariatric Surgery with Alissa Meisel

<p>Welcome back to <em>Peptides for Women</em> podcast!</p><p>In this episode, I’m joined by <strong>Alissa Meisel</strong>, an occupational therapist, board-certified health and wellness coach, and founder of Meisel Health, to talk about her incredible 150+ pound weight-loss journey and how bariatric surgery, GLP-1s, peptide therapy, and lifestyle changes became different tools along the way.</p><p>Alissa has spent years struggling with her weight, dieting, exercising, and trying to figure out why nothing seemed to work long-term. After infertility treatments contributed to significant weight gain, she ultimately underwent sleeve gastrectomy in 2020 and lost more than 100 pounds.</p><p>Years later, despite continuing to exercise, prioritize protein and hydration, and do everything she had been doing to maintain her weight, she began gaining weight again. That’s when she began exploring GLP-1s and peptide therapy, which became another tool in her health journey and helped her lose an additional 30 pounds.</p><p>In this episode, we talk about the physical AND emotional side of weight loss, why mindset matters, what happens after bariatric surgery, and how feeling comfortable and confident in your body can impact every area of your life, including your marriage and intimacy.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we cover:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Alissa’s lifelong struggle with dieting, weight, and an all-or-nothing mindset</p></li><li><p>How her college years changed her relationship with food and exercise</p></li><li><p>The emotional connection between food, stress, and comfort</p></li><li><p>Her experience with infertility treatments and gaining over 100 pounds</p></li><li><p>Why she ultimately chose sleeve gastrectomy in January 2020</p></li><li><p>What life was really like after bariatric surgery, including severe complications and the mental/emotional challenges she experienced</p></li><li><p>The lack of support she felt after surgery and why she created a roadmap for other women</p></li><li><p>Regaining 20 pounds years after losing more than 100 pounds</p></li><li><p>Why training for a half marathon didn’t produce the results she expected</p></li><li><p>How GLP-1 therapy and peptide therapy became another tool in her journey</p></li><li><p>Losing an additional 30 pounds and reaching more than 150 pounds of total weight loss</p></li><li><p>Why Alissa believes sustainable weight loss requires more than one tool</p></li><li><p>The importance of mindset, fear, judgment, and self-advocacy</p></li><li><p>How losing weight changed Alissa’s confidence and relationship with her body</p></li><li><p>The connection between body confidence, intimacy, and marriage</p></li><li><p>Why busy women need to make space for themselves, their health, and their relationships</p></li><li><p>How Alissa went from working in clinical healthcare to helping women with metabolic health and wellness</p></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Alissa Meisel!</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seefitliving">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a>⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/alissaameisel/">https://www.instagram.com/alissaameisel/⁠</a></li><li><strong>Website:</strong><a href="https://www.meiselhealth.com/"> https://www.meiselhealth.com/</a></li></ul><p><strong>Links &amp; Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>🔗 Learn more at: <a href="http://elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠elliemd.com/JenniferWoodwardNutrition⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>🎯 Take my free peptide quiz and get a personalized, midlife-smart roadmap for the peptides that actually match your symptoms and goals: <a href="https://www.tryinteract.com/share/quiz/6862acd5df823500150c4ca7">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a><a href="https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://quiz.jenniferwoodwardnutrition.com/peptide-quiz⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a></li><li>🎓 Enroll in the Peptides for Practitioners Certification Course and get $100 off for podcast subscribers: <a href="https://w