Let me start by saying this: I don’t support diet culture. Diets don’t work. That’s the foundational premise of my micro book, The Balanced Mind Diet, and it’s what I teach in my Weight Freedom Mastery program.

I believe weight loss is more about the mental game than anything else. It’s about transforming your identity – seeing yourself as someone who maintains their ideal weight with ease and freedom, and then taking action as that person right now.

In my program, there are no strict dietary guidelines. Just a recommendation to eat whole, natural foods. We use a variety of tools and techniques to embed permanent changes that produce lasting weight loss.

And importantly – this program is strategic. It’s not about rapid weight loss.

For some people, the weight comes off quickly and easily. They love how natural it feels. For others, it takes longer. It depends on many factors: how much weight you have to lose, your hormones, your stress levels, your relationship with food.

But here's the thing about fast weight loss - it often comes with a price.

You might experience:

• Slower metabolism and increased fat retention
• Muscle loss and worse body composition
• Long-term rebounding with faster weight regain
• No change to lifestyle or habitual behaviour patterns
• Continuation of intense cravings with their cycle of shame and guilt.

If you want to keep your energy up, feel strong and fit, look toned, be as healthy as possible, and (most importantly) sustain your results – you can’t just focus on barely eating and watching the scale drop as fast as possible.

That’s doing yourself a huge disservice, both now and for years to come.

So where do GLP-1 medications fit into all of this?

GLP-1 MEDICATIONS WORK
(AND THAT’S A GOOD THING)

Let me be clear that I am providing my opinion here as a weight loss coach. I am not a medical practitioner or dietician, and I am in no way providing medical advice.

My first thought when I see someone using Ozempic, Wegovy, or another GLP-1 medication for weight loss?

It works. Generally. (I have had one Australian client who found it didn’t work for her.)

And for people who are morbidly obese and have tried everything without success, these medications can be life-changing.

Losing the weight gives you a whole new experience in life:

• You look better
• You have more energy
• You can indulge in a whole new wardrobe
• You enjoy the positive response from people around you

But more importantly, you gain metabolic health.

Metabolic health should be a high priority, because when it’s poor, it opens you up to a whole range of diseases:

• Type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Fatty liver disease
• Sleep apnoea
• Certain cancers

So yes, avoiding that trajectory is a very good idea.

WHAT ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS?

It varies from person to person, but side effects can include:

• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation
• Potential muscle loss if not managed properly
• Rare but serious risks like pancreatitis and thyroid issues

Here’s my perspective: In many cases, the risks associated with continuing to carry too much body fat are greater than the risks of taking GLP-1 medications under medical supervision.

And many of the issues people attribute to GLP-1s happen ANY time someone loses a significant amount of weight quickly – with or without medication.

Fast weight loss without a solid strategy leads to all the problems I mentioned earlier: hunger, low energy, muscle loss, and rebounding.

The medication isn't the problem. 
The lack of strategy is.

WHAT OTHER DOWNSIDES ARE THERE?

1. Many people gain weight back quickly after stopping the medication.

But again, that happens even without GLP-1s. When people go back to their old habits after losing weight (no matter how they lost it), the weight comes back. It’s the well-known yo-yo dieting cycle, and it wreaks havoc on your metabolism.

2. Relying exclusively on GLP-1s and making no other changes is a massive, common mistake.

No strength training. Not learning how to eat in a way that will sustain long-term results. Not dealing with behavior patterns or addressing cravings.

People do the same thing with extreme diets – thinking the tool will do all the work, rather than using the tool to build a better life.

THE BIGGEST DISADVANTAGE: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STOP

GLP-1 medications work by greatly reducing appetite. The desire to overeat disappears. Food becomes a non-issue.

Which is wonderful – until you stop taking the drug.

People describe it as “falling off a cliff.” The hunger and cravings come roaring back with a vengeance.

And since you haven’t made any lifestyle or behavioral changes, you’re right back to square one in the weight loss battle.

ONE ALTERNATIVE: STAY ON THE MEDICATION LONG-TERM

We don’t know a lot yet about the long-term effects of GLP-1 medications. But here’s what we do know:
👉 In Australia, GLP-1s are expensive. In the US Trump RX will enable consumers to purchase at discounted prices.
👉 It is likely the drugs will become less stigmatized, cheaper, and more effective over time.
👉 I wouldn’t be surprised if a large percentage of people are on at least a low dose of a GLP-1 in the next 3-5 years. Maybe slightly longer.

And honestly? I understand what motivates that. As long as people are also doing the deeper work – building strength, eating quality food, and addressing the mental and emotional patterns that drove the weight gain in the first place.

WHAT SHOULD WE FOCUS ON?

As more and more people take these medications, I believe we’ll shift our focus to:

1. Food quality, not just quantity

Since GLP-1s help people manage calories more easily, we can prioritize what we eat – nutrient density, whole foods, gut health – not just how little we can get away with eating.

2. Muscle retention and body composition

Not just losing weight as quickly as possible, but building and maintaining muscle, looking toned and strong, and supporting long-term metabolic health.

3. Sustainable habits and long-term health

Creating a lifestyle you can maintain for decades, not just until you hit a goal weight.

WEIGHT FREEDOM MASTERY IS THE PERFECT COMPLEMENT TO GLP-1s

My Weight Freedom Mastery program is designed to help you:

✅ Make sustainable lifestyle changes while the medication manages your appetite
✅ Do the deeper mental work that addresses why you overeat, emotionally eat, or struggle with food in the first place
✅ Transform your identity so that when you stop the medication (or continue on a maintenance dose), you don’t experience that “falling off a cliff” feeling

Because you can't medicate your way out of an identity problem.

If you still see yourself as “someone who struggles with weight,” you’ll keep struggling – medication or not.

But if you use this window (while your appetite is suppressed) to rewire your brain, shift your identity, and build new habits, you set yourself up for permanent, effortless weight maintenance.

MY CORE BELIEF: NO SHAME, NO JUDGEMENT

One of the core mantras in Weight Freedom Mastery is this: There should be no shame. You don’t deserve it, and it doesn’t serve you.

I advocate for self-autonomy and authority over your own life. You know yourself best.

So if your decision in partnership with your doctor is to use GLP-1 medications, you’ll find no judgement here.

I’ll rejoice with you when you achieve your goal and improve your metabolic health.

And I’d love to help you make the changes that ensure you become the kind of person who maintains their ideal weight with ease and freedom – for life.

The sooner you start that journey, the better.

If you begin while you’re taking the medication, there will be no falling off a cliff when you stop. Or if you decide to continue with a long-term dose, you can use your gains to advantage by taking care of your metabolic health and building a great foundation for continued success.

QUESTIONS or COMMENTS?

If you have an experience with GLP-1s you’d like to share, I’d love to hear about it. If there’s something I didn’t address here, I’m happy to answer any questions – just email me at suzi@coachingwithsuzi.com.

Ready to Make Your Weight Loss Permanent?

Whether you’re using GLP-1 medications or not, the mental game is what makes weight loss last.

If you’re ready to stop thinking about food 24/7, end emotional eating, and finally maintain your ideal weight with ease and freedom – let’s talk. 😊

Book time for a free chat – here’s my calendar

Learn More About Weight Freedom Mastery

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About Coach Suzi

Suzi Jenner is a weight loss coach, qualified counsellor and hypnotherapist and author of The Balanced Mind Diet. She specializes in helping women over 40 break free from food obsession and achieve lasting weight loss through identity transformation. Her Weight Freedom Mastery program focuses on the mental game of weight loss – no diets, no shame, just sustainable freedom. 📧 suzi@coachingwithsuzi.com