Weight Loss And ...

Artificial intelligence is revolutionizing everything from how we shop to how we work—but can it actually help you lose weight and keep it off? While AI coaches promise 24/7 support and personalized guidance, the technology is still in its infancy with plenty of pitfalls to navigate. Join Holly and Jim as they explore the exciting frontier of AI in weight management with Dr. Diana Thomas, a mathematician turned obesity researcher who stands at the forefront of this technological revolution. Dr. Thomas is a professor at the United States Military Academy at West Point and leads the Artificial Intelligence Data Engineering and Machine Learning Center for the Nutrition for Precision Health Consortium. You'll discover both the incredible potential and important limitations of using AI as your weight loss companion. From meal planning to motivation, AI tools are already showing promise in helping people achieve their goals. But as Diana warns, we're still in "act one, scene one" of this technological story. Learn how to harness AI's power while avoiding its traps, and why the most important skill you'll need isn't technical—it's knowing how to ask the right questions. DISCUSSED ON THE EPISODE: * The personal weight loss journey that led a pure mathematician to become an AI obesity researcher * Why AI coaches are available 24/7 but human coaches aren't (and what this means for your success) * The dangerous mistake ChatGPT makes about weight loss that could derail your progress * How AI can transform your kitchen ingredients into personalized meal plans in seconds * The "sniff check" technique that protects you from AI's biggest weakness * What happens when you ask AI to design your workout routine using just a photo * Why AI might be too agreeable—and how one company fixed this problem * The surprising privacy experiment that reveals what AI really does with your personal information * How to tell if a weight loss app claiming to use AI is actually helpful or just marketing hype * The simple way to start using AI for weight management (hint: it's probably already on your phone) RESOURCES MENTIONED: * ChatGPT (free version available at openai.com [http://openai.com]) * Simple - AI-powered weight loss and health coaching (https://simple.life/ [https://simple.life/]) * Mindmasters [https://a.co/d/dtbyzsj] book by Sandra Matz

You can have the perfect meal plan, unwavering motivation, and the best intentions in the world—but if your grocery cart is filled with the wrong foods, the weight loss game might already be over before you even get home. The truth is, grocery shopping is the front line of behavior change, and most people are making critical mistakes that sabotage their success without even realizing it. Join Holly and Jim as they welcome registered dietitian Kelly Berg, who runs the metabolic kitchen at UAB's Department of Nutrition Sciences. Kelly has helped hundreds of people transform their shopping habits with smart strategies that make weight loss easier, not harder. She's about to reveal the grocery store tactics that food manufacturers don't want you to know about—and the simple shifts that can revolutionize your entire approach to healthy eating. Get ready to discover why your weekly grocery trip could be the most powerful weight loss tool you're not using properly, and how to turn every shopping experience into a strategic victory for your health goals. DISCUSSED ON THE EPISODE: * The #1 grocery shopping mistake that derails weight loss before you even leave the store * Why Kelly calls grocery shopping "the front line of behavior change" * The two P's strategy that simplifies healthy meal planning instantly * How grocery stores are strategically designed to manipulate your purchases (and how to fight back) * The nutrition label hack that exposes fake "healthy" marketing claims * Why frozen vegetables might actually be more nutritious than fresh ones * The truth about "made with whole grain" vs. truly whole grain products * Kelly's favorite plant-based proteins that work for any budget * How to turn grocery shopping with kids into a fun scavenger hunt * The "what the hell effect" and how to plan for treats without derailing progress * Virtual grocery shopping: the hidden pros and cons you need to know * Why sticking to the store perimeter isn't always the best advice anymore RESOURCES MENTIONED: * MyPlate.gov [http://MyPlate.gov] * EatRight.org [http://EatRight.org] * diabetes.org [http://diabetes.org] * heart.org [http://heart.org]

The weight loss world has been turned upside down. With GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy delivering unprecedented results, many people are asking: Do we still need to worry about diet and exercise? Can these powerful drugs really do all the heavy lifting, or are we missing something crucial? This question isn't just academic - it's personal for millions of people who are either on these medications or considering them. The stakes are high: get it wrong, and you could be setting yourself up for weight regain, muscle loss, or missing out on the full benefits these breakthrough treatments can offer. Join Holly and Jim as they tackle this game-changing question with one of the world's leading obesity researchers. Dr. Thomas Wadden brings decades of experience combining behavioral and pharmaceutical interventions, and his insights will reshape how you think about weight loss in the modern era. You'll discover why the "old rules" still matter - just not in the way you might expect. DISCUSSED ON THE EPISODE: * The shift in how patients experience food and hunger on GLP-1 medications * Why counting calories may no longer be necessary, but protein intake is more critical than ever * The muscle loss problem that most people don't see coming (and what to do about it) * How to safely transition off medications if you choose to - without the inevitable weight regain * Why food noise feels even louder when it returns and what this means for your strategy * The shame and stigma still surrounding weight loss medications (and how to overcome it) * What primary care doctors need to know but often don't when prescribing these drugs * The role for registered dietitians in the GLP-1 era - and why they're needed more than ever * Lessons from the National Weight Control Registry that apply to medication users * The truth about whether exercise becomes easier after weight loss

Menopause and weight gain - two words that strike fear into the hearts of millions of women. But what if everything you've been told about inevitable weight gain during menopause isn't the whole story? What if there are strategies, backed by cutting-edge research, that can help you navigate this transition without accepting defeat? Join Holly and Jim as they tackle one of their most requested topics with not one, but two powerhouse experts. Dr. Nanette Santoro, a leading authority in women's health and reproductive endocrinology at the University of Colorado, brings insights from groundbreaking studies like SWAN that have followed thousands of women through menopause. Alongside her, Dr. Annie Caldwell, a clinical health psychologist specializing in the mind-body connection during menopause, offers a unique interdisciplinary perspective that bridges psychology, endocrinology, and behavioral medicine. This isn't another episode telling you to "just accept the weight gain." Instead, you'll discover evidence-based strategies, debunk persistent myths, and learn why this life stage might actually be the perfect time to make lasting changes to your health. DISCUSSED ON THE EPISODE: * The surprising truth about average weight gain during menopause (it's less than you think) * Why some women gain significant weight while others don't - and what makes the difference * The metabolic flexibility theory that could explain everything about menopause weight changes * How sleep disruption and mood changes create the perfect storm for weight gain * Why traditional weight loss strategies stop working - and what to do instead * The role of resistance training in preserving muscle mass and metabolic rate * Hormone replacement therapy myths: what it can and can't do for weight management * How GLP-1 medications are changing the game for menopausal women * The biggest myths about menopause that keep women stuck * Why intermittent fasting might actually work better for women than previously thought * When to seek help from a menopause specialist - and how to find one * Sleep strategies that don't involve prescription medications * The future of menopause treatment and what's coming next RESOURCES MENTIONED: * Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN) [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35130984/] * CBT-i Coach app [https://mobile.va.gov/app/cbt-i-coach] * Self-compassion meditations by Kristin Neff [https://self-compassion.org/] * Weight Loss And... Episode #71 on intermittent fasting with Dr. Catanacci [https://weightlossand.com/what-the-latest-fasting-study-means-for-you-with-victoria-catenacci]

Can you tell the difference between weight loss fact and fiction? With so much conflicting information floating around on social media and in conversations, it's easy to believe ideas that sound right but may actually be holding you back. Join Holly and Jim for a fun, eye-opening game of "Myth vs. Truth: Weight Loss Edition," where they tackle 10 of the most common claims about weight loss, metabolism, and exercise. You'll discover which widely-held beliefs are actually false, which have elements of truth, and how the nuances matter for your weight management journey. Whether you've been struggling with a "slow metabolism" or avoiding carbs at all costs, this episode will help you separate science from fiction—and might just change how you approach your weight loss goals forever. DISCUSSED ON THE EPISODE: * Why blaming your metabolism might be letting yourself off too easily * The surprising truth about muscle's effect on your calorie burn * Why demonizing entire food groups could be sabotaging your success * The real reason willpower isn't the magic key to weight loss * When eating late at night actually matters (and when it doesn't) * Why your weight loss naturally slows down over time (and what to do about it) * The unexpected role of perfectionism in weight regain * How much daily activity is truly needed for long-term weight maintenance * The mind state shift that transforms exercise from burden to opportunity * Why relying on diet alone is almost guaranteed to fail