Hormones & Hope with Dr. Chhaya

Starting GLP-1 Medications: How to Dose, Up-Titrate & Reduce Side Effects of GLP-1

Starting a GLP-1 medication can feel overwhelming, especially with so much misinformation online about dosing, side effects, and “maximum” doses. In this episode, Dr. Chhaya Makhija explains how GLP-1 dose titration actually works and why more medication is not always better. From semaglutide medications like Ozempic and Wegovy to tirzepatide options like Mounjaro and Zepbound, she shares how she approaches dosing with her own patients, what signs she monitors, and why individualized care matters so much in metabolic health. She also discusses body composition, inflammation, side effect management, oral GLP-1 medications, and the importance of ongoing communication with your healthcare provider throughout your journey. Whether you’re considering starting a GLP-1 medication, currently adjusting your dose, or simply trying to better understand how these medications work, this episode offers a realistic approach to metabolic health and weight management. Sign Up for The M3 Masterclass with Dr.  Makhija: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration] Download the Free Guide 'Your Health on GLP-1' Here: https://dr-chhaya.myflodesk.com/glp1 [ https://dr-chhaya.myflodesk.com/glp1] Follow Dr. Chhaya Makhija here: https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/]https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine [https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine] https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/ [https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/]https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd [https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/] Email: connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com [connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon!

Walking Isn’t Enough: The Best Exercises to Increase Bone Density

In this episode of Hormones and Hope, Dr. Chhaya Makhija sits down with physical therapist and Onero-certified specialist Dr. Robert Pauline to discuss one of the most common concerns among women and aging adults: low bone density. From osteopenia and osteoporosis to muscle loss, falls, fractures, and strength training, this episode dives deep into how evidence-based resistance training can help improve strength, balance, confidence, and even bone density.  Dr. Robert shares insights from the groundbreaking LIFTMOR trial, explains why walking alone is not enough to protect your bones, and discusses how properly supervised strength training can completely change the trajectory of aging. You’ll also hear practical advice on how to safely begin lifting weights, why balance and foot stability matter more than people realize, and how younger generations are already showing signs of poor bone health due to lifestyle habits, low-calorie diets, and inactivity. Whether you’re in your 30s, 50s, or beyond, this episode offers practical insight into how movement, resistance training, nutrition, and consistency can support lifelong bone health. Sign Up for The M3 Masterclass with Dr.  Makhija: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration] Follow Dr. Chhaya Makhija here: https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/]https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine [https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine] https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/ [https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/]https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd [https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/] Email: connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com [connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com] Download Free Guides/ Resources here: https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd [https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd] Follow Dr. Robert Pauline here: https://robbypauline.com/ [https://robbypauline.com/] https://www.facebook.com/RobbyPT [https://www.facebook.com/RobbyPT] https://www.instagram.com/rpaulinept/ [https://www.instagram.com/rpaulinept/] LIFTMOR Trial  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/ [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28975661/] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon!

3 Key Lessons on Hormones, Muscle & Metabolic Health From a Women’s Health Summit

In this episode, Dr. Chhaya Makhija reflects on an energizing week in San Francisco and the Bay Area, where she spoke at the Live Long Women’s Health Summit and participated in a Women’s Wellness Lab.  Surrounded by experts in bone health, hormones, and nutrition, she also spent meaningful time connecting with respected colleagues and caring for patients, making it a deeply impactful experience both professionally and personally. She shares three insights that stayed with her long after the week ended—grounded, practical shifts that go beyond trends and focus on what truly supports your strength, energy, and long-term vitality. This episode is a reminder that lasting health isn’t built through extremes, but through small, intentional actions practiced consistently over time. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by conflicting advice or unsure where to begin, this conversation helps bring clarity back to the fundamentals. If this episode resonated with you, share it with someone who could use a simple and clear starting point in their health journey. Subscribe for more conversations on hormones, metabolism, and long-term wellness, and consider leaving a review to help others discover the show. Sign Up for The M3 Masterclass with Dr.  Makhija: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration [https://zoom.us/meeting/register/llQXKQSGRCKVpZBMHoqb2A#/registration] Download the Free Guide 'Your Health on GLP-1' Here: https://dr-chhaya.myflodesk.com/glp1 [https://dr-chhaya.myflodesk.com/glp1] Follow Dr. Chhaya Makhija here: https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/]https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine [https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine] https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/ [https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/]https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd [https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/] Email: connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com [connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com] Download Free Guides/ Resources here: https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd [https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon!

New in 2026: Oral GLP-1 Medications — Wegovy vs Foundayo, What They Mean for You

What if you could experience the powerful benefits of GLP-1 medications—without needles, injections, or weekly shots? In this episode, Dr. Chhaya Makhija takes you through one of the most exciting developments in metabolic health and weight management: oral GLP-1 medications.  She walks you through two key options: Wegovy pill (oral semaglutide) and Foundayo, a newer non-peptide GLP-1. These new pill-based options are reshaping how we think about treating obesity, insulin resistance, and long-term weight maintenance. This episode also explores why these medications aren’t a quick fix, the continued importance of lifestyle, and how oral GLP-1s are being used in clinical practice—especially for transitioning off injectables or maintaining results. If you’ve been curious about GLP-1 medications, hesitant about injections, or wondering what newer options exist, this episode is a clear, practical starting point.  Follow Dr. Chhaya Makhija here: https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/]https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine [https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine] https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/ [https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/]https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd [https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/] Email: connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com [connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com] Download Free Guides/ Resources here: https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd [https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon!

Stop Trying to Do Everything—Focus on These 5 Shifts Instead that Work for Great Health - by Endocrinologist Dr. Chhaya Makhija

What does it actually take to turn around 12 years of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes? Not a new medication. Not a dramatic diet overhaul. Not willpower alone. In this powerful solo episode of Hormones & Hope, Dr. Makhija shares the real story of a patient who was doing everything by the book and still suffering and walks us through the five shifts that finally changed everything for him. When this retired police officer first walked into Dr. Makhija's office, he was taking hundreds of units of insulin a day, on multiple oral medications, attending every appointment, and still carrying an A1C of 10.6% and blood sugars hovering around 350 mg/dL. He was exhausted, not just physically, but emotionally from trying and trying and not being understood. Eighteen months later? His insulin requirements dropped by more than 80%. He lost over 30 pounds and gained muscle. His A1C came down to a healthy range. And he's now running marathons across the country, lifting weights, and sending Dr. Makhija pictures from every finish line. This episode is for anyone managing a chronic condition who feels like they're doing everything right and still not getting better. Drawing on 20 years of clinical medicine and her integrated approach to endocrinology, Dr. Makhija shares five foundational shifts that she has seen drive transformation across her entire patient population. They are the core principles that science keeps returning to, and that she has watched change lives when applied consistently and correctly. Share this episode with someone managing diabetes or a chronic metabolic condition who needs to hear that things can be different! Follow Dr. Chhaya Makhija here: https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.instagram.com/chhayamakhijamd/]https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine [https://www.facebook.com/unifiedendocrine] https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/ [https://unifiedendocrinecare.com/]https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd [https://www.youtube.com/@chhayamakhijamd] https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chhayamakhijamd/] Email: connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com [connect@unifiedendocrinecare.com] Download Free Guides/ Resources here: https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd [https://linktr.ee/chhayamakhijamd] Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. It’s not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 🔔 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon!