Big Feels, Bad Decisions

For years, we’ve been told that achieving your goal weight is simply a matter of discipline, grit, and matching athlete-level training with exhausting caloric deficits. But what happens when you’re trapped in a constant, draining cycle of overtraining, overeating, and relying on pure willpower just to end up maintaining the same size?

In this episode, I discuss my personal journey with a GLP-1. This isn't a conversation about dropping massive amounts of weight just for the sake of it, it’s an honest, unfiltered look at using science to rewire neural pathways, silence the relentless "food noise," and build a lifestyle where your body finally just works without the constant mental battlefield.

From navigating the initial changes of month one to unexpected food aversions and the exact wellness non-negotiables that kept me grounded, we’re diving into the realities of my GLP-1 experience.

Inside the Episode: 

• Month One Realities: Letting the body adjust to a new chemical blueprint, allowing receptors to develop, and intentionally scaling back physical activity to match a shifting caloric intake.
• The Death of Food Noise: Why silencing the mental obsession with food is the single most life-changing, liberating piece of the entire puzzle.
• Aversions vs. Intolerance: Navigating a sudden lack of appetite for greasy foods, alcohol (turning off the brain's reward center), and the loss of interest in a daily soda water with lemon.
• The Leftover Evolution: Breaking the habit of eating the same staples day after day and adapting to a rapidly changing palate.
• The Ultimate Goal: Shifting the paradigm from forcing a healthier lifestyle through exhausting drive to naturally craving one through altered brain chemistry.

My Top GLP-1 Guidelines:

• Hydration & Electrolytes: When the obsession with ice water becomes real, daily electrolytes are a non-negotiable requirement to stay balanced.
• Fiber & Gut Health: Staying regular during massive digestive shifts is critical. Raw psyllium husk works wonders for consistency, even if you have to get incredibly creative to choke it down every other day.
• Lift Weights: You must signal to your body that you intend to keep your hard-earned muscle. Do not skip the strength training.
• Prioritize Protein First: When appetite drops fast, eat your protein first. While the general rule is 1g per pound of body weight, listen to your body.

Connect with the Show:

• Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube, and leave a review :)
• Join the Conversation: Share your own experiences with lifestyle shifts, health optimization, and breaking the willpower cycle on our social channels. If you have tried GLP-1s or are starting one, let us know; we'd love to hear from you!

Episode Summary: What does it take to walk away from everything you’ve ever built? In this official premiere episode of Big Feels, Bad Decisions, we dive into Lesson #1: the terrifying, liberating reality that it is never too late to start over.

For twenty years, I climbed the ladder in environmental sciences. I stood on the northern tundra managing the environmental footprints of major diamond mines. I was single-handedly responsible for managing billions of dollars worth of diamonds. From the frozen north to the tropical shores of the Maldives, my career looked flawless on paper. But behind the glamorous title and the high-stakes responsibility was a harsh truth: I was trapped in a profoundly toxic corporate culture that was eroding my well-being.

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the curtain of that pivot. We talk about the exact moment I realized the golden handcuffs weren’t worth the cost, the terrifying leap of leaving a two-decade career behind, and what it actually looks like to dive into the unknown with both feet. If you’ve ever felt stuck, questioned your timeline, or wondered if you've invested too much time to pivot—this one is for you.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The High-Stakes Cage: What it’s really like working in environmental compliance at diamond mines and handling billions of dollars in assets.
• The Toxic Tipping Point: Recognizing when a corporate environment is costing you your health and sanity, no matter how great the paycheck or the location.
• Lesson #1: Navigating the fear of starting from scratch in your 40s and finding the courage to land on your own two feet.

Connect with the Show:

• Subscribe & Review: If this episode resonated with you, please leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!
• Follow on Instagram: @bigfeelsbaddecisions for daily insights, behind-the-scenes footage, and upcoming lessons.
• Catch our videos on YouTube: @bigfeelsbaddecisions

"I can't accept that the things I have survived and persevered through in this life were all for nothing, and my lessons are going to be your cheat codes from now on." — Dayna Meredith

Episode Summary:

In this inaugural trailer episode, host Dayna Meredith introduces Big Feels, Bad Decisions, a podcast dedicated to pulling back the layers of human struggle, resilience, and personal evolution. Through her upcoming series, 41 Lessons in 41 Years, Dayna transforms her own survival story into a compassionate roadmap for others. From the corporate halls of business school to the rugged, high-stakes environment of Canada's Arctic diamond mines, no topic is off-limits. This series is an open, honest exploration of what happens when we face our epic fails head-on and use them to reclaim our voices.

Inside This Episode:

• The isolated feeling of being unheard and ignored. 
• Introduction to the series: 41 Lessons in 41 Years.
• A preview of upcoming topics: Corporate life, extreme workplaces, and personal battles.
• Reclaiming perspective through life’s greatest challenges and most precious moments.

Connect With The Show:

• Hosted by: Dayna Meredith
• Produced by: Meredith Media Group
• Subscribe & Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bigfeelsbaddecisions

Enjoyed this trailer? Please take a moment to like, subscribe, and share this episode with a friend who needs to know they aren't alone in their struggles. New episodes are dropping soon!