The Dose with Paddy and Belinda

What happens when you stop? You've reached your weight, you stop your GLP1 but, then what?

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Paddy and Belinda welcome Mark Fearon, former Leinster rugby player and Operation Transformation participant, for a funny, frank and deeply personal conversation.

Mark shares how a rugby injury changed his life, his experience of weighing over 27 stone, and the years of restrictive diets, binge eating and weight regain that followed. He also opens up about codeine addiction, recovery and the importance of psychological support.

Then we get into the question so many listeners are asking: what happens when you stop weight loss medication?

Mark describes the return of hunger and food noise, despite significant changes to his lifeirestyle, and shares his decision about what comes next.

We talk about:
• Emotional eating, food shame and the “I’ll be good tomorrow” cycle.
• Strength training and finding joy in exercise.
• Weight maintenance and life after reaching your goal.
• Online judgement and unsolicited advice.
• Why Mark is done with extreme diets.

There’s plenty of laughter, a confession about “car chips”, and some appreciation for Mark’s biceps. But at its heart, this is a conversation about rebuilding your relationship with food, your body and yourself.

Find Mark Here:

* https://www.instagram.com/markfearo/

* https://www.tiktok.com/@markbyfearo

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Paddy got out of bed on the wrong side this morning, he has a LOT to rant about in regards to weight loss this week - Poor Belinda. 👀

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We get into the cost of treatment, the frustration of a plateau, the comments nobody asked for, and why someone else’s weight loss is apparently everybody’s business. There’s also a three hour old cup of tea, a deeply divisive teabag and several strong opinions. So, a fairly standard episode of The Dose.

Penpals, what’s getting on your nerves about your journey? Send us a message. We’re in the mood to agree with you.

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

WE’RE BACK! 🎙️

After 13 weeks away, Paddy and Belinda are reunited, the Pen Pals are officially a thing, and somehow we’ve already had an HR dispute within the first 30 seconds.

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So… what’s happened since we disappeared? Quite a lot, actually.

Paddy has gone from secretly running a 10K to completing his first half marathon, started therapy for the first time, begun fixing his teeth, and, after months of frustration, finally broken through his weight loss plateau and reached a brand new low.

Meanwhile, Belinda gets very real about discovering she’s regained 14lbs over the past year, why maintenance hasn’t gone the way she expected, the possible role of medication, and why she refuses to see this setback as the end of her story.

We also talk weight loss medication, food noise, long term treatment, DEXA scans, loose skin, body changes, the things we wish we’d tracked from day one, and what’s coming up in Season 4.

Plus, Paddy discovers Pilates, Belinda still can’t speak into her microphone, we introduce our imaginary back office staff, and a perfectly innocent conversation about plant milk takes a deeply unfortunate turn.

Basically, The Dose is back.

Same honesty. Same chaos. Slightly better production.

Welcome back, Pen Pals. ❤️

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

A short one just to share a little update and say a sincere word of thanks to each and every one of you.

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

Well folks, we made it. Season 3 is officially in the bag, and Paddy and Belinda are signing off in the only way they know how ...45 minutes late, blaming the gremlins in the tech, and waved through with a "sure it's grand."

Before anybody panics: it's the end of the season, not the end of the dose. Season 4 is already brewing, and there's a phenomenal lineup waiting in the wings. But first, a proper sit-down to mark where we've landed.

We're closing in on a milestone that genuinely floored us when we looked at the number — and three of the all-time top five episodes have come from this season alone.

We get reflective. Paddy walks back to a desk in May 2024, asking himself if morbid obesity was just going to be his lot for life — and the wedding weekend in June when everything quietly shifted.

Belinda goes back further, to a passive-aggressive magazine article her mam slid across the kitchen table in 2022, an online doctor appointment that lasted ninety seconds, and figuring out a brand-new medication with no community, no TikTok, no anything. Two very different routes in. Two years that look nothing like the lives they came from.

We get into the bigger picture too: how much the GLP-1 landscape has changed in just twenty-four months, where Weight Watchers, Unislim and Slimming World have each landed on it (spoiler: not all gracefully), the things nobody warns women in their forties and fifties about, the rebrand of PCOS, the ongoing question of whether influencers in the weight-loss space owe their followers some honesty, and the one that still hasn't settled in either of our heads.

Plus the lighter stuff: HYROX in September (Belinda has been hoodwinked), Paddy's complicated romance with running, a big summer for Belinda's family, gigs, ferries, Tayto Park, a podcasting conference in London, and a side project Paddy isn't quite ready to talk about yet.

Massive thanks to everyone who's been here — whether you found us last week or you were there for the dodgy Instagram Live in month one. Keep the WhatsApps coming over the break. We'll be back. And if something big breaks in the meantime, you know we won't leave you hanging.

Big love. See you in Season 4

P & B xx

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Belinda’s community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Next Chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paddy’s links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paddyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Keywords: Weight Loss Journey, Mounjaro, Wegovy, GLP-1, Obesity Support, Metabolic Health, Body Positivity, Medical Bias, Mental Health, The Dose Podcast, Weight Loss Medication, Personal Transformation.

She lost 37% of her body weight. In nine months. On a drug that doesn't officially exist yet in the real world.

In this episode, Paddy & Belinda down with Mimi , an Australian nurse and stroke survivor who became one of a handful of people worldwide to trial Retatrutide, Eli Lilly's next-generation triple receptor GLP-1 agonist, as part of a landmark cardiovascular clinical trial.

Mimi pulls back the curtain on what it's really like to be inside a pharmaceutical trial, from being forced to dose-escalate to 12mg within months regardless of how her body was responding, to surviving a cold turkey stop after 20 months with zero tapering support.

She shares the unfiltered truth about what extreme appetite suppression actually feels like, how she rebuilt her nutrition from scratch when she couldn't keep liquids down, and the moment her DEXA scan revealed how much body fat she actually lost.

She also talks about the mental health reality nobody warned her about, the terrifying return of hunger after nearly two years of silence, why her blood pressure medication had to be stopped just four months in, and how she went from qualifying for a trial to now maintaining a nine stone weight on Wegovy for cardiovascular protection.

Plus, we get into the very real and dangerous black market surge of so-called 'Retatrutide' , and why if you're seeing it for sale online, it is not the real thing.

This is one of the most extraordinary first-hand accounts of Retatrutide you'll hear anywhere. Don't miss it.

Find Mimi Here: https://www.tiktok.com/@Mimi_in_Aus

Find Paddy Here: https://linktr.ee/paddyc

Fina Belinda here: https://www.instagram.com/glp1.insights

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Keywords: #Retatrutide #GLP1 #WeightLossMedication #Ozempic #ClinicalTrial #WeightLossJourney

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

“You are living such a small life.”

Those seven words from a medical professional were the wake-up call Sarah ( @sezzieloula on Instagram) needed to stop waiting for a miracle and start fighting for her future.

After decades of battling obesity, medical bias, and the exhausting "mask" of being the happy people-pleaser, Sarah reached a breaking point in 2024. At her heaviest and most restricted, she’d already resigned herself to a shorter life, until she discovered a new path.

In this deeply moving episode of The Dose, Belinda and Paddy sit down with Sarah to trace her 13-month transformation. This isn't just a story about losing seven stone; it’s a raw exploration of reclaiming the space you deserve in a world that often tries to make you feel invisible.

• ​The "Small Life" Realization: Sarah describes the heartbreaking moment she realized she was shrinking her world to fit her body, from Googling seat widths to avoiding social gatherings.
• ​The Science of Hope: A candid look at the "switch" that flipped when Sarah started GLP-1 medication and how it levelled the metabolic playing field after years of failed "cycle dieting."
• ​Medical Bias & The 90s Trap: From being prescribed the Atkins diet at 19 to the trauma of being told every ailment was "just your weight," Sarah reflects on the systemic hurdles of living in a larger body.
• ​Non-Scale Victories: The joy of the "space between the steering wheel," the thrill of wild swimming, and the power of finally crossing your legs at a desk.
• ​A Message to Her Younger Self: A tear-jerking conclusion as Sarah shares what she wish she could tell the 19-year-old version of herself sitting in a doctor's office.

If you have ever felt like your weight enters the room before you do, or if you’ve spent years in the "four R’s" (Restrict, Relapse, Regain, Repeat), this episode is a lighthouse. Sarah’s vulnerability is a powerful reminder that obesity is a chronic relapsing disease, not a character flaw.

Keywords: Weight Loss Journey, Mounjaro, GLP-1, Obesity Support, Metabolic Health, Body Positivity, Medical Bias, Mental Health, The Dose Podcast, Weight Loss Medication, Personal Transformation.

"Hold on. Have some hope. Don’t give up on yourself. You are going to be okay." — Sarah

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Belinda’s community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Next Chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paddy’s links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paddyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Keywords: Weight Loss Journey, Mounjaro, Wegovy, GLP-1, Obesity Support, Metabolic Health, Body Positivity, Medical Bias, Mental Health, The Dose Podcast, Weight Loss Medication, Personal Transformation.

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

This week, we’re catching up on everything, from unexpected online drama to something even more shocking… Paddy has started running.....Yes, you read that right. From lungs on fire and knee pain to knocking out consistent 5Ks.

We also get into:

• The reality of navigating criticism online (and why people forget there’s a real person behind the screen)

• What “maintenance” actually looks like in real life, not the polished version

• Weekend indulgence, Chinese takeaways, cupcakes… and the reality check that comes after

• The truth about progress, setbacks, and why nothing is ever as linear as it looks

And as always, we don’t hold back on calling out the nonsense, especially when it comes to unsafe trends and misinformation in the weight loss space.

Honest, unfiltered, and probably a bit too real at times, but that’s what you come here for.

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Belinda’s community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Next Chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paddy’s links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paddyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

#WeightLossSupport #Exercise #Fitness #GLP1  #Ireland

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

You’re losing weight… so why does it still feel hard?

In this episode, we welcome back The GLP-1 Coach, Nikki Coughlan, for a powerful and honest conversation about the emotional side of this journey that nobody really prepares you for.

Nikki is a Nutritional Therapist and Health Coach specialising in supporting adults using GLP-1 medications

Find Nikki here: https://www.glp1coach.ie/

We talk about the fear of regain.

The support gap that exists for many of us on our journey.The panic around maintenance.The pressure to be perfect.

The importance of self-compassionAnd the quiet worry that maybe the medication is doing all the work.

If you’ve ever thought:“What happens when this stops?”“Why don’t I feel as different as I look?”“Why am I still struggling even though the scale is moving?”

This episode is for you

We explore how to move beyond diet mentality, how to design goals that actually work in real life, and why support matters more than most people realise. This is not about chasing numbers. It is about identity, values, and building something sustainable.

Whether you are just starting out, deep in the process, or approaching maintenance, this conversation will help you feel less alone and more grounded in your next step.

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Belinda’s community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Next Chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paddy’s links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paddyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

#WeightLossSupport #Exercise #Fitness #GLP1  #Ireland

Tap here to send us a whatsapp message ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or if you can’t tap, simply send your message to: +353851343766

After nearly three months on Wegovy, Paddy has made the decision to stop.

Not because he wanted to. Not because he didn’t try. But because it just wasn’t working for him the way he hoped. The appetite suppression never really landed, the sugar cravings were strong, and over that time he regained a stone and a half (22lbs / 10kg) .

In this episode, we talk honestly about what that felt like. The headspace. The frustration. The fear of slipping back into old patterns. And why he decided it was time to reset and go back to what had previously worked for me.

We also get into:

• Revisiting food noise

• Cravings versus hunger

• The shame people still carry around these medications

• Why you are allowed to keep your journey private

• And hows maintenance going for Belinda

And yes, there’s still the usual banter. Including tractors. If you’re on this journey and something isn’t going the way you expected, this episode is for you.

Disclaimer:

This podcast shares personal experience and general information only. It is not intended as medical advice. Always speak with a qualified healthcare professional about individual health decisions, including nutrition or prescription treatments. This episode is not endorsing, or suggesting any medical treatments - thats a decision for you and your Drs only.

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Belinda’s community: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Next Chapter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Paddy’s links: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/paddyc⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

#WeightLossSupport #Exercise #Fitness #GLP1  #Ireland