Does GLP-1 cause muscle loss?

If you're taking Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or another GLP-1 medication for weight loss — especially with PCOS or insulin resistance — you’ve probably Googled this at 2am.

I did too.

In this episode of The Weight Loss Truce Series, I unpack what I learned from my doctor, what the physiology actually says, and what I’m personally doing to protect my muscle, metabolism, and long-term health while losing fat.

We’re talking about:

• Whether GLP-1 medications directly cause muscle loss
• What actually causes lean mass loss during weight loss
• Why protein intake matters more than ever on GLP-1
• How insulin resistance and PCOS change the equation
• The role of strength training in metabolic protection
• Why under-eating can backfire
• How I monitor muscle without spiraling

This episode separates fear from physiology.

Because muscle is not bulk.
Muscle is metabolic insurance.

And protecting it is not optional.

These blog posts expand on everything discussed in this episode:

How I’m Approaching Protein on a GLP-1 (Doctor-Guided):
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/how-much-protein-i-eat-on-a-glp-1

My Deeper Dive Into PCOS, Insulin Resistance & The Physiology I Didn’t Understand:
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/my-deeper-dive-into-pcos-insulin-resistance-the-physiology-i-didnt-understand

Do GLP-1s Cause Muscle Loss? (And How I’m Preventing It):
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/do-glp-1s-cause-muscle-loss-and-how-im-preventing-it

If you’re exploring GLP-1 support options, you can learn more here:
https://www.joinweightcare.com/MELISSA22858

I may earn a commission if you choose to use my link, at no additional cost to you. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any medication.

The smart scale I use to monitor lean mass trends (weekly, not daily):
https://amzn.to/4rKAT55

This is the one I personally use to track body composition changes instead of obsessing over scale weight alone. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

This episode shares educational information and personal experience. It is not medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare provider before beginning or changing any medication, nutrition, or exercise plan.

GLP-1 is not a shortcut.
It’s a tool.

But tools require strategy.

This conversation is about:

Building health without starvation.
Protecting muscle while losing fat.
Understanding insulin resistance instead of blaming yourself.
And ending the war with your body.

Stay with me. 🤍

If You Want the Deeper Dive…Tools I Personally Use (Affiliate Links)Important NoteWhy This Episode Matters

After years of dieting, counting macros, over-exercising, and blaming myself for “not trying hard enough,” I finally realized something that changed everything…

Weight loss felt like war.

In this deeply personal episode of The Weight Loss Truce Series, I open up about my journey with PCOS, insulin resistance, chronic food noise, and body image exhaustion — and why doing everything “right” still didn’t work.

If you’ve ever wondered why your body won’t respond the way everyone else’s seems to…
If you’ve felt ashamed, inflamed, stuck, or silently overwhelmed by food thoughts…
If you’re curious (or conflicted) about GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro…

This episode is your deep exhale.

Inside, we talk about:

• What “food noise” actually feels like in a real body

• Why calorie counting and discipline aren’t the full story

• The hidden role of insulin resistance in PCOS weight gain

• How GLP-1 medications affect appetite signaling and satiety

• Why weight loss felt impossible until my nervous system felt safe

• The emotional shift from punishment to partnership

This isn’t about shortcuts.
It’s not about shame.
It’s not about “finally getting it together.”

It’s about calling a truce.

Because sometimes your body isn’t resisting you…
It’s protecting you.

✨ Want to Go Deeper?

If this conversation resonates, I’ve written several magazine-style deep dives on my blog that explore the science, emotion, and lived experience behind this journey:

💛 GLP-1 Weight Loss Without War: When My Body Finally Felt Safe
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/weight-loss-without-war-what-it-took-for-me-to-finally-feel-safe-in-my-body

💛 PCOS, Insulin Resistance, and Why Diet & Exercise Didn’t Work
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/pcos-insulin-resistance-and-why-diet-exercise-didn-t-work

💛 What Is Food Noise? (And How GLP-1’s Affect It)
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/what-is-food-noise-and-how-glp-1s-affect-it

💛 GLP-1 and Plateaus: What to Do When the Scale Stops Moving
https://www.lovethyselfies.com/blogs/news/glp-1-and-plateaus-what-to-do-when-the-scale-stops-moving

These articles go deeper into the physiology, psychology, and practical shifts that helped me move from fighting my body… to finally feeling at home in it.

If you’ve been exhausted by weight loss, confused by PCOS, or quietly wondering if your body is broken, you’re not alone.

You don’t need more punishment.
You need understanding.
You need safety.
You need peace.

Welcome to the truce. 🤍

A soft catch-up, a launch recap, and a whole lot of gratitude.**

If you’ve wondered where I disappeared to these past couple of weeks… this episode is the answer. Today, I’m catching you up on everything I’ve been building behind the scenes — with the biggest, fullest, most grateful heart.

In this episode, we dive into:

💛 The Self-Love Solution™ Course Launch
For the first time ever, I finally released the course I’ve been dreaming about for YEARS — a five-module journey designed to help you see yourself, know yourself, love yourself, express yourself, and ultimately become the woman you’ve always been beneath the survival patterns.

Inside the course:
• Module 1: See Yourself — awareness, compassion, and softening
• Module 2: Know Yourself — values, identity, the truth of who you are
• Module 3: Love Yourself — nervous system safety + self-trust
• Module 4: Express Yourself — confidence, voice, boundaries, color
• Module 5: Become Yourself — alignment, peace, embodiment

This is the framework that changed my life — and I finally get to teach it.

🌿 The Self-Love Revolution Masterclass
I walk you through the full recap of the FREE masterclass — the stories we unraveled, the healing we experienced together, and why this class is such a powerful doorway into self-trust.

✨ The replay is still live until the end of November, so if you missed it… go watch. It’s a heart opener.

🛍️ My Stan Store Launch
Every printable, every ritual, every journal I’ve been lovingly creating is finally in one place — and to celebrate the launch:

🎁 Everything is discounted for the next week and a half for the holidays.
Prices return to normal in December, so now is the perfect time to stock up on tools for your 2026 transformation.

📦 Inside the store, you’ll find:
• The 5-Minute Glow Ritual (FREE)
• Mirror Work Mini Journal
• Glow Palette Guide
• Self-Trust Tracker
• Main Character Mood Board Kit
• Daily Routine Planner
• The full Self-Love Solution™ Course
• And so much more…

💫 And… the Self-Love Lab Community is LIVE.
This is my new favorite corner of the internet — a safe, warm, heart-led space where we journal together, reflect together, grow together, and play together.

Daily prompts, weekly threads, monthly hangs, tiny revolutions, love-in-action check-ins…
It’s going to be SO much fun.
I cannot wait to see it come alive with you inside it.

🌙 I’m back. I’m grounded. I’m excited.
Thank you for being patient while I built the LTS Universe.
Thank you for letting me follow what felt true.
And thank you for being here for Episode 71 — the soft return.

Let’s jump in.

What if you could feel calm, confident, and beautiful — without changing a single thing about yourself?

In this episode, I’m guiding you through The 5-Minute Glow Ritual — a free, heart-centered practice designed to help you reconnect with your reflection, release self-doubt, and rebuild self-trust.

This ritual is your daily reset — a moment to breathe, soften, and remember that your glow isn’t something you have to earn… it’s something you come back to. 🌸

✨ Inside this episode, you’ll experience:

• A guided 5-minute meditation to calm your mind and soothe your nervous system

• A simple 3-step process to rebuild confidence from the inside out

• A reminder that you don’t need to be “more” to feel worthy — you just need to come home to yourself

🪞 Download your FREE 5-Minute Glow Ritual printable and audio guide in my Stan Store — it’s linked in my bio across all platforms.
Start your day grounded, glowing, and connected to the woman you already are.

Feeling stuck, tired, or suddenly unmotivated — even after weeks of momentum? You’re not broken, beautiful soul… you’re integrating. 🌙

In this week’s episode of LoveThySelfies, Melissa opens up about her own recent slowdown — how her nervous system hit the brakes after weeks of building her new system and course, and what she discovered about the deeper science behind it.

You’ll learn why your energy naturally ebbs and flows, how your subconscious protects you from change (even the good kind), and what to do when your body goes into “freeze mode” during a season of growth.

Melissa blends soulful storytelling with nervous system science to help you:
✨ Understand why procrastination often means your body doesn’t feel safe
✨ Ground yourself when fear or self-doubt surface during expansion
✨ Build nervous system safety so your success actually feels good
✨ Reconnect with your body’s rhythm and trust the pauses between breakthroughs

Because true self-love isn’t about staying “high vibe” — it’s about feeling safe in every phase of your evolution. 🌿

Journal Prompt:
What part of me feels unsafe to receive what I’m creating — and what would safety look or feel like instead?

Mantra:
“I am safe in my expansion. I trust the ebb as much as the flow.”

Listen now to feel grounded, reconnected, and reminded that every slowdown is sacred.
energy healing, nervous system regulation, burnout recovery, self love podcast, personal growth, embodiment, trauma healing, feminine energy, emotional healing, spiritual awakening, self compassion, grounding techniques, expansion, flow state

“In this week’s episode, I’m guiding you through a powerful meditation designed to help you release fear, step out of the mental cage you’ve been living in, and return home to yourself.

If you’ve been struggling with self-abandonment, burnout, or the constant feeling of not being enough, this practice will remind you that you are already whole. Together, we’ll calm your nervous system, let go of the stories that no longer serve you, and meet your future self—the version of you who is free, grounded, magnetic, and deeply at peace.

This isn’t just meditation. It’s a moment to reconnect with your body, your breath, and your truth. You’ll leave feeling lighter, safer, and more in alignment with the love that’s always been supporting you.”

✨ Perfect if you’ve been searching for:

• Guided meditations for self-love and healing

• Nervous system regulation + grounding practices

• Future self embodiment and manifestation

• Tools for overcoming fear, anxiety, and self-doubt

• Spiritual healing through self-connection

Press play, close your eyes, and let this be your reset.

#selflove #guidedmeditation #nervoussystemhealing #futureyou #selfabandonment #healingjourney #meditationpodcast #mindbodyconnection #selfworth #softselfrevolution

What stories are you carrying — and are they keeping you stuck?

In this episode of LoveThySelfies, Melissa shares a deeply personal reflection on the survival stories we tell ourselves and how they can quietly shape our entire reality. From years of sitting in blame and resentment to a breakthrough moment of accountability, she opens up about what it really takes to stop giving away your power and start rewriting your narrative.

You’ll learn:

• Why therapy can be a powerful starting point but not always the final step in healing

• How neuroplasticity shows we can literally rewire old belief systems

• What epigenetics reveals about breaking cycles of generational trauma

• Practical steps for catching, reframing, and replacing limiting stories

• A calming nervous system reset, mantra, and journal prompt to support your journey

If you’ve ever felt trapped by your past, this episode will remind you that you are not your old stories. You are the author of your life — and you can write with love, truth, and freedom.

✨ Take the free self-love quiz in the link in Melissa’s bio to discover where you are in your journey.

#selflove #healingjourney #growthmindset #mentalhealth #traumahealing #authenticity #selfworth

What does it really take to choose yourself — even when it means leaving everything behind? In this episode of LoveThySelfies, Melissa sits down with her soul sister, Mara, to explore what self-love looks like in action. From growing up in a high-pressure environment to making the bold decision to move across the country and chase her dream career as a brow tattoo artist, Mara’s story is a powerful reminder that bravery and authenticity are deeply connected.

Together, they unpack childhood expectations, the weight of independence, and the messy reality of starting over in a brand-new place. If you’ve ever felt the pull to leap into something unknown, this conversation will remind you that you’re capable of so much more than you think.

What You’ll Learn:

• How childhood expectations shape our identity and worth

• The role of independence and resilience in self-love

• What it takes to leave your comfort zone and start fresh

• How artistry and purpose can become healing practices

• The truth about fear, bravery, and choosing yourself anyway

• Practical insights for anyone considering a big life change

Perfect for: Anyone dreaming of a fresh start, entrepreneurs at the beginning of their journey, young adults navigating independence, or anyone curious about what it really looks like to follow your intuition and leap into the unknown.

self-love journey, following your dreams, moving to a new city, women’s empowerment, entrepreneurship, courage to change, authenticity, independence, starting over, self-worth, brave decisions, trust yourself, nervous system safety, healing through art, podcast for personal growth

The Self-Love Journey That Changed Everything (My Full Story)

In this powerful episode of LoveThySelfies, the mic gets flipped — and I become the guest. My husband Jake steps in to interview me about my raw, messy, beautiful journey of self-love, self-trust, body image, nervous system healing, and finding who I really am beneath all the roles, labels, and expectations.

From religious conditioning to motherhood burnout, perfectionism to eating disorders, and the pain of self-abandonment to the joy of coming home to myself — nothing is off limits.

If you’ve ever wondered “How do I start loving myself when I don’t even know who I am?” this one’s for you.

This is the episode where I say the things I wish someone had told me at 16... and the things I still need to hear on my hard days.

💗 Ready to start your own self-love journey?
Take the FREE LoveThySelfies Quiz and uncover the version of you that’s waiting to be seen:
👉 www.lovethyselfie.com/quiz

self-love journey, nervous system healing, body image, personal growth, breaking generational cycles, self-worth, mom burnout, authenticity, overcoming perfectionism, trauma healing, faith deconstruction, identity shift, self-trust, becoming her

“You don’t have to succeed to be worthy. You don’t have to do to love yourself.” – Jake

In this heartfelt pilot episode of the new LoveThySelfies Podcast, Melissa sits down with her husband, Jake — her best friend since age 10 — to talk about love, resilience, identity, and what self-love really means from a man’s perspective. Together they reflect on decades of growth through long-distance love, military life, parenting, leaving religion, navigating depression and anxiety, and the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.

This is not just a love story — it’s a conversation about redefining success, finding worth beyond achievement, and learning to love yourself in a world that tells you not to.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

• Why men and women both struggle with self-love — but in different ways

• The hidden pressure men face to tie their worth to achievement and success

• How leaving behind rigid expectations (church, culture, career) shaped our marriage and our sense of identity

• What burnout, over-functioning, and hustle culture look like from the inside

• Why partnership can be both a mirror and a teacher for self-love

• Practical ways to rethink safety, rest, and nervous system regulation in everyday life

• How to start dreaming again after years of survival mode

Perfect For:
Men and women redefining what self-love means in adulthood, anyone struggling with achievement-driven worth, couples navigating identity shifts together, entrepreneurs fighting burnout, and anyone leaving behind old narratives to embrace authenticity.

If this episode resonates, share it with someone who needs the reminder that they’re already enough. Subscribe to the podcast for weekly conversations on self-love, worthiness, and living authentically.

*This podcast is for education, storytelling, and inspiration. It is not therapy and does not replace professional mental health support.

self-love journey, men and self-love, redefining success, marriage and mental health, burnout recovery, worthiness, leaving religion, military life marriage, depression and entrepreneurship, nervous system healing, identity and expectations, resilience in relationships, generational cycles, redefining success men, family healing