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This week’s Friday Five comes with a first in six years: I missed a podcast release.
Not because I didn’t care… but because my life got full in a way even I couldn’t out-organize or out-hustle.

Between conferences, continuing medical education (because apparently everything happens at the end of the year), and launching another program supporting women physicians, the perfect storm hit. And for the first time ever, an episode simply didn’t go out.

And honestly? It needed to happen.

This week’s short episode is a gentle, honest reminder of what becomes crystal clear when life is overloaded:
 your health must come first—before work, before deadlines, before dishes, before being everything to everyone.

Inside this Friday Five, I share:

1. Why I chose to skip the episode instead of skipping my health habits
2. The signs my body gives me when I’ve pushed too far
3. Why “being busy” isn’t a badge of honor—it's a warning sign
4. How to look at your calendar and see what you’re really prioritizing
5. A grounded reminder that saying “no” is not selfish—it’s survival

If you're moving through a season where life feels especially heavy or holiday-busy, this episode is your permission slip to pause, reevaluate, and protect what matters most.

Your wellbeing is not optional. And the organizations you serve will never experience the consequences of your burnout—only you will.

Take care of you first.
 I'll see you Monday.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

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Research shows that behavioral addictions, including emotional eating, can actually trigger stronger brain responses than hard drugs. Yet when people struggle with food, they’re so often told to “just have more discipline” or “try harder.” It’s no wonder so many of us feel stuck in shame and frustration.

In this eye-opening conversation with psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Hochman, creator of the Self Recovery program, we learn why emotional eating isn’t about willpower but about how we try to manage emotional pain. His science-based program, now recognized as one of the leading alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous, helps people uncover the emotional roots of addiction and build real, lasting recovery.

Tune in to hear Dr. Hochman’s “current of addiction” framework that helps people understand why they turn to food, how to reduce harm without restriction, and why building tolerance, not perfection, is the real key to freedom.

References

Self Recovery's Website

Quiz: What's Your Readiness for Change?

Dr. Hochman's Instagram

Dr. Hochman's LinkedIn

Self Recovery Community on Reddit

Audio Stamps

01:23 - Introduction of today's guest, psychiatrist Dr. Daniel Hochman, and how he came to work in the area of addiction.

02:53 - How do you define addiction in a medical sense versus something that's just a habit or a strong preference?

06:39 - Definition of emotional eating and Dr. Hochman’s key strategies to work on it.

13:10 - Practicing the art of tolerance to build strength against cravings

18:05 - How to slow down the urge to emotionally eat.

21:30 - Dealing with regression and shame when progress stalls.

24:14 - Why it's worth seeking the right professional guidance for emotional eating.

26:25 - How to work with Dr. Hochman via his clinical practice and Self Recovery program.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

If you've had bariatric surgery, you already know what it means to commit fully to your health.  But even with your best efforts, bodies adapt, hormones shift, and life adds its own complications. When weight begins to creep back, many people turn to GLP-1 medications for support, and that raises a crucial question: How well do GLP-1s actually work after bariatric surgery?

I recently heard from a listener living this exact experience — someone who lost more than 200 pounds after gastric bypass and has now started Zepbound to address weight regain. Her story opens the door to an important conversation about why GLP-1 medications can behave differently in a post-bariatric body, why results may not mirror those of someone without surgical history, and how to redefine success when you’ve already achieved a significant transformation.

References

The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain (Season 1)

The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain (Season 2) - Includes access to the December 21-Day Challenge with daily coaching, actionable steps, and community support to end your year with momentum.

Audio Stamps

00:40 - Dr. Rentea shares a heartwarming reunion at the VA, reconnecting with former colleagues and reflecting on how far she's come in her weight loss journey.

07:10 - Fan mail question: Does Zepbound (tirzepatide) work the same after gastric bypass surgery, and what weight loss results should you expect?

09:11 - Why post-bariatric patients often respond better to GLP-1 medications and become "hyper responders" at lower doses.

16:18 - Redefining success: why focusing on your relationship with food and sustainability matters more than hitting a specific weight loss percentage.

17:48 - Common post-surgery pitfalls including grazing patterns, excessive step counting, and neglecting body composition tracking.

20:42 - Information on the December 21-Day Challenge and upcoming 30/30 program rounds.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

In this quick and heartfelt episode of Your Friday Five, Dr. Matthea shares a personal story about losing access to her favorite walking track — and the unexpected lessons it revealed about change, flexibility, and gratitude.

She explores:

• How to pivot when life throws you a curveball
• The importance of solving for what actually matters
• Why resistance makes change harder
• How gratitude can transform frustration into peace
• A reminder that sometimes losing one routine opens the door for something even better

Dr. Matthea also gives a sneak peek into upcoming podcast interviews and reflects on the grounding power of community during busy seasons.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Monday’s inspiring interview with Jamie S. Sellner on creating life rules that transform everything
• The 30/30 group’s continued momentum leading up to the December Health & Momentum Challenge

Takeaway:
When change shows up uninvited, ask yourself — “What really matters here?” Then pivot quickly toward that.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

There are moments in our work that stay with you long after the conversation ends. My interview with Jamie Selzler was one of those moments. 

At 652 pounds, Jamie's world had become frighteningly small. Short walks left him breathless, and the haunting reality that people his size rarely lived past 50 forced him to face where his life was heading. 

What followed wasn't a quick fix or dramatic intervention. It was a complete transformation built on small promises, deep self-compassion, and the support of GLP-1 medication. Over three years, Jamie lost more than 340 pounds. But what moved me most wasn't the number on the scale, it was how he rebuilt his relationship with himself. 

In this powerful conversation, Jamie shares his four rules for lasting change, why he keeps a notebook with hundreds of handwritten wins, and why he refuses to set a goal weight. We talk about forgiving yourself, keeping promises to yourself, and why the happier life isn't waiting at some distant finish line—it's happening right now, in every small choice you make.

References

You can follow Jamie's journey on TikTok: @JamSelz or Instagram: @jselzler.

Season 2 of Behind the Curtain is now LIVE! The 21-Day Momentum & Health Challenge gives you the mindset and tools to build lasting change in just a few minutes a day. Learn more here.

Audio Stamps

01:13 - Jamie Selzler shares his story of losing over 300 pounds and how GLP-1 medications transformed his health and mindset.

03:39 - Reflecting on decades spent over 500 pounds and the repeated cycle of weight loss and regain.

07:05 - The wake-up moments that changed everything, from falling on the beach to realizing his life was at risk.

13:14 - Why bariatric surgery was never offered and how he might have considered it if it had been.

19:11 - Learning to forgive himself, release shame, and show compassion for his past choices.

22:00 - Starting GLP-1s, losing food noise, and the small mindset shifts that built lasting change.

23:30 - Keeping promises to himself and focusing on consistency over motivation.

34:32 - Letting go of the scale and shifting from output goals to input goals.

37:28 - The power of celebrating every small win and how tracking progress rewired his mindset.

45:10 - Jamie’s three pieces of advice: stop comparing, build your team, and find happiness in the process, not just the result.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

This special Halloween Your Friday Five episode is all about removing the candy scarcity mindset and setting yourself up for success. For many people, Halloween can feel like a slippery slope — candy in the house, kids bringing home buckets of it, and old habits kicking in. But it doesn’t have to derail you.

In this episode, I cover:

1. How to create candy neutrality.
   Candy isn’t forbidden, and it’s not scarce. Halloween candy is available all year long. When we remove the “forbidden fruit” mentality, the brain stops screaming for it. Remind yourself you can have it tomorrow, next week, or whenever you choose — there’s no urgency.
2. Why eating real food first matters.
   When you have a balanced meal with protein, fiber, and healthy fats before eating candy, your blood sugar is steadier, your dopamine hit is lower, and you’re far less likely to feel out of control. Eating real food first changes how the candy impacts your body and your decision-making.
3. Plan it, don’t police it.
   Instead of strict rules, create gentle boundaries that make you feel empowered. For example: decide to choose your favorite two pieces, savor them slowly, and wait until you’re home to enjoy them. This moves you from restriction to intention — and that’s where you regain control.

And if things don’t go as planned, remember: one night won’t undo your progress. Give it a five-second funeral, wake up the next day, and go right back to your normal, balanced habits.

Your power doesn’t come from perfection — it comes from intention.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

You want to raise kids who feel confident in their bodies and have a healthy relationship with food. But what happens when you're still figuring that out yourself?

Maybe you catch yourself labeling foods as "good" or "bad." Or your child comes home saying something they picked up at school or TikTok ("big back," "fat," "calories")...and your stomach drops. You want to respond in a way that builds confidence, not confusion. But between your own history with dieting, the mixed messages online, and the constant pressure to "get it right," it feels impossible to know what to say.

In this episode, I'm joined by pediatrician and author Dr. Whitney Casares, who shares how to navigate food and body conversations with kids at every age. She explains the division of responsibility approach, why authenticity beats perfection, and how to handle those uncomfortable moments at the pediatrician's office. Plus, she tackles the controversy around new pediatric guidelines and the shame surrounding GLP-1 medications. 

References

Dr. Whitney Casares' book: My One of a Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me (Available October 21st)

Website: modernmommydoc.com (includes free pediatrician visit guide)

Instagram: @modernmommydoc

Season 2 of Behind the Curtain is now LIVE! The 21-Day Momentum & Health Challenge gives you the mindset and tools to build lasting change in just a few minutes a day. Learn more here.

Audio Stamps

01:00 - Dr. Casares introduces herself and her focus on the intersection between a mom's wellness and a kid's wellness.

03:00 - Navigating food choices with kids and finding the middle ground between restriction and a complete free-for-all.

07:00 - Age-appropriate ways to talk about food with kids, from toddlers to teenagers understanding marketing and food processing.

11:20 - How to provide structure around food when kids push back using the division of responsibility approach.

15:20 - The importance of self-compassion and pausing before reacting to your child's eating or body concerns.

22:13 - Addressing shame around GLP-1 medications and what we can learn from Serena Williams speaking publicly about her use.

27:03 - Clarifying the misunderstood AAP guidelines on pediatric weight management and when medication may be appropriate.

38:58 - Teaching kids body positivity when you struggle yourself and why authenticity matters more than perfection.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

Resources:

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dietitian.gianna/

Catch all: https://stan.store/dietitiangianna

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show

Send a Text Message. Please include your name and email so we can answer you! Please note, this does not subscribe you to our email list, it's just to answer if you have a questions for us.

If your go-to meals suddenly taste strange, certain foods turn your stomach, or heartburn has become a constant companion since starting a GLP-1, it’s not in your head. These are some of the most common (and least discussed) side effects people experience on GLP-1s.

Reflux, food aversions, and taste changes can make eating feel complicated and even frustrating. One day you’re fine, the next your go-to dinner leaves you nauseated or nothing sounds appealing at all. The good news? These shifts are temporary, manageable, and often a sign your body is adjusting to a new way of processing food.

In this episode, we’ll unpack why these side effects happen, what to look out for, and practical ways to ease the discomfort so you can feel more in control of your meals again. Plus, learn how to submit your side effect questions for Season 3 of Behind the Curtain, and get details on the January 30/30 Program enrollment!

References

Submit Your Side Effect Questions

Have questions about GLP-1 side effects? Submit them for Season 3 of Behind the Curtain!

Join the January 30/30 Program

January 30/30 enrollment is open but not for long! Get personalized coaching, weekly calls, expert workshops, and community support to navigate your GLP-1 journey with confidence. Limited spots available.

Audio Stamps

[00:30] - Introduction to reflux, food aversions, and taste changes on GLP-1s, plus how to submit your side effect questions for Season 3 of the Behind the Curtain podcast.

[03:23] - Why reflux and heartburn happen on GLP-1s and practical fixes to manage it.

[07:18] - Food aversions: why you suddenly dislike foods you loved and how to navigate the changes.

[09:45] - Understanding taste changes on GLP-1s, why your flavor perception shifts, and how to adapt with new herbs, spices, and cuisines

[13:20] - January 30/30 Program enrollment details and what's included in the small group coaching experience.

All of the information on this podcast is for general informational purposes only. Please talk to your physician and medical team about what is right for you. No medical advice is being on this podcast.

If you live in Indiana or Illinois and want to work with doctor Matthea Rentea, you can find out more on www.RenteaClinic.com

Health is the best gift you can give. Select ‘Give as a gift’ at checkout to share one of our programs with someone you love. Explore the details here.

Support the show