GLP-1s For Menopause Belly Fat: What the Science Says and Why It Matters
You’ve heard the headlines. Ozempic, Wegovy, GLP-1s. But what is actually happening inside your body when you take them?
In this episode, Tamsen sits back down with Triple Board-Certified Endocrinologist and Belly Fat Expert Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen to get real, science-backed answers. They break down how these medications work, why muscle loss is a real risk, and how hormone therapy plays a role in your overall metabolic health.
This conversation goes beyond quick fixes and tackles what sustainable, medically informed weight loss really looks like. It’s about body composition, long-term health, and understanding the emotional impact of a changing body.
This episode will cover:
-How GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy work in the gut, brain, and pancreas
-The connection between GLP-1s, visceral fat, and insulin resistance
-Why you may be losing muscle instead of fat if not monitored properly
-What "Ozempic butt" really means and how to prevent it
-The truth about hair loss, protein intake, and rapid weight loss
-When to combine GLP-1s with hormone therapy and how to approach it safely
-Why weight loss isn't just physical and the emotional impact many women aren't prepared for
Dr. Rocio is the founder of New York Endocrinology and a leading voice in obesity medicine. Her upcoming book, Weightless: A Doctor's Guide to GLP-1 Medications, Sustainable Weight Loss, and the Health You Deserve will cover everything she shares in her practice and more.
Loving The Tamsen Show podcast? If you have a moment, your review could be the reason another woman finally hears the thing she’s been needing.
Watch full video episodes on YouTube
Get Tamsen’s new book, How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before
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Want more from Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen? Visit here website
For the latest updates on her upcoming book, follow her on social media.
If you loved this episode, you're going to love our hour long episode about Hormone Therapy with leading OBGYN Dr. Sharon Malone.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
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39:09
The Belly Fat Episode: The Truth About Muscle Loss, Menopause, and Midlife Fatigue
You’re eating healthy. You’re working out. You’ve cut sugar, carbs, and wine. But the belly fat is still there and no one is giving you answers. This episode connects all the dots.
Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen, a triple board-certified endocrinologist, joins Tamsen to explain exactly what’s happening inside your body during midlife and what you can finally do to feel better in it.
Hormones. Insulin. Thyroid. Stress. Sleep. It’s all part of the story, and Dr. Rocio gives women the real talk they’re not getting in most doctors’ offices. This is the episode that clears the confusion and gives you the clarity you’ve been craving.
What they talk about:
-Why fat accumulates around the belly in perimenopause and how to reverse it
-The exact lab markers to request to check for insulin resistance and early prediabetes
-How to know if your thyroid is working against you, even with “normal” results
-What visceral fat is, why it's so dangerous, and the proven ways to reduce it
-How stress, poor sleep, and cortisol spikes make weight loss nearly impossible and how to fix it
-What to eat (and when) to balance blood sugar and reduce inflammation
-How to advocate for better care if your doctor won’t dig deeper
Loving The Tamsen Show podcast? If you have a moment, your review could be the reason another woman finally hears the thing she’s been needing.
Watch full video episodes on YouTube
Get Tamsen’s new book, How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before
Follow The Tamsen Show on Instagram
Follow Tamsen on Instagram
Follow Tamsen on TikTok
Want more from Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalen? Visit here website
For the latest updates on her upcoming book, follow her on social media.
If you loved this episode, you're going to love our hour long episode about Hormone Therapy with leading OBGYN Dr. Sharon Malone.
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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44:28
How to Set Boundaries Without Feeling Guilty
Are you the one who always says yes? Who fixes, accommodates, anticipates, and quietly resents it later?
In this week’s episode, Tamsen sits down with psychotherapist and bestselling author Terri Cole to talk about the hidden habits of high -functioning codependents, especially in midlife, during perimenopause, or after a major life shift.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- What high-functioning codependency actually looks like and why most women don’t recognize it
-How menopause can be a wake-up call for self-abandonment
-Why so many women feel emotionally drained in midlife and what to do about it
-How to unpack the patterns we learn in childhood that shape how we caretake and over-function
-The scripts and boundary tools to help you say no, protect your energy, and finally consider yourself
This is a must-listen for anyone who feels like they’re doing it all, but losing themselves in theprocess.
Watch the full video episode here
Get Tamsen's new book, How To Menopause: Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before. 💖
Follow The Tamsen Show on Instagram
Follow Tamsen on Instagram
Follow Tamsen on TikTok
Find more about Terri Cole and her work on her website
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their
own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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59:43
Healing the Grief, the Love, and the Silence Around Your Mother
If you’ve ever wondered why certain relationships feel so hard or why you’ve spent a lifetime craving a kind of love you can’t quite name, this special Mother’s Day edition will give you language for what you’ve lived.
Tamsen sits down with licensed professional counselor and bestselling author Kelly McDaniel to talk about Mother Hunger, a term she coined to describe the deep, often hidden longing many women carry from not getting the love, protection, or guidance they needed as daughters.
They talk about:
- Why so many women struggle with emotional eating, self-worth, and romantic patterns—and how it ties back to early attachment
- What “mother hunger” really means, and why most women don’t recognize it until midlife
- How your earliest experiences shape your relationships, your body image, and your ability to trust
- The emotional cost of caring for a mother who couldn’t care for you
- What it means to crave love that feels safe, steady, and nourishing
- How to begin healing, even if your mother is gone, unavailable, or unwilling
- Why midlife is often the moment women finally face the grief they’ve been carrying for decades
- How unresolved mother hunger can show up in love, sex, food, and friendships and what to do about it
- Whether forgiveness is necessary in order to move on and what to do if an apology never comes
This episode is for every woman who has ever said “I’m fine” when she wasn’t and is finally ready to tell herself the truth.
Watch the Full Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/@TamsenFadalTV
Get my new book, How To Menopause, Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before 💖 http://www.howtomenopause.com
Follow The Tamsen Show:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetamsenshow/
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You can find Kelly Here:
https://kellymcdanieltherapy.com/
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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49:30
The Narcissist Decoder: How Midlife Women Get Trapped in Emotional Abuse
If you've ever questioned your reality, blamed your hormones, or been told you’re “too sensitive,” this conversation will change how you see everything.
Tamsen sits down with world-renowned psychologist and narcissism expert Dr. Ramani Durvasula, author of the New York Times bestseller It’s Not You: Identifying and Healing from Narcissistic People, to decode the emotional warfare so many women face in toxic relationships, especially in midlife.
They talk about:
How narcissists twist your words and make you question your memory-The subtle ways they use your hormones and emotions against you-Why smart, self-aware women stay in toxic relationships longer than they should-The early red flags that feel easy to dismiss but matter most-What love bombing actually looks like (and why it works so well)-Why midlife often becomes the breaking point for women in these dynamics-How to rebuild your confidence and sense of reality after emotional abuse
This episode is a wake-up call and a roadmap to help you stop second-guessing yourself and start trusting what you know.
Watch the Full Episode Here: https://www.youtube.com/@TamsenFadalTV
Get my new book, How To Menopause, Take Charge of Your Health, Reclaim Your Life and Feel Even Better Than Before 💖 http://www.howtomenopause.com
Follow The Tamsen Show:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thetamsenshow/
Follow Tamsen Fadal:
FREE resourcesWebsite: https://www.tamsenfadal.com
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Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tamsenfadal
You can find Dr Ramani here:
https://doctor-ramani.com/
Medical Disclaimer:
The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare professional regarding any medical concerns or treatment options. The views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Tamsen Show.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
You deserve a roadmap. Consider this your starting point.
Hosted by Emmy-winning journalist, filmmaker, and New York Times best-selling author Tamsen Fadal, The Tamsen Show is where real talk meets real solutions. Each week, Tamsen sits down with top doctors, leading voices, and women rewriting the rules—from hormones and health to reinvention, relationships, and everything in between. Whether you're navigating perimenopause, deep in menopause, or facing the questions that come with midlife, this show is for you.
It's time to take charge of your health, reclaim your life, and feel even better than before.
New episodes every Wednesday.
Follow @thetamsenshow for updates and behind-the-scenes.
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