Health & Fitness
**The Obesity Guide with Matthea Rentea MD**

Matthea Rentea MD leads discussions on obesity and chronic weight management. Her guests range from experts in the fields that intersect with obesity and wellness, to individuals successful in their weight journey. She is a Board certified Internal Medicine and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine and founder of the Rentea Metabolic Clinic, a Telehealth clinic for residents of the state of Indiana and Illinois that helps comprehensively with weight management. This podcast is for information and education purposes only. No medical advice is being given. Please talk to your physician for what is right for you.

Latest Episodes:

Post-Surgery Success: Nutrition, Movement & Mindset When Weight Bearing Isn't an Option May 26, 2025

Show notes

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.

Worried about losing muscle and derailing progress during surgery recovery? When mobility is limited, even temporarily, it's easy to feel like all your hard work is slipping away.

In this episode, I address a listener who recently had bunion surgery and is now non-weight bearing, concerned about muscle loss while resuming GLP-1 medication. You'll discover what to focus on when movement is restricted, practical nutrition strategies that minimize muscle loss, and why recovery periods can become unexpected opportunities for growth.

Learn how to maintain perspective, focus on what you *can* control, and keep your long-term health journey on track—even when temporary limitations force you to slow down.

References

Ep.108: How to Handle a Medication Pause Without Losing Progress

NEW Premium Podcast: The Obesity Guide: Behind The Curtain

Audio Stamps

00:53 - Dr. Rentea shares inspiration for new recipes she’s loving, including her new favorite: overnight chia blueberry oats.

04:15 - Make sure you’re signed up to the weekly newsletter if you would like to have new recipe ideas in your inbox every Monday (found and tested by Dr. Rentea!).

06:53 - Addressing a listener question about using GLP-1 medications during recovery from surgery and concerns about muscle loss.

09:13 - Focusing on what you can control post-surgery is key, particularly nutrition and protein intake, rather than worrying about temporary muscle loss.

12:12 - Looking for alternative exercises during recovery and why doing something is better than nothing.

13:45 - Keeping perspective on temporary setbacks as minor blips in your overall health journey, not defining moments that determine long-term success.

16:54 - Dr. Rentea encourages daily re-centering and embracing a long-term health perspective.

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

Get my free Podcast Roadmap—a simple guide to help you find the episodes that matter most to your journey. Whether you're on GLP-1s, navigating plateaus, or just starting out, there's something here for you.

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Your Friday Five – Squats, Trello, and Tiny Wins That Add Up May 23, 2025

Show notes

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Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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The Hidden Cost of Reality Weight Loss: What The Biggest Loser Got Wrong—and What We Know Now with Ashley Palu May 19, 2025

Show notes

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This week, I’m sharing a powerful interview I was invited to be part of on the Plus SideZ podcast with hosts Kim Carlos and Kat Carter. We spoke with Ashley Palu, a contestant from Season 9 of The Biggest Loser, for a behind-the-scenes look at the show that shaped so many of our early beliefs about weight loss.

I was 16 when the show first aired, and as a kid who had always been overweight, I watched it thinking this is the answer: work out nonstop, eat barely anything, track everything. I bought the books. I bought in. If you’ve ever done Weight Watchers or followed diet culture trends, chances are this show influenced you too—before we fully understood the harm it caused.

In this conversation, Ashley opens up about it all: applying for the show, the emotional impact of public weigh-ins, the pressure of filming, what was real vs. produced, and what happened after the cameras stopped—including weight regain and eventually starting a GLP-1. She also shares the shockingly low number of calories contestants were expected to eat, giving us a sobering look at just how extreme the process really was.

References

Connect with Ashley:

TikTok

Instagram

The Plus SideZ Podcast

Audio Stamps

00:00:30 - Dr. Rentea shares how The Biggest Loser shaped her early views on weight loss and introduces her chat on The Plus SideZ podcast with former Biggest Loser contestant, Ashley Palu.

00:18:56 - The extreme calorie restriction Ashley followed on the show, how it impacted her physically and emotionally, and why it remains her biggest regret.

00:23:11 - What Ashley learned about weight loss from doing the show and the mental strength she gained through the experience.

00:29:53 - How rapid weight loss on the show led to muscle loss and a declining basal metabolic rate.

00:35:40 - We find out about the weekly rest day, which included a high-calorie “cheat day,” fueling food obsession from extreme restriction.

00:38:44 - Before, food noise was constant. Now, GLP-1 meds have brought peace, with lasting change rooted in mental healing.

00:46:16 - Ashley reflects on the shame and isolation that can come with weight regain, especially after being in the public eye.

00:50:35 - Dr. Rentea explains that weight regain is common because the body resists weight loss through powerful hormonal and metabolic changes, not a lack of willpower.

01:15:57 - Ashley disagrees with Jillian Michaels’ stance against obesity treatments like Ozempic, viewing it as outdated and lacking empathy and understanding of the condition.

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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Your Friday Five: The Snacks and Hacks I’m Loving Lately May 16, 2025

Show notes

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Meal Boosters.

Devotion nutrition crumble (streusel topping). On DevotionNutrition.com use code DrMatthea at checkout to save 10%.

Build puff bar- strawberries n' cream.

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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119. Why I Turned My Birthday Party into a Healing Sound Experience with Sarah Gardner May 12, 2025

Show notes

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In today’s fast-paced world, we’ve become so consumed with chasing productivity that we’ve forgotten what it feels like to truly feel good. Exhaustion, stress, and burnout have quietly become the norm, leaving many of us disconnected from our own wellbeing. But what if the answer isn’t pushing harder—or adding another task to your to-do list—but actually doing nothing at all?

This May, with Mental Health Awareness Month in full swing, it’s the perfect time to explore new ways to prioritize rest and healing. In this conversation with sound facilitator and meditation teacher Sarah Gardner, we explore the incredible potential of immersive sound healing to help us reset, reduce stress, and reconnect. After experiencing the benefits firsthand (including turning my own birthday party into a sound bath!), I’m excited for you to learn how sound healing works, why it’s so powerful for calming the nervous system, and how it can help you reconnect with yourself in today’s high-stress world.

References

Sarah Gardner’s website

Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month:

If you or someone you know needs support, here are some helpful resources:

Mental Health America
NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
SAMHSA’s National Helpline – 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Crisis Text Line – Text HOME to 741741

Audio Stamps

01:37 - Today’s guest, Sound Facilitator and Meditation Teacher Sarah Gardner, shares her background and what drew her to sound healing.

07:38 - Sarah explains what a sound bath is and what people can expect from it.

10:35 - Discover how the instruments Sarah uses can 'hijack' your brainwaves and deeply relax your nervous system.

13:00 - Sound baths don't just help in the moment — they can create lasting calm in a chaotic world.

17:57 - A reminder that sleep is the foundation of health — and how sound baths help you connect with your body, promoting stillness and better sleep.

27:08 - Sarah explains the difference between in-person and digital sound baths and the unique benefits of each experience.

35:45 - Sarah tells us the best place for people to find her, connect with her, and find classes that she offers

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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Your Friday Five: Want a New Routine? Burn the Old One First May 09, 2025

Show notes

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.

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

Support the show

Emotional Eating Isn’t the Problem — It’s the Signal with Corinne Crabtree May 05, 2025

Show notes

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Emotional eating has been a part of human life since the beginning of time—a way to cope, celebrate, and connect. But what happens when food becomes your only source of comfort, joy, or calm?

In this episode, I’m joined by none other than Corinne Crabtree, renowned coach, speaker, and creator of the No BS Weight Loss Program. Through her proven strategies, Corinne has helped thousands of women shed not just physical weight, but the emotional weight holding them back.

Join us as we explore how emotional eating is often tied to unmet needs, why focusing only on weight loss isn’t enough, and how simple shifts—like pausing before you eat—can create lasting change. Corinne also shares powerful strategies to break free from the cycle of emotional eating and find healthier ways to cope. If food has become your main source of comfort, this episode is a must-listen to help you live a more balanced, joyful life.

References

No BS Weight Loss Program

Losing 100 Pounds with Corinne

Life Is In the Transitions by Bruce Feiler
Audio Stamps

01:35 - Meet Corinne Crabtree, who went from lifelong weight struggles to helping women drop emotional weight for good.

07:52 - She breaks down emotional eating and how to retrain your brain for a healthier relationship with food.

15:12 - Discover why small shifts—like pausing before you eat—can create big change.

21:58 - Fear of regain often stems from emotional habits and not trusting your weight loss process.

28:05 - When weight loss is your identity, maintenance feels empty—real change starts in your mind.

35:20 - Letting go of self-judgment is one of the most powerful things you can do.

47:00 - Corinne shares how to access her free course, podcast, and membership for mindset-driven support.

Quotes
“I wasn't taking good care of myself, but at the root of it, I didn't know how to take care of myself.” - Corinne Crabtree

“I like to tell people, ‘I'm going to help you lose weight, but we're not just going to lose your physical weight because if you don't lose your emotional weight, you'll never keep it off.’” - Corinne Crabtree

“I never want someone to think that if you're eating outside of physical hunger, somehow that's bad. Not necessarily. We always have to look at things through the lens of why am I eating? And is this reason a rock solid reason that I'm proud of?” - Corinne Crabtree

“Our brains think everything is hard. But that's not a fact. We don't know until we do something.” - Corinne Crabtree

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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Your Friday Five: What Social Media Isn’t Telling You May 02, 2025

Show notes

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.

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

Support the show

Wegovy vs. Zepbound (+ What You Need to Know BEFORE Switching) Apr 28, 2025

Show notes

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It’s an exciting time to be practicing in obesity medicine, with groundbreaking tools like Zepbound and Wegovy helping people achieve their weight loss goals in ways that were once unimaginable. Plus, with new medications like retatrutide (the triple agonists) on the horizon, the future of weight management is looking even brighter.

But with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to figure out which medication is right for you. How do Zepbound and Wegovy compare? Can you switch between the two? Is one more effective than the other? In this episode, I’ll dive into the key differences between Zepbound (Mounjaro) and Wegovy (Ozempic), comparing doses, effectiveness, and answering all your burning questions about how these medications stack up against each other.

References

The Top 5 Mistakes People Make When Starting GLP-1

Season 1 of the Premium Podcast: The Obesity Guide: Behind the Curtain

Audio Stamps

00:30 - Dr. Rentea sets the stage for a back-to-basics breakdown of Wegovy vs. Zepbound, which touches on key topics like switching, dosing, and access.

01:58 - A comparison of Wegovy (GLP-1) and Zepbound (dual GLP-1 and GIP), discussing their average weight loss effects and varying response rates.

05:19 - Dr. Rentea discusses the reasons someone might consider switching medications.

06:45 - Switching medications shouldn’t involve restarting titration, and working with a knowledgeable physician to manage transitions effectively is key.

11:45 - Medication can be a helpful tool, but long-term success depends on working with a skilled physician and staying focused on sustainable progress.

Quotes

“Within the first few months, it's going to become very clear. Do you need an additional tool? Do we need to tweak things? Do we need to change things?”

“These are medications, but they're not everything. You still have to do the heavy lifting on the lifestyle aspect behind the scenes. But you have the ability to switch from one to the other.”

“You really should be working with someone who is very familiar with these medications, with switching medications, with adding other things to it, with changing things. There is always something else that can be done.”

“We do sometimes see higher results with ZepBound, but there's going to be other medication that comes out that's potentially higher than that. At the end of the day, it's what helps me to keep doing all the other things.”

“Just because you're losing on the slower side does not mean that you will not still be able to reach your goal.”

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.

Not Sure Where to Start With the Podcast? I’ve Got You.

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Your Friday Five – Salt & Vinegar Potatoes, Sour Candy Swaps, and a Weekend Challenge Apr 25, 2025

Show notes

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.

Mentioned in this episode:

Instagram recipe: Salt & vinegar potatoes! on claudiaathome

Sound candy that is either fruit based (Final Boss Sour) or high fiber but so delicious (Behave Candy)

Join The Next Chapter, a five-month experience to make space for your health, work toward a meaningful goal, and have some fun along the way—get the details and enroll here by October 30th.