A Real Talk about Hormones, Ozempic & Midlife Weight Gain with my Mom

Manifest with Tori DeSimone

Tori DeSimone & Studio71

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness, Self-improvement

4.6 • 1.6K Ratings

🗓️ 14 July 2025

⏱️ 69 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this vulnerable and unfiltered episode, I sit down with my mom to talk about something many women go through, but few talk about openly: midlife weight gain, hormonal changes, and starting a GLP-1. After gaining 55 pounds with no major lifestyle changes and struggling with symptoms like fatigue, hot flashes, anxiety, and loss of muscle, my mom found herself at a health crossroads. We walk through the emotional and physical toll this took, her experience going off hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and what finally led her to try tirzepatide (a GLP-1 medication similar to Ozempic). This episode isn’t just about weight loss, it’s about reclaiming your life, making empowered health choices, and what happens when you start advocating for your own wellness. We also talk anxiety, alcohol, sleep, family dynamics, and yes, why my mom is already seeing mental clarity within days of her first dose. If your mom (or you!) is silently dealing with hormone chaos, frustrating weight gain, or health confusion, this episode will make you feel seen, supported, and informed. 00:00 Life updates, small talk & avocado toast inflation 04:00 My mom’s health scare & going off HRT 07:00 Symptoms spiral after stopping hormone therapy 10:00 Shocking lab results: cholesterol, blood sugar & hormone crash 12:00 The decision to start tirzepatide (Ozempic-like medication) 15:00 What happened after her first dose (mental clarity, food noise, no cravings) 18:00 My evolving opinion on Ozempic 20:00 Women’s hormones are misunderstood—here’s what we’ve learned 24:00 Monitoring with InBody scans, strength training, and muscle preservation 27:00 Our honest feelings on weight, lifestyle changes & identity 33:00 Why I might never drink alcohol again (full breakdown) 44:00 10 facts that made me rethink alcohol for good 48:00 Newsletter updates & book recs from my mom 54:00 What we’re reading this summer 56:00 Travel talk & life reflections 59:00 Wrapping up + dinner’s ready! Karen’s Kindle Newsletter Signup: https://karenskindle.beehiiv.com/subscribe My Newsletter Signup: https://xotori.beehiiv.com/subscribe One Golden Summer by Carly Fortune: https://bit.ly/4lN9CLH Follow Tori on Instagram: @toristerling_ Follow Tori on Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@toridesimone_?lang=en Shop Tori’s Favorites on LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/Toridesimone ShopMy Links: https://shopmy.us/toridesimone Listen to Manifest with Tori DeSimone on Apple Podcasts and rate 5 Stars! https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/manifest-with-tori-desimone/id1462579812 Listen to Manifest with Tori DeSimone on Spotify and rate 5 Stars! https://open.spotify.com/show/5Efqq0renJcUzsdBN9jfoH?si=215a699dff1e4871 Topics Discussed: Midlife weight gain despite healthy habits The importance of hormone testing and personalized care HRT (hormone replacement therapy) pros and cons Starting GLP-1 medications (tirzepatide/Ozempic) Mental relief from food noise and obsessive thoughts Female brain + heart health in menopause Family support through health challenges Alcohol and anxiety: real talk Journaling through newsletters Book recs & fun family updates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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