Shownotes
Why I Got Into Medicine: "I felt as a female patient.. when I was younger, (I) got dismissed with a lot of my symptoms. And it was pretty much every solution...birth control pills, antidepressants, or take it out. I feel like (these were the only) 3 solutions for any problem with a woman. I was like, this isn't right." - Dr. Preston
Joining me is Dr. Cynthia Preston, a renowned naturopathic doctor from Lee Regenerative, specializing in women's health and menopausal management.
In this episode, we explore why the loss of estrogen leads to increased fat production and metabolic slowdown, the critical role of neuroplasticity in managing hunger, and the importance of adapting lifestyle choices as we age.
Dr. Preston sheds light on the often-overlooked significance of muscle mass, sleep, and the impact of hormonal changes on overall wellbeing. We also discuss the effectiveness of GLP-1 medications, holistic health assessments, and why comprehensive approaches are crucial for managing weight.
Additionally, we touch on environmental factors like xenoestrogens and the importance of genetic considerations in weight loss strategies.
We break down the stigma around women's health, emphasize the need for proactive health measures, and share practical tips for maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Whether you're managing menopausal symptoms or simply striving for better health, this episode is packed with invaluable insights and expert advice.
Key Moments
00:00 Dismissed symptoms inspired naturopathic medicine career.
05:55 Main cause: estrogen loss, linked to aging.
06:58 Brain signals hormone production reduction detected.
11:31 Education fosters understanding, overcoming overwhelm and distraction.
15:11 GLP-1s help manage menopause-related symptoms earlier.
17:51 Advocating preventative medicine through bioidentical hormones.
19:48 Lifestyle choices and health markers dictate success.
23:27 Cortisol influences fat retention, sensitivity to cues.
27:52 Hormone mimicking affects stress and disease manifestations.
32:16 Fat digestion is slow; avoid fatty foods.
35:06 Address weight stigma, prioritize health and success.
Key Takeaways
- Understand Hormonal Changes - Gaining knowledge about how hormones affect weight can empower you to make informed decisions.
- Adopt a Proactive Approach - Small weight gains can signal underlying issues. Address them early.
- Balance Lifestyle and Medical Interventions - Combining lifestyle changes with medications like GLP-1s might offer the best outcomes.
- Ensure Regular Health Checks - Regular health assessments can identify barriers and contribute to a more effective weight management plan.
Our panel of global experts will explore topics such as Obesity, PCOS, Metabolic Health, Liposuction and Bariatric Surgery, Exercise & Nutrition, Monitoring Your Progress, and more. We'll also hear from GLP-1 users who will share their experiences - the good, the bad, and the ugly - offering valuable insights to help you avoid common pitfalls. Our aim is to provide accurate information about GLP-1's to empower you in making informed decisions about your health.
Think of our podcast as your personal toolbox, filled with the tools you need to build and maintain your health. Whether you're considering GLP-1 medications or looking for holistic weight management strategies, this podcast is designed to empower you with knowledge and support.
The WeightCare Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared here represents the views and opinions of the host and guests and should not be considered medical, health, or professional advice. This podcast is not a substitute for individualized care from qualified medical providers. Please consult with your healthcare provider before making decisions that may affect your health and wellness. Any statements about treatments, health protocols, or medications discussed are based on personal experience or professional expertise and may not be suitable for everyone. Always seek personalized advice from a licensed healthcare professional who understands your specific health needs.
Copyright 2025 Sharon Polsky
Transcripts
Welcome back to the WeightCare Podcast. I'm Sharon Polsky, your host and your GLP-1 fact fairy. And this is conversations about a new era of weight management and GLP-1 weight loss medications. And today, we are talking to Dr. Preston, and we are gonna dig deep into, menopause and weight management. And so I can't wait to talk to Dr. Preston. She works with Dr. Lee at Lee Regenerative. And this is a really important conversation because I was somebody who really struggled with menopausal weight gain. I had a perfect diet, 40% protein, 30% carbohydrates, 30% fat of daily calories.
Sharon Polsky [:I ate 16 to 1800 calories a day. I tracked my calories. I exercised regularly. I own a fitness studio, and I hit menopause and gained a tremendous amount of weight in a very short amount of time. And let me tell you, there was no additional exercises I could do, and I couldn't cut any more calories. And Dr. Lee introduced me to Tirzepatide. And so I'm super excited to talk to Dr. Preston about this. So stay tuned for a conversation about menopause and weight gain and weight man maintenance and GLP-1s with Dr. Preston.
Sharon Polsky [:So, Dr. Preston, tell us about yourself and your background, and we'll get right into this conversation.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Hi. Thank you for having me, Sharon. Yeah. So my name is Dr. Cynthia Preston. I actually am a naturopathic Dr.. So what that means is, legally, I am recognized as a primary care Dr.. Really, the only difference is insurance doesn't recognize us. So I went on to after undergraduate, I did go on to a 4 year nationally accredited naturopathic traffic medical school.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I think there's maybe 7 now, in the United States. And so that is very similar to traditional medical school. In fact, we have more training, more hours in genetics and biochemistry. And then we also have some additional training in our other modalities. And that includes acupuncture or herbal medicine. And that that depends on what state you practice in, if you can actually do those. But ultimately, after those 4 years, then we have to take for this the state boards that then allow us to be licensed in whatever state that we wanna practice. So I'm here in California with with Dr. Li, and I've been practicing for 16 years now.
Sharon Polsky [:That's amazing. And how did you get into this menopausal arena? How did that become one of your specialties?
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Well, it's actually why I got into medicine. I, felt as a female, a patient on the other end when I was younger, kinda got dismissed with a lot of my symptoms. And it was pretty much every solution as I started growing up was like birth control pills, antidepressants, or take it out. Like, that is literally, I feel like the 3 solutions for any problem with a woman. I was like, this isn't right. So I I did see a major graphic Dr. who changed my life around. And so it just naturally shooted me towards the trajectory of doing medicine. And, I went the more naturopathic route because I explored some schools, and I just felt in my heart that that was the right direction I wanted to go to to treat people.
Sharon Polsky [:And you really wanted to help women. Like, your goal was to help women. I know my mother suffered tremendously from menopause, and there were no solutions. They would say things to her, well, you're just lucky you only gained £10. Most people gained 20. Or you're you're lucky that you get any sleep. There are some women that get no sleep, and there was no solution for her. So I'm I love the fact that your love language is helping women through menopause.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. And unfortunately, that stigma is still kinda round. It's changing. And luckily, there's more research, I think. And I think that helps a lot of practitioners just feel a little bit more confident about having those conversations to begin with. But, yeah, it's it's changing and I love that it's always changing. And I love that every woman's different. Hormones.
Sharon Polsky [:Yes.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:There it's a love hate because everyone's different. Everyone responds differently. But that makes it exciting, at least for me. And God bless my patients that wanna just be patient with that sometimes. But, the hormones and research have come a long way. So, I look forward to talking
Sharon Polsky [:And resources have come a long long way. I mean, that's really what leads us to the GLP-1s. It's like, we have more tools in our toolbox today than my mother had when she died a year before COVID.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:You know,
Sharon Polsky [:we have just have so many more tools in our toolbox today.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Yeah. And I and I think that's why a lot of times it's not talked about or was dismissed because we kind of, 1, poo poohed hormones based on previous research of very nasty synthetic drugs that, you know, didn't work. And it just took a while for the the studies to really come out and support these these other types of hormones or these other treatments. And again, also looking at other longevity factors like diet and sleep and I mean, it's really come a long way. And,
Sharon Polsky [:every conversation on here circles back to lifestyle intervention. Every single, like, we're only 5 minutes in and we're already circled back to lifestyle intervention, which is I think, like, Dr. Lee was 5 minutes in, lifestyle intervention. Doctor Gonzalez, 5 minutes in, lifestyle intervention. So, I mean, really, GLP-1s are a tool in a toolbox, but we have to talk about lifestyle intervention and things like that. So what does cause menopausal weight gain?
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So I kinda just like to break it down to 3 to 3 things, and I know that's really simplifying it. The main reason, is a loss of estrogen. So if I can kinda do the cliff notes on a woman's cycle, that might help Yeah. Perfect. Everyone a little understand what estrogen is and why it goes away. So Cliff Jones version is we're born with so many amount of eggs and by the age of 35, I think we are it's something astounding like 80%, 84% of those eggs are gone. And I think by 38, we're considered geriatric, reproductively. And so what happens so those eggs are the main signaler to our body, on the hormone cycle, which is really based on let's be fertile and sexy and get everything ready for a baby.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:And then if we have a pregnancy, we have an egg that is released, hopefully. If we get pregnant, we have the pregnancy. If we don't, we shed the lining, which most of us know is our period. So there is that whole cycle. So basically, as we're losing those eggs, that cycle we're base our brain is hearing that we're not getting hormones. And so our brain starts yelling basically at our body, make more hormones. What's going on down there? And so those are tests that we can actually measure, and we are looking at how hard is your brain yelling at your body. And so that's where, we see that estrogen start to drop off.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So there's there's that lowering of estrogen. When our brain's yelling at us to make more estrogen, this is where fat deposits start to come in. So if we're not getting estrogen from eggs, the next place that our body starts to make it is in our tissue and mostly our fat tissue.
Sharon Polsky [:This is something people don't understand, and it's something I talk to them as a weight loss coach about
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yes. All
Sharon Polsky [:the time because I have men who are obese and they have high estrogen. And so Right. It's so interesting. So estrogen comes from our eggs and
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:In a woman's body, and that's a good pot of separation for you to make. Yes. Yeah. Men have it too, because, yes, we can make it in our tissue. It's a process called aromatization. But our body, as a weird adaptation, was like, oh, we can just add on fat. But now we're living a little bit longer and we'd like to live a bit longer, so that fat isn't really serving a purpose. So the switch is is happening, but at a very slow rate.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So that's one thing that happens is our body says, hey, let's make more estrogen. We do that with fat cells. Let's slow down our metabolism. Another thing so that's that's kind of the big part of menopausal weight gain. And then estrogen also keeps control of our appetite. So if we're losing that estrogen as we get older, like I said, starting at 35, we get that kind of those appetite, those cravings are a little bit harder to control. We can feel that reflection of what we'll talk a little bit about that gun, gut brain access. But, yeah, without that estrogen, we kinda have, less independence to make our own decisions about eating.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So, that neural
Sharon Polsky [:fast food. Our brain is just, like, needs something.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Exactly. All the time. And that's that's part of one of the wonder cool things about the GLPs is the research on anti addictive properties and and the medicine field that that's going into. But, yeah. But really it's that neuroplasticity. So estrogen, we can kind of function. We can make our own decisions independent of our hunger hormones or satiety.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:But as we lose that, we don't have that neuroplasticity as much. And so left in those those hormones or our hunger hormones, we have it's a little bit harder to override that.
Sharon Polsky [:Yeah.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So so that will definitely
Sharon Polsky [:These people don't lack discipline. They're not lazy. This is digital logical, biological that's happening.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Absolutely. I love that you we need to remind patients that all the time, on not just a hormone level, but, on a nutrition level, a lifestyle. Yeah. There's a lot of things that gets harder to control as we age. And so, okay. So estrogen, loss of estrogen. The second thing is loss of muscle mass, lean muscle mass.
Sharon Polsky [:Yeah.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So we have to remember, I have to remember sometimes, I am not my 20 year old body as much as I wanna be. So I cannot exercise like I did in my twenties. I can't I can't eat. Like, I I we can't do things. We're just not the same body. It's not a bad thing. We just have to work with the new body, our 30 year old body or 4 year old.
Sharon Polsky [:We have to accept the new body that we have. I feel like we'll go back to my clients. They were like, why can't I go back to my twenties? I'm like, wait. Wait. Wait. Let's accept the new body you have with the new conditions and then create a new program around it instead of keep thinking about your twenties.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:And that's that's the education part, you know. I again, most people have the willpower. They don't have the education or the understanding. Because even if they try, you go on the inter I don't even tech you on the internet to look up stuff because I'm like, oh my god. I'm distracted. I'm overwhelmed. I'm going down the rabbit hole. So it's that's where our role is and that's what I think is my biggest passion.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:It's just, like, I probably talk too much at my visits. I know that's my big thing is
Sharon Polsky [:Oh, no. You don't.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:But I've had a visit
Sharon Polsky [:with you, and I think you're brilliant. And one of the things that I really loved about my visit with you is I this is off topic, but I'm gonna throw it in there anyway, was that I was complaining to you about this elbow problem I have, and you're like, it's actually your neck. And I was like, oh my gosh. I have a neck problem.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah.
Sharon Polsky [:I'm so happy that you were treating me holistically. I was there for a hormone appointment, but you were treating me holistically. And Yeah. There's so few Dr.s doing that. Doctor Lee does that as well, but there are so few Dr.s doing that. So keep talking a lot. I think we appreciate it as people.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Okay. So good. So I will. I have no problem. So so the lead Yeah. So the lead muscle mass, so that's also gonna be So after fat, our muscle mass can make hormones too. And the main type of hormone, though, with that is testosterone.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:And so we don't talk about that with women too. Like testosterone, it's with hormones, it's all about the balance. Gosh. It's even test we talk about estrogen and progesterone. Most of us know that, The ratio, the imbalance, but testosterone and estrogen need a really good balance too.
Sharon Polsky [:And there's some insurance programs that won't even pay for a testosterone test. They'll pay for your lab work for estrogen and progesterone and not testosterone if you're a woman.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:And that's yeah. I know. It's so stupid. I don't get it. And so, and then the the last thing was lack of sleep. That's huge for any anyone that is overweight, struggling with weight loss, but even more with women because hormones play a huge role in our sleep and our our ability for our brain to relax, get the good calming neurotransmitters. Those are completely connected. Serotonin and GABA completely connected with estrogen.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So if we lose that, we're feeling like poo, we're not sleeping, I'm gonna wanna eat sugar and just like veg out. So it's it's understanding that your body's trying to tell you something's off. And it's usually trying to tell you in your late thirties and early forties that it's dismissed as anxiety. Like you said, oh, it's nothing. You just gotta walk more, exercise, eat less. And I can tell you, I mean, obesity Dr.s, medicine, I mean, is just going crazy with this because we know 5 it's all the number is only 5 to 7% of people that can succeed with diet and exercise. That is so low.
Sharon Polsky [:Yeah. I mean, that's what I've seen that's what I've seen over. I've been a weight loss coach for 25 years, and I I always use this philosophy. It's called not get don't get fatter. And I don't care if you ever lose weight. I just want you to stop gaining weight. And so as a weight law people are like, you're a weight loss coach and you're not teaching me how to lose weight. And I'm like, well, wait.
Sharon Polsky [:We gotta stop gaining weight before we can start losing weight. And so I would teach them that. That's why I keep saying GLP-1s are the biggest game changer in my lifetime because now for the first time, I have a tool that I can get with all the lifestyle intervention things to get people over that hump and that can help them.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. And I think this is why I have been using more of the GLP-1s because there is there is a preventative place for these because I've seen this and it is a lot harder for women when they're in the full throes of menopause, which is a year, no period. It doesn't matter what your hormones look like on your labs. We can kinda get an idea, but we can't diagnose you as menopausal year without a period. But you could be so usually those are climacterous symptoms. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings. Usually low libido, vaginal dryness, that's actually happening. That kind of sexual dysfunction is happening way earlier that's getting dismissed, because it's not talked about.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:It's again, it's a stigma. More women suffer from sexual dysfunction than men. But when you're in the full throes, this is usually when women are like, the weight is finding their tipping point to get in, but it was like, hey, Dr. Preston. You know, it was a pound and a half a year, 2 pounds, 3 pounds. And now, you know, they're 20 pounds overweight and they wanna lose weight, and I say, this is not how hormones work. You know, again, your fat cells, they're their own organ. Right? They are dictating how your brain, your body works. We know the research behind what we call adipokines.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:They have their own hormones that they love to signal and say, danger. We're on fire. So your brain now, you've got anxiety, you've got depression because all your brain is hearing is fire, and it doesn't really know where it's coming from. But it's it's a lot harder. Those fat cells remember. Right? And so the trying to lose that is gonna be a lot harder. It's possible. It's gonna take a long time.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So trying to get women on board before that is really the best way to do that.
Sharon Polsky [:And is it unreasonable for these patients to wanna lose weight once they're menopausal? Like, I know that they go to their GP and their GP says to them, like, they said to my mom, you're lucky you only gained £5. You're lucky you only gained £10. Is it unreasonable that they don't wanna gain any weight when they hit menopause?
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:No. So well, that's why no. It's not. Because those those fats, those Your body is signaling something is wrong. It's To me, that £5 should just be treated like any other symptom. Like like my elbow hurts or I I have a fatty liver or anything else. We don't wanna ignore that. That's a sign.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:We don't wait till, well, this is modern medicine. They do wait till something's bad enough that it shows up on your lab, shows up on an image. I want to try to prevent it in the first place. And this this is why I love that this is taking off because it is kinda getting people to stretch their mind now into this more preventative medicine space because that's kinda what it is. It's really it's like bio dental it's a hormone. It's a peptide. They're just they're mimicking the amino acids, basic proteins that our body already makes. They're just not making it anymore because we're getting older, because we've overloaded our pancreas or gallbladder at one time.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:We made one mistake. Like and it's just our body does remember. Trauma, whatever you wanna say, our body is great at that. And so most of the time, it thinks it doesn't wanna lose weight either. It doesn't because it's there's this whole biophysiology of of adaptation and balance. We know that. If you try to lose weight, and if you lose it really fast, your body will double down on trying to get you to gain that back even faster. And that actually is part of that whole GLP-1 ghrelin leptin cycle.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So I think, yeah, £5. I mean, that's telling us that something is is going amiss and it shouldn't be ignored. And so whether you wanna use GLPs or that's a good place to you know, I always talk about all the studies, which you don't see ones. Most of them were on women which is helpful in this conversation. Yeah. There needs to be bigger studies, different populations. But with with the studies with women, basically, the way that you started at doesn't matter. Does it if you were a little bit skinnier than your friend, you're gonna lose the same.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:It doesn't really dictate. What dictates your success is these longevity markers, these lifestyle things. The people, even diabetics, if they were on Metformin first, if they got their cholesterol down 5%, made a huge difference in them losing more. So there's no hurry in getting it done and understanding all your testing, looking more into other reasons why you're not losing weight, or why you're or why you're gaining. I think I think that's always important is, yes, there's we can use this preventively, but again, it's still a sign that something's off, and your Dr. should at least be looking at your thyroid. You should have an organic acid test looking at your overgrowth in in your gut, do you have good bacteria? Do you have inflammation? Do you have food allergies? Because at the end of the day, maybe your hormones are fine. You're you're ovulating, you're making them, but there's also a difference between if you're actually absorbing them and using them. Well, and it's And that has a lot to do with stress, inflammation, sleep.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:And so now you're you're in this cycle and it's confusing. And so that's why we are coming in trying at least find if it's the chicken or the egg, and we can start there. Because either way, you're gonna be more successful at the GLPs if you wanna do that route, or we'll get you to lose it without it. And then you could try it later or just be on a very low dose. I mean
Sharon Polsky [:But also the GLP-1s don't work if you don't fix these other things. We have a lot of patients that we put on GLP-1s, and they don't lose weight because their body can't even utilize the GLP-1 to lose weight because it is so disrupted, whether it's your gut health or inflammation or anything. It is disrupted.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Yeah. And I say, if you're gonna be spending that much money on these tools, like, why not invest in knowing, like, what you need exactly, what's gonna make you the most successful at that, and make you feel good and not have, you know, side effects? Everything that we can do is just going to help your success. Get a little bit more muscle mass on, whatever it is. So I definitely think there's no cause to it. It's the only cause are when Dr.s are just dwelling it out and not building you up slowly or educating you on the muscle part, the the gut stimulation part. I mean, those are easy fixes and you probably have talked about that with the other Dr.s, but,
Sharon Polsky [:why are the GLP-1s so effective at at reversing that menopausal weight gain? Because it really has been the biggest game changer I've seen for menopausal weight loss.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So so that stubborn fat loss. So there's 2 things. Again, a lot of times there has been undiagnosed, prediabetes or insulin resistance for 10 or 20 years. Again, if you're not diabetic, doesn't mean that you had these symptoms. You had sexual dysfunction, you had anxiety, you had high blood pressure, all those things for 10 or 20 years, and all of a sudden, bam, you're diabetic, or bam, you're you're just gaining weight rapidly. So there's part of that, why that's so prevalent at menopause. But like I said, it's usually that slow gain. Cortisol's a big part of that.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So, we're kind of saturated our body with cortisol as when And it kind of goes back to everything's dictated on our on our cycle. Are we getting pregnant or not? Like that's that's it. And so we're kind of meant to keep on fat, keep on nutrients, but we also don't want toxins. We don't want inflammation because we don't want that on a developing fetus, a developing baby. So our bodies are a lot more sensitive to those environmental cues, which is a beautiful thing. And I think we've had to kinda suppress those thoughts and ideas for a long time, and we're just kinda waking up to that. But the cortisol is a big part of that holding on to fat, especially that middle area. Cortisol is gonna also spike your blood sugar, your insulin.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Again, it's just another signal coming come even from your fat. We know those fat cells. Cortisol is part of that release. That's another hormone. So, yeah. So so based on this woman, instead of just, you know, we're not just sitting around making babies. We're working. We're working out.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:We have jobs. We have kids. Like, we're we're doing a lot where we're not really restoring it. We can do all that. We just gotta also make sure that we're restoring that. And sometimes that catches up to us. I think genetics is a big part. So understanding how your body metabolizes hormones, uses hormones, understanding, back to our environment.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I think that's a big part of it. We're exposed to a lot more toxins, a lot more estrogens that can be confusing to the body, and can cause more imbalances.
Sharon Polsky [:What's an example of an estrogen from the environment?
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So xenoestrogens, basically plastics. We talk about our parabens, fire retardant, all pesticides are xenoestrogens. So their molecular structure are very similar to estrogen, meaning they can sit on their receptors, the same receptors, and actually mimic low estrogen because they're blocking your own estrogen from actually working. So you're making estrogen. We again, that's why blood is is helpful, but it's not always the end all, the be all, because we can see that you're making it. You're kicking out. The the potential energy is there, But are you really doing anything with that energy? Probably not because you're tired, you're fatigued, and you're overweight. And so those those xenoestrogens, those those they're actually also called obesogens.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:There are a lot of overlap with those, and that's why we think we're seeing a lot of early puberty, a lot of early obesity in our children now. And that's again exposure to plastics which is just it is everywhere. Again, a whole another topic and it's sad. I didn't
Sharon Polsky [:say I mean, lifestyle intervention is one thing, but you also have we need to talk about the environment that we live in and what kind of soaps are we using, what kind of sunscreens that are we using, what kind of, like, we use we love Tupperware, but we've been keeping told not to microwave anything in Tupperware,
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:and people
Sharon Polsky [:are still doing it. I got rid of my microwave 10 years ago. And within 3 months of no longer microwaving food, I felt better and started putting on more muscle.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Oh, I believe it.
Sharon Polsky [:And it was shocking. I never had
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:a microwave growing up. I grew up in such a healthy household. It was it was it was I hated it. But now I'm like, oh my god. My parents were so smart. Yeah. I even back then, they were doing the silicone packets Yeah. For, like, storage.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Like, I was the total nerd of the school, but I I just I loved it. But yeah. It's a lot harder. We know they're so forever chemicals and, you know, technology is changing where we can get that out of our homes and try to restart it. I think it's they're even in our clothes now. Yeah. So it's it's about trying to avoid those. But that ironically can mimic low estrogen because you're blocking the gut effect.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Some of those, you know, estrogens are weaker than ours, some are stronger. So they can have different clinical or disease manifestations. But in general, it's mimicking, low hormones when we're older and high hormones when you're younger. So those are, and then like I said, the exercise part which goes back to Cortisol. So again, that intense cardio, what are you doing with cardio? You're you're mimicking running from the bear. You're mimicking Yeah. You're mimicking stress. Pure stress.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. So those even those fat burning zones, people don't realize are lower cardiac. You've gotta, like, pull it down and rein it in. You know, and HIIT training can do that. That's okay. It's not for everybody. But, you know, walking, like I said, sitting on the floor when you're watching TV, doing exercises. There's so many little things.
Sharon Polsky [:My favorite hack, is taking a backpack and putting books in it and going for a walk. So eat them after your big meal of the day, throw a backpack on, start putting books in that backpack, and walk. Because some of these people have never even walked into a gym before. I'm not gonna they're I mean, I could get them to go buy a set of bike and weights on Amazon, but I gotta get them moving.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Baby steps.
Sharon Polsky [:Baby steps.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I know. And I I feel like that's probably that was 40 years of my life between college and mid school. It's just this was before computers, so carrying a backpack. Oh, man. We were strong back then, though. We carried
Sharon Polsky [:our backpack all day every day for years.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I know. I do have some, you know, some big traps now, I think, because of that, but it's okay. It was worth it. So, so that still goes back to okay. You're gonna do the GLPs. You're gonna do, I I we use a lot of Manjaro. It's I don't know if I could
Sharon Polsky [:get this. Which I love. I think it's lot less side effects than Tirzepatide.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. And that's we know because it's working on a little 2 different systems, which is better. There's a drug that's gonna be coming out that's on all 3, 3
Sharon Polsky [:different systems. So excited for it.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:That's and a lot of studies in men on that one. Yeah. So so it's the bigger studies are happening, and we're just gonna see more and more positive things. But we're, what was I gonna say? So where we start with as far as, you know, the earlier you start is better.
Sharon Polsky [:Well, that was gonna be my next question. Can we proactively start, like so I'm 51. I've already gone through I'm in menopause. But when I was 40 and 41 and 42, could have I have started proactively saying, okay. I know I'm gonna become perimenopausal menopausal. Can I do GLP-1s proactively? Can I do make sure I've got everything under control so when menopause hits me, I'm ready for it, and I didn't have to gain that weight that I gained?
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Yes. I've definitely done it. There's no problem at all doing that. In fact, I would rather do that instead of hormones because you never know about, you know, maybe they wanna get pregnant again, whatever. I mean, the GLP is if we can lower their their body mass index, we can lower their inflammation with the GLP, that actually helps fertility. That helps sleep, restless leg, anything that's connected with with good sleep, I'd rather try do that first. And then they can maintain that, or they can take a year off again or 6 months and go back on it.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:We don't love that, but for some reason and forgive me if you've talked about this, but we know a lot of people we're seeing a lot of people come off of it after a year, and we don't really know what's happening there. The research isn't there. I think it's more access and cost. That's where environment that part environment plays a big role in it. Or, hey, you're injecting yourself all the time. I mean, it never fails. But our patients always call us back 6 months later. Hey.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I gained some of it back. I I don't think But I think they have to get
Sharon Polsky [:it back because they didn't use the GLP-1s as an opportunity to change the lifestyle. And I think be that's where the coaching piece, what I do Yeah. Is so important, and it's overlooked in traditional medicine. I know you guys coach the lifestyle intervention piece all day long, but traditional It's bad.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:But it still happens. I mean, I have some you know, people are like, I threw up, and I'm like, well, what did you eat? I had fatty pasta with Cody, which I'm like, you can't eat that stuff. That's fat. So people need to realize that fat is gonna be the slowest thing to digest in your body. So if you're already slowing down your GI tract, that fat is just gonna sit right there. So it's about understanding, like, you're having those side effects because you're you're not doing it right. And again, there's they are rare. For the most part, people are very conscious of how they're they're eating.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:But, you know, we can't help but hone in that this could be a miracle driving you. It is.
Sharon Polsky [:It is. It's the biggest change I've seen in my lifetime for weight loss.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. So that's why I'm saying I'd rather use that for for preventing weight gain. Now, obviously, if they're having hot flashes or osteoporosis early on, then we'll we'll use hormones. I mean, that's why you're here to see me. We wanna make sure you're on the right path, and you don't we don't wanna take a million things either. I'm also with less is more. But we definitely I've been doing that a lot more, and I I think, again, is that's gonna also be the population that's gonna be more successful because they still are healthy. That population though is the one that I do watch for gallstones.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:That in med school, we learned kind of a it's been thrown out with some stuff, but it's fair 40 and fat. That's that's kinda when you're high risk, for gallstones. So I usually just make sure, like, the liver's clean. We can do an ultrasound. Maybe they've got a little sludge. But that's also you're gonna also disrupt, right, if you lose it too fast. That's the main thing with most, I most of the side effects is you did it too fast. You completely stopped eating, which can You drank
Sharon Polsky [:alcohol while you were on GLP-1s too, which just blows my mind that you're told multiple times not to because it slows down that stomach emptying. And they're just the alcohol is sitting there eating their stomach lining.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. Yep. And this is where we just have we got to really empower and I and I'm so glad you I wish I could do these all day and somehow just, like, put a commercial on so people know this is the stuff that we need to have commercials for. But, yeah, it's really important that that people know it's safe and that they hold hands with their Dr.. Just put a little time in at the beginning because we're we're here to help you. And you're you're paying us the big bucks. Let us give you everything we can, and and it can be overwhelming. Take notes, whatever it is, because I know it's overwhelming.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:But I think the big thing is with women, it's a lot harder because our fat's gonna be a little bit more stubborn. And so, 1, we need to arrive we need to rise above the stigma that even just because you're a little bit overweight, that there's even anything wrong, first of all. And that 2, if you if you want, then we need to make sure that this is gonna be the best option for you and that you're gonna succeed. And I just you know, for our mental health too these days, if you can just get to the gym, walk, put like I said, what are the I see those vest that everyone Yeah. There's cute little I never saw those.
Sharon Polsky [:Those little weighted vest. Yeah.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:I see them everywhere now too, and I'm like, that's just that's it. That's all you need. Like, 5 or £10. You don't need to do more. If you really wanna get yeah. And that's where you should start for any viewers that are not working out at all. The backpack, start small. Don't injure yourself.
Sharon Polsky [:5 pound weights in your hands, go for a walk. Just do something. Get moving.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. And that's that's gonna be the best thing for your mental health. After dinner, it lowers, lowers your glucose. I mean, there's just there's no That's
Sharon Polsky [:my so I I went to, diabetes reversal certification many, many years ago, and I do nutrition for diabetes reversal. And that's our number one hack for t for putting diabetes type 2 diabetes into remission is having people exercise directly after every meal, and it works phenomenally well.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Yeah. I I go for a walk after every meal, 3 times a day. Because I and I especially and, actually, at lunch is the most important because I don't wanna be sleepy. I still have to work. Yeah. If I do that walk, yeah, it gets my insulin under control. I don't get that sugar crash. I feel a little bit happier because I've got in the sun.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:So it's I think, especially for women, that vitamin d, that walking, bone health. I mean, we can say these all day long, but I think just go around the block. If you have a dog, go around the block. Just that's all you need to do.
Sharon Polsky [:If you had one word of advice for women that are going into menopause and they're considering GLP-1s, what would it be? Oh. It's a very loaded question, I know.
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:Oh, gosh. I don't I just want I just want they do it right. That's fair. Yeah. It would be to keep up your exercise. To keep up your anaerobic exercise. Yep. Even if you don't lose weight
Sharon Polsky [:the 1st month or 2, that's not abnormal. So So I guess that's research, people didn't lose weight until
Dr. Cynthia Preston [:month 2a half or 3. Yeah. So maybe that's fine. Yeah. Go slow is
Sharon Polsky [:my advice. Amazing. Doctor Preston, thank you so much for joining me for conversations about an new era of weight management and GLP-1 weight loss medications. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. That was Dr. Cynthia Preston from Lee Regenerative, and we were talking about menopause and GLP-1s. Thanks for tuning in to the weight care podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, don't forget to subscribe and leave us a review.
Sharon Polsky [:It really helps us reach more listeners just like you. If you are ready to see if GLP-1s are right for you, you can go to our website at www.joinweightcare.com. We'll be back in 2 weeks with another exciting episode. So until then, keep exploring, keep learning, and keep growing. Thanks for listening. I am Sharon Pulski, your host and your GLP-1 fact fairy . Until next time. Ciao for now.
Sharon Polsky [:The WeightCare Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared here represents the views and opinions of the host and guests and should not be considered medical, health, or professional advice. The podcast is not a substitute for individualized care from qualified medical providers. Please consult with your health care provider before making decisions that may affect your health and wellness. Any statements about treatments, health protocols, or medications discussed are based on personal experience or professional expertise and may not be suitable for everyone. Always seek personalized advice from a licensed health care professional who understands your specific health needs.
