The Obesity Guide with Matthea Rentea MD Matthea Rentea MD

As anyone who struggles with weight management knows, it takes a lot more than waking up one day and deciding “it’s time to get healthy”. Our health is shaped by the countless small decisions we make each and every day and when we don’t see instant results, it can feel hard. But one of the key things that keeps me going? My love for my future self.
When you think of yourself in five years, what do you see? Do you see yourself still consumed by food, weight, and stress, missing out on life's joyful moments? Do you imagine a future filled with body hatred and isolation? My guess is this is not what it looks like when you are envisioning your future. Or at the very least, this is not what you want to see yourself like in the future.
But when you embody the future version of yourself who lives differently than you do today, you have such an opportunity to shape your reality. Join me today as we delve into the concept of your "future self" and discover how it can empower us to follow through on the actions that move us closer toward our goals.


Audio Stamps

00:40 - Dr. Rentea shares a key lesson from a recent business coaching call she was part of.

02:15 - Dr. Rentea explains the concept of your “future self”

04:30 - We hear how Dr. Rentea's vision of a healthier future self fuels her commitment to prioritize her health, even during challenging times.

07:00 - Dr. Rentea explains how the "bright spots theory" can help us tackle challenges by identifying other areas of our life which feel more effortless and energizing.

12:15 - Dr. Rentea encourages us to think about what is needed from us today to help us get the future self that we want. 



Quotes

“I have to constantly think about: ‘Who is it that I want to be? What do I want to become?’ And those things keep me going.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“If I want this future self to be in a better spot physically, it is going to require an element of consistency from me and having a plan and sticking to it.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“What are you in this moment going to follow through on and do, even if it's not the most appealing thing, even if you don't love it, even if it's not super exciting?” - Matthea Rentea MD

“You don't end up there overnight.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“You are often probably going to have to do things that you don't feel like doing.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“Future me - I love her enough and I want things badly enough for her that I'm going to do these things.” - Matthea Rentea MD


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

As humans, we thrive through connection. And when we embark on a journey to improve our metabolic health, I’m a strong believer that we need continual inspiration to guide us along the way and remind us that we’re all in this together. For me, a huge source of that inspiration has come from Angel Scheer, someone who I have followed for a long time on TikTok.

Angel has struggled with obesity and weight her entire life. And what I've observed over time since following Angel is the evolution of her approach to health—a journey marked by challenges and triumphs. Today, I'm excited to explore Angel’s story in-depth, offering insights into the realities of navigating weight management and metabolic health. Join our candid conversation, where we discuss Angel’s battles with obesity and fertility, and shed light on the importance of consistency, accountability, and tuning into your own body's cues.


References

Chasing Cupcakes: How One Broke, Fat Girl Transformed Her Life by Elizabeth Benton 


Connect with Angel:
Instagram
TikTok



Audio Stamps

01:35 - Dr. Rentea’s guest Angel gives us some background into her struggles with weight loss, fertility, and why she chose to share her weight management story online.

07:07 - Angel talks about how consistent routines and accountability have played a part in her journey.

11:26 - Dr. Rentea asks what Angel has to tell herself to make sure she takes action, even when she doesn’t feel like it.

15:06 - Dr. Rentea summarizes three key ways to ensure you keep taking action to move closer toward your goals.

17:05 - Angel shares the advice she would give the past version of herself that really struggled to make progress on her weight management journey.

22:04 - We hear how Angel transitioned from focusing on counting calories to emphasizing protein intake, especially after starting medication.

23:40 - Angel discusses some of the non-scale victories that she has been proud of along the way.

29:53 - We hear Angel’s final tips for anyone who is starting or struggling with their weight management journey.



Quotes

“The reality is you sometimes have to listen to where you're at.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“It's almost like it's acceptable to put ourselves down when we would just never do that with friends or anyone else.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“You're worth it. And it might not be as hard as you think.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“No one would ever choose to struggle with this.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“One of the biggest things that I have come to love about this journey is that I'm able to handle the stress in my life a lot better than I was before.”  - Angel


“No one else is doing this for me. I'm the only one who can do this and I'm worth it.“ - Angel


“It's a practice to talk differently to yourself. It doesn't happen overnight.” - Matthea Rentea MD


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

Feeling extra hungry lately and not sure why? After recently transitioning from Wegovy to ZepBound, I noticed a significant increase in appetite. But whether or not you've changed medications, there are a whole bunch of factors that could be contributing to increased hunger pangs.
But instead of hitting the panic button when hunger strikes, remember that tough times in your health journey are the perfect opportunity to put on your detective hat and uncover the root cause. Join me today as we delve into what might be causing a surge in hunger levels and discover four practical ways to manage it effectively.



References

Join my email list


Optimizing Fat Loss and Maintaining Muscle on a GLP 1 Mini-Course


Follow me on Tiktok


Audio Stamps

01:02 - Dr. Rentea shares her recent transition from Wegovy to ZepBound and how this has affected her physical hunger levels.


06:00 - Dr. Rentea walks us through her checklist of potential factors contributing to increased hunger levels.


10:47 - We hear Dr. Rentea’s first practical step for dealing with increased hunger levels: Looking at your water, protein, and fiber intake.


14:22 - We find out how processed foods can impact hunger levels.


15:30 - Dr. Rentea discusses how sleep can play an important role with increased appetite.


19:53 - We learn why more is not necessarily better when it comes to our health.


22:00 - We hear a summary of how these steps have impacted Dr. Rentea’s own experience with increased hunger levels.



Quotes

“Exercise can increase your appetite and there are certain types that are going to affect people differently.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“Ghrelin is the hunger hormone that says, ‘you're hungry, start eating!’ Why would ghrelin go up? Ghrelin is going to go up if you fast for long times. Ghrelin will also go up if you are sleep deprived and if stress is up.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“If I want to be less hungry, then I'm going to need nutritious foods that still have their hydration intact, that are giving me the protein and fiber, that are giving me the micronutrients that I need. And oftentimes the processed stuff just isn't doing that.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“Look at your sleep quality and ask, ‘Is there anything getting in the way?’” - Matthea Rentea MD


“A lot of us always think more is better. We think that it's going to get us further. We're going to lose weight faster. We're going to put on muscle better, all those things. And it's actually not been true for me.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“When times feel hard, you've got to be a detective.” - Matthea Rentea MD


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

When people start working on their health, one of the first things they usually want to know is: what is the best nutrition plan? But when it comes to the “best” nutrition plan for you, it really hinges on your own personal health goals. What are you actually trying to get out of the changes that you're making?

For the purpose of today’s episode, we’re going to be focusing on what kind of nutrition plan could be best for losing body fat. Drawing from both clinical observations and key research findings, we'll look at how to optimize your macronutrient intake to support your fat loss goals and ensure they align with your lifestyle for sustainable success.


References


Optimizing Fat Loss and Maintaining Muscle on a GLP 1 Mini-Course



Audio Stamps


01:29 -  Dr. Rentea explains why you need to be very clear on what your health goal is before looking into the best nutrition plan for you.

03:18 - Dr. Rentea discusses findings from a JAMA study on four different diets (including keto) and their impact on long-term weight management.

06:28 - We learn why Dr. Rentea suggests an 'add don't subtract' approach to nutrition, emphasizing personalized adjustments over strict meal plans.

09:55 - We find out about the role of increasing protein and fiber intake to support sustainable weight management, including practical strategies to incorporate these nutrients into your diet.

15:43 - Dr. Rentea summarizes the two most important aspects of a sustainable nutrition plan to achieve long term fat loss.

20:30 - Hear some of Dr. Rentea’s favorite products right now, including a coffee concentrate brand!



Quotes


“You need to get really clear on what you are actually trying to get out of the changes that you're making.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“I'm not ever here to tell you that a plan is good or bad. It's really ultimately about what you can stick with long term.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“Number one, you need to know what your actual goals for nutrition are. And then number two, the path you pick needs to be sustainable.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“There are actually tons of people that can make a lifestyle work where they're going out to eat often or where they're getting lots of prepared foods.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“No matter what your world looks like, you can make it happen.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“You just stay in your own lane. Because most people that are doing this whole extreme keto thing, they're not sticking with it for over a year. And then they're right back to where they started and they feel even more defeated because they didn't learn anything about themselves, about nutrition, about sustainability.” - Matthea Rentea MD


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

Do you love a good challenge or do you actively avoid it? In today’s modern world, there’s no denying that building healthy habits and living a healthy lifestyle can be challenging. And sometimes, it really can feel like the entire world is conspiring to make it harder for you to work on your metabolic health.

Without doubt, those moments where you feel defeated are uncomfortable. However, it's important to remember that they offer valuable opportunities for growth and learning. In this episode, we’re exploring how adopting a growth mindset gives you the resilience to persevere and embrace these lessons, rather than dwelling on the setbacks.

So, let’s skip the pity party and thoughts of giving up! Join me as we explore how to keep moving forward and achieve your goals.


References

Join my email list

Optimizing Fat Loss and Maintaining Muscle on a GLP 1 Mini-Course


Audio Stamps

00:35 - On your health journey, you'll come to learn that progress takes time, and whatever your goal is, there will likely be some tweaking and troubleshooting along the way.
01:30 - The moments when you feel defeated are the moments when growth is going to occur. Dr. Rentea shares her own, recent example of this with strength training.
06:40 - Hard times are going to teach you things as it brings to the surface what you still need to work on.
09:09 - Staying in a growth mindset is one of the most essential tools that you're going to need for your long term health journey. Dr. Rentea shares a different example related to nutrition.
12:24 - When you're going through hard times, there is always a lesson in there - you're never failing.
15:07 - Don't feel like you need to figure this all out yourself - it’s perfectly fine to seek help in areas where you need it.
16:20 - Dr. Rentea reminds us of the resources she has available to support us when challenges do arise.


Quotes

“What you start to realize when you're doing this work is that it doesn't happen as quickly as you think it will.“ - Matthea Rentea MD


“These moments when you are pushed, this is when growth is going to occur or not.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“We've got the perfect three months here. What's the next step for you?” - Matthea Rentea MD


“I like to experience stepping out of that comfort zone because it really shows me what the next level of work is.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“Hard times are going to teach you things.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“When we stay in the pity party, we do not have clarity. We cannot figure things out. We cannot troubleshoot. We don't figure out what the goal is. We don't see where we want to go.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“It is normal and natural to encounter obstacles and challenges and figuring out what to do with them is the greatest gift you're going to give yourself. It is never just about the scale going down.” - Matthea Rentea MD


“When you're going through hard times, there's a lesson in there. You're not ever failing if you look at what you can learn from it.” - Matthea Rentea MD

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

Most of us have been there when trying to lose weight… following a diet to the T, only to get discouraged when the scale doesn't budge. But the truth is, weight can’t tell us everything about our health and can even be detrimental to our own body image. I know if I had let the traditional scale determine my own success, I would have stopped years ago.

While the diet and fitness world continue to be overly obsessed with weight, today we’re exploring why body composition, i.e. the breakdown of fat, bone, and muscle in your body, is actually a much better and more useful indicator of overall health. Join me as I encourage us to break free from the weight-centric mindset and learn how body composition tools can give us a more accurate picture of what’s really going on with our health.


References

InBody scale
Optimizing Fat Loss and Maintaining Muscle on a GLP 1 Mini-Course


Audio Stamps

01:56 - Dr. Rentea tells us about the limitations of the traditional scale and the need for deeper understanding when it comes to interpreting body composition testing.
06:20 - We learn some alternative methods for tracking body composition, including body measurements like the abdominal circumference.
08:30 - Dr. Rentea advises on interpreting body composition reports, emphasizing the importance of maintaining muscle mass, especially for individuals over 65. 
11:45 - Dr. Rentea challenges the idea that a lower number on the scale is always better and stresses why we need to understand body composition beyond traditional metrics like BMI.
17:52 - Our muscle mass has a significant impact on our metabolic health and so Dr. Rentea advises consulting with a knowledgeable clinician to help you accurately interpret body composition results.


Quotes

“If you're losing at a very rapid pace, there's likely going to be some amount of muscle that you're going to sacrifice.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“If you can't get the (InBody) scale, then I want you to do measurements. And you're going to do them once a month, not to be obsessive, but you're going to want to see progress with time.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“If the scale is not changing, but the inches are going down, this means you've lost fat and you've likely gained muscle. And that actually means you're healthier.” - Matthea Rentea MD

“It can help you out so much to step away from this understanding of, ‘Well, only the scale number going down is what's important.’ If I had let that determine success or not, I would have stopped years ago.” - Matthea Rentea MD


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