Have you ever finished dinner, felt physically full, and then found yourself standing in the kitchen looking for something to eat?

Maybe you weren't hungry.

You may not have even really wanted the food.

But you wanted something.

Something sweet. Something crunchy. Something comforting. Something that would make you feel a little better after a long day.

And then you eat.

For a few minutes, you feel calmer, more satisfied, or simply distracted from whatever was bothering you.

Then, perhaps, comes the guilt and shame.

When I was completing my post-doc at Uniformed Services University, I reviewed data on weight regain after stopping a diet. This was called weight cycling and was a very common phenomenon due to biological, psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors. Today GLP medications are a powerful tool for weight loss, but an important clinical question remains: what happens when these medications are stopped? Does the weight cycling phenomenon that I reviewed exist with GLP users? Spoiler alert….yes, it does.

For many people, starting a GLP-1 medication feels like the first time their body and brain are finally working with them instead of against them. Relief!

The constant food noise quiets. Cravings decrease. Hunger feels manageable. Weight begins to shift in ways that years of dieting, tracking, restricting, and “trying harder” never seemed to accomplish. And then comes the question that almost everyone eventually asks:

“What happens if/when I stop?”

This is where the conversation often becomes oversimplified.

In response, more women are turning to two powerful medical tools: GLP-1 receptor agonists and hormone replacement therapy (HRT)/menopause hormone therapy (MHT). Both can be incredibly helpful, but neither works in isolation.

This is where a health psychologist plays a critical role.

Let’s unpack how these pieces fit together.

If weight loss were simply about willpower, far more people would “just stick to it.” But after years of working with women navigating stress, perimenopause, burnout, autoimmune issues, and metabolic changes, I can tell you this:
Weight regulation ability is not a character trait.
It’s a biological process.
And biology is deeply influenced by hormones and the nervous system.

It’s that time of year. It’s been January for a year, the Superbowl is over, and the groundhog said SIX. MORE. WEEKS. So, if you’ve been feeling unusually flat, unmotivated, or emotionally “heavy” lately, you’re not alone. This time of year, late winter, when we’ve been cold and cooped up for months, can be a perfect storm for low mood and low motivation. People often tell me:
“I know what I should be doing, but I can’t get myself to do it.”
“I feel stuck.”
“I’m tired all the time, and I don’t feel like myself.”
“I keep waiting for motivation to come back… and it isn’t.”
The good news is: this isn’t a personal flaw. It’s a very human response to a season that’s biologically and psychologically hard on us. And there’s a lot we can do to feel better.

Perfectionism is often praised in our culture. It can look like being disciplined, high-achieving, or deeply committed to doing things “the right way.” But beneath the surface, perfectionism is rarely about excellence; it’s about safety.

For many people, perfectionism develops as a way to cope with stress, criticism, unpredictability, or emotional pain. Although it may offer short-term relief or a sense of control, over time it can take a significant toll on both mental and physical health.

As the days grow shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s common to feel a shift in mood, motivation, and energy. For many, this shift is subtle. For others, it can develop into Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that follows seasonal patterns, most often emerging in late fall and winter.