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Ep. 54 | Live and Learn: Dietitian Real Talk on the GLP-1 Life

in-the-know-with-nina

podcast

Episode Summary

In this raw and real conversation, Dr. Nina Crowley sits down with Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM, LDN—a registered dietitian, GLP-1 patient, and co-founder of JoinVineyard.com—to explore what it truly means to live, work, and thrive in the world of GLP-1s. With a blend of clinical insight and lived experience, Summer speaks candidly about the mental chaos of food noise, the evolving stigma around body size in healthcare, and how anti-obesity medications can help patients finally eat in alignment with their best intentions.

The episode delves into the intersection of intuitive eating, medication-based care, and body composition—emphasizing that success isn’t just about the number on the scale, but about muscle preservation, mindset shifts, and reclaiming joy in everyday life. Whether you're a provider, patient, or someone curious about GLP-1s, this episode offers a compassionate, evidence-informed look into what sustainable change can really look like.

Key Takeaways

GLP-1 medications help quiet “food noise,” allowing for clearer hunger and fullness cues.
Weight stigma persists in the dietitian field—especially for those in larger bodies.
Nutrition basics often work better because of GLP-1s, not in spite of them.
Long-term health success hinges on muscle preservation, not just fat loss.
Intuitive eating principles can align with medication-based care.
Supporting patients means empowering them to envision the life they want—not just reaching a number on the scale.

About Summer Kessel, RD, CSOWM, LDN

Summer Kessel is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management with over a decade of clinical and telehealth experience. As Chief of Operations, Nutrition & Community at JoinVineyard.com, she leads a virtual platform offering GLP-1 medications, dietitian support, and strength training programs. Summer blends professional expertise with personal experience as a GLP-1 patient and is the author of Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life (July 2025).