Episode 186: Breaking Free from Emotional Eating: Mindset Shifts & Strategies with Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Release Date: 02/03/2025
Episode 209: Beyond Willpower: The Truth About Weight Loss Medications
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
More people than ever are turning to medicine for weight loss, but how do you know if it's right for you? In this episode, I dive into the hot topic of weight loss medications and tackle the myths, science, and facts behind them. As a board-certified obesity medicine specialist, I explain who qualifies for medications like Wegovy, Zepbound, and others, how they work, and why obesity is a chronic condition, not a personal failure. I will walk you through the medical, hormonal, and genetic factors that influence treatment, outline FDA guidelines, and share how I assess whether a patient is a...
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Episode 208: Is Cane Sugar Better? Unpacking the Health Impact of High Fructose Corn Syrup
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know that high fructose corn syrup, a sweetener found in everything from soda to salad dressing, has been linked to obesity, diabetes, and inflammation? In this episode, I explore a surprising claim by Donald Trump that Coca Cola may switch from high fructose corn syrup to cane sugar—and use this as a springboard to explore the health concerns around high fructose corn syrup. I break down what it is, why it's used so widely in processed foods, and the many health risks it poses, from obesity and diabetes to inflammation and high blood pressure. I even share a patient story that...
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Episode 207: What Happens When You Stop Ozempic? The Truth About GLP-1 Meds & Weight Regain
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know that stopping GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy can trigger powerful biological and emotional changes that impact your weight journey? In this episode, I talk about what happens when you stop taking a GLP-1 medication, like Ozempic, Wegovy, or Zepbound. I explain how these medications work by slowing stomach emptying, reducing appetite, and helping with insulin regulation, which supports weight loss and benefits conditions like type 2 diabetes and PCOS. However, I also share that they’re not magic pills, you still need healthy habits like eating well and exercising. I...
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Episode 206: Why the Scale Isn’t Moving: 5 Hidden Weight Loss Blockers You Need to Know
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Sometimes it’s not about eating less or moving more—it’s about understanding what’s really holding your body back. In this episode, I dive into five surprising reasons why you might not be losing weight—even when it feels like you're doing everything right. From the sneaky effects of stress and poor sleep, to the hidden dangers of under-eating, emotional eating, and overestimating your workouts, I break down what could be quietly sabotaging your progress. This isn’t about blame—it’s about awareness, compassion, and smart strategies to truly support your journey. Listen...
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Episode 205: Simple Strategies to Stay Consistent with Healthy Habits When Motivation Fades
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Motivation may spark change, but it's small, consistent actions that keep the fire burning, especially when you're just not feeling it. In this episode, I talk about what to do when you're feeling completely unmotivated to stick with healthy habits. I dive into the truth that motivation is fleeting and often unreliable, and instead, I share practical strategies to keep moving forward even when you don’t feel like it. I also explore common reasons we lose motivation like overwhelm, burnout, boredom, and perfectionism and offer five actionable tips: shrink the task, pair it with something...
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Episode 204: The Truth About Sweet Drinks: 8 Myths That Could Be Ruining Your Weight Loss Goals
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know that one 20-ounce soda can pack more sugar than five donuts—and still leave you hungry? In this episode, I unpacked the deceptively sweet world of sugar-sweetened beverages from sodas and sweet teas to fruit juices and even those “healthy” smoothies. I busted eight common myths that might be sabotaging your wellness journey without you even realizing it. We talked about how liquid calories sneak past your hunger cues, spike blood sugar, fuel cravings, and trigger fat storage. I broke down why fruit juice isn't the same as whole fruit, why diet sodas and energy drinks...
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Episode 203: From Shots to Swallow: The Future of Weight Loss with Oral Semaglutide
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know a daily weight loss pill might soon replace weekly injections for managing obesity? In this episode, I explore the exciting new development of a once-daily oral weight loss medication, oral semaglutide 50mg highlighting results from the OASIS 1 trial. With this, I explain how this pill could be a game-changer for people who are hesitant about injections like Wegovy or Zepbound. I break down how semaglutide works as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, the phases of drug development, and the impressive trial results showing an average 15% body weight loss in participants without diabetes. I...
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Episode 202: Discover Your Obesity Phenotype and What Really Works for You
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know that your body has its own unique weight loss blueprint and it might be the key to finally seeing results? In this episode, I explore the concept of obesity phenotypes and why one-size-fits-all approaches to weight loss often fail. I dive into the four main types I see in my practice: Hungry Brain, Emotional Hunger, Hungry Gut, and Slow Burn, and how understanding which one you align with can dramatically improve your treatment strategy. I also reflect on my own experiences, and those of my patients, emphasizing that it's not about willpower but biology and behavior. By...
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Episode 201: Zepbound or Wegovy? The Shocking Results You Need to Know!
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Did you know that some weight loss medications can help people lose up to 20% of their body weight, comparable to bariatric surgery outcomes? In this episode, I dive into the latest research comparing two major weight loss medications, Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), based on findings from the 72-week SURMOUNT-5 trial. I explain how Zepbound led to greater weight loss (about 20.2% vs. 13.7% with Wegovy), possibly due to its dual action on GIP and GLP-1 receptors. Both drugs were generally well tolerated, with similar side effects like nausea and constipation, though Wegovy had...
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Episode 200: Your Top Weight Loss Questions Answered – Medications, Mindset & Milestones
Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss
Episode 200 is a celebration of your journey and questions, as I dive deep into the realities of weight loss, medications, and staying consistent through it all. In this episode, I celebrate a huge milestone—our 200th episode of the Back on Track: Achieving Healthy Weight Loss podcast! I take this opportunity to answer your most frequently asked questions from TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, and podcast listeners, covering a wide range of topics like weight loss medications (such as Qsymia and Contrave), combining medications, insurance, PCOS, managing side effects, and more. I also dive into...
info_outlineYou don’t need to eat less; you need to eat right.
In this episode, Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani, a physician and certified NLP coach specializing in helping women transform their relationship with food, their bodies, and themselves, said that she combines medical expertise with mindset coaching to address emotional eating, stress, and limiting beliefs, providing practical strategies for sustainable wellness.
She explores emotional eating—how stress, boredom, and other emotions can drive people to food as a coping mechanism. She also explains how neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) can help rewire behaviors and break unhealthy eating patterns. She discusses recognizing emotional eating triggers, the role of dopamine in cravings, and the cycle of guilt that often follows binge eating. She encourages self-compassion and recommends resources such as *The End of Overeating* by Dr. Peter Kessler, mindfulness apps like Headspace and Calm, and coaching or therapy to support lasting change.
Tune in to this episode to learn powerful strategies from Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani on overcoming emotional eating and transforming your relationship with food!
Episode Highlights:
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Understanding emotional eating and its triggers
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The impact of stress, boredom, and emotions on food choices
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How neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) helps rewire eating habits
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Practical strategies to break the emotional eating cycle
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The role of mindfulness, journaling, and movement in stress management
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Using EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) to release emotional stress
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The importance of self-compassion in the wellness journey
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Resources and tools to support long-term behavior change
Connect with Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani:
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Website | albidayawellness.com
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Facebook | www.facebook.com/albidaya.wellness
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Instagram | @albidaya_wellness
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Linked In | www.linkedin.com/in/aaliaalbarwanimd
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Tiktok | @albidaya_wellness
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Youtube | www.youtube.com/@albidayawellness
Healing Emotional Eating Course: https://get.albidayawellness.com/hee-a
About Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani
Meet Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani, a dedicated board-certified physician based in Houston, TX, who is passionate about helping her patients achieve their best health. She graduated with distinctions from Weill Cornell Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Connecticut, where she served as Chief Resident in her final year.
Dr. Al-Barwani is also the creator and host of the medical talk show "What’s Up, Doc?" on Muslim Network TV, where she shares her expertise on various health and wellness topics with the general public.
In her practice, Dr. Al-Barwani emphasizes an individualized approach to care, focusing on balanced and comprehensive treatment. Her interest in preventive and obesity medicine led her to further training in weight loss medicine, earning a certification from the American Board of Obesity Medicine.
Beyond her medical expertise, Dr. Al-Barwani is certified as an NLP coach. She integrates mindset work into her practice to help bridge the gap between knowing and doing, empowering her patients to embody and live their best selves. Her holistic approach is aimed at creating lasting change by addressing both the physical and mental aspects of health.
Dr. Al-Barwani is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Obesity Medicine Association, American Association of Family Physicians, and Physician Women in Leadership. She is committed to promoting diversity in medicine and improving patient outcomes through innovative and compassionate care.
When she's not seeing patients, Dr. Al-Barwani enjoys outdoor activities like biking and hiking. She loves learning about new languages, cultures, and cuisines through her travels, adding depth to her understanding of the diverse backgrounds of her patients.
Dr. Aalia Al-Barwani is dedicated to guiding her patients on their health journeys with empathy and expertise, helping them achieve their goals and live healthier, happier lives.
Resources:
FREE! Discover the 5 Reasons Your Weight-Loss Journey Has Gotten Derailed (And How To Get Back On Track!) 👉 Click