Jackie's Take: What's on My Mind in Women's Wellness ✍️ 🤔 📰 

🧬 Your GLP-1 Microdosing Roadmap: How to Get Started Safely

Over the past few weeks, we’ve journeyed through the “what” and the “why” of the GLP-1 microdosing cultural revolution. We’ve defined the terms, debunked the myths, and explored the incredible, science-backed reasons these medications are a game-changer for midlife women far beyond weight loss.

Now, we arrive at the most important part: The How. This is where the rubber meets the road. It’s the practical, actionable guide to take you from curious to empowered. Because knowledge is great, but a plan is better.

Let’s be honest. For many women, the biggest hurdle is the doctor’s office. We’ve all been there—feeling rushed, dismissed, or even gaslit. Bringing up a “trendy” medication can be intimidating, but I’m going to give you the script to ensure you’re taken seriously. Get out your notepad because this is your roadmap. 🛣️ 🗒️ 

💉 How to Talk to Your Doctor

You are not asking for a vanity drug. You are advocating for your long-term metabolic health. Shift the entire frame of the conversation from weight to wellness. Use this as your guide:

1️⃣ State Your “Why” in Medical Terms:
Start with something like, “I’ve been concerned about the metabolic changes I’m experiencing in perimenopause. I’d like to be proactive about my long-term cardiovascular and cognitive health, and I want to discuss if GLP-1 therapy is an appropriate tool for me.”

2️⃣ Come with Data (or Ask for It):
Say, “I’d like to get a clear picture of my metabolic health. Can we run labs that include fasting insulin, a full lipid panel with ApoB, HgbA1c, and inflammatory markers? Can we work on my body composition and not my BMI?”
This shows you’re serious and data-driven.

3️⃣ Ask Strategic Questions:
This is how you interview a potential partner in your health.

• “What are all of my options for this therapy, including brand-name and compounded versions?”

• “What is your strategy for helping me maintain muscle mass while on this medication?”

• “How will we monitor my progress and manage any potential side effects?”

🧪 How to Access Treatment Safely

Once you have a prescription, you have a few paths. They are not created equal.

The Gold Standard:
An FDA-approved, brand-name medication like Wegovy® or Zepbound® that you pick up from a pharmacy. This is the simplest and most regulated path, but often comes with significant insurance hurdles and high out-of-pocket costs.

The Legitimate Alternative:
A compounded peptide prescribed by a clinician and dispensed from a licensed 503A or 503B compounding pharmacy. These facilities are held to strict standards for safety and sterility. This is a legal, ethical, and safe way to access these medications if brand names aren’t an option.

Online Platforms:
Digital health and online companies like Noom and WeightWatchers now offer GLP-1 prescriptions through their platforms. These can be convenient options that combine medication with lifestyle support, though you’ll want to verify they use legitimate compounding pharmacies.

The Unforgivable Mistake:
Buying vials of powder online from “research peptide” websites. These products are not for human consumption, have zero oversight, and could contain anything. Do not do it. Ever.

💰 The Insurance Reality

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: insurance coverage. Insurance companies are notoriously reluctant to cover these medications, and frankly, they don’t have a vested interest in your long-term health. Why? Because most people don’t stay on the same insurance plan for long.

If you meet clear guidelines—BMI of 27–28+ with chronic conditions, or 30+ BMI, or Type 2 diabetes—it’s worth seeing if insurance will cover it. However, just meeting criteria is no guarantee, and waiting for approval often delays care. Many insurers are prioritizing PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) over patients, forcing therapy changes despite provider recommendations.

Often, the fastest path to treatment is cash pay. This can mean direct-to-pharma programs like Lilly’s cash-pay option or working with a compounding pharmacy. Just make sure it’s sourced from an accredited facility that maintains purity and sterility standards.

💡 Your Next Step

I know that navigating all of this: finding the right doctor, ensuring you’re getting a safe product, and having a supportive guide, can feel overwhelming. That’s why I’ve done the work for you.

In my NYC practice, I work with women on this journey every day. To broaden access to safe, high-quality care, I’ve also begun consulting for a telehealth company that I have personally vetted (click HERE to be connected) . They are NABP-accredited and undergo rigorous third-party testing for safety, purity, and efficacy, using only the highest standards for sterility and materials from the most reputable facilities in the country.

This has been an incredible three weeks of learning and conversation. Thank you for being here.

I want to leave you with this: at 45 years old (and 20lbs lighter), I feel more in control of my metabolic health, my risk of chronic disease, and my confidence in my own body than I did in my 20s. This transformation has been three years in the making, combining microdosed GLP-1 therapy with hormone therapy, nutrition upgrades, and better boundaries with everything from my time to alcohol intake. Even during the most demanding seasons of my career, these therapies have kept me metabolically stable and emotionally grounded.

This is what’s possible when we stop accepting “that’s just what happens as we age” and start demanding better for ourselves.

Sharing a photo feels vulnerable, but it’s a testament to how deeply I believe in this therapy and how much I want that same confidence and vitality for you.

Now let’s get to work! 🧠💪

The Tea: What's Trending in Women's Wellness & Culture 🍵 📰 

🦵3 science-backed ways to avoid a knee replacement
More than 700,000 Americans get knee replacements each year, but the best protection might just be movement. Experts say “motion is lotion.” Low-impact exercise like swimming, cycling, and walking keeps joint fluid circulating and strengthens your quads to support the knees. (Washington Post)

💼Your Company’s Newest C-Suite Role: Chief Longevity Officer
From L’Oréal to major insurers, companies are hiring Chief Longevity Officers to prepare for an aging world. These leaders are rethinking benefits, marketing, and design as five generations now share the workplace. Longevity is no longer a burden; it is a business advantage. (Forbes)

🔬Why Does Female Fertility Decline So Fast? The Key Is the Ovary
New UCSF research shows fertility decline is not just about aging eggs. The whole ovarian ecosystem matters, including the surrounding cells, connective tissue, and nerves. Understanding this could help slow ovarian aging, extend fertility, and improve overall healthspan. (UCSF)

The Group Chat Edit 📲 👯‍♂️ 

🛍️ To Buy: This Flamingo Estate Peppermint Exfoliating Soap Brick, a perfect gift for the holidays (for those who like to shop early🎅)

📊 To Try: This Mira At Home Hormone Monitor

Track your FSH levels to understand hormonal changes, spot early signs of perimenopause, and gain clarity on your stage and symptoms. Use code 2JACKIEG15 for 15% off the Menopause Transitions Kit

📖 To Watch: Come join me and this incredible lineup of women’s health experts at the 92nd street Y for Peri/Menopause Matters: Supporting Women's Mental, Sexual, and Overall Health at Midlife 💟 

October 16, 2025 / 6 pm ET / Virtual

Get your tickets here 🎟️