Patient Monthly, October 2026: The Holiday Season Survival Guide for GLP-1 Patients

This is the October 2026 edition of Patient Monthly, the newsletter we send to our patients at Pacific Northwest Medical Group in Puyallup and Federal Way. We share it here so anyone curious about in-person GLP-1 care can see what being a patient with us looks like.

The holiday stretch starts now. Let's make it your strongest season.

Halloween candy shows up in the grocery aisles before the leaves even turn. From here to New Year's is about 90 days, and it's the stretch where people either lock in their progress or quietly give some back. You get to decide which one this year is.

This month: new research that should make you feel great about your plan, an easy way to strengthen what fast weight loss can weaken, simple ways to keep Halloween from turning into a three-month sugar holiday, and two cozy high-protein recipes. Let's dive in.

A few comments from Jen and Daryl…

Hey friends. This month we want to talk to you from the heart.

Almost three years ago, we started this clinic with one simple belief: losing weight should never feel like ordering something off a website. It should feel like someone has your back. Two clinics and more than 1,300 patients later, that belief hasn't changed one bit.

Here's what most people never see. The late nights after we lock the doors. The texts answered on weekends. The team huddles where we talk about you: who's struggling, who just hit a milestone, who needs a call this week. We know your names. We notice when you've had a hard week before you say a word. And when you win, our whole team celebrates like it's their own, because to them, it is.

That's the difference. Online prescription mills have customers. They have a checkout page and a shipping label. We have patients. We have you.

But here's our problem, and we'll be completely honest with you. When someone nearby searches for help, they can't see any of that. They see a list of names and a few stars. Right now, the faceless websites look just as real as we do. The only thing that changes that is you.

If we've made a difference in your life, would you give us three minutes? A Google review is the single most powerful thing you can do for our clinic. It does more than any ad we could ever buy, because it's real, it's yours, and it tells the next person, the one who's scared, tired, and about to give up, that there's a place where people actually show up for them. Federal Way is our newest clinic, and it needs your voice most of all.

It doesn't need to be long. A sentence or two about how you've been treated is perfect. Share only what you're comfortable sharing.

Leave a Google review: Puyallup clinic · Federal Way clinic

Somewhere out there is someone standing exactly where you stood on day one.

Your three minutes might be the reason she finds us.

Thank you for trusting us with something this personal. Taking care of you is the honor of our lives.

Jen & Daryl

What's new at PNW Medical Group

Support groups are moving to Tuesday nights

Starting this month, our patient support groups meet on Tuesday nights instead of Thursdays.Federal Way: 3rd Tuesday of every month. This month: Tuesday, October 20Puyallup: 4th Tuesday of every month. This month: Tuesday, October 27Please update your calendar. Come for the conversation, stay for the community.

Heads-up: Thanksgiving week

Both clinics will be closed Thursday, November 26 and Friday, November 27.Thursday patients: please come in Wednesday, November 25 for your injection or medication pickup.Friday patients: please come in Saturday, November 28.Put it on your calendar now so the holiday doesn't throw off your schedule.

Peeing a little when you sneeze is not a personality trait.

Neither is crossing your legs every time someone tells a good joke. When you lose weight quickly, your body changes faster than some muscles adapt, and for a lot of us that shows up in the pelvic floor. Enter the pelvic floor chair. It triggers deep muscle contractions while you sit fully clothed. The manufacturer states it produces about 12,000 contractions in a 30-minute session, like a very large number of Kegels done for you. Many people find it supports pelvic and core strength. A number of our patients have already completed the full six-session series, and they've been thrilled with how they feel. Individual results vary.Try a free 15-minute sample. As a weight-loss patient, the six-session series is $499 (regularly $599). Already tried it? Tell a friend. Haven't yet? Ask at your next visit.

It's a wellness service, not a medical treatment, and there's nothing to buy after your sample.

• 1,300+ patients served. The community we've built together keeps growing, and the average patient loses 42 lbs in 6 to 8 months.

• NAD+ Autopay is going strong: $99/month for continuous NAD+ therapy, so 12 weeks for the former price of 10. A great energy partner for the busy holiday season. Ask the clinic if it's a fit for you.

• BioBoost monthly-pay + 2 weeks free is still open to every active patient.

• Red Light Therapy is available at both clinics. Book anytime.

• Quick GLP-1 tips on Facebook: we're starting a series of short videos answering the questions we hear every day. Follow Pacific Northwest Medical Group on Facebook so you don't miss them.

• Saturday hours continue at both clinics.

Three findings that should make you feel great about your plan

• The big picture: 38 trials, 25,000+ people (September). A new review pulled together 38 randomized trials of adults without diabetes. People taking GLP-1 medications lost significantly more weight than placebo, tirzepatide produced the strongest results, stomach side effects were the most common complaint, and serious problems were rare. The authors' main point is one we live by: these medications work best with nutrition support and muscle protection built in. That's exactly what your visits are for. (Coverage)

• Tirzepatide vs. semaglutide in the real world (EASD, late September). A large real-world analysis presented at Europe's biggest diabetes meeting found tirzepatide delivered stronger blood sugar and weight results than semaglutide at six months in adults with type 2 diabetes, with the biggest gains when it was started early. Both medications work well. If you're on semaglutide and your progress has slowed, ask the clinic whether tirzepatide is a good fit for you. (Coverage)

• It's mostly fat (International Journal of Obesity). A review of 24 studies measured exactly what people lose on GLP-1 medications. At three months, fat mass dropped about 17% while lean mass dropped only about 2%. In other words, the weight coming off is mostly the weight you want gone. Protein and staying active help keep it that way. (Study)

We read every major study so you don't have to, and we'll always tell you which findings actually change anything for your care.

Benefits beyond the scale

• 17% vs 2% Fat lost vs. lean mass. At three months on a GLP-1. Mostly fat.

• 38 Trials in one new review. 25,000+ adults, GLP-1s vs. placebo.

• −33% Major cardiac events. Tirzepatide in adults with T2D and heart disease (Aug).

• −19% End-stage kidney disease. Long-term kidney protection on GLP-1s.

Plus: better blood pressure, lower triglycerides, improved sleep, easier joint movement, fewer cravings, and freedom from constant food noise. The scale is just one chapter of the story.

Halloween and fall food: how to enjoy it without paying for it

• The candy bowl is a nausea trap. Sugar plus fat on a slowed-down stomach is the classic recipe for queasiness and reflux. If you want a treat, have one after a protein-forward meal, not on an empty stomach.

• "Sugar-free" isn't always stomach-friendly. Many sugar-free candies use sugar alcohols (look for names ending in "-itol") that can cause bloating and diarrhea, especially on a GLP-1.

• Fall parties and alcohol. Many patients find alcohol hits harder and faster on a GLP-1, and it can leave you shaky, lightheaded, or queasy the next day. Go slow, eat first, and alternate every drink with water.

• Comfort-food portions. Chili, casseroles, and pie are heavy. Use a smaller plate, eat slowly, and stop at "comfortable," not "full." Your fullness signal arrives late.

• Busy-season injection drift. Back-to-back weekends of events push injection day around. Pick your day and protect it.

Anything persistent? Message the clinic before you skip a dose.

The sweater-weather slowdown

As the days get shorter, a lot of patients notice the scale slowing down. It's usually not the medication. It's that we move less, eat heavier, and drink less water when it's cold and dark. Plateaus are biological, not a personal failure. Here's the October playbook:

1. Protect your movement before the clocks change. Daylight saving time ends Sunday, November 1. A study presented at ENDO 2026 found people starting GLP-1s actually walked less, about 5,050 steps a day down to 4,490, and shorter days make it worse. Schedule a walk on your lunch break or right after work now, while it's still light.

2. Track inches, not just pounds. Fall water retention from salty comfort food can hide real fat loss for a week or two. A Styku scan shows what the scale can't.

3. Protein check. Under 100g a day? That's usually the first fix.

4. Try BioBoost free for two weeks if you haven't yet. Many stalled patients see movement within 3 to 4 weeks.

5. Low energy? Ask about NAD+ Autopay ($99/month). When a plateau feels like a wall, energy is often the missing piece.

6. Talk to the clinic about dose or timing. Sometimes the answer is up, sometimes hold steady. That's a conversation, not a formula.

The furnace is on. Your water intake should be too.

Heated indoor air is surprisingly drying, and when it's chilly outside, thirst gets even quieter than it already is on a GLP-1. Dehydration shows up as fatigue, headaches, constipation, and even nausea that gets blamed on the medication.

Daily target: Half your body weight (lbs) in ounces, at minimum. A 200-lb patient needs about 100 oz a day. If that feels impossible, aim for at least 80 oz no matter your weight.

• Warm drinks count. Herbal tea, decaf, bone broth, and broth-based soups all add up.

• Coffee counts partially, not one-for-one. Pair every cup with an equal glass of water.

• Keep a water bottle where you spend your evenings, not just at your desk.

• Add electrolytes when needed. A powdered electrolyte mix stirred into a 16 oz bottle is an easy option.

• If your urine is darker than pale lemonade, you're behind. Catch up.

Treat-proof your day with protein

Here's the simplest trick for Halloween parties and fall get-togethers: never arrive hungry. When you've already hit most of your 100g of protein for the day, the candy bowl loses most of its pull.

Party-day protein plan:

30g breakfast (apple pie yogurt bowl below) · 30g lunch (chicken, tuna, or cottage cheese) · 10 to 15g snack before you leave for the party (string cheese, jerky, or a protein shake) · load up on the meat and veggie trays first once you get there

Eat protein first at every meal. With a smaller appetite, whatever you eat first is what actually gets in. The clinic staff can give you sample meal plans and printable handouts. Just ask at your next visit.

Two recipes for October

One dinner, one breakfast. Both high-protein, both built for cozy season.

White Chicken Chili

Creamy, cozy, and loaded with protein without the heavy cream. Shredded chicken breast, white beans, green chiles, onion, garlic, and cumin simmered in broth, then finished with a scoop of plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. Makes about 6 servings, so lunch is handled for the week.

~42g protein · 35 min total time · ~360 cal per serving

2 lbs boneless chicken breast · 2 cans white beans, rinsed · 1 can diced green chiles · 1 onion + 3 garlic cloves · 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth · cumin, oregano, chili powder · ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt · cilantro + lime to finish

Apple Pie Protein Yogurt Bowl

Fall in a bowl in five minutes. Warm a diced apple in the microwave with cinnamon, then spoon it over Greek yogurt mixed with vanilla protein powder. A sprinkle of walnuts gives it the "pie crust" crunch.

~36g protein · 5 min prep time · ~300 cal per bowl

1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt · ½ scoop vanilla protein powder · ½ apple, diced · cinnamon + a pinch of nutmeg · 1 tbsp chopped walnuts · drizzle of maple (optional)

Your mid-season check-in: scan before Thanksgiving

If you scanned in September, your next scan lands right around early to mid November, which is perfect timing. It gives you a clear read on where you stand before Thanksgiving, so the holidays don't get to write the story for you.

A Styku scan takes millions of measurements in under a minute and shows exactly where you've lost inches and how your lean mass is holding up. On weeks when salty comfort food or a stressful schedule confuses the scale, the scan tells the truth. Haven't scanned in a while? There's no better time to set a fresh baseline.

See real patient transformations on our blog.

Why the holidays are when in-clinic care pays off

This time of year, ads for cheap online GLP-1 programs get louder. Here's what those programs can't give you, and why it matters most between now and New Year's:

• 40 to 65% of self-managed patients stop their GLP-1 within the first year, according to large U.S. real-world studies. Stopping early is when weight tends to come back.

• Regular check-ins. When the holidays throw you off, someone notices and helps you reset before a slip becomes a slide.

• Dose adjustments in person. A side effect becomes a problem to solve, not a reason to quit.

• Styku scans. Proof you're making progress, even on weeks when the scale is confused.

• Extras that only a clinic can offer. BioBoost, NAD+, red light therapy, and pelvic floor muscle training, all under one roof and all designed to work alongside your GLP-1.

• Community. Support group nights at both clinics, now on Tuesdays, with people who get it.

You chose in-clinic care for a reason, and it shows in your results. If you've been curious about adding something to your plan, ask at your next visit. And if you have a friend thinking about an online program, send them our way for a free consult. We'd rather they start right than start over.

Thinking about starting?

If you're considering medical weight loss, we'd love to meet you. Consultations are free at both our Puyallup and Federal Way clinics.