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In this episode of Your Checkup, we unpack why relying on willpower alone so often fails — and why that failure isn’t a personal flaw. Willpower is a limited resource that gets drained by stress, decision fatigue, and daily demands, making it unreliable for sustained health change. Instead of asking ourselves to try harder, real progress comes from designing systems that work with our brains: reducing friction for healthy behaviors, increasing friction for unhelpful ones, and anchoring habits to existing routines. By shifting the focus from discipline to supportive environments, we can build changes that last — even on hard days.

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Production and Content: Edward Delesky, MD, DABOM & Nicole Aruffo, RN

Artwork Rebrand and Avatars:

Vantage Design Works (Vanessa Jones)

Website: https://www.vantagedesignworks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vantagedesignworks?igsh=aHRuOW93dmxuOG9m&utm_source=qr

Original Artwork Concept: Olivia Pawlowski

Send us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.

New year energy fades fast, and that’s exactly when most health plans fall apart. We’ve been there—patients telling us “I can’t stay motivated,” and our own early alarms that sometimes lose the argument. So we take a fresh, practical look at motivation: not as a trait you’re born with, but as a state you can design by meeting three basic needs—choice, capability, and support.

We start by ditching the willpower myth. Fear and guilt can get you moving once, but they rarely carry you through February. Instead, we walk through how to create autonomy by making health changes feel like your choice, not a chore. Then we shrink the mountain with competence—tiny, repeatable wins that build evidence you can do this. Finally, we highlight relatedness, the social fuel most of us ignore, from a partner’s quick “you got this” to a clinician who helps you tailor goals to real life.

You’ll hear everyday examples that translate theory to action: reframing exercise from “the doctor said so” to “I feel clearer after a 15‑minute walk,” turning “I need to lose weight” into “steady meals give me steady energy,” and linking medications to the life you want to lead. We cap it with a fast self‑audit you can do today: Does this feel like my choice? Do I feel capable most days? Do I feel supported? Wherever you answer no, you’ll learn how to adjust the plan rather than abandon it.

If you’re ready to turn external pressure into internal purpose and make habits stick without white‑knuckling, press play. Then share this with someone who could use a gentle reset, subscribe for next week’s deep dive on building systems that support your goals, and leave a review to tell us the one small change you’re making first.

Support the show

Production and Content: Edward Delesky, MD, DABOM & Nicole Aruffo, RN

Artwork Rebrand and Avatars:

Vantage Design Works (Vanessa Jones)

Website: https://www.vantagedesignworks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vantagedesignworks?igsh=aHRuOW93dmxuOG9m&utm_source=qr

Original Artwork Concept: Olivia Pawlowski

Send us a message with this link, we would love to hear from you. Standard message rates may apply.

Oral Wegovy is officially FDA approved — but what does that actually mean for patients? In this episode of Your Checkup, we break down the December 2025 approval of oral semaglutide 25 mg for chronic weight management, who qualifies, how it works, and how effective it really is. We review the clinical trial data behind the approval, including expected weight loss, common side effects, and long-term expectations, and explain how oral Wegovy compares to injectable GLP-1 medications. We also tackle common misconceptions, dosing and lifestyle considerations, and the very real challenges of cost and insurance coverage. If you’ve heard the headlines and want the facts — without hype — this episode is for you.

Check out our new graphics. Thank you, Vantage Design Works. Check out our website, you can send us an email, yourcheckuppod@gmail.com. Check out our website, you can find us on Instagram, share us with a friend or a neighbor. But most importantly, stay healthy, my friends.

Support the show

Production and Content: Edward Delesky, MD, DABOM & Nicole Aruffo, RN

Artwork Rebrand and Avatars:

Vantage Design Works (Vanessa Jones)

Website: https://www.vantagedesignworks.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vantagedesignworks?igsh=aHRuOW93dmxuOG9m&utm_source=qr

Original Artwork Concept: Olivia Pawlowski