Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life: A Complete Guide to Nutrition and Mindset While on GLP-1 Medications

by Summer Kessel

“Practical, informative, and empowering—this book is a must-read for anyone who is thinking about, or already on, a GLP-1 medication for weight loss. Summer Kessel offers the tools and guidance you need to make lasting, meaningful changes to your nutrition and mindset without going to extremes.”
—Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, DO

Live your healthiest semaglutide life with this revolutionary guide to successfully and safely using GLP-1 medications.

Are you curious if medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or Zepbound are right for you?
Have you started taking a GLP-1 medication but are unsure where to start with your nutrition and fitness plan?
Are you having some side effects you’d like to manage better? Or lacking meal inspiration?
Or maybe you’re thinking ahead to the future—what happens when I get to my goal? How does maintenance work?

This guide has the answers!

Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life is your ultimate nutrition and mindset guide for navigating the challenges of weight management with semaglutide and tirzepatide. From starting medication to the weight loss phase, through maintenance and beyond, this life-changing book covers it all, helping you:

Understand obesity as a disease and why weight management is so difficult with diet and exercise alone.
Explore the science of how GLP-1 medications work and if they are a good fit for you.
Navigate the politics and practicalities of the insurance and pharmaceutical world.
Build a health care team that has your best interests in mind.
Manage the risks, optimize the benefits, and avoid falling for the myths around GLP-1 medications.
Learn to overcome the initial side effects and prevent complications.
Discover food and fitness strategies that will help you feel your best and maintain long-term health.
Develop your cooking and meal-planning skills to manage your nutrition in the real world.
Use the sample meal plans, grocery lists, and nutrition facts to make empowered decisions that work for you.
Embrace a new mindset around your weight, nutrition, and health so that you never have to go on a “diet” again.

Living Your Healthiest Semaglutide Life is written by registered dietitian Summer Kessel, a certified specialist in obesity and weight management, who not only counsels people on GLP-1 medications every day but is on a GLP-1 medication herself! As someone who has struggled with obesity her entire life, she shares her personal insights alongside the science and is uniquely qualified to help you anticipate and overcome any challenges you may face. By following Summer’s real-world advice and realistic nutrition strategies for every stage of your weight loss journey, you can make informed decisions and successfully achieve your goals.

Discover how to live your healthiest life on GLP-1 medications with expert advice, practical tips, and the mindset support you need to succeed.

224 pages, Paperback

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following SummertheDietitian on Instagram for a while now and appreciate her down to earth, open, fun and sometimes brutally honest way. She makes no excuses for being herself and for her opinions and believes. Being a GLP-1 user myself I was waiting impatiently for her book. At the beginning I was a bit surprised, maybe disappointed, but I shouldn’t have been. This book is authentic and if you know a bit about her then it is clear that this book is exactly what she is preaching each and every day. Yes, we all want the one secret way, the golden path to solve all our weight problems. But it doesn’t exist and this book emphasises just that. And therefore it is simply brilliant. It is for people thinking about starting and for those already on a GLP-1 journey as well. It is a down to earth approach to all the things important. It is eye opening for beginners und an important reminder for those already using GLP-1s that the medications are not a miracle. That there is no secret to it and all the work must still be done. The more pages and chapters I read, the more I appreciated that Summer Kessel doesn’t want sell a certain way of doing things, doesn’t want to sell her services or any supplements. She gives simple and clear facts of all the things important. Knowing that she is a dietitian one would expect all kinds of information on food, meal plans, measuring and tracking, of do’s and lots of don’ts. But that’s not her approach. (Although there is a sample meal plan, planing tools and templates for personal use) This book is way more comprehensive and like a post she published on Instagram a while ago about the goals she has with her patients, weight loss, while important for most of us, is way down the list of things to work on. This book covers it all: who qualifies for the medications, how to get a prescription and the pitfalls of insurance coverage and costs involved (for those in the US), the importance of exercise as well as basic dietary habits her view on different diet methods, the importance of mindset, some meal ideas and most important consistency. She makes it absolutely clear that each and every one needs to find a way to be consistent in a healthy way that fits the individual. For those considering taking this path, it is a great source the finally start. And for those on the journey it is an important reminder of the basics and to let go of the past. For me personally, it showed me how easy I fell back in all the things I learned from the dozens of diets I tried (no carbs etc), all the do nots, forbidden foods and the blame. Reading it has definitely put me back on track to be kinder to myself and eat more balanced. I kind of fell of that bandwagon. And yes, Summer, I promise to eat a piece of birthday cake. But first I gonna get myself a cup of coffee and will do half an hour of lifting.
So all things said, get the book!

[Julie Shuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall really liked this and found it informative. That said, a few small things bothered me. Constant “audiobook” references (instead of just “book”) were distracting, and some of the lists were extremely tedious to be read out loud (e.g. the section on grocery shopping). A supplemental pdf was referenced, so maybe any text lists could have just gone in there.

Not overly diet culture-y (which I appreciate), but I do always find nutritionist list plans (which the author emphasized to adapt as needed for personal preference and culture) a bit bleak. Clearly I have some emotional attachments to foods.

[Pamela Ruhland · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you, a patient or client of yours, or someone you love, is on a GLP 1, this is a terrific read. It covers the author's own story, the facts on GLP 1 medications, and how to incorporate solid nutrition choices and workouts while on the medication.

Written by a registered dietitian, the book is easy to read and digest (see what I did there?), and has great information that can be referred to over and over.

[Shelly La Court-Braun · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent and simple scientific explanation of how GLP1 work and how to use this tool to relearn how to nourish your body , practice self care and change your relationship with food and exercise . Summer Kessell walks the talk forsure !