Speaker 1: 0:02

If you're a whiny snowflake that can't handle the truth, is offended by the word fuck and about 37 uses of it in different forms gets ass hurt. When you hear someone speak the absolute, real and raw truth, you should leave Like right now. This is Shut Up and Choose, the podcast where we cut through the shit and get real about weight loss, life and everything in between. We get into the nitty gritty of making small, smart choices that add up to big results. From what's on your plate to how you approach life's challenges. We'll explore how the simple act of choosing differently can transform your health, your mindset and your entire freaking life. So if you're ready to cut through the bullshit and start making some real changes, then buckle up and shut up, because we're about to choose our way to a healthier, happier life. This is Shut Up and Choose. Let's do this Now. Your host, jonathan Ressler.

Speaker 2: 1:14

Hey, welcome back to Shut Up and Choose the podcast where we cut to the noise, the nonsense and all the bullshit that died in the streets All those internet gurus and Instagram influencers are throwing your way. But today I really want to talk about the diet industry and really I want to talk about the massive dinosaur in the room which is Weight Watchers. Yeah, that Weight Watcher is the one your mother, your aunt and probably maybe even you paid good money to join so you could sit in a circle and count some points and feel guilty about bread. Well, guess what? The diet industry's poster child just filed for bankruptcy Chapter 11. That's what they did.

Speaker 2: 1:57

It turns out that all those frozen meals and weekly weigh-ins couldn't keep up with. The little thing called Ozempic Weight Watchers right now is trying to wipe out over a billion dollars in debt, and that's not like I didn't misspeak. 1.15 billion gone why? Well, basically because people are ditching decades of eat this and not that brainwashing for a once a week injection that actually works, kind of. We'll get into that. You don't need willpower when your appetite disappears faster than Weight Watchers' stock price. Don't get me wrong. I'm not here to sell you on Ozantica. I'm not your doctor and, I'm damn sure, not your drug dealer. But I am here to talk to you about why it matters, because this isn't just a company tanking. It's a massive shift in how people are thinking about weight loss.

Speaker 2: 2:50

The diet industry is shaking in its crazy, overpriced keto-friendly boots. And here's the kicker If you think that this drug is going to fix what decades of bad habits broke, you're missing the point. It's still about choices. Whether you're counting points or skipping dinner because you're not hungry, you're still the one in charge, and if you hand over all your power to a needle or a brand or a trend, you're just outsourcing responsibility, and that's really not how this works. It just doesn't work that way. So, yeah, weight Watchers might be down for the count, but the real question is are you still playing the same losing game? So stick around, because I'm going to unpack this whole mess for you and I'm going to give you something better than a plan. I'm going to give you some perspective, all right, so here's the deal Weight Watchers officially filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 6th of this year, 2025.

Speaker 2: 3:47

That OG diet brand that's been making people feel guilty about toast since the 60s is now crawling into court begging to erase $1.15 billion of its $1.6 billion debt. That's not just bad business, man, that's a fucking disaster. It wasn't just some quiet slip into irrelevance, it was a full-blown headlines everywhere how the mighty have fallen moment. And, honestly, it was coming and it was coming fast. Weight Watchers didn't just trip. They face-planted into 2025, trying to play catch-up in a world that moved on from counting points. And now people are into popping prescriptions. Hang on, let me back up for a second.

Speaker 2: 4:33

In a last-ditch attempt to stay relevant, weight Watchers actually bought a telehealth company in 2023. That was a smart move, right? They saw the writing on the wall. People weren't interested in journaling meals or squeezing into meetings with these folding chairs that kill your ass. They wanted a Zempik, wagovi, manjaro, glp-1s real drugs, real fast, real results. So Weight Watchers said, hey, okay, fine, we do drugs now, and tried to pivot. But the problem is they pivoted way too slow and way too clumsy. So, despite launching their virtual service to prescribe the GLP-1s, they still posted a massive loss of $345 million last year their subscription base. They were bleeding out. Why pay $20 to track your sadness in an app when you take a weekly injection that literally makes you forget to eat right.

Speaker 2: 5:27

And here's the cold hard truth. Weight Watchers built an empire on the idea that people needed constant monitoring, shame and community peer pressure to lose weight. That only works if people believe they can't do it on their own. But GLP-1s, they're cutting the cord, they're saying hey, maybe your problem is a lack of willpower, maybe it's biology. Take this and let's see what happens. And that's a death sentence for a company whose whole identity is based on willpower as a service.

Speaker 2: 5:55

So now Weight Watchers is in survival mode, telling creditors don't worry, this is a strategic move. Yeah, yeah, sure you can slap a spit on it. But this is what happens when a brand ignores real innovation for too long. The real kicker they're hoping to be back on their feet in 45 days. 45 days after decades of teaching people to lose one pound a week. Talk about irony.

Speaker 2: 6:19

Look, this isn't just about a brand going broke. It's a symbolic collapse of a whole diet culture mindset that's finally cracking. The business of guilt is losing ground to the business of chemistry, and that says a lot about where we're headed. But hang on, before you start celebrating and signing up for your miracle shop, pump the brakes, because what's replacing Weight Watchers might be shiny, but it's not necessarily smarter, and that's what I'm going to tell you a little bit more about in a second. So while Weight Watchers was busy spiraling, it was Zemp and its cousins Wagovi, jaro Zepan were out here absolutely dominating the weight loss world, like they just dropped the hottest mixtape of the decade. Right, you've got celebrities, influencers, your co-worker in a county, maybe your grandmother? Everyone is suddenly magically dropping 30 pounds and swearing they're not on anything.

Speaker 2: 7:14

A little spoiler they're on something.

Speaker 2: 7:17

So let's break this down. Ozempic is a GLP-1 receptor drug originally created for people with type 2 diabetes, but side effects include included dramatic appetite suppression. So now it's the darling of Hollywood, the boardroom and definitely your Instagram feed. These drugs work by mimicking a hormone that regulates blood sugar, slows down your digestion and makes you feel full for longer. So the translation is you don't want to eat Like like at all. The fridge is full, the cookies are calling, but you're out here shrugging like food is boring. It's every diet marketer's worst nightmare and every emotional eater's secret fantasy. But here's the kicker it's not just working. It's working fast and people are losing serious weight, sometimes 15% of their body mass, in a matter of like months. And this time they're not doing with kale crunches and shame smiles, they're doing it with science, which sounds awesome, right? Well, yeah, kind of, because while these drugs are legit medical tools that can help with obesity, they're quickly becoming the ultimate shortcut, the escape hatch for decades of bad habits, and the narrative is shifting from let's build a better lifestyle to let's numb the hunger and call it fixed. And that's where this thing kind of gets tricky. So the old diet and results struggle. You need us to help fight yourself. Glp-1s sell relief. You don't have to fight at all. That's why Weight Watchers couldn't keep up. They were selling VHS tapes.

Speaker 2: 8:49

In a world of streaming, the hustle is over, the drug is doing all the work, but here's what nobody wants to say out loud If the only thing stopping you from binging is a pharmaceutical leash, you're a drug addict. Have you actually changed anything? Let's be clear Ozempic can be life-changing and even life-saving for people struggling with obesity or metabolic disorders. I'm not anti-medication, I'm anti-magical thinking. If you use it as a tool, great fine. If you use that as a replacement for responsibility, that's where I have a problem, because when you come off it and most people will at some point what's left? No habits, no coping skills and all the same triggers waiting to punch you in the face. So yeah, ozempic may have killed Weight Watchers, but the real danger, it might also be killing the motivation to change, and that is what's really important out here. And that is what's really important out here the motivation to change and the understanding of why you want to change it. All right.

Speaker 2: 9:56

So look we, we've established it as epic and the glp1 thing rolled in like the avengers of weight loss right. Pounds are dropping, diet companies dying, people are giddy. But now it's time to ask the question no one on social media seems to give a shit about is this actually a good thing? Let's start with the upside, because yeah, there is an upside. These drugs are helping people, really helping people.

Speaker 2: 10:16

If you've been trying everything and still feel stuck, glp-1s can be a legit lifeline. They reduce appetite, they change your brain's hunger signaling and for many, they finally make weight loss feel possible. That's huge. No sarcasm about that part. It's not just a lazy way out, like the internet trolls love to say. It's a medical tool for people with medical problems, and in that context I'm all in. Tools exist for a reason.

Speaker 2: 10:41

But here's where things get a little bit dicey. These drugs are going mainstream faster than anything I've ever seen in my life. Now it's not just people struggling with clinical obesity. It's people who want to lose the last 15 pounds, tone up for their wedding or get that celebrity jawline without giving up DoorDash. Suddenly, everybody wants to skip the work and jump straight to the reward, and that, my friends, is where the house of cards starts to shake.

Speaker 2: 11:08

Let's talk about the side effects. Let's talk about the stuff that pharma commercials say really fast at the end Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, fatigue, gallstones, possible thyroid tumors. These things aren't like just tic-tacs you're popping in your mouth. They're serious meds with serious side effects, especially if you're taking them just to look hot at your high school reunion. The long-term data well, that's still developing. We're just now learning what happens when people take GLP-1s for years instead of just months. Will the weight stay off? Will your body adjust and stop responding? Will your face melt into that infamous ozempic gaunt? Nobody really knows yet, and that uncertainty should make you pause. But if you go a little bit deeper, the real danger isn't physical, it's psychological.

Speaker 2: 11:56

These drugs completely remove the hunger cue. You just don't want food, and for people with binge eating tendencies or emotional eating patterns, that sounds like fucking heaven. But here's the hard truth. You're not really learning anything. You're not building skills, you're not learning how to deal with boredom, stress, you're not practicing moderation or portion control. You're just outsourcing self-regulation to a pharmaceutical babysitter. And when you stop taking it, the hunger comes back, the cravings come back. The same life you were trying to avoid slaps you in the face and now you've got no coping tools, no game plan and probably no make that definitely a smaller bank account. Weight watchers suck because it made people neurotic. Glp1 suck if they make you passive. Same disease, just a different flavor.

Speaker 2: 12:49

And while we're talking about the money and we have to talk about the money because, unless your insurance is fucking magical or you're filthy rich, these drugs are expensive we're talking about like $900 to $1,300 a month out of pocket. Some plans cover it, but most don't, and even when they do, it's usually just for the short term. So if your weight loss journey is entirely dependent on a medication, you can't afford long term. What happens next? You guessed it Rebound weight gain plus a side of shame. Now you're back to where you started, only more frustrated and financially drained. You know what's free Drinking more water, walking 20 minutes a day, sleeping, cooking your fucking meals Not sexy, but sustainable. That's the game most people still don't want to play.

Speaker 2: 13:38

So here's where I'm going to hit you with the truth. The scariest part of all this is that people are starting to believe they don't have to change, that medication is enough, that discipline is obsolete, that choosing doesn't matter anymore because the drug will make the choice for them. And that's a fucking lie. Ozempic isn't evil, but if the mindset that it creates. That can be pretty fucking evil. When you believe your body isn't your responsibility anymore, you hand over control. When you think hunger is a glitch instead of a signal, you ignore what your body is trying to teach you. When you use a drug to silence your cravings without asking why they exist, you miss the point of the journey entirely.

Speaker 2: 14:16

I'm not saying everyone should ditch the meds. I'm saying that they're a tool, not a solution. Like a hammer, a hammer can build a house or smash a window. It's not about the tool, it's about how you use it. And if you're using it to avoid the hard work of habit change, of accountability, of learning how to actually take care of yourself, then no, it's not a good thing. It's just another diet wrapped in a syringe. So, bottom line, you can take the drug, but you still have to do the work. And if you're not willing to show up for yourself without a prescription, you're not changing, you're just delaying the consequences. So, as you know, I am a big believer in choice. You know the story Weight Watchers is belly up.

Speaker 2: 14:58

Ozempic is everywhere. People are dropping weight like it's hot without changing a damn thing about their habits, their relationship with food or their mindset. And now, here you are, standing in the middle of all this chaos asking what the fuck should I do? Well, simple, you should shut up and choose. No, really. Stop outsourcing your health to trends, to fads or pharmaceuticals. Stop handing your power to companies, influencers or injections. Stop acting like you're some helpless bystander in your own life. You have to choose. You still have to choose. You have to choose what goes into your mouth when you're tired, when you're stressed or you're bored. You have to choose whether or not you're going to drink that water, go for a walk or sit on your ass on the couch all day and watch TV. You have to choose you. Not the temporary fix, not the easy way out, not the shiny new toy you.

Speaker 2: 15:46

Ozempic might help you get thinner, but it won't teach you how to eat when no one's watching. It won't teach you how to say no when the cake shows up at the office. It won't teach you how to deal with your emotions without a spoon in your hand. That work is still yours, it always has been, and don't get it twisted. This isn't about judgment. It's about ownership. You can take the drug, you can go to therapy, you can buy the damn protein shake and heroin if it makes you feel special, but if you're not doing the work, none of that sticks.

Speaker 2: 16:16

You don't need the perfect plan. You need a pattern of showing up, of choosing better more often, of being honest when you screw up and being brave enough to try again. Weight Watchers is dead because it's old struggle. Ozempic is thriving because it sells surrender. But success, real, lasting success, it's built on choice, over and over again. So what can you do? How do you move from here? Well, I think it's pretty easy. You don't need a new diet, you need new decisions. If you're tired of quitting by Thursday or starting fresh every Monday, it's time to stop fantasizing about the finish line and start owning the next choice you make. That's what Shut Up and Choose is all about Small wins made consistently stacked over time. So I'm just going to give you seven small, smart choices you can start making today to build real, sustainable momentum.

Speaker 2: 17:13

The first thing is just choose to eat one mindful meal a day. Not a perfect meal, not a meal with macros that look like a spreadsheet, just one meal where you actually slow down, you put your phone away, you pay attention, taste the food, notice when you're actually satisfied, mindful eating is how you rebuild trust with your body. You don't need a meal plan, you need a moment of awareness. Do that once a day, that's it, then keep doing it. Do that once a day, that's it, then keep doing it.

Speaker 2: 17:48

Second tip I'd give you is choose to drink water before anything else. You want a morning routine. Forget journaling under the moonlight or any of the other crazy shit. People tell you Drink water before your coffee, before your phone and before your excuses. Hydration I know it sounds basic, but so does brushing your teeth, and you still do that every morning. Well, hopefully you do. Anyway, most people are walking around dehydrated, mistaking thirst for hunger, and wondering why they feel like shit. Start your day with water. Let that be your anger habit. That's easy, doesn't take a lot of work, doesn't take a lot of effort. Start every day with a glass of water.

Speaker 2: 18:26

Third thing choose to move in a way that doesn't suck. You hate the gym like I do? Cool, fuck it. Don't go, but walk, dance, stretch, I don't know. Carry groceries with intention, you know? Whatever, your body isn't broken, it's just bored. Movement shouldn't feel like punishment for eating. It should feel like proof that you're alive. So choose something that you can do on your worst day, not just your best. I know I can't go to the gym on my best day, so choosing going to the gym is just a disaster for me. Choose something you can actually do, because that's the movement that sticks.

Speaker 2: 19:06

Next thing I tell you is choose one snack to upgrade, not eliminate. Okay, this isn't the clean eating bullshit that everyone talks about. This is choosing better, not perfect. If you're used to grabbing chips at three o'clock, swap it out for something with protein, like Greek yogurt, beef, jerky, hard-boiled egg, whatever. Don't go from chips to celery and pretend that you're going to stick to it. You're not. It ain't going to happen. You're not going to make that massive change. The goal here is not restriction, it's replacement. Make one snack smarter and then stick to it until that becomes a default. It's simple shit.

Speaker 2: 19:47

Next one is choose to sleep like it actually matters. This is something that I had to learn over time. But if you're trying to lose weight on five hours of sleep a night, it ain't going to work. You know. It's just not going to happen. Lack of sleep wrecks your hunger hormones, screws with your willpower and makes you crave shit the second you wake up. You don't need a sleep tracker. You need respect for the fact that Netflix will still be there tomorrow. I'm working on this every day, but go to bed 30 minutes earlier yeah, that is a weight loss habit. Sleep is a weight loss habit. Not only is it a habit, it's a big one.

Speaker 2: 20:25

Next thing I tell you is choose to track your progress. I talk about this all the time. Choose to track the things that matter, not perfection, right? Stop obsessing over the scale and start watching your patterns. Are you drinking more water? Are you moving every day? Are you saying no thanks to that third drink? Notice I didn't say the first drink or the second drink. If you're saying no thanks to that third drink, that's progress. Perfection is a myth. It's bullshit. Progress is a mindset. Don't wait until you're down 20 pounds to feel proud. Celebrate the fact that you didn't quit after one off day, I don't know. Get like one of those cheap wall calendars off Amazon or something and mark every day that you show up for yourself. That's the streak that actually counts is showing up for yourself. The last one is choose self-respect over sabotage, and this one's a big one for me. It's a backbone of my book. It's a backbone of everything that I did.

Speaker 2: 21:23

Every time you make a choice what to eat, when to sleep, how to move you're either voting for your future self or abandoning it. You don't need more discipline, you need more self-respect. Discipline is fucking overrated. Willpower is overrelated. What you need is self-respect. Ask yourself this simple question, and I always talk about mindful eating. This is mindful eating. Is this choice something a person who values themselves would make? If not, then stop and make a different decision. It's that simple. It's not about guilt. It's about integrity. You deserve to live in a body you feel good in. But you don't get there by hating your weight is skinny or outsourcing every hard decision to a drug. You get there by choosing you, by choosing you over and over again.

Speaker 2: 22:17

So weight loss isn't about overhauling your life overnight. It's about compounding consistency. If you do only one thing from that list above, you're already ahead of 90% of the people still waiting for the right time. If you want results, stop waiting. You want to change. Shut up and choose. One meal, one walk, one glass of water. That's where the momentum begins. You don't need to be perfect. You just need to choose better, more often, with self-respect, and not fear. That's how you win and that's how you keep winning over and over again.

Speaker 2: 23:00

Weight loss is not difficult. It's about small, smart choices made consistently over time. That's it. You know what to eat. You know what to do. This is not science. Yes, the drugs are science. This is not science century invention. All you have to do is think before you eat. Eat mindfully. Choose better, make small, smart choices. So that's my thoughts on this whole Weight Watchers Ozempic crazy world that we're living in. It doesn't have to be crazy. You don't have to get caught up in the chaos. This is simple. Weight loss and sustainable weight loss are simple If you make simple choices. Lower the bar, make those small choices that you don't think mean anything. If you're doing that, like I said last week, you're doing it right. That's the way to do it.

Speaker 2: 24:04

If you want to hear more about my journey of losing 140 pounds over the last year and a half or so, buy my book on Amazon. It's called Shut Up and Choose, same as this podcast. It's an Amazon bestseller. We get great reviews. I get emails every week of people who tell me it changed their life. It's something I'm really proud of. If you're more of a visual learner. I have a video course. It's just 23 short video course. Each video is about five to seven minutes. You can watch the whole thing in a couple of hours. That's called the Effortless Weight Loss Academy. You can get that at learnshutupandchoosecom. That's learnshutupandchoosecom. Again. People are using it. They're loving it. It's actually been more successful than I thought it could be. I'm really excited about that. So, with all that being said, you have to decide. What's it going to be you waiting for the next miracle or are you ready to create your own fucking solutions?

Speaker 1: 25:06

Good.

Speaker 2: 25:07

Now you know what to do. Shut up and choose.

Speaker 1: 25:11

You've been listening to Shut Up and Choose. Jonathan's passion is to share his journey of shedding 130 pounds in less than a year without any of the usual gimmicks no diets, no pills. And we'll let you in on a little secret no fucking gym. And guess what? You can do it too. We hope you enjoyed the show. We had a fucking blast. If you did, make sure to like, rate and review. We'll be back soon, but in the meantime, find Jonathan on Instagram at JonathanWrestlerBocaRaton. Until next time, shut up and choose.