Chris Powell

Hey, what’s up, guys? It’s me, Chris Powell, and I am back with the one and only Brittany Meeker. She is the know-all when it comes to peptides and one of Thrivelab’s top medical practitioners. Brittany, as always, it is so awesome to have you here with me to share all things peptides with us.

Brittany Meeker

Part three, right? This is super incredible. It’s exciting.

Chris Powell

It is. We covered a lot in the first two episodes. What are peptides? Who are they for? We answered a lot of those 50,000-foot questions.

So what do you say we dive in for those who are really curious about peptides and want to see what the experience is going to be like connecting with you or one of the other medical practitioners at Thrivelab?

For anyone out there learning about peptides, you’ve probably heard of a few that you’re curious about trying yourself. You might be thinking, “I want to click the link, make a phone call, take an assessment and connect with a medical practitioner.”

How exactly do they go about that?

Brittany Meeker

If there’s something that intrigues you, maybe a peptide name we’ve covered in this series, the first thing I want to know is: what is your goal?

Where is the friction point when it comes to your outcomes, and what does your daily life look like? That gives me the foundation to understand what might best serve you.

There are so many different kinds and types of peptides. If you’ve listened to this whole series and you’re wondering, “Where do I start? Where do we go from here?” book a consult.

When you meet with your provider, the goal is to lay out a roadmap and help you get to the best possible outcomes, with the peptide being one potential tool for you.

Chris Powell

And really quick, how do they book a consult?

Brittany Meeker

Thrivelab.health.

Chris Powell

Easy peasy. Just like that. Go to Thrivelab.health and there’ll be a button there to walk you through the process.

Brittany Meeker

That’s absolutely right.

And I don’t want you to feel that when you book an appointment, you’re automatically going to be put on a protocol right off the bat.

This is a calm, collaborative conversation with a provider who genuinely wants to get to know you and pinpoint your goals and desired outcomes.

The priority is: what can we do to help serve you?

At the end of the day, this is a partnership. It’s not a one-time transaction where you get your peptide and you’re done.

The goal is to follow you throughout the protocol and ensure that the peptide you’re on, whether it’s one peptide or a stack, is helping get you where you need to be.

Chris Powell

I love that approach because it feels like the right way to go about it.

And again, this is coming from someone with no medical experience. I’m not a practitioner myself. I’m not licensed and I don’t have a lot of letters behind my name.

But it has always felt like the sound approach that your medical practitioner should be a partner in this process.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “I went to my doctor and they said, no, I can’t do this. No, I can’t do that. Yes, I have to do this.”

It’s like, wait a second. Who’s the boss here?

Granted, you lean on your doctor or medical practitioner because they have extensive education and knowledge. But at the same time, we are the boss of our own body.

It’s important to do your own research, determine what you believe is best for you, and then have those conversations with your provider.

Your provider should be your partner in that process.

Brittany Meeker

Right. It’s super important.

We all have our specialties. If you see a provider and it feels like the answer is always “no,” it doesn’t necessarily mean that is the end of the conversation.

Safety is key. Absolutely.

But in a world where traditional medicine can sometimes wait until something is broken, I think there can be a massive gap between having a diagnosed disease process and simply wanting to feel capable, healthy and well.

If you feel like you’re in that gap, it may be something worth looking into with a provider who specializes in it.

Sometimes people can almost feel embarrassed if they don’t know everything from top to bottom. But you don’t have to.

Sometimes the answer genuinely is, “No, absolutely not. This isn’t appropriate for you.”

But working with a specialist who does this every day can give you a different lens and perspective on what may actually help you.

Chris Powell

And I want to clarify that sometimes if your doctor or medical provider says no, they are looking out for your best interests and your safety.

If you’re asking for something that isn’t right for you, their job is to say, “Based on my experience, education and knowledge, that is not in your best interest.”

That’s why these conversations are so important. That’s why an assessment matters.

You’re there to help people improve their quality of life and progress forward in their health.

Having that one-on-one consultation allows you to answer so many questions and educate someone on what could be right for them and what might not be right for them.

What would you say the typical person coming to you looks like? Is it middle-aged women? Middle-aged men? Younger people? Older people? Who is your typical patient?

Brittany Meeker

It’s a wide spectrum of different ages, goals and desired outcomes.

One of the most common scenarios I see is someone saying, “My hormones are optimized. I’m in the gym. I have good sleep hygiene. I’m dialing in my nutrition, but…”

There’s still a “but.”

For those patients, peptides have often sparked their interest because they want to explore whether they can optimize even further and see what these precise signals can unlock within the system.

They’re looking for more support because they’re already doing a lot of the right things. Their foundation is incredibly solid.

Maybe they’re looking for quicker recovery, better sleep or improvements in other areas.

At that point, we’re building on a solid foundation and adding more potential tools to the system.

But really, it’s all ages and genders. Peptides are a big buzzword right now, and there’s a lot of interest in what they may be able to do.

Chris Powell

What would you say is one of the most common goals people are looking for?

I know there are a lot of different things peptides can be used for, but what’s the top one? What is everybody coming to you curious about?

Brittany Meeker

Really, it’s weight loss.

Patients want to lose weight and feel like themselves again.

With the environment we live in, cortisol, food, physical activity and everything else that affects us, we’re seeing peptides like tirzepatide and semaglutide supporting appropriate patients.

I recently had a patient who had been on tirzepatide and wanted to address visceral fat around the midsection. We talked about whether a growth hormone-related peptide could potentially support that goal and what an appropriate cycle might look like.

Initially, a lot of what I’m seeing is patients focused on physical outcomes.

The beautiful thing about peptides is that as someone progresses, there may be opportunities to introduce other tools and create a synergistic approach around their goals.

Weight loss is definitely the most common.

Second to that, I see people interested in fat loss, building muscle and improving body composition.

Chris Powell

I’m not surprised because millions upon millions of Americans are trying to solve that problem. They’re putting in a real effort to lose weight.

Now, with these additional tools, there’s more hope because of how they may be able to support that weight-loss journey.

Then you have people like me who are always looking at recovery. After decades of physical activity, we’re all banged up, dealing with inflammation and trying to bring it down.

That opens up a whole other category.

But equally important is understanding who might not be a candidate for peptides.

I always say: educate yourself, then have a conversation with a provider who can help determine whether it’s right for you.

Peptides aren’t right for everybody.

What might make someone not a candidate?

Brittany Meeker

I am all about helping everyone feel incredibly well.

The first thing I want to look at is your medical history. Do you have any contraindications?

From there, what goals are we trying to target? Tell me what your goals are, and then I can work on the biochemistry and science in the background and lay out a roadmap for how we might get there.

Lifestyle matters too.

If you’re pounding energy drinks, you’re not sleeping, your stress is incredibly high, and you say, “I just want a peptide because I heard it can change everything,” we may need to build a stronger foundation first.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you can never use a peptide. But I can’t say that taking a peptide on top of that lifestyle is automatically going to be a game changer.

My goal is to set you up for success, and our other providers have the same mindset.

We need a foundation that allows you to see the fullest potential impact of the therapy.

Then we look at medical history and potential contraindications, such as active cancers or other situations where a particular treatment might not be ideal at that moment.

The beautiful thing is that when a patient comes to me, they want help and support.

If something isn’t a yes right now, my goal is to help them improve their overall health and see what may become appropriate in the future.

The groundwork and foundation are definitely things we need to address.

Chris Powell

A thousand percent.

You said all the magic words: medical history, contraindications and everything else.

But you also started leaning into my realm, which is establishing the fundamentals.

Nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management. Those are the big boulders that really move the needle when it comes to weight loss, wellness, muscle growth and so many of the outcomes people are seeking.

You need that foundation, and then peptides may be used to support it.

What would you recommend someone do before they even schedule an assessment?

I always say educate yourself and do your own research before having the conversation.

From a medical provider’s perspective, what does your dream patient look like?

Do you like someone coming in with zero knowledge so you can teach them from the beginning? Or do you prefer someone who already has a basic understanding of peptides?

Brittany Meeker

I’m team both.

If you have no idea, I’m here to guide, educate and support you.

If you’ve already read about it and learned about it, that’s great too. Knowledge is at our fingertips now.

Just make sure what you’re reading is credible and reputable because there is a lot of inaccurate information out there.

I love patients on both sides.

It takes effort to get on your device, book an appointment, take time out of your day and meet with a provider. You’re already putting in work simply by doing that.

If you don’t know anything when you come into the appointment, part of the appointment is learning about it after we understand your goals.

For someone who has already educated themselves and says, “I heard about this and did my research,” I admire that too. It shows me how serious they are.

Then once I hear from the patient and gather their medical history, we can talk about what different peptides do and whether those potential outcomes actually line up with their goals.

Both types of patients are incredible, and I support both.

Chris Powell

From a coach’s perspective, I’m with you.

I love when people come to me with a clean slate because I can teach them what I know and share the latest scientific literature.

Then I also love people coming in with extensive knowledge because we can really banter and dive into the details.

It’s fun having people on all sides of the spectrum.

I want to go back to making sure those foundations are in place: nutrition, movement, sleep and stress management.

Here’s something I’ve learned in two and a half decades of taking people through transformation: nobody has mastered those things.

I don’t want someone listening to think, “My nutrition isn’t perfect. My movement isn’t perfect. My sleep isn’t perfect. Maybe I’m not a candidate.”

No one is ever going to master all of it.

If you’re doing the best you can but something is a little off, is it still okay to come in, have the conversation and talk about whether peptides could support some of those gaps?

Brittany Meeker

A thousand percent.

The goal isn’t to hand you a peptide and have it be a one-time transaction. This is a partnership.

There is no perfect scenario. Everyone is different. Our lifestyles are all different.

These are recommendations for getting the most out of a treatment and creating strong groundwork.

A lot of us are almost there, but not quite. I’ll raise my hand too. We can’t do everything perfectly.

The fact that you’re trying and you’re looking for more support puts you in the same position as so many other people.

Chris Powell

We’re all in this together.

Let’s talk about patients who come in with some background knowledge.

Sometimes that knowledge ranges from, “I heard about this on social media,” to, “My buddy is taking XYZ and I know exactly what I want.”

How often do you see that?

Brittany Meeker

Maybe one out of four.

And I love a buddy story. You’ve talked to someone about their experience and heard their testimony.

That can be really interesting because you’re not starting from, “This sounds so magical. There’s no way.”

But then I want to hear from the patient.

What’s your medical history? What’s your lifestyle like? What are you trying to improve?

There are so many influencers sharing their stories on social media, which can help introduce people to these therapies.

But someone else may have a completely different medical history and goal.

You are not an algorithm.

I don’t want someone simply starting something because of a reel they saw.

I want to dig deeper and make sure that it specifically makes sense for you.

The fact that people are hearing about peptides, getting curious and learning the names is great. Let’s go with that curiosity.

But then let’s dive in and determine what is actually best for you.

Chris Powell

How often do you have someone come in saying, “I want this,” and then leave going in a completely different direction?

They came in thinking they wanted one thing, but after talking to you they think, “Actually, I’m going to do this instead.”

Brittany Meeker

It happens, but not as often as you might think.

Usually that patient has already done research and has their mindset on something that sounds incredible to them.

With your community especially, you’re a trusted voice for your audience.

I’ll have people say, “I heard about this. I’m lifting. I’m doing all of these things. This sounds incredible.”

After I speak to them, look through their medical history and understand their desired outcomes, sometimes the answer genuinely is, “Yes, that actually lines up really well with your goals.”

Everybody is different.

There are definitely times when someone changes direction, but more often they have already done some of the legwork and the treatment they’re asking about makes sense for what they want to accomplish.

Chris Powell

One thing I’ve found is that people tend to know the really common peptides.

Again, I don’t prescribe or diagnose anything. I’m constantly learning because this peptide space is both old and new.

A lot of peptides have been around for a long time, while others are just starting to attract more attention.

People often know the five most popular names, but they may not realize there is a much larger menu of options.

Again, do your research. Some are FDA-approved and others are not. Some have promising research behind them, but it could still be a long time before we see FDA approval or long-term randomized controlled human trials.

In what situation might someone come in saying, “I think I want this,” and you say, “That’s interesting, but here are some other options you should consider”?

Brittany Meeker

It comes back to hearing what they actually want to improve.

Here’s a really basic example.

Someone might say, “I want to avoid knee surgery. I heard peptides can help, and I’ve also heard great things about NAD+. I really want NAD+.”

NAD+ may be discussed around cellular energy and mitochondrial support, but I’m hearing that the reason this person came to me is because they’re concerned about their knee.

So perhaps a recovery-focused approach makes more sense to discuss.

That’s a basic example, but listening to what gives a patient the desire to explore peptides can really change what the prescription might look like.

There are so many interesting options that someone may say, “This sounds promising, so I want to do it.”

Then you realize they’re actually there because of a completely different set of symptoms.

Sometimes patients also bring lab work.

Labs aren’t necessarily required just to have an initial conversation about peptides, but if we’re evaluating things like metabolic syndrome, they can be very helpful.

Maybe I look at those labs and see iron deficiency, very low vitamin D or a suboptimal thyroid.

Those things may need attention too.

That’s part of the art of building the foundation around the patient’s goals, outcomes and potentially their labs.

Chris Powell

That makes total sense.

Let’s revisit timelines because we covered that in the first couple of episodes.

Someone comes in thinking they’re going in one direction, they end up on a slightly different plan, and they start a peptide.

I know all peptides are different and all humans are different, but generally, how long does it take before people start reporting that they feel or see results?

How long should someone give it before deciding whether it is working for them?

Brittany Meeker

You love the tough questions.

It really does depend on the peptide and the outcome we’re focusing on.

My general comment is this: if you drink coffee, take a pre-workout or have an energy drink, you can feel that immediate buzz.

Peptides generally aren’t like that.

Depending on the peptide, the changes can be subtle.

After a couple of days, maybe you start thinking, “I’m recovering a little better,” or, “I’m not as sore.”

It builds gradually.

There are also details around how a peptide is being used. If it’s related to growth hormone, for example, are you taking it at bedtime? Are you taking it fasted? There are different factors that can affect how a protocol works for someone.

I generally tell patients to give it four to six weeks and then we reconnect and follow up.

It isn’t necessarily an overnight change.

If you have a rock-solid foundation like Chris and then start a peptide, you might notice something more quickly.

The stronger the foundation, the better positioned you are.

But everybody’s chemistry, cortisol, hormones and health are different.

Trust the process. It can be gradual and subtle.

Some therapies can take a couple of months before you see their fuller impact and outcomes.

Chris Powell

From my own personal experience, I agree.

Some peptides, observationally, I started to feel a difference within about four to six weeks.

With others, you’re not quite sure at first.

And everyone listening should take this with a grain of salt because I’m talking about my own observation. This isn’t a meta-analysis, systematic review or study of 2,000 people.

It’s my own experience.

With some growth hormone-releasing peptides, and with BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV for recovery, I had something I could gauge the experience against because I was dealing with an injury.

The speed at which I recovered was remarkably fast for me at 48 years old. It was the fastest I’ve personally recovered.

I continued using them even after I felt 100 percent.

What was interesting is that when I took time off, that was when I really noticed the difference.

I had been using them consistently since November. Then I traveled to El Salvador, came back under the weather and ended up taking about two weeks off.

My joints were hurting a little more, and I really started to notice the difference, particularly around inflammation.

It was eye-opening.

It wasn’t that I necessarily “felt” the peptides when I was using them because the changes were subtle.

It was when I stopped that I thought, “Oh.”

I’d get out of bed feeling like the Tin Man.

Then I’d go back to BPC-157, get back into my workouts, and my knees seemed to recover much more quickly again.

For me personally, it made me think there really is something to this.

Brittany Meeker

That’s a great testimony.

I actually spoke to a patient recently who had a similar experience.

She was traveling and had her medication shipped to another address. When she came back home and didn’t have it available, she realized how much difference she felt it had been making.

I hear something similar from hormone patients too.

Sometimes you’re using something and thinking, “Okay, this is good.”

Then you stop because you’re sick, traveling or something else happens, and you think, “Wow, this was actually doing more than I realized.”

If anything, that can validate why someone is using a therapy and why effectiveness is such an important priority.

Chris Powell

It’s a powerful tool.

Again, these are exciting times.

Let’s walk through the process for someone who has done their research and is now really interested in having that conversation.

What website should they go to if they’re thinking, “I want to know if peptides are right for me. I need to learn more, or I already know what I’m interested in and I want to talk to someone who can help me access peptides safely”?

Brittany Meeker

The website will be linked below, but it’s Thrivelab.health.

Chris Powell

Thrivelab.health. Great.

Thrivelab offers a lot of different services, but Thrivelab.health is specifically focused on peptides.

Brittany Meeker

Correct.

Thrivelab encompasses many layers of health outcomes, including hormones, primary care, referrals and sick visits.

For specific peptide information, go to Thrivelab.health.

I’m biased, but it’s a beautiful site. It lays out the foundations of these peptides, different categories and the catalog. You can totally nerd out there if you want.

And when you’re ready to set up an appointment, go to Thrivelab.health.

Chris Powell

So someone goes to Thrivelab.health and schedules an appointment.

What happens next?

Brittany Meeker

They meet with a provider.

The biggest goal of that appointment is creating a personal connection and understanding where the next steps should go.

We learn about your health, your goals, your medical history, family history, medications and supplements.

Do you have recent labs? Great.

Do you not have labs? That’s okay too.

We’re building the foundation of a partnership and making sure the goals and expectations are aligned.

One of the best feelings for a provider is hearing from a patient weeks down the road and hearing, “Oh my gosh, I feel so much better,” or hearing that they’ve reached a goal that was really important to them.

Maybe they can fit into the dress for their daughter’s wedding.

That is an amazing feeling for a coach or provider because you think, “We did this. We tackled this first goal.”

And then we keep moving forward.

Booking an appointment does not mean you’re automatically joining a protocol and leaving with a bunch of peptides and syringes.

You’re having an honest conversation with a provider.

It’s simple. It isn’t scary.

We want to learn about you and determine what the best outcome could look like for you.

Chris Powell

And during that conversation you’re establishing a foundation with the provider.

You mentioned earlier that Thrivelab isn’t just peptides. It also includes hormone health and even sick visits.

It almost sounds like your provider becomes your health partner and can offer other services or help determine what else might be appropriate for you.

So the relationship doesn’t necessarily stop with peptides.

Brittany Meeker

It doesn’t.

I think that’s one of the beautiful things about it.

There are patients bouncing between so many different providers. They’re thinking, “Can I just have this all in one place?”

I’m always supportive of people seeing the providers they need to see.

But if you want to simplify things and have more of your care consolidated in one location, we can help with that too.

Today we’re focusing on peptides, and I don’t want someone thinking, “Brittany can only see me for peptides.”

That’s not the case.

I’m here to guide you around that treatment, but there may be other areas where I can support you too.

Time is everything.

If you can consolidate more of your care with one provider and one appointment, think about the time you can get back from waiting rooms, pharmacy lines and everything else.

Our mission is for patients to feel heard, supported and able to work toward their goals.

That is something our providers care deeply about.

Peptides can be a great starting point, but they can also exist within a much broader health journey.

Chris Powell

That connection between providers and patients is actually one of the things that drew me to Thrivelab in the first place.

There’s a reason Thrivelab has such strong Trustpilot reviews.

Of course I did my research before jumping on board.

It was beautiful reading the testimonials, and two words came up again and again: seen and heard.

That echoes what you said at the beginning.

“We are your teammate in this.”

The provider is there to guide you, but to guide you safely.

I think that’s critical.

It’s also what separates this from companies that are simply selling peptides.

“Here’s a peptide. Take a quick quiz online. Order it. Goodbye.”

That’s not what Thrivelab stands for.

The goal is to build a connection between the patient and provider so the patient can feel, “I’m finally working with someone who cares about my long-term health.”

Brittany Meeker

Isn’t that the priority?

As a coach or provider, the priority is the patient.

It’s interesting when patients tell me about experiences where they didn’t really talk to anybody or didn’t know what was going on.

I had a referral patient tell me that another doctor had given her a peptide, ordered labs and then never really connected with her again.

She never took it. She threw it in the trash.

She said, “If they can’t follow through on that, how can I trust them with what they’re prescribing me?”

That was so impactful.

I never want patients feeling like they’re in the dark.

When your foundation is mission-driven, your outcomes are going to align with that mission.

That’s the priority of booking a consult.

It isn’t scary.

It’s a conversation with a licensed provider who wants to treat you safely, work effectively toward your outcomes and understand whether there are other areas you want to address too.

Chris Powell

It’s really cool seeing people’s lives change and seeing testimonials from people talking about how different they feel six months or a year into a new health journey.

And sometimes it all started with one conversation with a provider.

You were talking about time, and nowadays that may be one of our most precious commodities.

So someone does their research, talks with the provider, goes through the assessment, and you determine what treatment or protocol is appropriate for that individual.

Everybody says, “High five, let’s go.”

How long does it usually take for them to actually receive their medication?

Brittany Meeker

It depends on the type of peptide and how it needs to be shipped.

Once I sign off on the prescription, it goes to a 503A compounding pharmacy that is credentialed and licensed to compound the medication.

They compound it specifically for the patient.

You receive the necessary supplies and detailed directions with the packaging, and then it’s delivered directly to your door.

Tracking information can be sent to your phone.

Depending on the shipment, there may also be ways to confirm things such as temperature during delivery.

The priority is making this as easy as possible for people with busy lives.

Prescription turnaround can sometimes be around 24 hours to a few days.

You’re kept updated through the tracking information and your assigned care advocate, who is there to help with changes and delivery questions.

Chris Powell

That’s pretty fast.

From the end of the consultation to medication arriving at your doorstep, potentially just a few business days.

That’s amazing.

Any final words for someone who is curious about peptides and curious about having the conversation, but might still feel a little scared or intimidated?

Someone who is just dipping their toes into the water?

Brittany Meeker

I would say listen to the complete series.

We are still only scratching the surface.

Then do a little self-evaluation.

What do you feel is missing?

What are you trying to accomplish?

What has or hasn’t worked for you?

What are you already doing to help move toward those goals?

When you meet with me or another member of our team, we can organically dig deeper into what you want to address, what your timeline looks like and what may be safe and effective for you.

I don’t want anyone thinking that booking a consult means you’re automatically committing to a protocol or a bag of syringes.

Many peptides are injectable, and I know needles can be intimidating for some people.

Depending on the protocol you’re prescribed, the needles used can be extremely small and thin, similar to insulin syringes.

I’ve had patients be nervous for days and then tell me, “I actually didn’t feel anything. That was much more straightforward than I expected.”

But the important thing to remember is that a consultation itself is not a commitment to injections or any specific treatment.

The consult is knowledge.

It’s a building block for being heard and putting the puzzle pieces together.

Maybe labs are part of that process. Maybe there are other things we need to discuss.

We’re there to support you and dig deeper into what may help you achieve the best outcome.

That’s really what a consult is.

Chris Powell

Beautiful.

I think that buttons it up pretty well for anyone who is curious and thinking, “You know what? Let’s just see what this is like.”

How long does a typical consult last?

Brittany Meeker

About 40 minutes.

It isn’t rushed.

It takes time to have an organic conversation with the provider and really dial into the details.

We want to hear from you. We want to look at the data. We want to understand what you want to address.

So generally, it’s about 40 minutes.

Chris Powell

Yet one more reason why Thrivelab stands out.

The providers take the time to genuinely get to know you because they care and they’re committed to your outcomes.

So Brittany, once again, what’s the website?

Brittany Meeker

Thrivelab.health.

Chris Powell

Thrivelab.health. Fantastic.

Brittany, as always, thank you, my friend. I had to throw you one final curveball and you hit it out of the park.

It’s been great having this conversation with you.

It’s really cool covering all things peptides and hopefully answering questions for people who might still be on the fence and trying to determine whether peptides could be right for them.

Brittany, thank you, my friend.

Brittany Meeker

Absolutely.

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