As the founder of the GLP-1 Collective, I’ve always used “we” because the collective is about GLP-1 patients and allies supporting each other.
A friend I deeply respect suggested I step out of that habit and be more upfront about the fact that the LLC is just… me. So hi, I’m Amanda Bonello, GLP-1 patient and advocate for affordable access. I’ve dedicated my life to this community, and I’m not stopping until affordable access is a reality for everyone who needs it.
I’m grateful for the chance to share more openly with you. 🩷
Now let’s dive into these updates!
GLP-1 Access Meetup: Atlanta, GA (ObesityWeek)
I know many of you have been waiting for details. This is still very much a work in progress, so thank you for bearing with me as it comes together. Here’s the plan as it stands now.
November 3rd – General Meetup
We’re getting together the night before ObesityWeek kicks off:
November 3rd is our GENERAL MEETUP DAY to hang out and pre-celebrate!
I’ll be handing out matching T-shirts for anyone who didn’t get to order in advance.
November 4th – Live Panel on the Steps
This is our chance to make the biggest impact:
On the morning of November 4th we’ll host a LIVE PANEL on the steps.
We will show up as a community, in our matching T-shirts, while energy is high, and media is fresh.
You don’t need a ticket to ObesityWeek to join us for either of these gatherings. The 3rd is a day for us and the 4th is about showing up and being seen together.
If you are joining us for the ObesityWeek conference, there is a button below with their schedule. We will plan on meeting before and after and in between each event. We’ll host live panels in halls and secure interviews with experts.
I don’t want anyone feeling left out so I will live stream e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g i can aside from sleep and toilet time. I don’t think you want to be that much a part of it. 😂
I’m working on organizing with other key advocates who are attending. More to come on this.
Who will be there so far:
Amanda Bonello | GLP-1 Collective Podcast
Kim Carlos & Kat Carter | The Plus Sized Podcast
Sabina Hemme | GLP Winner
Laraine & Christopher Durham | Downsized
Caroline Colavita & Delilah Cruz | BioCare
Michael Donnelly-Boylen | Co-Host of Law 401Podcast
Teddy McCullough | The Native Ledger
RSPV below to get your name on the list and help me stay informed. 🩷
“Strength in numbers” and “stronger together” aren’t just sayings. There is no community stronger than those of us who have lived with the disease of obesity. Now that we’ve found each other, there is nothing we can’t do together.
I’m sure you’ve felt it, that instant connection when someone shares openly and honestly in a way that mirrors your own experiences. Once we connect, it goes deeper than the average internet interaction. And when we meet in person, that bond becomes unstoppable.
GLP-1 Collective Podcast: S2, Ep3
This is not a sponsored segment, episode, or freebie.
This week’s episode features Justin Silver, the founder of SymptoGuard, a supplement created specifically to help GLP-1 patients manage side effects.
The two most common reasons people discontinue GLP-1s are side effects (especially gastrointestinal ones) and cost or access barriers. A January 2025, study in JAMA Network Open breaks down the numbers: nearly everyone experiences side effects at some point, and while most are tolerable, they’re not always pretty.
This is why I felt it was important to bring Justin on, to break down how his supplement works and why it may offer support for the patients in this space who need it, and the best part is that SymptoGuard is offering a chance to try it for free.
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Use the button below to get a FREE bottle of SymptoGuard!
Serena Williams: Coming Out of the GLP-1 Pantry
This is a huge moment. Serena Williams sharing that she’s on a GLP-1 sends a powerful message.
She has spent her life proving discipline, training harder than most, yet still struggled maintain weight and lose weight.
If anyone can end the myth that GLP-1s are a “shortcut,” it’s Serena.
She admitted she avoided these medications for a long time because she kept hearing they were the easy way out. But after trying everything else, she realized she needed the extra support.
Her decision to speak out shows the world that even the most disciplined athletes sometimes need medical treatment, and there is no shame in that.
I’m hopeful more celebrities will have the courage to speak out for the rest of us. Every time someone steps forward, stigma loses ground and patients gain strength.
I for one could not be more grateful. If Serena’s a warrior on the court, she’s a warrior in this fight too. 💪 And honestly, who’s brave enough to argue with her? 😆
BioCare: GLP-1 Meetup (Philadelphia, PA)
I’ve said it from the start: the most powerful thing we can do is come together.
Community has always been at the center of this movement for me, and it’s something I’ll never stop lifting up. That’s why I want to spotlight the BioCare Community Meetup in Philadelphia on September 13th.
BioCare is calling it “a day of wellness, connection, and celebration,” with live panels, a workout class, music, food, and most importantly: community. If you’re near Philly, or willing to make the trip, this one is worth it.
I am proud to say that I do get a kickback from sharing this one. 🙌 It’s my first so fingers crossed there are more to come, but if you get tickets I’d greatly appreciate if you buy them using the link below.
I am super bummed to share that it’s 15 hours from where I live in Iowa, 🫠 otherwise I’d be there in a heartbeat, dancing and jamming right along with you!
Special Thanks
I need to give a shout out to a few special people who have supported me in ways that I will never be able to fully repay. I am eternally grateful for every one of them for giving me the strength to push through when things looked bleak and for lifting me up every step of the way.
I’m way too sensitive to be sharing these feels. 🥹Thank you all so much for the
Kim Carlos, Kat Carter, & Bear the Extraordinaire, have felt like a second family. Kim was the first to donate when the nonprofit launched. At the very start of my journey, I reached out to advocates and Kim was the only one who reached back out. Not only that, she came on the podcast when it was just three episodes in. From that moment, she has encouraged me and helped me grow. I would not have the reach I do now without her generosity. Her selflessness is astonishing. Kim, Kat, and Bear welcomed me into their world, collaborating through lives, inviting me onto their award-winning podcast, and helping organize events like the upcoming ObesityWeek Meetup. I will never forget their kindness.
Sabina Hemme is someone I deeply respect. She became a friend early in this work, she’s a tireless advocate for access, and a steady supporter. She subscribed to this Substack as a founding supporter, donated when the nonprofit was starting out, and even donated again after I refunded the original contributions. 🙃 She’s very clearly the definition of a ride-or-die friend, the kind who stays by your side no matter the stakes and we are all lucky to have her in this fight.
Kristi Turner was the first person to purchase apparel for advocates T-shirts. She has been a friend, a guest on the podcast, and a collaborator in the GLP-1 space. I wouldn’t trade her humor and compassion for the world.
Dr. Lindsay Ogle M.D. was an unexpected blessing. She has been one of the strongest allies for access and a much needed resource for patients. But more then that, she’s been an amazing friend. It’s rare to find someone with her level of empathy, and I feel truly blessed to be one of the few who has experienced it.
Anna.Liesa is a beautiful soul. She was the first to buy a GLP-1 Access T-shirt, and she went further by creating a video encouraging others to do the same. I never wanted to put that ask on anyone, because I did not want to burden those I care about, and those I’m here to support. Anna chose to do it on her own, and I could not be more thankful.
Deb Cooperman came onto the scene with a video tagging people who inspired her to come out of the GLP-1 pantry. I am incredibly honored to have been among them. She did not just tiptoe out of the closet she swung the door wide open and immediately began advocating, like a proud to be out pro. She has made it her mission to lift people up and I am so grateful to be one of them.
Ok the more people I think of the more I realize this list could literally go on forever so I’m stopping here.
Thank you all so much for the impact you’ve made on MY life. 🩷
And thank you to everyone who stuck with me to the end. If you made it this far, you officially deserve a medal. 🏅😆