The Real Housewives of Orange County star Emily Simpson has revealed she is taking a different approach to GLP-1 medication after losing around 50lb, saying she now uses it less frequently to help maintain her weight.
The 50-year-old reality star also insists she has not completely overhauled her diet. Simpson says she still enjoys burgers and ice cream with her children, while focusing instead on being more mindful about what she eats and keeping up a demanding exercise routine.
Emily Simpson Changes Her GLP-1 Routine
Speaking to Us Weekly, Simpson explained that her first 12 weeks on GLP-1 medication were 'very regimented'. Her approach has since changed as she has shifted her focus from losing weight to maintaining her progress.
'I do still [use a GLP-1], but not as much [as] I did,' she said.
Rather than sticking to a regular weekly schedule, Simpson said she can now go several weeks without using the medication.
'I use it now to just kind of, like, maintain,' she explained. 'So I'll go a few weeks and not use it, and then I'll feel like I'm starting to gain weight, and then I'll use it again.'
Simpson refers to this approach as 'microdosing', although the term is not an established medical dosing strategy. In general, it can refer to taking a smaller dose or spacing doses further apart.
Anyone taking a prescription GLP-1 should speak to their healthcare professional before changing the prescribed dose or schedule.
She Has Lost Around 50lb
Simpson has been open about her weight-loss journey, and she says she is now around 10lb away from her personal goal.
However, she has deliberately chosen not to reveal the exact figure.
The RHOC star said she does not believe publicly focusing on a specific goal weight is particularly healthy, instead preferring to concentrate on moderation and maintaining the progress she has already made.
That appears to be the reason behind her less frequent use of GLP-1 medication. Rather than describing it as the centre of her routine, Simpson sees it as one part of her approach to maintaining her weight.
Burgers and Ice Cream Are Still On the Menu
Despite losing around 50lb, Simpson says she has not banned the foods she enjoys.
The reality star said that she still eats burgers at In-N-Out with her children and enjoys ice cream with them. She also said she rarely drinks alcohol, although she will occasionally have an Aperol Spritz when she goes out for dinner.
'I didn't really eliminate everything,' she said.
Instead, Simpson believes one of her biggest changes has been becoming more conscious of how much she eats.
She admitted she used to pick at food her children left on their plates, sometimes without even considering it a proper meal.
'I was just, you know, mindlessly eating, which I was very guilty of doing,' she said.
Now, she says she is more aware of what she consumes, rather than feeling that she has to completely eliminate certain foods.
The Gym Is Part of Her Routine
Exercise has also become a major part of Simpson's lifestyle.
When she is not travelling, she says she goes to the gym seven days a week and can spend up to two hours there. But for Simpson, the routine is about more than weight management.
'It's therapeutic for me,' she said.
She explained that the gym gives her a couple of hours away from the demands of daily life, allowing her to spend time alone with her thoughts. That combination of regular exercise, more mindful eating and less frequent GLP-1 use now forms the basis of her maintenance routine.
What 'Microdosing' GLP-1s Means
The term 'microdosing' has increasingly appeared in conversations about GLP-1 weight-loss medication, but it is important to distinguish Simpson's personal description from established prescribing guidance.
GLP-1 medications can affect appetite, feelings of fullness and blood-sugar regulation, and some are prescribed for weight management. Dosing schedules depend on the specific medication and the individual patient.
Simpson's comments describe how she personally uses her medication after reaching a significant milestone in her weight-loss journey. They should not be taken as a recommendation for others to reduce or change their prescribed treatment.
For Simpson, the focus now appears to be less on strict dieting and more on maintaining her 50lb loss while continuing toward her personal goal. And, importantly, that means she says she can still make room for the occasional burger and ice cream along the way.
