During my recent Maui vacation, a photo appeared on my phone from eight years ago. I was sitting in the same restaurant I had visited just days earlier—but I realized I was experiencing the vacation in a completely different way.

In this episode, I’m talking about the less obvious ways losing 120 pounds with the help of a GLP-1 medication has changed travel for me.

I pack differently. I no longer research every activity to determine whether there is a weight limit or whether I will fit. I can choose clothing for a sunset cruise without worrying that getting wet will leave me feeling exposed and uncomfortable. I can sit in an airline middle seat without feeling as though my body is inconveniencing everyone around me.

And perhaps most importantly, I can enjoy special food without believing I have failed.

Eight years ago, I watched my husband and daughter enjoy a Hula Pie because I was afraid that one indulgence would result in weight I might spend months trying to lose. This time, I shared the pie with my daughter—and it was every bit as delicious as I remembered.

I came home three pounds heavier, but I also came home without guilt. By the next afternoon, I had stocked my refrigerator and returned to the habits that make me feel good—not as punishment, but because this is simply how I live now.

This episode is about vacation, but it is also about freedom: freedom from constant calculations, fear and the belief that enjoying life will undo everything you have worked for.

Disclaimer: This episode reflects my personal experience and is not medical advice. Prescription medications, including GLP-1 medications, should be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider.