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Welcome to Tricycle Day. We’re the psychedelics newsletter that hates to feel bloated. So we trimmed this issue down to 884 words for ya. 😅

Seems like every day we hear about new and creative ways people are using psychedelics to improve their lives. We broke out of the mental health box a long time ago. Makes you wonder what’s next.

Well, here's one that's probably on plenty of wishlists. What if you could pop some mushrooms, drift off into the aether for a few hours, and wake up with abs?

So for today’s newsletter, we asked our network of psychedelic practitioners: Can psychedelics support my weight loss and physical health goals?

Here's what they had to say about medicines and metabolism.

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Not that kind of weight-loss drug

Let's get this out of the way. Psychedelics won't directly burn calories or melt fat off your belly. As Kiki Jacobson explains, “Psychedelics are not weight-loss drugs,” but they “can indirectly support healthier habits, emotional healing, and long-term behavioral change, which can influence physical health over time.”

Bradley Cooke frames it another way: “Psychedelics are ideal for facilitating the reappraisal of one's values. This is why psychedelics can help overcome a drug addiction, or help someone resolve to eat better and exercise. But psychedelics do not directly facilitate enduring changes in appetite or physical health.”

Michelle Harrell points to what psychedelics do address: “Psychedelic-assisted work invites us to explore the root causes beneath our behaviors, including why we may turn to food for comfort, distraction, or self-soothing.” So when you do go back for a second helping, at least you’re doing it consciously. (You deserve it.)

Your body is a temple

Several guides argued psychedelics can repair the underlying disconnect between you and your body. Summer MacCool describes the shift: “They help you reconnect with your body's inner wisdom” by “clarifying emotional patterns, soothing stress, and revealing the deeper needs beneath old habits.” Listening to your body is a better bet than brute-forcing change through willpower alone.

Mindy Tueller offers a physiological explanation: “Psilocybin is a natural anti-inflammatory. It immediately begins to help with gut health, which is where the majority of our serotonin is produced.” And when serotonin levels are balanced, “we experience more focus and groundedness, better sleep and mood, all of which support choosing to exercise and eat healthy.”

Avery Collura shares her own lightbulb moment: “A DMT journey introduced my body not as something to manage, but as a relationship—my primary one.” Your body isn’t an adversary to control (or worse, punish) but a meat suit partner to be grateful for.

Change takes time

As usual, lasting change comes down to sincere and effective integration. Angela Balboa breaks down the mechanism: “The softening of rigid and unconscious patterns of thought and behavior, combined with the heightened neuroplasticity that psychedelics allow, give individuals a powerful foundation for making sustainable changes.”

Scott Dean describes a common path among his clients: “Many people discover that their relationship with food or their body is rooted in protection.” The trust and self-compassion that psychedelics can foster over time “often lead to more depth with the mind-body connection."

Falcon Stephan shares his own journey: “Intentional reflection helped me release 20+ pounds and realign my relationship with food. It wasn't instantaneous, but it reconnected me with self-love, compassion, and respect—qualities that naturally guide healthier decisions.” He adds that “microdosing can serve as a supportive tool during integration, which is where the real long-term work unfolds.”

Our take

The guides are right. If you're looking for a quick fix, psychedelics ain’t it.

But if you're willing to do the deeper work of understanding why you eat, move, and care for your body the way you do, these medicines can be genuinely transformative.

One important note: although rigorous evidence is lacking, psychedelics appear to interact with GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. If you're considering mixing medicines, check out our interview with Dr. Erica Zelfand first.

Whew, writing that newsletter really worked up our appetite. Gonna go treat ourselves to a cookie. Vegan, gluten free, and not a seed oil in sight, obviously.

Got a question for our guides?

Reply to this email to shoot your shot. If it’s a juicy one, we may select it for a future issue.

Seeking more personalized guidance?

Our directory of vetted psychedelic professionals is a great place to start your search. Find a facilitator on Maria’s List.

UNTIL NEXT TIME

That’s all for today, Cyclists! Whenever you’re ready, here’s how we can help.

ONE CYCLIST’S REVIEW

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DISCLAIMER: This newsletter is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice. The use, possession, and distribution of psychedelic drugs are illegal in most countries and may result in criminal prosecution.