You’ve heard the song…. Oh Oh Oh Ozempic. This drug is just one of a handful of GLP-1 Agonists that are taking the weight-loss world by storm. The primary function of these drugs is to treat Type-2 Diabetes by improving blood sugar control and slowing down digestion. An added benefit of GLP-1 Agonists is that by regulating blood sugar and slowing stomach emptying, patients are experiencing considerable weight-loss. So much so that millions of people are opting to pay out of pocket to receive these medications. On average, a patient may lose 15-20% body weight while taking a once-a-week injection.
This is where I add that THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A MAGIC PILL. You’ve heard this phrase before, and it’s true. There is no substitute for balanced nutrition and exercise. However, there is such a thing as a boost, or an accelerator, a catalyst. If you view taking a GLP-1 agonist as a catalyst to weight-loss, and not the answer to weight-loss, you are likely to see long-term success.
What does this mean?
GLP-1 Agonists are not meant to be a forever drug for the majority of people taking them, especially if you are taking them for weight-loss. So instead of viewing this as a magic pill (magic injection in this case), let’s view this as an aid to help you achieve your end goal – a longer and healthier life. By treating these drugs as an aid, you are now empowering yourself to take your weight-loss and healthy lifestyle journey into your own hands. You’ve probably heard others saying “I haven’t changed a thing since starting this medication, and I am losing weight.” The unfortunate reality is that this individual is almost guaranteed to gain all that weight back, plus more when they stop taking the medication. Turning this into yet another yo-yo diet.
You can absolutely, successfully take GLP-1 agonists and simultaneously create healthy lifestyle habits that will give you lifelong results.
So how can you do this?
The best thing you can do for yourself is to hire a health coach. A good health coach is going guide you along your own personal journey and give you all the tools you need to achieve lifelong success. As a health coach, I understand that coaching isn’t as simple as saying “eat healthier and exercise.” We drill down to root causes – whether these habits are from stress, lack of access or education, etc. Through working together, we can pinpoint that root cause and begin our work from there. This is truly how to end the cycle of yo-yo dieting and take your health into your own hands.
While hiring a health coach is the absolute best thing you can do for yourself, there are few things you can do on your own:
- Strength and resistance training – As you lose weight, it is vital to ensure that you lose as little muscle as possible. The only way to avoid losing muscle is to begin a strength training program. Hiring a personal trainer is again one of the best things you can do for yourself. Also, if you are new to strength training, are a frequent traveler, or have a schedule that keeps you from going to gym consistently, grab you a set of resistance bands and you can workout from anywhere.
- Get your daily nutrients – inevitably, you are going to eat less while taking GLP-1 agonists, meaning you are also going to consume less vital nutrients. Reducing your nutrient intake can create a multitude of problems and lead to unwanted illnesses, even disease. But in the short term – nutrients are essential for growth and repair in your tissues, bones, nerves, skin, circulation, and your immune system. Have you ever seen someone who’s lost a considerable amount of weight and started losing hair? This is due to low nutrient intake. You could simply eat more vegetables, however if your medicine is causing you to eat less, and stay full longer, eating more vegetables simply may not be possible. In this case, adding a greens drink to your daily routine would be best. I am a big fan of AG1, however there are many options on the market.
- Stay hydrated – This follows the same concept as with nutrient intake. If you are eating less, you are likely not consuming enough electrolytes (sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium). Hydration is more than just drinking plenty of water. Think of proper hydration and electrolyte balance as oil for your engine. Symptoms of low electrolytes include: muscle cramps, fatigue, confusion, irritability, constipation, etc. A whole host of problems that no one enjoys. Consider adding an electrolyte supplement to your daily routine, such as LMNT. I personally like this one because it does not have any added sugar. However, there are many electrolyte supplements to choose from, so it’s best to find one that works for you.
Waite Training offers both health coaching and personal training. These services will help you on your journey to being the healthiest version of yourself.
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