GLP-1s – The Leverage You Need

Right off the bat, let me say that I am the last person to recommend unnecessary pharmaceutical intervention. If you can accomplish your goal through any other means, then you should do so. That does not mean that GLP-1s, or the folks required to use them, deserve to be stigmatized.

If GLP-1s are the lever you need to get your health and fitness back on track, then good for you for recognizing it and taking action. Sometimes drastic interventions are necessary. Sometimes we need help to accomplish a thing we cannot do by ourselves.

We’ve all been there. I am no fan of antibiotics. I do my best to maintain an immune system strong enough to fight off infections without medical help. But antibiotics have saved my life in the past and may very likely do so again in the future. And you better believe there is a tube of Polysporin in my medicine cabinet just in case. Because sometimes we all need a little help.

A Tool, Not a Permanent Solution

That’s the role GLP-1s can serve. What they’re not is a forever cure. You cannot stay on them for the rest of your life. And unless you use them to help modify your lifestyle habits, when you come off them, you will inevitably return to the same problems you had before taking them.

But that is the point of GLP-1s. They are the wedge that curbs your appetite long enough for you to implement some new dietary habits that support your long-term health goals. And as you lose weight, you will feel more inclined to develop a new fitness regimen to support your improving health for the long term.

The goal is that by the time you must end your GLP-1 use; you have already acclimated to a new lifestyle that includes healthy eating habits and regular exercise. If you do this successfully, you will be able to maintain the benefits you received from using the GLP-1s in the first place.

Ignore the Stigma

And yes, for some strange reason, there is a stigma around this because there’s always someone who wants to judge other people as if they themselves are above reproach in every aspect of their lives. Most likely, this judgement stems from a deep well of self-judgement so that they must project their self-loathing onto others or drown in their own dark souls. So, I wouldn’t pay much attention to the haters. Instead, celebrate your success. Celebrate the courage to take massive action in favour of your health and wellbeing. This is not a small win.

Don't Stop at the Prescription

Do I coach folks to reach for GLP-1s first? No, such interventions, in my mind, remain a last resort. But if that’s what it takes, then do it. Don’t waste energy on self-judgement. Use the tool available to help you make that change. And then use that momentum to create a new you.

But here is the hard truth: Follow-up studies indicate that folks using GLP-1s are less likely to go to the gym following or during GLP-1 use. This bodes poorly for their long-term outcomes. All I can say to this is: Do not fall into this trap. If you are going to take the big step of leveraging a pharmaceutical intervention, then you owe it to yourself to go all the way and get on board an exercise program at the same time.

Make This the Beginning

Instead of wasting energy on shame and self-judgement, flip it to the positive: you are finally taking charge. And thus energized, take it a step further: put a nutrition plan in place and get yourself into the gym. Your best self is waiting on the other side of this intervention. Don’t let anyone’s negativity, especially your own, hold you back. Go, get after it.

The first step is always the hardest. You’ve taken it. Don’t judge it. Celebrate it. And make it count.

GLP-1 Medicines Do More Than Lower the Number on the Scale
https://propstmetabolichealth.substack.com/p/glp-1-medicines-do-more-than-lower

People Who Use GLP-1s Are Exercising Less
https://athletechnews.com/people-who-use-glp-1s-are-exercising-less-study-finds/