Maintaining Weight Medication Weight Loss WithExercise

GLP-1 medications have revolutionized the weight loss industry. The results are slow and steady, with the potential to lose up to 5 pounds a month. One of the biggest challenges is that weight loss may not be sustainable once you stop your weekly injection. Let’s explore how exercise may help you maintain your results by resolving the unofficial side effect— Semaglutide muscle loss.

Why Stop Taking Weight Loss Medications if They Work?

There are a variety of reasons to stop taking GLP-1 medications that are working.

#1 Cost

Most weight loss medications aren’t covered by insurance. Paying out of pocket can be difficult to maintain. If cost is your only factor, consider the medical expenses you may incur if you don’t maintain your results.

#2 Nausea

Nausea is the most common side effect of weight loss prescriptions. For some, it’s too severe to maintain long-term. Managing nausea is a primary consideration for taking your prescription under close medical supervision as reduced dosing may help.

#3 Lifestyle

A weekly injection is a commitment. Once you get nausea under control, ask your physician if you can give yourself your weekly injection at home instead of heading to a doctor’s office or medical weight loss center.

What is Semaglutide Muscle Loss?

It doesn’t matter what method you’re using to activate rapid weight loss, you’re at risk of reduced muscle mass. This is one of the many reasons you’re advised to make dietary and lifestyle changes when taking weight loss medications.

When you lose weight, you don’t just lose fat—you lose muscle. Approximately one- third of the weight loss is in lean muscle mass. The more weight you have to lose, the more muscle you stand to lose. This is what’s referred to as Sarcopenia, or Semaglutide muscle loss.

How Exercise Helps You Sustain Your Results?

Lean muscle plays a crucial role in regulating your resting metabolic rate. This is the rate at which you burn calories when you aren’t exercising. Strength training maintains and builds your muscle mass, which may accelerate your weight loss with or without weight loss medications.

If you don’t address Sarcopenia, you’ll have a lower metabolism when you stop taking your prescription. If you maintain and increase your muscle mass while on your prescription, your resting metabolic rate will be higher—which may make it easier to maintain your results.

What Exercises Build and Maintain Muscle Mass?

Aim to strength train for between 30 and 60 minutes per week. The goal doesn’t have to be to bulk up, just to build or maintain your muscles. Spread your strength training out over 3 or more workouts and work your body out from head to toe. You don’t need weights to build lean muscle as your body or resistance bands are enough. Most strength training exercises double as cardio.

This includes:

•  Lunges

•  Squats

•  Pushups

•  Resistance bands

•  Yoga

•  Pilates

•  Hiking uphill

•  Wall workouts

•  Cycling with resistance

•  Handheld weights

•  Wrist and ankle weights

•  And more

Need Help Personalizing Your Nutrition For Sustainable Weight Loss?

Another way to minimize Semaglutide muscle loss and keep the weight off once you stop taking your prescription is with personalized nutrition. Reach out to Nina’s Nutritional Values to discuss adjusting your nutrition before, during, or after taking GLP-1 medications.