This is a blog we have had in the archives for MONTHS without pushing out.
Unless you've been living under a rock you have probably heard of the rise in non-diabetics using GLP-1 pens (more commonly known as Mounjaro/Saxenda/Wegovy/Ozempic) as a weight-loss aid.
The way they work in layman terms is that they slow down our digestion of food which effectively makes us feel fuller for longer and thus enables us to get into a calorie deficit a little easier.
In slightly more complex terms it looks like this:
GLP-1 is an incretin mimetic, which helps to regulate blood sugar levels.
It does this by helping the body to produce more insulin when needed and suppressing the amount of glucose produced by the liver.
We are not going to delve too much into the science of it all because we ARE NOT doctors and none of this is medical advice.
These drugs are relatively new for the general public for weight loss purposes so we would also be wary of anyone proclaiming to be an expert...
There is a LOT of controversy around the use of these drugs for weight loss and it's pretty understandable.
Those against it cite 'quick-fix' culture and indeed we, as a brand, have proclaimed the message for years that short-term solutions lead to short-term results while longer term solutions give us more chance of long-term success.
There is also probably a deeper, evolutionary, rationale.
Being 'in-shape' ,whatever that means to you, is one of the most universally recognised forms of attractiveness. A big part of the reason for this is that in times gone by it can't be 'bought' or 'cheated'.
If we see someone with a nice car or house we don't know whether they've worked hard to earn it or if it's simply been the result of wealthy parents.
If we see someone with nice teeth it could be because they've taken good care of them over a long time or it may be that they've just jumped off a flight like Methadone Mick (any non Still Game watchers who don't get this reference don't deserve the humour)).
Being 'in-shape' on the other hand can only be earned.
Yes some people have better genetics than others but when we see someone that's in shape we can be reliably informed that they take good care of themself and they've put in effort.
This shows discipline, committment, consistency and reliability. I'm sure we can all see why they'd be attractive traits when looking for a partner...
Where am I going with this?
Well in my opinion, some of the kickback around these drugs could be because they threaten this.
For the people that are in-shape it brings a question mark around it from society that has never really been a consideration in all of human time.
To be clear I am NOT passing comment either way on the above, It's simply a hypothesis from myself on why people are in such opposing camps when it comes to these drugs.
The reasons for taking them are equally complex.
There are so many reasons beyond the obvious why people can struggle to lose weight.
Eating disorders, chronic stress, phantom hunger, depression, emotional eating and even how you grew up (if food was in short supply etc) can all impact our ability to be in a calorie deficit and thus lose weight.
So while we definitely don't endorse the use of them we totally get why people use them, losing weight is simple in terms of the science but hugely complex in reality with emotions and psychology.
One thing to get clear on however is that the pens aren't changing the way we lose weight, it's still a calorie deficit (eating less than we burn) it can just make it easier to get to that point.
Hopefully this has given some insight into why people are for or against the pens, now we are going to give some advice for those that ARE using them.
To be clear again we are not endorsing them but we're also not stupid. Far too many people are using them in secret because they are embarrassed to speak about it as other people in the fitness industry are making them feel judged.
At the end of the day if you make the decision to take them we would suggest:
1- Speak to a medical professional. It's never a good idea to take medication without doing this.
2- Strength train!!!!
So many people take the pens, get to their 'goal' weight and then realise they are not happy with how they look. This is because we don't just want to 'lose weight' we want to have the right body composition (balance of muscle and fat) to make us look 'good' or 'toned'.
The pens can increase muscle wastage as we lose weight which can lead to looking 'soft' or 'loose' (the words of people who have used them, not ours) so this is where strength training can help.
We always say that if you look at a celebrity we just know they look good, we don't know what the scales say about them. Start using this attitude for ourself!
Beyond this, strength training and muscle mass is PIVOTAL as we age, check out last weeks blog for more on this.
3- Consume adequate protein.
This is a hard one. The drugs can make you feel full or sick so the thought of consuming more protein (meat, fish, eggs, yogurt, supplements, tofu etc) isn't an attractive one but is super important to protect that muscle mass.
4- Try to manage 'bad' eating habits.
If people use the pen for weight loss it's usually for a kickstart rather than something they want to use forever more.
With this in mind we want to make an effort to develop solid eating habits so that when we come off the pen we are better placed to mitigate weight regain.
Don't not eat until 3pm then have chocolate and crisps!
5- Have adequate fat and fibre.
Rapid weight loss has dangers. We are especially aware of what this can do to females menstrual cycle. This is broader than the scope of a blog but something to be aware of.
Again, work with professionals if you are going to do this!
We could go on forever but I think that's enough for now.
As we said we are not endorsing these drugs but we're also not judging you for taking them.
Weight loss is a hard process and when you feel like everyone else is using them it's understandable you'd want to do it too.
There is so much of this that's indiviudal so if you do want any guidance please reach out and we'd be happy to help or point you in the direction of someone more qualified to do so.
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