You May Have to Take Weight Loss Drugs Your Whole Life to Keep the Weight Off

If you stop and then restart GLP-1’s or quit the meds altogether, surprise, the weight comes back, according to a new study.

Honestly, why should that surprise you? As soon as Wegovy and Ozempic were introduced, I figured they wouldn’t be a quick fix. Nothing is a magic bullet.

But now, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak, and consistency is key:

“The reason for the decrease in GLP-1 effective from stopping and starting may lie in body composition, according to the researchers. Weight loss from GLP-1s typically consists of 40 percent muscle and 60 percent fat. However, when a patient stops the drug and regains weight, they almost exclusively regain fat. By the time a patient restarts the medication, their muscle-to-fat ratio has shifted. Using MRI to track body composition, the researchers found that the body appears to reach a “muscle floor,” said Leung.”

So, does that mean you can never get off GLP-1’s, if you don’t want to regain the weight? Preliminary studies say maybe:

“While the results needs to be confirmed through more research, especially research in people, the findings highlight a vital need for clinicians to help their patients preserve muscle mass through exercise or nutrition while the patients are on GLP-1s. Future research will also need to investigate whether these same “diminishing returns” apply to drugs like tirzepatide (brand name Zepbound) which target both GLP-1 and additional receptors to help people lose weight.”

One thing is certain, preserving muscle mass and good ole diet and exercise are crucial to keeping the weight off.

I grew up in the “aerobics is king” era. Jane Fonda work out tapes anyone? I think Jane recently underwent a hip replacement, possibly??

Anyway, we now know that pounding the pavement or the exercise studio floor isn’t enough. A balance of strength and cardio can help burn calories, build muscle mass and help prevent injuries.

My question is, how do you balance both? And which is actually more important, strength or cardio?

According to this article by Obe Fitness, you really need both in equal parts to increase metabolism:

“A healthy muscle mass isn’t just about looking good or feeling strong. It can also improve your metabolism, helping your body better process food. “Muscle is metabolically active, meaning that it burns calories,” explains Melody. “The more muscle you have, the more energy it needs. As we maintain or build muscle, we’ll expend more calories, even at rest, making us more metabolically active and healthy.” If changing body composition or losing weight is one of your goals, this is where your fitness routine can make way more of an impact.“

I think a lot about metabolism these days. As you age, your metabolism slows, so I find that I am eating about half of what I did in my 20’s and I weigh less than I did then. Could be because I never ever picked up a weight back then.

Now, I don’t go a day without at least lifting my 10 pound dumbbells for a few minutes daily. I don’t do any fancy exercises. I’ve never been to a trainer. But I do try to use different muscles all the time.

My day might include swimming, biking and walking. I know swimming isn’t supposed to give you a lot of resistance benefit, but I do find that I use different muscles and my arms look better!

I know, because I only swim six months out of the year and my triceps look a little flabby during the winter.

Could be doing more extensive weights? Sure, but as long as I am not doing anything wrong, doing something is better than nothing, I figure.