Over the last few months, a few clients have informed me, always in hushed, confessional tones, that they’re taking a GLP-1. As a gym owner running a gym focused on body positivity, I think they’re worried about judgment for any number of reasons. Maybe people are afraid to be judged for taking an “easy way out” (I don’t actually think it’s an easy way out). Maybe they think I’ll be upset that they’re trying to lose weight, when I prefer to focus on health-promoting behaviors over weight loss.
This is a bit of a nuanced conversation, and I’m going to do my best to capture the nuance here.
First, I (and the rest of the coaching team at PPG) believe in body autonomy. Your body is yours, not mine, and you’re the one who has to live in it every day, so you get to pick what you want to do with it.
I am frustrated with the culture that makes people feel like weight loss at any cost is the only way to feel better or improve your health. You can improve your health through pursuing health-promoting behaviors. That, however, may not necessarily change your body weight.
At the same time, I recognize that we all live in this culture. We don’t make decisions in a vacuum. There are social, physical, emotional, and practical reasons someone might want to lose weight, and I don’t think shame is a particularly useful response to that reality.
As for the idea that GLP-1s are the “easy way out?” Frankly, I think that conversation misses the point. If someone is struggling and a medical intervention helps them address a challenge they’re facing, I’m not especially interested in whether somebody else thinks they suffered the “right” amount first. Healthcare isn’t a morality contest. The reality is that most people who diet don’t maintain their weight loss long term. And when I say most, I mean that about 90% regain weight by 5 years, some estimates say it might be higher than that.
GLP-1s may be an appropriate tool for some people. They may not be the right choice for everyone. That’s a conversation between you and your healthcare provider, not me.
What is my lane? Helping people build strength, improve function, and take care of themselves for the long haul. If you are taking a GLP-1, strength training is one of the most important things you can do.
When people lose weight, whether through medication, dieting, surgery, or any other method, they don’t lose only body fat. They also lose muscle mass. Depending on the person and the approach, a meaningful percentage of the weight lost can come from lean tissue.
That matters because muscle isn’t just for aesthetics. Muscle helps us stay strong, capable, independent, and resilient as we age. It’s what helps you carry groceries, play with your kids, move furniture, recover from illness, and generally navigate life more easily.
The good news is that strength training and eating adequate protein can help preserve muscle while you’re losing weight. Strength training can also help you maintain your bone health. Bone health is also impacted by calorie restriction. If weight loss is your goal, preserving muscle is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health and quality of life.
If you’re taking a GLP-1 and you’ve been nervous to tell your coach, you don’t need to whisper it. You don’t need my permission to pursue weight loss. Your body belongs to you.
My job isn’t to judge your goals. My job is to help you stay strong enough to enjoy the life you’re building.
For anyone taking a GLP-1, I hope you’ll strength train. Not because you need to earn your weight loss, but because your muscle, strength, and physical capacity are worth protecting.
