Chronic Obesity affects over 40% of Americans and still tends to be forgotten as a chronic disease that we have yet to find a cure for. Therefore, the use of GLP-1 medications has skyrocketed to help people finally get relief from this chronic disease when they have resorted to medications.
To understand how to train individuals who use these medications, it is essential to know how they work. GLP-1 is naturally created in our bodies when we consume carbohydrates within the digestive system. When this hormone is released, it helps our bodies regulate blood sugar levels and suppresses appetite. Here is a link: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/13901-glp-1-agonists to an article that dives deeper into GLP-1 medications and how they work to help people lose weight.
As fitness professionals, we understand that for individuals to achieve a good workout and benefit from it, they must know how to fuel their bodies for optimal performance. To build muscle, you have to intake adequate daily calories, protein, carbohydrates, and fats. The problem is that when people are taking GLP-1 medications, they are incapable of giving their bodies the nutrients needed because of the appetite suppression. When these people are taking this drug, it is like training a person who is on a very restrictive diet. You must proceed with caution and ensure that you pay attention to body language, maintain open communication using the RPE scale, and recognize that they may not be able to utilize the energy systems necessary for optimal performance during a vigorous workout. You’ll want to ensure that you program their workouts to stay within the moderate HR zone, allow 1-2 minutes of rest between sets, and avoid having their cardiovascular workouts enter the vigorous HR zone. Remember that these are just guidelines, and if the dosage isn’t adjusted based on the symptoms, they may not be able to perform even in moderate-intensity zones.
Losing weight and losing body fat are entirely two different measurements when it comes to combating obesity. The scale measures all the components of our body: total body water, total body fat, skeletal muscle, bones, and minerals. When the needle on the scale moves, we have no idea why; therefore, if losing body fat is your goal, it’s best to get regular body composition scans to determine where the weight loss is coming from. The most accurate way to measure your body composition is through hydrostatic weighing, but it can be very uncomfortable. Another way to obtain the exact measurements is by utilizing InBody technology. When the 24-hour protocol is implemented, it is 100% precise for hydrostatic weighing. Here is a link to find one close to your location. https://inbodyusa.com/.
With any chronic disease, the first step in addressing the issue should be lifestyle modifications, including personalized nutrition, daily movement, proper hydration, stress management, and sleep hygiene. When that method doesn’t work, you seek out allied health care professionals, including personal trainers, health coaches, nutritionists, registered dietitians, massage therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists, psychologists, and other holistic healthcare workers. The third step involves utilizing conventional medicine to treat these GLP-1 medications, and the fourth step is surgery. 90% of chronic illnesses and diseases can be reversed or put into remission by completing just the first step of the therapeutic model: simple lifestyle modifications. Most people don’t know where to start which is why I created my Guide to Weight Loss. Click here to learn more, https://restoreyourbodyhealth.com/product/guide-to-weight-loss/.
As always, I am here to help guide you through your journey naturally with the basics of lifestyle modifications. I offer my Complete Health Transformation Program, which encompasses 3 months of online health, nutrition, and fitness coaching to help people learn how to implement the basics with ease, fitting any schedule. I also offer monthly packages, but we can discuss your specific needs further during a complimentary consultation. Click here to get scheduled. https://calendly.com/restoreyourbodyhealth/15