Hey,
So, at the start of the year, I was out in the US, at a gym owner conference.
I’m always keen to get myself into different environments to see what I can learn & bring back to JB Fitness UK.
And whilst chatting with a few fitness professionals and health experts, one thing that kept coming up was GLP-1; there was even a presentation about it.
At the time, it felt a bit further away than it does now!
Not many people in the UK were talking about it.
But fast forward a few months… and wow. It’s seems like it’s everywhere.
Not to mention Serena Williams who has been speaking about it & promoting it a lot.
We’ve also had a few members and prospects who have either started using it or are seriously considering it.
Now let me be clear…
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Mounjaro absolutely have a place.
For people dealing with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or other serious metabolic health issues, they can be life-changing.
In fact, we’ve seen some people get amazing results.
✅ Weight dropping consistently
✅ Cravings reduced
✅ Blood sugar better managed
But we’ve also seen the other side.
❌ People regaining weight afterwards
❌ Struggling with energy & joint pain
❌ Losing not just fat, but muscle too
And that last one is big.
Muscle loss is one of the most common short-term side effects when using GLP-1 medications.
And losing muscle? That’s never a good trade-off for weight loss.
Muscle is your metabolism’s best mate.
It’s what helps you move better, feel stronger, age slower, and stay lean, long term.
Here’s what we’ve noticed…
The people who’ve had the best results on GLP-1?
They didn’t go it alone.
They allowed us to keep them accountable, with regular scans of their skeletal muscle and by staying consistent with their training sessions, especially weight training, they didn’t see a drop in their skeletal muscle or strength.
So let’s be honest…
GLP-1 is NOT a replacement for strength training.
It’s not a get-out-of-gym-free card.
And it’s not the full solution to your health & fitness & doesn’t replace having a healthy lifestyle
We don’t know all of the longer term effects YET!
To summarise, we’re not anti-GLP-1.
But we ARE pro-sustainable habits & long term change, resistance training, and a healthy relationship with food.
If you’re considering GLP-1, or you’re already on it… make sure you’re protecting your muscle, strength and mindset.
Your health & fitness is always best when considered in the longer term.
And if you want help with that? You know where to find us.
To your health, strength & fitness,
Coach JB
JB Fitness UK