I know people want to tsk tsk, look for the negatives, and zero in on possible side effects, but what I see here is that they work for eighty percent of people who use them–hurray!
As someone who has done all the right things with diet, exercise, etc, but was beaten down by genetics and menopause, I am happy to be one of the eighty percent for whom they are working, and have experienced no side effects.
I wish you could see the posts on the Zepbound facebook pages I belong to, as people discuss exercise regimes, protein needs, fiber advice, hydration, weight routines, etc, and celebrate each others’ journeys, and especially their losses. The life-changing effect these meds have is not short of amazing, but media, and posters looking for the negatives, seem to want to celebrate failure. Not sure that’s true of any other medication I can think of.
First, I wasn’t aware of a 20% “don’t work” rate. That was news to me. However, I’m actually VERY happy that people are taking their health seriously and making improvements in their life, since we have an obesity epidemic in this country.
As someone who takes their health seriously, my concern, whether they take GLP-1 drugs to lose weight or not, is that people get so caught up in their head about the weight number and don’t zero-in on the inevitable muscle loss, from both the loss of weight and of course aging.
Also, there’s health concept known as TOFI, “thin outside, fat inside.” It’s a term used to describe people who have a normal BMI but a disproportionate amount of bad fat (visceral) stored in their abdomen. Very, very few people measure the amount of visceral fat.
I’ve been in gyms almost all my life. And what I will say is that very few people in the general gym population, in my experience, that have proper diet and exercise discipline.
Well I’ll skip your last statement, but you should know that prioritizing protein consumption, and weight lifting, is central to the regime with these drugs, because as you say, weight loss pretty much guarantees muscle loss, so minimizing that is very important.
If prioritizing protein and lifting weights is central to the regimen, then I hope people on GLP-1 drugs, or actually anyone for that matter, also get their lean muscle mass/body fat measured, as a part of their complete health checkup/regimen. Either by DEXA or hydrostatically.
The DEXA scan will get someone how much visceral fat that they carry. Also handy is bone density too.
Otherwise, w/o testing/measurement, then it’s all pretty much speculation.
I think people working toward improving health is a good thing. I’ve hesitated to join this thread forever, but the welcoming tone of the title led me to peek in. But might not be for me. Which is okay.
That was my takeaway, as well. That the headline could have just as easily read that the vast majority find success.
I am very happy for you, and everyone, that is finding success. I read somewhere that the obesity rate in this country is finally leveling off. This can only be a good thing.
I think it’s 35+ years of practice. And going first thing in the morning helps too, because the rest of the day the thought of running or working out is not appealing in the slightest.
And I still maintain that vacuuming my house tires me out 10x more than any other workout. And it’s every… single… week…
Two notable events happened at the gym today. First, I completed a “Murph” (w/vest) today.
Second, a married couple that I’m friendly with and I got to talking afterwards and the subject of a Ruck Sack came up. I mentioned that I would like to get one eventually, but then the husband mentioned that he just bought two of them on Black Friday, because of the great deal. And won’t be using either of them, since his employer gave him a backpack for free post-purchase.
So, they offered them to me at the price they paid, because he was just planning to return them. I have the links and now I must study them, because they’re different varieties of Ruck Sacks.
Great news for those getting back to fitness and containing to improve!
Travel and work has put a pause on my regular gym visits that I’ve been doing for a year () but I am committed to fitting them in going forward. Did a few laps at work around my building and some hand weights at home after breakfast. Fitting in where I can but miss the gym machines!
Made it to gym today. Missed the heavy weights and gym vibe so much. It was surprising! Now to get back to my 9k steps a day and I’ll (Hopefully) be on track again!
Good luck to all on our various fitness journeys!!
Btw I’m finding this Instagram coach has some nice lifting tips - very specific and actionable (in case anyone interested…)
Made my 1st trip to the gym and it felt good.
Also played my 1st weekend soccer in months (i can only only play on Saturdays and Sundays have been better for most) and it was glorious.
My new fitness watch is a Garmin and i am still figuring it out
Year end check in here…
Still playing pickleball 3-4 times a week, outdoors when possible, but if it’s too windy/wet/cold (we play outside even when it’s 32 or less sometimes) we try to play indoors.
I haven’t been riding my bike much lately, but I have walked most days I don’t play pickleball.
I do light weights when I’m watching TV sometimes, but not as often as I should.
We do have 1 biking trip planned for next October, and we will do local riding fairly often when the weather gets warmer.
I can’t remember the last time I didn’t close my rings, so I think I’m doing fine.
Happy NY everyone - I hope we all keep up with our fitness goals in 2025.
) but I am committed to fitting them in going forward. Did a few laps at work around my building and some hand weights at home after breakfast. Fitting in where I can but miss the gym machines!