Is a GLP-1 Medication Right for Me?

How do GLP-1 Medications Work?

These medications mimic a hormone that you already produce in your body.

This hormone works by targeting areas of the brain that regulate appetite and food intake, which reduces cravings, lowers your blood sugar, and slows the digestion of food. In other words, you may experience:

• Reduced hunger and appetite
• Feeling full more quickly with smaller food portions 
• Decreased cravings
• A reduction in food-focused thoughts

When used in conjunction with good nutrition and healthy habits, GLP-1 medications can be a powerful tool on your weight loss journey.

What Will I Feel Like on a GLP-1 agonist Medication?

Every person metabolizes medication slightly differently, so your experience on a GLP-1 medication may be different that someone else on the same medication. Most individual feel less hungry throughout the day, feel full and satisfied eating smaller portions, fewer cravings, or less “food-focused” thoughts —or any combination of these.

Some people experience changes in food preferences and say that certain foods or alcohol don’t appeal to them like they used to. 

Will I Need to Change my Diet?

These medications are such an amazing tool for so many individuals, but relying on medication alone often doesn’t work. Losing weight doesn’t automatically translate to improved overall health. To really maximize the benefits of medication, it’s important to incorporate healthy habits related to food, nutrition, fitness, mental health, and sleep.

The primary goal of our program is also to teach you how lead a more healthier life overall. The goal is not only to lose your un-wanted weight, but to set you up on a path that will keep that weight off! For most individuals, your current dietary habits were what got you to an un-healthy place and thus lead you to seek out a weight-loss program. If these habits are not positively altered, then as soon as the medication is stopped you will be right back to were it all started.

Will I Feel Hungry at all? What about Cravings?

Hunger levels will vary from person to person. The goal of the medication is to reduce your appetite to a more manageable level — not to completely eliminate your hunger. Hunger is a very normal part of human biology, and hunger cues are actually very important. Paying attention to when you are hungry and when you are full is a great healthy habit that can help guide the way to more intuitive eating (with the help of this medication). Cravings are also very normal to experience, so if the medication does not eliminate cravings completely for you, that’s usually okay. People report more manageable cravings and find the cravings more easily satisfied (e.g. by a few bites of ice cream as opposed to the whole pint). 

How Much Weight Will I Lose?

The ideal rate of weight loss is 0.5-1% per week of your initial weight (on average). In clinical trials, those on semagluitde or tirzepatide lost an average of 15% in 70 weeks. Those in our JuveMD Weight Loss Program are averaging 10-12% weight loss in just 4 months.

The amount of weight loss can greatly vary depending on the individuals commitment to dietary and activity changes when necessary.

Will I need to be on GLP-1 medication for the rest of my life?

These medications are safe to take long-term, however are not necessary to be taken life-long. With a proper, steady weight loss while on this medication your body will have less propensity to gain the weight back quickly. If you lose weight too rapidly, your overall metabolism can decrease, thus resulting in a quicker weigh re-gain and harder time losing it again.

In our JuveMD Weight Loss Program you are monitored and guided by both a physician and Registered Dietitian to ensure your weight loss is gradual and steady leading to long-term success. The goal of our program is also educate you on potential changes to current lifestyle in order to continue your health journey even after stopping these medications.