Optimize weight with semaglutide. Save $200 on a three-month package
Learn More
HomeBlogLosing weight on a GLP-1? You need to focus on muscle.
Subscribe to receive BioHackr Blog information to your inbox

I just heard a story about a patient on a GLP-1 agonist (semaglutide and tirzepatide) who has lost a lot of muscle mass. When she was losing, she did not eat “healthy” or exercise. Now she wants to increase muscle mass. How does she do it?

We at Biohackr Health are very aware that GLP-1 medications are super effective, but you need to be smart about it. Many people feel nausea and stop eating much, which can lead to muscle loss, not fat loss. There are better practices to lose weight in a purposeful manner following the steps below WHILE you are losing weight. It is harder to reach the end goal weight and then rebuild what you have lost.

Creating good life habits will help you reach your goal more effectively and faster and assist you to wean off the medications when you reach your goal. When in calorie deficit regardless of if you are on a GLP-1 or not, you may lose muscle. You need to actively target habits to fight that muscle loss.

    1. KNOW YOUR BODY COMPOSITION. We do an In-Body scan for all of our patients when they start, and we repeat it monthly. This scan is awesome and shows you your body fat and body muscle composition in addition to your weight. This allows you to monitor your weight loss and see where it is coming from.
    2. EAT WELL. You must eat a lot of protein during your weight loss journey. A good rule of thumb is 1 gram of protein for each kilogram of body weight. Ideally this is in whole foods, but if you need to supplement, do. Some advocate a slightly higher protein amount, at 1.2-1.6 grams/kg body weight (and remember this is KG body weight, not pounds). Shoot for 25-30 grams/serving.
    3. RESISTANCE TRAINING. You need to actively build muscle. This is true of all people as they are aging, especially for menopausal women. Cardio is great to strengthen the heart and burn calories, but you need to increase the actual amount of muscle.
    4. MICRONUTRIENT ANALYSIS. Again, if you are not eating as much, make sure you have the necessary vitamins and amino acids in your body. You can do a test at our clinic to assess this. Don’t just blindly take vitamins. Test, analyze, treat.
    5. CREATINE. Indicators are that creatine is safe and effective, though it should be done combined with strength training. Creatine is not a steroid; its mechanism is different, and it does not carry the risks of steroids. Please see our blogs on creatine. We were so moved by the data that we are carrying German micronized creatine monohydrate powder (the most pure and stable form) in our clinic.

At Biohackr Health we offer:

  • In-Body testing
  • Semaglutide and Tirzepatide
  • Micronutrient analysis
  • IVs of amino acids, oral supplements, and other treatments to help you if needed.
  • NAD+
  • Glucose control: probiotic, CGMs (to analyze your glucose trends), and visits with our doctor if metformin or other medications are needed.
The Science of Anti-Aging

Stay Connected

biohackrhealth