If you are currently taking weight-loss medication or considering starting, we want to ensure you achieve your goals the right way.

 

How does the current weight loss medication help?
GLP-1 weight loss medications reduce the appetite. While this helps decrease calorie intake, it can also lead to eating too little protein and losing valuable muscle along with body fat. We want to keep the lean, healthy muscle tissue to create a toned, healthy body shape.

Muscle is your body’s engine and it supports your metabolism, protects your joints, improves bone density, and helps you stay independent as you age. Losing too much muscle can make it harder to maintain your weight loss for the long term and leave you feeling weaker than before.

TIP – Avoid just focusing solely on the scale, which can lead to becoming “skinny fat (this is where body weight decreases but muscle mass, strength, and metabolism decline). The goal should be to lose fat while protecting the muscle that keeps you strong and metabolically active.

 

How you maximise your results while on GLP-1?
For the best results combining the weight-loss medication with a structured strength-training programme and adequate protein intake is key.

Lets avoid any potential possibilities of:
– A slower metabolism
– Reduced strength and energy
– Poorer posture and balance
– An increased risk of regaining weight
– A softer, less athletic physique

 

Why Protein and Strength Training Matter?

Weight-loss medications reduce appetite, making it difficult to consume enough protein, the essential building blocks for muscle repair. Without it, your body may cannibalize its own muscle tissue. Strength training is equally vital, as it signals to your body to preserve lean muscle and burn stored fat instead.

 

Weight Training while on GLPS

Generic exercise programs often fall short, especially when medication is involved. At FORM Fitness, we provide:

– Individually Designed Programs: Tailored to your goals, medical history, and fitness level.
– Expert Monitoring: We adjust your program as your body changes to ensure you maintain muscle.
– Professional Collaboration: We can work alongside your healthcare provider to ensure your journey is safe and effective.

Book a consultation today to discover how we can help you lose fat, preserve muscle, and build a body that is strong for life while your own this journey…

 

Weight loss Medication FAQs:

1. Can anyone go on weight loss medication?
No. In New Zealand, eligibility is based on BMI (Body Mass Index), not body fat percentage. The general prescribing criteria for medications like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Mounjaro (tirzepatide) are:
– BMI of 30 or higher, or
– BMI of 27 or higher if you have a weight-related condition such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnoea, high cholesterol, or similar.
A doctor still needs to assess whether the medication is appropriate for you.

2. How much do weight loss medications cost?
As of now in New Zealand:
Wegovy: approximately NZ$300–450 per month
Mounjaro: approximately NZ$430–850+ per month, depending on the dose. Neither medication is currently funded for weight loss, so most people pay privately in NZ

3. Do they burn fat?
They do not directly burn fat.
Instead, they act on receptors in the brain—particularly affecting appetite regulation through pathways involving the hypothalamus—to reduce hunger, increase feelings of fullness, reduce “food noise,” and help you eat less.
Your body then loses weight because you’re in a calorie deficit. The medication isn’t melting fat away.
These medications help you eat less—it doesn’t tell your body what tissue to lose – Exercise and protein do that.