By now, we’re all familiar with the popularity of GLP-1 injectable medications due to their ability to promote drastic weight loss. Here’s why the launch of an exercise program designed to accommodate these drugs is shaking up the fitness industry.
We’re fortunate enough to be living in an age where popular forms of exercise are designed to accommodate a range of health conditions, impairments and levels of experience.
We can work out from the comfort of our living rooms in the depths of a pandemic, or even burn our glutes while holding a newborn baby in a Mums & Bubs Pilates class.
While the health and fitness industry is more than familiar with the temporary pull of popular fads and crazes, now and then, something penetrates our culture so dramatically that its influence seeps into almost all aspects of our lifestyles.
The latest (but in no way insignificant) trend? The surge in people taking GLP-1 medications in the pursuit of weight loss. Here’s how the fitness industry is responding to the new reality of medication-induced weight loss.
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Initially catching our attention due to the persistent uptake in the inner circles of Hollywood’s biggest names, patients across the world are being prescribed these medications in the masses.
Naturally, the meteoric growth of these drugs’ popularity has had both predictable and surprising impacts on the economy and health industry. Facilitating noticeable weight loss, the drugs undoubtedly have a dramatic influence on the physical health and appearance of most users.
Now, one fitness conglomerate in the United States has launched a program designed to help mitigate people’s dramatic weight loss. Equinox, a luxury fitness club, has released a training strategy helping members navigate the unavoidable lean muscle mass loss people experience as a result of these medications.
According to leading club coach Michael Crandall, an overwhelming amount of existing members are either already using or considering starting one of the popularised medications for casual weight loss, “We’re creating an internal education program at the Equinox Fitness Training Institute, adding the GLP-1 protocol to coach the many members are using them,” he says.
Why the program was created
As effective as these drugs are in encouraging dramatic weight loss, they are usually prescribed as a temporary measure to kickstart a person’s health transformation.
Sustainable weight loss requires ongoing effort and several key lifestyle changes, such as nutritional intervention, regular exercise and quality sleep.
“The drugs work so well, but we felt like something really important was missing for our clients on them,” says Crandall. “Weight loss interventions should always be done with a training program to get the best results.”
As many GLP-1 users have described, the sudden weight loss, while initially effective, can often plateau, or leave the body feeling unprepared with such a physically altered appearance, “And that’s really where Equinox coaching can help build better habits and teach them what maintenance of weight loss actually looks like,” Crandall says.
What members can expect
The program has been designed to incorporate personalised strength training with ongoing education on how to best manage the side effects of short or long-term use of the drugs. Using targeted conditioning programs, the couches at Equinox are being trained to help their clients focus on maintaining and gaining muscle mass.
“If someone lost 50 pounds, it would be impossible for them to not also lose lean body mass, so we’ll help them mitigate that loss, whether it’s through aerobic or anaerobic conditioning or strength training,” Crandall explains.
With most GLP-1 users prescribed the medications for temporary use, Crandall and his team are dedicated to coaching healthy habits that will persist long after an individual’s medication period.
“Our clients are thinking of weight loss for the long term, and they’re very motivated to keep the weight off. What we’re doing in empowering them so when they ease themselves off, they won’t be nervous or worried they’re just going to put it right back on,” says Crandall