3 Top Lifestyle Tips to Get the Most From Your GLP-1 Treatment

Have you begun taking semaglutide for weight loss? Congratulations. Semaglutide is a game-changer in the weight loss industry. It’s transforming lives by enabling people to lose weight, move from a sedentary lifestyle to an active one, and improve overall health. 

Our board-certified orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Jonathan Shults, with Coastal Empire Orthopedics, offers semaglutide injections to help spur weight loss. You’ve likely seen Dr. Shults because your joints ache. Perhaps you’ve even lost some mobility because of joint stiffness and pain. 

Joint pain is one unpleasant side effect of being overweight or obese. Your bones and joints can’t bear the constant pressure of your extra weight. 

Semaglutide yields results, but it’s one tool in the weight loss game. You have an important role to play. For optimal results and better health, it’s important to develop some new lifestyle habits as you begin taking semaglutide. Following are three important lifestyle changes that are key to successful weight loss. 

Commit to changes in grocery shopping and eating habits 

To start your lifestyle change, you’ll need to commit to changes in what you eat and how much you consume. Your GLP-1 medication helps reduce or eliminate food cravings that you’ve had in the past. You won’t feel the need to overconsume. 

Start by making changes in what you buy at the grocery store. Purchase whole foods on the vegetable and fruit aisles. Vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, beans, lentils, and leafy greens contain fiber, vitamins, and minerals, which help regulate your blood sugar. Berries are low in sugar and high in antioxidants.

Choose lean protein like chicken, poultry, or fish. Choose whole grains. Stay away from store-bought baked goods like cookies and cakes. Use cookbooks featuring the Mediterranean diet. You can make delicious meals when using spices and seasonings. 

Plan your meals and establish a schedule of when you’ll eat your meals and a healthy snack. In addition, eat lean protein and vegetables first during your meals. 

Did you used to finish a meal in less than five minutes? Change the pattern. Eat slowly, savoring the taste of each bite. 

Carry water with you and stay hydrated, which helps prevent unpleasant side effects of your medication. Don’t use artificial sweeteners, which can cause stomach upset. Carry a simple healthy snack when you’re out so you’re not tempted to eat processed food. 

Commit to regular cardio and strength training exercise 

The World Health Organization and the American Heart Association recommend that adults engage in a minimum of 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise each week. Find an activity you like, even if it’s simply walking in the neighborhood. Develop an exercise schedule and work with an accountability partner to follow through with your commitment. 

It’s also important to build in time for strength training. You can use dumbbells, a resistance band, or your weight. Muscle burns more calories than fatty tissue. You’ll improve your metabolism, build muscle mass, and increase bone density.  

Gain support for your lifestyle changes 

When you’re making major changes to long-held habits, it’s critical to team up with supportive partners. Research shows that being in the community is important to your mental health. In addition to your professional medical team at Coastal Empire Orthopedics, it’s important to form relationships that support you in your transformation efforts. 

Support groups are lifelines for many of our patients. If you don’t like the idea of joining a group, working with a dietician individually is an alternative. Perhaps a friend is making the same kinds of changes; you can enlist your friend as an accountability partner. 

Call Coastal Empire Orthopedics or book an appointment online today to start your weight loss transformation and improve your joint health.