alt Hacker NewsThere are a lot of people here citing loss of muscle mass as a side effect of GLP-1s, when the reality is that weight loss almost always comes with muscle loss.
For me, that hasn't even been the case. I'm down 40lbs on a relatively low dose of Semaglutide and my muscle mass has moderately increased over the last 6 months. The hysteria over this is totally unfounded.
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Studies show strength training while losing weight can retain almost 100% of muscle.
Yep. I started resistance training 5x a week about a month in on tirzepatide and even with a severely restricted caloric intake (I just can't eat enough), I've gained LBM.
> low dose of Semaglutide
I thought its only approved at standard dose.
Likewise, I did (and continue to do) keto for the last 6 months and lost 50lbs. 3 Weeks ago I started Semaglutide while continuing to do keto and it's just made everything easier. I've lost another 10lbs in the 3 weeks, am logging all my meals and taking macro goals into account. What's better is that because I was already "fat-adapted" as they say in /r/keto, my body isn't starving in a caloric deficit. It's just burning more fat as ketones.
Yes, I am trying to hit 100-150g+ of protein per day, yes I am in a caloric deficit. No, I don't feel like I have lost any muscle mass, but I do feel a lot more active at 60lbs lighter.
It predicts long term consequences on health. Not immediate ones. You wouldn't have noticed at all. Unless you measured your heart muscle weight.
It's good to work out. Perhaps it offsets any loss.
I get that it's upsetting and might contradict what you think.
At this stage we don't know for sure. It's something you might want to keep in mind. Especially if you take this drug without working out.
You did not lose 40 pounds of fat while building lean muscle tissue unless you're BOTH relatively new to weightlifting and use PEDs, in which case, the "hysteria" is justified for an average person.
Yeah I've always found that complaint confusing. Of course you lose muscle when you eat less food. It'd be weird if that didn't happen. (Assuming you don't train hard or take hormones)
Anecdotes don't equal data. "Always" and "never" don't exist in medicine. I'm sure that your experience is accurate to yourself, but these studies have to cast a wider net since there is always variability in results.