GLP-1’s have revolutionised the way we treat obesity and weight management. For so long, people have had to rely on “willpower” in order to lose weight, and for something which is as complex as obesity, this inevitably fails, because let’s be honest, it’s not about willpower; it’s about so much more than that.
All previous treatments of obesity have required us to ignore all of the physiological, hormonal and psychological changes that are screaming out at us to eat more when we are in a calorie deficit. But not GLP-1’s; they tackle those issues head on, and make it so much easier for us to lose weight and keep it off.
However, I see people using GLP-1’s as the quick fix and not making any changes to improve their nutrition or their relationship with food whilst on them; something which inevitably leads to total weight regain in the long run, when eventually the GLP-1’s stop. Heres what you need to focus on when you’re taking these medications.
Your Nutrition Is Even More Important on a GLP-1
Many people continue with their current way of eating, which is often not very nutrient dense and high in saturated fat, sugars and salts. It is also often lacking in protein and fibre. This can cause big issues when on a GLP-1; from malnourishment caused by lack of protein, leading to muscle wastage, “ozempic face” and seriously weakened organs such as the heart, to gastro issues caused by a lack of fibre and the medication itself. It’s vitally important to improve your diet during this time to prevent any nasty complications.
I have a whole guide on nutrition and GLP-1’s, which you can access here.
There Has Never Been a Better Time To Fix Your Relationship With Food
When you’re taking a medication like ozempic, wegovy, mounjaro or any of the other GLP-1’s, you’ll probably notice something rather astonishing. You no longer have food noise.
Food noise is that constant monologue in the back of your head which is thinking, talking, and dreaming about food. For many people, it is intense and all consuming, difficult to ignore and even louder when you do.
You’ll also likely find that you have less of a pull towards eating for emotional or environmental reasons. When you’re sad or stressed, you’ll no longer reach for the cake. When you see biscuits in the office, you’ll no longer be obsessing over them. You will become more apathetic towards these things.
You’ll also find that when you do eat, you’re much less likely to overeat. Things make you fuller, quicker.
All of these factors mean that you no longer have those psychological and physiological barriers in your way to improving your relationship with food. This makes it easier for you to analyse, assess and work on your relationship with food, as you don’t have the emotional and psychological factors to deal with at the time.
It is important that you go back and understand why you eat the way you eat, to adopt better coping skills and ways in which you deal with negative or stressful situations. It’s imperative you learn what hunger actually feels like for you, and to identify where your satiety level lies.
There are various ways you can do this; self-help books, like “Understanding and Managing Emotional Eating” by Dr Denise Ratcliffe could be one way that I find helps a lot of my clients; equally, there are various courses you can take online to help (results may vary), or you can reach out to a dietitian like myself to help guide you through the situation. Ultimately though, you should not just expect these meds to be the magic bullet, and instead utilise the time you have to make these changes and adaptations to your relationship with food.
Any questions? Leave them in the comments down below!
Photo credit: UnSplash with thanks.
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