Peptide Therapy: Using GLP-1 for Weight Loss

Even with a healthy diet, exercise, and sleep routine, sometimes your body does not work the way you want it to, and it can still be difficult to lose weight. This can be due to factors that are hard for you to control on your own, such as glucose dynamics, insulin resistance, metabolism, inflammation, and more. Peptide therapy is a way to stimulate change from the inside out. Following the GLP-1 protocol can help you shed those extra pounds and be on your way to feeling like a better version of yourself.

What is GLP-1 and How Does it Work?

GLP-1 refers to a glucagon-like peptide, a hormone that is naturally produced by your gut that helps control blood sugar and the release of insulin. It has been released as an FDA-approved medication to support weight loss after studies showed that it helped patients lose up to 15% of their body weight.

It works in a few different ways, including helping to suppress appetite and delay gastric emptying, which means you feel fuller for longer. It also aids the body in releasing insulin at the appropriate times to manage rising blood sugar levels. This helps to control hunger and allows you to lose weight.

The GLP-1 protocol is recommended for patients who have a body mass index (BMI) greater than 27 along with another chronic condition such as type 2 diabetes, hypertension, or coronary artery disease, or patients with a BMI greater than 30.

GLP-1 Is Not a Magic Pill for Weight Loss

GLP-1 is part of a comprehensive protocol to assist you in losing weight and is one tool in your holistic toolbox. You will still have to put in the effort of maintaining a healthy diet, engaging in regular exercise, getting quality sleep, and managing stress. These activities are foundational to losing weight, and they work in conjunction with GLP-1.

Remember that weight loss is not just about hitting a certain number on the scale. It is about improving your overall health. The GLP-1 protocol is based on your body composition or the amount of body fat and muscle mass you have. You want to burn fat while maintaining lean muscle that supports healthy metabolism and empowers weight loss.

Studies have shown that losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight can significantly reduce your risk of other chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and coronary artery disease. Weight loss can help improve your long-term health and well-being, as well as your quality of life.

The GLP-1 protocol combines GLP-1 with other supplements such as:

• Low-dose leucine: Essential amino acids paired with Resveratrol or vitamin B6 to improve glucose control, reduce insulin resistance, and stimulate fat tissue loss. It also reduces the amount of NAD necessary to activate a multitude of cellular reactions related to energy, DNA repair, mitochondrial function, and inflammation. This supports improved longevity.
• Oxytocin: A hormone that helps you to feel full, suppresses appetite, triggers the use of fat for energy, helps preserve lean muscle, and has a calming effect.
• Butyrate: A fatty acid that supports gut health and immune function.

These components all work synergistically to aid in weight loss by controlling appetite suppression as well as blood sugar and insulin dynamics while also improving sleep and stress management.

How is GLP-1 Administered?

GLP-1 comes as a pre-dosed injectable that is injected into your abdomen or upper thigh once per week. You do not have to remember to take a pill every day, and you will be taught how to administer the shot yourself at home.

One potential side effect of GLP-1 is nausea, but this is managed by starting off at a very low dose of medication and slowly increasing it to allow the body to adjust. Eating a nutritious diet in conjunction with the medication can also help reduce nausea.

How Long Will It Take to See Results?

Everyone’s body responds differently, but some people see results almost immediately. It is important to be patient, as you did not gain the weight overnight, and you will not lose it overnight either. The goal is sustainability. You learn how to manage your diet, exercise, and lifestyle to complement the GLP-1 protocol in order to keep the weight off. The journey is a learning process, but weight loss will happen. Some patients are able to reach their goal within just three months.

Reach Your Weight Loss Goals with Peptide Therapy

Are you ready to find a weight loss program that helps you achieve sustainable results and improve your overall health? Dr. Page at the Wisconsin Institute of Functional Medicine has undergone the GLP-1 protocol for weight loss herself, has advanced certification in peptide therapy, and is recognized as a leading authority in the Midwestern U.S. on peptide therapy. She can help you determine if peptide therapy is right for you and create a program that fits your needs and goals. Schedule a consultation today!