SELF reported on why regular movement is key for anyone on GLP-1s, featuring insight from Kelyssa Hall, ACSM-EP, CSCS, CEAS I, BoneFit, exercise physiologist at HSS. 

Taking GLP-1s can facilitate weight loss, but pairing the drug with exercise tells your body where the weight loss comes from, Hall explained.

Specifically, “strength training tells the body to keep muscle,” Hall said. Strength training also helps maintain your resting metabolic rate (how much energy you burn at rest), promotes stability throughout your joints, and can help lower injury risk in day-to-day life, she adds. It’s no surprise then that Hall recommends regular strength training to her patients on GLP-1s.

To complement the strength training, Hall also recommends flexibility work. “Flexibility training plays an important role in maintaining quality movement patterns during rapid weight loss, which can help to reduce the risk of injury,” she said. That’s because when you lose weight, your movement mechanics can change. Flexibility training can keep your joints and muscles moving through their full range of motion, which helps you lift weights with safe, effective form. Beyond that, Hall recommends regular cardio, which helps promote cardiovascular fitness and metabolic health, improves insulin sensitivity, and supports fat loss.

Lastly, outside of specific workouts, Hall encourages her clients on GLP-1s to incorporate consistent movement throughout the day to help maintain proper metabolism. 

Read the full article at self.com.