Top Tips For Maximising The Benefits Of Semaglutide

Over the past year since its approval for use by the NHS, weight management medications such as semaglutide have helped a lot of people on their journey towards greater long-term health, improved fitness and the confidence and quality of life benefits that come alongside it.

With a choice of Wegovy, Saxenda and Mounjaro available for doctors to prescribe, there are several options for people who qualify under the prescribing criteria and can be provided with everything they need to give themselves the best chance of success in their long-term health goals.

However, injectable medications work best when they are paired with changes in your lifestyle, and with that in mind, here are some top tips for maximising the benefits of weight loss medications like Wegovy.

Exercise Is Essential For More Than Calorie Burning

Whilst physical activity is a crucial part of any treatment due to the effects of cardiovascular exercise on burning calories and losing weight, it is an essential part of managing one of the effects of any significant weight loss intervention.

Losing muscle mass is a part of any weight loss routine, and building it back up through strength training will not only help you to maintain your routine but will also boost your metabolism, maximise the benefits of the medication and help keep the weight off in the long term.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep

It is not just about what you do but ensuring you give yourself as much time as you can to rest, relax and recuperate; the body needs sleep to effectively manage blood sugar levels, and one study found that people who were sleep-deprived tended to lose more muscle than fat.

Disrupted sleep can also lead to increased hunger, and in the long term can undermine the effects of medications designed to reduce your appetite and help you feel fuller for longer.

Whilst not everyone needs a full eight hours of sleep, if you notice you do not sleep very well on a regular basis or struggle to concentrate during the day, try to create a relaxing, calming environment before you go to bed.

Reduce Stress As Much As Possible

Whilst stress is a part of life sometimes, chronic stress can not only affect our mental health but can also have an effect on how well your weight loss routine will work.

Part of the reason for this is that stress affects sleep, but it also releases the hormone cortisol, which alongside regulating alertness and “fight or flight” reactions also affects how fat accumulates around the abdomen.

This, alongside the risk of emotional eating, makes stress a particularly major concern if you are dealing with a lot of it.

Whilst not all sources of stress can be removed from your life and exercise can help with stress relief, try to find stress management techniques that work for you, or consider professional mental health support if you are struggling.

Eat A Nutrient-Rich Diet

The best diets when on Wegovy are low-calorie but nutrient-dense, relying on whole grains, fruits, vegetables and lean protein sources such as fish, eggs, beans and low-fat dairy products.

As with muscle mass loss once the medication kicks in, it is important to ensure you are getting as much nutrients as possible, so consider soups, smoothies or multivitamins if you notice you are not eating very much.