A few years ago, I realized I wasn’t at my best, and I didn’t like what that meant for my family. I have two young girls who never run out of energy, a career that asks a lot of me, and a marriage I want to show up for. Somewhere in the middle of juggling all of it, I started falling behind.

There’s a trail I’ve hiked every summer since my twenties, and about two thirds of the way up there’s a rock where I always stop, drink some water, and look back at how far I’ve come. Two summers ago, I stopped about twenty minutes short of it. I wasn’t hurt, and I wasn’t out of trail. I just didn’t have it.

That stuck with me. If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve had a moment like that too, and maybe you’re wondering whether a GLP-1 is the answer.

I’m a reader by nature, so before I started anything, I read everything I could find from people who know this field. Then I sat down with Dr. Chase Kornegay, our Medical Director, and worked through my questions with him one at a time. These are the ones that mattered most to me, and I’d bet a few of them are on your list too.

“Am I going to lose muscle?”

This was my first question, because the last thing I wanted was to end up lighter and weaker. Here’s the straight answer: when you lose weight, some of it can be muscle, and that’s true on a GLP-1 and with plain old dieting too.

What you do about it matters a lot. Eating enough protein and doing some kind of strength training gives your body a reason to keep its muscle, and regular body composition scans show you whether it’s working. Our clinic director, Lezli Dow, wrote a whole post on this, and it’s worth your time.

“What are the side effects, really?”

I wanted the real version, not the brochure. Most common side effects show up in your stomach, things like nausea, constipation, or diarrhea, and they tend to come early or right after a dose goes up. That’s a big reason providers usually start low and increase slowly.

“Is my hair going to fall out?”

This one was on my mind, and it’s been in the news lately. A study published in September by researchers at NYU found that men who are already genetically prone to male-pattern hair loss may have a somewhat higher risk of losing hair while taking a GLP-1. It’s an early genetic study, not a clinical trial, so it raises a good question more than it answers one.

Hair can also thin out after any fast weight loss while your body adjusts. If baldness runs in your family, bring it up with your provider before you start. It’s a fair question, and a good provider will take it seriously.

“Do I have to give up my life to do this?”

For me, some things were non-negotiable. Dinners out, ski weekends, and trips with my girls weren’t going anywhere, and I wasn’t going to take my life apart to get my health back.

I didn’t have to. With coaching alongside my medication, I learned to make better choices inside the life I already had, instead of building a whole new one around a diet.

“Will I have to take this forever?”

Nobody can give you one answer for everyone, because it depends on your body, your health, and your goals. What I learned is that a lot of people regain some weight after they stop, which is exactly why the habits you build while you’re on the medication matter so much. It’s a conversation to have with your provider at the start, and to keep having as you go.

One question I didn’t ask out loud

There was one more question I never said to anyone, and I think a lot of guys carry it around quietly. Is this cheating?

Nope.

I still had to show up. I worked with a coach, ate differently, trained, and made choices every single day. My medication helped with the part my body couldn’t do on its own, and I did the rest.

Where I am now

I’m down 42 pounds and counting. Last summer, I made it to the rock.