It’s hard to ignore the amazing results that we are seeing with weight loss injections such as Ozempic, Wegovy and Mounjaro. These drugs are powerful for weight loss because they reduce appetite, slow gastric emptying, and improve blood sugar control.
But here’s the catch: They cause both fat loss AND muscle loss.
That’s bad, because losing muscle can:
- Slow down your metabolism
- Make it easier to regain fat later
- Increase frailty, especially long-term
- Cause strength loss, low energy, and put you at higher risk of injuries
This is why resistance training is essential whilst using weight loss injections.
Resistance exercise signals your body to hold onto muscle even while you’re losing weight. It helps to protect strength, metabolism, and body composition.
Resistance exercise also really helps when you stop using weight loss injections because when you stop, your appetite usually comes back fast and without enough muscle, your body might regain fat quickly, especially if your metabolism is slower.
However, if you’ve built or retained muscle through resistance exercise, your metabolism stays higher, and you’re better able to burn calories naturally. You’ll have better body control, strength, and habits to keep the weight off when you stop the injections.
There is no need to feel embarrassed about using weight loss injections — they’re increasingly common and can be a valuable tool in your health journey. If you feel comfortable, let your instructor know. This allows us to better support you in designing a resistance training program that helps you to maintain muscle, boost metabolism, and keep the weight off long-term.
