{"id":683,"date":"2024-08-27T15:23:41","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T15:23:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.reflexmd.com\/?p=683"},"modified":"2025-04-21T22:45:25","modified_gmt":"2025-04-22T02:45:25","slug":"glp-1s-how-much-weight-can-you-lose-in-a-month","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.reflexmd.com\/blog\/glp-1\/glp-1s-how-much-weight-can-you-lose-in-a-month\/","title":{"rendered":"GLP-1s: How Much Weight Can You Lose in a Month?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re considering using GLP-1 for weight loss, you probably have lots of questions for your doctor. At the top of the list for many people: How much weight can I lose in a month? Or how quickly can I lose 20 pounds? (Another common question: Do I qualify? Take this short quiz<\/a> to see find out.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The answer to these questions is not as straightforward as you might think. \u201cHow much weight you\u2019ll lose is truly individualized,\u201d says Cathy Epps, PharmD<\/a>, Chief Pharmacist at ReflexMD and an operational, clinical, and compliance consultant in Pompano Beach, Florida. \u201cEvery person\u2019s body reacts differently to GLP-1.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To understand why, it helps to understand how GLP-1 works. GLP-1 is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration<\/a>. This means it imitates the function of a hormone called GLP-1, which gets released in your GI tract whenever you eat.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GLP-1 prompts your body to increase its insulin production, which lowers your blood sugar. GLP-1 also signals your brain to control your appetite and creates a sensation of fullness in your stomach. But how quickly it prompts these changes\u2014and the intensity of them\u2014varies by person.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re thinking about taking a GLP-1 to assist your weight loss journey, talk to your doctor or chat with a ReflexMD Wellness Advisor now. Then, read on for five ways to improve your chances of success.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #1: Losing weight on GLP-1 might not happen right away<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A month is most likely not long enough to see major results on GLP-1. Taking it is not like being on a calorie-restrictive diet, where you can drop pounds right out of the gate. That happens because your body releases glycogen, a carbohydrate that makes you lose water weight, according to the Mayo Clinic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GLP-1 doesn\u2019t operate that way. Instead, you shed weight on it because it\u2019s an appetite suppressant, the Cleveland Clinic<\/a> explains. Depending on the person, this effect may not kick in all that quickly, although it will happen eventually.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou will experience appetite suppression, whether it starts in your first week or your tenth week,\u201d says Dr. Epps. The smart move: Keep expectations in check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fact #2: You have to take GLP-1 the right way\u2014and shift your habits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You need to take GLP-1 as recommended and with your doctor\u2019s guidance. You\u2019ll also have to follow a healthy reduced-calorie diet and exercise regularly, following your doctor\u2019s advice on how often to work out. GLP-1 has magical qualities but it\u2019s not a magic bullet.<\/p>\n\n\n