Ozempic & Nutrition: How We Support Clients on GLP-1 Injections

At The Nutrition Circle, we see more and more clients using GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy. While these medications are being hailed as a “miracle” for weight loss and diabetes management, it isn't quite the magic fix  however we can see GLP-1 antagonists are seriously changing the playing field that can help leverage your ability to make the lifestyle change you desire.

The thing to note is that although GLP-1s reduce appetite and help people eat less, they don’t heal a broken relationship with food or teach you how to nourish your body. That’s where we come in.

We’re here to support you with practical, sustainable tools to complement your journey, on or off medication.

So, what do GLP-1s actually do?

• They reduce appetite and food noise, helping you think less about food and make more conscious choices about what you want to eat

• They lower calorie intake, which is how weight loss is achieved through filling fuller faster

• But you still need to know how to eat well. Whilst GLP-1s are altering your metabolic system, your body still requires energy and nutrients daily to function (eg. breathe, talk, walk, lift, think, move).

For example, if you are injecting Ozempic or Wegovy but still living on:

• A large takeaway coffee,

• A protein bar on the run,

• Half a frozen lasagna, and

• A couple of Tim Tams before bed…

... this is not going to get you the long term results you want. If anything, this potentially opens up more issues down the track because your digestive tract is starved of the essential nutrients and fibre it needs to stay healthy.

Less food in means each bite matters more. You gotta eat well, not just less.

How GLP-1s Can Be Used Effectively (With Nutrition Support)

1. Less food noise = more mental space
Often people feel trapped because they're constantly looking for or snacking on foods in between main meal times, raising blood glucose levels and frustration that they always feel like they're eating. By reducing appetite cues, this allows you to focus on building structured, regular meal times that sustains your "metabolic fire" (aka burning capacity) so you can feel energized, have a clear mind and feel good throughout your day.

2. Regular meal times = more opportunities to get nutrients in
Sounds simple, but is often overlooked when it comes to dieting. Eating 3 meals a day sets you up to provide your body a greater chance to:

• Absorb key nutrients like iron, zinc, B12 and calcium that are super important to stay well, and prevent future issues like osteoporosis, anaemia, hair loss and fatigue.

• Preserve lean muscle mass because muscle is your powerhouse. Yes, you'll start to burn your stored fats but in order to stay lean, fuelling the body regularly throughout the day helps to reduce the wastage of precious muscle in your body.

• Get through a whole day without running out of steam, or getting uber cranky because you're famished. Regular (smaller) fuel stops ensures you don't end up exhausted on the couch because you haven't been able to meet your daily demands.
  
  

3. Learn what true fullness feels like
If you struggle with knowing when to stop eating, GLP-1s are great to at creating an artificial sense of satiety (fullness), so we suggest using this to your advantage. With intuitive eating guidance alongside your GLP-1 journey, we can help you cement this sensation for future reference so when you stop the injections, you still have body awareness.

4. Expect a rebound
The truth is, when you stop GLP-1s some weight regain is inevitable.
This isn’t failure, it’s completely normal physiology after any type of food restriction and there is decades of studies show this not only in these new drugs, but any diets that reduce your food intake. Therefore, we help you prepare emotionally and nutritionally for this transition and get you moving forward without guilt, shame, or panic.

Our Role at The Nutrition Circle

In summary, we help clients using Ozempic or Wegovy or Mounjaro:

• Build sustainable eating habits that go the distance, well beyond GLP-1 injections

• Get enough nutrients on reduced food intake 

• Understand and manage satiety cues

• Maintain individual metabolic health, based on your situation and health issues

• Transition off the injections safely and confidently

We may not love the over reliance on medication, but we understand it’s part of the world we live in and making the best of the tools available can give you a real edge to improving your health and lifestyle.

If you're on a GLP-1, thinking about it or trying to stop, we’re here to support your long-term success.