The luxury fitness club Equinox offers its members a new way to meet their fitness goals in the new year.
“We’re seeing an increase in members using — or interested in using — GLP-1 weight loss medications, including Ozempic and Wegovy,” says Equinox club trainer Michael Crandall, who spearheads the new program.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is a hormone used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity, and is a key component of Ozempic, an FDA-approved prescription drug for people with type 2 diabetes. It is one of the brand names for semaglutide — also known as Wegovy and Mounjaro.
Over the past year, Ozempic has skyrocketed in popularity in Hollywood and beyond as more and more people turn to these drugs for occasional weight loss.
And Equinox noticed.
“We’re creating an in-house education program at Equinox Fitness Training Institute, adding the GLP1 protocol to train the many members who use it,” says Crandell. “The drugs work so well, but we felt there was something really important missing for our clients on them. Weight loss interventions should always be accompanied by a training program to achieve the best results.”
Ozempic FAQ: All about the weight-loss drug — Yes, you’ll likely gain weight when you stop taking it
“There are scenarios where people either lose weight too quickly, or they’re unhappy with their body after being on medication for a while, or they stop taking the medication,” Crandell explains. “And that’s actually where Equinox coaching can help build better habits and teach them what weight loss actually looks like.”
Personal fitness trainers at Equinox are now trained to design exercise regimens specifically for people who experience these side effects. Part of the plan is to create targeted fitness programs to combat adverse side effects, such as losing too much muscle mass.
A nurse who took Ozempic for COVID weight gain reveals what happened after stopping the drug
Never miss a story – sign up PEOPLEfree daily newsletter to keep up with the best that PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Crandall says, “If someone has lost 50 pounds, it would be impossible for them not to lose lean body mass as well, so we’ll help them reverse that loss, whether it’s through aerobic or anaerobic conditioning or strength training.”
The most important aspect of the program, he says, is the realization that most people on GLP1 drugs don’t want to be on them forever.
“A big part of this training process is going to be lifelong habit training,” he says. “Our clients think about losing weight long-term and are very motivated to keep the weight off. What we do is empower them so that when they relax, they’re not nervous or worried that they’re just going to put it back on.”
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education