Summer Countdown: GLP-1s to Your Vacation Weight Loss Plan

Summer is the perfect time of year for barbecues, beach trips, and feeling your best! There’s nothing quite like the sun hitting your skin, sipping refreshing beverages on patios, and enjoying time with friends. However, do you want to know what could make each of these things even better? Confidently achieving your dream summer body while still enjoying the festivities.

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This season, you deserve to have the physique you desire, and it may be possible with a thoughtfully designed weight loss plan. Let's explore how your efforts, combined with the aid of GLP-1s, could help you get vacay-ready. 

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What Are GLP-1s? 

Before we explore how GLP-1s could help you prepare for the summer season, we’ll explain what they are.  

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To start, GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. In the last few years, GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs), or GLP-1 analogs, as they’re also called, have gained tremendous popularity. They’re a class of medications primarily used to treat two major public health concerns: obesity and type 2 diabetes. People often use the terms Ozempic, a brand name, or semaglutide, which is the active ingredient in Ozempic, when discussing GLP-1s. 

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These medications mimic the naturally occurring GLP-1 incretin hormone that’s created in the small intestine and then released after you eat. This gut-derived version is often referred to as peripheral GLP-1 and plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. Research finds that the GLP-1 hormone and its receptors can be found in parts of the brain, as well, and they’re known as central GLP-1. 

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While it’s not 100% clear how and if these two GLP-1 sources work together, they both suppress eating, which can lead to a reduction in weight. 

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Ready to get started on your weight loss journey?  

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Why Use GLP-1 Medications for Weight Loss? 

Now, you might be wondering, if our body already produces this hormone, then why are GLP-1 medications used to help with weight loss? Even further, why does anyone struggle with being overweight or obese if our body makes something that can help keep our weight in check? 

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Truthfully, the answers to both of these questions are complex, but they ultimately come down to two key factors, which we’ll discuss below. 

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GLP-1 Drugs Boost GLP-1 Levels

Gut-derived GLP-1 circulates in the plasma at incredibly low levels. Therefore, if you hope to achieve your dream summer body with the help of GLP-1s, you’ll need higher amounts of it than your body can organically produce to really experience its beneficial effects. Since our body creates too little of a good thing, GLP-1 medications are available to help fill the gaps. 

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Additionally, research indicates that some individuals generate lower levels of it than usual. This could be due to having a disease like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), lacking fiber in the diet, or taking certain medications, for example. 

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Our dietitians share that it’s possible to increase natural GLP-1 levels by consuming certain products. Yet, they also explain that dietary adjustments alone often aren’t sufficient. Dietary modifications may not result in an ample enough boost in GLP-1 blood concentration, making it unlikely to experience the hormone's benefits. 

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GLP-1 Medications Have a Longer Half-Life 

Another reason GLP-1 receptor agonists might be helpful is due to their extended half-life. Fridays cofounder, Dr. Weiss Surkhabi, shares that a substance's half-life refers to the amount of time it takes for the drug's active substance to be decreased by half in the body. If something has a shorter half-life, it means that its effects won’t last long, thus requiring more frequent dosing. A longer half-life, on the other hand, means that the substance remains in the body for a longer period of time, allowing for less frequent dosing. 

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The naturally occurring GLP-1 hormone breaks down quickly in the body due to the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4). It degrades GLP-1, resulting in a very short half-life, averaging around 1 to 2 minutes. Whereas, the half-life of a GLP-1RA medication might be around 4 to 7 days. 

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How Can GLP-1s Help You Achieve a Summer Body?

GLP-1 drugs are designed to help enhance your summer weight loss plan by offering higher concentrations of GLP-1 in the bloodstream and a longer half-life. Yet, how exactly do they make that possible? 

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Remember we discussed peripheral and central GLP-1 systems earlier? Turns out, each source responds to GLP-1RAs differently as it relates to weight loss. The peripheral pathway helps regulate gut hormones, slows down gastric emptying, and influences glucose metabolism. The central pathway, though, affects the brain’s reward center, decreases hunger signals, and acts on satiety centers to suppress one's appetite. 

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Now, we’ll explore in greater depth how GLP-1s can help you maximize your current weight reduction efforts. 

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1. Regulating Gut Hormones 

GLP-1s interact with the gut-derived hormones ghrelin, cholecystokinin, and peptide YY. 

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Ghrelin is considered the “hunger hormone” as it boosts food intake, encourages fat storage, and piques the appetite. To put it another way, ghrelin encourages each of the things that can throw a wrench in your weight loss plan. Thankfully, GLP-1RAs decrease ghrelin levels, which prompts appetite-suppressing effects. 

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The peptide hormones cholecystokinin and peptide YY have some of the desirable effects that people wanting to lose weight would like to have more of. 

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Cholecystokinin pumps the brakes on further food intake by making your stomach feel physically full, especially in response to proteins and fatty foods. Peptide YY decreases appetite and slows gastric emptying, a process where the stomach moves food contents into the small intestine. GLP-1 agonists stimulate the release of both peptide hormones, further helping with appetite control. 

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2. Delaying Gastric Emptying 

One way to prolong the sensation of fullness is to slow gastric emptying, which is what GLP-1s do. When you eat, the stomach expands, which can trigger a sense of satiation. If you have heightened levels of plasma GLP-1, it’ll decrease gastric motility, allowing food contents to stay in the stomach longer. Therefore, not only will you want to stop eating sooner, you’ll also feel less hungry for a longer period of time. That’s a win when you’re trying to achieve a summer body. 

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3. Improving Glucose Metabolism, Lipid Levels, and More

In addition to the above, GLP-1s further influence the peripheral pathways by: 

• Stabilizing glucose levels, which lowers the hunger signals triggered by the brain. This helps reduce food intake and appetite.  
• Bettering glycemic control, while also lowering triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. By enhancing lipid profiles and glycemic control, the body is less likely to accumulate excess fat. 
• Helping to burn more calories by boosting the production of heat in the body (thermogenesis). If you burn off more calories than you consume, it can lead to weight loss.  
• Minimizing chronic inflammation in adipose tissue and promoting the redistribution of abdominal fat. Not only does this aid in sustained weight reduction, these processes also help decrease one’s risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. 

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4. Adjusting the Brain's Hunger Signals

When it comes to GLP-1RAs, the central nervous system has an interesting role in weight management. For instance, these medications can bind to specific areas of the brain and enhance the function of neurons. Stimulating these neurons could lower your desire to eat and make you feel full. 

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GLP-1s can also decrease the reward of food intake by affecting how dopamine signals respond to the brain's reward regions. Think about the “good” feeling you get when eating something sugary and sweet. With the help of GLP-1 medications, less dopamine is released, minimizing the rewarding sensation often connected to eating high-calorie foods. 

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The medication also alters satiety signaling by affecting how the brain responds to leptin, a hormone that stimulates energy expenditure and reduces appetite. Basically, it makes leptin more effective at diminishing your appetite. 

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GLP-1s: A Mighty Tool in Your Weight Loss Plan

It’s clear that GLP-1 drugs are a powerful asset in the journey toward better health and sustainable weight loss. These medications can curb appetite, regulate blood sugar, and improve metabolic function—all of which can make a noticeable difference in how you feel and look. However, it’s essential to understand that GLP-1s are not a magic fix or an instant solution. They’re a valuable tool, but not the entire toolbox.

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When combined with GLP-1 therapy, these healthy habits don’t just enhance weight loss—they support long-term wellness, boost energy, and help you feel more confident in your body. So while GLP-1s can help jumpstart your progress, your commitment to a healthier lifestyle is what keeps that momentum going for the long haul.

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One study found that when individuals made lifestyle interventions while taking 2.4 milligrams of semaglutide once weekly, they lost 14.9% of their body weight. In comparison, the group that solely made lifestyle changes lost 2.4% of their body weight. Additionally, the research revealed that GLP-1 treatments have been proven safe and effective for up to 2 years. Therefore, you might not just achieve your dream summer body - you could have a physique you’ll love for years to come. 

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If you’ve hit a plateau in your weight loss journey or just aren’t seeing the results you were hoping for, join Fridays.

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