Experiences of GLP-1s when you’re already a powerlifter

[INeedAnotherAlibi]

I’m seriously considering starting a GLP1 (got the referral code and done the form!). I just wondered if there were any MNetters who were experienced powerlifters who are on the drugs and how it impacted?
I’ve struggled with my weight since I was young. Yo-yoed from childhood. After many years of this, trying different exercise types, I stopped dieting and started powerlifting about 5 years ago. I’m stronger than I ever have been. I am still obese though and binge of sugary food. I would like to be slimmer and not eat so much crap (I am mid 40s and worried about the long-term impact on my health).
I know it’s advisable to do strength training when you’re on these types of drugs. I’ve seen quite a lot saying if you don’t do it right, a lot of the ‘weight loss’ is muscle mass.
I don’t want to lose my form with the powerlifting though. Has anyone already been powerlifting when they started a GLP1? How did it affect you?

I'm not competitive but I like big lifts.
I'm so used to controlling what I eat that a very low dose is doing what I need it to do - it slows the rate I burn up my calories. This makes it easy to stick with my protein goals, to prioritise my nutritional goals and keep a calorie deficit. Honestly it is amazing. Life is so easy now.

Thanks for replying.
I’m not doing big comps or anything, we do charity comps at my gym.
I love the sound of life being easier on it! DP has been the same weight as an adult all his life. I asked him about food noise and it’s just not an issue for him! I think I will give it a whirl!

Any rapid and drastic weight loss will be a combo of fat and lean mass. Not only muscles but bone as well. However when you stop the injections and gain the weight back, it seems you gain mostly fat back, not the muscles, not the bones.
It is the speed and the amount lost in a very short time that will determine this.
You are the proof one can hit the gym hard, be strong, lift heavy and still be unhealthy and obese. It takes a lot of discipline and dedication in the gym to get the results you have. You can apply the same dedication and discipline to your eating habits. It is harder to lift than to leave a junk food on the shelf. You have it in you to do better choices.
The most important muscle for weight loss is your biceps and more specifically when you flex it to bring food to your mouth or extent it to grab a pack of biscuit from a supermarket shelf. Control that muscle and you have control on your food intake.

I’m not a powerlifter but I do a compound lift at the beginning of each workout - I lift 5 tImes a week ie squat bench deadlift row or shoulder press. I had great success with Mj.

I made it a non negotiable that I’d have 120g protein a day and I didn’t go above 3.75mg but it stopped my inclination to eat rubbish. I planned each day what to eat in advance and I managed to easily stick to it.

I found I lost a few kg in my bench and shoulder press (although if you consider % of bodyweight it was consistent with that). I didn’t seem to lose strength in squats, bent over rows or deadlifts.

I kept track of my weight with BIA machines and almost all of the weight lost was fat. I recommend the Withings at home machine. Happy to answer any questions.

That’s why I decided not to have rapid weight loss! I dropped 1kg a week for around 3 months. I prioritised protein (120-150g a day) and I lifted heavy 5-6 times a week - combo of compound lifts and resistance machines. I had a minimum of 1,200 calories a day. Whilst there are failings with BIA machines I monitored my weight and it indicated that the weight loss was fat.

So clearly my fat never really got that low. And some muscle loss is inevitable as these machines measure fat and everything else is muscle (connective tissue etc). More relevant is that the number on the deadlift, leg press, lat pulldown etc did not decrease etc. I’m maintaining around 60kg, and some of the 2kg I gained (it’s a year now) is muscle, maybe around 1/3 of it, I’ve gained strength in all lifts since the end of the diet.

Not a powerlifter but I do lift weights 4x weekly.

Broadly you will have 2 issues. Fatigue is a real side effect and it took me a few weeks to get over this. It also happens when you go up a dose. This is likely to temporarily affect your ability to train.

Secondly, as a rule, larger people lift bigger weights. It is pretty normal that you will lose some strength as your mass contributes to your ability to lift weight in an absolute sense.

I have lost weight quite slowly so far (no more than 1lb a week). This has been a deliberate decision. If you continue lifting, take creatine and prioritise 100+ grams of protein a day then you’ll minimise muscle loss.

@MeridaBrave your numbers are inspiring. I'm taking the plunge with Wegovy & looking at staying on a low dose for 6 - 9 months. I only want to drop around 10-12 kilos, but it's very difficult at my age. I train hard 3-4 times a week, lifting heavy (or pushing 200 kilos on the sled). But I comfort eat & have a very sweet tooth, as well as insane "food noise" at times.

So your posts are really helpful & a great overall guide.

Yes - I just needed to cut out the extra rubbish.

I used MyFitnessPal pal and worked out what I wanted to eat, and I found it easy to stick to it. I did NOT want a dose that would stop me from eating 1,200 calories / 120g protein a day - as clearly under that would risk muscle loss.

When I'm at home, organised & taking the time to do it properly, I try to stick to 1500 calories per day. It's work travel that does it for me, and a weakness for cake when I'm at home! I just need a bit of help to stick to that 1200 - 1500 cals per day.