A GLP-1 can change your body faster than anything you have tried before.
Whether it changes it for good comes down to what you do before your first dose, and during your treatment.
Said plainly: the medication does the heavy lifting, but the baseline you start from, and the plan around it, decide whether you keep what's changed.
"I want every woman who starts a GLP-1 to come in with labs, to leave with a protein target and a training plan, and to know what we're going to do when we reach her goal weight. The medication is a powerful tool. But the women who get the best outcomes are the ones who use it as part of a bigger picture." — Shae Davis, FDN-P, CPT, CNC
What baseline should you have before starting?
Before your first dose, you want a clear read on how your metabolism is actually working. At minimum that means fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c, a full lipid panel, ApoB, and hs-CRP. If you have hormonal symptoms, add a Female Wellness Panel.
That means you are not guessing. You start with a real picture of your blood sugar, your cardiovascular risk, your inflammation, and your hormones, so you can measure what the medication actually changes instead of just watching the scale.
The fastest way to get that picture is the Metabolic Health Panel.
What SeshDx includes in a GLP-1 protocol
At SeshDx, starting a GLP-1 is not just a prescription. Here is what is included.
Before starting:
Metabolic Health Panel: fasting insulin, glucose, HbA1c, lipids, ApoB, hs-CRP
Hormonal baseline (Female Wellness Panel) for women with relevant hormonal symptoms
Licensed U.S. clinician intake and clinical review
A protein target and individualized nutrition guidance
A resistance training plan, free with every prescription through the Sesh Fitness App
During treatment:
Regular check-ins with Shae Davis, FDN-P, for protocol adjustments and troubleshooting
Ongoing lab monitoring (metabolic markers at 3 and 6 months)
Side effect management guidance
Titration support: moving through the dose schedule at a pace that balances results and tolerability
Planning for the long run:
A maintenance strategy, mapped out before you need it
Integration with hormonal and metabolic support where appropriate
Reassessment at goal weight or 6 months, whichever comes first
Said simply: labs first, a protein and training plan around the medication, and a clear answer to "what happens at goal weight" before you ever start.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to exercise to get results from a GLP-1? You will lose weight without exercise. But you may lose significant muscle alongside fat, and without training the results are far less durable. Resistance training is the single most important complement to GLP-1 therapy for women who care about body composition and long-term metabolic health. It is also why every SeshDx prescription includes free training and nutrition through our 5-star app.
What if I can't tolerate the side effects? Side effects are dose-dependent and manageable in most cases. The first step is slowing the titration, there is no benefit to fast-tracking through nausea. If semaglutide is intolerable, tirzepatide is worth considering, since some women tolerate one better than the other. Stopping entirely should be a last resort, after titration adjustments.
Can GLP-1s be combined with hormone therapy? Yes. There is no contraindication to combining GLP-1 medications with hormone therapy (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone). The combination is increasingly common in functional medicine because these address different systems, metabolic versus hormonal, that both shape how a woman feels and how her body responds.
How do I know if I'm a good candidate? Candidacy comes down to BMI and body composition thresholds (BMI 30 or higher, or 27 or higher with a weight-related condition, per FDA criteria), your metabolic baseline, and ruling out contraindications (a history of medullary thyroid cancer, pancreatitis, or pregnancy). The evaluation is not complex, but it requires a clinician, and it produces much better outcomes than starting without one.
The bottom line
GLP-1 receptor agonists are genuinely effective for weight and metabolic health. They are not magic, and they work best as part of a comprehensive plan.
Before starting: get your metabolic baseline, understand the mechanism, commit to adequate protein and resistance training, and have a long-term strategy. During treatment: protect your muscle, manage side effects by titrating carefully, and address the hormonal pieces the medication does not touch.
Here is the honest part. The functional medicine approach to GLP-1 therapy is not skeptical of these medications. It is built to get the most out of them, and to make sure that when you reach your goal, you keep it.
Explore GLP-1 options at SeshDx · Start with the Metabolic Health Panel · Book a consultation to discuss candidacy
This content is educational and does not constitute medical advice. GLP-1 medications require a prescription from a licensed clinician. Please consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting any new health protocol.
