Keep losing after GLP-1s

Whether you quit a drug like Zepbound or have never taken meds, a new study reveals the #1 way to drop pounds for good

- BY ALLISON NEMETZ

Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound—this new wave of medications boosts levels of the hormone GLP-1, dramatically improving blood sugar and reducing body weight by up to 26%. Experts say results can be life-changing. Yet insurance doesn't always cover the high cost, and folks can lose muscle along with body fat, which slows metabolism and causes weight to return quickly if the drugs are discontinued, notes Tro Kalayjian, D.O. The solution discovered in his recent Frontiers in Nutrition study: “therapeutic” carb reduction, or TCR. He says the carb-cutting strategy can get Zepbound-sized results even without GLP-1 meds, and it also allows women like 90-pounds-slimmer Brook Vaughan, 42, to continue losing after quitting GLP-1s. Read on for Brook's inspiring story and tips to make TCR work for you.

When PCOS sufferer Brook went on a diet, “I’d gain weight while other people were losing,” says the Tennessee mom. She eventually developed prediabetes. “My doctor thought Zepbound was a good fit for me.” He explained that the drug would quiet her constant thoughts about food and make healthy eating easier. Plus, GLP-1 meds help stabilize blood sugar and have other effects on the body, helping to control or reverse prediabetes while also speeding fat burn.

Eating this way

To try therapeutic carb reduction, use a smartphone app to keep carbs under 30 grams and protein over 100 grams each day. Don't count the carbs in nonstarchy veggies. Avoid processed food most of the time, but it's fine to enjoy lowcarb treats (like Brook's favorite Quest chips). We've got meal ideas to inspire you. Dr. Tro strongly suggests adding resistance training to protect muscle.