What Really Matters
Protein is your best friend
When you're in a caloric deficit, your body can break down muscle as well as fat. This is bad because burned muscle means slower metabolism, which eventually stalls your weight loss. The solution is to ensure adequate protein at every meal: at least 1.2g per kg of ideal body weight per day. Chicken, fish, eggs, tofu, dairy — distribute throughout the day.
Strength training beats cardio in impact
Strength training builds muscle, and muscle burns more energy at rest than fat. This means your basal metabolism increases, and you burn more even while sleeping. Two to three strength sessions per week are more effective for long-term results than hours on the treadmill.
Sleep is when you burn
When you sleep poorly, your body produces more cortisol, which interferes with fat loss and increases hunger. Seven to eight hours of sleep per night isn't a luxury — it's a metabolic tool. If you sleep five hours and train in the morning, you're sabotaging your own results.
Hydration prevents plateau
Mild dehydration is common with GLP-1 and can be interpreted by the body as scarcity, activating water retention and slowing weight loss. Two liters of water per day minimum.