1 MORE REP
Protocol GLP-1
How to lose weight
without losing
what matters.
Training · Nutrition · Supplementation · Side Effects
CC
Cosmin Calin
CSCS · Founder & Head Coach · 1 More Rep Coaching
3
training
phases
16
week
protocol
5
side effects
solved
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 1 · Wk 1–4
Foundation
Movement quality, adaptation to the strength stimulus. No muscular failure.
3 days / week40–45 minRPE 6–7
Day A · Legs
Day B · Chest+Shoulders
Day C · Back + Biceps
Day A — Legs
Leg Press (machine)
3×12
Full foot on platform. Knees do not pass toe line. Lower controlled.
60% 1RM · Light–Moderate
Lying Leg Curl (machine)
3×12
Controlled movement, no hip rocking. 1 sec pause at peak contraction.
Light–Moderate
Leg Extension (machine)
3×12
Full extension at top, lower slow 3 sec. Do not let the weight pull.
Light
Hip Abduction (machine)
3×15
Stand tall, move from hip not from trunk.
Light
Calf Raise (machine)
3×15
Full stretch at bottom, 1 sec contraction at top.
Moderate
Daily Protein Target
2g/kg
Minimum 1.8g per kg bodyweight. Split into 3–4 meals of 30–50g each to activate protein synthesis.
Calories — how low is too low
Daily calorie deficit
300–500 kcal
Training days
Maintenance +150 kcal
Minimum women
1,600 kcal/day
Minimum men
1,800 kcal/day
Maximum deficit
600 kcal/day
Meals — what and when
Morning
Protein priority
Pre-workout
2–3 hrs before
Post-workout
30–50g protein
Evening
Small meal, protein
Pre-workout: lean protein + moderate carbs. Avoid fats — they slow digestion.
What to avoid — slow digestion
Fatty meat, processed meats
→ Chicken, fish, eggs
Fried foods
→ Boiled, steamed
Lots of water with meals
→ Between meals
Raw vegetables in excess
→ Steamed
Carbonated drinks
→ Still water, tea
Alcohol
→ Avoid first 4 weeks
Evidence-based · Specific to GLP-1
Creatine Monohydrate
5g / day
Any time, daily
Preserves strength and muscle mass in caloric deficit. Mandatory.
Vitamin D3 + K2
2000–4000 UI
Morning with food
Hormonal support, immunity, calcium absorption for bones.
Omega-3 (EPA+DHA)
2–3g / day
With meals (reduces nausea)
Anti-inflammatory, muscle recovery.
Magnesium Glycinate
300–400mg
Evening, before sleep
Better sleep, reduced cramps, helps mild constipation.
Vitamin B12
500–1000 mcg
Morning
Energy, metabolism. Often low with reduced food intake.
Protein Powder
1–2 scoops / day
Post-workout
Helps hit protein target when appetite is low.
Zinc
15–25 mg / day
Evening with food
Hair, skin, immunity. Useful if experiencing hair loss.
Magnesium Citrate
200–400mg
Evening (if needed)
Mild laxative effect. Alternative to glycinate when needed.
What is NOT worth your money
Fat burners, detox products, slimming teas
On GLP-1 you already have the most powerful weight control mechanism available. You do not need anything extra — you need protein, strength training and sleep.
01 · Problem
Nausea
Eat small, frequent meals (4–5/day). Avoid fatty and fried foods. Do not train immediately after eating — wait at least 2 hours. Natural ginger (tea, capsules) reduces nausea. If severe, discuss slower dose escalation with your doctor.
02 · Problem
Slowed digestion — bloating, reflux
Avoid fatty meat, fried foods and excess water with meals. Eat steamed vegetables, not raw in large quantities. No carbonated drinks. Alcohol avoided completely in the first 4 weeks.
03 · Problem
Constipation
Gradually increase soluble fibre: oats, ground flaxseed, psyllium husk. Minimum 2–2.5L water per day. 10–15 minutes walking after the main meal. Magnesium Citrate in the evening (200–400mg).
04 · Problem
Fatigue and low energy
Do not reduce food further. Make sure you are eating at least the minimum calories. Prioritise sleep — under 7 hours raises cortisol. Vitamin B12 and iron are frequently low — get bloodwork after the first month.
05 · Problem
Hair loss
This is not caused directly by the medication — it is caused by insufficient protein intake. If you hit your protein target (1.8–2.4g/kg), the risk drops significantly. Zinc, biotin and iron contribute. Hair regrows once the body stabilises.
What to track weekly
Body weight
Daily · 7-day average
Waist circumference
Weekly
Hip circumference
Weekly
Strength on key exercises
Monthly
Protein intake
Media 3 days / week
Progress photos
At 30 / 60 / 90 days
Results at 16 weeks
Total weight loss
6–10 kg · 10–15 kg
Muscle mass retained
90–95% · maintained+
Waist reduction
5–8 cm · 8–12 cm
Leg Press (progress)
+30–50% load increase
Lat Pulldown (progress)
+20–40% load increase
Common issues
Strength stagneaza
Add 100–150 kcal/day
Scale not moving 3 weeks
Check 14-day average
Insufficient protein
Prioritise at first meal
Home
Program
Nutrition
Side Effects
Coach
Personal Coaching
Cosmin
Calin
CSCS · CPSS · Poliquin Master Level 5 · Precision Nutrition L2
I am a strength and conditioning coach and a nutrition specialist. I do not prescribe medication and I do not give medical advice. What I do is make sure that while the medication is doing its job, you are doing yours — building the body that keeps the result when the medication stops.
Why strength and nutrition are non-negotiable
GLP-1 medications suppress appetite dramatically. That is the mechanism. The problem is that your body does not distinguish between fat and muscle when it is in a deep caloric deficit — it breaks down both.
Without progressive resistance training, research shows 30–40% of the weight lost on GLP-1 comes from lean muscle mass — not fat. That means a smaller body with worse body composition, a slower metabolism, and a much higher probability of regaining the weight when the medication stops.
The nutrition side is equally critical. When hunger disappears, most people stop hitting their protein targets. Protein is what tells the body to preserve muscle during a deficit. Without it, no amount of training fully compensates.
The statistic most people never see
56–70% of lost weight is regained within 12 months of stopping GLP-1 medication — in people who did not build habits around training and nutrition.
The Wilding et al. (2022) NEJM follow-up study found that one year after stopping semaglutide, participants with no structured exercise or nutrition protocol regained two-thirds of their lost weight. Those who maintained resistance training and protein targets preserved the majority of their results.
The medication suppresses appetite. It does not build muscle, change habits, or raise your metabolic rate. That is what the work builds. My job is to make sure you are not in that statistic.
What we build together
Muscle-preserving training
Progressive resistance training built around your GLP-1 cycle. The research is unambiguous — without strength training, 30–40% of GLP-1 weight loss comes from muscle, not fat.
High-protein nutrition strategy
GLP-1 suppresses appetite so effectively that most people under-eat protein. We build a precise nutrition plan that keeps protein high even when hunger is low — the single most important factor in preserving lean mass.
Metabolic foundation for life after GLP-1
The goal is a body that maintains results when the medication stops. We build the muscle mass, metabolic rate and eating habits that make the rebound statistic irrelevant to you personally.
Weekly tracking and adjustment
Body weight alone tells you almost nothing on GLP-1. We track muscle mass, waist circumference, strength, and protein intake — the numbers that actually tell you if you are losing fat or losing body composition.
How it works
1
Free intro call
We talk about where you are with your GLP-1 protocol, your training history, and what result you are actually trying to hold onto long-term.
2
Full plan within 48 hours
Training, nutrition and supplementation — all built specifically for GLP-1 users. Not a generic programme.
3
Weekly check-in
We review the data, adjust loads and protein targets, and address any side effects that are affecting training or nutrition compliance.
4
Exit strategy
A specific plan for transitioning off the medication — the phase most people have no protocol for, and where the majority of rebound happens.
What clients say
„I lost 11 kg in 4 months without losing strength. Muscle mass almost entirely preserved. I did not believe it was possible until I saw the results.”
Online client · 38 years old · Romania
„Cosmin explained more about my body in the first week than I understood in 3 years of gym training.”
Online client · 29 years old · Germany
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