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ForumsExercise & Body CompositionCreatine loading vs maintenance on GLP-1 — my results so far

Creatine loading vs maintenance on GLP-1 — my results so far

DerekSJ_a1c Sat, Apr 13, 2024 at 7:47 AM 45 replies 2,756 viewsPage 1 of 9
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DerekSJ_a1c
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Apr 13, 2024 at 9:12 AM#1

I've been experimenting with my morning routine for the past 6 months on semaglutide and I've noticed a MASSIVE difference in how I feel and how effective the medication seems based on what I do (or don't do) in the first 2 hours of my day.

My current morning routine (5:45 AM wake-up):

  1. 5:45 — Wake up, immediately drink 500ml water with a pinch of salt and squeeze of lemon (electrolytes)
  2. 6:00 — 20 minute walk outside. No phone, no podcast. Just walk and wake up. (light exposure for circadian rhythm)
  3. 6:25 — Supplements: B12 sublingual, vitamin D3, magnesium (took the mag at night initially but morning works better for me)
  4. 6:30 — High protein breakfast: 3 eggs scrambled + 100g smoked salmon OR Greek yogurt bowl with protein powder and berries (~35-40g protein)
  5. 7:00 — Coffee (I wait until AFTER food now — coffee on empty stomach + GLP-1 = nausea city for me)

Since dialing this in, my energy is dramatically better, I hit my protein goals more consistently, and the afternoon energy crashes have mostly disappeared. The morning walk especially was a game changer — something about the sunlight and movement first thing just sets the whole day up right.

What does your morning routine look like? Sharing is caring 😄

28 15adam_van, Dr.SurgeonPGH, rachel_ABQ and 25 others
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ricardo_MIA
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Miami, FL
Apr 13, 2024 at 9:29 AM#2

lmaooo my morning routine is: alarm goes off, snooze 3 times, panic, grab a protein bar, eat it in the car, spill coffee on myself, arrive at work 2 minutes late

but seriously this is aspirational and i respect it. the coffee-after-food thing is a great tip — i've been wondering why my stomach tries to exit my body every morning and it's probably because i chug black coffee on an empty semaglutide stomach like an idiot

gonna try the water-first thing tomorrow. baby steps. 🐣

Last edited: Apr 13, 2024 at 2:29 PM
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JessicaM_2024
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Mar 2024
Portland, OR
Apr 13, 2024 at 9:46 AM#3

The morning sunlight walk is genuinely backed by strong science. Andrew Huberman gets meme'd a lot but the circadian rhythm stuff is legitimate:

  • Early morning light exposure (even on cloudy days) triggers cortisol release at the right time, setting your circadian clock
  • This improves sleep quality that night, which is crucial because poor sleep directly impairs GLP-1 efficacy and increases hunger hormones (ghrelin)
  • Post-meal walking improves glucose disposal — though Max walks pre-breakfast, a 10-15 min walk after breakfast is also excellent

My addition to this: consistent wake time matters more than consistent bedtime. Even on weekends, I wake up within 30 minutes of my weekday alarm. The first week was painful but my sleep quality improved dramatically and I'm no longer fighting "social jet lag" every Monday.

Last edited: Apr 13, 2024 at 10:46 AM
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RetaRick_CA
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Apr 13, 2024 at 10:03 AM#4

Interesting that you eat breakfast. I've been doing 16:8 intermittent fasting on Mounjaro — skipping breakfast entirely and eating 12-8pm. My results have been great too.

Not saying either approach is wrong but curious if anyone has strong feelings about breakfast vs. IF on GLP-1? My thinking is that when your eating window is already small (because appetite is suppressed), concentrating calories into fewer meals means each meal is more substantial and satisfying.

Last edited: Apr 13, 2024 at 11:03 AM
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DoseLogDan
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Feb 2025
Montana
Apr 13, 2024 at 10:20 AM#5

Both can work but there's a nuance specific to GLP-1 users: protein distribution matters for muscle protein synthesis.

The research shows that spreading protein intake across 3-4 meals/snacks (25-40g per sitting) is superior for MPS compared to cramming it all into 1-2 meals. This is the "muscle full" effect — there's a ceiling to how much protein your body can use for muscle building at one time (roughly 0.4g/kg per meal).

If you're doing IF and eating 2 meals, you'd need ~60-65g protein per meal to hit your daily target. That's a LOT of protein in one sitting, especially with GLP-1 appetite suppression. And you're leaving MPS on the table during the fasting hours.

For people primarily concerned with scale weight, IF is fine. For people concerned about lean mass preservation (which should be everyone on GLP-1 IMO), spreading protein across more meals is likely superior.

that approach of hitting 35-40g protein at breakfast is solid MPS-triggering territory. 👌

Last edited: Apr 13, 2024 at 11:20 AM
46 4carlos_SATX, sophie_paris, mel_PDX and 43 others
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