The GLP-1 Conversation Every Personal Trainer Should Be Having

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are changing the fitness industry, but what does that mean for personal trainers?

In this episode of Smittyville, CEO of Fitness World Chris Smith breaks down one of the most talked-about topics in health and wellness today. They discuss where GLP-1s came from, why they've become so popular, the risks of muscle loss, and why strength training, nutrition, and coaching are more important than ever.

Most importantly, they explore why this isn't a threat to personal trainers. It may be one of the biggest opportunities the profession has seen in years.
If you're a trainer, coach, or fitness professional trying to understand how GLP-1s are impacting your clients and your business, this episode is for you.

Topics include:

• Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 medications
• Muscle loss and strength training
• Protein and nutrition considerations
• The role of personal trainers
• The future of fitness and wellness
• Opportunities for coaches in the GLP-1 era

#personaltrainers #personaltraining #fitnesscareers #gymlife

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

So the only time I wouldn't work for someone is if I didn't think I was the best person to help them. Then I'd put them in a position to be with the person that could best help them because I wasn't. Other than that, if I thought I could help you and I had the tools and the whatever, then let's go.

SPEAKER_04 0:14

You just rolled into the smartest small town fitness. Welcome to Midivid. Yeah, we're building it up. Smartest small town fitness. A podcast for personal trainers. Let's get to work.

SPEAKER_03 0:47

You run gyms, but you're also heavily involved in the industry community. You were chairman at the HFA, for example, so you're privy to a lot of high-level conversations that are dominating the fitness industry right now. And for myself in my day job, that's what I do day in, day out. And GLP ones entered the conversation several years ago. They existed previous to that, but really mainstream conversation. One's Oprah in People Magazine. And she was kind of the first to admit her participation for one reason. She's worked with Weight Watchers forever. How awkward when you've had one narrative and you need to switch, but they got in the game too. And point being from there, whether you're watching celebrity news or pop culture or not, there's nowhere you can walk even in the streets without seeing an ad for GLP one. So why would it matter to personal trainers? Well, because it's bringing in new clientele into the gym. It's bringing clientele you already have that may be on it using as a participant in their health journey. So on a high level, what is a GLP one?

SPEAKER_01 1:51

Yeah, I mean, it's a prescribed medication that again was, you know, originally medication that's been around a really long time, right? It was designed for diabetes and those types of things of people with chronic, you know, overweight and that kind of obesity and that sort of thing. It was around forever. And then celebrities kind of found it as a quick weight loss drug in terms of getting in shape or losing a bunch of weight dramatically for a part that they were going after. Uh that was kind of the beginning of the craze, and then it's just kind of evolved to where it is now, back to the open and the people and everything else. Originally, the fitness people, health wellness people in our sector were like, how's it going to impact our industry? You had some people saying, oh, it'll have no impact, doesn't matter. And some people are like, oh my gosh, it's gonna change everything and make our clubs like no one's gonna come to the gyms anymore. Because again, at that point, the research wasn't necessarily, I wouldn't say it was available. I don't know that people are paying attention to all the research around muscle wasting and some of the other things that go into it, understand the importance of strength training. No one was really even talking about microdosing in the very beginning of it, all right, which again, I'm going back, you know, a few years now, but to like where we are today, which is I think, yeah, certainly a much informed landscape. But yeah, it's a medication available to help people uh in their quote unquote weight loss journeys, if in my opinion, if other remedies are unavailable, aka self-discipline. Because can the same thing be achieved with self-discipline? Yes, it can. Does everyone have that level of self-discipline? Not necessarily. Is it just an opportunity to push the easy button? Yeah. Do I think you should me personally introducing a foreign substance into your body without like as a as a first resort versus a what is it where am I at in kind of the spectrum of my kind of experience? I would just exercise some caution always when you're talking about putting foreign substances in your body. That's just that's me.

SPEAKER_03 3:34

I was no bones about it, super skeptical off the hop, but use this example so many times in the B2B space, but to me it's kind of the like Botox. And initially when Botox came out, nobody would admit that they were like use Botox. They just be like, I have amazing skin and no wrinkles, and now Botox is part of your skincare routine. Nobody gives a fuck. And GLPs have had a really quick adoption like that, where initially people wouldn't want to admit I'm taking a GLP. Now it's part of the mainstream conversation, and it's an important one to have for the reason you highlighted in the middle of that. We know scientifically that it causes muscle waste. So you have people that are having incredible weight loss achievements and feeling great about that. But unfortunately, it's not just their fat loss. There's muscle loss there, and strength training now is more important than ever. The good news is the medical community is aware of this. And it seems like a lot of people that are working with good practitioners are recommending their patients to go and get exercise. But that means as a trainer, you're going to encounter individuals that are on these medications. So scope is something that we talk about a lot, but what is the trainer scope when you're working with individuals that are disclosing that they are on these medications?

SPEAKER_01 4:50

It's understanding how the medications are impacting them. Again, we know there's a wide range of how these medications impact people in terms of um nausea and sleep patterns and just soreness or having the chills, um, which I think we were talking about before we actually started shooting this. Um, so there's just all these different kinds of variables, right? So understanding kind of how they're experiencing it, I think could like back into how you're gonna then program their program, not you know, in some mode from a strength perspective, but even maybe more nutritionally, right? So when are we eating? How are we eating? Are we making sure we're balancing out our macronutrients and getting the right amount of protein, carbohydrates, and fat, that protein being, you know, the real kind of key back to avoiding muscle wasting, especially when we're doing the strength training. Again, are we getting the right branch chain amino acids? Where are our protein sources? All those things matter um in a big way because you are gonna be in a significant caloric deficit because that's what the drug's doing. It's suppressing appetite in a way that you never thought was possible. Right? Like that's at the end of the day what it's gonna do. And so understanding that and then really kind of helping manage that and kind of you know create an ecosystem that they can thrive in, I think, is the key.

SPEAKER_03 5:56

How big do you feel the opportunity is for trainers?

SPEAKER_01 6:00

I think it'll open up more doors. And I mean, we still know that there's a barrier for a lot of people just around shame on going to a fitness facility because they don't feel like they're in shape to show up. Nothing's further from the truth, but getting that message across is something we've been fighting for decades, uh, still trying to help open that door and just help people know that we're accessible and available to all peeps and all types and inclusive as as you can be, right? And that's still something that we got to kind of continue to to market and message and advertise as a as a community that you know we're kind of here for everyone. But yeah, I think you just there's lots of people that are that are needing help, wanting help. But like you mentioned earlier, too, doctors are pushing people as part of their kind of prescription on you got to do some strength training and whatever else. I mean, the research even it's I still still think it's like six weeks is kind of the minimum standard that you should be doing strength training before you start the GLP one products, just to avoid the muscle waste tube. And again, particularly as women, right, gaining lean body mass is very difficult to begin with. So if you give it away to get it back, isn't like, oh, I'll I'll get it back and I'll just work out for a couple. It's gonna take years if you go lose a bunch of muscle over the course of six months or a year. It'll take years to get that muscle back if you ever get it back.

SPEAKER_03 7:08

Is it a good time you feel for trainers to expand their certifications? Because I know that there are specific certifications that have been coming out in this space. So do you think that that's a worthwhile endeavor because we are seeing the rapid adoption of this type of medication use?

SPEAKER_01 7:25

I think if you want to. So I'd use the example of like, you know, I I I had a lot of success in my career as a personal trainer and I did a lot of strength training, a lot of Olympic lifting, and people would see that, and I'd have bodybuilders approach me and say, dude, I've seen you do some training, like I think I'd like to train with you. And I'd be like, no. What do you mean? I'm like, I don't train bodybuilders. Like, what do you mean? I don't do shows, I don't do show prep, that's not what I do. But my guy Adam here, who works with me at the gym, he's really good at that, and that's what he does, and that's like he's an expert at that, right? And so I think again, you're gonna need to be highly informed, and it's something you're gonna have to invest time and energy to stay up on because the science is ever changing, um, it's evolving, I think, just with research and whatnot. Um, and it's not like all things are perfect. I mean, the reality is there's already, and this has been the case now for over a year, where there's class action lawsuits pending already. So I'm certainly not here sitting here advocating like, hey, everyone should go get GLP one. My personal opinion and stance has always been it's it's the right fit for some people. To say it's the right fit for all people that need to lose weight, I I would disagree. Because again, I think self-discipline and just some other stuff can get you a long, long way. Um, but it you know might be the case. But as we also know, for every dollar that gets spent on kind of exercise, wellness, whatever, it does save eight dollars long term from a you know healthcare expense. In some ways, it's this argument's a little bit inverse where it's like, well, yeah, but now you're preventing it, like you're spending the money up front versus on the other side. It's what's that ratio? Because I do still think there's long-term health savings from a government perspective that are there as well. Individuals, right? Because that should over time lower premiums, lower costs for insurance.

SPEAKER_03 8:59

Yeah, and also improve health span. Like the reality is for some people, I think it comes down to if they were gonna do it, they would have done it already. So it's kind of like what's the lesser evil?

SPEAKER_01 9:12

Well, now we're seeing the generic stuff, you know, in Canada. We've seen all that with uh, you know, different Nova Nordic and all the different things that are going on there. We got the oral stuff that's really kind of now just going to mass market. So I think there's another wave coming with this oral stuff, and so I think that's gonna be a game changer. A lot of people are like, so how's it work? So you take this needle and you do this and you jab it in you, and then you like And it's not a faint at heart if those people always saw the diabetics injecting themselves, like, what are they doing? Yeah. Could have been.

SPEAKER_03 9:45

Well, and it's interesting too, just talking about some of the side effects that are coming up, because there was a study that just came out from UPenn, and they scraped all the Reddit data. So basically, what the GLP community was talking about, what they were experiencing. And it was interesting. Food is such an enjoyment for so many people. We know that their reward receptors or dopamine hits a lot of times, it's from enjoying a meal. And a lot of people were basically their joy of life was muted because there's no food noise or anything like that. So I'm just I don't know. There's like interesting repercussions coming from it at the same time. But at the end of the day, if it's a gateway for somebody to be more confident, have better health outcomes in the long run, I I don't know. I can't say like for or against. I'm much like you, I don't take any medications. I actually don't even take a single supplement.

SPEAKER_01 10:38

Well, I take supplements. I do take my subs and I take lots of vitamins and nutrients and try to balance out my micronutrients with my macronutrients.

SPEAKER_03 10:46

I'm not advocating to be anti-supplement, by the way. I just have not had a routine in the morning in so long.

SPEAKER_01 10:52

I I got one. Um, but I take mine at night. And even recently, like I did a bill of health and blood panel and all this stuff. And they're like, man, you're like everything's like amazing. The sky's the roof, except your cholesterol's a little high, and I'm 51, and I was eating bacon sausage and red meat every chance I got. And I was like, Well, that kind of makes sense. You're not really needing it, but it wouldn't be a bad idea. Maybe we should put you on some of these, you know, medications and statins or whatever. And I'm like, No. Like, well, yeah, but don't you I'm no, I'll just change my diet and work out better. Which I did, and then I've lost 10 pounds and like the last, I don't know, this is like it's pretty fresh, right? Like six or eight weeks. So I'm like, no, I'll just change my diet. Change my exercise routine, which I have, and then see where that gets me. If that doesn't get me where I need to be, and there's still then I need medication, then sure I'll look at it. But like I'm pretty sure if I stop eating sausage, bacon, and red meat all the time, which I have, and I've eaten a lot more fish.

SPEAKER_03 11:49

I'm like, but bacon is so good.

SPEAKER_01 11:52

I've had bacon a couple times, but not every day.

SPEAKER_03 11:55

It's like bacon with an asterisk.

SPEAKER_01 11:57

Yeah, just can't eat bacon every day now.

SPEAKER_03 12:00

So that's fair.

SPEAKER_01 12:01

So if you've learned anything from this episode, don't eat bacon every day, or when you're 51 years old, you might be told that you have a slightly high cholesterol.

SPEAKER_02 12:09

Very cool. Spread look good for you. Let's head to the trainer circuit. Real questions, real situations. Chris shows up, listens, and mentors from experience.

SPEAKER_00 12:22

Have you ever had an issue with a person in terms of personality when you were a personal trainer and now that you are a team?

SPEAKER_01 12:29

I think if it's a job, right? I mean you're looking for some type of synergy there. Like if you have a goal and I can help you get your goal, then I'm gonna help you get there. If there's a massive personality conflict, that's okay, right? But at this, I I think even part of today's society is a little bit different, right? So let's just say I've had clients that would I would uncover that they had maybe massively different political views than I would have. Which in today's thing, we like to live in extreme versions of that, far right and far left, versus like, what can I I would take more of the approach like, what can I learn from that person? Why is it they believe what they believe? And we can maybe get into some casual conversations and maybe I can use that as a way to seek to understand to become a better version of myself, versus going, well, because they're different than me, I don't want to train them. I don't think that makes sense. Like if I know I have the knowledge and the expertise to help you accomplish your goal in the safest, fastest, most effective way possible, that's my job. My job wasn't to agree with your political position, my job isn't to agree with your social belief system, my job is to help you accomplish your goal. So I'm gonna do that. Now, that being said, back to like clients, me as a trainer, and again, I was pretty good at it back in the day when I was doing it all the time. What I would also still believe in is like I didn't train bodybuilders. Like I saw you guys in here having a flex off earlier. Was that just so we could establish that Cody has some of the smallest arms in the room? Or is that for something else? What? Bro, you got promoters. This is what happens when you get promoted. You can when you get promoted, you get picked on, Cody. Now you know. Yeah, he's like, dude, what the Yeah, that's how it works. Did you win, by the way, the flex off? No winners. We're all winners. I lost track because I was laughing at Cody too hard. So you came to me and like, bro, I see your training, this and that, I see you training, I really want to train me then. I'm like, I don't do, I don't do competition, I don't do shows. I'm like, why not? I go, because I'm not an expert at it. Wasn't my background, wasn't my expertise, so I didn't have comfortability doing that, and I didn't feel like I could responsibly do that in a super professional way. So the only time I wouldn't work for somebody is if I didn't think I was the best person to help them. Then I'd put them in a position to be with the person that could best help them because I wasn't. Other than that, if I thought I could help you and I had the tools and whatever, then let's go.

SPEAKER_02 14:27

Before we wrap, we'll leave you with a smithism, a lesson Chris has picked up along the way.

SPEAKER_01 14:33

I I think what we've been talking about today, right, and I I think it's been high level, and I didn't go too deep intentionally, because it's not my place to do it, right? It's not my scope of work, and you were definitely digging in and asking the questions around what should trainers do and how should they behave. So again, if this is something you want to know, then readers are leaders. So if you want to be in your facility or in your community, you want to be a leader in this category on helping bridge the gap, again, between the medical and the fitness community, if you will, and you want to be an advocate and help, then be informed, right? So readers are leaders, and so you're gonna have to read slash listen to podcasts.

SPEAKER_02 15:06

That's today's Smithism. Chris Smith is the mayor of Smittyville, and I'm Chrissy Van, your town correspondent. This is the smartest small town in fitness. We'll see you back here every other week.