Best Supplements for GLP-1s and Retatrutide: Muscle and Strength

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Buying guide · GLP-1 medicines, tirzepatide and retatrutide

Best Supplements for GLP-1s and Retatrutide: Muscle and Strength

Protein, creatine, amino acids and electrolytes can make the habits that help protect muscle easier to keep up while you lose weight. Here's what each one is good for, who it may suit, and where the evidence stops.

In their main trials, semaglutide and tirzepatide helped people lose about 15% to 21% of their body weight on average, and retatrutide, still investigational, averaged 25% at its top dose in TRIUMPH-1.4,12,9 Some of that loss is lean tissue, including muscle. Food and strength training are the best supported ways to keep it. The right supplements can make those habits easier, especially when your appetite is small.

Updated 2 November 2026Medical review pending

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Protein shakesMomentous Whey Protein Isolate tub, chocolate flavor, 25 servingsMomentous 100% Plant Protein tub
StrengthMomentous Creatine tub, unflavored, 90 servings
Training fuelMomentous Fuel drink mix tub, passion orange guava flavor
HydrationMomentous Daily Hydration carton of single serve packets, grapefruit flavor
Amino acidsKion Aminos powder jar, mango flavor
Protein snacksPRIMA Ancestral Protein Bar, peanut butter flavor, 21 grams of proteinMaui Nui Original Venison Stick in its package beside the stick, 9 grams of protein
The eight partner products in this guideOfficial brand images

At a glance

The short answer

Focus on protein, strength training, enough food, and a few targeted supplements that can make those habits easier.

Six priorities

  1. Prioritize proteinRoughly 80 to 120 grams a day (less if you are smaller).B studied on these medicines: partly
  2. Keep strength trainingTwo or three full body sessions a week, adding reps or weight over time.A studied on these medicines: partly
  3. Don't undereatSmall meals every three to four hours, protein first. Don't let total food intake collapse.B studied on these medicines: partly
  4. Consider creatine if you train3 to 5 grams a day alongside strength training.A with training · D on these medicines
  5. Stay hydratedSip through the day, and switch to an oral rehydration solution if vomiting or diarrhea hits.A studied on these medicines: yes
  6. Use amino acids only for a real needA light backup on bad stomach days, not a meal.C in short lab studies · D for extra benefit once protein is adequate

Ratings run from A (strong research) to D (not shown yet). How we rate

Who this guide is for

  • Taking semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy)
  • Taking tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) or another GLP-1 medicine
  • Researching retatrutide, or in one of its trials
  • Worried about muscle, strength or energy while losing weight

Before you start

  • Supplements support the habits. They don't replace food, training or sleep.
  • Nothing in this guide makes an unapproved retatrutide product safer.
  • This is general education, not medical advice.

Important. This guide explains what current research says about keeping muscle, eating enough and staying strong while losing weight on GLP-1 medicines and related drugs. Semaglutide (as Wegovy) and tirzepatide (as Zepbound) are FDA approved for weight management.13,14 Retatrutide is not approved by the FDA, and its maker says it is legally available only to people in its clinical trials.10 Products sold online under that name are unapproved and unregulated. We do not explain how to obtain or dose any of these drugs. This is general education, not medical advice. Talk with your clinician before changing your medicine, diet, exercise or supplements.

Affiliate disclosure. Some links in this guide are affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The products we feature come from brands we partner with. We decided where each one fits from the research, and we tell you where each one's evidence stops. Our evidence ratings come from the research, not from partnerships, and no brand saw or approved this article before publication.

Researching retatrutide? Retatrutide, nicknamed "GLP-3" online, acts on three hormone receptors. When more weight comes off, more lean tissue usually comes off with it,2 so these habits are likely to matter at least as much at its level of weight loss. That is our inference: no study has yet tested any supplement, protein target or training plan in people taking it, and no supplement's safety alongside it has been studied. What follows is general nutrition and training support for large weight loss, not a retatrutide protocol, and nothing here makes an unapproved product safer. It is legally available only in clinical trials, where your study team's advice comes first, and products sold online under its name are not the medicine those trials tested.10,16 Retatrutide explained

How to read our ratings

  • AStrong: high quality human research or major guidelines.
  • BModerate: several relevant studies, with real limits.
  • CEarly: promising but indirect or small.
  • DNot shown: not supported for this claim yet.

We also tell you whether something has been studied in people on these medicines: yes, partly (observational data, or an older drug in the class) or not yet (only general research).

Chapter 1 · Quick comparison

Quick comparison: partner supplements worth considering

None of these is required, and none replaces food, training or sleep. They're grouped by the need they serve, not ranked, and each links to our full notes, including what the research hasn't shown.

  • Protein shake
  • Protein snack
  • Amino acids
  • Strength
  • Hydration
  • Training fuel
Protein shakeMomentous
Momentous Whey Protein Isolate tub, chocolate flavor, 25 servings

Momentous Whey Protein Isolate

Complete protein in a shake

20 gprotein a scoop

May suit
People who find drinks easier than meals; a quick serving after training
Main benefit
20 g protein, 90 calories, about 2.5 g leucine a scoop
Evidence limits
B with training; not tested for reducing muscle loss on these medicines
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Protein shakeMomentous
Momentous 100% Plant Protein tub

Momentous 100% Plant Protein

Dairy free complete protein

20 gprotein a scoop

May suit
Dairy free or plant based eaters
Main benefit
20 g mostly pea protein, 130 calories a scoop
Evidence limits
B; pea matched whey in one study of older men; same limits as whey
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StrengthMomentous
Momentous Creatine tub, unflavored, 90 servings

Momentous Creatine

More from strength training

5 gcreatine monohydrate a scoop

May suit
People lifting at least twice a week, especially older adults
Main benefit
5 g creatine monohydrate, NSF Certified for Sport
Evidence limits
A with training · D untested on these medicines; raises the creatinine blood test
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HydrationMomentous
Momentous Daily Hydration carton of single serve packets, grapefruit flavor

Momentous Daily Hydration

Drinking enough

100 mgsodium a packet

May suit
People who drink more when water has flavor
Main benefit
Light electrolytes, 1 g sugar, 10 to 15 calories a packet
Evidence limits
Not a rehydration solution for vomiting or diarrhea; D for tiredness
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Training fuelMomentous
Momentous Fuel drink mix tub, passion orange guava flavor

Momentous Fuel

Fuel for long, hard sessions

28 gcarbohydrate a scoop

May suit
People training intensely for an hour or more on a small appetite
Main benefit
28 g carbohydrate, 300 mg sodium a scoop
Evidence limits
B for carbohydrate in long exercise; unnecessary for short workouts
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Amino acidsKion
Kion Aminos powder jar, mango flavor

Kion Aminos

A light protein backup

5 gessential amino acids a scoop

May suit
Bad stomach days; before training when a meal is too much
Main benefit
5 g essential amino acids, 2 g of them leucine
Evidence limits
C in short lab studies · D for extra benefit once protein is adequate; not a meal
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Protein snackPRIMA
PRIMA Ancestral Protein Bar, peanut butter flavor, 21 grams of protein

PRIMA Protein Bars

Portable protein and calories

21 gprotein a bar

May suit
People who need a filling snack
Main benefit
21 g protein, 230 to 250 calories a bar
Evidence limits
Collagen listed first, so less muscle building per gram than whey; 11 to 13 g added sugar; milk and egg
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Protein snackMaui Nui
Maui Nui Original Venison Stick in its package beside the stick, 9 grams of protein

Maui Nui Venison Sticks

Whole food protein on the go

9 to 10 gprotein a stick

May suit
People who are often out
Main benefit
9 to 10 g complete protein, 55 to 60 calories a stick
Evidence limits
A food, not a tested supplement; 290 to 380 mg sodium a stick
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Affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission. We verified each offer in October 2026 and recheck them before publishing. All our partner codes

How we chose

This is a curated selection from brands we already partner with, not an independent ranking of the whole market and not a hands on comparison. We included a partner product when it serves a need the research supports and its label shows exactly what's in it. We haven't tested these products ourselves or compared them with brands we don't work with, and other good options exist. The Momentous products carry the NSF Certified for Sport mark; the bars and venison sticks are foods.

Other supplements people ask about

Multivitamin, vitamin D, B12, calciumAsk your clinicianCan be considered when you eat very little, tailored to you; test rather than guess1. B12 matters more if you take metformin44
IronTest firstUseful if you're low, not harmless if you aren't (see energy)
Fiber supplementsFood firstFiber from food plus fluids helps constipation once your stomach settles1,47
BCAA drinksSkipIncomplete; the claim that they build muscle is unwarranted29
Electrolytes for tirednessDNo evidence they fix fatigue on these medicines
Potassium or salt substitutesAsk firstCan raise blood potassium with ACE inhibitors, ARBs or spironolactone48,49
Pills marketed as "GLP-1 support" or "GLP-3"QuestionWe found no trials showing they protect muscle or mimic these medicines
Chapter 2 · Your plan at a glance

Before you buy: your plan at a glance

Supplements work on top of these foundations, not instead of them. If you read nothing else, start here.

1Eat enough, protein firstAim for roughly 80 to 120 grams of protein a day (less if you are smaller), and don't let total food intake collapseBStudied on these medicines: partly
2Strength trainTwo or three full body sessions a week, adding reps or weight over timeAStudied on these medicines: partly
3Keep fluids upSip through the day, and switch to an oral rehydration solution if vomiting or diarrhea hitsAStudied on these medicines: yes
4Protect your energyCarbohydrates around training, seven or more hours of sleep, and nutrient checks with your clinicianBStudied on these medicines: not yet
5Track strength, not just weightOnce a month: chair stands, one benchmark lift and a flight of stairsBStudied on these medicines: partly
6Consider creatine if you train3 to 5 grams a day alongside strength trainingA with training · D on these medicinesStudied on these medicines: not yet
7Fill gaps, don't replace foodShakes, bars and amino acids are tools for hard days (see the quick comparison)B / CStudied on these medicines: not yet
8Know the warning signsSevere stomach pain, vomiting that won't stop, fainting, low blood sugarAStudied on these medicines: yes

What we know, what we don't, and what you can do

  • What we know. These medicines remove fat and some lean tissue. Across 20 trials, lean tissue made up about a quarter to two fifths of the weight lost, which is similar to what happens with dieting alone.2 When people diet with strength training, they lose a smaller share of lean tissue.2,33
  • What we don't know. Whether any supplement protects muscle in people on these medicines specifically. Whether retatrutide spares muscle better or worse than older drugs. What happens to strength over many years of treatment.
Foundations before purchases. Conceptual diagram: the order of the plan above, not a measured quantity. Colours match the chapters: green for food and protein, coral for strength, aqua and lavender for fluids and sleep.
Chapter 3 · Protein: how much

Protein: how much you need

Protein is the raw material for muscle, and the nutrient most likely to fall short when appetite shrinks.

80 to 120g a day

The joint advisory's simpler daily protein target during weight loss, with 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg for smaller adults.1

How much protein

The standard recommended daily allowance is 0.8 grams per kilogram of body weight. During active weight loss, experts have proposed 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg. Because those figures can run high in larger bodies, the same joint advisory also offers a simpler target: 80 to 120 grams a day.1 The same advisory says intake should not fall below 0.4 to 0.5 g/kg, and that prolonged intake at or above 2 g/kg should be avoided.1 Older adults generally need at least 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg, and more if they are active or unwell.23 B · studied on these medicines: partly

Higher protein has not yet been tested in a randomized trial in people on these medicines. In a small 2026 study of people starting semaglutide or tirzepatide, those who ate more protein kept more of their estimated muscle.19 One more thing matters as much as the number. The advisory states that more protein alone is "likely inadequate" to protect muscle without structured strength training.1

Protein planner

Find your weight in the table below for a daily protein range and a per meal target to discuss with your clinician or dietitian. It isn't a prescription. At 75 kg (165 lb) or more, the range is 80 to 120 grams a day, as four obesity and nutrition societies suggest. Below that, it's 1.2 to 1.6 grams per kilogram, so smaller adults are never pushed too high. If you have kidney or liver disease, have been told to limit protein, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are under 18, don't use the table: please set your target with your care team.

Example, not a recommendation80 to 110 g a day at 70 kg (154 lb), or 27 to 37 g per meal over three meals, from the table below
Your weightDaily protein rangePer meal if split over three meals
50 kg (110 lb)60 to 80 g20 to 27 g
60 kg (132 lb)70 to 95 g23 to 32 g
70 kg (154 lb)80 to 110 g27 to 37 g
75 kg (165 lb) or more80 to 120 g27 to 40 g

Which body weight to use

In a larger body, much of the extra weight is fat, which needs little protein, so multiplying all of it by 1.6 can produce targets nobody can eat on a small appetite. The advisory says using actual weight "can significantly overestimate protein requirements."1 Dietitians may use goal weight, an adjusted weight or lean mass instead. If you work with one, their number wins.

Spread it through the day

A common suggestion is about 25 to 40 grams at each meal you eat, drawn from studies in people not taking these medicines. Older muscles seem to need a slightly bigger serving to get the same building signal, roughly 0.4 g per kilogram in one study of older men.25 If you can only manage two real meals, don't worry that a big serving gets wasted. A large 100 gram dose of protein produced a bigger and longer muscle building response than 25 grams.26 Make your best meal of the day the protein heavy one.

Complete proteins, and why collagen counts for less

Dairy, eggs, meat, fish, soy and pea blends supply all the essential amino acids your muscles need. Collagen is different. In older women, whey protein raised muscle protein building and collagen did not.20 In older men, whey and pea protein both increased it, while collagen didn't.21 One 2015 trial did find collagen plus strength training helped older men,22 but the overall picture favors complete proteins. Collagen counts toward your daily total, but it does less of the muscle work per gram. B

Enough food overall

People on these medicines eat 16% to 39% fewer calories, according to studies cited by the advisory.1 Below about 1,200 calories a day for women or 1,800 for men, it becomes hard to get enough iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and several vitamins, including B12 and D.1 The early signs of a shortfall include fatigue beyond what you'd expect, excessive hair loss, muscle weakness and unusual bruising.1

So eat less, but eat well. Build meals from protein, vegetables, fruit, whole grains and healthy fats, and aim for 21 to 25 grams of fiber a day for women or 30 to 38 grams for men.47 The advisory says a multivitamin, vitamin D, calcium or B12 "can be proactively considered", tailored to the person.1 That is a conversation for your clinician, not an automatic purchase.

Plant based and dairy free

You don't need dairy or meat to protect muscle. When total protein is adequate, plant and animal protein produce similar gains in lean mass and strength.27 Pea protein matched whey for muscle protein building in older men.21 Good options include tofu, tempeh, soy milk, edamame, lentils and pea based powders. The dairy free sample day below shows how it adds up.

Protein on retatrutide

No study has set a protein target for people taking retatrutide, so the general ranges above are the only guide available, and your trial team may set a different target. Hitting them may be harder. Average weight loss in the TRIUMPH-1 trial was larger than in the main semaglutide and tirzepatide trials, and stomach side effects were common at higher doses.9,10 That makes the protein first, small and often approach in the next chapter even more useful. If you're in a trial, your study team's dietary advice comes first.

When to set your number with a clinician

Get personal advice before raising protein if you have chronic kidney disease. Kidney guidelines suggest about 0.8 g/kg a day for later stages.24 The same applies if a clinician has told you to limit protein, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you have liver disease, if you are under 18, or if you have a history of an eating disorder.

Chapter 4 · Shakes, bars and snacks

Protein shakes, bars and snacks for low appetite days

Knowing your target is one thing. Eating it when food feels like a chore is another.

Small, frequent and protein first

The advisory suggests a small breakfast followed by small meals every three to four hours, with fluids in between. Vomiting is more likely after large meals. Ginger or peppermint tea can help with nausea.1 Cool, soft foods often go down more easily than heavy ones: yogurt, cottage cheese, smoothies, soups and protein drinks.1 Eat the protein on your plate first, before you fill up. If you forget to eat, set a reminder.1

Drinkable protein

When chewing feels like too much, a shake carries a meal's worth of complete protein in a few swallows.

Protein shakeMomentous
Momentous Whey Protein Isolate tub, chocolate flavor, 25 servings

Best for: complete protein when chewing feels like too much

Momentous Whey Protein Isolate

Why it's here: on these medicines, protein is the nutrient most likely to fall short, and a shake is the quickest way to close the gap. One scoop covers roughly a sixth to a quarter of the 80 to 120 gram daily range in a few swallows.

Who it may suit: people who find drinks easier than food, anyone who struggles to eat protein at breakfast, and lifters who want a quick serving after training.

What's in it: 20 grams of protein and 90 calories per scoop (chocolate), with about 2.5 grams of leucine, the amino acid most linked to switching on muscle building. Grass fed whey isolate. Contains milk. NSF Certified for Sport logo on the label.P1

What the science supports: whey raises muscle protein building more than collagen in older adults,20,21 and protein plus strength training supports lean mass.28 B

What's still uncertain: whether protein powder reduces muscle loss caused by GLP-1 medicines, tirzepatide or retatrutide. No trial has tested that yet.

Do you need it? Not if food covers your protein. Greek yogurt, milk, cottage cheese and eggs do the same job for less money. The powder earns its place on the days food isn't happening.

Momentous 100% Plant Protein tub

Dairy free: Momentous 100% Plant Protein

20 grams of protein per scoop, almost entirely from pea protein, with 130 calories and 2 grams of added sugar (chocolate).P2 Pea protein matched whey for muscle protein building in a study of older men.21 A good fit if you avoid dairy or simply prefer plant protein.

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Portable protein for busy or low appetite days

Protein snackMaui Nui
Maui Nui Original Venison Stick in its package beside the stick, 9 grams of proteinMaui Nui Peppered Venison Stick in its package beside the stick, 10 grams of protein

Best for: whole food protein in your pocket

Maui Nui Venison Sticks

Why it's here: it's real meat, so it counts as complete protein, and it travels in a pocket or bag.

Who it may suit: people who are often out, who can face a few bites but not a meal, or who want something savory before training.

What's in it: each 28 gram stick has 9 to 10 grams of complete protein for 55 to 60 calories: the Original has 9 grams, the Peppered 10.P8 Sodium runs about 290 to 380 milligrams a stick, which matters if you've been told to limit salt.P8

Worth knowing: no study has tested venison sticks for muscle; they count simply as protein food. A boiled egg, a cheese stick or a tuna pouch can do the same job for less.

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Protein snackPRIMA
PRIMA Ancestral Protein Bar, peanut butter flavor, 21 grams of protein

Best for: a filling, portable snack when a meal won't happen

PRIMA Ancestral Protein Bars

Why it's here: when a plate feels like too much, a bar delivers protein and calories you might otherwise miss, and it keeps in a bag for days.

Who it may suit: people who want something chewable and a little sweet, and anyone at risk of eating too little overall.

What's in it: every current PRIMA flavor has 21 grams of protein in a 57 gram bar, with 230 to 250 calories and 11 to 13 grams of added sugar, from honey and, in some flavors, coconut sugar or nectar.P7 All flavors contain milk and egg, Peanut Butter contains peanuts, and Mocha has 25 milligrams of caffeine.P7

One detail that matters for muscle: the protein blend lists grass fed collagen first and whey second, and collagen builds muscle less effectively than whey.20,21 So treat a bar as a convenient protein and energy boost, not as 21 grams of complete muscle building protein. Pair it with yogurt or milk when you can.

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Two sample days

Here is what about 100 grams of protein can look like in small, manageable portions. Protein values are approximate, from USDA food data and product labels.53 These are examples, not prescriptions. Adjust for allergies, medical conditions and your own target.

Regular day

Breakfast170 g plain nonfat Greek yogurt with berries16 g
Mid morningWhey protein shake20 g
Lunch85 g roast chicken breast, rice, soft vegetables26 g
AfternoonOne venison stick10 g
Dinner100 g baked salmon, potatoes, vegetables22 g
EveningHalf cup 2% cottage cheese12 g
Totalabout 106 g

Dairy free day

BreakfastTofu scramble with 150 g firm tofu26 g
Mid morningPea protein shake20 g
Lunch1 cup cooked lentils as soup18 g
AfternoonOne venison stick10 g
Dinner100 g baked salmon, rice, vegetables22 g
EveningHalf cup edamame9 g
Totalabout 105 g

PRIMA bars contain milk and egg, so they are not dairy free.

Nausea, constipation and food aversions

Stomach side effects are most likely in the first weeks and after dose increases. They can be strong on retatrutide too: at its top dose in TRIUMPH-1, 42% of people had nausea and 25% vomiting, against 15% and 5% on placebo.10 In the first days of treatment, smaller meals and avoiding fatty or very high fiber foods can help.1 Once your stomach settles, fiber from food plus steady fluids helps with constipation.1 If meat suddenly puts you off, switch protein sources rather than dropping protein: eggs, dairy, tofu and shakes are all fair game. If nausea keeps getting in the way of eating, ask your clinician about treatment. Some anti nausea medicines can worsen constipation, so the choice matters.1

Chapter 5 · Essential amino acids

Essential amino acids: a light backup

Essential amino acids (EAAs) are the nine protein building blocks your body can't make. EAA supplements deliver them without the rest of a meal, which makes them light on a bad stomach day. They don't replace protein: a scoop contains far less than a real serving, and branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) alone don't do the job.29

Short lab studies show EAAs can switch on muscle protein building, including during calorie restriction.30 C What hasn't been shown is extra benefit once your total protein intake is already adequate. D A trial of a medical nutrition product in people on GLP-1 medicines is still recruiting.54

Amino acidsKion
Kion Aminos powder jar, mango flavor

Best for: days when food and shakes both feel like too much

Kion Aminos (essential amino acids)

Why it's here: essential amino acids are the building blocks muscle needs, in a light drink with no meal attached.

Who it may suit: people on a bad stomach day, or anyone who wants something light before training when a meal feels like too much.

What's in it: 5 grams of essential amino acids per scoop, 2 grams of them leucine, sweetened with stevia (plus monk fruit in some flavors).P6

What the science supports: short lab studies show EAAs switch on muscle protein building.30 C What's still uncertain: any extra benefit once your total protein is adequate. D

What it isn't: a substitute for meals or complete protein. A scoop of whey delivers more than twice the essential amino acids (about 11 grams), along with the rest of the protein your body uses.P1

Do you need it? Not if you're reaching your protein range. It's a backup for the hard days.

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Chapter 6 · Creatine

Creatine: more from your strength training

Creatine is one of the most researched sports supplements. Here's what it does well, and what it hasn't been shown to do on these medicines. It works alongside the routine in the strength training chapter, not instead of it.

What creatine does

Creatine tops up the fast energy system your muscles use for short, hard efforts like lifting. Supplementing raises muscle creatine stores by roughly 20% to 40%.36 In older adults doing resistance training, creatine added about 1.4 kg of lean tissue and modest strength gains compared with training alone.35 A · with training

What has not been shown in people on these medicines

No published randomized trial has yet tested creatine during GLP-1 medicine weight loss, a point a 2026 review in Clinical Nutrition makes explicitly.39 One small trial is recruiting. It gives 10 grams a day or a placebo to 40 people on GLP-1 medicines during 12 weeks of strength training, with results expected after May 2027.40 Nothing has been published on creatine with retatrutide. Until then, creatine's possible benefit here is an inference from training research, not a proven way to prevent medication related muscle loss. D · studied on these medicines: not yet

How people use it

The usual dose is 3 to 5 grams a day. A loading week is optional; without it, muscles fill up over three to four weeks.36,37 Expect the scale to rise a little at first. Loading in particular can hold about 0.5 to 1 liter of extra water,36 which is water, not fat, and not a sign your medicine has stopped working. Creatine helps most when paired with training.35

3 to 5g a day

The usual daily creatine dose.36,37

Who should ask first

Creatine can raise creatinine on a blood test, because creatinine is what creatine breaks down into. That can look like a kidney problem when it isn't. In a three month trial, cystatin C, a kidney marker unaffected by creatine, stayed normal.37,38 Tell your clinician you take it, especially since kidney function is already monitored on these medicines when fluids run low.13,14 If you have kidney disease, don't start creatine without your kidney specialist.

StrengthMomentous
Momentous Creatine tub, unflavored, 90 servings

Best for: people who strength train at least twice a week

Momentous Creatine

Why it's here: strength training is your main tool for keeping muscle, and in general research, creatine is the supplement with the strongest evidence for adding strength and lean tissue to that training. That research wasn't done in people on these medicines.

Who it may suit: people lifting or doing resistance work at least twice a week, especially older adults, who were the focus of the strongest trials.

What's in it: 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per scoop and nothing else, 90 servings per tub. NSF Certified for Sport.P3

What the science supports: more lean tissue and strength when combined with resistance training, in older adults.35 A

What's still uncertain: whether creatine reduces muscle loss caused by semaglutide, tirzepatide or retatrutide. No published trial has tested it, and the first small trial reports after May 2027.40 D

Practical notes: one scoop a day in water, at any time. Expect a small early bump on the scale from water. Tell your clinician you take it, because it can raise the creatinine blood test. Skip it if you have kidney disease, unless your kidney specialist agrees.

Do you need it? No. It's optional, and worth considering if you train.

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Chapter 7 · Electrolytes and hydration

Electrolytes and hydration: when they help and when they don't

Fluids matter more on these medicines than most people realize. Electrolyte packets matter less than the marketing suggests.

Everyday fluids

Both the Wegovy and Zepbound labels warn about kidney injury from dehydration, mostly after nausea, vomiting or diarrhea.13,14 Their patient guides ask you to drink fluids and to tell your clinician about stomach symptoms that won't go away. The Obesity Society's guidance suggests more than 2 to 3 liters a day,47 though needs vary with body size, heat and activity, and that figure doesn't apply if your clinician has limited your fluids, for example for heart failure or kidney disease. For most people, water plus normal meals covers it.

Sweaty training and long sessions

Electrolyte drinks earn their place in two situations: when flavor helps you drink more than plain water would, and in long, sweaty sessions where you lose sodium and need fuel.

HydrationMomentous
Momentous Daily Hydration carton of single serve packets, grapefruit flavor

Best for: people who drink more when water has some flavor

Momentous Daily Hydration

Why it's here: dehydration is the main risk the medicine labels warn about, as the section above explains. If a little flavor helps you finish another glass, that is a practical win.

Who it may suit: people who find plain water hard to keep drinking, and people who sweat during everyday training.

What's in it: per packet, 100 mg sodium, 50 mg potassium and 150 mg chloride, 1 gram of sugar and 10 to 15 calories. Mixed into 16 oz of water, as directed. No magnesium. NSF Certified for Sport.P4

What the science supports: staying hydrated matters on these medicines.13,14 A The product itself hasn't been studied in people taking them.

What it isn't: a rehydration solution for vomiting or diarrhea. Mixed as directed, it has about 9 mmol of sodium per liter, against 75 in a medical oral rehydration solution.45 Nor is it a fatigue fix. D

Do you need it? No. Water works. It's a convenience if it helps you drink more.

Momentous Fuel drink mix tub, passion orange guava flavor

Best for: intense sessions longer than an hour

Momentous Fuel

A sports drink mix for intense exercise lasting 60 minutes or more. Each scoop has 28 grams of carbohydrate (from isomaltulose and fructose) plus 300 mg sodium, 150 mg potassium and 100 mg magnesium, with no caffeine.P5 It's useful when you are training long and hard on a small appetite and need fuel you can drink. Sports nutrition guidance supports carbohydrate during prolonged exercise.41 B It's unnecessary for a 30 minute lift or a walk.

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Ordinary hydration, sports drinks and medical rehydration

Sodium per liter

Water0
Daily Hydrationabout 9
Oral rehydration solution75
Sodium in millimoles per liter, to scale. Daily Hydration mixed as directed (100 mg sodium in 16 oz) against the WHO oral rehydration formula. Source data · product label P4, WHO and UNICEF (source 45) · Visualized by · samā·says
WaterNoneEveryday drinking for most people
Daily Hydration, mixed as directedAbout 9 mmol/LEveryday drinking if flavor helps; light sweating
Momentous Fuel300 mg per scoop, plus 28 g carbohydrateIntense sessions longer than an hour
Oral rehydration solution (pharmacy)75 mmol/L (WHO formula)Vomiting or diarrhea

Vomiting or diarrhea: rehydration solution first

When you are losing fluid through your gut, reach for an oral rehydration solution from a pharmacy. It's built to the WHO formula, with the sodium and glucose balance your gut needs to absorb water.45 Sports drinks and daily electrolyte packets are not designed for this. If you're in a retatrutide trial, where vomiting affected a quarter of people on the top dose, ask your study team what to keep at home.10 Seek care for diarrhea lasting more than two days, six or more loose stools a day, signs of dehydration such as extreme thirst, little or dark urine, dizziness or tiredness, black or bloody stools, or severe pain.46

Who should be careful with electrolytes

Extra sodium isn't right for everyone with heart failure, high blood pressure or kidney disease. Extra potassium can be dangerous with ACE inhibitors, ARBs, spironolactone or kidney disease. Those medicine labels warn that potassium supplements or salt substitutes can raise blood potassium.48,49 If any of these apply, ask before using electrolyte products.

Chapter 8 · Strength training

Strength training: what makes protein and creatine work

If protein is the raw material, strength training is the instruction. Of everything in this guide, it has the strongest evidence for keeping muscle while losing weight.

The minimum plan experts recommend

The World Health Organization recommends muscle strengthening on at least two days a week, and three or more days of balance and strength work for older adults.32 The American College of Sports Medicine's 2026 review of 137 systematic reviews found strength improves with two to three sets of challenging loads, done at least twice a week, while more weekly sets help muscles grow.31 For people on GLP-1 medicines, the joint advisory aims for strength training at least three times a week plus at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio.1 A

2+days a week

The World Health Organization's minimum for muscle strengthening.32

3+times a week

The joint advisory's strength aim on GLP-1 medicines.1

Does it work during weight loss? In a trial of 160 older adults with obesity who were dieting, lean mass fell by about 2% to 3% in the groups that did strength training, compared with about 5% with aerobic exercise alone. Strength rose by 18% to 19%.33 Exercise has also been tested alongside liraglutide, an older GLP-1 medicine, where the combination cut body fat about twice as much as either one alone.34 Trials pairing structured strength training with semaglutide or tirzepatide are under way.55 None has been reported with retatrutide, so its users rely on the same weight loss research for now. B · studied on these medicines: partly

A sample week

MondayFull body A: sit to stand or goblet squat · incline push up or chest press · one arm row · glute bridge · farmer carry
TuesdayWalk 30 minutesEasy pace you can talk through
WednesdayFull body B: step ups or split squat · seated overhead press · lat pulldown or band pulldown · light Romanian deadlift · plank
ThursdayWalk or cycle 30 minutesModerate
FridayFull body A again
WeekendActive rest: a longer walk, a hike, a bike rideKeep it enjoyable
Beginner: 1 to 2 sets of 8 to 12, stopping with 2 or 3 reps left in the tank
Experienced lifter: 3 or more working sets, keep loads heavy (around 80% of your one rep max for strength)

That gives you three strength sessions and about 150 minutes of easy to moderate movement. If three sessions is too much right now, two still counts.

Progress gradually

Write down what you lift. When a set feels comfortably easy, add a rep or two next time. Once you reach the top of your rep range, add a little weight. Slow, boring progress is the goal. Experienced lifters: your job during weight loss is to keep lifting heavy enough to tell your body the muscle is still needed.

Training through nausea, low intake and dose increases

On rough days, shorten the session rather than skipping it: one set of each exercise, or a brisk walk. Try to eat something with carbohydrate and protein a few hours before you train, like a banana with yogurt.41 Skip hard training while you are vomiting, have diarrhea or feel dizzy. Dehydration and exercise are a poor mix, and dehydration is the main trigger for the kidney problems these labels warn about.13,14

Check with your clinician first if…

…you have heart disease, chest pain, fainting spells, uncontrolled blood pressure, recent surgery, joint problems or a history of falls. Also ask first if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea. Exercise lowers blood sugar, and these medicines already raise the risk of lows when combined with them.13,14 A physical therapist or qualified trainer can adapt every exercise above.

Chapter 9 · Energy and fatigue

Energy and fatigue: why you feel drained, and what helps

Feeling flat, heavy legged or foggy is a common complaint on these medicines. Tiredness can have several causes at once. Some you can change, some need your clinician, and sometimes no clear cause is found.

Tiredness is common, and worth looking into

Fatigue appears on the labels. In trials, 11% of people on Wegovy 2.4 mg reported fatigue or weakness, compared with 5% on placebo.13 On Zepbound the figures were 5% to 7%, against 3% on placebo.14 That means most people don't feel it, and among those who do, the medicine isn't always the only reason. The list below covers possible contributors worth checking with your clinician. Side effects in general are most likely in the first weeks and after dose increases,1 so note whether your tiredness follows that pattern and share it with your clinician. If you're in a retatrutide trial, report tiredness to your study team: that is how side effects get recorded, and the causes below still apply.

Fatigue reported in the trials

Wegovy 2.4 mg11%
Placebo5%
Zepbound5% to 7%
Placebo3%
Share of trial participants reporting fatigue (for Wegovy, fatigue or weakness), to scale. The Zepbound bar shows the reported range, 5% to 7%. Different trials, so not a head to head comparison. Source data · Wegovy label (source 13), Zepbound label (source 14) · Visualized by · samā·says

Eat enough energy, not just less

This is one of the first things to check. Appetite suppression can push intake far lower than you would choose deliberately, and calories have been reported to fall by 16% to 39%.1 Combine that with training, and you can end up in what sports scientists call low energy availability: too little fuel left for normal body functions once exercise is paid for. In athletes, it shows up as fatigue, stalled strength, poor recovery, low mood and more injuries.42 If your workouts feel harder every week, your lifts are going backwards and you feel cold or irritable, undereating is one possible cause worth ruling out. Eat something at regular times even when you are not hungry, and don't push for the fastest possible loss.

Carbohydrates around training

Protein gets the attention, but carbohydrate fuels hard training. Sports nutrition guidance matches carbohydrate to how much and how hard you train, and recommends a carbohydrate and protein snack before a session.41 You don't need large amounts. A banana, toast, rice or fruit with yogurt before lifting can turn a flat session into a productive one. Very low carbohydrate eating plus intense exercise on a medicine that already cuts appetite is a recipe for running on empty. If you do long sessions of an hour or more, the hydration chapter covers drinkable fuel.

Protein, recovery and training load

If you feel wrecked for days after a session, do fewer sets, keep the intensity, and make sure training days include a protein rich meal. Training more to "burn more" usually backfires when food intake is low.

Fluids and stomach upsets

Even mild dehydration can feel like fatigue, dizziness or a headache. The hydration chapter covers what to drink and when to get help.

Sleep

Adults need seven or more hours of sleep a night for health.43 Poor sleep makes everything above worse: training feels harder, appetite signals get messier and recovery slows. Our sleep guide covers how to protect it.

7+hours a night

Sleep medicine's consensus minimum for adults.43

Nutrients worth checking

Some shortfalls feel exactly like medicine fatigue. Ask your clinician whether checks make sense for:

  • Vitamin B12, especially if you also take metformin. Its label reports that B12 dropped below normal in about 7% of patients, and advises B12 checks every 2 to 3 years.44
  • Iron, especially with heavy periods or a plant based diet. Test before you supplement, because iron isn't harmless if you don't need it.
  • Vitamin D and other nutrients the advisory lists as at risk when intake is low.1

When the medicine itself plays a part

Some effects come directly from the medicine. Blood pressure can fall: on Zepbound, low blood pressure occurred in 1.6% of people versus 0.1% on placebo, which can show up as dizziness when you stand.14 In TRIUMPH-2, a retatrutide trial in people with type 2 diabetes, low blood pressure was reported in 6% of people on the top dose, against under 1% on placebo.56 If you also take insulin or a sulfonylurea, the risk of low blood sugar rises, and your clinician may need to lower those doses.13,14 Shakiness, sweating, confusion or a racing heart need prompt attention.

What you can adjust yourself

  • Eat something small every three to four hours, protein first
  • Add carbohydrate before training
  • Sip fluids through the day
  • Keep meals lighter around dose increases
  • Stand up slowly
  • Do shorter sessions rather than none
  • Protect seven or more hours of sleep
  • Track energy alongside your dose schedule

What to ask your clinician about

  • Tiredness lasting more than a few weeks at a stable dose
  • Dizziness when standing, especially on blood pressure medicines
  • Hair loss, brittle nails or easy bruising
  • B12 (if on metformin), iron or vitamin D testing
  • Insulin or sulfonylurea doses
  • Strength falling despite training and protein
  • Starting creatine, potassium or magnesium supplements

Anything severe or sudden belongs in the warning signs chapter. Don't wait it out.

Chapter 10 · The research

The research: what “losing muscle” on these medicines really means

Headlines about "Ozempic muscle loss" skip two details: what the scans actually measure, and what happens with any big weight loss.

Lean mass is not the same as muscle

Most trials use a DXA scan, which divides your body into fat, bone and everything else. That everything else is called lean mass, and it includes muscle, but also water, organs, stored carbohydrate and connective tissue.1,52 Muscle is roughly half of it, although that ratio is debated.1,52 So when a study reports a drop in lean mass, some of it is muscle and some of it is not.

What a body scan calls lean. Proportions are approximate and debated. Source data · sources 1 and 52 · Visualized by · samā·says

What the trials found

  • Semaglutide 2.4 mg (Wegovy). In the STEP 1 trial's scan group, people lost about 9.3 kg of fat and 5.8 kg of lean mass over 68 weeks, so lean tissue was about 38% of the tissue lost.3
  • Tirzepatide (Zepbound). In SURMOUNT-1, people lost about 15.9 kg of fat and 5.6 kg of lean mass over 72 weeks, or about 26% lean.5
  • All incretin trials together. A 2026 analysis of 20 randomized trials found lean tissue was about 35% of weight lost with semaglutide, 25% with tirzepatide and 26% with lifestyle programs. Lifestyle programs that included resistance training came in lowest, at about 18%.2
  • Retatrutide. Only one study has scanned body composition so far: a phase 2 study in people with type 2 diabetes. Fat mass fell by 23% to 26% on the higher doses, and the share of lean mass lost looked similar to other obesity treatments.8 The phase 3 results published so far report weight, not muscle.9,56 More below

Fat and lean mass lost in the scan groups

Fat lostLean mass lost

Semaglutide 2.4 mg, STEP 19.3 kg5.8 kg
Tirzepatide, SURMOUNT-115.9 kg5.6 kg
Kilograms lost, to scale, fat first then lean. Different trials and people, so not a head to head ranking. Source data · STEP 1 (source 3), SURMOUNT-1 (source 5) · Visualized by · samā·says

These numbers come from different trials with different people, so they are not a head to head ranking of the drugs. The Wegovy label puts it plainly: semaglutide lowers body weight "with greater fat mass loss than lean mass loss."13

Lean share of weight lost

Semaglutide35.2%
Tirzepatide25.4%
Lifestyle programs26.2%
Lifestyle with resistance training17.5%
RetatrutideNot measured in phase 3
0%10%20%30%40%
Lean tissue as a share of weight lost, pooled from 20 randomized trials. Coral marks the programs that included resistance training, as everywhere on this page. Different trials and people, so not a head to head ranking. Source data · Eisa, Barood et al., 2026 meta analysis (source 2) · Visualized by · samā·says

Why strength and daily function matter as much as the scan

What you notice day to day is strength: getting out of a chair, carrying shopping, climbing stairs. Small MRI studies are reassuring. With tirzepatide, the thigh muscle that remained carried less fat,6 and with semaglutide 7.2 mg, sit to stand performance held up over 72 weeks.7

Who should take extra care

A joint advisory from four obesity and nutrition societies lists the people most at risk of losing too much muscle: older adults, women around menopause, people with low testosterone, anyone inactive or not strength training, people eating little protein, and people with a history of losing and regaining weight.1 If that describes you, the protein, creatine and strength training chapters matter even more.

Chapter 11 · Track your progress

Track your progress beyond the scale

The scale can't tell you whether you're getting weaker. These three checks give you a better picture.

Why the scale and smart scales mislead

Bathroom "body composition" scales estimate lean mass from how easily a small current passes through you, which shifts with hydration.52 These medicines change how much you eat and drink, and creatine adds water, so those numbers can swing for reasons that have nothing to do with muscle. The joint advisory recommends checking strength and function itself, with tests like sit to stand and stair climbing.1

The monthly strength check

Monthly strength check

Do these checks at the start (or as soon as you can), then every four weeks, at the same time of day and not within two days of a dose increase or a hard workout.

  1. 30 second chair stand. Use a sturdy chair without arms, about 17 inches high. For safety, push it against a wall. Sit in the middle with your feet flat and your arms crossed at the wrists against your chest. On "go," stand all the way up and sit back down as many times as you can in 30 seconds. Count the full stands. Have someone nearby if your balance is unsteady, and stop if you need your arms.50
  2. One benchmark lift. Choose one exercise from your routine, like goblet squats, push ups or rows. Use the same weight each time and record how many good reps you can do. This matters most for younger or fitter people, because chair stands change little for them.1
  3. One flight of stairs. Time it, or rate how easy it felt from 1 to 5.

Also rate your energy and recovery from 1 to 5. If you own a grip gauge, you can add grip strength.

Your log · example data, not a real person's results

CheckChair stands (30 s)Benchmark lift (reps)Stairs (1 to 5)Energy (1 to 5)
Week 0121033
Week 4131143
Week 8131144

Reading your results: steady or rising numbers are a good sign that your strength is holding up, though they can't show exactly how much muscle you have. If your numbers fall at two checks in a row despite training and eating enough protein, look again at your food and training, and mention it to your clinician. This is your own trend over time. It is not a test for muscle loss or any medical condition.

What to do with your results

Bring your log to appointments. A slide in strength alongside fast weight loss is a useful prompt to talk about protein, training or the pace of your treatment.

Chapter 12 · Warning signs

Symptoms that need medical attention

Get medical help promptly for:

  • Severe stomach pain that won't go away, with or without pain spreading to your back13,14
  • Vomiting or diarrhea that won't stop, very little urine, dizziness, confusion or fainting13,14,46
  • Pain in the upper right belly with fever, yellowing skin or eyes, or pale stools13,14
  • Signs of low blood sugar that don't improve with treatment13,14
  • Swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing13,14
  • Sudden loss of vision51
  • Thoughts of harming yourself

Call your clinician soon about: tiredness lasting weeks, dizziness when standing, hair loss or easy bruising, strength dropping at two checks in a row, or constipation lasting several days.

If you use a product that isn't an approved medicine, the same warning signs apply. Tell the clinician exactly what you have been taking.

Chapter 13 · How the medicines differ

How the medicines differ: single, dual and triple agonists

All of these medicines mimic gut hormones that shape appetite and blood sugar. The difference is how many hormone receptors each one activates. The habits in this guide apply to all of them. What changes is how much we know about their effects on muscle.

GLP-1GIPGlucagonSemaglutideyesnonoTirzepatideyesyesnoRetatrutideyesyesyes
One, two or three receptors. Filled circle means the medicine activates that receptor.

Semaglutide and other GLP-1 medicines

Semaglutide activates one receptor, GLP-1. It is sold as Wegovy for weight management (an injection and now a daily tablet) and as Ozempic for type 2 diabetes.13 In the STEP 1 trial, people lost an average of 14.9% of their body weight over 68 weeks, compared with 2.4% on placebo.4 Other GLP-1 medicines include liraglutide (Saxenda) and orforglipron (Foundayo), a daily pill approved in 2026.15

Tirzepatide, a dual agonist

Tirzepatide activates two receptors, GIP and GLP-1. It is often called "a GLP-1," but it is more precisely a dual agonist. It is sold as Zepbound for weight management and Mounjaro for type 2 diabetes.14 In SURMOUNT-1, the highest dose produced an average weight loss of 20.9% over 72 weeks, against 3.1% on placebo.12

Retatrutide, the triple agonist

What it is. Retatrutide is a single molecule that activates three receptors: GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon.9 The glucagon part is what's new. Researchers are still working out exactly what it adds beyond the other two.

What the trials measured. In TRIUMPH-1, 2,339 adults with obesity took retatrutide or placebo for 80 weeks. Counting everyone who started, average weight loss was 17.6%, 23.7% and 25.0% on the three doses, against 3.9% on placebo.9 Lilly reports higher figures for people who stayed on treatment.10 The most common side effects were digestive. At the top dose, 42% of people had nausea and 25% vomiting, compared with 15% and 5% on placebo. Dysesthesia, an unusual skin sensation, occurred in 5% to 12.5% of people versus 0.9% on placebo.10 A second phase 3 trial, TRIUMPH-2, enrolled 1,152 adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes. Average weight loss at 80 weeks was 11.9%, 16.8% and 18.8% on the three doses, against 5.1% on placebo, and low blood pressure and dysesthesia were more common than on placebo.56

What we know about muscle. Very little so far. Retatrutide's effect on body composition has been measured in one phase 2 study of people with type 2 diabetes. Among the 103 people who finished it with both scans, fat mass fell by 23% to 26% on the higher doses over 36 weeks. The authors describe the share of lean mass lost as similar to other obesity treatments.8 The large phase 3 results published so far report weight, not muscle.9,10,56 D for any claim that retatrutide preserves muscle

Why approved drug evidence doesn't automatically apply. Retatrutide acts on a different set of receptors, produces larger weight losses and has its own side effect pattern. Findings about semaglutide or tirzepatide and muscle can't simply be copied across. What does carry over are the fundamentals: protein, strength training, fluids and sleep support muscle during any large weight loss.

Where it stands. Retatrutide is investigational and not approved by the FDA. Lilly says it is "legally available only to participants in Lilly's clinical trials"10 and plans to apply for FDA approval in the first quarter of 2027.11 The FDA states that retatrutide cannot be used in compounding.16

If you're in a retatrutide trial. Your study team monitors you closely, and their advice comes first. It's reasonable to ask them whether body composition is being measured, how much protein they recommend, and whether strength training fits the protocol. The monthly strength check in this guide gives you a simple log to bring along.

For a fuller comparison of the two medicines, see our guide to semaglutide vs retatrutide.

What “GLP-3” means

You'll see retatrutide called "GLP-3" online. It's a nickname, not a scientific category. There is no GLP-3 receptor or drug class. The name is shorthand for adding a third receptor, glucagon, to the two that tirzepatide targets. When you research retatrutide, search for its real name, and be wary of anything sold simply as "GLP-3."

Semaglutide (Wegovy)

Approved
Receptors
GLP-1
Weight change in a key trial
14.9% vs 2.4% at 68 weeks4
Body composition data
About 38% of tissue lost was lean3

Tirzepatide (Zepbound)

Approved
Receptors
GIP + GLP-1
Weight change in a key trial
20.9% (highest dose) vs 3.1% at 72 weeks12
Body composition data
About 26% lean5

Retatrutide

Investigational, not approved
Receptors
GIP + GLP-1 + glucagon
Weight change in a key trial
25.0% (highest dose) vs 3.9% at 80 weeks9
Body composition data
One phase 2 study in type 2 diabetes; lean details not public8

Different trials with different people. Read across rows, not as a ranking.

Chapter 14 · Unapproved products

Unapproved and online products: what the research can't tell you

Some readers are already using products bought online, sometimes labelled "for research use only." We won't lecture you, and we won't help you source anything. Here is what the evidence can and can't tell you.

A trial medicine and an online vial are not the same thing

Every trial result in this guide comes from medicine made to pharmaceutical standards, given at known doses, with participants closely monitored. None of that applies to a vial bought online. The FDA has warned companies selling semaglutide, tirzepatide, retatrutide and similar compounds labelled "for research purposes" or "not for human consumption."16 In one 2026 warning letter, the FDA found that a "research use only" seller's own marketing showed the products were intended for people.17

What independent testing has found

When researchers bought semaglutide from illegal online sellers, the vials that arrived were 7.7% to 14.4% pure, against the 99% claimed. Every sample contained bacterial endotoxin, and orders for pens were never delivered.18 That study tested semaglutide, not retatrutide, but it shows why a trial result tells you nothing about a product's contents.

Why food and supplements don't remove those risks

Protein, creatine, electrolytes or amino acids can support your body during weight loss. They can't change what's in a vial, correct a wrong dose or remove contamination.

If you already use one

Tell a clinician what you're taking, ideally with the product in hand, so they can monitor you properly. Learn the warning signs. Everything in the practical chapters of this guide still applies to you.

Chapter 15 · FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Which supplements should I take, or avoid, on a GLP-1 or retatrutide?

None is required. If you want help reaching your protein target or getting more from training, protein powder and creatine have the strongest support, with essential amino acids and electrolytes as situational extras.28,35 Vitamins such as B12 and D are worth checking with your clinician rather than guessing.1 Skip BCAA drinks, and ask before taking potassium if you use ACE inhibitors, ARBs or spironolactone.29,48,49 No supplement has been studied in people taking retatrutide, so neither its benefit nor its safety alongside it is known. See the quick comparison

Is muscle loss on Ozempic reversible?

Muscle responds to strength training and protein at any age.31,35 Part of what scans call lean loss isn't muscle at all.52 How much returns after people stop these medicines hasn't been measured well yet.

Do I lose less muscle on tirzepatide than on semaglutide?

Pooled data show a lower lean share with tirzepatide (about 25%) than semaglutide (about 35%), but from different trials and people.2 No head to head trial has compared them on muscle.

Does retatrutide preserve muscle?

Nobody knows yet. The only body composition data come from one phase 2 study in people with type 2 diabetes, where the share of lean mass lost looked similar to other treatments.8 Retatrutide is not approved.

How can I keep muscle on retatrutide?

No method has been tested in people taking retatrutide. The general approaches for any large weight loss are protein at every meal, strength training two or three times a week, enough total food, fluids and sleep;1 whether they work the same way with retatrutide is unknown. It is legally available only in clinical trials, where your study team's advice comes first.10

How much protein should I eat on Zepbound, Wegovy or retatrutide?

Four obesity and nutrition societies suggest roughly 80 to 120 grams a day, or 1.2 to 1.6 g/kg, with smaller adults at the lower end.1 No study has set a separate target for retatrutide, so the same range is the starting point. If you have kidney disease, set your target with your care team.24 Find your range

Can I take creatine with tirzepatide or retatrutide?

Neither the Zepbound nor the Wegovy label lists creatine as an interaction, and no published trial has tested creatine alongside these medicines yet.13,14,39 Its benefits alongside strength training are well studied in general, but whether they hold on these medicines hasn't been tested. Tell your clinician, because it can raise the creatinine blood test. Retatrutide is investigational, so its combination with anything is untested. Our notes on Momentous Creatine

Should I take essential amino acids on a GLP-1?

Only as a backup. Complete protein from food or a shake comes first. EAAs can help on days you can't manage either, but they haven't been shown to add benefit once your protein intake is adequate.29,30 Our notes on Kion Aminos

Do I need electrolytes on a GLP-1?

Most people don't need daily packets; water and regular meals cover it. They can help if they make you drink more or you sweat heavily. For vomiting or diarrhea, use an oral rehydration solution, and seek care if it doesn't settle.45,46 Our notes on Momentous Daily Hydration

Why am I so tired on tirzepatide?

Fatigue is a listed side effect (5% to 7% vs 3% on placebo),14 and other possible contributors include eating too little, too little carbohydrate around training, dehydration and poor sleep. See the energy chapter. If it lasts weeks, talk to your clinician.

Is GLP-3 a real drug class?

No. It's an online nickname for retatrutide, which activates GIP, GLP-1 and glucagon receptors. There is no GLP-3 receptor.9 Products sold online as "GLP-3" are not the medicine tested in trials.16

Chapter 16 · Sources and ratings

Sources and how we rated the evidence

We rate each recommendation from A to D and say whether it has been studied in people on these medicines. We favor clinical trials, systematic reviews, professional guidelines and official drug labels, and we link every key number to its source below. Product facts come from each brand's current label and page, checked on the date shown.

Medical review pending This guide has not yet been reviewed by an independent clinician. A review line will appear here once a review is complete.

We review this guide every three months, and sooner when major trial results, approvals or label changes arrive.

Complete source list

Sources cited in the article

Numbers match the citations in the article. "P" sources are product facts read from current brand labels and pages on 29 Oct 2026.

  1. Mozaffarian D, et al. Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society. Obesity 2025;33:1475. PMC12304835
  2. Eisa N, Barood O, et al. Lean mass changes with incretin therapy versus lifestyle intervention: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. Diabetes Obes Metab 2026;28:4818. PubMed 41877354
  3. STEP 1 (NCT03548935) results, body composition outcomes (DXA, semaglutide 2.4 mg n=83, placebo n=39). ClinicalTrials.gov. link
  4. Wilding JPH, et al. Once-weekly semaglutide in adults with overweight or obesity. N Engl J Med 2021;384:989. PubMed 33567185
  5. Look M, et al. Body composition changes during weight reduction with tirzepatide in the SURMOUNT-1 study. Diabetes Obes Metab 2025. PMC11965027
  6. Sattar N, et al. Tirzepatide and muscle composition changes in people with type 2 diabetes (SURPASS-3 MRI). Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2025. PubMed 40318682
  7. Hjelmesæth J, et al. Effect of semaglutide on thigh skeletal muscle volume, fat infiltration and physical function (STEP UP MRI). Diabetes Obes Metab 2026. PubMed 42764399
  8. Coskun T, et al. Effects of retatrutide on body composition in people with type 2 diabetes: a substudy of a phase 2 trial. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol 2025;13:674. PubMed 40609566
  9. Jastreboff AM, et al. Retatrutide, a triple hormone receptor agonist, for treatment of obesity (TRIUMPH-1). N Engl J Med, published online 29 Sep 2026. PubMed 42814954
  10. Eli Lilly and Company. Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial. Press release, 21 May 2026. link
  11. Eli Lilly and Company. Retatrutide successful in two additional Phase 3 obesity trials. Press release, 23 Jul 2026. link
  12. Jastreboff AM, et al. Tirzepatide once weekly for the treatment of obesity (SURMOUNT-1). N Engl J Med 2022;387:205. PubMed 35658024
  13. WEGOVY (semaglutide) injection and tablet, prescribing information and medication guide, revised 06/2026. DailyMed. link
  14. ZEPBOUND (tirzepatide) prescribing information and medication guide, revised 08/2026. DailyMed. link
  15. FOUNDAYO (orforglipron) prescribing information. DailyMed. link
  16. US Food and Drug Administration. FDA's concerns with unapproved GLP-1 drugs used for weight loss. Content current as of 1 Oct 2026. link
  17. US Food and Drug Administration. Warning letter to Gram Peptides, 31 Mar 2026. link
  18. Ashraf AR, et al. Multifactor quality and safety analysis of semaglutide products sold by online sellers without a prescription. J Med Internet Res 2024. PubMed 39509151
  19. Babazadeh D, Therrien S, Fitch AK, et al. Changes in food cravings, dietary quality, body composition, and dietary intake during GLP-1 receptor agonist therapy: the CRAVE study. Obes Pillars 2026;19:100292. PubMed 42440974
  20. Oikawa SY, et al. Whey protein but not collagen peptides stimulate acute and longer-term muscle protein synthesis with and without resistance exercise in healthy older women. Am J Clin Nutr 2020;111:708. PubMed 31919527
  21. McKendry J, et al. The effects of whey, pea, and collagen protein supplementation beyond the recommended dietary allowance on integrated myofibrillar protein synthesis in older adults. Am J Clin Nutr 2024;120:34. PubMed 38762187
  22. Zdzieblik D, et al. Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial. Br J Nutr 2015. PubMed 26353786
  23. Bauer J, et al. Evidence-based recommendations for optimal dietary protein intake in older people (PROT-AGE). J Am Med Dir Assoc 2013;14:542. PubMed 23867520
  24. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int 2024. doi
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Product facts (checked 29 Oct 2026)

  1. P1 · Momentous Whey Protein Isolate, label and product page. link
  2. P2 · Momentous 100% Plant Protein, label and product page. link
  3. P3 · Momentous Creatine (90 servings), label, page FAQ; NSF Certified for Sport listing 1285010. link · NSF
  4. P4 · Momentous Daily Hydration, labels for all four flavors. link
  5. P5 · Momentous Fuel, labels for all four flavors. link
  6. P6 · Kion Aminos powder, Mango label. link
  7. P7 · PRIMA Ancestral Protein Bar, labels for all six flavors. link
  8. P8 · Maui Nui Venison Sticks, Original and Peppered nutrition data. Original · Peppered
samā·says · Updated 2 November 2026 · medical review pending

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