ATP guide · GLP-1 medication
On Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro? Keep the muscle
GLP-1 medications take the weight off. Without resistance training, a big share of what comes off is muscle. We coach the strength work and the protein habits that keep you strong while the scales drop, at our Douglas and Ballincollig gyms.
GLP-1 and training
What the injection does not do for you
The medication handles appetite. Your body still needs a reason to hold on to muscle. That reason is lifting.
Muscle loss is the catch
In the trials, roughly a quarter to a third of the weight lost on GLP-1s was lean mass. Resistance training is the proven way to shift that balance towards fat.
Protein when you are not hungry
Small appetite, big protein target. Our nutrition coaching helps you hit it in a way you can actually manage, with weekly check-ins.
Sessions built for low-energy days
Nausea, tiredness, off days. Your coach adjusts the session to how you are that day rather than cancelling the week.
Coached 1:2
One coach, two clients, your own programme. Technique coached from the start so you get the benefit without getting hurt.
For life after the medication
Muscle keeps your metabolism up, which is what protects the result if and when you come off. This is the part that lasts.
Alongside your prescriber
We are a gym, not a clinic. We work with whatever your GP or prescribing doctor has advised and never touch the medical side.
How it works
Training while you are on a GLP-1
Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and the rest have changed weight loss for a lot of people in Cork over the last couple of years. They work. The bit that does not get talked about enough is what the weight that comes off is made of. Rapid weight loss without resistance training takes muscle along with fat, and losing muscle means a slower metabolism, less strength, and a body that finds it harder to keep the weight off later.
The fix is not complicated. Strength training two or three times a week, enough protein, and someone keeping an eye on both. That is what we do.
The training
You train 1:2 with a coach, on your own programme. The focus is the big movements that keep muscle on the whole body: squat, hinge, push, pull and carry. Loads start light and build steadily. On the days the medication has you feeling flat or queasy, your coach scales the session back rather than writing the week off. Consistency matters more than intensity here.
The food
A small appetite makes hitting a protein target hard, and protein is what tells the body to keep muscle. Our nutrition coaching is habit based and works with what you can manage: protein first at each meal, easy options for low-appetite days, hydration, and a weekly check-in so nobody is guessing. There are no meal plans and no banned foods.
Coming off, or staying on
Whether you plan to stay on the medication or come off it at some point, the muscle you build now is what protects the result. People who strength train through their GLP-1 course come out the far side stronger, with a higher metabolism and a habit that carries on. People who do not often end up lighter but weaker, and the weight tends to find its way back.
What we are not
We do not prescribe, recommend or advise on any medication. That is between you and your doctor. We will ask what you have been told and follow it, and we are happy to talk to your GP or clinic if that helps.
Getting started
Claim your free session below and let us know you are on a GLP-1 when we ring. It is a real coached 30-minute session at Douglas or Ballincollig, and you decide afterwards. No card, no contract.
Memberships & pricing
Simple, flexible pricing
Personal training from €20.56 a session on a rolling membership, €35 pay as you go, and no-expiry packs from €289. Nutrition coaching is included free on Elite memberships. See full pricing →
FAQ
GLP-1 training questions
If yours is not here, give us a ring. We would rather talk it through.
Do I really lose muscle on Ozempic or Wegovy?
Without resistance training, a significant share of the weight lost on GLP-1 medication is lean mass. Strength training and adequate protein are the proven ways to keep it.
How often should I train while on a GLP-1?
Two or three coached strength sessions a week. Consistency matters more than intensity, so we scale sessions on the days you feel flat.
I have no appetite. How do I eat enough protein?
Our nutrition coach works with you on it: protein first at each meal, easy options for low-appetite days, and a weekly check-in. It is a habit, not a diet sheet.
What if I feel sick on training days?
Tell your coach. Sessions are adjusted to how you are that day. Moving gently usually helps, and there is no penalty for an easy week.
Can you advise me on the medication itself?
No. We are a gym, not a clinic. Medication questions go to your GP or prescriber and we follow whatever they have advised.
Will this help me keep the weight off after I stop?
Muscle keeps your metabolism up, so people who strength train through their course are in a far better position to hold their result afterwards.
How much does it cost?
From €179 every 4 weeks for two sessions a week, or no-expiry packs. Your first session is free and there is no contract.
From our members
From members who took the first step
In their own words, straight from Google.
"Not only do they get results but they have educated me so much in nutrition which has been essential for me being consistent with my food which is something I’ve never experienced at a gym before. Every trainer takes the time to check in on you before you train and they are always checking on your goals and progress…"
"12 months ago I made a decision to join ATP fitness an I can honestly say it was best decision I've made… since I started i feel I'm after getting a lot stronger with every session I do an never felt as good.. ATP is a very friendly place to train an the trainers are so helpful an so friendly"
"Lovely welcoming environment! Would definitely recommend the PT sessions, I started a few months ago, having never done any weight training before and I am so glad I did."
"If I had known how comfortable & supportive the staff & environment would be, my strength training journey could have started earlier. In my experience, no matter what your starting point is, within ATP you are encouraged & brought along through each PT session…"
Talk to a coach
Want to talk it through?
If you'd like a chat about training around a GLP-1 medication, leave your details and one of our coaches will give you a ring. No pressure and nothing to sign up to.
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Find us
Two locations across Cork
Douglas
2nd Floor, Unit A1, Donnybrook Commercial Centre, Donnybrook, Cork City
Tel: 087 649 4134
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed
Ballincollig
Unit 1A, Link Road Business Park, Carrigrohane, Ballincollig, Co. Cork
Tel: 085 725 2370
Mon-Thurs: 6:30am - 8:30pm
Friday: 6:30am - 7:00pm
Saturday: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Sunday: Closed