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What if reaching your race weight is the very thing that ruins your race?

GLP-1 medications may help an athlete lose weight, but using them during race-specific training can also reduce fueling, impair recovery, accelerate muscle loss, and limit the fitness needed to perform. You could arrive at the starting line lighter—but less prepared.

In this episode, Coach Justin and Coach Katie examine where GLP-1 medications may fit for endurance athletes, when the risks can outweigh the benefits, and why significant weight loss should be treated as its own strategic phase rather than forced into a marathon, triathlon, or cycling build.

What You’ll Learn

• Why a lower race weight does not guarantee better performance
• How GLP-1s can affect fueling, muscle retention, recovery, and training quality
• Why rapid weight loss during a race build increases RED-S and injury risk
• When a separate, medically supported weight-loss phase may make more sense

Timestamps

00:00 – GLP-1 medications and the pursuit of race weight
06:52 – How GLP-1 medications work
14:12 – Benefits, side effects, and unanswered safety questions
25:26 – Why GLP-1 medications produce weight loss
35:15 – An athlete losing weight while training for a 70.3
44:19 – When race-weight goals become a warning sign
56:13 – Who may benefit from GLP-1 medications
1:05:47 – RED-S, muscle loss, and impaired recovery
1:17:43 – GI symptoms and the challenge of fueling endurance training
1:27:24 – Why reaching race weight may cost more fitness than it creates
1:31:15 – A better time and strategy for athlete weight loss
1:46:24 – Finding a better reason than chasing a number

For coaching inquiries:

Coach Katie → https://fuel2run.com

Coach Justin → https://tabularasaracing.com

Podcast Email → theenduranceathletejourney@gmail.com