How GLP‑1s typically feel

Many people describe GLP‑1 results as feeling calmer and more in control of their eating and their mind, with appetite dropping, “food noise” quieting, and it becoming much easier to stop when comfortably satisfied instead of chasing cravings. Mild nausea can occur, especially early on, but is usually manageable and often improves as the dose is slowly adjusted.​

Mentally, patients often report clearer focus, more mental space for work and relationships, and far less constant chatter around food and body image, which can feel like a powerful reset that supports healthier choices with far less willpower.

When starting GLP‑1 treatment at Twisted Tree Wellness, you’ll have a thorough consultation to review your health history, current medications, and goals, and to confirm that this therapy is appropriate and safe for you. You’ll also receive your prescribed medication along with clear instruction on how to administer it and how your dose will be increased over time as your body adjusts.

If purchased separately from our packages, your initial GLP‑1 visit is divided into a 47 consultation fee, with the remaining 253 billed only if you meet criteria and choose to proceed with GLP‑1 therapy. All prescribed medications, necessary supplies, and ongoing monitoring are included in this 300 program fee every 6 weeks, with regular follow‑up to adjust dosing and carefully evaluate and manage any side effects.

Most people notice a quieter appetite and gradual, steady weight loss in the first weeks, with more visible body and health changes over several months.​

• Weeks 1–4: Appetite and food “noise” typically ease over the first few weeks, helping you feel full sooner and think about food less, while weight loss begins slowly (often a few pounds in the first month). Mild nausea or digestive changes are common early on and usually improve as your dose is titrated.​

• Months 1–3: Portion sizes naturally shrink, cravings lessen, and energy and motivation often improve; many patients see roughly 5–10% body-weight reduction by 3 months, depending on dose and lifestyle.​
• Months 3–6: Results typically become clearly visible, with continued fat loss, better blood sugar and blood pressure numbers, and a sustained drop in appetite and food preoccupation for many people.​

• With consistent use plus nutrition, movement, and resistance training, total loss of around 10–20% of starting weight over 6–12 months is common in studies, and many people also report better focus, sleep, and confidence as their health improves.

GLP‑1 medications are injectable or oral drugs that mimic a natural gut hormone to improve blood sugar, reduce appetite, support weight loss, and protect multiple organ systems in people with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity. They have been in clinical use since 2005 and now have an extensive safety and outcomes track record when used as prescribed.

• Glucagon‑like peptide‑1 receptor agonists (GLP‑1 RAs) are analogs of the native incretin hormone GLP‑1 that activate GLP‑1 receptors throughout the body.​
• They enhance glucose‑dependent insulin secretion, suppress glucagon when glucose is high, slow gastric emptying, and act on the brain to reduce appetite and promote satiety.

• The incretin effect and GLP‑1 biology were defined in the 1980s–1990s, with clinical GLP‑1 analog studies beginning in the early 1990s.​
• Exenatide (Byetta) became the first FDA‑approved GLP‑1 RA for type 2 diabetes in 2004–2005, followed by liraglutide in 2009–2010 and once‑weekly agents like extended‑release exenatide, dulaglutide, and semaglutide over the next decade.​
• The first GLP‑1 specifically approved for weight management was liraglutide 3 mg (Saxenda) in 2014; several higher‑dose semaglutide and dual‑incretin agents now carry obesity indications as of the 2020s.​

• GLP‑1 RAs significantly improve measurable diabetic data points by lowering blood sugar and A1c. 
• They are not only used for diabetics, however. They typically induce clinically meaningful weight loss via appetite suppression, reduced caloric intake, and modest effects on gastric motility and the body's energy balance.

GLP‑1 medications help protect the heart and kidneys in people with type 2 diabetes by lowering the risk of heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular death, and by slowing kidney damage in appropriate patients. They do this partly by improving blood vessel health and reducing harmful inflammation and oxidative stress in the cardiovascular and renal systems.​

They also affect the liver, brain, and other organs by calming inflammatory and immune pathways and supporting healthier cell function, which may improve fatty liver and arterial disease. Early research suggests possible benefits in conditions like sleep apnea, some liver diseases, certain brain and mood disorders, and obesity‑related cancers, but these uses are still being studied and are not yet routine standards of care.

• Many patients report improved energy, mobility, sleep quality, and health‑related quality of life as weight, glycemia, blood pressure, and inflammatory markers improve.​
• These medicines often enable reduction in doses or number of other cardiometabolic medications, which can simplify regimens and improve perceived wellbeing in appropriate patients.

• The most common side effects are stomach and gut issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, belly pain, bloating, and acid reflux, especially while the dose is being increased. In real‑world use, many people end up needing extra medicine for reflux or bowel symptoms, but these problems are usually about comfort and are not typically life‑threatening.

• Current evidence suggests no major increase in overall serious adverse events or pancreatitis compared with placebo in weight‑loss trials in non‑diabetic adults, although pancreatitis and gallbladder disease remain labeled risks requiring monitoring.​
• GLP‑1 RAs carry boxed or prominent warnings about medullary thyroid carcinoma risk based on rodent data; they are contraindicated in patients with personal/family history of MTC or MEN2 and should be used cautiously in those with unexplained thyroid nodules.​
• Rare events such as bowel obstruction, severe gastroparesis, biliary disease, and mood changes have been reported, so individualized risk assessment and ongoing clinical follow‑up are essential.

• GLP‑1 medications are among the more expensive chronic therapies, with annual costs for branded agents commonly in the multiple‑thousand‑dollar range before insurance, and incremental pharmacy costs (including managing side effects) several thousand dollars higher over 1–3 years vs non‑users.​
• Insurance coverage varies widely by indication and plan; diabetes indications are often covered, while obesity‑only prescriptions may face denials, prior authorizations, or step‑therapy requirements, prompting some patients to seek coupons, employer programs, or manufacturer assistance.