JJ Virgin explains why diets fail: they ignore body composition and protein's role as a natural GLP-1 enhancer. Most Americans have GLP-1 deficiency from insulin resistance, driving constant hunger. Prioritizing protein and fiber delivers quick results and quiets food noise without drugs like semaglutide.
You said, what would you tell someone who wanted to lose weight? I'd say, first of all, know your body composition and you want to figure out if you want to lose fat, you need to put on muscle. Likely you need to do both. Likely you need both. You first shift, and I have people shift protein and do eat protein first because that makes the fastest change and people need wins or they're out, right? I've been doing weight loss for 40 years. If they don't see a change, they're like, I'm out. If you're hungry, I'm out. Well, protein's like a GLP-1 raiser, right? Where you take, so if you take, uh, it's like semaglutide, tirzepatide, they're keeping GLP-1 around. What this does is help you raise GLP— GLP-1 comes up and comes down. So protein does that, fiber does that. So I mean, this is what your body naturally should do. My take on GLP-1s is that we have a GLP-1 deficiency and resistance going on in this country because of, like, insulin resistance, fatty liver, obesity create GLP-1 deficiencies. So there's that. Anyhow, right? So then the deficiency is creating a situation where our bodies aren't hungry. We're hungry and insulin resistant, and then we're eating. So yeah, if you look at GLP-1s, they help improve insulin sensitivity. They— yes, they shut off food noise, but they're doing a whole lot of other stuff. I feel like we're focusing on one aspect that's the smallest part of the— like, the big things it does is improves— helps your body secrete insulin when it should, not when it shouldn't.
