Trying GLP-1s for Weight Loss? These Tools and Products Can Support Your Goals

While meal delivery services are definitely more expensive than prepping your own meals, they can make hitting your nutrition goals a lot easier. That's especially true if you're too busy to cook from scratch every night or are struggling with a poor appetite.

Factor offers a GLP-1 meal delivery option with protein-rich, calorie-conscious items, says Melissa Mitri, RD, a nutrition writer based in Monroe, Connecticut, and owner of Melissa Mitri Nutrition. Factor meals are shipped fresh and can be heated in minutes, making them convenient for busy or low-energy days. Mitri has tried Factor meals, and she enjoyed many of them.

If you're looking for a ready-to-drink protein shake that you can find at most grocery stores, it's hard to beat Fairlife Core Power. “Many of my clients on GLP-1s love the flavor of these shakes as a quick breakfast with fruit or a mini-meal,” says Mitri. She adds that the shakes have 26 grams (g) of protein in just 170 calories with no added sugar.

I've also tried these protein shakes and can confirm that they're a tasty way to hit your protein goals. (And if you have a Ninja Creami, they make delicious protein ice cream!).

While ready-to-drink protein shakes are more convenient, they tend to be more expensive and less versatile than protein powders. You can add protein powders to oatmeal, yogurt, smoothies, and pancake batter to boost their protein.

Many whey protein powders are available, but Mitri recommends Naked Whey Protein Powder for GLP-1 users. Both the unflavored and flavored versions contain only 120 calories, 26 g of protein, and minimal sugar per two-scoop serving.

If you're concerned about quality, Naked prides itself on high-quality formulas and minimal ingredients, Mitri says. Many of her clients enjoy the unflavored option, as it can be added to overnight oats or smoothies without altering the flavor — perfect for when you want a protein boost without actually tasting it.

If you're not a fan of protein powders that create a “milky” shake, clear protein powder could be a great option. Clear protein powder is typically made from whey protein that has been ultra-filtered, so you get all the benefits of whey protein without the milky flavor and texture.

I love Clean Simple Eats Clear Protein Powder. (My favorite flavor is Sour Candy Watermelon.) It has a refreshing rather than milky flavor, and at only 90 calories for 20 grams of protein, it's a lower-calorie way to boost your protein intake.

First things first: Despite what wellness influencers and marketing campaigns would have you believe, not everyone needs an electrolyte supplement. That said, if you're sweating heavily, having diarrhea, or throwing up, you may need to replenish the electrolytes you're losing.

Choosing an electrolyte supplement can be challenging, because electrolyte content varies widely across brands. Some brands provide so few electrolytes that they're not worth your money.

Liquid I.V. contains between 500 and 510 milligrams (mg) of sodium and 370 mg of potassium, as well as several B vitamins and vitamin C. It's also available in a wide range of tasty flavors and comes in convenient stick packs, making it ideal for days on the go or for travel.

It's easy to become dehydrated on GLP-1 medications, so I recommend keeping a water bottle with you to sip throughout the day. We love the Philips GoZero Filtration Bottle With Everyday Filter. It's budget-friendly, keeps water cold for 24 hours, has a filter that lasts up to two months, is leak-proof, and is dishwasher-safe (minus the filter).

Social worker and mental health writer Julia Childs Heyl tested this water bottle and appreciated how pure the water tasted. Plus, it comes with three filters, making it one of the best-value filtered water bottles on the market. Inserting the filter into the bottle can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy to use.

Liquids are often easier to tolerate than solid foods when you're nauseated or have a poor appetite. So, having a good blender on hand can be very helpful for managing these GLP-1 side effects. We recommend the Ninja BlendBoss, which blends directly into a 26-ounce (oz) travel tumbler. Available in four colors, it's also one of the best-looking blenders we've tested.

Editor Ashley Ziegler tested this blender and found it very intuitive to use. It features four buttons: blend, smoothie, ice, and pulse. Ziegler says it blended smoothies well, and she didn't run into any issues with chunks or over-blending. It's also dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup. However, Ziegler says the blender is quite loud, so keep that in mind if you're an early riser sharing a home with other people.

Prepping meals and snacks in advance can help ensure that you get enough protein and fiber throughout the day. I love PackIt's Mod Bento Containers for everything from making fully-prepped meals and snacks to storing pre-chopped fruit and vegetables.

No matter the size you choose, these bento containers have removable dividers to separate thick liquids and solid foods (perfect if you don't like your foods to touch). I particularly like the large container for pre-preparing vegetables, as it keeps them fresh and crisp for up to a week. The containers themselves are also microwave- and dishwasher-safe.

You don't need to weigh everything you eat forever. But at the beginning of your GLP-1 journey, it can be helpful to familiarize yourself with portion sizes of different foods. That way, you can accurately estimate your intake, especially with protein foods like meat, poultry, and fish.

While there are plenty of fancier options available, I love the GoodCook Everyday Digital Scale. It's compact, accurate, and affordable, and it can weigh portions up to 11 pounds (lbs), which is useful if you like to bake or cook larger portions. Its digital display is easy to read, and it includes a function that zeros the scale so you can weigh foods in containers. It also has an automatic shut-off to preserve battery life.

And honestly? As far as scales go, it looks quite nice, so it's not a kitchen tool you have to hide away when you're not using it. It even has a hook on the back so you can hang it up to save space.

We tested a lot of yoga mats, but the Gaiam Dry-Grip Yoga Mat stands out for its extra cushioning (ideal for people with sensitive joints), non-slip properties, and good value for money. Health writer Raki Swanson tested this mat and found it provided excellent cushioning, even on a hard gym floor.

At 5 millimeters (mm) thick, it's cushioned without being so soft that you lose your balance. However, the extra cushioning also makes it heavier, and it doesn't include a carrying strap. So keep that in mind if you plan to attend in-person classes.

Fitness writer Brittany Vargas tested the Asics Novablast 5 shoes, and she appreciated their bouncy, responsive midsole and breathable mesh upper. The shoes made running much more comfortable for her thanks to the foam midsole and bounce/energy return, which made it easier to run. In fact, she says they're her new favorite running shoes. She adds that they're a great option for people in warmer climates who are on their feet all day or have long planned walks, such as at amusement parks or while traveling.

There are plenty of sets of resistance bands for a good price on Amazon, but this set of Veick Resistance Bands is our top pick. I've owned this set for a year, and I love how versatile it is. The set of five bands ranges from 10 to 50 lbs of resistance. It includes two handles (for exercises like rows and pull-downs), ankle straps (for exercises like kickbacks), a door anchor, and a convenient storage bag.

I've used these bands three to four times a week since I bought them, and they've maintained their shape and resistance. Plus, at under $30 for the entire set, they're a cost-effective way to start building muscle.

Most people don't have the space for a full set of dumbbells. But as you get stronger, you'll need access to heavier weights to keep making progress. I was initially skeptical about adjustable dumbbells; it seemed like a hassle to switch between weights. But after using an older model of the Hakeno 15 Weight in 1 Adjustable Dumbbells for a year, I'm a convert.

I like this set because you simply twist the handle to switch between weights ranging from 5 to 53 pounds. So there's something for all fitness levels. They also don't take up much space, making them a good option for people living in smaller homes or for those who don't want their fitness equipment to take up too much real estate. While they’re pricier than a simple pair of 5- or 10-pound dumbbells, they’re far more affordable than investing in a full set.

Tracking your heart rate during exercise can be a good way of ensuring you're not overdoing it. We love this Bluetooth heart rate monitor from Coospo. It's affordable, tracks heart rate in real time, is water- and dust-resistant, and is compatible with over 200 apps and fitness platforms.

Writer Lindsay Modglin tested this heart rate monitor. Even though the chest strap material and monitor unit felt less robust than higher-end options, it's a solid, budget-friendly choice for people who want heart rate data without the higher price tag, she says.

It offers an impressive 300 hours of battery life, and it pairs seamlessly with popular platforms such as Strava and Peloton, as well as with fitness equipment from brands like NordicTrack. All in all, it's a great option for people who don't need all the bells and whistles of a more-expensive option but still want access to reliable data.

I've owned several wearable fitness trackers (Fitbit, Oura Ring, and two Apple Watch models), but the Garmin Venu 4 is the best I've used. It comes in two sizes — 41 mm and 45 mm — and several different colors. With up to 10 days of battery life, it's the most low-maintenance fitness tracker I've ever owned. (I use mine to track workouts up to 10 times a week, which reduces the battery life to eight days.)

Other features I like include the bright, easy-to-read display, built-in LED flashlight (great for training outdoors at night), sleep tracking, body battery energy score, and a training readiness score. Seeing these metrics helps me better understand how lifestyle factors such as alcohol use, intense exercise, and sleep affect my performance, enabling me to adjust my training accordingly.

I also appreciate the strength-training tracking, which lets you track sets, reps, and weight as you train. While it's definitely one of the pricier fitness trackers, its long battery life and extensive features make it worth the money.

“Using a smart scale is incredibly helpful on a GLP-1 journey, as it enables you to track your body composition over time.” Products like the Renpho Smart Scale provide data beyond a simple weight measurement, including skeletal muscle mass, body fat percentage, and visceral fat (the fat around your organs). 

“Weight and health is so much more than the number on the scale,” says Mitri. “And having that data can help dictate if you need to modify your plan and ensure you are losing mostly body fat, not muscle.”

She says the Renpho Smart Scale is a great choice because it's super-affordable, FSA/HSA eligible, and most importantly, easy to use. 

When your appetite is low, it can be easy to underestimate how much you're actually eating. Using nutrition tracking apps can be a valuable way to monitor intake and ensure you're getting enough protein, fiber, fluids, and overall calories to support sustainable weight loss while minimizing side effects such as constipation and muscle loss. 

While MyFitnessPal was my go-to nutrition app, I switched to Lose It! when MyFitnessPal became more expensive than I was willing to pay. While the free basic version of Lose It! provides decent functionality, I upgraded to the premium version during a sale and have enjoyed the additional features. The app sets personalized targets based on your goals, though I found the calorie targets too low for very active people. 

The Lose It! app is simple to use, and you can log your meals using the manual search function, scanning barcodes, or taking a photo of your meal. The food database is robust, but if you can't find the food you're looking for, you can add it manually. You can also add recipes, which is helpful for those who often cook at home. 

It also allows you to track metrics such as fluid intake, weight, body fat, steps, sleep, and blood pressure. One of my favorite features is the goals tab, which shows your progress over time. Overall, Lose It! is a fantastic tool for tracking your food intake while also keeping track of metrics like weight, body fat, and measurements. 

Mitri recommends the Muscle Booster app to support muscle maintenance throughout your GLP-1 journey. This user-friendly app offers features such as personalized workout plans tailored to muscle building and maintenance, instructional videos, progress tracking, and meal and protein-tracking tools to support muscle growth. And with over 1,000 different workout challenges, you won't get bored.