Think of KLOW as a multi-tool for your bodys wellness and recovery systems
Then it should go back to normal once weight stabilizes, and as long as the root cause (like nutrient or vitamin deficiency) is addressed
declining exercise performance Baseline Labs (DUTCH + Standard Panels): Estradiol: Fluctuating wildly (perimenopause) Progesterone: Very low (anovulatory cycles) Cortisol: Elevated evening levels Fasting insulin: 14 IU/mL (insulin resistant) HbA1c: 5.8% (prediabetic range) IGF-1: 156 ng/mL Weight: 178 lbs (goal: 145 lbs) Treatment Protocol: Weeks 1-8: Bioidentical hormone therapy (estradiol patch + oral progesterone) to stabilize hormones, address cortisol with adaptogenic support and sleep optimization Weeks 9-12: Initiate semaglutide 0.25 mg weekly, titrating to 1.0 mg by week 12 Weeks 13-26: Add tesamorelin 2 mg daily to preserve muscle and target visceral fat during weight loss Ongoing: Metformin 500 mg twice daily for insulin sensitivity 26-Week Results: Weight: 148 lbs (-30 lbs total, -16.9%) Body fat: 32% 24% (DEXA) Lean mass: Maintained (actually +1.2 kg gain despite caloric deficit) Fasting insulin: 6 IU/mL (normalized) HbA1c: 5.1% (out of prediabetic range) IGF-1: 223 ng/mL Patient Report: I was terrified Id lose muscle along with the fatId seen friends lose weight on GLP-1s and end up skinny fat. The combination protocol meant I lost fat, kept my muscle, and actually got stronger
Separately, a national survey of aesthetic providers reported that the number of patients arriving on these medications more than doubled between 2023 and 2024, with midface volume loss, skin laxity, and deepening folds cited as the concerns providers saw most
Patients starting semaglutide or other GLP-1 receptor agonists sometimes notice they feel colder than usual, especially in the first few weeks of treatment
