If you’re considering a GLP-1, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is, “How much weight can I lose?”

I understand why. But after working with these medications and watching a lot of people go through this process, I think there are much more important questions you should be asking.

What is the plan to protect my muscle while I lose weight? How much protein should I be eating? Should I be strength training? How will we determine my dosage? Are we trying to find the lowest effective dose, or simply increasing it on a schedule? What side effects should I be watching for? And maybe one of the most overlooked questions: What’s the plan when I reach my goal?

That last one matters to me a lot. Getting someone to lose weight isn’t the finish line. If we help someone lose 50 pounds but haven’t helped them build any of the habits necessary to maintain it, what exactly did we accomplish?

I also think you should ask what your provider considers a successful outcome. Is success simply a lower number on the scale? Or are we paying attention to strength, lean mass, nutrition, movement, energy, and overall health along the way?

And don’t be afraid to ask about the medication itself. Know what you’re taking, where it’s coming from, why a particular dose is being recommended, and what the long-term strategy looks like. You should understand the tool you’re putting into your body.

I started this journey strongly opposed to GLP-1 medications. Working with people using them and seeing the results firsthand changed my position—but probably not in the way some people assume. Today, I believe some people can benefit from using GLP-1s cautiously and for the short term, while using that window to build the nutrition, strength, movement, and mindset habits they’ll need for the long term.

That’s a long way from believing everyone should be on one. It’s also a long way from where I started.

You aren’t just shopping for an injection. You’re choosing who is going to help guide you through the process. Ask better questions.

(This is Volume 11 of “Confessions of a GLP-1 Dealer,” a weekly series sharing what I’ve learned from working with people using GLP-1 medications—and what I believe matters beyond the injection.)