The Protocol
The LoopPep Closed-Loop Protocol
Four phases. Each phase tells you something specific about how your body is responding to GLP-1 therapy. This is the system most people skip — and it's the system that turns guesswork into measurable progress.
Baseline (Before You Start)
You can't measure change if you don't know where you started. Run a baseline panel before your first GLP-1 dose. This becomes your reference point for everything else.
What to test
- Metabolic: HbA1c, fasting glucose, fasting insulin
- Lipids: Total cholesterol, LDL, HDL, triglycerides
- Liver: ALT, AST
- Kidney: BUN, creatinine, eGFR
- Thyroid: TSH (rule out unrelated metabolic issues)
- Inflammation: hs-CRP
- Optional but useful: Body composition scan (DEXA or InBody) for lean mass baseline
Why these matter: GLP-1s affect glucose control, lipids, liver fat, and weight composition simultaneously. You want to see all of these moving in the right direction — and catch any that aren't.
Titration Check (Week 8-12)
By week 8-12 you've gone through dose escalation. Now we look at what's actually changing in your bloodwork. This is the most important checkpoint — it tells you if the protocol is working.
What to retest
Run the same panel as baseline. Compare side by side.
What to look for:
- HbA1c: Should be trending down if it was elevated at baseline
- Fasting glucose & insulin: Both should be improving (better insulin sensitivity)
- Triglycerides: Often the fastest-moving lipid marker
- ALT/AST: Should improve as liver fat decreases — peak improvement around week 30
- Anything getting worse? That's a signal to investigate, not panic. Often nutrition or hydration related.
Maintenance (Quarterly)
Once you're past titration, you don't need to test as often. Quarterly check-ins are enough to catch drift. The goal here is to make sure nothing is silently getting worse — particularly nutrition status.
What to add to maintenance panels
- Vitamin D: Often drops with reduced food intake
- Iron / ferritin: Especially important for women
- B12: Common deficiency on GLP-1s
- Magnesium: Affects sleep, muscle cramps, mood
- Body composition: Are you preserving muscle, or just losing weight?
The key question at this phase: Is the weight you're losing the right kind of weight? → Nutrition guide for GLP-1 users
Long-Term Review (6-12 months)
At 6 and 12 months, run a comprehensive review. This is where you assess whether the protocol is sustainable, whether you're approaching maintenance dose, and whether anything needs to change for the long haul.
Long-term review questions
- Have all metabolic markers normalized or improved?
- Is body composition (lean vs. fat mass) trending in the right direction?
- Are micronutrients staying in range?
- Is energy / sleep / mood stable?
- What's the lowest effective dose? (Could you maintain on less?)
- What does your plan look like if you taper off?
This is also when you have a meaningful conversation with your prescriber about long-term strategy. You'll show up with data, not vibes.
The Loop Never Stops
Every retest gives you new information. Every new piece of information leads to a small adjustment. Every adjustment compounds over time. That's the closed loop.
Test → Analyze → Adjust → Retest
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