The Whole Protocol, Start to Finish.
Every consult, every lab, every touchpoint. Here’s exactly what happens in the AFJA 6-week program — from application to the final review.
The Medication, Plainly Explained.
GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) is a hormone your body makes in response to food. It tells your brain you’re satisfied, slows how quickly your stomach empties, and helps regulate how your body handles insulin. Medications based on this hormone amplify those effects — which is why they can reduce hunger, shrink portion sizes comfortably, and support weight reduction when used under medical supervision.
The affiliated physician’s default prescribing option is an FDA-approved GLP-1 medication. A compounded version (typically containing semaglutide or tirzepatide as the active ingredient, prepared by a state-licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy) may be prescribed only when the patient’s chart documents a specific clinical reason. Compounded medications are not themselves FDA-approved products. The affiliated physician explains the specific medication, dose, and route before you agree to the protocol.
Week By Week, Day By Day.
Day 0 — Apply
A short application reviewed by our team within 24 hours. Honest health history, goals, current medications. You hear back personally, either way.
Days 1–2 — Onboarding & $199 charged
If accepted, the $199 program fee is charged and your intake consult is scheduled with a board-certified physician in your state.
Days 3–7 — Intake consult (30 min)
Secure video visit with your physician. Medical history, medications, goals, and expectations. A lab order is issued at the end of the call for a metabolic panel and safety markers.
Days 4–10 — Lab work
You walk into a LabCorp or Quest at your convenience — no appointment needed. Results typically return to your physician within 3–5 business days.
Days 10–14 — Protocol consult
A second video consult once labs are back. Your physician reviews results with you, confirms medical fit, and designs the protocol. Medication ships that day or the next from an state-licensed U.S. compounding pharmacy.
Week 2 — Starting dose
You begin on an intentionally low starting dose. Appetite shifts often begin in the first week. Mild GI side effects are most likely during this adjustment window — direct physician messaging is available any time.
Week 3 — Mid-program check-in
Structured check-in with your physician. Review of how your body is responding, side effects, appetite, and early weight trend. Dose may be adjusted up, held, or rarely paused depending on individual response.
Week 4 — Adjusted dose
If the physician increased the dose, this is when your body adjusts to it. Most patients see steadier trends once the dose is individualized. You continue to have direct messaging access for anything that comes up.
Week 5 — Steady state
By week five most patients have settled into their dosing rhythm. Side effects typically minimal. This is the window where the protocol is "working as designed" and you get a clear read on your individual response.
Week 6 — Final review
End-of-program video visit with your physician. Honest review of what the scale and labs show, how you’re feeling, and what to do next. Three paths: continue on a maintenance protocol, taper off under physician guidance, or stop entirely. Always your choice.
What the Physician Actually Does.
The $199 pays for real medical time, not an algorithm. Here’s specifically what the physician is doing during the 6 weeks.
Reads your history personally
Not a form-check. The physician reviews your medical history, current medications, prior weight-loss attempts, and relevant family history before the protocol is even designed.
Interprets your labs
Metabolic panel, lipids, safety markers. The physician reads them in context — your starting point, red flags, anything adjacent to hormonal or metabolic issues worth flagging.
Designs the protocol
Medication choice, starting dose, titration plan, and lifestyle guidance — all individualized. Your protocol will not be identical to the next patient’s.
Adjusts based on response
Dose titration is hands-on. If your body is ramping up side effects, the physician slows the climb. If you’re tolerating it well and stalled, the physician can adjust up.
Manages side effects
Nausea management, hydration guidance, meal-timing adjustments. Not just "call if it’s bad" — active clinical support.
Honest end-of-program recommendation
At week six, a real clinical recommendation based on your labs and response: keep going, take a break, or stop. No template, no push to renew.