Denise Austin calls weight-loss injections 'miracle' but warns users are missing one key step

"It's a miracle drug," the veteran exercise instructor and creator of Fit Over 50 magazine told Fox News Digital. "I see such great results. [But] the one thing that I tell everyone is to keep up with their muscle conditioning exercises. This is the key: anyone taking the drug must do weight training. I'm talking about presses, triceps work, lunges, and weighted squats.

"Even if you use five-pound weights to begin, that's great," said the 68-year-old. "Don't overdo it. Start with five-pound weights and in about two weeks, go to seven and a half, go to 10. So slowly build up that weight. Most people need to start small and then build up."

"In 2026, it's all about being strong, being fit through muscle conditioning using some weights," she noted. "We really need to start working our muscles. They work miracles on our metabolism."

WATCH: DENISE AUSTIN SAYS FITNESS IS KEY EVEN WITH WEIGHT-LOSS SHOTS

Austin stressed that weight-loss treatments don't replace daily exercise. Staying active amplifies your results and strengthens your body - so you look better, feel better and stay healthier.

"My biggest advice on how to squeeze in some fitness would be to just wake up a little earlier each morning," she shared. 

"That way, you squeeze it in before your busy day begins. So there'll be no excuses for you. By 5 o'clock, if I haven't exercised, I won't even do it. So make sure you squeeze it in the morning, and you'll make a big difference in your whole routine. If you could just wake up 15 minutes earlier, have your exercise clothes all out, lace up your sneakers, mentally you'll get all psyched up and ready to go."

"If you move just 15 minutes every morning, you'll feel a big difference in your energy levels," said the mother of two. 

"It's the big picture," Austin continued. "It's not just about losing weight. It's how to get well, how to feel healthy."

Austin said that even starting with a 15-minute walk each day and working your way up to 30 minutes a day can increase weight-loss efforts.

"You could go walking with a weighted vest to improve your bone density and increase your aerobic capacity and your heart and lungs," she suggested.

"But there are lots of ways to stay in shape. The biggest mistake you can make is trying to do too much, too fast. The key is to work your way up, but be consistent."

"Wake up every morning and do something healthy for yourself, whether it's eating a good breakfast that starts your day, going out for a walk, putting down a mat and doing some stretches," Austin continued. "Flexibility is so important because it gives you the chance to be more pliable. Your back doesn't go out. So do some stretches in the morning."

"It's easy if you just work out for 15 minutes," said Austin. "I have over 40 different 15-minute workouts that you could do right in the privacy of your own home. They cover abs. I do the arms. I do some buttocks. We do Pilates. I do yoga. You can really mix and match - by the end of the week, you've hit it all from head to toe. You can also just go to the gym or go for a walk. Just make a plan."

"An architect can't build a house without a plan," she advised. "So make a plan for yourself. That way, it will really stick. Grab a friend to do it with. I love to walk with a friend, walk and talk. You can't believe it's suddenly 45 minutes. You're burning fat and catching up with friends, too."

"I always tell people, just try - even if it's 10 minutes a day," she said. "It will make a big difference if you stick to it."