TRX Review: Real Resistance, $99, Fits in a Bag
TRX makes suspension trainers — two straps with handles that anchor to a door, beam or frame and use your own bodyweight at variable angles for resistance — from about $99 to $175. This site has recommended resistance training on nearly every page it has written about GLP-1 medication, because it is what determines whether the weight you lose is fat or muscle. TRX is among the cheapest legitimate ways to do it, and it fits in a drawer.
Verified August 25, 2026. TRX makes fitness equipment. Nothing here is medical or exercise-prescription advice. For weight-loss medication see our GLP-1 provider rankings.
Affiliate disclosure: Rx Saver Hub earns a commission if you sign up through links on this page. It does not change what we write — see our disclosure policy.
Verdict: Genuine progressive resistance at the lowest practical entry point, with one real limitation. Suspension training works by changing your body angle relative to the anchor, which alters the proportion of bodyweight you are lifting — that is legitimate progressive loading, adjustable in fine increments, and it covers pulling movements that a dumbbell-only home setup struggles with. The limitation is the upper end: once bodyweight at the hardest angle becomes easy, you cannot add external load. For most people starting resistance training on a GLP-1, that ceiling is a long way off.
What TRX Training Costs
TRX prices by kit level, all far below equivalent equipment.
| Plan | What you get | Listed | Real cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry suspension trainer | Straps, handles, door anchor | $99 | Full functionality |
| Higher kits | Additional anchoring and accessories | Up to $175 | Marginal difference |
| Adjustable dumbbells | External load, higher ceiling | Several hundred | Better long-term |
| Gym membership | Full equipment access | Monthly, indefinitely | Compare over a year |
This is the intervention that protects your muscle
Rapid weight loss costs lean tissue as well as fat. Muscle is metabolically active, so losing it lowers resting energy expenditure and makes regain more likely if you stop the medication. Progressive resistance training two or three times a week plus adequate protein is the countermeasure with real evidence — and nothing else on this site matters as much for that outcome. Expect lower work capacity when eating far less, so start conservatively. Watch hydration and electrolytes, since both fall alongside food, and mention dizziness on standing to your prescriber rather than pushing through.
At $99 this is less than a month of most gym memberships and less than a month of most GLP-1 prescriptions. There is no cheaper way into genuine resistance training.
Why suspension training counts as real resistance
The mechanism is straightforward. Anchoring the straps above you and leaning into or away from the anchor changes what proportion of your bodyweight the movement has to overcome. A row performed nearly upright is easy; the same row with your body closer to horizontal is considerably harder.
That is progressive overload with infinitely fine adjustment — you can change difficulty by moving your feet a few inches, which is finer control than most weight increments allow.
It also covers pulling movements particularly well, which is the gap in a dumbbell-only home setup. Rows and their variations are the hardest thing to load properly without a bar or a machine, and suspension straps solve that cheaply.
Core engagement is inherent rather than an add-on, because stabilising an unstable anchor point is part of every movement.
Where the ceiling is and what to do about it
The limitation is real: your bodyweight at the hardest achievable angle is the maximum resistance available. You cannot add plates.
For most people beginning resistance training that ceiling is far away, and it is even further for someone whose work capacity is reduced by eating substantially less. It is a limitation that arrives eventually rather than one that constrains you now.
When it does arrive, adjustable dumbbells are the next step and the straps remain useful for pulling movements alongside them. This is not a purchase you outgrow and discard.
For lower body specifically the ceiling arrives sooner, since legs are strong relative to bodyweight. Single-leg variations extend it considerably, and lower body is also where a pair of dumbbells adds the most.
Practical points
Anchoring matters. Door anchors work on solid doors that open away from you, and the door must be closed and preferably locked. Check the anchor before loading it, every time.
Learn a small number of movements properly rather than collecting exercises — a row, a press, a squat variation, a hinge, and a core movement covers the requirement. Consistency beats variety substantially.
Portability is a genuine advantage for anyone who travels. Continuity through a trip is worth more than any equipment feature, and this is the only resistance equipment that fits in hand luggage.
Pros and Cons
Strengths
- Genuine progressive resistance with fine adjustment, from $99
- Covers pulling movements that dumbbell-only setups struggle with
- Fits in a drawer or a bag, so travel does not break consistency
- Core engagement inherent to every movement
- Remains useful even after adding dumbbells later
Drawbacks
- Bodyweight at the hardest angle is the resistance ceiling
- Lower body loading is limited sooner than upper body
- Requires a secure anchor point and care in setting it up
- Learning correct positions matters and no equipment teaches that
Who Should Pick It — and Who Shouldn't
Good fit
Anyone on a GLP-1 who needs to start resistance training, has limited space or budget, or travels enough that gym-dependent routines break down.
Look elsewhere
An experienced lifter who has already outgrown bodyweight resistance, and anyone who wants heavy lower-body loading specifically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is suspension training real resistance training?
Yes. Changing your body angle relative to the anchor changes the proportion of bodyweight you lift, which is progressive overload with very fine adjustment. It covers pulling movements particularly well, which is the hardest thing to load in a dumbbell-only home setup.
What exercise protects muscle on a GLP-1?
Progressive resistance training two or three times a week covering squats, hinges, presses, pulls and carries, alongside adequate protein. That is what preserves lean mass during rapid weight loss. Cardio supports general health but does not do this job.
Will I outgrow a suspension trainer?
Eventually, since bodyweight at the hardest angle is the ceiling — sooner for lower body than upper. For most people starting out, and particularly with reduced work capacity from eating far less, that is a long way off. Adjustable dumbbells are the next step and the straps stay useful alongside them.
How do I train when eating very little?
Start conservatively and progress steadily rather than chasing a programme written for normal intake. Watch hydration and electrolytes since both fall alongside food, get protein around training, and mention dizziness on standing to your prescriber rather than pushing through.
Considering TRX Training?
If you have not started resistance training on your GLP-1, this is the cheapest legitimate way in — less than a month of most prescriptions, and it fits in a drawer.
More Reviews Like This
Other brands we have reviewed in the same category.
Pricing and product range read from trxtraining.com on August 25, 2026 and subject to change. This page is informational and not medical or exercise-prescription advice. Rx Saver Hub earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page.