Ozempic question

[missfliss]

Hello -
I know there is a long thread on Ozempic and I've been following quietly.

It's something I might consider in the future - but not now ( training for a big sports event and need to fuel properly).

My question is though - what happens when you stop taking it? Does your appetite return to normal ? Or does taking it for a long period help retrain your food / satiety mechanisms to support willpower / education?

I'm totally open to trying but want to understand that if that kind of investment is needed, what else you might need to do to ensure long term success.

I'm overweight by probably 2 stone, reasonable fit, main problems are sugar and emotional / boredom eating and portion sizes.

Any help or experiences welcome.

( successfully lost weight previously but tend to go back to old overeating again - I have a decent knowledge about what i need to eat / good nutrition but seem to lack the control or consistency to avoid overeating)

Hopeful bump

I’ve taken Saxenda rather than Ozempic but the principle is the same. After my first bout of Saxenda I did put weight on again (although nowhere near as much as I’d lost). I think this was because I hadn’t been on it for very long and so the reason I had lost weight is because of the appetite suppression side effect. The second time I was on it for longer and completely changed the way I ate – I started intermittent fasting (16:8) and cooking from scratch every night, focusing on getting enough protein. Because I had retrained myself into a new way of eating, when I came off it I didn’t gain any weight.

I lost 7 stone in total and am now trying to lose 3 more by myself – it’s definitely slower going but there’s no doubt that the medication helped me reset my entire relationship to food. It’s been a life-changer for me.

Im a recent convert to ozempic so can't give you personal experience.

I'm fully expecting my appetite to return and weight to come back once I stop. I don't think I need retraining as I know the knowledge IYSWIM.

however, my overweight crept on relatively slowly so I'm hoping if it does start to creep back on when I stop Ozempic, I can do a couple of weeks of hunger/ restriction to get back on track.

Also my current weight prevents me doing my 2 favourite sports because of the injury risk. So, I'm hoping once I shift it, I can do more exercise and be generally more active.

But I think you are sensible to wait until after you've finished training. I can tell I'm underpowered calorie-wise at the moment if I do do a lot of strenuous exercise, as I feel a bit 'off' afterwards and the normal hunger signals aren't as strong.

I used ozempic and then couldn't get hold of it. I used it from September to mid November/early December and I felt the effects last for a few weeks after I stopped taking.

Possibly the worst time of year to stop too! I put about 1/2 stone back on but I'd suggest getting into the habit of logging your calories every day, not counting them, but to get in the habit so you can continue doing so once you stop. I wish I'd done that and now I generally wing it meal to meal.

When it comes to maintenance of wright, activity is your friend. Keep up whatever you're doing and I don't miss the weakness I felt in the gym while taking it!

It's also worth saying that I have ADHD and have battled with my unknown desire for dopamine releasing foods. Ozempic quashed that completely. I knew full well what was in my cupboards and didn't care. But that is back now and is hard to manage.

Can you get Ozempic on prescription ? I have about 2 stone to lose and I'm not getting anywhere

NHS will only prescribe it for people with T2 diabetes, otherwise you have to pay for a prescription privately

Once people stop they generally gain weight again. See graph below which shows some people switching to a placebo.

Another graph showing what happens if you stop once the weight loss has slowed right down.

If you go back to eating the way you did to become overweight in the first place then you will put the weight back on. Like any ‘diet’.

I read an article about Ozempic where the Chief Exec of the manufacturer said to think of it like medication for blood pressure. You would expect to be on that for life.

I am taking Ozempic and have lost almost three stone but it’s taken almost a year. I have probably two stone more to go. To be honest if I only had two stone to lose in the beginning I probably would have been hesitatant to take it. It’s a drug. There are risks and side effects.

Ozempic isn’t a magic bullet. You still need to be sensible. Obviously it reduces your appetite but that wears off. I’m now on 1mg and need to increase my dose as the appetite suppression has definitely reduced.

So really it's not sustainable as a weight loss method - I didn't expect a magic bullet, but when people talk about 'game changing' I think that maybe only for the duration of the medication.

Not sure it's for me really - I think I was hoping that the ability to differentiate between real and emotional appetite would hang around more after you finish - it doesn't sound like that is the case

Forgot to say a big Thankyou to anyone that replied - really appreciate your time

It has definitely been game-changing for me but I had a lot more weight to lose than you do.

It has been a game changer for me too. I’ve been overweight and dieting for over 30 years. Ozempic works for me. But I know I will be taking it for a long time. My plan is to taper the dose down and see how it goes. My thought process was that I was finding it really hard to motivate myself to lose five stone. It’s hard. It takes a long time. I’ve tried it over and over and over. I usually lose around two and then bam it stops. Having read Dr Andrew Jenkins book “Why We Eat (Too Much)” I understand why. Ozempic has enabled me to lose a stone beyond where I usually get to. It’s definitely harder now through even with Ozempic.

Even the original Atkins diet had a very gradual re-introduction of carbs. Healthy carbs though not cake and biscuits and bread etc. SW and WW is the same. When you get to goal you should continue the principles to maintain. The problem is that most people don’t do that.

I think it’s the same with any method of weight loss. Obviously you will put the weight back on if you go back to the same old bad habits you had before you started the diet.
I see it as a way to lose weight fairly quickly and then I have to take personal responsibility for maintaining a healthy weight once I hade reached my goal. I think it will be easier as I will have had a year or so of learning better habits. But obviously it’s never that easy to be self disciplined.

You can easily lose 2 stone with diet and exercise. Diet meaning sustainable lifestyle changes.

do people not feel guilty that they’re taking a drug specifically for people with a medical disorder?

@Alaldlccmemsjzja if you read these threads there's a lot of reliance on ozempic decreasing appetite without much effort from the user. There's also people upping the dose amount or timings to try and get that appetite suppression. Some contributors to the threads do follow a healthy lifestyle too but it seems rare. There's also people lying about their weight and blood pressure to get it prescribed. IMO it's immoral for companies to sell this drug to those that don't meet the NHS criteria for prescription. Fools and money have always been easily parted. They get very defensive about it though if you question anything. Give it 5 years and they will be back to their original weight or more in most cases.

I just feel it’s very selfish

Agree with a lot of what you said. It doesn’t help that it is endorsed by celebrities.

There is a very long running thread on here with multiple people using it and speaking of it’s wonders

I couldn’t see anyone actually highlighting the moral issue around it. I found that very disappointing.

if diabetics cannot obtain their medication because some people don’t want to properly exercise and eat better that is so shameful and shallow

I get that people are desperate but ultimately there's no magic cure for obesity or one that requires minimal effort. Weight loss takes effort. Sad, but true. I'm cross with myself over the chip barm I had from the chippy for tea yesterday and need to adjust things today to even things out.
The LOSE IT threads are really good and supportive and don't follow any fads or gimmicks if anyone wants to join us.

Hello - one of the people you are judging here. I do exercise and I do try to follow a healthy diet.

Sadly the set point goes up each time you diet and lose weight and your body’s hormones fight your willpower. Well over 90% of people gain back any weight they lose in a diet - are they all lazy and weak willed?

Also we live in an obesogenic environment. The percentage of people who are obese has risen steadily since the consumption of sugar, vegetable oils and ultra processed food has increased. Temptation is at every turn as these foods are cheap and easily available. Are we today so much more lacking in will power than the people of the 1970s for example?

Hardly anyone if the long running thread started with a BMI under thirty which would be the NHS guidelines once Wegovey is available. We are all at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, dementia and joint problems - maybe some prevention goes a long way. At least we are taking responsibility and trying. All of us have tried diets in the past.

essentially we are all under the control of our hormones and here is something that actually helps in that fight in a similar way to bariatric surgery which increases the amount of GLP 1 produced as food gets to you small intestine faster - (this is the hormone that Ozempic mimics). The surgery also reduces ghrelin production and so is even more effective. Surgery can put diabetes into remission almost immediately - should that also be rationed only for people who already have diabetes?

I don’t think there is a massive shortage of Ozempic for diabetics in the UK right now. We all seem to be able to get hold of it and would be having the same problems. Of course people who currently have diabetes should have priority but obesity is something that needs treating too and ‘just diet and exercise’ fails in the majority of cases.

cool