Maintenance after Ozempic/Wegovy/Saxenda

[Noicant]

I was just wondering if anyone has actually managed to successfully maintain their losses after using these drugs?

I’m considering trying Wegovy and people don’t seem to discuss how they did afterwards. Of course regain is common with any weight loss method without a lifestyle change but I’m interested in anyone’s experience of coming off them.

[Striving4Better]

Mumsnet thread for those no longer using Oz/W etc

While you wait for replies, worth reading the above.

[Noicant]

Oooh thank you!

[Menora]

This was my thread and I have still lost/maintained the weight

I can answer any questions if you need

[Noicant]

Thanks Menora. Did you have a massive spike in hunger after stopping? Did you tirate down? Have you found it bit easier with time?

[Menora]

I didn’t titrate - it was when ozempic was in short supply so many of us had to stop cos we couldn’t get hold of it. I also had 2 quite bad gallbladder episodes so I didn’t go out of my way to stay on it for those 2 reasons after my Dr said best to stop

Yes the hunger spike was massive so I advise having a busy life with plenty to do to distract you! I also use a lot of mindfulness and hunger/satiety scales (in the thread above) to talk to myself about managing hunger

You get used to it, you have to learn not to be afraid of being a little hungry and make sensible choices when you are hungry. If I am very hungry I will choose something with lots of protein and veg volume to fill me up - you will find you can eat more off wegovy as you don’t get any nausea or slow gastric emptying

I did find I felt so much better in myself off the drug as it affected my sleep, always feeling sick is draining and obviously having gallbladder pain is not fun. I also don’t miss the constipation which gave me terrible piles

[Noicant]

Do you count calories carefully? How many times a week are you exercising?

Do you think it was worth it? Because it does sound like it was quite rough.

Btw it is really encouraging to hear someone who managed to keep making progress without it.

[RunningAndSinging]

I gained really quickly and am now back on the drugs. I did try to eat sensibly especially to begin with but it spiralled out of control.

[Noicant]

I’m sorry to hear that, it sounds frustrating. Was it just dealing with hunger after stopping?

[RunningAndSinging]

It was just wanting to eat too much. Going back to larger portions for meals, more snacks and a sugar addiction. The medication does make it easier.

Also if you are artificially at a much lower weight than your set point then the body is going to work hard to get you back there - if you believe in the set point theory.

[VanellopeVonSchweetz99]

Following with interest.
I have lost 35% of my body weight on the jab in the last year, absolutely life changing and side effects not too bad for me. I'm BMI 21 now and thinking it's time to come off so very grateful for others sharing their experiences.

OP, I have no regrets about taking the jab even if it wasn't always easy, I would say don't let fears of maintenance hold you back.

In terms of nutrition and maintenance after coming off the jab, there's an American lady on instagrem; cgoofme, she makes a lot of sense to me. (sorry can't seem to write her user name properly, it should be cgo underscore of underscore me, no spaces if that makes sense)

[mumaroundtheworld]

What can I tell you is that I think there isn't a ton of data yet on long-term effects after specifically coming off Wegovy. However, experiences with similar medications suggest the importance of focusing on those lifestyle changes to keep the weight off. Additionally, friend of mine was taking Wegovy and she had side effects so she stopped for while and then continued. Therefore, I really advice you to consult professional before deciding to taking Wegovy. Also, I've read some information indicating that teenagers are also starting to take it as a kind of boost to kickstart their journey toward a healthier lifestyle.

[Noicant]

Thanks for everyone who provided feedback. There is a lot out there about people starting and very few people reporting on maintenance. But yup it’s very much along the lines of exercise and watching what you are eating. I’m hoping at some point there will be maintenance threads.

[Mum2two21]

Ive struggled with my weight ever since my second child, whenever I have a bad night and bad sleep i just eat eat eat the next day, im thinking about wegovy but everyone tells me the weight comes back on when you stop, has anyone had any longer experience after stopping it, I dont really want to and cant afford to take medication for such a long time!

[Menora]

@Mum2two21 yes I have not gained weight back so far. But I had to change my whole lifestyle. The weight will come back on if you do not change your lifestyle for good, the same as any other weight loss programme or method.

[jay55]

I had a pause of 18months after losing 30kgs on saxenda, kept the weight off other than a week on holiday where I had a big gain but it fell off again within 2 weeks.

I wasn't tracking calories during that time but I did weigh myself regularly.
Also I was grieving for much of that time and so wasn't as social as I might usually be.


Am on wegovy now ready to lose the rest.

[KarenJJ]

@Menora how did you change your lifestyle? I didn't manage too, gained back weight again. Don't want to be on meds for the rest of my life also it's expensive. It is so hard... I don't have much time Im very busy.

[Mum2two21]

@KarenJJ Yes this is my worry as well, from what ive heard most people cant keep the weight off once they stop the medication and I havent seen many people focusing on that at all. @Menora did you do lifestyle changes on your own or did you get help from a dietician or any support on the NHS once you come off the medication?

[Menora]

No I didn’t get any help.
it’s going to sound a bit dramatic but I had to truly put my ‘old life’ behind me for a new one.
I eat everything in moderation, I don’t let myself go overboard with eating chocolate, crisps, cakes etc I either have none, or I have a small portion occasionally. I don’t drink much anymore. Even on holiday or a day/meal out I will choose sensible options with sensible calories 80% of the time. I don’t reward bad days with food or drink. This was made easier to get started by the affects of ozempic and I had to fully accept all the changes I was making was for life. I could not lose all the weight then just go back to all my bad habits. I work out regularly, I check my weight regularly and I had to make time for all these things so I don’t really watch TV, or I get up a lot earlier, I walk whenever I can, I walk around at work frequently. I don’t even go and look at the cakes people bring to work and I don’t go shopping hungry. I plan out my meals day to day and have an idea of what I will eat, I also make sure I always have access to healthy foods. I eat regularly and don’t let myself get too hungry

it is hard work and it’s effort but it’s all become new habits now so over time it takes less effort and I think far less about the foods/things I used to

[lurkylurk]

@Menora

I have a question but ignore it if you don't want to answer. I was a normal weight for 45 years and only put on weight in the last few years, (BMI now 32!). I'm just wondering whether that has any bearing on maintenance, although I suspect I've now been overweight too long for it to count, my question was whether you had been heavy since childhood, or all your adult life, or half of it or only a while?

[Menora]

@lurkylurk i have lipodema in my legs, it’s gone from stage 2 to 1 now. This doesn’t help!

I was not an overweight child although I had big legs, I put on weight from about age 20 when I had the depo infection, then I had 2 children in my early 20’s. I got down to a lower weight twice in 20 years but couldn’t keep it off for long but I am not sure how hard I tried to keep it off… I am in my 40’s now. So my whole adult life. I got really big in my late 30’s due to severe hormone problems I had a hysterectomy when I was 40

[lurkylurk]

@Menora

@lurkylurk i have lipodema in my legs, it’s gone from stage 2 to 1 now. This doesn’t help!

I was not an overweight child although I had big legs, I put on weight from about age 20 when I had the depo infection, then I had 2 children in my early 20’s. I got down to a lower weight twice in 20 years but couldn’t keep it off for long but I am not sure how hard I tried to keep it off… I am in my 40’s now. So my whole adult life. I got really big in my late 30’s due to severe hormone problems I had a hysterectomy when I was 40

Edited

@Menora

No, I'm sure the lipodema doesn't help at all! Nor the hormone issues and hysterectomy. I have a prolapsed womb and bladder (due to a combination of big babies and hypermobility syndrome) and they threatened me with hysterectomy, not been back since!

I stayed slim through two pregnancies, one in early twenties and one in early thirties (put on nothing with first, half a stone with the second one) without any effort at all, like I wasn't even thinking about it.

Then perimenopause, a broken shoulder that pretty much made me immobile for 4 months, couldn't even go for a walk due to nerve issues and didn't sleep well throughout, and covid lockdowns all occurring at the same time combined with too much consequent fancy cooking, I do love to cook, and too much drinking did it for me!

[KarenJJ]

@Menora great job. thanks for sharing that is very impressive. I don't think I have the discipline to do it.. I want to do wegovy again but afraid I will end up in the same situation as last time.
@Mum2two21 also wondering if you can get support on the NHS for this. What are the options out there?

[Menora]

@KarenJJ i don’t really know what the other options are apart from surgery, staying on the medication forever or accepting a middle ground where you do feel happy. I think if you can find and hold onto your motivation that can help you get any goal. For me it’s just health; not thinness. I just want to be healthy, I find this is easier in terms of motivation than focusing on my physical size

[Mum2two21]

@KarenJJ I spoke to my GP but he basically told me I wasnt elligible on the NHS as I dont fit the criteria on the NHS but I do privately, asked for recommendations but they're not really bothered, when you talk to them about trying to lose weight they get you out with generic advice - I had a look at Voy and MedExpress but they dont seem to offer much support, I looked at Embla and they seem to have a lot of support with it so considering trialling them for a month as theyre currently 50% off!

[KarenJJ]

@Menora same here I want to lose weight for my health and to be able to be active with my kids. Don't need to be thin, just want to get down to a more healthier weight and have more energy.
@Mum2two21 had a look at Embla, it is this one you mean https://www.joinembla.com/uk/how-it-works. Watched a video on their website, they seem to offer support also to come off the medication, that's what I think I need. thanks for a good tip I will consider it.