Coming off GLP-1s... anyone done it?

LiraglutideLife

LiraglutideLife

Active member
Okay, deep breaths everyone! I know this can be a sensitive topic. I've been using semaglutide since last fall and I'm down almost 100lbs, from 240 to about 140 now. I'm working on lowering my dose slowly, with the goal of stopping completely when I feel like my new habits are solid. I'm having a hard time finding info about what really happens when people stop taking it. So, what was good, what was bad, and did you keep up your new habits (obviously that matters a lot)? I still have a few months of tapering left, but I want to be prepared. I'm planning to quit regardless, but any real-world advice would be super helpful! Thanks!!
 
I've seen stories, in this very forum, from people who stopped their meds and kept the weight off. I've also seen the opposite. Like everything else, it depends on you and how your body works. Good luck, and I hope you are successful!
 
Hey! I'm not quite there yet, but there's a sub for people who have stopped the community. From what I understand, people often gain back some of the weight. The key is to make big lifestyle changes (new healthy routines, a food plan, exercise) and address the mental side of things (therapy can be great). There's no easy answer, but you can definitely control some of the factors and improve your chances. Good luck!
 
Big congrats on your weight loss. I was on semaglutide for a year, and I've been off it for about 3 months. I haven't gained any weight back. Actually, I've lost another 5 pounds. I think eating healthy and exercising regularly made the difference. If you stick to good habits, you should be fine.
 
It doesn't matter so much what others say, you've already decided what you want to do. I might keep a tiny dose, like 2.5mg, to keep your insulin resistance and A1C in check...focus on lifting weights and cardio...get stable with your food and exercise...then, if your A1C is good, maybe stop the med. If you aren't using it for diabetes, then whatever. It's your choice. You could try adaptogens like Gymostemma Pentaphyllum (Jiaogulan), which helps keep A1C and insulin resistance low after stopping. To keep the weight off, you can't eat junk anymore and you have to exercise regularly. Great job, by the way. Exercise more, eat less, and you'll keep it off.
 
I dropped 75lbs and didn't gain it back for about half a year, then I got pregnant, haha. While I was on sema, I changed my eating habits and ate lots of veggies and fiber and protein. I also didn't snack much, and if I did, it was protein or fiber-rich. I also walked 30-45 minutes every day and tried to be generally more active. It wasn't hard to keep the weight off with those habits, and the cravings weren't too bad.
 
A lot depends on why you started in the first place. If you're someone who has tried every diet and exercise plan without long-term success, you might end up back where you started. Congrats on your baby! Stopping the medication during pregnancy is definitely the right thing to do. But consider a chronic problem like high blood pressure. You take meds to control it, even after it's in a normal range. You can't just decide to have normal blood pressure. It's the same thing with semaglutide. If it was the only thing that worked, you might regain most or all of the weight. I know you don't want to take it forever, but a quick shot once a week isn't a huge deal, right?
 
My insurance stopped covering it after I lost around 50 pounds. I was off it for 14 months and gained about 30 back. I've been back on for a year and have now lost 75 pounds total. It's harder when you stop. I think we have a metabolic issue that causes our "habits," not the other way around. I plan to stay on this for life.
 
First, great job! Second, I know someone who has kept the weight off for a couple of years since reaching their goal weight. She gained a little back on purpose because she was too thin. She didn't quit cold turkey. She still takes it in smaller doses, spaced out (every two weeks, every three, etc.). She found she can only go so low before she starts to gain. She's always trying to find what works. She eats one meal a day. Her job is active, so she gets exercise. She also uses a Peleton. Her daughter lost 100 pounds on sema, stopped completely, and gained it all back plus more within a year. I've yo-yoed my whole life, so I see this as a lifelong journey with ups and downs. I used to be like my friend's daughter, gaining back more than I lost. As I've gotten older, I lose weight and regain some, but not all. Each time I try to lose weight, I regain some but not all, lowering my "set" point. I see this as progress, not failure. Don't feel like a failure if you regain weight. You're learning what works. To the OP: See stopping sema as an experiment, not the end. Good luck!
 
It's important to realize it's not the end. Reaching your ideal weight isn't like the end of a movie where you do nothing else. You still make food, activity, and health choices every day. Your health and weight journey is your whole life.
 
Following this. I'm very interested too! I saw a doctor talking about needing new ways to use these meds so you don't have to stay on them forever. I'll share the link if I can find it. You look amazing in ALL the photos, by the way. :)
 
This is where the hard part starts: keeping it off without the medication. Your journey didn’t end; it didn’t even begin.
 
You can quit and still maintain your weight. It's all about balance, good nutrition, and enough exercise. Great job!
 
Hey Tracy_1986, it's interesting to hear your take on it being a metabolic disorder. I've always wondered how much of it is habits versus something deeper. Thanks for sharing your experience!
 
LiraglutideLife said:
A lot depends on why you started in the first place. If you're someone who has tried every diet and exercise plan without long-term success, you might end up back where you started.
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This is a good point. I think a lot of doctors don't emphasize this enough. If the medication is just a temporary fix and you don't address the underlying issues, it's likely the weight will return.
 
I saw someone online talking about staying on a low dose forever, but I'm not sure I want to do that. I'd rather try to get off completely and just focus on a healthy lifestyle. I guess we'll see what happens.
 
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