GLP-1: Ride it out or Lifer?

G

Green_FTW

Active member
Just started Reta a month ago, feeling good. Dropped about 16 pounds already. I'm thinking of using it until I reach my target weight in about half a year, then slowly decrease the dose and eventually stop. But if other effects are awesome I will keep going.

But the people over on the Reta subreddit are convinced these meds have to be used forever. If you even suggest stopping, they jump all over you. I know there are likely benefits beyond weight, but I don't know if I want to be on meds for life... Anyone here managed to get off GLP-1s successfully?
 
These meds are really meant for continuous use. Maybe you can stop if you change your lifestyle and diet a LOT, but most people will regain lost weight. I'd suggest sticking to a low maintenance dose.
 
I'm planning to cycle on and off mine, keeping some on hand for later. I've been using these meds for over a year, I'm not as impressed as I used to be. The initial magic dropped about 75 lbs super fast, now it just doesn't hit the same. Even at high doses with other additives, I don't get that "full" feeling anymore. I'm looking forward to maintenance and just being done with weight loss mode - just 35 more lbs to go.
 
It's important to change your lifestyle and eating habits while taking GLP-1s. Only using the drug and hoping to quit later won't work. GLP-1s are just one tool among several to lose fat and maintain.

Think of it like eating fast food all the time. The drug might cut that down, but you can't go back to your old habits when you stop taking it. You have to learn new habits.
 
I'm hoping this Reta will give me the push I need to make changes and adapt back to a normal life. Hopefully that works. It seems like most people think you can't stop.
 
What you do while you're on these meds matters a lot.

If you use it to build better eating habits and get to a weight where you can exercise, your odds of staying off them are much better. Building muscle is important. Even if it's only burning an additional 8-10 calories a day, it adds up. New lifters can often add 15-25lbs of muscle in the first year. That means you can eat 250-400 more calories a day without gaining weight.

The food noise and cravings might come back. It won't be easy, because that's what made us overweight in the first place. But if you've changed your diet, and built muscle, you have a better chance.

If you just eat less of the same bad food without exercising, you'll probably have to stay on the meds to keep the weight off.
 
I'm hoping to get my butt in gear while on this. I want to build healthier habits, but the food noise has always been an issue. If it doesn't come back worse after stopping (anyone know if that happens?), I should be okay. I expect to gain some weight back. I got this way by gaining about 3 lbs per year after college, so even if it comes back at the same rate, it would be manageable.

And yeah, takeout and food delivery was my go-to, so I get the loving food thing. At least this will cut my food bill in half!
 
I saw a news report that a new study showed that GLP-1s can have a lasting, positive effect on gut bacteria even after stopping the medication. A better gut biome could influence energy, appetite, and health.
 
What doses are people on where they can just drop weight and eat whatever? I have to fast to lose anything. I gained 10 pounds while on 7.5mg of Tz after stopping fasting. I'm a bit jealous.
 
It just depends on how much it kills your appetite. Some people just aren't hungry on a low dose of tirz and eat a third of what they used to.
 
Yeah, that's rare. I also do intermittent fasting, a high protein diet, and drink tons of water. It's a struggle, but the meds make it possible.
 
Yeah the TZ helps me fast without feeling like I'm dying. Now I have to get back on my regimen since I slacked off during the holidays. 🤦🏻‍♀️
 
That's more likely on Reta because it speeds up your metabolism. I basically eat whatever I want, but my appetite is way down and I process food faster now.
 
I see this question a lot on Reddit and I always answer the same way, with science.

You can change your eating habits and exercise, staying at your TDEE to avoid weight gain. But it's super hard because it's not just a lifestyle issue, it's about metabolism.

Take a look at this study:

https://assets.ctfassets.net/kg5lkg...e23113c31591b8b20758b8/nejmoa2307532_full.pdf

It's the SURMOUNT-1 3-year extension. They gave tirz for 3 years, then stopped. In 17 weeks, most of them (like 83%?) gained back about 7% of their weight (in 17 weeks!) and their cardiovascular health went down (blood pressure, cholesterol, A1C all went up). We don't know if they kept up their lifestyles during those 17 weeks; it took 3 years to get used to it!

Most diets and lifestyle changes fail, and even gastric bypass has a failure rate after some years.

One of the SURMOUNT researchers said that GLP-1s push your "set point" or "defended fat mass" lower. When you stop taking them, your body freaks out and makes you hungry/adapts your metabolism to regain the weight. Adipose tissue has a "memory."

More about that here:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41387-023-00291-1

And what's the set point: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/set-point-theory

If you weren't obese for long or your weight loss was small, you might have better luck. If you have a history of disordered eating, were obese for years, lost a lot of weight, have insulin resistance, pre-diabetes, or are going through menopause, it'll be harder.

You might tough it out, or be one of the lucky few who can do the hard work without issues, but it won't be fun. You'll be hungry, and your body will fight you.

I'm staying on these meds for life. I'll find the right dose and schedule. Good luck!
 
FYI, set point theory isn't universally accepted, especially for humans. It might be true, but it might not. Lots of animal studies don't translate to humans.
 
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