Ozempic plateau during perimenopause?

H

Heal_Girl

Well-known member
Feeling stuck and not seeing results anymore.

Been on this for close to a year and a half, and I've only managed to shed about 30lbs. I hit the gym 3 times a week, and while I'm not on a super strict diet, I've definitely cut back on junk food and portion sizes.

My weight has completely stalled.

Sometimes, after eating really clean, the scale actually goes up! Other times, it dips, and I think I'm finally getting somewhere, but then it bounces right back. Like yesterday, I just worked out and had a small chickpea salad, and I gained weight! The nurse (haven't even seen the actual doctor) just says it's good it's slow so I won't have loose skin. Then she asks if I want to increase the dose, but honestly, I don't even have food cravings. I'm barely hungry except around my period. It's like I'm stuck, even with higher doses.

I'm wondering if it's a perimenopause thing. Anyone else experienced this? How did you deal with it? I thought I'd be at my goal weight by now.
 
You mentioned you're not following a strict diet, so that probably explains why you're not seeing the results you want. Weight loss is all about a calorie deficit.

Exercise is beneficial, but it doesn't burn as many calories as most people believe. It's best as a supplement to weight loss, not an excuse to eat more. Keep exercising, but don't factor those burned calories into your daily intake. Think of it as a bonus.
 
I'm smack-dab in the middle of perimenopause, and I've managed to lose 60 lbs. Actually, when I stopped Ozempic for a surgery, my night sweats went crazy! Getting back on it at a lower dose really helped with that.

Tracking your calories could be really beneficial. Exercise is great, but if you're eating an extra 500 calories a day, it's hard to burn that off.

It's a pain, but tracking is really the only way to know for sure you're in a deficit.
 
Maybe give Zepbound a shot. I'm 48 and fully experiencing perimenopause. I actually gained about 5lbs in 3 months on Ozempic. Switched to Zepbound and I'm down 80lbs. Hit my goal weight 3 months ago and I'm just maintaining. Huge difference between the two.
 
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I had the same problem, but in full menopause. After a year, I had lost maybe 10 lbs or so. Something is better than nothing but I was so discouraged. I ended up switching to Zepbound. It's pricier but I started losing weight again. My food cravings are more intense than yours sound. Those also were reduced on Zepbound. Not pushing Zepbound, but sometimes a change is all you need to see the scale move. Congrats on losing 35 lbs!
 
First off, congrats on the weight you've already lost! That's awesome.

Do you have a chart tracking your weight over time? Losing weight, especially muscle, means you need fewer calories. Could you be eating at maintenance levels?

Are you doing any strength training? It's so important for bone health and weight control...

My perimenopause plan is Ozempic and strength training. We'll see how it goes. I'm not even sure I'm in peri yet. It all sucks.
 
Well done on the weight loss!

Hormones are important, but so is calories in vs. calories out. Workouts don't make a huge difference for weight loss overall. They improve how a slimmer body looks and are great for your health, but being generally active and walking a lot has more of an impact. And eating healthy can still mean lots of calories, which you'd only know if you actually measure your intake. Also, if you've already lost 30-35lbs, you need fewer calories to maintain that weight, so losing more means cutting more calories or burning more (or both).
 
If you’re maxed out on the dose and still not losing, you might just not be a responder. Switch to Mounjaro or something similar. A lot of us menopausal and perimenopausal women have lost a good chunk of weight on a GLP and are keeping it off.
 
I've found taking breaks helps - Just a couple of months. Then I restart at .5, .75, and then 1mg (which is where I am now and tend to stay). It seems to help. I actually saw a pharmacist talking about the benefits of doing this recently.
 
I'm in perimenopause and I use HRT patches to help with the symptoms. They've been amazing! I was on them for about 8 months before starting ozempic and I've lost nearly 85lbs since then.

If you're not on HRT, it might be worth considering.
 
I'm in menopause and I'm about 15 lbs heavier than when I started Ozempic 5 years ago. I haven't really thought about it, but it's an interesting thought.
 
First, Heal_Girl, what dose are you on? Sounds like you're not at the top dose. If you aren't losing, increase the dose.
Second, have you calculated your TDEE? Track your calories for a month and ensure you're eating at a deficit.

Let us know what happens.
 
The_IMO said:
Tracking your calories could be really beneficial. Exercise is great, but if you're eating an extra 500 calories a day, it's hard to burn that off.

It's a pain, but tracking is really the only way to know for sure you're in a deficit.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I know I need to be more disciplined with tracking. It's just such a drag!
 
Heal_Girl said:
I have to take breaks - Just a couple of months. Then I restart at .5, .75, and then 1mg (which is where I am now and tend to stay). It seems to help. I actually saw a pharmacist talking about the benefits of doing this recently.
Click to expand...

Interesting. I have never heard of cycling like that. Gotta do some googling now!
 
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