Stopped GLP-1, weight's back... but I'm good!

Run_Crew

Active member
Hi everyone!

I wanted to give an update since I posted here a while back freaking out about regaining some weight after stopping my meds. Things have settled down, and honestly, I feel pretty great.

My plan was always to stop *before* hitting my ideal weight, knowing there might be a little bounce back. I'm glad I did it that way, since I'm now around where I wanted to be, about 64kg.

Yeah, I started eating a bit more, and stress plus maybe PCOS stuff didn't help. But I'm keeping an eye on things! The first pic is from April '25, the others are recent. So, still down about 17kg overall!
 
Gaining almost 10kg so fast after stopping would be terrifying, especially if you've struggled with eating disorders before.
 
From what I understand, these types of meds are really meant for managing diabetes and are supposed to be a long-term thing. Studies show that when you quit them, the weight can come back super quick. It's not really a weight loss drug, even though that's how a lot of people use it. My doctor put me on it because of health issues and limited movement, and I'm planning on staying on a low dose forever to keep the weight off. Otherwise, I'm sure it will all come back fast. I was almost 300lbs and 5'5" and pre-diabetic. I would not have chosen this if I could just exercise normally.
 
Thanks for sharing your experience! It's good to hear a more realistic perspective on what happens after stopping these medications. It helps balance out some of the extreme views you see. Sounds like it worked out well for you. And you look amazing!
 
I'm 5'6" and currently weigh around 190lbs. My goal is around 145lbs. I'm about to start meds soon but I'm honestly scared of gaining everything back after I stop 😭
 
Coming off semaglutide in a slow and controlled way like this is a really healthy approach. Most people freak out when the scale starts creeping up, but some rebound is totally normal. Your body is just restoring things like muscle glycogen and water weight. The most important thing is that you feel good at 141lbs, not the number on the scale itself.

It's all about shifting your focus from "lowest possible weight" to "a stable weight where you feel good." Your body has a comfortable range, and constantly fighting it is exhausting. If you developed healthier eating and exercise habits while on the medication, those will continue to help you maintain even after you stop. Keeping protein intake high is also key to maintaining your body composition. Sounds like you're in a good place mentally, which is the most important thing.
 
I'm okay with staying on a low dose for maintenance. Obesity is a chronic condition, so it makes sense to treat it like one!
 
Ant_Crew said:
Honestly I'm scared to start because of the regain people talk about...

Yeah, that's a valid concern. But I think the point @Run_Crew is making is that it's not always a disaster. You can manage it!
 
This is why I'm tapering off *super* slowly. I've gone back down to 1.7mg, and my aim is to be completely off by summer, without gaining anything back 🙏
 
Settled and good after some regain is the realistic endpoint most don't talk about - weight returning when stopping is expected, and a stable place without the medication is a valid outcome.
 
Sounds like you had an amazing experience! I'm still where having to travel for work - meetings on-site, conferences, road trips - just throws me off, no matter how careful I try to be with eating and drinking. Breaking from my routine messes with me, and I bounce back to where I started pretty quickly after those trips.
 
My latest labs came in and I'm thrilled. My A1C went from 7.8 down to 5.5 over the past four months. Fasting glucose fell out of the 160s into the high 90s and low 100s, and a random test came back at 92 instead of 200. Kidney and liver numbers have always been fine. Also down just over 20 pounds. I don't track my weight obsessively, but these labs? They're what really matter to me and the results are fantastic.
 
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