Stress bringing back food cravings?

Uri_1994

Uri_1994

Active member
Does stress make the food cravings come back super strong?

My GLP-1 has been great for controlling my hunger, but I'm dealing with a ton of stress at work right now... I'm pretty sure I'm about to be laid off. That feeling like you're about to lose your job is almost worse than actually losing it. Now all of a sudden I'm feeling that urge to binge eat again. Has anyone else experienced stress increasing food cravings, even while on medication?
 
Thanks for your post! Just a reminder to everyone: please stick to discussing FDA-approved medications only. Sharing or soliciting non-approved compounds or offering to sell any medication is against the forum rules. Don't respond to private messages from anyone doing this. If you're new here, take a look at the FAQ. This is just to help guide discussion.
 
Veggies and protein when the cravings spike. Dropped to half a milligram and the food noise came roaring back.
 
Absolutely. Cortisol, the main stress hormone, is a huge factor in increasing hunger, alongside insulin.

Cortisol hinders the body's ability to tap into fat reserves, similar to insulin. It's hard to shed pounds when you're stressed unless you're fasting for a while. So, when stressed, you might need to eat more to compensate.

Focus on consuming proteins and complex carbohydrates such as legumes. This helps you feel satisfied and reduces constant hunger signals. Don't restrict yourself if you feel genuine hunger.
 
Agreed, stress can definitely diminish how well GLP-1 meds work for many people. That cortisol spike is like fighting against the medication. Ashwagandha can be useful for managing cortisol and is well-researched.

Some people combine an adaptogen supplement that includes rhodiola and holy basil with their GLP-1 to combat stress. Magnesium glycinate before bed can also help if you're having trouble sleeping because of the stress, which makes everything worse. Sorry to hear about your job situation; that kind of uncertainty is super hard on your mental health.
 
Stress is a big deal. Cortisol really interferes with what the meds are trying to do. Your system goes into survival mode and overrides the appetite-suppressing effect. And job insecurity makes it even rougher because it's not a one-time thing, it's constant background stress. Feeling like you need to eat for comfort makes perfect sense given what your mind is going through. I hope things get better soon. That constant unknown is exhausting.

If the medication doesn't seem to be working as well, it could just be the stress, not the drug losing its effectiveness.
 
I agree with @King_Notes - it's probably not the meds failing, but stress hormones messing with them. I've been on sema for almost a year, and I've noticed the same thing. Stressful weeks are always harder.
 
I've definitely noticed that stress makes me crave things even MORE. It's like my brain is actively sabotaging my weight loss efforts. I'm only on my second dose, but I have had crazy cravings for stuff like pizza and burgers. Before, sema-like medications kept those cravings totally at bay. I wish I knew how to stop it.
 
To those experiencing increased cravings, remember that these medications take time to fully work. You may still have cravings, especially in the early weeks. Focus on protein-rich foods, like yogurt, to help manage hunger and cravings.
 
Food cravings vs actual hunger is a real thing on these meds. I started at 0.5mg so side effects were probably lighter than folks jumping straight to 2.5mg. Lost appetite and got full faster pretty quick. The food obsession thing disappeared almost immediately. Didn't get any stomach issues till I went to 1.25mg.
 
calories in, calories out still matters even on these meds. they just help so you're not fighting cravings and wanting to eat your whole fridge after dieting.
 
Six months of no food noise, then it returned with a vengeance when this stopped working. Like getting chronic pain relief taken away only to have the hurt come roaring back.
 
One time, maybe six months in. Eating salty noodles and everything just came back up without warning. Haven't touched noodles or salt since. Over a year now.
 
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