Weight back after stopping? Ugh!

ScaleStory

ScaleStory

Active member
Okay, so Ozempic actually worked out for me, eventually. I almost quit at the start because of the side effects and zero progress for two months. But, I adjusted the dose, upped my activity, and things turned around.

Now, fast forward a year and a half. I'm at my goal weight and ready to stop.

The first couple of weeks were fine.

Then, about a month later, all the old crap (food cravings, emotional eating) came crashing back. Like it never left.

I gained, like, 8 pounds in a week! I had absolutely zero control. I'm back on a maintenance dose now, 1 mg, and I'll see how low I can go (hoping for 0.5 or even 0.25), but I probably won't stop completely...

It's not the end of the world, but it really highlights the mental and emotional side of weight. At least for some of us. It's not about being dumb or not knowing better; it's about a lack of control in our current environment.

Anyway, just sharing in case you gain weight after stopping. For me, the only solution seems to be going back on it for maintenance.
 
It's like blood pressure meds, right? You wouldn't stop taking them if your blood pressure is normal *because* of the meds. Stop the meds, you're back where you started. Obesity is a chronic illness, and often needs long-term treatment, like other long-term conditions. Hopefully insurance companies will figure that out soon.
 
I can confirm that. I've been on Ozempic for years for type 2 diabetes. It almost fully reversed it. I didn't have intense cravings before, but they were there. Then, I got cancer three months ago. The chemo included heavy steroids, which caused full-blown diabetes, needing insulin. Ozempic was stopped. Within two weeks, mild cravings started, and they got worse. I wanted all sorts of food and gave in. Because of the cancer, I didn’t gain weight. A week ago, I finished tapering off the steroids and restarted Ozempic. The cravings disappeared within days.
 
My doctor prescribed Ozempic for my diabetes. I lost around 30 pounds and haven't gained it back. He told me if I stopped the Ozempic, I'd probably regain the weight unless I made some lifestyle changes: better sleep, exercise every day, and a healthier diet.
 
My doctor says I'll need to be on Ozempic or something similar for life. Apparently, it'll be in pill form soon.
 
I agree. I'm fairly smart, but I can't control food cravings. Ozempic fixed that, so my rational side could take over and make better choices. Some people have metabolic problems, but many of us struggle with cravings and our lizard brain always wanting to EAT! We literally eat ourselves into T2D. Our food is full of addictive stuff. So yeah, there's a mental component that's finally being addressed. I know I'll have to stay on it.
 
Inject_Progress926 said:
I agree. I'm fairly smart, but I can't control food cravings. Ozempic fixed that, so my rational side could take over and make better choices...So yeah, there's a mental component that's finally being addressed. I know I'll have to stay on it.
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The med doesn't give anyone 'control over the environment', so why think that's the issue? Have you thought that maybe peeps with obesity have metabolic problems, or lack hormones that tell us when we're full, or are sensitive to endocrine disruptors, or something else we haven't found yet?

The 'just use willpower' diet talk is toxic, IMO.

At least you've found something that helps you.
 
Some people can stop taking it successfully, but it's not for everyone. Also, tapering off might be better than just stopping cold turkey.
 
The GLP1 receptor is all over! It's wild to me and I can't wait to learn more about other effects besides weight and insulin. I have been on it for only a week, and I am shocked by the drop in food noise - didn’t know I had it! I don’t need mountains of low cal food to feel full. I won’t stop. But I want to stay on the lowest dose possible that works.
 
I totally get that. The cravings coming back is common, and it makes sense since the drugs affect how your brain processes food cues, not just appetite. Maintenance doses seem to be the only real long-term solution for many of us, and there’s no shame in that. It’s not a failure, it’s just how we’re wired. To combat the cravings, having a few simple high-protein snacks ready, like cottage cheese or eggs, helps structure meals without triggering a downward spiral. Thanks for sharing your experiences.
 
Research indicates that most people on any sort of weight loss treatment will gain back almost all of the lost weight within the first year of stopping. Unfortunately, meds stop working when we stop taking them. Obesity is a chronic condition that requires continual treatment.
 
Since I'm on Wegovy now I really hope I can learn to eat on a schedule to manage the food noise myself. I think combining a regular eating pattern with "real" intuitive eating will help... I'm reading a book called *how to eat well for adults with ADHD* about hunger cues and balanced snacks before you get to the point of binging. Hopefully, it gets in my brain lol.
 
For anyone who is considering starting the medication, if you do not have other health problems and you managed to lose weight, taking you below the BMI level needed to qualify, how can you get a doctor to keep prescribing it? I am new to this.
 
Shape-Boss said:
Since I'm on Wegovy now I really hope I can learn to eat on a schedule to manage the food noise myself. I think combining a regular eating pattern with "real" intuitive eating will help... I'm reading a book called *how to eat well for adults with ADHD* about hunger cues and balanced snacks before you get to the point of binging. Hopefully, it gets in my brain lol.
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That's a great approach, Shape-Boss! Maintenance really is about building those sustainable habits. It's not about white-knuckling it forever. Good luck with the book!
 
I've heard good things about the communitymaintenance for figuring out how to stay on track after weight loss. Even if it's a different med, the advice should still be relevant!
 
So, for folks who have lost a lot - like over 100 lbs - did you have issues with loose skin after stopping the injections?
 
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