If you have been taking a GLP-1 medication, such as MounjaroⓇ or OzempicⓇ, to control your food cravings, there is a really good chance that you have experienced measurable weight loss. After all, convincing your body that it is full is an effective way to prevent overeating and lay the groundwork for losing weight and reversing some of the most harmful effects of obesity, such as the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, these medications were not designed to be short-term fixes. Rather, they are chronic medications that are intended to address a chronic health problem: obesity.
Unfortunately, people stop taking these medications for a variety of reasons. Maybe you’re frustrated by a lack of availability or skyrocketing costs. Perhaps you have experienced some uncomfortable side effects and want to try to continue your weight loss journey without the assistance of GLP-1 medications. Whatever the reason may be, you could find it more difficult to control your food cravings after stopping these medications. However, the good news is that it is still possible to set yourself up for weight loss success by continuing to make healthy lifestyle choices.
How GLP-1 Medications Work
GLP-1 agonists were initially developed to help people with Type 2 diabetes manage healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels when used in tandem with healthy lifestyle choices. GLP-1 is a hormone that occurs naturally in your body. When functioning properly, this hormone helps regulate glucose by blocking glucagon while triggering your pancreas to release insulin.
As a byproduct of promoting healthy glucose levels, it also became apparent that these medications often led to weight loss in people with Type 2 diabetes. The GLP-1 hormone also has a reputation for promoting feelings of satiety (fullness) in your brain. Years later, a variety of Semaglutide and liraglutide medications have been approved specifically for weight loss, and there are more on the way.
The Potential Cons of GLP-1 Medications
Of course, as is the case with many medications, GLP-1 agonists can sometimes lead to side effects that range from uncomfortable to severe. The most severe side effects, while rare, can include:
- Acute kidney injury
- Pancreatitis
- Medullary thyroid cancer
The most common side effects are less severe, but they can still have a devastating impact on your comprehensive wellness and quality of life. These side effects include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Indigestion
- Infections
- Mild tachycardia (elevated heart rate)
The other issue some people may have with GLP-1 medications can be attributed to their high price tags. For example, estimates for the annual cost of OzempicⓇ run as high as $10,000 per person. With a long list of new GLP-1 medications currently being tested, costs could theoretically drop as more and more of them hit the market. However, the steep price increases that occurred with insulin prior to legislative intervention prove that is not always the case.
Struggling to Maintain a Healthy Weight Without a GLP-1 Agonist
It should come as no surprise that many people regain the weight they lost after stopping the use of GLP-1 medications. One study followed patients using Semaglutide injections over the course of 68 weeks, with the average patient losing 15 percent of their body weight during that time. Within 12 months of stopping the Semaglutide injections, these patients regained approximately two thirds of the weight they lost on average.
Many medical experts agree that too many patients are looking at GLP-1 medications as an easy fix and might not be pairing these treatments with healthy lifestyle choices like regular exercise and a healthy, well-rounded diet. Obesity is a chronic condition, so any treatments for this condition should also be viewed as chronic.
How You Can Move Forward After You Stop Taking a GLP-1 Medication
That does not mean that regaining lost weight is inevitable after you stop taking GLP-1 agonists. Some researchers have found that people can keep the weight off after stopping the use of GLP-1 medications if they adhere to a “structured exercise regime”.
While you may start to find yourself faced with food cravings again, do not despair. Focus on what kind of foods you are eating when your body is telling you that it is time to eat. In fact, some medical experts assert that a healthy diet is even more conducive to weight loss than exercise.
Keep Your Weight Loss Goals Alive with a Healthy Diet
You are probably asking yourself, “What kinds of food can I eat to support healthy weight management when my body keeps telling me that I’m hungry?” Well, the good news is that there is a wide variety of vegetables, fruit, proteins and dairy products that you can eat while trying to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Certain polyunsaturated fats, like those found in fatty fish, can also support whole body health without leading to weight gain. You can even still enjoy some carbohydrates if they are whole grain and eaten in small portions.
Eat More Fiber!
Even better news: there are some foods that can act like GLP-1 medications by promoting feelings of fullness. What do these foods have in common? They are naturally loaded with fiber!
Fiber has long been recognized for its ability to promote feelings of satiety, but how does this work? Recent research suggests that fiber can trigger the release of another gut hormone known as PYY. Like GLP-1, this gut hormone has shown an ability to suppress appetite by promoting feelings of fullness.
Fortunately, there is a wide variety of foods you can eat to provide your body with dietary fiber, including:
- Apples
- Raspberries
- Green peas
- Broccoli
- Pears
- Oranges
- Brussels sprouts
- Baked potatoes (with skin)
- Bananas
- Lentils
- Black beans
- Split peas
- Spaghetti (whole grain)
- Barley
- Chia seeds
- Canned navy, great northern and cannellini beans
If you feel like you are not getting enough fiber from what you are eating every day, there is also a variety of fiber powders available to purchase. This can help fill in any nutritional gaps and promote satiety, but it is still recommended that you obtain a healthy amount of dietary fiber from food.
Speak With an Expert on Healthy Lifestyle Management
There are also highly trained practitioners that can help you build a regimen of healthy lifestyle techniques and habits, whether or not you are taking a GLP-1 medication. Healthy lifestyle management is crucial to maintaining a healthy weight and can work even better if practiced in tandem with the use of a GLP-1 agonist. Dieticians and nutritionists can be outstanding resources for healthy lifestyle guidance.
If you believe that a hormonal imbalance could be holding you back from achieving and maintaining a healthy weight, find an EvexiPEL certified practitioner near you today!
