3 Things That Can Happen After GLP-1s

What are the after effects? Why am I regaining weight? Help!

You did the injections. You lost the weight. You reached your goal. Now, you are wondering when is the right time to stop.

GLP-1 medications such as Mounjaro, Wegovy, and Ozempic have been tools used to help with weight loss, diabetes, and/or metabolic syndrome. However, what happens when you stop taking the injections? Let’s take a look at a few of the more common after effects.

1 – Rapid Weight Regain

Old eating habits creep back in after reaching your goal. A common misconception is that once you reach your goal, that’s it. You can stop the medication and you will live happily at your goal weight. That is a myth. Studies show not only changing the quantity of food consumed, but the quality of food as well can help to keep the weight off.¹

2 – Hunger Cues Change

Feeling even hungrier than before? Hunger hormones and satiety cues spike the hunger hormone (ghrelin) back up, which is what signals the brain that you are hungry and that it is time to eat. GLP-1 medications suppress ghrelin which is why many of the cravings go away and you feel less hungry while taking the medication. When the medication is discontinued, more ghrelin is
produced. Sometimes it can be overproduced and cause a feeling of intense hunger. This often leads to overeating.²

3 – Set Point Conflict

Your body viewed your rapid weight loss as “survival” versus a permanent “lifestyle change.” Once off of the medication, your body remembers where your “set point” (your weight thermostat) used to be and it saw the weight loss as a threat rather than a friend. Here is where your body betrays you and begins to activate mechanisms to restore the lost weight.³

But, stopping GLP-1 antagonist medications does not mean all of your hard work needs to go to waste.

You’ve invested time, energy, and dedication into improving your health. Don’t let the progress slip away after GLP-1 therapy. Weight regain isn’t a matter of just “willpower” and “calorie counting” it’s understanding your body’s biology.

With the right nutrition plan, strength-building exercises, and accountability, you keep the results you worked so hard for. Book a nutrition call with Chardonèe today to help you with your journey!