What are the aftereffects? Why am I regaining weight? Help!
You did the injections. You lost the weight. You reached your goal. Now, you’re 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 aftereffects.
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!
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
Confusion about flu and COVID-19 vaccines is common, with different organizations offering different recommendations. On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Dr. Gary Kaplan shared his perspective on Fox 5, emphasizing the importance of relying on the guidance of major medical organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association.
This year’s message is clear: both flu and COVID-19 continue to evolve, which makes staying up to date on vaccines critical. Dr. Kaplan stressed that the COVID vaccine is safe, effective, and a powerful tool to help prevent Long COVID—a condition that can affect up to 30% of those who contract the virus and can be life-altering.
For most families, vaccines typically mean one to two doses a year, depending on age and risk factors. Dr. Kaplan recommends getting the COVID-19 shot first—especially during a surge—and then the flu shot a couple of weeks later. For children and adults alike, vaccines remain the safer choice compared to the risks of infection.
Beyond vaccines, Dr. Kaplan reminded families to focus on the basics of health: regular exercise, quality sleep, good nutrition, and supplements like vitamin D, vitamin C, quercetin, and probiotics to support immune function.
As he noted, “The reactions [to vaccines] compared to the consequences of the disease itself are minuscule. You’re much safer getting the vaccine than you are getting the disease.”
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
In 2001, Pain Awareness Month was established with the goal of raising public awareness of all the issues related to pain and pain management. This hits close to home for all of us at the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine as we have been seeing and treating patients with chronic pain and illness for more than thirty years.
Healthcare organizations across the country take the lead with public campaigns and encouragement for individual chronic pain sufferers to be vocal about the challenges that affect their physical and emotional well-being. And with over 100 million people in this country living with chronic pain and depression, we must remember that we are all touched by chronic pain.
How can you make a difference? Here are some simple ideas on how you can get involved:
Share your story. Talk about your relationship with pain to a friend, loved one, physician, or support group. Sharing your experience can educate others, and knowing you are not alone is crucial for maintaining your emotional well-being.
Get social. Follow one of the many chronic pain health organizations online. By sharing information on treatments, new research, and personal experiences within your network you are reaching a vast audience in mere seconds. Check out our Facebook and Instagram pages which posts news on the latest research and supplements, provider insights, and health tips.
Participate in or organize a fundraiser. Many nonprofit pain organizations host annual fundraisers in a variety of formats. From Fun Runs/Walks to auctions there is something for everyone to be able to participate in. For those who are more ambitious, many sites have information on how to become an organizer in your local community.
Volunteer your time. Most non-profits can use an extra hand and will have a variety of ways to volunteer your time. Inquire about ways to help in fundraising, promotion/marketing, administrative help, or even peer mentoring. Evidence suggests that people living with chronic pain may even experience an improvement in symptoms when participating in volunteer opportunities.
Make a donation. There are so many organizations dedicated to the study of chronic pain. If you know someone suffering from a chronic pain condition, consider making a donation to a non-profit related to his or her condition. In 2015, Dr. Gary Kaplan established the Foundation for Total Recovery in order to provide support and find a cure for all who suffer from chronic pain and depression by educating patients, partnering with leading researchers, academics, and innovators, and studying data to find a baseline approach to diagnosing and curing neuro-inflammation. Other leading non-profits to consider include the U.S. Pain Foundation, the American Chronic Pain Organization, the National Fibromyalgia & Chronic Pain Association (NFMCPA), and the American Academy of Pain Medicine.
Practice Self-Care and Empowerment. Most importantly, if you live with chronic pain, use this month as motivation to try new wellness practices, connect with a specialist, or join a support group. Remember: raising awareness starts with taking care of yourself, too.
3 Things That Can Happen After Stopping GLP-1s
/in Nutrition/by Chardonée Donald, MS, CBHS, CHN, CNS, LDNWhat are the aftereffects? Why am I regaining weight? Help!
You did the injections. You lost the weight. You reached your goal. Now, you’re 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 aftereffects.
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!
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
References:
¹ Nutritional priorities to support GLP-1 therapy for obesity: a joint Advisory from the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Society for Nutrition, the Obesity Medicine Association, and The Obesity Society Mozaffarian. Dariush et al. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 122, Issue 1, 344 – 367
² Quarenghi, M., Capelli, S., Galligani, G., Giana, A., Preatoni, G., & Turri Quarenghi, R. (2025). Weight Regain After Liraglutide, Semaglutide or Tirzepatide Interruption: A Narrative Review of Randomized Studies. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(11), 3791.
³ Wu, H., Yang, W., Guo, T. et al. Trajectory of the body weight after drug discontinuation in the treatment of anti-obesity medications. BMC Med 23, 398 (2025).
What Families Need to Know About COVID and Flu Season
/in COVID-19, Featured Press, News/by Kaplan CenterConfusion about flu and COVID-19 vaccines is common, with different organizations offering different recommendations. On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Dr. Gary Kaplan shared his perspective on Fox 5, emphasizing the importance of relying on the guidance of major medical organizations such as the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association.
This year’s message is clear: both flu and COVID-19 continue to evolve, which makes staying up to date on vaccines critical. Dr. Kaplan stressed that the COVID vaccine is safe, effective, and a powerful tool to help prevent Long COVID—a condition that can affect up to 30% of those who contract the virus and can be life-altering.
For most families, vaccines typically mean one to two doses a year, depending on age and risk factors. Dr. Kaplan recommends getting the COVID-19 shot first—especially during a surge—and then the flu shot a couple of weeks later. For children and adults alike, vaccines remain the safer choice compared to the risks of infection.
Beyond vaccines, Dr. Kaplan reminded families to focus on the basics of health: regular exercise, quality sleep, good nutrition, and supplements like vitamin D, vitamin C, quercetin, and probiotics to support immune function.
As he noted, “The reactions [to vaccines] compared to the consequences of the disease itself are minuscule. You’re much safer getting the vaccine than you are getting the disease.”
We are here for you, and we want to help.
Our goal is to return you to optimal health as soon as possible. To schedule an appointment please call: 703-532-4892 x2
September is Pain Awareness Month
/in News, Wellness/by Kaplan CenterIn 2001, Pain Awareness Month was established with the goal of raising public awareness of all the issues related to pain and pain management. This hits close to home for all of us at the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine as we have been seeing and treating patients with chronic pain and illness for more than thirty years.
Healthcare organizations across the country take the lead with public campaigns and encouragement for individual chronic pain sufferers to be vocal about the challenges that affect their physical and emotional well-being. And with over 100 million people in this country living with chronic pain and depression, we must remember that we are all touched by chronic pain.
How can you make a difference? Here are some simple ideas on how you can get involved: