Anonymous wrote:This study showed that GLP-1 patients were able to keep the weight off 2 years out by only taking metformin. So not drug-free but a lot less expensive and not as intense (my words) as the glp-1s.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11589535/

Interesting.

I'll definitely talk to my doctor about this when it is maintenance time. I'm very happy with my weight loss so far (almost 60lbs) but my doctor wants me to lose at least 20 more, and maybe even more, depending on how much visceral fat I can get rid of. And Wegovy has been quite hard on me, with some pretty severe side effects that are still going strong even after over a year and going up in dose very slowly.

Anonymous wrote:I am on a different weight loss drug (not a GLP) and I would love to have a different weight set point! This is so encouraging to read. Congrats to all of you for losing all this weight!

I don’t know if you are already doing it, but I found that going through a weight loss practice really helped me see what things I was in control of and the things I genuinely couldn’t help at this point. I go through VHC and see the nutritionist, psychologist and doctor.

I am on a different weight loss drug (not a GLP) and I would love to have a different weight set point! This is so encouraging to read. Congrats to all of you for losing all this weight!

Anonymous wrote:Have all of you improved your diet and fitness while on the drugs so that when you go off you maintain the habits? Be honest. It doesn't make sense you're gaining the weight if you're eating less and exercising.

I don't know of anyone on these medications who hasn't improved their diet and exercise. One of the more complex mechanisms of this medication is the disruption of the weight set point. It's what people who preach Calories in, Calories out do not factor in. Your body fights hard to stay at certain weights.

I am a year on maintenance and have continued to lose. I do 2.5 mg every 10-14 days. I started at 208 lb and was down to 160 within 8 months. I never went above 7.5 mg so went down to 5 mg for a month then to 2.5 mg where I have stayed.

I am now at my goal of 150lb and have been there for about 10 months. It has changed my entire relationship with food, especially during menopause. The best!

Anonymous wrote:Have all of you improved your diet and fitness while on the drugs so that when you go off you maintain the habits? Be honest. It doesn't make sense you're gaining the weight if you're eating less and exercising.

I can't speak from personal experience but prior to these drugs, even individuals who lost large amounts of weight from diet and exercise alone were, statistically, more likely to regain than not.

Have all of you improved your diet and fitness while on the drugs so that when you go off you maintain the habits? Be honest. It doesn't make sense you're gaining the weight if you're eating less and exercising.

Anonymous wrote:This study showed that GLP-1 patients were able to keep the weight off 2 years out by only taking metformin. So not drug-free but a lot less expensive and not as intense (my words) as the glp-1s.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11589535/

I plan on a weekly dose for at least a year maybe two and then will go to maintenance or possibly the newer drugs that are in development. They are such a huge moneymaker and so effective that there is lots of development and there will be lots of research on people taking them and the maintenance process. However, now that my side effects have subsided I feel so good on it most of the time that I don’t really want to stop. It put my IBS into remission.

This study showed that GLP-1 patients were able to keep the weight off 2 years out by only taking metformin. So not drug-free but a lot less expensive and not as intense (my words) as the glp-1s.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11589535/

I lost 50 pounds on Wegovy (it took 2 years) and now I’m trying to go down in dose and spread the doses out to every two weeks. My doc and dietician said that it could well be for life but that eventually it might just be a very low dose monthly.

Anonymous wrote:I've lost 60lbs on Wegovy over the last year. My doctor said I will be on it for life, but that we will likely reduce the dose and potentially spread out injections once it is time to maintain. When people go off, they gain the weight back. If people tell you they have gone off a GLP1 and have easily maintained their weight loss "with all of the lifestyle changes I made!" ... they probably haven't been off it for more than 6 months or so, and certainly not for a year or so. The weight comes back. It just does.

I've heard this too but if I could keep it off by myself for a year I'd rather not be on meds--a year is a long time that you didn't need it--strictly speaking. I think for most people who might be more concerned about cost or long term side effects cycling back on after 12 months is not a "failure." I don't think you should gain a ton of weight back and redo the whole 40+ lb weight loss thing again--thats not healthy either. But if you can go a year until it starts to creep back on that can still be a success for a lot of people--especially if a lower maintenance dose is effective after having been off it for so long.

I'm sure this logic won't make sense to a lot people, but when it comes to medications in general people start and stop for all sorts of personal reasons and everyone's personal cost-benefit analysis will vary to some degree.

Anonymous wrote:I've lost 60lbs on Wegovy over the last year. My doctor said I will be on it for life, but that we will likely reduce the dose and potentially spread out injections once it is time to maintain. When people go off, they gain the weight back. If people tell you they have gone off a GLP1 and have easily maintained their weight loss "with all of the lifestyle changes I made!" ... they probably haven't been off it for more than 6 months or so, and certainly not for a year or so. The weight comes back. It just does.

+1 I lost 50 lbs with it in the fall of 2022 (the good old days with the $25 a month mounjaro coupon!)

I was able to maintain the weight loss for about a year without it but it all crept back on and I am paying OOP now. I wish I had just kept in a maintenance dose.

I've lost 60lbs on Wegovy over the last year. My doctor said I will be on it for life, but that we will likely reduce the dose and potentially spread out injections once it is time to maintain. When people go off, they gain the weight back. If people tell you they have gone off a GLP1 and have easily maintained their weight loss "with all of the lifestyle changes I made!" ... they probably haven't been off it for more than 6 months or so, and certainly not for a year or so. The weight comes back. It just does.

I've spaced out to 2x a month, at my goal weight. I would ideally like to lose a few more pounds (like 3 lbs) as a buffer, but for now I'm holding steady and am happy, and its cheaper.

I’ve lost 20 lbs on tirzepatide and have reached my goal weight. I feel fantastic. I do not want to lose any more, but I am nervous to stop the meds because they’ve brought me such a peace about food, stopped my ravenous, constant hunger and improved my life substantially.

I would love to hear your story of reaching your goal on GLPs and where you went from there. Did you wean off slowly? Quit cold turkey? Continue on a micro dose?

Thank you.