Why am I Not Losing Weight on Wegovy®?
No doubt you’ve heard about Wegovy® and its superpower to help you shed those extra pounds. But what happens when the scale refuses to budge?
It’s a common puzzle, especially in the first few weeks of trying out Wegovy. If this sounds like you, and you’re wondering why your weight-loss journey feels stuck, you’re not alone!
Common reasons for not losing weight on Wegovy include a low dosage, dietary habits, lack of exercise, individual responses to the dosage, and—frankly—unrealistic expectations.
In this post, we’ll dig deeper into these reasons and share some practical tips to help kickstart your weight loss in the right direction.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only. You should discuss your specific needs with your healthcare provider.
How Wegovy Works
Understanding how the medication works can make it easier to figure out what you can do to achieve your weight-loss goals.
- Wegovy helps control appetite and increase feelings of fullness by mimicking the action of the hormone GLP-1, making it easier to stick to a reduced-calorie diet.
- This medication also slows down your digestion, prolonging the feeling of fullness after meals and reducing the desire to eat, including snacking between meals.
- It improves insulin sensitivity, giving your body a green light for weight loss. When your cells respond efficiently to insulin’s signals, they can more easily regulate blood sugar levels, tap into stored fat for energy, and keep hunger in check.
Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight on Wegovy
You’re Eating Too Many Calories
Wegovy helps you eat less by reducing your appetite. But here is the thing: you can still end up eating too many calories if you are munching on high-calorie foods.
I often see this, as many people starting the medication still carry the unhealthy food habits that lead to weight gain.
Following a simple meal plan can help you make better choices for weight loss and overall health. In addition to that, a simple, but effective, technique is to just stop and think for a few seconds before you eat.
You’re Not Listening to Your Body
You might also find yourself ignoring feelings of hunger and fullness and reaching out for food for reasons other than being truly hungry.
Even if the medication helps curb your hunger, old habits die hard, right?
Practicing mindful eating is an excellent way to reduce how much you eat and make better choices. This technique has been proven successful when used for weight loss.
Read here my easy tips for mindful eating.
You’re Not Eating Enough Protein
Protein is your weight loss ally—it’s not only filling and satisfying, but it can also help keep your progress steady. When you eat protein, it helps keep you feeling full longer and keeps your energy levels steady.
Plus, it takes more energy for your body to digest protein compared to carbs or fats, so you end up burning more calories just by eating it. In addition, when you eat protein and you’re on a GLP-1 medication, it’s likely that you will eat fewer high-calorie foods.
Last, protein helps build muscle, which in turn promotes a healthier body weight.
You’re Drinking Too Many Calories
When you’re on a weight-loss medication, eating can become more challenging, but drinking fluids is much easier. So, if you’re indulging in sugary drinks or alcoholic beverages, it’s easy to consume a large number of calories without even realizing it. Remember, liquid calories count too!
Lack of Movement Through the Day
If you’re not moving enough throughout the day, it can really put the brakes on your progress. Think about it; if you’re spending too much time sitting or lounging around, your body isn’t burning as many calories as it could be.
But no need to start training for a marathon! Even small changes, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or going for a short walk during your lunch break, can make a big difference.
Not Exercising Enough
Exercise can definitely be one of the toughest habits to change, but sticking to it can really pay off. To lose weight, experts suggest aiming for about 150 minutes of exercise a week. Pick something you like doing so that it doesn’t feel like a chore. But be sure that your exercise is intense enough. I’m sorry to say that walking might not be enough.
Trust me, it’s worth the effort!
Dose is Too Low
Similar to other GLP-1 meds, Wegovy is started at a low dose and increased over the course of a few months. Some people respond better than others to the medication, so it’s possible that you just need to wait until you reach a higher dose.
You’re Not Taking Wegovy Consistently
For weight loss, this medication must be injected once a week, at the dose prescribed by your physician. Failure to follow the standard dosage advice can affect your expected weight loss.
Unrealistic Expectations
I frequently encounter clients who are feeling frustrated with their weight-loss progress because they’re aiming for rapid results.
However, it’s important to understand that sustainable weight loss typically falls within the range of 1-2% of your initial body weight per week. It may not sound like much, but slow and steady wins the race when it comes to shedding pounds and keeping them off for good.
Tips for Achieving Weight Loss Goals
Track Your Calories for a Couple of Weeks
When my clients aren’t seeing the scale budge, we take a closer look at their diet. Quite often, I find that they’re eating more than they realize or that they’re picking unhealthy foods too often.
You can see whether your choices are having an adverse effect on your weight loss by tracking your calories for a couple of weeks. Seeing where your calories are coming from will show you whether you’re overeating and if your meals are well-balanced.
Add Protein to Your Meals
This is a simple solution that can have amazing results. Just make sure you have one protein-rich food with all your meals.
Download my printable list of high-protein foods here.
Follow a Healthy Meal Plan
Wegovy is certainly a powerful tool for weight loss, BUT it must be coupled with healthy eating and exercise to maximize its effectiveness. The interesting thing is that while taking this weight loss medication, you don’t necessarily need a strict diet—following a simple meal plan can work wonders!
Get your free meal plan PDF by clicking here.
Increase Physical Activity
The most effective way to burn calories is definitely through exercise. Here’s my advice: start from where you are and gradually increase either the duration, frequency, or intensity of your workouts. Before you know it, you’ll start seeing those numbers on the scale move.
And don’t forget about strength-training exercises. They’re absolutely essential for achieving your goals because they increase lean muscle tissue which, in turn, burns more calories even when you’re doing nothing.
You should aim to exercise at least 150 minutes a week.
Sleep More
Getting enough sleep is crucial for weight loss. When you’re sleep-deprived, your body produces more of the hunger hormone, ghrelin, and less of the satiety hormone, leptin, making you feel hungrier and less satisfied after eating.
Additionally, lack of sleep can lead to fatigue and decreased motivation to exercise, making it harder to stick to your fitness routine.
What’s more, inadequate sleep disrupts your body’s natural metabolic processes, potentially slowing down your metabolism and making it more difficult to burn calories efficiently. So, aiming for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night can significantly support your weight-loss efforts.
Talk to Your Doctor About the Dose
There are several ways in which your healthcare provider can help you move the needle on the scale. One is to adjust the amount of your medication and another is to change it to a different one.
Consult a Registered Dietitian
A registered dietitian is your go-to expert when you hit a weight-loss plateau or need guidance on starting out with a weight-loss plan. With their extensive knowledge of nutrition and expertise in designing personalized meal plans, a dietitian can help you identify the factors contributing to your plateau and create strategies to overcome it.
They’ll assess your current eating habits, lifestyle, and any underlying health issues to develop a tailored plan that is effective and that fits your needs and preferences.
My Expert Opinion
Navigating the roadblocks on your weight-loss journey can sometimes feel like a daunting task.
However, armed with knowledge about common pitfalls and practical strategies to overcome them, you can regain momentum towards your goals.
Remember, sustainable weight loss is a journey, not a race, and it requires patience, consistency, and a holistic approach. By addressing factors such as diet, exercise, sleep, and medication specifics, you can break through plateaus and achieve lasting success.
And always remember: consulting with your healthcare provider and a registered dietitian can provide invaluable support and guidance tailored to your unique needs. So, don’t lose heart—keep pushing forward, and you’ll soon see the results you’ve been working towards.
