Why Am I Not Losing Weight on Semaglutide?
Semaglutide has recently soared to the spotlight as a go-to tool for weight loss and type 2 diabetes management. It boasts powerful capabilities that can help patients shed extra pounds and is often used alongside diet and exercise plans to achieve impressive results.
However, weight loss is rarely a linear journey. Instead, it’s packed with ups and downs, as circumstances in our lives are often ever-changing. While normal, these fluctuations can be frustrating, especially when you’re doing everything right, yet the number on the scale remains stagnant.
Various factors could contribute to the roadblock in your weight-loss journey, leaving you wondering, “Why am I not losing weight on semaglutide?” Our knowledgeable team at Rojas Regenerative Institute offers complete semaglutide services and can help you determine why your progress has slowed or altogether halted.
5 Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Weight on Semaglutide
If you’re not seeing the progress you want with semaglutide, several factors could impact your journey. From too-low dosages to unrealistic expectations, various reasons might be hindering your progress.
Low Dosages
The dosage of semaglutide that is right for your weight loss goals varies based on factors specific to you. Every patient is different, so one patient’s dosages and frequencies might look entirely different than the next.
While some patients may thrive on lower dosages of semaglutide, seeing the benefits without requiring a larger dose, others may need a higher dose to sustain their results. If you’re concerned the dosage of your prescription is too low, talk to your healthcare provider.
Unbalanced Calorie Intake
As is the case with any weight loss journey, diet is a critical contributing factor when losing weight with semaglutide. While taking semaglutide offers key benefits that help you achieve your goals, you must be mindful of your calorie intake.
It’s essential to consume a balanced diet while remaining in a calorie deficit. In essence, you need to consume fewer calories than you burn.
For example, suppose your goal is to lose one pound per week. A pound of fat is equivalent to 3,500 calories, so you’ll need to consume 3,500 calories less than you usually would in a week. If you typically consume 2,000 calories a day, your daily intake would drop to 1,500 calories.
However, everyone is different, so your body may process the calorie deficit differently. Before you decrease your calorie intake, talk to your healthcare provider to ensure the deficit is healthy and safe for you to complete.
Plateaus
As you progress through your weight-loss journey, you might encounter a plateau or a time when your weight stops changing.
At first, you might notice the pounds begin melting off, and the number on the scale appears to be on an ever-dropping descent. But after a few weeks, it all comes to a screeching halt, stopping your progress in its tracks. These plateaus eventually happen for everyone who tries to lose weight, often lasting between eight and twelve weeks.
While frustrating, weight-loss plateaus are completely normal. When you initially notice your progress with semaglutide, the pounds might drop off rapidly. This part of a weight-loss journey often happens because of your calorie deficit, as your body is pulling the energy it needs by releasing stored glycogen, a carbohydrate found in your muscles and liver.
Glycogen is made in part of water, so when your body begins to use it for energy, it releases water, resulting in your jump-start into weight loss. However, as you progress, your body shifts gears and sheds pounds, and the resulting muscle loss contributes to a slower metabolism. This results in slower progress.
These plateaus can happen even when you’re taking semaglutide. To overcome the plateau, reevaluate your habits, calorie intake, and activity level. Talk to your doctor about changing those areas of your life to push through your plateau and continue melting the excess pounds off.
Lack of Sleep
A lack of quality, restful sleep can wreak havoc on your weight loss journey, regardless of whether semaglutide is part of that journey. Various studies have documented the connection between sleep deprivation and weight loss, showcasing how a lack of sleep can adversely impact your weight loss journey.
Inadequate sleep can contribute to increased hunger and appetite, disrupting metabolic and endocrine function to make you feel hungrier and, in turn, consume more. It’s associated with alterations in your neuroendocrine appetite control mechanisms, specifically reduced leptin levels and an increase in ghrelin levels, both of which contribute to satiety and hunger, respectively.
Your body needs sleep to function correctly and help you achieve your goals. Ensure you’re getting plenty of good quality sleep to give your body the power it needs to help you stay on track and work toward your weight loss targets.
Unrealistic Expectations
While semaglutide can make a world of difference in your weight-loss journey, it isn’t magical. It doesn’t miraculously cause you to shed dozens of pounds in mere days. Instead, it’s a journey. Seeing the results takes a few weeks, as your body needs time to adjust to the medication and begin to make changes.
Most patients begin to see results within two to three months, but it can vary based on factors specific to you. Remember, your body is unique, and no two weight-loss journeys are identical.
Understanding the average timeframes to see results and the effort you must put in to reap the benefits can help you set realistic expectations. However, if you’ve been on semaglutide for months with no change, talk to your doctor. Your doctor can help you determine what changes must be made based on factors specific to your weight-loss journey.
Get Personalized Help With Your Semaglutide Journey
Semaglutide can be an excellent tool in achieving your weight loss goals, but like any weight loss journey, it’s only a single piece of the puzzle. If you’re struggling to lose weight with your semaglutide prescription or want to kickstart a journey with it, our experienced team at Rojas Regenerative Institute can help.
We’re experts in regenerative medicine and can help you take the next steps toward your weight loss goals with semaglutide. Call us today at (734) 977-6527 or sign up online for a free consultation to get started!