Why Can’t I Lose Weight? Are Semaglutides the Answer?

QUESTION:

Posting anonymously since I am ashamed. 

I spent the last 20 years as a size 8 or 10. When Covid and perimenopause hit, I put on 70+ pounds and have been trying desperately to lose weight and be healthier. 

I eat low/no carb, exercise (Peloton™ or walks/jogs) at least 5 times a week, and I lost 19 pounds over the past 6 months, but the scale will no longer budge. I have officially plateaued. 

Please, no judgment here, but I’m looking for recommendations for those who have had personal experience with Ozempic™ or something similar. Thanks in advance.

ANSWERS:

Dr. Danielle McDevitt, MD and Ashlee Reibert, PAC of Unalome House

First of all, don’t feel ashamed. This is a very common struggle! Any weight loss medication (like semaglutide or tirzepatide) should be part of a whole-body approach to health and wellness. 

Hormonal changes, COVID, the stress of daily mom-life, and more can cause havoc in the body. Working with a provider that understands the need to rebalance and restore the body is key. Look for options that include things like nutrition coaching, stress management, acupuncture, quality supplements, speciality testing, and above all, true support. Remember you aren’t alone! 

Jacquelyn Stern, RDN and Owner of Annapolis Nutrition

I am so very sorry to hear about your struggle. Body changes are so hard, especially when you feel like you are working hard to reverse them. I have so much empathy. 

It is important to try and shift your perspective to “How can I take care of my here and now body?” Do you feel like you have enough energy with the way you are eating and exercising? Are you getting enough sleep? What are your stress levels like? Often when people try to lose weight they do a lot of beating themselves up, which causes more stress and less self-care. Looking at ways you can possibly take care of yourself in a different way is a shift and so helpful.

Often when people exercise a lot and eat very little, their metabolism slows down and they don’t see the same results as they did initially. The answer to that is to work on feeding your body all the macronutrients consistently. I do not recommend low carb diets because our bodies actually need the majority of its nutrition from carbohydrates. So working on finding balance in your diet would be a good start, as well as potentially adding more nutrition in to make sure you are getting enough quantity of food.

In addition, you may benefit from an analysis of your workout routine. Weight training is important and I am not sure if that is part of what you are doing. 

Finally, I do not recommend a weight loss drug – the results are temporary and there are many side effects while on them.

I hope this helps. There are many resources out there that can help you on this journey. Feel free to reach out if you would like me to send you some.

Keri Ball, Adidas Sponsored Athlete, PN L-1 & PN L-2 Master Health Coach, Functional Health Coach at Nutrition Dynamic, AFAA, NASM/Les Mills National Trainer/Presenter

Everyone’s journey through perimenopause/menopause is different and no judgment should ever be passed. Being brave to ask for advice and inquire about feeling better should be celebrated!

As our bodies change and our hormones shift there are so many things that can cause weight loss resistance. Our bodies also adapt to what we throw at them or put them through from diets and exercise to stress, etc. 

That is why oftentimes you hear, “What worked for me before no longer works.” Looking at all the factors that are going on within your body is so important such as understanding your hormones. Stress, lifestyle, and blood sugar are also factors why the body will or won’t lose weight. There isn’t a one size fits all approach. Have you ever worked with a functional practitioner who looks at all the body systems to determine what is going on? It might be a good idea to meet with a professional to discuss factors specific to you to determine next steps for you to start feeling better.

Lisa Peri, Founder & Publisher of Annapolis Moms 

Covid was so difficult for everyone and starting in my 40s, I went from being able to eat pretty much whatever I wanted to slowly gaining weight if I did. Before my 50s, I could eat lightly for a week and naturally just lose weight, but my body just won’t do that any more. 

For me, I had to tackle my unhealthy relationship with sugar and using food to meet my needs for things other than nutrition. One key for me was that I asked my spouse to support me and help me stay on task. We have a phrase “Is that how you want to eat?” It’s a quick reminder that how I eat will make me feel a certain way and can stop me from sabotaging myself. 

Sheila, Mom from Davidsonville

You know what they say, skinny in the kitchen and fit in the gym…

That being said, I was borderline diabetic and my GP put me on Ozempic™. Over six months, I was able to improve my numbers and weaned off of Ozempic™. 

However, I recently read that you need to be off Ozempic™ for a week before surgery and that scared me a bit. Apparently it’s more dangerous if you are on Ozempic™ and need emergency surgery. Good luck!

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