Not losing weight on Semaglutide? Weight loss injections provide a revolutionary means of treating obesity. However, they aren’t for everyone. We mostly hear success stories, but let’s dive into why your weekly injections might not be working. Most importantly, what to do if the number on the scale isn’t going down.
How to Speed Up Weight Loss on Semaglutide?
A common misconception is that all you must do is take your weekly injection. However, Semaglutide is not designed to eliminate exercise or dietary changes. It’s designed to aid those who don’t lose weight when they make healthy lifestyle changes. Those who combine their weekly weight loss injections with healthy lifestyle changes can accelerate their results.
In fact, strength training is essential to ensure you look and feel your best while taking Semaglutide. Any time you lose weight rapidly, you lose muscle mass too. In fact, two-thirds of your weight loss is body fat, and one-third is muscle mass. So, it’s not just about the number on the scale!
Here are some tips for minimizing Semaglutide muscle mass loss. As an added bonus, strength training minimizes the sagging skin that can come with rapid weight loss. Strength training may not be enough though. Not to worry, as Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa offers a range of minimally invasive aesthetic treatments to tighten your skin from head to toe. Some even accelerate fat loss!
How Much Weight Can I Lose on Weight Loss Injections?
Semaglutide can aid you in losing between 15 to 20 percent of your body weight! While impressive, results aren’t delivered overnight. The higher your BMI, the greater the percentage of weight you’re likely to lose.
If your BMI is over 20 you may be a candidate for weekly weight loss injections. Since results take time, it’s not a quick fix to lose a few pounds.
Now let’s dive into the top 6 reasons you’re not losing weight on Semaglutide.
#1 It’s Too Soon
While highly effective, weekly weight loss injections take time to deliver results. This is because Semaglutide has a tiered dosage. This means that you start out with .25 mg for at least the first 4 weeks. Then you go up .25 mg per week every 4 weeks or so until you reach a maximum of 2.4 mg per week.
Tiered dosage minimizes the side effects of nausea by giving your body time to adjust to your new prescription.
How long does it take to lose weight on Semaglutide?
If you’re in your first 4 to 8 weeks, you might not experience any weight loss. Some patients experience weight loss in the first few weeks, but it’s not uncommon for progress to be delayed. For maximum results, you’ll need to take it for about 60 to 70 weeks—which is between 13 and 16 months.
#2 You’re Not Consistent
Weight loss injections are weekly injections. These GLP-1 receptors gradually fade from your bloodstream. They have a half-life of about 7 days, which is why you need to commit to taking it on the same day each week.
We understand that things come up. If you’re sick, heading on vacation, or have a week that your usual day doesn’t work—we’ll advise you on how to adjust your injection day. This might be 1 or 2 days early, or up to 5 days late.
However, if you’re not losing weight on Semaglutide, it may be because you can’t commit to a consistent schedule.
#3 You Aren’t Taking It Under Medical Supervision
Unfortunately, many patients are getting their weight loss medications online from unidentified sources. If it’s not prescribed by a medical professional, you can’t be sure what you’re taking. It might not contain the active ingredients to deliver results and could contain unidentified ingredients.
For many, cost-savings is a primary driver in taking weight loss medications without medical supervision. Most GLP-1 medications aren’t covered by insurance, leaving the out-of-pocket expense at up to $1,400 per month. This isn’t sustainable for most. We understand, which is why we are proud to offer our Semaglutide at a rate that may fit more comfortably in your budget.
Our current Semaglutide rates are:
- $71.95 per week*
- $395 per month*
*prices are subject to change
Tailored Medical Advice
In addition to ensuring you know what you’re taking, Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa ensures you’re an ideal candidate for your prescription. GLP-1 medications aren’t the right fit for everyone. We also provide tailored medical advice, talking you through how to manage and minimize potential side effects, and what supportive lifestyle changes to implement. If a weekly injection is not the right fit, we’ll discuss our other medically guided and nonsurgical weight loss solutions.
#4 You’ve Plateaued
Plateaus are to be expected! So, if you’re not losing weight on Semaglutide like you once were, we know what questions to ask to reignite your results.
Your body is intelligent and adjusts your metabolism to your standard daily caloric intake and calories burned. So, it’s not as simple as eating or burning a set number of calories per day. Also, when it comes to physical activity, it’s good to mix things up. Your muscles adjust to the challenge they know, which can lead to a strength-building and fat-burning plateau.
Navigating a plateau is yet another reason to obtain your prescription under medical supervision.
#5 You Need to Make Supportive Lifestyle Changes
If stress is high, you aren’t prioritizing sleep, aren’t staying physically active, or haven’t made the appropriate dietary changes—you won’t achieve maximum results.
Many of our patients feel fuller faster and have fewer hunger pangs and cravings while taking Semaglutide. As such, they naturally reduce their caloric intake. However, this isn’t always enough. The quality of your foods needs to improve too.
Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa provides general exercise, dietary, and lifestyle suggestions for all patients we prescribe Semaglutide. For those who want to personalize their weight loss journey and accelerate results—we suggest combining your weekly injection with one of our Weight Loss Programs. These programs are based on scientifically proven principles and can deliver an additional 2 to 5 pounds of weight loss per week!
#6 Semaglutide Isn’t Right For You
If you’re not losing weight on Semaglutide, it may not be right for you. Approximately 10 to 15 percent of patients are nonresponsive to Semaglutide. This might mean that you lose weight, but less than 5% of your starting weight.
This could be because you are on a medication or have one or more medical conditions that make it more difficult for your body to respond positively. The reason could also be unidentified. You may also be someone for whom the side effects (typically nausea) are so severe that you just don’t feel good taking it.
Whatever the reasons may be, we’ll advise you on your options.
Not Losing Weight on Semaglutide?
If you were prescribed your Semaglutide elsewhere, but it’s not working—we invite you to schedule an appointment with Valley Medical Weight Loss and Med Spa. We understand what questions to ask to determine if it’s not the right fit for you. While it’s safe and effective for most, there may be a better option.
Not to worry, as this weekly injection isn’t your only non-surgical medically assisted weight loss option! This is an exciting time, as this new generation of medications is shining light on medically assisted solutions that have been accessible for quite some time, without getting the attention they deserve.
What Are Semaglutide’s Side Effects?
Semaglutide’s side effects include nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, excessive feelings of fullness that go beyond the desired results, feeling dizzy or light-headed, a persistent lethargic feeling, and irritation at the injection site. This being said, the medication is usually well tolerated.
Semaglutide and alcohol should usually not be taken together. Prescription medications containing Semaglutide should not be used by people allergic to it. Tell your doctor if you experience any negative side effects. Your doctor will be able to adjust your dosage to ensure that your Semaglutide treatment is working as efficiently, effectively, and safely as possible. As long as you report side effects to your doctor, he or she will likely lower your dose to the previous level until your body adjusts fully to the medication.
Diets Don’t Work—Schedule An Appointment With Valley Medical Today!
We can’t stress this enough, but diets don’t work! Your body is unique and what it needs is unique. Our team will work with you to determine the medically assisted options that will optimize your health, energy, and quality of life. Whether Semaglutide does not work for you, or you want to discuss your full range of options—we’re here to help!
We have 3 convenient locations in Phoenix, Tempe, and Glendale. If Semaglutide is right for you, you can drop in during business hours for your weekly injection. After your initial consultation, we aim to get you in and out of the office in under 20 minutes—so drop by on your lunch break!
Schedule your weight loss consultation today!
