Mental Health and Weight Maintenance After Ozempic, Wegovy, and Other GLP-1 Drugs
3 minutes
Losing weight while on medications such as semaglutide or tirzepatide, like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound, can be a transformative journey, but the real challenge lies in maintaining that weight loss and fostering mental well-being in the process. It's important to recognize that the physical changes brought about by GLP-1 medications may not necessarily translate into immediate or complete psychological transformation. One of the hallmarks of the impact of these drugs is the reported effect of eliminating "food noise," which is described as constant thinking about food, desire to eat, and seeking the next meal, snack, or treat. With the absence of this food noise, you are likely instead preoccupied with your weight loss journey and every new decision you are making on your journey. It may feel positive, but it’s still serving as a distraction. When the novelty of being in a thinner body and adopting a different lifestyle diminishes, it very well may leave behind feelings of depression, anxiety, or unexpected emptiness that may have always been there. In simpler terms, the belief that "Once I lose weight, I'll begin dating, feel more at ease socializing and dining in public, ask for that promotion, leave my toxic relationship, start the project I've always envisioned (insert your own here)" may not unfold as smoothly as you expect.
Eating to Comfort Oneself
Many individuals use eating or binge eating as a means to obtain a quick dopamine fix or cope with strong emotions. When this coping mechanism is no longer available, the underlying problems and emotions persist and need to be addressed in healthier ways, which you may not have ever learned. Furthermore, there can be a sense of mourning or feelings of regret for the life you didn't have during the years spent battling food noise and unhappiness with your body. Finally, a new dissatisfaction may arise concerning excess skin. While these drugs can be miraculous for many, they can also bring to light other aspects of oneself that have not been previously addressed.
As a licensed psychotherapist and personal fitness trainer specializing in eating disorders, I understand the intricate interplay between physical and mental health in the context of weight loss journeys.
Strategies to Aide in Maintaining Weight-loss
Here are some strategies to help you navigate the terrain of weight maintenance and mental wellness after losing weight on Ozempic or other such drugs:
Acknowledge Emotional Patterns: If you've struggled with emotional eating or other coping mechanisms tied to your weight, it's important to acknowledge that these patterns may resurface, even after significant weight loss. Recognizing these tendencies is the first step towards addressing them effectively.
Identifying Insecurities: Losing weight doesn't automatically erase insecurities or deep-seated beliefs about your self-worth. If for years you have always blamed having low self-esteem on your weight, you may come to find it wasn’t always about the size of clothes you wore.
Therapeutic Support: Consider seeking support from a licensed therapist who can help you explore underlying emotional triggers and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Fitness as Self-Care: If your mindset has always been that exercise was just a way to achieve weight loss, reframing its purpose is important to continue feeling motivated and staying disciplined.
Set Realistic Goals: Instead of focusing solely on the number on the scale, set realistic and sustainable goals that encompass various aspects of well-being and make notice of other positive changes that may be taking place other than weight-loss.
Positive Support: Surround yourself with supportive friends, family, or fellow GLP-1 users who understand and empathize with your journey. If some friends and family are not accepting of your usage of the drug or your weight loss journey then sharing your milestones, goals or routines won’t provide you with the validation you need.
Continuous Growth and Reflection: Recognize that personal growth is an ongoing process. Perhaps you have set-back days or weeks. That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means you are human.
Much remains to be understood about how semaglutide and tirzepatide drugs affect mental health and the precise mechanisms of successful weight maintenance. Nonetheless, as an individual with unique needs and experiences, discovering what supports you - whether while on or off these drugs - is the work you have ahead of you in order to sustain success and find contentment in your new life.
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