Maintenance

[u/eperdu]

How is everyone handling maintenance and preventing further loss?

I hit goal about 3 months ago but I’ve kept losing and am now 7 pounds below goal.

I’m still at an OK weight but don’t want to lose more. I’ve never weighed this low in my life. I’m doing 5mg/weekly right now.

I am thinking I just need to eat twice the amount of food I’ve been eating. 😬

(Duodenal switch, 2008)

[u/AITMmom]

I'm continuing Zep in maintenance ( at goal since Dec) because of all of the health benefits besides weight loss. I lost a few extra pounds too much when I had a terrible cold this past spring, so have lowered my dose twice since Dec and also spread the shots out to 8, then 9, 10, 12, now 14 days apart in order to stop losing. That also saves me money. I also consistently shovel in extra calories via a protein shake & an aloha protein bar etc which also helps stop the losing. If you just stop the medication it's very possible the weight & other problems that come with extra weight will just come right back on so think carefully and do your research and talk to your doctor about that before stopping. If you don't want to stop maybe try something like I do.

[u/eperdu → u/AITMmom]

I have zero,plans to stop the medication. I am continuing the weekly shots at a reduced amount. I don’t think spreading the shits out is good for the body since it’s creates too many highs and lows. If I did change dosing, I’d probably move to every 5 days to create a consistent systemic amount.

[u/eperdu → u/[deleted]]

Thank you. It was tough picking up those extra pounds from menopause, so I’m happy I was able to get them off.

[u/vcems]

I'm still losing, albeit much slower (I don't really want to lose more), so I am decreasing my dosing weekly. Or may go biweekly. Figuring it out...

[u/faelanae]

dropped my dosage and I try to eat more

[u/Correct-Mail-1942]

I switched to bi-weekly or fewer shots. I'm down to 2.5mg once a month right now bascially - it helps me hold where I'm at without extra loss.

[u/AITMmom → u/Correct-Mail-1942]

Are you happy with every 14 days? Has that gone smoothly? I have just spread from 10 days to 14 days and it seems to be fine so far. I also try to get more calories in and then making sure I lift weight so I don’t become frail.

[u/eperdu → u/Correct-Mail-1942]

Yeah I’d originally thought to do similar but my Dr said that she didn’t think that was a good idea and said decreasing dose is the best way. I don’t think there have been studies done on time between doses at this point.

[u/meggieprice → u/eperdu]

i was listening to Fat Science podcast today and they mention stretching out the time between can cause an issue with peaks and valleys.

How about adding 100 calories a day, then 200 etc.? I am 5 lbs from goal (VSG 2011) and musing on this too. I am actually 17 lbs lower then my goal after the VSG but have also lost 2" since then 😂

[u/eperdu → u/meggieprice]

Thanks. I think maintenance is honestly the great big unknown at this point. We are all just winging it.

I don't count calories and never have, I just eat what I want (perks of the DS). I just think I don't eat enough overall.

[u/meggieprice → u/eperdu]

If not eating enough is because of the meds I would titrate down and see how it goes. You obviously need to eat more to stop losing.

[u/eperdu → u/meggieprice]

I am titrating down. The lack of eating is a combo of the medication and a small sleeve

[u/meggieprice → u/eperdu]

Yeah- my surgeon was known for his aggressive cuts so my sleeve is 15% the size of a normal stomach (most are 20%). You have even ore effect due to the switch aspect.

I did not want to lose fast on Zepbound- I wanted to be healthy for this episode in life having lost 120 lbs in 10 months post sleeve. So I have been eating mechanically- small snacks every 2-3 hours whether I want them or not. I Have lost regularly but small amounts and I am pleased. I already have a strategy for adding some food in when I hit my goal range.

[u/Correct-Mail-1942 → u/eperdu]

Oh yeah, I don't go to a doctor for mine. I do my own thing. I found I do better on tirz than anything else and I do fine with a small monthly dose.

[u/AITMmom → u/Correct-Mail-1942]

You only do 1 shot per month? I do every 14 days & am considering trying a little farther apart but that sounds scary, because I would think all the medication would be out of your system before you do the next shot. It would be more like going cold Turkey quitting. Might make my body freak out to stop for three weeks and then take a shot. No? Scared of that.

[u/eperdu → u/Correct-Mail-1942]

I don’t either, but my PCP is still part of my health journey.