Things you’ll learn… |
Wegovy seems to be everywhere, doesn’t it?
But despite all the celebrity endorsements and the promises of it being a miracle weight loss drug, it appears that people are still struggling to shed the pounds while using Wegovy. Even worse, many patients are experiencing terrible and unforeseen side effects.
If you’ve tried Wegovy and found it underwhelming, or even if you have only just considered trying it, here’s why it might not be the best product for your weight loss goals. We’re also going to look at what you can do to reach your weight loss goals.
Let’s dive in.
How Is Wegovy supposed to work?
Unlike most types of weight loss medication, Wegovy isn’t a supplement that you take as a pill, capsule, or drink. It’s actually a self-delivered injection.
The medication is delivered through the skin through an injectable device that is administered by yourself once a week. This is already a turn-off for some who don’t like injections.
Wegovy, along with a similar brand, Ozempic, was developed and manufactured by a European company called Novo Nordisk. Both of these are injections of a drug known as semaglutide.
What Is Semaglutide?
A well-known weight loss drug, semaglutide is supposed to be prescribed as a diabetes treatment or for obesity-related medical issues as well as chronic weight management. But due to its huge success it is being sought out by more and more people as a general weight-loss solution rather than a specialist and targeted one.
The way in which semaglutide drugs like Wegovy work is by mimicking an appetite-suppressing hormone called GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1). This hormone sends signals to your brain that you are full.
So, a GLP-1 analogue like semaglutide can theoretically do the same thing—so the user requires less food to feel full and can potentially lose weight as a result.
Why is Wegovy not working?
So you may be wondering...why am I not losing weight on Wegovy? If Wegovy is prescribed for actual weight-related medical disorders, why isn’t it working as a general weight-management product?
Here are several possible reasons.
Incorrect usage
If you’re not noticing any significant weight-loss results despite already taking Wegovy, then it could be you aren’t administering the injections correctly.
Perhaps you aren’t injecting in the right area, or maybe you aren’t injecting for long enough for the full dose to be delivered.
You’re supposed to be injecting Wegovy subcutaneously (under the skin) in the abdomen (belly) area or upper stomach around the belly button.
How long you are supposed to inject for is down to the specific dosage schedule.
Double-check the instructions and rewatch the informational video on the Wegovy website to ensure that each step is being followed properly.
Wrong dosages
If you’re certain that you have been following the exact injection procedures, and haven’t been skipping doses, then the issue could be with the dosages themselves.
Your first dose should be 0.25mg for the first few weeks, which then slowly increases to the full 2.4mg over the course of five months.
Carefully examine each Wegovy pen before injecting yourself to ensure that the dose you are taking is the amount prescribed for that particular stage of your treatment.
Eating too much
Like other weight loss medications, Wegovy will not work if you continue to consume more calories than you burn. A calorie deficit is still required if you wish to reach your weight loss goals.
Semaglutide is taken to reduce hunger pangs and control your appetite. So if you're still eating too much, it could either be a problem with the drug itself, or you are just overriding your body’s ‘fullness’ signals and eating anyway. This can lead to further weight gain.
The product is a weight loss drug, it isn't a miracle drug. You need to do some work on your own too.
If you want to reduce your body weight, concentrate on a reduced-calorie diet and embrace healthy eating.
Switch up your dietary habits to include fewer high-calorie foods and processed foods—focus on a healthy diet and generally healthy lifestyle instead. You’ve got this.
Sugary drinks
Whether you use Wegovy or not, drinking sodas, fruit juices, and other sugar-filled beverages will hinder your weight loss journey.
Drinks like these contain a huge amount of calories yet barely fill you up at all.
The same goes for alcohol—beer, wine, spirits—they all contain sugar and carbs that interfere with your body’s ability to burn fat.
Just stick to water. It’s calorie-free and much more hydrating.
Lack of exercise
Just as a healthy diet plan is required for Wegovy to work, so is more physical activity.
Eating fewer calories is a great start, but without regular exercise sessions your weight loss progress will be limited and ultimately stall.
So, move a little more. Jog, dance, go for a daily stroll with music blasting in your headphones…do what makes you feel good, and the results will follow.
FYI: The Wegovy website itself states that a “reduced calorie meal plan and increased physical activity” are required for their drug to be effective. So make sure to add in some workouts to your week.
Lifestyle factors
If you’re still not losing weight on Wegovy, or are even experiencing weight gain, then you may have to make further lifestyle changes.
Along with changing your food intake (ditch the unhealthy foods and concentrate on healthy eating habits, such as getting more lean proteins and healthy fats into your diet), and moving more, there are a few other sustainable lifestyle modifications you can make to help with weight maintenance...
- Reduce your stress levels
- Quit smoking
- Get enough sleep
- Set realistic expectations (you’re doing great)
These are the things you should be doing anyway to meet your health goals and experience significant weight loss.
It’s not for you
The final reason you might not be losing weight on Wegovy is that you aren’t supposed to use it.
Really, Wegovy is intended to be taken by people with a BMI (body mass index) of over 30 (i.e. living with obesity) or a BMI of over 27. It’s also developed for people who need extra help losing weight as a result of underlying health conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or some other cardiovascular risk factors.
FYI: If you aren’t in this bracket, you really shouldn’t be taking Wegovy or any other semaglutide-based products.
And certainly not without the recommendation of your healthcare provider. There are far more suitable natural alternatives that you can use to supplement your diet and burn fat without horrific side effects.
Oh, and it's important to recognize that while Wegovy can lead to significant weight loss, it also comes with potentially serious side effects, including low blood sugar, gallbladder problems, kidney problems, and even allergic reactions
When considering the use of Wegovy, patients should be aware of potential health risks, including major adverse cardiovascular events, like heart attacks and cardiovascular death, as seen in previous studies.
Healthcare providers play a crucial role in evaluating the suitability of this medication for individual patients. Plus, the cost and insurance coverage of Wegovy may also be important considerations, as it is a prescription drug that may require coverage through private insurers or federal health insurance programs like Medicare.
Lastly, it's essential for patients to understand that while Wegovy represents a major advance in weight loss medications, it’s not a treatment option for everyone.
Reminder: Non-prescription weight loss alternatives and lifestyle modifications, like improved diet, regular physical activity, and over-the-counter medicines, may be more suitable for you.
Talking to your healthcare provider to discuss the full range of treatment options is really important to achieving effective weight management.
For more specific information and details about Wegovy, it is advisable to consult with a healthcare provider or refer to the official product information provided by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy.
Does Wegovy usually work?
Using Wegovy certainly can lead to successful weight loss. But we can’t highlight this enough, it’s only designed to be used by people with a BMI over 30 (adults with obesity) or a BMI over 27 and who also have weight-related medical problems.
For those people, results do certainly seem consistent—as they are given a helping hand to reduce their appetite so they can consume fewer calories and therefore lose weight.
Studies show that for these groups of people, Wegovy can lead to a reduction in body weight, but clinical trials haven't been conducted into using semaglutide as a general healthy weight-loss aid— because that’s not what it’s for.
So unless you are in one of those target groups just mentioned, you’d be far better off turning to a safe and natural supplement to help boost your fat-burning potential.
What are the side effects of Wegovy?
The reason we suggest going for a safer alternative is because Wegovy can cause a huge range of side effects—from the trivial to the utterly terrifying and life-threatening.
Minor side effects
If you’re lucky, you’ll only encounter some of the minor side effects, such as nausea, vomiting, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue.
Major side effects
But it’s the potential for serious side effects that is particularly worrying with Wegovy…
- Thyroid tumours and thyroid cancer (including medullary thyroid carcinoma)
- Diabetic retinopathy
- Pancreatitis
- Gallstones
- Kidney disease (or full kidney failure)
- Stomach paralysis
- Chronically low mood or suicidal behavior
- Poor heart health or major cardiovascular events
All of these have either been reported by users of semaglutide drugs or are listed as potential side effects on the Wegovy website. So these are very real and very dangerous implications of using this type of product.
We’ve covered this in more depth in another Wegovy guide. So, take a look there as well if you want a more detailed insight into the issues that can arise when using Wegovy and other semaglutide injections.
Should you use Wegovy to lose weight?
Some people ask: Why am I not losing weight on Wegovy? A better question would be: Should I be using it at all? The answer? No, Wegovy is not recommended as a general weight loss tool.
If you have a BMI of over 30, or over 27 but also have pre-existing or underlying medical conditions relating to weight, then you may be a potential candidate for a Wegovy prescription.
Just be sure to confer with a healthcare professional first. Do not, under any circumstances, seek out Wegovy without the recommendation of your doctor!
Fake semaglutide products
Be aware that there are counterfeit alternatives being sold by third parties. These should also be left well alone as they won’t be drug administration-approved and aren’t deemed safe as a result.
Weight loss isn’t worth your health.
Cheap knock-off versions are potentially even more dangerous than legitimate semaglutide drugs.
What are the alternatives to Wegovy?
Despite all the hype around semaglutide weight loss medications like Wegovy, the reality is there are far better options if you are looking to lose weight naturally.
We’ve seen the scary potential effects of these injectable products, so why would anyone want to put themselves at risk when there are safer and more effective alternatives?
The amazing thing about lifestyle changes is that they can start today. Your weight loss journey can begin the second you decide to bring positive changes into your life. And that doesn’t mean prescription drugs.
Let’s look at all the ways now!
A healthy diet
A balanced, nutritious diet is key to achieving and maintaining weight loss. Focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods such as fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains.
Nutritious snacks will fuel you through the day. Portion control will make sure you don’t overindulge. By avoiding processed foods and sugary drinks you’ll gain healthier eating habits.
No one is perfect all the time, so be kind to yourself. If you slip up, acknowledge it and look forward, not back. You’re only human!
Hydration
Did you know? that drinking water is really important for weight management. Drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day to support digestion, control appetite, and optimise your metabolic function! It’s a really simple change that can yield great results.
We’re talking about drinking at least eight cups (64 ounces) of water daily.
Get quality sleep
Yes, that’s right—getting good, restful and quality sleep actually plays a big role in weight management.
If you aim for seven to nine hours of quality sleep each night, you can be assured that your body will be able to support hormone regulation, including those that affect appetite and satiety, so you’re less likely to overeat or have cravings.
Cardio and resistance training
You already know that regular physical activity is vital for weight loss, right?
But did you know that the key is doing both cardio exercises and strength training or resistance exercises when you’re planning your weight loss workout?
Cardio: Brisk walking, running, swimming, or cycling.
Strength training or resistance exercises: Weightlifting or bodyweight exercises.
Join in
You don’t need to get active alone. Being part of a fitness club or participating in group fitness classes can provide motivation, structure, and a supportive community.
Join clubs or attend classes like yoga, Zumba, or dance to make exercise more enjoyable and establish a consistent routine. Make friends and lose weight the fun way.
Explore supplements
Consider exploring natural supplements with active ingredients that help curb cravings, speed up your metabolism, control your appetite, balance your mood and more.
Providing they are tested for safety, use premium ingredients and are from a well-known brand, they’re a simple and fuss-free way to manage your weight alongside a balanced diet and exercise.
Why PhenQ?
PhenQ is one of the most popular and effective weight loss supplements, having helped literally thousands of people successfully lose weight safely and naturally. It’s one part of an overall weight loss plan including great nutrition, exercise and hydration.
Phenq supplements contain premium, natural ingredients that are formulated in FDA-approved facilities.
Ingredients such as nopal cactus (AKA prickly pear) and chromium picolinate are also included in the formula because they reduce food cravings and limit the amount of dietary fat that can be stored by your body.
There are also some thermogenic fat-burning ingredients in the mix too, including capsicum (red pepper extract) and caffeine. Both of these get your body fired up and your metabolism on the go so you feel energised from the inside out.
Why not get a natural and safe helping hand in your weight loss journey? Because sometimes it is just that simple. Try PhenQ today and lose weight the right way.