Lifestyle changes for Wegovy
Wegovy may look tempting, but have you considered the lifestyle changes you’ll need to adopt to lose weight and keep it off?
Wegovy (semaglutide) works by suppressing your appetite, encouraging you to eat less and reach for healthier options, meaning your lifestyle will have to change. Habits like overeating or sticking to foods with a high-fat content can not only cause unpleasant side effects like stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea, but even slow down your weight loss!
This urge to eat less only lasts while you’re taking Wegovy. When you stop, your normal eating habits will return, making it very easy for you to slip into old habits and regain the weight you’ve lost. If you’re planning to buy Wegovy, this kind of weight regain can be concerning.
In this guide we’ll list the lifestyle changes you need to make to ensure Wegovy is working at its full potential, the specific foods you’ll need to avoid, and some tips and tricks to help you stay at a healthy weight once your treatment has ended.
Diet
The ‘Wegovy diet’, otherwise known as the ‘semaglutide diet’, isn’t as scary as it sounds – yes, food is still on the menu, but you will need to lower your calorie intake to around 1200-1500 calories per day. This is easy to do as your appetite will be suppressed, warding away those all-consuming cravings.
So, can you just eat less of the same unhealthy foods? The answer is no! Certain foods can not only make side effects worse, but they aren’t going to make you feel full, they could negatively impact your blood sugar levels, and they aren't going to provide any nutritional benefit, either.
While you’re taking semaglutide, foods to avoid include:
- Sugary food and drink, like cake, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks
- Fried foods
- Processed foods
- Foods that are high in saturated fat
- Fast food
Wegovy provides most people with quick, drastic weight loss, but it’s also a long-term treatment that helps to build healthy habits that you can fit into your lifestyle after your treatment has stopped.
Wegovy friendly foods
Struggling with indigestion while taking Wegovy? You could be eating the wrong things. Let’s dive into some of the Wegovy friendly foods that can reduce your risk of developing side effects. Better yet, you’ll be eating a healthy, balanced diet, too!
Remember to eat slowly, integrate meal planning, and get creative with your food choices so you don’t get bored of the same thing – eating a bland salad each day can drive most people to the chocolate cupboard!
Protein
Lean protein is great when you’re trying to lose weight. Protein is lower in calories than carbohydrates and they can be just as filling. Protein isn’t limited to meat – it’s also included in vegetarian and vegan-friendly foods like chickpeas, kidney beans, lentils and spinach.
Healthy animal-based products include chicken, turkey, tuna and eggs. Protein helps to build up muscle mass, an important factor to consider if you’re increasing your physical activity.
Fruit and vegetables
Low in fat and high in vitamins, there are countless fruit and vegetable options to choose from to enrich your diet. Salivating over something sweet? Snack on a fruit you fancy. Staring at a beige, boring plate? Brighten it up with vegetables! The choice is yours, just strive to get your daily five!
If you’re struggling with heartburn or indigestion, avoid citrus fruits (like oranges, lemons and grapefruit) and tomatoes or tomato-based foods as they can aggravate it.
Fibre and carbohydrates
Fibre and complex carbs aid gut-health and digestion. They also release energy gradually throughout the day, helping to sustain you for longer, in addition to preventing a spike in your blood sugar levels.
Low GI (a low GI is a ranking of less than 55 on the glycaemic index) food options include whole grain bread, brown or whole grain rice and pasta, oats, muesli and sweet potato.
Exercise
Semaglutide and exercise go hand in hand. Despite Wegovy being an effective drug, you still have to put in the work by having a healthy lifestyle, eating a balanced diet and exercising frequently.
As many people lose a lot of weight very quickly, exercising can help to prevent excess, sagging skin by increasing muscle mass and tightening the skin.
Getting into the habit of regular exercise will make it easier for you to keep the weight off when your treatment ends, in addition to helping you to lose more weight during it!
Alcohol
Wegovy and alcohol shouldn’t be mixed. Not only does drinking alcohol secretly pump you full of hidden or ‘empty calories’ as they provide little to no nutritional benefit, but you’re also more likely to experience side effects like indigestion.
Alcohol and semaglutide both lower your blood sugar, too, so with these combined, you may become lightheaded and dizzy. The takeaway here is that while you’re taking semaglutide, alcohol should be avoided or consumed rarely in small doses.
Any big changes in your life can be difficult to adjust to, whether you’ve moved house, changed jobs, or taking a long-term medicine like Wegovy where lifestyle changes are a must if you want to see real results.
Thankfully, you’re not alone. There’s plenty of support available, from your prescribing pharmacist to other people following the same treatment plan as you – there’s always someone to turn to for advice or to share tips and tricks on diet plans and exercise routines.
Nobody said it would be easy, but reaching a healthy weight is worth it. Not only will you be happier and healthier, but you’re reducing your risk of developing obesity-related complications like a heart attack or type 2 diabetes.
If you need more information on lifestyle changes for Wegovy, visit Novo Nordisk’s website. Interested in the side effects of Wegovy or keen to learn more about funding options? Keep up-to-date with our range of helpful weight loss guides.
