Moving into maintenance is a big step in your weight loss journey!
It means you’ve built healthy habits, your body’s responding well to your medication, and you’re hitting your goals.
But how do you know if it’s time to stop increasing your dose and switch to maintenance? Here’s how to tell if you’re ready.
Three key takeaways:
Maintenance starts when you stop increasing your dose and stay on one that works for you. This means your weight is steady, you’ve reached your goal, and your healthy habits feel easy to maintain.
Maintenance isn’t about being perfect! It’s about keeping up the good work and staying consistent.
Use our five-point readiness checklist to help you decide if moving to maintenance is your next step.
When does maintenance typically start?
The maintenance phase usually begins once you’ve reached your final therapeutic dose and tolerated it well for several weeks.
Your maintenance dose doesn’t have to be the highest dose available. It should be one that you’ve arrived at after seeing solid weight loss progress already. It should also be a dose which you can comfortably manage any side effects.
At this point, your weight loss should be stable rather than rapid. You may even have reached your goal weight already and want to use a maintenance dose to stay at your new weight.
Why maintenance is a positive step
Maintenance is a positive step for a number of reasons. It’s a sign of progress and a significant milestone to have reached.
It’s a mark of confidence in your ability to stick to a treatment plan and be in control of your progress.
Arriving at the maintenance phase signals your commitment to making the diet and exercise habits you’ve been steadily building as a daily part of your lifelong health journey.
Signs you’re ready to move into maintenance
If you’re considering going onto a maintenance dose, there are five key things you should be looking out for.
5 Signs you’re ready for maintenance : Your checklist!
You’ve been on the same dose without a planned increase in your dose strength.
Your weight or weight loss has remained stable for at least a number of months.
You’re confident in managing your hunger and sticking to your meal plan.
You’ve developed a natural rhythm in your lifestyle habits, like planning and eating. healthy meals, being physically active, and staying well-hydrated, without the feeling you have to force them.
You feel confident in where you’re currently at in your weight loss journey – if the scale didn’t drop down when you next weight yourself, this wouldn’t be a cause for alarm.
At this point, some people may have hit their weight loss goals already. If you’ve reached your target weight, shifting to maintenance can help you preserve your progress and stay at your current weight.
“Arriving at the maintenance phase is a major milestone. But that doesn’t mean it looks the same for everyone, or that you need to rush to get there. Whether you want to stay at your current weight or continue to lose weight, it’s important that you’re confident in your progress so far and your ability to stick to your habits. Your prescriber can help you decide if you’re ready to move into maintenance. We’re always here to help”
If you don’t feel ready to move into maintenance yet, that’s completely okay. Everyone’s weight loss journey looks different, and progress doesn’t always follow a straight line.
You might still be working through your dose increases, or have stayed on a lower dose for longer because it feels more manageable. You might also be taking extra time to get side effects under control before continuing to titrate upwards, and that’s perfectly fine.
You can stay at your current dose for as long as you need, until you feel confident in your:
Weight loss progress
Tolerance to side effects
Ability to maintain healthy habits and follow your treatment plan
When you and your prescriber agree the time is right, you can continue titrating or move onto to a maintenance dose. The key is to do what feels right for you and your body — not to rush the process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to lose all the weight before moving to maintenance?
No, you don’t need to have reached your target weight to enter maintenance. You can continue to lose weight at a stable pace while on a maintenance dose.
What if I still want to lose a few more pounds?
If you still want to lose a few more pounds, you can still achieve this on a maintenance dose. Maintenance signals your confidence and progress in your weight loss journey so far, not that your weight loss journey is over.
Can I increase my dose after starting maintenance?
Yes, you can return to dose increases after maintenance if you’re not at the maximum strength. This may help if your progress has stalled or you’re seeing weight regain despite sticking to your healthy habits and treatment plan. Talk to your prescriber about your current dose and weight loss goals first.
Does my clinician need to approve maintenance formally?
Yes, you will need a consultation with your prescriber to be placed on a maintenance dose, just like with your previous dose changes. This is done to make sure you’re managing side effects well and that your treatment is safe and effective.
Will my appetite feel different in maintenance?
This is different for everyone. You may find your appetite returns slightly if your maintenance dose stays the same. If you’ve titrated up to a new dose strength for maintenance, your appetite may reduce. Talk to your prescriber if you have any concerns about your appetite.
Is maintenance harder than weight loss?
No, maintenance is not supposed to be harder than weight loss. By the time you shift into the maintenance phase, you should feel confident and comfortable in your habits, treatment plan, and how well you tolerate your medication.
What if my weight fluctuates after I switch to maintenance?
Weight fluctuations during maintenance are not uncommon. Weight changes of a few pounds could be due to water weight, glycogen storage, muscle mass gain, or hormones. If you’re worried about weight regain, talk to your prescriber.
Should I still track my weight every week?
This is a personal preference. If you’re prone to fluctuations, or if you want to keep losing weight, you may want to weigh yourself weekly. If you want to stay at your current weight and it remains stable, you may not need to.
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