Maybe you reached a weight you feel comfortable with a while ago. Or perhaps you weren’t trying to lose any more, but your clothes keep fitting differently. What was once a goal can start to feel like a question.
Continued weight loss deserves a conversation when it isn’t what you intended. You don’t have to wait until the change feels dramatic or decide for yourself what caused it.
Your goals can change
It’s reasonable to tell your clinician, “I’d like my weight to stay roughly where it is.” Your plan can reflect that goal. Maintenance isn’t simply the last page of a weight-loss program; it can involve different questions about meals, activity, medicines and follow-up.
If you use a GLP-1, tell your prescriber that your goal has changed and describe what you’ve noticed. Don’t change the dose or stop a prescribed medicine on your own. Ask for advice tailored to your situation, including any other conditions the medicine may be treating.
There may be more than one reason
A smaller appetite or a change in routine might be part of the picture for some people. But unintended weight loss can have many causes, including stress, other medicines and health conditions. Sometimes a combination of factors is involved. It’s important not to assume the explanation without checking.
Let your care team know if you have other new symptoms, even if they seem unrelated. Continued loss along with other symptoms should be discussed promptly. If you feel seriously unwell, seek urgent or emergency care as appropriate.
Bring a few useful details
You don’t need a detailed spreadsheet. If you have the information, jot down roughly when the change started and how your weight has changed over time. A few measurements taken under similar conditions can be more useful than a single number. If weighing yourself is stressful, tell your clinician; there may be another way to monitor your health.
Also note any changes in appetite, usual meals, activity, sleep or stress. Are you getting full so quickly that you often miss a meal? Have nausea or other symptoms made eating difficult? Are your clothes fitting differently even though your routine feels the same? These observations help describe the problem.
Bring a current list of medicines and supplements, including any recent changes. Your clinician may ask more questions or suggest an exam or tests based on your circumstances.
Make meals easier to manage
While you arrange care, try to keep food available at times that work for you. That could mean a familiar breakfast, an easy lunch and a snack within reach on busy days. If a large plate feels unappealing, smaller meals or snacks may be easier to manage. The aim is comfortable nourishment, not forcing yourself through an unpleasant meal.
Think about what you enjoy as well as what is convenient. A yogurt with fruit, toast with eggs or a bowl of soup and a sandwich might be starting points, depending on your needs and preferences. A dietitian can help if you’re unsure how to eat enough, have dietary restrictions or are finding food difficult.
If you cannot keep fluids down, feel faint or have severe or worsening symptoms, seek timely medical advice. You don’t need to wait for a routine follow-up to mention a problem.
Ask for a maintenance plan
At your visit, you might ask:
- Is the amount or pattern of weight change concerning for me?
- Could another health issue or medicine be involved?
- What should I eat or monitor while we work this out?
- When should we follow up, and what should prompt an earlier call?
Write down the answers in a way you’ll remember. It’s also fine to ask a family member or friend to join you if you’d like another set of ears.
Our guide to planning after reaching a goal has more ideas for the next stage. A useful plan can change with you, and it should leave you feeling supported as well as informed.