When you’re poorly and you’re given medication from the doctor, what is the most important thing they tell you?
To finish your course of medication, or it might not cure whatever is making you ill.
So imagine if you didn’t finish your course of medication, you got poorly again and went back to the doctor, only for them to find out you didn’t do what you should have in order to get better.
Often, we hear from patients saying they haven’t lost weight, or are plateauing, or are even gaining weight back, only to find out it is down to them not taking their weight loss medication properly as recommended by their weight loss doctor.
Some of the reasons we hear they from patients are:
- Taking ½ a tablet a day to halve the cost.
- Stop taking them over the weekend to relax their weight loss diet.
- Stop taking them over religious periods – Ramadan, Easter, Christmas – so they can enjoy themselves and eat more.
The weight loss medication we prescribe is designed to help you get optimum results and the dosage we recommend you take is crucial to supporting your weight loss diet and helping you get to goals.
As Medical Director, Dr Charlotte Norton explains:
“We have a variety of different weight loss medications with different formulations and strengths that your doctor will discuss with you. It is vital that you take the medication prescribed by your doctor every day, at the strength recommended. This helps to ensure adequate active levels of the medication in your bloodstream, aiding your weight loss and getting you to your goal.”
We know that if you have come to The Slimming Clinic and joined an online weight loss programme with us, you are serious about weight loss and are looking to lose weight for good.
As part of that, we want to make sure you have the best chance to get to your weight loss goals and if you change your medication dosages, or stop taking them altogether, this will set you back on your journey.
At The Slimming Clinic, we teach patients to adapt their lifestyles with small, sustainable changes that lead to weight loss.
This includes weight loss diet, movement, and mindset coaching, all supported by weight loss medication which aids hunger control, as you adjust to your new, healthier lifestyle.
So let’s tackle the reasons we hear for why patients stop taking their weight loss medication and show you just why it is so important to take your medication as directed.
Taking ½ a tablet a day to halve the cost
Unfortunately, this is a false economy!
Whilst it might halve the cost in the long term, as you spread a 1-month supply of weight loss medication over 2 months, it will take you twice as long to get to your goal weight, and the same amount of money it would have cost if you had taken your medication as directed!
Additionally, your medication is much less effective when taking half the dosage, therefore you are not going to see the results you so desire with your weight loss.
In time, this could lead to weight loss stopping and stalling, and sometimes even weight gain as you haven’t got the appetite control to keep your weight loss diet on track.
Stop taking them over the weekend to relax their weight loss diet
Whilst a lot of patients choose to take a break in their weight loss medication over the weekend so they can enjoy an alcoholic drink, this is not something we can recommend.
Firstly, you are not controlling your appetite for a prolonged period, which is crucial to allow yourself to learn the healthy lifestyle habits you need.
By breaking your medication cycle that you have been recommended by your weight loss doctor, you are not giving your medication the chance to have full effect and help you on your journey.
Additionally, we know that alcohol is full of ‘empty’ calories, lots of sugar and has absolutely no nutritional value at all on your weight loss diet, therefore consuming too much every weekend will lead to weight gain.
Did you know: There are approximately 230 calories in a glass of white wine!
Stop taking them over religious periods – Ramadan, Easter, Christmas – so they can enjoy themselves and eat more
We get it, Christmas, Easter and other holidays are full of amazing foods and drinks that you want to enjoy to the full, but we also know the feeling we get after a few days of not taking your weight loss medication and eating poorly.
A few days, or even weeks when it comes to Christmas, can lead to weight gain, bloating, belly ache and more and ultimately, doesn’t help you get closer to goal.
We have also heard from those of you who were unsure if you can continue to take your weight loss medication during Ramadan, and the answer is yes! So there is no need to take a break while you’re fasting.
Read Dr Jane Glazebrook’s blog all about taking weight loss medication in Ramadan.
Remember, if you do want a weight loss medication break, please speak to your Slimming Clinic weight loss doctor before doing so.
There are other options with The Slimming Clinic
We do also have supportive supplements that can help you during a weight loss medication break, as Dr Norton tells us:
“We have two supportive supplement products – GZ12 and Chromium. GZ12 contains a fibre-based ingredient, glucomannan, that absorbs water and expands in the gut leading to a feeling of fullness and appetite suppression. It is the only food supplement that has endorsement from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) that it contributes to weight loss in combination with a balanced diet. Chromium is a vital mineral that aids the function of the hormone insulin, contributing to more stable blood sugar levels helping to reduce fluctuations that can cause sugar cravings.”
All our supportive supplements are non-prescription and can be taken alongside, or instead of, our prescription weight loss medication. They are part of our Change, i-Change Elite and Transform programmes.
At The Slimming Clinic, we want to be the last weight loss diet you ever do and make sure you are getting the most support you can from us on the way to your weight loss goals.
Our weight loss medication is just a part of what we offer but is still an important supportive stepping-stone towards you getting to those goals.
If you want to know more about what other support you can get on our weight loss programmes, you can visit our programmes page, or give us a call to talk to a member of our support team.