When to Increase Your GLP-1 Dose: Reading Your Body’s Signals

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One of the most common questions I see is: “When should I up my dose?”

But here’s what most people miss: The caloric deficit is what’s driving your weight loss, not the dose number.

GLP-1s work by reducing hunger and food noise, making it easier to maintain a deficit. So if you’re already not hungry and have no food noise at your current dose, increasing won’t magically speed up your results - it’ll just increase your risk of side effects.

Signs you might actually need to increase:

✅ Appetite suppression is wearing off noticeably

✅ Food noise is coming back strong

✅ You’re getting genuinely hungry between meals again

✅ You’re struggling to maintain your deficit

✅ You’ve given it 4+ weeks and the effects have clearly diminished

Before you increase, optimize EVERYTHING else first:

🎯 Are you actually tracking your intake? (Most people eat more than they think)

🎯 Are you hitting your protein target? (Keeps you fuller longer)

🎯 Are you getting enough sleep? (Affects hunger hormones massively)

🎯 Are you managing stress? (Cortisol drives cravings)

🎯 Are you lifting weights? (Preserves muscle, boosts metabolism)

🎯 Are you staying hydrated? (Often mistaken for hunger)

The truth bomb: If you’re not hungry and have no food noise but aren’t losing weight, the issue isn’t your dose - it’s that you’re eating at maintenance. More medication won’t fix that. Tightening up your nutrition will.

When you should definitely WAIT:

🛑 Still experiencing side effects from current dose

🛑 Having any GI issues

🛑 Haven’t given your current dose a full 4 weeks

🛑 Haven’t dialed in your nutrition and lifestyle factors yet

Remember: These medications are tools to make the deficit easier, not magic. The dose that controls your hunger IS the right dose for you right now.

What’s been your experience? 👇

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