how to avoid the accordion effect and lose weight for good

Summary
Slimming pens help to lose weight, but without changing eating and sports habits, the weight returns; proteins, strength training and nutritional re-education are essential for lasting results.

It turned into a fever. In circles of friends, at the office, at the gym. Slimming pens arrived with the promise of almost magical weight loss. And let’s be honest, they deliver on their promises. Hunger disappears, pounds drop and old jeans fit again. It is so effective that even the WHO (World Health Organization) has already published guidelines on the subject.

But here’s the reality that no one tells you: medication is a temporary tool. If you don’t take advantage of this time to reprogram your body and mind, regaining weight is not a possibility, it’s a certainty. The warning from functional nutritionist and technical director of Growth Supplements, Diogo Cirico, is simple: without a change in eating behavior, you are only praising a slimmer body.

Obesity is a chronic disease. The medicine alleviates the symptom (ravenous appetite), but does not cure the cause. The real game is played on the plate and the goal is not just to lose weight, it is to lose fat and protect your health.

“Think about it: what happens when you simply stop eating? The drug acts directly on your brain, turning off the hunger button and sometimes even causing nausea. The result? A precipitous drop in calories. Sounds great, right? Wrong. When the calorie deficit is extreme, the body goes into emergency mode. It doesn’t just burn stored fat, it begins to devour its own muscle mass for energy. A slower metabolism than before,” he explains.

Create a routine

Don’t wait for hunger (which won’t come) to eat. Plan at least three meals a day, even if they are small. Forget the idea of ​​“skipping dinner,” your body needs nutrients. “Build your plate intelligently. Eat fruits, vegetables and proteins,” advises Cirico.

But if you’re nauseous and can only focus on one part of your diet when using the pen, focus on protein. “A diet low in calories and protein is the formula for muscle disaster. It provides the amino acids, the “bricks” that build and repair your muscles, preventing your body from using them for fuel,” explains the nutritionist.

The recommendation is to include a source of lean protein with each meal. Chicken breast, fish, eggs, lean meats (can, pork tenderloin) are your best allies. When it’s difficult to eat meat, supplements like whey protein can be a big help in achieving your goal. “There are also protein-rich vegetables, such as beans, lentils, chickpeas and seeds,” he adds.

Use the “magic” of medicine to create this habit

The truth is that the drug gives you a unique benefit: it silences the desire for mischief and emotional hunger. “This could be a perfect opportunity to retrain your taste buds. Using this phase simply to eat less is like winning the lottery and spending it all in one day. When the medication wears off, the old behavior comes roaring back, and the accordion effect is almost certain.”

The nutritionist recommends taking advantage of the absence of cravings for sweets and fried foods to introduce new flavors. Discover the pleasure of a crunchy salad, a juicy fruit or a colorful dish. “The medicine is not the diet, it is the tool that helps you build the diet you will love to follow forever,” he emphasizes.

To keep your muscles where they are, protein needs a partner: strength training. Strength training signals to the body that muscles are important and therefore cannot be burned for energy. “Here’s another strategy. To train well, you need energy. Choose quality carbohydrates, especially before training. Sweet potatoes, cassava, brown rice, oats are the fuel that will give you the strength to lift weights.”

Ultimately, pens can open the door, but you’re the one who has to walk through it. Long-term success is not in the syringe, but in your plate and in new habits. “Use science to your advantage to build a stronger, healthier version of yourself, one that lasts long after the last hit. Ultimately, it’s about changing habits,” concludes Cirico.