The holidays rarely cause dramatic weight gain — research suggests the average is only a pound or two. The problem is that most people never lose it, so it quietly accumulates year after year. GLP-1 medications, used under medical supervision alongside protein and strength training, can help you hold the line through the season and maintain your results afterward rather than starting over every January.
At Victory Rejuvenate in Austin, TX, GLP-1 medications are prescribed and monitored by licensed providers as one part of a complete plan — never a product you simply buy. This guide is educational and not medical advice; candidacy is determined after an evaluation and individual results vary.
Key Takeaways
- Holiday weight gain is small but sticky. Studies suggest the average gain is roughly one to two pounds — but most people don’t take it back off, so it adds up over the years.
- GLP-1 medications like semaglutide and tirzepatide reduce appetite and slow gastric emptying, which helps both with losing weight and with not regaining it.
- Maintenance is where supervision matters most. When a GLP-1 is stopped abruptly, appetite returns and much of the weight often comes back — a planned, provider-guided approach protects your results.
- Protect your muscle. Some of the weight lost on a GLP-1 can be lean mass, so protein and strength training are non-negotiable.
- Start before, or reset after. Some patients begin ahead of the season to blunt the gain; others use a January reset. Your provider helps you choose.
Why Holiday Weight Is So Hard to Lose
Between late November and the new year, routines fall apart. Travel and gatherings crowd out workouts, alcohol adds empty calories and disrupts sleep, and stress nudges cravings toward sugar and salt. The gain itself is usually modest, but research has repeatedly found that the weight added over the holidays tends to persist into the following year rather than reversing on its own. Repeat that for a decade and a “couple of pounds” becomes twenty.
How GLP-1 Medications Help You Hold the Line
GLP-1 receptor agonists reduce appetite, slow stomach emptying so you feel full longer, and improve blood sugar control. In major trials, average weight loss ranged from about 15% with semaglutide to roughly 20% with tirzepatide. Just as important for this time of year, that same appetite regulation makes it easier to stay in control around a buffet and to hold a lower weight once you’ve reached it — which is the real goal after the holidays.
Start Before, or Reset in January?
There are two sensible timing strategies, and the right one depends on where you’re starting. Patients already on a GLP-1 often simply continue through the season with a plan to manage the heaviest weeks. Patients who want to get ahead may begin before the holidays so appetite regulation is working when temptation peaks. And plenty of people prefer a clean January reset — an evaluation, baseline labs, and a structured program to take off what the season added and keep going. None of these is “better” in the abstract; it’s a conversation with your provider.
The Catch: Keep Your Muscle
A meaningful share of the weight lost on a GLP-1 can come from lean muscle if protein intake and resistance training aren’t prioritized — and muscle is exactly what keeps your metabolism resilient for the next holiday season. That’s why our plans pair the medication with protein targets and strength work, and why we look at the whole metabolic picture rather than only the number on the scale. For patients focused on recovery and body composition, peptide therapy and longevity and age management can complement the plan.
What a Maintenance Plan Usually Includes
- Baseline lab testing — metabolic markers, hormones, and safety labs
- A GLP-1 medication when you’re a candidate, with gradual dose changes to limit side effects
- Protein targets and a strength-training plan to protect muscle
- Hormone support when symptoms and labs call for it — midlife hormones and weight are closely linked (more on that here)
- Regular follow-ups to adjust the plan and tell the difference between fat loss and muscle loss
Where This Connects: Victory Medical & Peoples Rx
Because Victory Rejuvenate is part of Victory Medical, a 30-year Austin practice, your weight plan sits alongside primary care, hormones, and longevity medicine rather than standing on its own. Prescribed medications are sourced through a highly regulated compounding pharmacy with third-party testing, so quality and dosing stay consistent. For medical-grade supplements and wellness products that support the plan between visits, our community partner Peoples Rx — an independent Austin pharmacy — is an excellent local resource, from practitioner-grade brands to same-day delivery.
A Holiday Reason to Start the Conversation
The season is also a chance to give back. Through the Holiday Food & Toy Drive with Peoples Rx, you can bring a can of food or a new, unwrapped toy and receive a complimentary 15-minute visit with Victory’s own Dr. Donovan Simmons, MD or Jude Chedville, APRN — in person at a Peoples Rx location or by video. It’s a low-pressure way to ask whether a GLP-1 maintenance plan is right for you, and every can and toy goes to Austin families. See the drive details for participating locations and how it works.
Is a GLP-1 Right for You?
GLP-1 medications aren’t right for everyone. A personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, a history of pancreatitis, certain gastrointestinal conditions, and pregnancy are among the factors your provider reviews before prescribing. Side effects — most commonly nausea and other digestive symptoms — are usually managed with slow dose increases. The point of medical supervision is to match the medication, and the plan around it, to you.
Ready to talk it through? Book a consultation at Victory Rejuvenate in Austin, TX, and we’ll review your history and goals and tell you honestly whether a GLP-1 weight maintenance plan is a good fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight do people really gain over the holidays?
Research suggests the average is modest — roughly one to two pounds. The issue is that studies also show most people don’t lose it afterward, so small annual gains accumulate over time. Preventing that slow creep is often more valuable than any single season’s loss.
Will I regain the weight if I stop the GLP-1?
Often, yes — when the medication stops, appetite returns and studies show much of the lost weight tends to come back without a maintenance strategy. That’s exactly why these medications are used within a supervised plan that addresses nutrition, muscle, and long-term follow-up rather than as a short-term fix.
Should I start before the holidays or wait until January?
Both can work. Starting earlier means appetite regulation is in place during the hardest weeks; a January reset is a clean, structured way to take off what the season added. Your provider will help you choose based on your history and goals.
How do I avoid losing muscle?
Prioritize protein, strength train regularly, and work with your provider to adjust your dose and track body composition — not just total weight. Protecting muscle is what keeps results durable.
How do I get started in Austin?
The first step is a consultation at Victory Rejuvenate. We review your history, order appropriate labs, and, if a GLP-1 is a good fit, build a maintenance plan with ongoing provider oversight.
Clinical Note: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Hormone and peptide therapies should always be managed by a qualified healthcare provider following a comprehensive evaluation.