Weight Loss Medications in New Zealand - My Take, My Experience.
- Sonia McIndoe
- Sep 1
- 10 min read
Updated: Sep 12
What You Need to Know About Weight Loss Medications
Over the past few years, weight loss medications in New Zealand have gone from barely mentioned to a common topic in GP clinics, bariatric groups, and everyday conversations. The three main prescription options currently available here – and I cover these all in depth - Saxenda, Wegovy, and Contrave.
These aren’t magic fixes - but for the right person, at the right time, they can be life-changing.
In my coaching, I see them being used in three main ways:
1. As an alternative to weight loss surgery - especially for those who can’t or don’t want to have surgery.
2. To help meet pre-op weight loss goals
3. To tackle rebound (regain) weight after bariatric surgery - the category I fall into personally.
I used Saxenda to lose my last 12kg of regain, and it worked, but the medication alone didn’t do all the work. My mindset, emotional regulation, and nervous system tools were just as important, especially for sustainable success.
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My Personal Saxenda Journey - What It Really Felt Like
When I started Saxenda, I was in a place I know many of you have been. A shame spiral - slipping & sliding with eating and guilt, the kilos slowly gaining as my self-worth was plummeting. I was so disappointed that I was back here yet again, and I was desperate to quiet the constant food chatter in my head. I’d already had the life-changing results of weight loss surgery. This wasn’t the first time I had significant weight regain, the other times, I managed to lose it by doubling down on my bariatric basics and doing my mind and emotional work. But here I was facing the reality that the kilos had crept in and my old patterns were running the show yet again.
Saxenda was so new to NZ, I didn’t know anyone personally who had used it, but due to my genuine curiosity and desire to try anything that might help, I decided to give it a go. I was so ashamed of my regain and worried about the judgement of using medication that I kept it secret. I also felt a deep sense of failure - that even with everything I knew, I had still stuffed up … yet again.
The truth is weight loss medication is a tool, just like weight loss surgery is a tool. I know my default setting to use food to self soothe and my addiction to sugar aka my Sugar Dragon are with me for life. So just as I’ve gathered every emotional regulation tool, every mindset tool, and every physiological tool I can find in my toolbox to use as required, Medication is a new tool - and I would use it again if I needed to.
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I started my journey with Saxenda
• At 0.6 mg: Nothing. Food noise still high, appetite unchanged.
• At 1.2 mg: Still no noticeable effect, slight headache, but no drop in hunger.
• At 1.8 mg: Game changer. My food noise finally dialled down to honeymoon volume. The quiet was such a relief - my brain wasn’t thinking about food every single minute.
But here’s the truth:
• Portions didn’t shrink automatically. I still had to choose smaller amounts, prioritise protein, and pay attention to my body’s cues for satiation.
With Wegovy, I’m hearing most people are feeling actual physical restriction, similar to that experienced in the honeymoon phase of weight loss surgery.
• Sugar overrode the medication. The moment I had sugar, my addiction switch - my Sugar Dragon was off and roaring. The food noise came back at full volume.
• Side effects are real; constipation, headaches, nausea, fatigue but they were mild for me - most significant looser bowel motions after high sugar or fat, similar to my usual post-bariatric “dumping” response.
One big plus: with Saxenda it is easy to fine-tune your dose. The pen has set markings, but you can manually click between them to find your lowest effective dose.
For me, that was 1.5mg - finding that sweet spot not only worked for my body but also gave me maximum value for money, as my pens lasted longer. Wegovy, which is weekly, doesn’t allow for the same micro-adjustment but is more convenient for those who prefer not to inject daily. You also pay the same price each month for Wegovy regardless of the amount of medication in the pen. (Titration with the beginning doses using a higher volume pen is definitely not recommended but is possible 😉)
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How Weight Loss Medications Work - The Science Made Simple
Saxenda (liraglutide) & Wegovy (semaglutide)
The GLP-1 Effect
Weight loss drugs belong to a class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists. GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1, a hormone your body produces in the gut after eating. They mimic this hormone. Here’s what they do:
• Signals the Brain - GLP-1 tells your brain’s hypothalamus, appetite control centre, that you’ve had enough, which reduces hunger and makes it easier to stop eating.
• Slows stomach emptying - Food moves more slowly from your stomach to your intestines, helping you feel fuller for longer.
• Stabilises blood sugars - Triggers the pancreas to release insulin. This helps manage blood glucose levels after eating.
• Reduce glycogen production in the liver - Less glycogen means less glucose in the blood, which can reduce the energy available for fat storage.
• Impact on cravings - the medication can increase dopamine activity in the brain, particularly in areas involved in reward and motivation - reducing cravings.
Why this matters for weight loss:
• Less hunger makes portion control easier.
• Fewer cravings reduce the mental battle.
• Steadier energy helps you avoid quick-fix, high-calorie options.
• Lower volume of food noise gives space to make healthy choices.
For many people, these effects combine to naturally lower food intake without feeling deprived. But remember - the impact is different for everyone.
Muscle Loss
One thing that’s not talked about enough is muscle loss.
When you lose weight - especially quickly - you risk losing muscle as well as fat. This can be more pronounced when your appetite is significantly lower, as it’s easier to undereat protein.
Muscle is metabolically active tissue - the more you have, the better your metabolism works. Losing too much works against you, it can slow your metabolism and make weight regain easier and weight loss more difficult. That’s why strength training and prioritising protein are absolutely essential when using weight loss medications, especially for bariatric patients - who already have a higher muscle loss risk post-surgery - this is an important consideration. I highly recommended supplementing with protein powders and collagen waters just like we did post surgery.
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Contrave (bupropion + naltrexone) - The Brain Circuit Breaker
Contrave works differently. It’s a combination of:
• Bupropion - An antidepressant that affects dopamine and norepinephrine, linked to reward and motivation.
• Naltrexone - Used in addiction treatment, it blocks opioid receptors, reducing the pleasure/reward you get from certain foods.
Together, they:
• Reduce cravings, especially for highly processed foods.
• Dampen the reward “hit” from eating trigger foods.
• Help break emotional eating cycles.
Practical use tips:
• Usually taken as tablets daily, often starting on a low dose and increasing gradually.
• Can cause nausea, headaches, or insomnia - timing your dose earlier in the day can help.
Because of its effect on addiction this sounded like the perfect answer for me. I lasted a week on it - it made me jittery and I felt constantly anxious and on edge. My GP took me off immediately. (Remember, I’m on high doses of antidepressants and anti-anxiety medication, so sadly this just wasn’t the drug for me.)
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Real-World Effects - From Me and My Clients
In my own journey and through working with clients, I’ve seen:
• Food noise relief - for many, this is the single biggest life change.
• More control - easier to stick to planned meals.
• Trigger overrides - sugar, salty/fatty foods, or alcohol can bypass benefits for some people.
• Different timelines to see results - some notice changes within days on very low levels, others not until higher doses.
And importantly - not everyone responds. The effects need to be monitored, that’s why ongoing tracking and adjusting with your prescriber is key.
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Why Weight Loss Medications are a Game-Changer - But Not a Magic Wand
Medications can:
✅ Reduce appetite and cravings.
✅ Make sticking to a plan easier.
✅ Give mental relief from constant food thoughts.
But they can’t:
❌ Heal emotional eating triggers.
❌ Rewire old habits.
❌ Guarantee results after stopping.
Without mindset, emotional, and nervous system work, the benefits can fade - sometimes even while you’re still taking the medication. I’ve had many folk come to me because the medication stopped working altogether, or they couldn’t afford to stay on it, and once they stopped taking it, the weight came straight back on.
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My top 10 tips to Make the Most of Weight Loss Medications in NZ
Pick a consistent injection time - Your body thrives on routine. Take it at the same time each day (Saxenda) or week (Wegovy) to keep blood levels stable.
Start low, go slow - Work with your prescriber to increase gradually. Jumping up too fast can increase side effects.
Fine-tune your dose - Some pens allow manual “in-between” settings - discuss with your prescriber if this could work for you.
Stay hydrated - GLP-1s can cause mild dehydration for some people.
Track your food noise - See what makes it louder or quieter. Look out for my freebie coming soon or message me and I’ll send it to you.
Know your addiction switch - Sugar, salt, fat, or alcohol that can override benefits. Avoid it!
Protein-first eating - Protects muscle and helps you feel satisfied. It’s essential! All my recipes shared on the website have a protein focus.
Nervous system resets - Self-regulate by breathing, stretching, or stepping outside daily.
Work on emotional triggers - Because stress, boredom, or loneliness can cause behaviour that can bypass any medication
Consider resistance training – To protect muscle mass while losing fat.
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Why Medication Alone Isn’t Enough
It’s true - these weight loss drugs work. I used them to drop 12 kgs of weight regain myself and I was then able to come off the medication completely and go back to maintaining using my Mind Empowerment toolkit. I’ve also had many clients do the same, like Nic, who lost 25kg using Saxenda along with my coaching, and Trina, an overseas client, who lost 10kg using Ozempic (not yet available in NZ), while her husband with no coaching & who hasn’t had WLS lost 15kg. Danielle has recently lost 8 kgs using Saxenda and is now moving over to Wegovy. Once she has reached her ‘Happy Weight’ we will work together to ensure she is maintaining without medication.
I also have clients who have come to me because they wanted to use the medication for a short time to drop excess weight but have found they have became dependent on it.
But here’s the thing: medication is just a tool. It works while you use it and it stops when you stop using it. Without working on the mind, emotions, and nervous system, it’s easy to slip back into old habits when the medication stops or even while you’re still on it.
That’s why in my coaching, we focus on what you need for long term sustainable success, ie
• Rewiring habits
• Identifying emotional triggers
• Managing the “addiction switch” foods
• Strengthening nervous system regulation
• Dealing with your self critic and negative self talk
• Unpacking your limiting beliefs
• Sorting out the swamp that created your relationship with food in the first place
I regularly collaborate with Dr Ala Farah, who provides her own patients with personalised medical advice, and who also shares valuable medical insights in my ‘Stay on Track’ group sessions. It’s important to get your individual medical advice from a qualified professional you trust.
I stay in my lane - I’m not your prescriber - but I am your coach, mentor, and guide on your weight loss and maintenance journey, whatever path you take.
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If you’re using or considering weight loss medication, make it part of a bigger strategy.
The drug can quieten the food noise - but YOU are the one who rewires the patterns, builds the resilience, and creates the life where you no longer need to fight your body every day.
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This article is for educational purposes only and does not replace personalised medical advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare professional for individual guidance before starting or changing any treatment.
Join me for a free webinar!
So, I’ll leave you with a warm invitation to my 8 Fundamentals FREE webinar where I share my daily to-do list and how I actually manage my bariatric journey day by day.
It’s in an ‘hour of power’ where I squeeze a lot of valuable information for you into the 60 minutes on Zoom - totally for free.
Ready for more? Let's do the groundwork together in small group coaching via Zoom, so you can join from anywhere in New Zealand.
About Sonia McIndoe
Hi! I'm Sonia, a NZ Bariatric Life Coach, who has had weight loss surgery and maintained a 70kg weight loss over more than nine years. I walk the walk and have dealt with my own regain by continuing to use and hone my own fundamentals and strategies which I share with you. Like you, I struggled with my weight...
I actually struggled with it my entire life. At 5 years of age my ballet teacher told me “I danced like a baby elephant”. I yo-yo dieted my way to a body I loathed and had given up on. Food was my friend - but it was a love/hate relationship. In many ways it saved me, but it was also slowly killing me.
I wasn’t convinced even Weight Loss Surgery would work for me … why would it when nothing else had!
10 years post Weight Loss Surgery later and still several dress sizes smaller, I am the happiest I have ever been.
You can have the success you dream of too. I am so passionate about sharing how, that I work full time as a Bariatric Coach.
I credit my Weight Loss Surgery with my 70kg weight loss, but keeping it off, I credit to doing the mind work. It’s this mind work that I teach in my Mind Empowerment coaching programmes.
The Mind Empowerment Programme
Sonia McIndoe's coaching programme is called Mind Empowerment and starts with a free one hour webinar, "The 8 Fundamentals for Bariatric Success".
The next stage is group coaching by Zoom to do the "Groundwork", followed by "Mind Empowerment".
One on one individual coaching is also available. Sonia coaches live via Zoom, so you can be anywhere in New Zealand and access help from her as your weight loss coach.
Find out more at www.mindempowerment.co.nz
