PipNotes
Well-known member
Sharing some progress pics!
Pic 1: July '23 -> Sept '24
Pic 2: May '23 -> May '24
Pic 3: July '23 -> July '24
I started on sema in July '23 around 175 lbs, being 5'2" (maybe 5'3" if I stretch!). Now I'm stable around 130 lbs and trying to reduce my dose. And I wanted to tell my story.
It's really flipped my life for the better and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Although, I definitely had some side effects. Nausea was common, especially at the start, and I felt tired a lot. But I was desperate to drop the weight by any means (not a good mindset, btw! More on that later!).
Sema really quieted down my constant food cravings. Now, I think about food more like a "normal" person. I don't get fixated on specific junk foods and obsess over them until I get them. I don't go to a restaurant and think I deserve a burger, fries, and a milkshake because it's "date night"-- even though I did that constantly making it not a special occasion at all! I don't give up at the slightest inconvenience and think, oh well, I HAVE to get takeout. And if I get takeout, I need a giant size because it's a special occasion (which, again, loses its meaning when it happens all the time!).
I do indulge in these things occasionally now, but truly for special events! And then I go back to my routine the next day, instead of a food spiral. If I know I'm going to a party and will eat a rich meal, I eat lighter, protein-rich foods beforehand. Before, I'd just think, "well, today is a cheat day, so anything goes." I still track calories and weigh my food with a scale, and I plan to keep doing that. Being petite, I don't have much room to play with my calories to stay in a deficit.
My advice: lift weights! I regret not starting sooner. I'm pretty sure I lost both fat and muscle at first, so I started strength training regularly in April to get that toned look. I also work from home 4 days a week and try to walk on my treadmill for 1-2 hours on those days. Otherwise, I'm totally stuck at my desk.
The biggest change is how I think about fitness. Now, I see it as just part of my life... forever. I can't just use it to reach a number on the scale and then stop because I'll be back where I started. It's about being able to move well as I age, keep my heart healthy, and do the things I love! And I'd much rather maintain than have to start all over. Food is the same - it's all so clear now. My new relationship with food and fitness wouldn't have been possible without sema!
Pic 1: July '23 -> Sept '24
Pic 2: May '23 -> May '24
Pic 3: July '23 -> July '24
I started on sema in July '23 around 175 lbs, being 5'2" (maybe 5'3" if I stretch!). Now I'm stable around 130 lbs and trying to reduce my dose. And I wanted to tell my story.
It's really flipped my life for the better and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again. Although, I definitely had some side effects. Nausea was common, especially at the start, and I felt tired a lot. But I was desperate to drop the weight by any means (not a good mindset, btw! More on that later!).
Sema really quieted down my constant food cravings. Now, I think about food more like a "normal" person. I don't get fixated on specific junk foods and obsess over them until I get them. I don't go to a restaurant and think I deserve a burger, fries, and a milkshake because it's "date night"-- even though I did that constantly making it not a special occasion at all! I don't give up at the slightest inconvenience and think, oh well, I HAVE to get takeout. And if I get takeout, I need a giant size because it's a special occasion (which, again, loses its meaning when it happens all the time!).
I do indulge in these things occasionally now, but truly for special events! And then I go back to my routine the next day, instead of a food spiral. If I know I'm going to a party and will eat a rich meal, I eat lighter, protein-rich foods beforehand. Before, I'd just think, "well, today is a cheat day, so anything goes." I still track calories and weigh my food with a scale, and I plan to keep doing that. Being petite, I don't have much room to play with my calories to stay in a deficit.
My advice: lift weights! I regret not starting sooner. I'm pretty sure I lost both fat and muscle at first, so I started strength training regularly in April to get that toned look. I also work from home 4 days a week and try to walk on my treadmill for 1-2 hours on those days. Otherwise, I'm totally stuck at my desk.
The biggest change is how I think about fitness. Now, I see it as just part of my life... forever. I can't just use it to reach a number on the scale and then stop because I'll be back where I started. It's about being able to move well as I age, keep my heart healthy, and do the things I love! And I'd much rather maintain than have to start all over. Food is the same - it's all so clear now. My new relationship with food and fitness wouldn't have been possible without sema!
