Ozempic Diary: A Year On, A Year Off

BioCrew

BioCrew

Active member
Hey everyone! So, I'm a 42-year-old woman, 5'3", and started at around 195 lbs. Tried every diet under the sun. I was on Ozempic for about 12 months, went up on the dose gradually. Minimal side effects, thankfully. I dropped around 30 lbs. Basically, I went from constantly thinking about food to barely thinking about it at all. And portion control became automatic. Didn't have to kill myself at the gym or obsess over macros, which was nice.

I mostly dealt with constipation, not so much nausea or anything. Only felt bloated if I went overboard. The biggest thing was the energy drain. I used to be super active, but I turned into a total couch potato. No depression, just… tired. Because I increased the dose slowly, I didn't realize how much Ozempic was affecting my energy levels.

I stopped about 3 months ago because of an insurance change—right when I was maybe 10 lbs from my goal. Took about 3 weeks for the medication to completely leave my system, then my appetite came back with a vengeance. I gained back almost 10 lbs pretty quickly.

Now, I'm hitting the gym, working with a trainer, and actually following a real nutrition plan. It's harder, but I feel a million times better. My energy is back, and I'm loving it! Long walks, intense workouts, and still have energy left for the rest of the day.

So, was Ozempic worth it? Absolutely. It gave me the initial push I needed. But I'm also happy to be off it. I can actually enjoy food again, and I have the energy to be active. Maybe if I'd been more disciplined while on it, I would've met my goal and learned better habits sooner. But here I am, learning them now.

Just wanted to share my experience in case anyone is considering Ozempic or wondering what it's like to come off of it. Hope it helps!
 
That's a really insightful overview. I've incorporated strength training into my routine, and it's been fantastic. It can even be done at home with online videos. People tend to view Ozempic as a magic bullet, but its really a component of a larger fitness strategy. People should integrate resistance training and lifestyle changes.
 
I resonate with the fatigue you described while on Ozempic and Mounjaro. It's difficult to know if it's the medication itself or the caloric deficit. I still made an effort to walk, but more intense workouts were out of the question. Agree that it would have been fantastic to do more. Currently, I'm maintaining on a very low dose of Ozempic (0.25mg every 10 days) and my energy levels have improved significantly.
 
I started ozempic in February and I've been so tired. I used to hike all the time and now I can barely get off the couch. I can handle the other side effects but I don't know if this is going to work for me.
 
BioCrew said:
Since I titrated up so slowly, I don’t think I realized how tired Ozempic made me.
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I feel exactly the same way! I'm starting a new job soon, which is good because it's later in the day. But I've still noticed heightened fatigue recently. I do my injection on Mondays and it's lessened by today.
 
I've been on it for a month now. Something I don't see talked about enough is the relationship between nutrition and fatigue. Not eating enough, or not eating the right things, can really amplify the tiredness. Food is fuel! I'm in my second week of the therapeutic dose and the decreased appetite makes eating feel like a chore. I've actually noticed worse symptoms when I DON'T eat enough vs. when I indulge. If I don't eat enough, I feel awful and have zero energy. So I force myself to eat, even if it takes forever, and it's helped a lot. And protein is super important!
 
To those experiencing fatigue: I've been exhausted, too, but I find exercise actually helps. I work out regularly and didn't change my routine after starting. I always feel better afterward. Also, B12 shots have helped me a bit.
 
Thanks for sharing your experience. The fact that you immediately gained back 8 lbs highlights the importance of using Ozempic as a tool to revamp your lifestyle with a healthy diet and consistent exercise.
 
Thanks for this post! I've been on and off Ozempic for a year. It definitely makes me less active. I'm grateful I lost some weight, but it's hard to go to the gym, and when I do, I need a nap immediately afterward. Whenever I stop, my appetite comes back. Did you lose the weight you gained back?
 
I was on it for a few months and I'm off it now because of the shortages. I was shocked at how much easier it is to exercise now. It's weird, it wasn't fatigue, it was just low energy. I'm planning on going back on it as soon as I am able to get my prescription filled again. Taking a break and reestablishing my exercise routine has been perfect.
 
This post is super helpful, thanks. I'm on it for 6 months and suffering from fatigue. I used to exercise all the time but now I don't have the energy. I'm also feeling lower in general. I like that it's quieted the food noise, but I don't like the other side effects.
 
Yup! I feel you [mention=NurseRatched77]. It is such a wild ride. I think it is an amazing tool to help reboot but it's not a magic fix. I am glad i got off of it to be honest.
 
I agree that Ozempic is a tool, not a cure. I've heard from others in maintenance that they've had success with lower doses. It might be an option for those concerned about weight regain after stopping completely.

Has anyone tried that? I'm curious about experiences with low-dose maintenance.
 
I'm currently using a low dose for maintenance, as I mentioned earlier. About 0.25mg every 10 days. It helps keep the food noise at bay without completely crushing my appetite or energy levels. It's a balancing act!
 
A1C_Warrior said:
I agree that Ozempic is a tool, not a cure. I've heard from others in maintenance that they've had success with lower doses. It might be an option for those concerned about weight regain after stopping completely.
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That's encouraging! I'm definitely concerned about regaining once I stop. So that is good to know.
 
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