Hey everyone, buckle up because this is going to be a bit lengthy. I really wanted to share my complete experience because I know there are people who might think this medication isn't for them. Trust me, it is! It’s a process, but it’s worth it. It really helps and things DO improve.
I've struggled with being overweight my entire life, but things spiraled after 2014 because of some severe anxiety and depression. I also have PCOs and a minor adrenal gland issue, which constantly elevates my insulin and cortisol.
Here's a rundown of my 365 days on Ozempic:
- Starting weight: 229lbs
- Current weight: 176lbs
- Goal weight: 154lbs
- Height: 5’0”
- Food: I was a sugar addict, always my go-to in tough times. I constantly had "food noise" in my head, even before I knew what that was. After starting Ozempic, my mind quieted down. At first, it was strange not obsessing over my next meal, but now I'm so thankful. The food noise and sugar cravings returned a couple of months ago, but now I can manage them better. From day one, I overhauled my eating habits with a dietitian's help because I was terrified of side effects. I didn't cut anything out completely; I just learned to make better choices. And I drastically increased my water intake to about a gallon a day.
- Exercise: I was really active as a kid, but that faded over the years, especially during my depression. I started some light cardio about 3 months before Ozempic (3x/week), but since my first injection, I’ve been hitting the gym consistently 6x/week, with weightlifting (4x/week) and cardio (2x/week). I don't have a trainer, so I created my own plan using MuscleWiki (https://musclewiki.com). I focused on: 1) What areas do I want to improve? and 2) What can I realistically do right now? And that’s how I created full body workouts.
- Side effects: I had some, but nothing too bad. At 0.25mg (4 weeks), I didn't feel much except the food noise and constant hunger disappearing. At 0.5mg (8 weeks), I had some sulphur burps and a bit of an “Ozempic slump.” I struggled to enjoy anything, even took some time off work, but it wasn't anything I wasn't prepared for. At 1.0mg (16 weeks), the “Ozempic slump” lifted, and I felt more alive than ever. Then my doctor switched me to Wegovy, and I started 1.7mg (8 weeks), which gave me a great boost. Finally, 2.4mg (16 weeks and counting) has been pretty stable. I only completely lose my appetite the day after my shot, but overall, life is good. I never had severe constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting. The feeling of hunger is different now, though, hard to explain lol.
- Weight loss: I've lost about 53lbs total, which is slow compared to others, but I’m happy. At 0.25mg, I lost around 7lbs, then 11lbs on 0.5mg, 13lbs on 1.0mg, 11lbs on 1.7mg, and another 11lbs so far on 2.4mg. I often wondered if the medication was working because I saw such dramatic stories here, but it does work differently for everyone. Even as a slow burner, I'm still losing weight! I'll stay on 2.4mg until I drop another 10lbs, then my doctor wants to gradually decrease until I reach my goal.
- Health: I started with high blood pressure and borderline glucose levels. Within six months, everything improved. I also discovered I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but I'm monitoring it with a liver specialist, and things are stable. My period also became regular, and my hormones are finally in a normal range. I can't express how life-changing this is.
Beyond the physical, I have so much more confidence. Not just from the weight loss, but because I feel like I've overcome a huge hurdle. I suffered for years believing I couldn't change because of my PCOs. Every doctor before my current one just said the same old “eat less, exercise more” nonsense, which made me feel broken. But we aren’t broken! We need medication and help, and that’s okay.
It’s been a year since I decided to make a change, and I’m incredibly happy and proud. Slow and steady wins the race!
I've struggled with being overweight my entire life, but things spiraled after 2014 because of some severe anxiety and depression. I also have PCOs and a minor adrenal gland issue, which constantly elevates my insulin and cortisol.
Here's a rundown of my 365 days on Ozempic:
- Starting weight: 229lbs
- Current weight: 176lbs
- Goal weight: 154lbs
- Height: 5’0”
- Food: I was a sugar addict, always my go-to in tough times. I constantly had "food noise" in my head, even before I knew what that was. After starting Ozempic, my mind quieted down. At first, it was strange not obsessing over my next meal, but now I'm so thankful. The food noise and sugar cravings returned a couple of months ago, but now I can manage them better. From day one, I overhauled my eating habits with a dietitian's help because I was terrified of side effects. I didn't cut anything out completely; I just learned to make better choices. And I drastically increased my water intake to about a gallon a day.
- Exercise: I was really active as a kid, but that faded over the years, especially during my depression. I started some light cardio about 3 months before Ozempic (3x/week), but since my first injection, I’ve been hitting the gym consistently 6x/week, with weightlifting (4x/week) and cardio (2x/week). I don't have a trainer, so I created my own plan using MuscleWiki (https://musclewiki.com). I focused on: 1) What areas do I want to improve? and 2) What can I realistically do right now? And that’s how I created full body workouts.
- Side effects: I had some, but nothing too bad. At 0.25mg (4 weeks), I didn't feel much except the food noise and constant hunger disappearing. At 0.5mg (8 weeks), I had some sulphur burps and a bit of an “Ozempic slump.” I struggled to enjoy anything, even took some time off work, but it wasn't anything I wasn't prepared for. At 1.0mg (16 weeks), the “Ozempic slump” lifted, and I felt more alive than ever. Then my doctor switched me to Wegovy, and I started 1.7mg (8 weeks), which gave me a great boost. Finally, 2.4mg (16 weeks and counting) has been pretty stable. I only completely lose my appetite the day after my shot, but overall, life is good. I never had severe constipation, diarrhea, or vomiting. The feeling of hunger is different now, though, hard to explain lol.
- Weight loss: I've lost about 53lbs total, which is slow compared to others, but I’m happy. At 0.25mg, I lost around 7lbs, then 11lbs on 0.5mg, 13lbs on 1.0mg, 11lbs on 1.7mg, and another 11lbs so far on 2.4mg. I often wondered if the medication was working because I saw such dramatic stories here, but it does work differently for everyone. Even as a slow burner, I'm still losing weight! I'll stay on 2.4mg until I drop another 10lbs, then my doctor wants to gradually decrease until I reach my goal.
- Health: I started with high blood pressure and borderline glucose levels. Within six months, everything improved. I also discovered I had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, but I'm monitoring it with a liver specialist, and things are stable. My period also became regular, and my hormones are finally in a normal range. I can't express how life-changing this is.
Beyond the physical, I have so much more confidence. Not just from the weight loss, but because I feel like I've overcome a huge hurdle. I suffered for years believing I couldn't change because of my PCOs. Every doctor before my current one just said the same old “eat less, exercise more” nonsense, which made me feel broken. But we aren’t broken! We need medication and help, and that’s okay.
It’s been a year since I decided to make a change, and I’m incredibly happy and proud. Slow and steady wins the race!
.