Ozempic or Contrave anyone?

joowelz
joowelz Posts: 172 Member
edited March 2023 in Health and Weight Loss
I exercise 5 days a week and 80% of my diet is natural, healthy food in measured amounts. It's that last 20% after dinner that keeps me from reaching my goal weight/body size. I never feel satiated. I am considering trying one of these weight loss drugs to reach my goal and then I would taper off and maintain on my own (I'm already doing the right things). Does anyone here have experience with Ozempic or Contrave?

Replies

  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,847 Member
    How is your progress lately?

    If you make your diary public, someone may be able to suggest changes for foods that are more satiating. More protein, for a start.

    I wonder if you're being optimistic about the post-drug times. If you can't maintain a small deficit today, I question if you could maintain the calories needed post-drug to not put on weight again.

    I also wonder if these drugs will lead to life-long dependencies in people.
  • tomcustombuilder
    tomcustombuilder Posts: 2,221 Member
    Those things don’t work and are unhealthy. You just need to use willpower to overcome the nighttime snacking. Review your food choices of meals to make sure they’re satiating enough to curtail the snacks as it sounds like they may not be.

    If you MUST snack pick things that are low cal. Mine is popcorn or a Greek yogurt.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    Retroguy2000 wrote: »
    How is your progress lately?

    If you make your diary public, someone may be able to suggest changes for foods that are more satiating. More protein, for a start.

    I have and people have commented before. It's easier to say eat more protein than to actually do it. I am not a meat lover like some people. I like carbs. The idea of a giant piece of chicken is sickening to me, but I can easily eat two bowls of rice or 3 pieces of bread.

    Wegovy is the brand under which Ozempic is marketed as a weight loss tool. We have no shortages in Canada and diabetics have plenty of other options to choose from, such as Metformin. My dad was a diabetic.

  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,847 Member
    joowelz wrote: »
    It's easier to say eat more protein than to actually do it. I am not a meat lover like some people. I like carbs. The idea of a giant piece of chicken is sickening to me, but I can easily eat two bowls of rice or 3 pieces of bread.
    Apparently, it's also easier to take a drug than eat more protein. It's not just meat. You have tuna, egg white, greek yogurt, whey or vegan protein powder, beans, etc. etc.
  • reginakarlcatz
    reginakarlcatz Posts: 4 Member
    One of the reasons people lose weight on these drugs is due to the side effects of feeling nauseous constantly.

    I've added protein powder and soy milk to my plan to obtain enough protein for the day to not feel significant, painful cravings. I still feel a bit hungry, but not overwhelming.
  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    Hey— I don’t use them but honestly if it helps others meet their goals and sustain weight loss… I’m not against it. Tons of people control high blood pressure or even type 2 diabetes by utilizing medications as tools and there is not a huge stigma around it—even though for most people these can also be controlled with diet and exercise.

    I’m glad that more research is being done to help obese people to stick to a calorie deficit. I personally am a watch and see person… so I’d like to see if this is the new keto/fad diet or if people really achieve their goals long term. There are some threads on Reddit for these meds where you might be able to talk to more people who use this.
  • peggy_polenta
    peggy_polenta Posts: 325 Member
    the only comment is, these drugs won't keep you from eating those snacks, it will only help how your body responds to them. so once you stop taking them after you reach your goal, if you haven't learned how to curb or manage your snacking, the effects of the drug will be short lived. (ie, if you keep on with your late nite snacking) just something i wanted to point out.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    Sinisterbarbie1 wrote: »
    @joowelz you are right that folks are often very negatively disposed to using medicines to help reach goals here. I personally am not opposed if one works with their doctor and uses the medication as it is intended. I think it is great that these medicines are available for people who need them and use them as intended.

    That said, from your question it doesn’t seem like your current needs fall within the intended use of the medication. You seem to have your diet and exercise goals well in hand and are struggling with the last few pounds. Consequently, you are unlikely to be identified as a good candidate for prescription medication by a reputable physician, nor would insurance be likely to pay for it. I may be misunderstanding what you are describing as your eating and exercise and current situation though.

    There are a variety of prescription weight loss medicines available in the marketplace. My info is based on the U.S. market but I gather Canada is similarly situated if not better positioned cost and availability wise.
    Some drugs are oral and older like phentermine and topiramate. They work short term for some people, but don’t have really impressive results. Others are newer oral medications like Contrave that are supposed to help with cravings by combining medicines formerly used to help drug and alcohol abusers curb cravings with a smoking cessation drug that is also used for depression. Also has mixed results. The most talked about medications recently are injectible GLP-1 agonists like Ozempic (for diabetes, also being prescribed for weight loss off label) and Wegovy (a higher dosage of the same medication available and approved by the FDA in the US for weight loss). All of these medicines are only available for people who are obese (with a BMI over 30) or at the top end of overweight (BMI at least 27) plus experiencing other problems like heart disease or diabetes. I may have misunderstood, but it sounded like you might not meet these requirements.

    You also say you plan to taper off and then maintain on your own, however reports about the injectable medicines seem to indicate that they must be taken forever if one wants to retain the benefits of the weight loss. Otherwise the cravings/hunger return and the weight is quickly regained. This is nevertheless a benefit for people who fall into the categories intended to be prescribed the medicine, because the risks of extreme obesity or overweight plus additional health complications outweigh the risk of taking the medicine long term. However, it is not clear that it is either financially or otherwise recommended to take these medicines forever if you have only used them to lose a small amount of weight.

    Here is a link to the NIH’s fact sheet about prescription medicines for weight loss and the issues you might want to think about when considering whether to use them. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/weight-management/prescription-medications-treat-overweight-obesity

    I hope this response is helpful to you in thinking things through. I always feel badly when I see people ganging up on folks who ask questions in the forums. Despite that initial response it looks like you have commented before so you must know that there are no end of resources here and discussions daily about how to stay motivated and patient to be able to lose those last few pounds and then maintain if that is your situation. If it is not, and you are in a situation where you qualify for the prescriptions and think they would help you/can afford to pay for them long term through insurance or otherwise, then definitely look into them with the advice of your doctor.
    I wish you great success!! You seem to be doing really well at least 80% of the time, which is a great thing to remember and find ways to build on.


    Thank you for your kind response! I will review the NHS material.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    reginakarlcatz wrote: »
    One of the reasons people lose weight on these drugs is due to the side effects of feeling nauseous constantly.

    I've added protein powder and soy milk to my plan to obtain enough protein for the day to not feel significant, painful cravings. I still feel a bit hungry, but not overwhelming.

    Thanks for the tip. The thing about protein powder is it doesnt fill me up like a food with volume you can actually chew. Re: soy milk - thats interesting. Do you find it more filling than almond or cow’s milk? I drink almond milk because its so much lower in calories. I dont have a lot of calories to work with.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    By the way, i just logged a sample day of meals and my diary is public. For those accusing me of eating an unhealthy diet of junk food, please review and tell me which part is junk.

    My problem is i am constantly hungry and my meals do not satiate my appetite. I always feel like i could eat a little bit more after each meal.

    Nighttime is particularly menacing. I literally feel agitated and lightheaded until i have a snack like cheerios or peanut butter.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    Actually @Retroguy2000 @tomcustombuilder said

    "using drugs to compensate for a poor diet is not healthy or advised."

    Also, I specifically said in my most recent post that I logged a SAMPLE day today for people's review. I haven't been logging my meals in months. If you want to critique, just look at the SAMPLE day from today.

    The 1 tbls of olive oil is in my homemade dressing on my 2 cups of spinach.

    Thanks
    Nancy
  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,847 Member
    edited February 2023
    Fair point, however to be pedantic you said "those", which is plural.

    I didn't put much weight on a sample day yet to be finished, because it's a plan for now. I did notice that the only two finished days in the last month both showed you going well over budget, and it's possible when you aren't logging that you're going over by more, so there may be a trend there.

    In case anyone may have thought this, I didn't post my plan today to shame or anything like that. I go over often, hell last week I had a cookie binge and went over one day by 1,750 :smile: I was just showing that it's possible to eat much more protein at a similar calorie level, which is more satiating, which was the issue you talked about. And perhaps that is something you can aim for.

    Re the oil, perhaps easier said than done for me because I wouldn't be tempted by it in the first place, but having 14 calories of spinach with 120 calories of oil seems counter productive. I'd look for a lower calorie dressing alternative or more likely have it plain.

    For example, I constantly see people loading up a baked potato with tons of butter and other toppings. I used to have some buttery spread (yogurt based brand) with mine out of habit, then I tried it plain, and I love it as is. No need for anything on top adding unnecessary calories.
  • Rockmama1111
    Rockmama1111 Posts: 262 Member
    @joowelz I looked at your diary out of nosiness, and if this is a sample day, it's really not bad. Your dinner salad sounds pretty good, and I'd use a tablespoon of olive oil too. I think your entry for the brown rice is off unless you're having 3 full servings. I know the entry says "cooked" but the total is more in line for 130 grams of dry rice. I would think it would be closer to 160-170 calories for one serving of cooked brown rice.

    I'm a night snacker too. Air popped popcorn sprayed with the very fake I Can't Believe It's Not Butter spray (eaten one kernel at a time) saved me in the early days when I couldn't get over the habit. Hitting fiber and protein goals has REALLY helped.
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,242 Member
    Your rice calories are wrong unless that's a super oily/buttery recipe with more butter than rice.

    Double check entries using food data central as an example.

    Seeking acceptable substitutions and "value" is what comes out of logging.

    I would also use a scale for high caloric cost ingredients. Or at least confirm on a scale that what I think is a tablespoon is a tablespoon.
  • Just_Mel_
    Just_Mel_ Posts: 3,992 Member
    edited February 2023
    I am diabetic and was on Ozempic for awhile. The reason some people may lose weight is because it makes you feel like crap and you don't want to eat. It felt like there was a huge rock in my stomach and I actually missed days of work because of the pain/discomfort. I am no longer on that medicine. However, there is actually a shortage of this medicine for diabetics who actually need it, because many are using it for weight loss. I have friends who are afraid they can't get the refills of their prescription. So it's not just news media hyping the issue.
  • joowelz
    joowelz Posts: 172 Member
    edited February 2023
    Someone here said my rice calories are off. I did a google search and found this. Does this look accurate to people? If my rice calories have been over the actual amount all this time, this would be life changing for me. (I updated my diary today to reflect the lower calorie amount and am now on budget.)

    p85i00y5i0dt.jpg

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    edited February 2023
    I'm attempting to get a prescription for Contrave but as I get my healthcare through the VA I have hoops to jump through. I posted about this in another Contrave thread:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/47261726#Comment_47261726
    kshama2001 wrote: »
    I'm considering Contrave. I took bupropion 100 mg on and off for 20 years. Contrave contains 90 mg of bupropion, plus anti-addiction med naltrexone.

    (When I was off bupropion it was in the spring/summer when I felt I didn't really need it.)

    However, summer 2021, I did need it and it wasn't working, so since then we've been trying all the other antidepressants. The second to last one was Remeron, which worked fine for depression and anxiety and fabulous for insomnia. I'd been getting the best sleep in almost 20 years. And then I learned Remeron is also give to anorectics to increase their appetite, which explained the ravenous hunger I'd been feeling that persisted despite me throwing every tool in my box against it. >.< I'd associated the hunger with my surgery in November, as did my surgeon and my PCP. I'd been beating myself up about my post-surgery weight gain.

    I asked my psychiatrist about an appetite suppressant, and since I'm with the VA she referred me to the MOVE program. In the VA healthcare system, only MOVE doctors prescribe weight loss meds. I've done TeleMOVE before and didn't expect to learn anything from the MOVE program, but thought the regular weigh ins would help provide accountability and the group support would be nice. At the beginning, the facilitator asked each of us why we were here and I, somewhat but not 100% flippantly responded, "I'm just here for the drugs." the man next to me, who has been through the program before but continues for the other two reasons I'm there, said to me, "They won't actually give you drugs." :lol:

    I've since received a call from the MOVE pharmacist, and am more optimistic about eventually getting a prescription, but she did make me aware that there is a long wait list for the MOVE doctor, the only type of doctor in the VA that can prescribe weight loss drugs.
  • Retroguy2000
    Retroguy2000 Posts: 1,847 Member
    edited February 2023
    I think you updated your rice estimate now? Yeah it looks much more reasonable. When I saw that earlier, I figured that's about double the calories from rice that I have in a meal, which sounded like a lot to me. I assumed maybe you just really like rice, or that's what comes with the meal and you weren't wasting it.
  • Rockmama1111
    Rockmama1111 Posts: 262 Member
    edited February 2023
    joowelz wrote: »
    Someone here said my rice calories are off. I did a google search and found this. Does this look accurate to people? If my rice calories have been over the actual amount all this time, this would be life changing for me. (I updated my diary today to reflect the lower calorie amount and am now on budget.)

    p85i00y5i0dt.jpg

    Yes, that’s a better choice for comparison. BUT… I would look in the database for the exact brand you have, measure it out dry to the gram on a food scale, then cook it with water as directed.

    If you don’t have a food scale, use measuring cups and follow the recommended serving on the package. But note how your new example is a 150 gram serving and your original entry said 130 grams cooked but was incorrect? That can be a lot of calories! And no wonder it’s confusing. You aren’t alone.

    It’s good to get the hang of spotting inconsistencies so you can make more accurate entries and then start to really hone in on where you get the most out of your calories.

  • JustaNoob
    JustaNoob Posts: 147 Member
    joowelz wrote: »
    By the way, i just logged a sample day of meals and my diary is public. For those accusing me of eating an unhealthy diet of junk food, please review and tell me which part is junk.

    My problem is i am constantly hungry and my meals do not satiate my appetite. I always feel like i could eat a little bit more after each meal.

    Nighttime is particularly menacing. I literally feel agitated and lightheaded until i have a snack like cheerios or peanut butter.

    I know how frustrating it is to feel like you are eating healthy and less portions and not get anywhere. I've done that so many times! But the calorie amount that you consume is important and so easy to underestimate.

    This year my two best friends and I decided to lose weight. We all took different approaches and just support each other's goals and provide accountability. I am the only one who has lost any weight and of the 3 of us, I have eaten the worst. My friends have cut out breads, sugar, all processed stuff, but they are still not in a calorie deficit. I took the approach that I would get better at logging and being in a calorie deficit. I hope to add more veggies and less processed things but I wanted to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was in a calorie deficit.

    One of my friends started logging her healthy foods and realized that she had been eating way more than she though she was each day.

  • kshama2001
    kshama2001 Posts: 28,052 Member
    joowelz wrote: »
    Someone here said my rice calories are off. I did a google search and found this. Does this look accurate to people? If my rice calories have been over the actual amount all this time, this would be life changing for me. (I updated my diary today to reflect the lower calorie amount and am now on budget.)

    p85i00y5i0dt.jpg

    I didn't see your previous rice entry, but what you had before might have been the calories for raw rice rather than cooked.

    Any entry that is cookable that was pulled from the USDA database will specify something like "raw" or "cooked."

    Unfortunately, the green check marks in the MFP database are used for both USER-created entries and ADMIN-created entries that MFP pulled from the USDA database. A green check mark for USER-created entries just means enough people have upvoted the entry - it is not necessarily correct.

    To find ADMIN entries for whole foods, I get the syntax from the USDA database and paste that into MFP. All ADMIN entries from the USDA will have weights as an option BUT there is a glitch whereby sometimes 1g is the option but the values are actually for 100g. This is pretty easy to spot though, as when added the calories are 100x more than is reasonable.

    https://fdc.nal.usda.gov

    Use the “SR Legacy” tab - that is what MFP used to pull in entries.

    Note: any MFP entry that includes "USDA" was USER entered.

    For packaged foods, I verify the label against what I find in MFP. (Alas, you cannot just scan with your phone and assume what you get is correct.)
  • PAV8888
    PAV8888 Posts: 14,242 Member
    edited March 2023
    My original comment re: rice being off, suggested you look at Food Data Central.

    Some more interesting links: https://www.nal.usda.gov/human-nutrition-and-food-safety/food-composition
    (The above USDA page also links to the Canadian Nutrient file)

    Do you want to download the complete SR Legacy Database for use at home? https://data.nal.usda.gov/dataset/composition-foods-raw-processed-prepared-usda-national-nutrient-database-standard-reference-release-28-0

  • Millicent3015
    Millicent3015 Posts: 374 Member
    tomcustombuilder wrote: »
    joowelz wrote: »
    Retroguy2000 wrote: »
    How is your progress lately?

    If you make your diary public, someone may be able to suggest changes for foods that are more satiating. More protein, for a start.

    I have and people have commented before. It's easier to say eat more protein than to actually do it. I am not a meat lover like some people. I like carbs. The idea of a giant piece of chicken is sickening to me, but I can easily eat two bowls of rice or 3 pieces of bread.

    Wegovy is the brand under which Ozempic is marketed as a weight loss tool. We have no shortages in Canada and diabetics have plenty of other options to choose from, such as Metformin. My dad was a diabetic.
    using drugs to compensate for a poor diet is not healthy or advised.

    Metformin isn't recommended for all t2 diabetics, and it doesn't do what Ozempic does. Metformin slows the release of insulin, while Ozempic keeps the gut from emptying, so you're fuller for longer. It can also cause diarrhoea, acid reflux, belching and other gut-related issues, and it's not recommended for people with a history of thyroid cancer.

    While there may not be a shortage of Ozempic in some countries, there is a worldwide shortage because of non-diabetics buying up supplies to use it for weight loss, which is why I can't come off my therapeutic dose, because the stocks where I am aren't readily available anymore.

    There's nothing wrong with using semaglutide or other medications for weight loss, if you're doing it under medical supervision. Semaglutide is a naturally occurring substance and reduces the risk of heart disease and strokes.

    It's not helpful to just state that weight loss drugs are unhealthy. They are useful for people who have struggled to lose weight for a long time. And not all weight loss medications are suitable for everyone. People with thyroid issues can't take weight loss drugs containing certain substances, for instance.

    For anyone considering using Ozempic or its alternative, it's best to consult your healthcare provider to see if it may help you, and to explore other options that might suit you better. Then there are things like SlimSip, BodyPow and SlimFast that might be helpful without having to resort to injectables like Ozempic or other medical alternatives.

  • reginakarlcatz
    reginakarlcatz Posts: 4 Member
    joowelz wrote: »
    reginakarlcatz wrote: »
    One of the reasons people lose weight on these drugs is due to the side effects of feeling nauseous constantly.

    I've added protein powder and soy milk to my plan to obtain enough protein for the day to not feel significant, painful cravings. I still feel a bit hungry, but not overwhelming.

    Thanks for the tip. The thing about protein powder is it doesnt fill me up like a food with volume you can actually chew. Re: soy milk - thats interesting. Do you find it more filling than almond or cow’s milk? I drink almond milk because its so much lower in calories. I dont have a lot of calories to work with.

    So, I use soy milk as regular milk gives me a tummy ache and has more protein than almond milk. I guess I could use lactaid milk, but I'm used to soy milk. The whey protein also gives me a small tummy ache, but it's not horrible. I try to get 30% of my calories in protein. It's a struggle for me to get enough.

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