Ozempic Users?
Replies
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I figured you must have that wrong, because the starting formula makes no sense. For myself, that would give a starting maintenance at below every TDEE calculator gives for just my BMR.sollyn23l2 wrote: »The best explanation I ever heard as far as maintenence (assuming we're referring to calories) was by Mike Israetel, who's a PHD in exercise science. His explanation was to take 1500 calories and add your body weight to it (i.e. foe me... 1500+110). This is your starting point for calories. Wait a week, see if you go up, down, or stay the same. If you go up, decrease calories by 250. If you go down, increase your calories by 250. Wait another week. Repeat. Once you have stayed the same weight for a few weeks, you've found your maintenence calories.
One quick Google, found it. He said to start with bodyweight * 15 calories, if your weight trends up over 3 days, cut by 250-500, or if it's trending down, increase by 250-500. If you're 100-150 pounds change that to 100-150 calories change. Repeat until your bodyweight is steady on average for over a week, and that's an estimate of your maintenance.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb5xgU9zAFY 2 -
Retroguy2000 wrote: »
I figured you must have that wrong, because the starting formula makes no sense. For myself, that would give a starting maintenance at below every TDEE calculator gives for just my BMR.sollyn23l2 wrote: »The best explanation I ever heard as far as maintenence (assuming we're referring to calories) was by Mike Israetel, who's a PHD in exercise science. His explanation was to take 1500 calories and add your body weight to it (i.e. foe me... 1500+110). This is your starting point for calories. Wait a week, see if you go up, down, or stay the same. If you go up, decrease calories by 250. If you go down, increase your calories by 250. Wait another week. Repeat. Once you have stayed the same weight for a few weeks, you've found your maintenence calories.
One quick Google, found it. He said to start with bodyweight * 15 calories, if your weight trends up over 3 days, cut by 250-500, or if it's trending down, increase by 250-500. If you're 100-150 pounds change that to 100-150 calories change. Repeat until your bodyweight is steady on average for over a week, and that's an estimate of your maintenance.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb5xgU9zAFY
Aha, I did misremember. Thanks. Makes more sense. True. Not sure how I remembered it so far off🤣😂. This is why it pays to look stuff up.0 -
IMO, 3 days or a week still sounds like an unreasonably short time span for women who have cycles.
ETA: The discussion of how to estimate maintenence is probably a digression, anyway. I think this started it:Nycgirl1979 wrote: »Hi,
Do people still track their food on Ozempic? What’s the maintenance on it? Thank you
I'm not sure whether that's referring to maintenance calories, or maintenance dosage/schedule/plan for the drug.3 -
Nycgirl1979 wrote: »Hi,
Do people still track their food on Ozempic? What’s the maintenance on it? Thank you
I track my food...I find it really helpful to see where I am with nutrients etc. I am with a medical programme so I meet with a dietician monthly so we always go over food and various options. I know that a lot of people will say that they do not track, and I think its a personal thing. I have always tracked because it helps to keep me accountable. I will only be lying to myself and the scale otherwise.
And as for maintenance, I for one know that my programme will be working through that. I know that we will be learning how to live at the weight that we set as a goal. But, technically, this medication is something that should be continued long term, since it is being used to handle a real medical condition (obesity and weight management is a real thing), but most people want to be able to come off of it, so they teach how to decrease dosages and maintain weight at each level.
There are so many questions and like most things, its a learning curve.
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I started taking Ozempic in December 2022 for T2. Unfortunately, my symptoms (nausea, vomiting and diarrhea) got worse over time, and I ultimately ended up having my gallbladder removed in February and stopped taking it. While I was on Ozempic I lost 17 pounds, unknown if it was because I was always sick, or the drug was doing its thing. It did reduce my appetite, because I was never hungry. My Dr. wanted me to go back on Ozempic after my surgery, but I was concerned about the symptoms, so decided I would do it on my own. Since my surgery in February, I committed to MFP to get my blood sugar in control and lose weight. I have lost 27 pounds on a low carb diet (100 carbs or less per day), and my A1C went from 8.2 in Feb. to 6.1 as of yesterday. (I also started using a Continuous Glucose Monitoring device, so I monitor my sugars throughout the day and evening, which made a huge difference in controlling what I ate). I know I can control my sugar and my weight without medication, and it is a lot of work, but it is a better choice for me. I won't judge anyone who takes Ozempic to lose weight, it's another expensive medication with side effects and everyone is different, if it works for you that's what matters. I know MFP helps me and in a way is just another "medication" that I do because it's good for me. I still have a long way to go but I'm trying to do it the healthy way.5
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Started Oz yesterday. I have struggled with my weight for 15 years. I have an addiction to food and sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and autoimmune issues. Losing weight would help all of these things. I made changes but it never amounted to anything, so I needed some training wheels to get me where I need to be while I continue to make lifestyle changes. I see a counselor twice a month, meeting a nutritionist next week and went through the Noom education. I really hope using this medicine will help with the weight loss and motivation to continue. I need to lose about 45lbs.
If anyone wants to add me as a friend, please do so. Could always use some community support and would love to give it as well.
Starting weight - 199
Goal weight - 1550 -
I had a really depressing conversation with real-life friends yesterday. We were talking about food, and I mentioned how I missed pasta and rice, but that Ozempic was really helping me stick to a low(er) carb diet. And they absolutely went off on me! Things like how I was "unfairly privileged" to have access to it; I was "embracing fat-phobic diet culture"; and how "you're just signing up for a lifetime drug habit". To be fair, they did walk back a lot of that when I reminded them that I'd recently been diagnosed with t2 diabetes and really wanted to keep all my toes for the rest of my life.
But wow, the judgement and negativity from avowedly liberal people who actively support drug therapy for mental illness and drug addiction was EYE OPENING. I almost think I would have gotten less judgment if I casually admitted to using recreational ketamine on a regular basis.
That is terrible! I am so sorry you went through that. I actually am only telling one person (outside you guys of course) that I am taking Oz because of this. People are so judgy about it. If you go into it knowing its not a miracle drug and to use it to get where you want to be while learning how to have a lifestyle that supports the weight loss and maintaining it, then you shouldn't need to be on it forever.0 -
I've been keeping my spent injectors, and I realized that today marked six months of Oz. And I absolutely believe it has been a wonder drug for me
In six months, I've:- lost 80 lbs
- dropped my body fat percentage from 58% to 35%
- brought my A1C into the normal range
- started seeing a reduction in dark skin folds (acanthosis nigricans)
- improved PCOS symptoms
- virtually eliminated the sebhorreic dermatitis I've struggle with since childhood
- largely eliminated the binge-eating issues I've also struggled with since childhood.
I've also learned that if I eat more than two servings of bread, pasta, or rice, I'm going to feel a bit icky in a few hours. If I eat a large large volume of meat, I'm going to feel a bit icky. And if I stubbornly do both, I'm going to spend at least 8 hours feeling like a volatile chemical factory, and burping up the sulfurous winds of Hell.
I won't credit the drug for most of the weight loss - that was my conscious decision to control what and how much I was eating. And that isn't always easy, particularly when eating out. But if I generally eat a diet that is filling and nutritious, Ozempic definitely helps me generally stick with the plan, because I don't feel as compelled to eat everything else.
The more insulin and metabolic-related stuff, though - that has to be the semaglutide. None of that happened the previous time I lost a bunch of weight. In fact, the binge eating got totally out of hand last time. Even though some of my friends acted like wankers, six months of benefits have far outweighed the tradeoffs.5 -
Hi! I'm so happy to finally find a conversation regarding Ozempic that I can join! I started Ozempic on July 14 and have lost 16lbs. Because it has been working as well as it has, my doctor has chosen to keep me at the 0.5 dose for another 3 months.3
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Hi everyone, just took my first dose of Ozempic about.,.. 15 minutes ago. I wanted to chime in on food prep and something that a lot of people aren't aware of - if you get a sous vide (I use the Breville Joule, but the Anova or other brand is great too) and you sous vide a chicken breast til pastureized in separate bags or 2 per bag - it increases the time you can keep it in the fridge by over a week because you've literally pasteurized it and and until you open it and as long as you keep it refrigerated, it will stay good an extra 3-5 days.1
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I have an appointment next week with my doctor to discuss whether this is a good choice for me. I may be joining you. Good luck.4
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So, first off, thank you to everyone who has contributed to this post in a productive manner. It's been difficult finding anecdotal reviews of semaglutide/GLP-1, what to expect, how it's going for people etc.
I am starting my fourth week tomorrow and still on a very low does of 0.125, it took a couple of weeks before it started "working". I don't want to call it a miracle drug, but what it has been doing for me has been a miracle. I definitely have a lifelong problem with binge eating, and the ozempic has pretty much destroyed the urge to binge.
Kind of echoing what people say, not only am I in general less hungry, but if I ever do over eat, or eat too quickly, I am rapidly "punished", and I am punished in a way that I will be completely devoid of appetite for a full day after. If anything my calories might be too low right now. But if you eat correctly, and slowly, it seems to be okay.
I'm enjoying it so far. I'm not even sure I need to titrate up, but apparently that's the thing everyone does. I will talk to my dr about it.
There are some minor side effects I don't like. I don't drink as much water, I don't seem to be pooping as regular as I used to. but the sides so far have been pretty mild. I've lost a good 5-6lbs in the past 3 weeks after not losing anything for a month, so I'm pretty hapy with that aspect.
I don't want to be on it "forever", but we'll see what happens. I don't want my old appetite back at all.4 -
Out of personal curiosity I would love to find out why the protocol (based on what people are saying) seems to be that they will keep increasing the dosage "on schedule" even if it appears to (still) be achieving the desired effect at a lower dosage.1
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Out of personal curiosity I would love to find out why the protocol (based on what people are saying) seems to be that they will keep increasing the dosage "on schedule" even if it appears to (still) be achieving the desired effect at a lower dosage.
I literally just asked my doctor this exact question, and it's because statistics show that it is less effective long term at the lower doses.
I do not know if that means it loses efficacy, or if your body adapts to the new reality. But apparently the statistically signficant weight loss in studies only happened at the higher dose.1 -
I have been Ozempic for 2 months now and lost 9.6 kg . I have conditions that make it impossible to lose weight as well as insulin resistance and being prediabetic, this injection has changed my life
I am still on the .50 dose and have been advised to stay on that by my doctor till the shortage ends2 -
New to the community. I started Ozempic almost 8 months ago due to being prediabetic and insulin resistant.
My A1C has moved from 6.4 to 4.3, and I’ve lost just over 50 pounds in this time. Started with four weeks at 0.25 weekly dose and have remained at 0.50 weekly dose since.
Minimal negative side effects to start and those have decreased significantly.
Weight loss has slowed to about 3-4 pounds a month, and I’m more than happy with that.
I have been following a lower carb, higher protein routine (40% protein/30% carb/30% fat, but not a set diet), and know that my food choices and exercise are also a part of the weight loss I’ve had.
I’m being closely followed by my physician, and also at the weight loss clinic at our hospital. All of my bloodwork has improved and I feel so much better.9 -
Hi all. I've recently started on Ozempic a month ago and am currently on a 0.5 dose. At .25 I felt very little hunger, but at .5 the hunger has returned somewhat. I fill up quickly but I do get quite hungry in between meals. I've only lost about 4 pounds total, so about 1 pound a week which is fine, I'm just a bit concerned that the hunger will derail me. Like I said, though, when I do eat I get full fast, so that's helping me stay on track food and calorie wise. My doc is monitoring me closely and will probably raise me up to 1mg where I've heard a lot of people start seeing the real results. As luck would have it I've had very mild side effects so far, just a bit of nausea and a touch of running to the bathroom for the first day or so after taking a shot.
It is doing great things for my blood sugar numbers, though, I had been spiking pretty high previously despite taking pills for the diabetes, but since starting on Oz, it's come down a good bit and continues to drop as time passes. I feel like the weight loss is a nice side effect of the main reason my doctor approved it, which is for my Type 2 diabetes. I'd like to lose lots of weight, but if it happens slow that's fine with me. I'm already on several lifelong medications and am lucky enough for Oz to be fully covered by my insurance so if I have to stay on it for life, too, I will.
I'd already lost approx 75 pounds on my own (from 289 to 212, started Oz at 212 and am down to 208), so I don't view the drug as a 'cheat' like some folks do. I know and have done the work. For me it's much more about the diabetes. The weight loss - whatever there is of it - is just a happy addition. (hopefully a substantial one tho, lol. I'd love to hit 150 as a goal weight)7 -
Good, me neither. Addressing diabetes and obesity with the help of your doctor sounds like smart healthcare, and not a game where people can "cheat."_faedreamer wrote: »I don't view the drug as a 'cheat' like some folks do.4 -
I am on .5 mg and have lost 44 lbs. Been on it for a few months. BUT I'm also exercising where I didn't before.7
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Tirzepatide (mounjaro) vs Semaglutides (Ozempic) just went head to head in a big study.
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2023.11.21.23298775v1
The results? The both work amazingly well. All skeptical scientist worth their salt in the field of chronic obesity, should be pursuing end cases and exceptions for this treatment to help guide its use. The firehose of anecdotes and research point to this as the discovery of a real breakthrough.
It still might all come crashing down, but it is not possible to deny our current results.
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I’ve been on semaglutide, for about 2 months and have lost almost 30 lbs so far. I’m still on the .5 dose and happy with results so far, I have no side effects!3
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Retroguy2000 wrote: »Nope. I would never. Lifestyle changes > drug.
What happens when someone stops taking it, or do they need the drug for life?
A study in the Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics found that a majority of people who take semaglutide gain most of the weight back within a year of stopping the medication, which can be difficult to control.
"We're seeing a lot of patients have this rebound weight gain, and it can really be devastating," Dr. Karla Robinson, a Charlotte, North Carolina-based family physician, told NPR.
One of those patients is Yolanda Hamilton from South Holland, Illinois, who told NPR that her doctor prescribed her Wegovy because she had high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and was overweight. She said the drug made her crave less sugar, gave her more energy and allowed her to feel full from smaller meals, resulting in her losing 60 lbs.
However, when she switched jobs and was under a new insurance company, Hamilton's Wegovy was no longer covered and she couldn't afford the out-of-pocket costs for the medication, which reached about $1,400 per month. Within a few months of stopping her weekly injections, she gained back 20 lbs.
https://people.com/health/ozempic-rebound-is-real-doctor-says-weight-gain-can-be-devastating-after-stopping/
You should be very grateful you have no issues managing your weight.
I was always the "Thin Woman" out of all my friends. (Even after 50)
Five years ago I had to go on medication. The worst side effect of the only medication that worked for me is OBESITY. That is the word the doctor used when warning me.
I didn't think anything about it because I hadn't ever had a problem with my weight.
I slowly started gaining weight. I gained 2lbs a month no matter what I ate, steps I walked, water I drank, percent of protein I ate, spacing of meals ... etc
That was around 20+ lbs in A Year.
I felt like a failure. It had to be me, correct?
Wrong.
After 4 years my doctor ran every test you can list to rule out thyroid issues, diabetes and all the other health issues that would cause weight gain. Nothing.
I kept logs of all my foods and water.
Then, my doctor ran a test on my Ghrelin level. The hormone that your stomach produces to tell your brain you are starving.
It was extremely high.
The new medication raised Ghrelin.
So, as a last result my doctor prescribed Ozempic.
I had to send my bi-weekly progress in the beginning.
After 10months I have lost 30lbs. (Not a drastic amount)
I am still eating the same amounts I always have.
I am happy I stopped gaining weight!
I may have to take Ozempic to manage the side effects of the other medication.
Hopefully, after reading this you will understand not everyone is lazy or wants a quick fix. There are reasons people gain weight that has nothing to do with will power, or diet.
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I'm happy your doctor and you found treatments that are keeping you healthyI gained 2lbs a month no matter what I ate
I kept logs of all my foods and water.
Some MFPers obsessively focus on these statements like yours and disregard everything that you wrote.
I came up with a saying: CI∞CO.
Calories In, an infinite number of other variables, Calories out.
You and your doctor seem to have done a good job of addressing some of those important variables. Be well.1 -
CI∞CO
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I'm an currently enrolled in a physician monitored weight loss program that does utilize medications. I am currently up to the 1.0mg dose of semaglutide, along with an evening does of metformin (not diabetic, but am insulin resistant and over 300lbs). I have long suffered with binge eating and food addiction disorders and i have found this program to be game changer. I am about 9 weeks in and am 14 pounds down, it's a slow and steady loss, but I have also changed my diet and am working on new habits and lifestyle changes to help me to continue to have success long term, with the guidance of a team and an accountability to be weighed in each week.
The medication has helped reduce the "food noise" in my head, and has truly helped me to not think about food the way I used to through the day. I've been able to learn more about batch meal prepping, and have transitioned to a higher protein, lower fat diet. I've also increased the amount I'm walking everyday, shooting for around 8000-10000 steps per day (where I was averaging around 3500 at the start of this journey).
For anyone who thinks these drugs are a "cheat" a "quick fix" or anything other than a tool to be incorporated with lifestyle changes, you are incorrect. There is no such thing as a quick fix, my process and progress have not been quick....but I needed help and this is the first time I've consistently stuck with something for this long, and as long as I continue to see results, and learn more about how my body reacts to the foods I'm giving it, I will be positive about this experience.
My struggles with it....some mild symptoms, like constipation and a full feeling along with some very mild nausea in the first few weeks of the injections; learning how to transition to better food choices and getting my water intake up (not all of those are related to the medication...but the other struggles are still very real for me too)
I wish everyone the best who is trying this method, and I hope we can all reach our goals together!2 -
I'm an currently enrolled in a physician monitored weight loss program that does utilize medications. I am currently up to the 1.0mg dose of semaglutide, along with an evening does of metformin (not diabetic, but am insulin resistant and over 300lbs). I have long suffered with binge eating and food addiction disorders and i have found this program to be game changer. I am about 9 weeks in and am 14 pounds down, it's a slow and steady loss, but I have also changed my diet and am working on new habits and lifestyle changes to help me to continue to have success long term, with the guidance of a team and an accountability to be weighed in each week.
The medication has helped reduce the "food noise" in my head, and has truly helped me to not think about food the way I used to through the day. I've been able to learn more about batch meal prepping, and have transitioned to a higher protein, lower fat diet. I've also increased the amount I'm walking everyday, shooting for around 8000-10000 steps per day (where I was averaging around 3500 at the start of this journey).
For anyone who thinks these drugs are a "cheat" a "quick fix" or anything other than a tool to be incorporated with lifestyle changes, you are incorrect. There is no such thing as a quick fix, my process and progress have not been quick....but I needed help and this is the first time I've consistently stuck with something for this long, and as long as I continue to see results, and learn more about how my body reacts to the foods I'm giving it, I will be positive about this experience.
My struggles with it....some mild symptoms, like constipation and a full feeling along with some very mild nausea in the first few weeks of the injections; learning how to transition to better food choices and getting my water intake up (not all of those are related to the medication...but the other struggles are still very real for me too)
I wish everyone the best who is trying this method, and I hope we can all reach our goals together!
‐‐I'm an currently enrolled in a physician monitored weight loss program that does utilize medications. I am currently up to the 1.0mg dose of semaglutide, along with an evening does of metformin (not diabetic, but am insulin resistant and over 300lbs). I have long suffered with binge eating and food addiction disorders and i have found this program to be game changer. I am about 9 weeks in and am 14 pounds down, it's a slow and steady loss, but I have also changed my diet and am working on new habits and lifestyle changes to help me to continue to have success long term, with the guidance of a team and an accountability to be weighed in each week.
The medication has helped reduce the "food noise" in my head, and has truly helped me to not think about food the way I used to through the day. I've been able to learn more about batch meal prepping, and have transitioned to a higher protein, lower fat diet. I've also increased the amount I'm walking everyday, shooting for around 8000-10000 steps per day (where I was averaging around 3500 at the start of this journey).
For anyone who thinks these drugs are a "cheat" a "quick fix" or anything other than a tool to be incorporated with lifestyle changes, you are incorrect. There is no such thing as a quick fix, my process and progress have not been quick....but I needed help and this is the first time I've consistently stuck with something for this long, and as long as I continue to see results, and learn more about how my body reacts to the foods I'm giving it, I will be positive about this experience.
My struggles with it....some mild symptoms, like constipation and a full feeling along with some very mild nausea in the first few weeks of the injections; learning how to transition to better food choices and getting my water intake up (not all of those are related to the medication...but the other struggles are still very real for me too)
I wish everyone the best who is trying this method, and I hope we can all reach our goals together!
‐
I could have written this post.... looking for support if you are interested....I don't know how to "friend request" on MFP...2 -
It is a pretty good skill to learn for getting the most out of MFP.Julie31171 wrote: »..I don't know how to "friend request" on MFP...
Somehow you get to the person's profile page. MFP makes it a little tricky. You might click on their name (my name @chris_in_cal ) Once there you should see a "go to the MFP profile" button. Then somehow get to their profile page.
On their profile page, you'll see the "friend request" button. Give it a try, I look forward to getting your friend request.
--Chris
1 -
@Julie31171
Or note the user name you want to add as a friend, go to the main menu, click on friends and add them here:
(This is an alternative way to do it on the iOS app)2 -
CI∞CO
Please log in this week and post.
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10909048/weigh-ins-week-commencing-mon-5th-february
I hope you are well, I appreciate you logging in last week.0 -
I started 3 days ago on Saxenda. Always happy to have more support and friends as we all work to adjust our lifestyle and scale numbers.1
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