Soooo hard!
So… I am 250lbs and class 2 Obesity. Went to the doctor today and my BP was 157/111 . He Insists I drop weight and asked if I wanted to try Ozempic to get the ball rolling. If I cant start dropping weight ill be put on meds for Hypertension and he would prefer I try to drop weight and lower bp first.
All i think about is my weight, I wear a fall like coat in hot summer to hide. I have vivid dreams about weight.
Here's to a restart !!!!
Replies
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From one Brisco to another… Welcome!
Congrats on taking control of your health! It's a journey, I'll tell you that!
As far as taking Ozempic, that's really a discussion between you and your doctor. My understanding is that is slows your digestion so you are feeling full more quickly and for longer periods of time, which causes people to eat less. My concerns is that, A) I'm not digesting my food properly which just sounds weird/unsettling, and B) By taking the drug I'm not really learning any skills that will help me keep the weight off, so if/when I stopped taking it I would just go back to eating as before and put it all back on.
MFP (when applied/used correctly) should help teach you how to eat healthier and in portions that meet your life goals.
You don't have to overthink it here, lot's of people make this more complicated than it has to be. In the beginning it's hard, there's a lot of work and data collecting you will need to do, but as the days, weeks, and months go by it gets easier because you've entered foods and recipes into the database that you can use again and again.
A few pointers: If you have not weighed it or measured it, do NOT put it in your mouth! Do not estimate, do not guesstimate, do not eyeball portions. Period. Do not use other MFP entries in the database. This site is crowdsourced and people can put whatever they want in here. A green checkmark does not mean it's been verified or certified or anything. Do not trust any entries you didn't make.
This is more art then science. Your body is an organism that will do what it wants. You can do everything right one day and go up a pound and a half the next morning on the scale. No rhyme or reason, just because your body held onto water or waste or whatever that day. Don't fret or stress. It happens to everyone. EVERYONE! As long as the TREND is moving in the right direction over days/weeks/months, then you are all good!
Don't stress over what already has happened, you are taking control of it and that's really all you can do! The weight didn't go on overnight and it won't come off overnight either. Just take it one day, one meal at a time, and over time you will get there. Slowly but surely!
Good luck! You can do this!
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My husband had dangerously high blood pressure and battled his weight his entire adult life. He always was frustrated that people would say.. "you just need will power to lose weight." Not so.. he was always hungry. Ozempic has been a game changer. He has lost over 60 pounds..and we had so much fun throwing away all his old shorts and clothes over the weekend and buying him new shorts and pants. He feels so great and looks so amazing.
Don't listen to any negative noise about Ozempic. You are lucky to have a doctor who gets it. It will change your life, and some of us who eat less and move more.. get a bit jealous sometimes.
Also.. Ozempic will stop working it you don't diet along with the drug. At first you'll lose about 40 pounds simply by eating less..but after that. you do have to do the work of making healthy food choices and portions. .. ozempic simply helps with the hunger that can't be controlled.
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So, just trying to be in a caloric defict was too hard and will power wasn't enough and the weight just came back on, but taking Ozempic made him less hungry and he lost weight and when he goes off Ozempic unless he makes healthier food choices the weight will just come back on, as you've indicated and is common knowledge, which leaves him with the same problem from at the start, which is making better food choices. Interesting, and I believe most will agree that that is exactly what happens. That's the current western reductive nutritional thinking, and a perfect example of how the medical system is designed to work……for the medical system. 🤔
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Having high blood pressure is like getting hit in the face over and over again where eventually inflammation results and it mostly effects the left anterior descending artery called the "widow maker" not good, and this normally has been in play for years when it is accompanied with obesity and probably 1 or 2 other metabolic dysfunction, probably insulin resistance or worse.
Personally if I was class 2 obese and had that kind of blood pressure I would be seeking a medication to lower it immediately and talk about adjusting medication if weight was lost going fwd, but to wait and see, is not reducing the inflammation that is currently taking place with the much higher sheer stress on the endothelium, yeah a pounding like that is not a good place to be in. Of course this is just my opinion.
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So making the better choices and LEARNING how to incorporate them into your life is a lot easier when you don't have constant food noise and anxiety around eating. Yes, there will be people who take their time on the medication and don't spend it learning. Then there are people who use it, use the time to figure out what was driving the binging and food obsession, and take those lessons and continue their success.
I am possibly going on a weight loss medication in a few months. However, I am working with 3 medical professionals while doing so. A psychologist to help me deal with binge eating and the emotional links to my food habits like eating out too much, a NP who is a specialist in diet/exercise and weight loss medications, and my PCP who will be handling the general health side of things. This is after years of my weight creeping up, trying what I know SHOULD work, and falling off again and again. I am at my highest weight ever at this point and it is causing severe medical issues and pain. It is getting to the point where it is either lose this weight or I am soon not going to be able to live my life.
And if you do research on what it actually takes to be successful on these meds, you will see it's NOT easy. You can not eat whatever you want. You have to focus on high protein and fiber, increased hydration, and restrict "bad" fats and added sugars. Or you could end up really really ill. I am already trying to start the diet NOW so I can be prepared.
Not long ago I also thought the weight loss drugs were the "easy" way out or were "cheating". They are not. They are just a tool that can really help people who need them.
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They generally recommend staying on the medication for the rest of your life, since most studies show people who go off the meds regain most if not all of the weight they lost within a year. I'm not against weight loss medications. While I truly believe in my heart of hearts that anyone can lose weight on their own without meds, I totally understand how they help. It's hard. And any tool we can use to aid the process is fair game, in my opinion.
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@neanderthin wrote: "Having high blood pressure is like getting hit in the face over and over again where eventually inflammation results and…"
/end snippet but entire post worth the read...
Wow, that visual resonates… and it often happens without clear symptoms you notice, ... until, bam, an attack happens...
As is with so many things! I wish I had understood this sooner and acted then...
It is only the last few years that information about food and impact on health is starting to reach through the noise... I hope future generations can have better health from eating in ways that help the body... and helpful meds when necessary.
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I can just encourage you not to make choices out of fear, but out of hope. You can try Ozempic and hope for the best. As we read above, many people have been amazingly helped by it and some have had side effects. If you don't find benefits, you can always stop.
Best of luck, whatever you decide!
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I feel your pain and I wish you attain an outcome that resolves your frustration with the foods that are not working for you or your metabolism, it's a common problem and mostly hormonal and hopefully with your team a harmonious solution can be achieved. 😊
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Right.. just like MFP and counting calories ..tracking..working out. … pretty sure all of us have lost and regained many many times on that plan …. I bet you have also. so? what is your point is????
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Thank you. And I have a feeling a good bit of it IS hormonal. I am a 43 year old woman. Hormones being annoying comes with the territory.
I never wanted it to come to me taking the meds. I still don't like the idea. But I am also in a position where my health is fading fast and I have to do something soon.
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@Athijade - good to see you proactive with your health. Appreciate the authentic shares.
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I met with an endocrinologist for 90 minutes to humor my wife to see if he would recommend his prescribing ZepBound for me. I was 30 pounds over my doctor preferred weight for my age and health when I met with him. After he asked about my lifestyle and learned that 3 years ago I was in the same positions weight wise when I set a 1/2 pound a week loss on MFP, and started the one day at a time journey. And I lost 30 pounds over two years. My reason for gaining it back was that when I am not on a routine, I don't eat healthy and won't work out here and there, it's who I am. I had 2 grandbabies born and a major surgery, basically life through me curveballs, and I made it though gaining bag 20 of the 30 I had lost. Endocrinologist told me he recommended his NOT prescribing ZepBound if I truly was set to be back on my MFP & Daily Workout Routine, but said he wanted to see 24 pounds lost in 24 weeks, coinciding with my next bloodwork and follow up with my cardiologist. I also weigh daily which many say can be depressing, I think it would be more depressing to weigh once a week and risk one weigh in being perfect with the stars aligned and a new low recorded, only to have the next weigh in be THAT day when I retained a pound or two of water from working out, or the normal ebbs and flows, and wonder WTF went wrong? So, personal choice. I was open to ZepBound and simply answered Endocrinologists questions then told him about my plan when I can stick to it. It's week 3 and I am way ahead of the 1# goal per week, and am so glad it is not ZepBound aided, and like an earlier responder said, MFP works if you accurately log your food (Calories In) accurately log your calories burned (Calories Out) and over time it is for most people just math. The key is honesty in logging. Good Luck on your journey whichever direction you take. Oh, Endocrinologist said most people coming to him DO need the prescription, and many have no primary care doctor, less have a cardiologist, few will track themselves on an app like MFP and fewer will weigh daily, and most who are prescribed ZepBound will still overeat, or if they lose the weight it was in most cases relying on the ZepBound alone, and they gain it all back, so THAT is where he makes his money, being a cheerleader and coach and therapist for most people who come to him like I did. I was not surprised to hear that. It's statistically accurate and applies to most peoples human nature especially in The U.S.A.
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Well, I don't count calories and lost 65lbs and have kept it off for over a dozen years and to tell you the truth I rarely encounter studies that focus on calories other than being mentioned if and when the study was a biological comparison. A calorie after all is just a measure of energy and not a measure of nutritional quality or biological impact and why it doesn't come up much in the data and studies or nutrition in general. It's like using decibels to figure out music, but it's not a descriptor of quality, emotion, or complexity of the music, it just a number, in the same way a calorie is just a number and has nothing to do with the foods we eat, their nutrition or the impact foods have on our metabolism, it's again, just a number
I've regained my health by engaging, embracing and implementing first principles of human nutrition because that tells the real story and most studies are unreliable and mostly too short in duration to make any life changing decisions. This has led me to where I am now which is consuming mostly a local and organic whole food diet while minimizing most processed foods and an animal forward ones as well. I'm not here to tell or convince people that count calories is wrong, and I've learned that that is basically a fruitless endeavor but to offer support for people that want to look and explore alternatives. People can change their lives and their health simply by choosing the right food.
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I am not sure what magic mix of things I did, but I use to always be hungry…I could loose weight but even after I ate what I knew my body needed I was still hungry. Mindfulness, more sleep, more protein and fiber.
I think taking a high dose of vitamin D from my doctor triggered something in my body to not be as hungry anymore…or maybe it was a mix of hormones from not being pregnant, maybe focusing on less stress and laughing…maybe I switched something I was eating without realizing it. But I wasn’t hungry and the weight just dropped without me realizing. I remember thinking if other people felt this way, it’s no wonder they never struggled with weight.Now…I had another baby and put on some weight again. Hoping to someday get back to that feeling of not being hungry again…once baby is relying less on breastfeeding? I feel like there is so much to learn yet about the body and weight loss
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Painting by numbers won't get you a real Monet or Van Gogh; but, with due diligence (and a bit of OCD), you will end up with a pleasing picture (assuming you become semi competent with your crayons and brushes and after a few tries and with a bit of effort!)😎
since I'm not a Monet or a Van Gogh.. I just do the paint by numbers thing!
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I didn't think anyone would get that metaphor, so good for you.
It's basically comes down to the erosion of our "metabolic flexibility" (MF) and it's basically the canary in the coal mine and is like the early warning sign which determines our overall metabolic health and this begins to erode long before, for example, elevated blood sugar, blood pressure or oxidated LDL become concerning factors.
In the context of food, because there's other factors that effect MF as well. It often starts with the body's poor handing of carbohydrates and then snowballs from there. Carb intolerance isn't a formal diagnosis but is linked tightly with insulin resistance, poor glycemic control etc. Common effects are fatigue, feeling tired after eating, constant hunger from the blood sugar rollercoaster, brain fog and energy crashes. It manifests itself by weight gain, feeling bloated and other gut issues. MF also downregulates our satiety hormones which suppresses leptin, ghrelin stays elevated, and suppresses both GLP-1 and PYY which tell the body you've had enough food, basically which results in overconsumption.
Consuming less ultra and processed foods changes the dynamics of MF when they're replaced with whole foods, especially when protein and fiber is the focus which restores and improves the way the body uses our energy which reduces inflammation and many of the consequential health problems associated with metabolic syndrome, and of course weight loss also takes place and for people that reduce their actual carbohydrate intake the most, as in very low or ketogenic diets, counting calories is generally use less or not at all. This is basically me skimming the surface of what actually happens. cheers.
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@Brisco23 OP - this post conversation below with Neanderthin is not unrelated/off topic, but I think profoundly related and important. Now is always better than never - hope it is going well! Let us know :)
In reply - Ty @neanderthin
Trying to sort & express an idea here. Had to think about this a day...
Whew, Metabolic Flexibilty (MF) - new concept on me... particularly...
Pre-metabolic X syndrome onset (cluster of metabolic issues you mentioned) is not a concept, in words, that I have encountered before, but... yowser, the place to start early in life to start/guard/protect in the body.
— in practicality, with good health practices in sleep, movement, food choices, emotional care (regulation, de-stress, coping, strengthening practices.) — all of which are potentially derailed in todays society with abundance and cultural embrace of processed/UPF foods, sedentary habits exacerbated by pleasure/leisure use of social media, which also disrupts real world social connections, mental health... who even wants to sleep when all this fun stuff is available???
All body (metabolic function) MF killers!
Like the high blood pressure silently hammering the face causing inflammation leading to worsening MF before symptons can be felt, the factors you mentioned that also devolve MF… before the body expresses with Metabolic X Syndrome...
— a profound epiphany there for me.
I want a 'do-over!!!'
Better late than never, though. Going forward, pro-active food & movement choices, sleep, mental de-stressing & strengthening — all things we can impact.
I wish this could be learned, understood and embraced going forward widespread... worldwide even ;)
Government & corporate policies, availability of truly affordable healthy foods, physical fitness the norm... acceptable to take pro-active selfcare... extrapolation to encourage but uncoerced possibilities are endless…
Thank you.
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That’s a tough place to be, and I’m really glad you found this site. If you use it fully, it can make a real difference, even save your life.
One step that’s often skipped is asking: what actually caused the weight gain? Yes, it was a calorie surplus, but what led to it? Stress? Habits? Lack of routine? Knowing the root helps prevent it from repeating.
Next, enter your stats and set a realistic goal, something like 1 lb a week (about a 500 calorie daily deficit). Use a food scale to track everything you eat and drink. It’s the most accurate way to get honest data.
Weigh yourself at the same time each week. After 4–6 weeks, review your trends and adjust as needed. This takes time, but it works.
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Any of us can go back to old habits readily. In fact, many of us have had to start again. I successfully lost 60 lbs through diet and then steadily gained back 25 of those pounds. Hopefully anyone taking meds to help (and those who aren't) learn the skills and keep at it forever.
Let's do this: if you don't believe Ozempic or similar is a good method for weight loss, then don't take it. But let other people do what works for them.1 -
My husband was in the exact same boat as you! After a lot of research we decided that a low carb diet would be healthier. He tries to eat no more that 25g of carbs/sugar per day and has dropped 27kg in 10 months. He’s has so much more energy and feels fantastic. In his recent blood tests, there was no evidence of type 2 diabetes and his blood pressure is normal. Ketogenic eating really has been a sustainable game changer for him. I have been following it to and lost 22kg in 10 months.
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The medical institution is quick to blame the individual where I actually don't blame people for overeating with the solution of eating less and moving more, also a 50 year fail. It's not really their fault and neither is it a good solution to their problem and if some GLP-1 medication can help, by all means do that, but it's also imperative that they include some consultation on lifestyle factors that include diet where coming off medication is not a complete fail, where just the metal fallout is devastating.
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