Ozempic Users?
Sandie2102
Posts: 67 Member
Anyone out there using Ozempic (or any of the other injectables)? Just wanted to compare journeys and results.
I've been on Ozempic since Nov and have been having zero negative effects (did I just curse myself). Have lost 27lbs.
Let me know how you're handling shots and how you're dealing!
I've been on Ozempic since Nov and have been having zero negative effects (did I just curse myself). Have lost 27lbs.
Let me know how you're handling shots and how you're dealing!
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Replies
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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/22 -
I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.12
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Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
What about meal prepping seems difficult? Maybe some posters here can offer some suggestions. Do you cook already at all?0 -
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/
I am working with an internal medicine doctor, with a specialty in weigh management. There are a lot of counselling sessions, meetings with dieticians and lifestyle changes that are part of the programme that I am enrolled in. Sometimes people do get to a point where no matter what they do there is just nothing working. Trust me I have weighed all of the pros and cons about this for over the yearlong wait to get into the programme and the year leading up to me making the call to get the referral. Our very first meeting involved a very frank discussion about the expectations and the behavioural changed that must go along with this in order for the efforts to last.
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Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
Meal prep just seems daunting at first. It can be as simple as cooking up some chicken and portioning it out for various meals, or as "involved" as preparing entire meals and keeping them in the fridge or freezer. I can help (been doing it for years in various ways). Msg me6 -
My sister started about the same time as you in November. She is down about 25 lbs and very happy with it. No side effects....just finds she can only eat a small portion, then feels full. She is type 2 diabetic and has struggled with her weight for many years. Both her and her doctor are very pleased with results.13
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Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
It's surprisingly easy once you get going. I meal prep a few days a week. I HATED doing it when I started. Now I can't imagine not doing it4 -
Hi! Yes, I've been on Mounjaro since November 1 and have lost 29 pounds. It has been a great tool for me and I have had minimal side effects as well. I log my food every day and am focused on being calorie-deficit.
Mine is also prescribed by my doctor; I have come to believe that obesity is a disease that affects some more than others. I'm so happy that there have been medications to assist with the treatment of this. I refused to be shamed into thinking it is a character deficit; I have carried that long enough. I could teach courses in all that goes into losing weight and what the right steps are. It just doesn't work for everyone.
If it is a lifetime med for me, that's ok. Diabetics, heart patients, and many others are on medications that help them for their lifetime.50 -
Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
When I worked in person in an office, I used to set aside a few hours on Sundays and cook 8 chicken thighs two different ways, plus starch and veg to make four lunches and four dinners. On Fridays at lunch I'd get takeout and eat half for lunch, half for dinner.
I'd also make 5 hard boiled eggs for snacks, and have carrots and nuts and other things ready for snacks.
For breakfast, I'd have smoothies.16 -
kshama2001 wrote: »cook 8 chicken thighs two different ways, plus starch and veg to make four lunches and four dinners.
I've always wondered about meal prepping with cooked meats. I've always heard that cooked meat is only good for three days. So if you cook it on Sunday, then it's good till Wednesday. But it seems like the meal preps are usually 4-5 days.
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I just started wegovy last month. The only real side effect that has been bothering me is constipation. Other than that, just a weird, bitter taste in my mouth the day of injection and maybe headache the next say. It has definitely helped me stick to a 1200 calorie limit and I'm seeing the pounds coming off. I've lost about 15 pounds since starting on February 17th. Current weight is 239. 5'4 female.7
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kshama2001 wrote: »cook 8 chicken thighs two different ways, plus starch and veg to make four lunches and four dinners.
I've always wondered about meal prepping with cooked meats. I've always heard that cooked meat is only good for three days. So if you cook it on Sunday, then it's good till Wednesday. But it seems like the meal preps are usually 4-5 days.
The official time* for cooked chicken is 3-4 days, but I regularly eat it through day 5-6.
https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/16787
* https://www.stilltasty.com//Fooditems/food_storage_info8 -
Yeah... I am a rebel without a clue... but if it ain't green and it ain't stinking... things used to be much simpler before best before dates... sure a few extra days with the runs or a fever once in a while... but hey: all in the name of science and what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right?!
However if you were to freeze something already cooked... that's almost a free extension at the cost of some quality of the finished product.
You know.... a bag of veggies and a prepared frozen dinner or a bowl of 3 minute noodle soup is still dinner. Is still in the 5 to 700 Cal range if you picks the right items, and is all ready in less than 10 minutes from freezer to table via the nuker making happy beep noises.. <-- it takes longer to either order in or go out for food!11 -
kshama2001 wrote: »cook 8 chicken thighs two different ways, plus starch and veg to make four lunches and four dinners.
I've always wondered about meal prepping with cooked meats. I've always heard that cooked meat is only good for three days. So if you cook it on Sunday, then it's good till Wednesday. But it seems like the meal preps are usually 4-5 days.
Some people who meal prep for a week or more freeze meals to be thawed out when they want to eat them.2 -
Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
I made this today:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuPwzhVSiDU&t=6s
I don't assemble and freeze it like he does though. Tonight we are having it in fajita tortillas with lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. Tomorrow we will have it with Spanish rice and chili beans. Whatever's left I will have for lunches/snacks.
(He started with 20 oz raw chicken; I used 32 oz / two pounds.)8 -
I have been on .50 ozempic for 3 weeks! 12 lbs down so far! My fist goal is to get under 200 which I haven’t been since high school! I feel less hungry and don’t crave sugar. I only get sick when I eat bad foods. So far doing good! Can’t wait to the weather warms up so I can walk outdoors!12
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Hello there type two diabetic here on Ozempic. I can honestly say that the Ozempic has helped me crave my hunger so that I’m not as hungry so I tend to eat less. As far as weight loss goes I’m not sure if it was due to just working out or if Ozempic may have had something to do with it. My endocrinologist has a goal to get me completely off my diabetic medication if I can controlled this thing. So far I’ve been doing and don’t really have any side effects from it.5
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penguinmama87 wrote: »Browderb0809 wrote: »I have just taken my second dose yesterday. I’m still at .25. I’m not having any symptoms really. I’m learning eat better what it’s slow. I want to start meal prepping but it seems so hard.
What about meal prepping seems difficult? Maybe some posters here can offer some suggestions. Do you cook already at all?
It is just overwhelming to me to think about cooking so much food and dividing it out. I did however make 3 meals for the week.
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I’m on my second dose of ozempic. Really hoping it works. I’m finding that I have to be mindful of what I eat as I have a big problem of eating even when I’m not hungry.
I lost 4 lbs. quickly the first week, then gained back two lbs. I’m kind of amazed to see what happens this week.
It was prescribed to me for diabetes, however, I’m obese.5 -
Melwillbehealthy wrote: »I’m on my second dose of ozempic. Really hoping it works. I’m finding that I have to be mindful of what I eat as I have a big problem of eating even when I’m not hungry.
I lost 4 lbs. quickly the first week, then gained back two lbs. I’m kind of amazed to see what happens this week.
It was prescribed to me for diabetes, however, I’m obese.
You'll find that you will get full very quickly. I have started to focus on first eating all my protein and veg from my meal before I dive into the the carbs, cuz I'm usually pretty filled up by then. I have less cravings for sweets, and if I do, I find that I can satisfy the craving with a coffee or some yogurt.8 -
I'ma little jealous that y'all got off with minimal side effects. When I was at .25, I was nauseous and had painful stomach cramping. My lack of desire to eat pretty much disappeared, which is why I ended up back on MFP logging my food to ensure I got enough food during the day. When you work on your feet and with knives... fainting and dizzy spells aren't recommended. I've cut out almost all fried foods because if it wasn't stomach cramping the gas pains were horrendous. Pop didn't help the matter ... so my Diet Coke withdrawl was painful. I started back in October and all that being said... this stuff is a miracle. I've just hit 60 lbs lost. Now my starting weight is surely higher that most and I still have a long way to go. But I had reached a point that everytime I had made a proactive move to change... I would injure myself in the attempt and make things worse. MY FEET DON"T HURT!
That being said... I'm up to 1mg now. Be careful about cutting calories too low. I stalled myself out by maintaining 1000 to 1300, which is too low for my current RMR and activity level. Side effects... constant chills, losing more hair than normal, low energy, cranky, etc. I increased my calories slightly and I've started losing again.
Increasing the calories is not a huge deal because I'm NOT hungry... it's a conscious choice that I have to force myself to do. I wonder if this is what it's like for thin people?
If I have to stay on for the rest of my life... I don't care, even with the side effects (which have tapered off-mostly). It's allowed me to be more active than I've been able to in years and next year I'm going skiing WITH my kids.
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It’s very interesting for me to hear of your experiences. I don’t know how this is going to work out for me, but I am hopeful. Today I’m not hungry, but I’ve decided to log my foods and calories just to see what I’m eating. It seems I am eating under 1000 cal. Which I would normally never do . I certainly don’t want to make myself sick. I do have some side effects but in my case because I am on other medications and have other health issues I feel nauseous a lot of the time anyway. By dropping some weight I’m hoping to get off some of these drugs . I would love to gain some energy. For me, ozempic is not a Long-term solution. At least I don’t think so. I want to be mindful of what I eat and control my appetite eventually on my own. Ozempic is giving me a way to get started on this journey to a healthier life. It’s very funny that four weeks ago I had never even heard of this drug. My doctor mentioned it to me during an appointment and asked me if I might consider it for obesity . Soon after, I was diagnosed with diabetes which shocked me. The doctor prescribed ozempic. The decision was made for me. I’m hoping to take a class concerning the diabetes. I don’t know much about it.5
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Melwillbehealthy wrote: »It’s very interesting for me to hear of your experiences. I don’t know how this is going to work out for me, but I am hopeful. Today I’m not hungry, but I’ve decided to log my foods and calories just to see what I’m eating. It seems I am eating under 1000 cal. Which I would normally never do . I certainly don’t want to make myself sick. I do have some side effects but in my case because I am on other medications and have other health issues I feel nauseous a lot of the time anyway. By dropping some weight I’m hoping to get off some of these drugs . I would love to gain some energy. For me, ozempic is not a Long-term solution. At least I don’t think so. I want to be mindful of what I eat and control my appetite eventually on my own. Ozempic is giving me a way to get started on this journey to a healthier life. It’s very funny that four weeks ago I had never even heard of this drug. My doctor mentioned it to me during an appointment and asked me if I might consider it for obesity . Soon after, I was diagnosed with diabetes which shocked me. The doctor prescribed ozempic. The decision was made for me. I’m hoping to take a class concerning the diabetes. I don’t know much about it.
It's very easy to eat too few calories now. I find that I do best when I focus on eating the protein and veg first then add in the carbs...at least by the time I get full, I have consumed the healthiest part of my food. I also found that Ginger Gravol works well, if I have any nausea (only happen once after a shot, and if I eat any greasy foods). If you read up on or take a class about diabetes you will learn so much. I work with a dietician as part of my plan and each meeting we discuss various aspects of healthy eating, maintaining a healthy meal plan, how food will look going forward as it pertains to the rest of my life etc. I've learned about insulin reactions and how foods work together to fuel us. Lot's of great info ( and that is just from my dietician, not even a diabetes counsellor, since I am not diabetic). Imformation is power!!!4 -
Sandie,
I’m so glad to hear about what works for you. I’m seeing my doctor in another Two weeks and she’ll probably refer me to a diabetes class at the hospital.
I’ve been on ozempic for 10 days now. My appetite definitely fluctuates a lot. I seem to be starving, then after a little bit feeling full. I’m so worried that the drug won’t work for me. I’ve developed a huge appetite, especially this last year. Logging my food was difficult today. I was babysitting my grandkids and served them a lot of food. I tried to log what I ate. The calories were ok, but I think I ate too many carbs for someone with diabetes. I can’t wait to take that class at the hospital.
I feel unsure if I’m making the correct diet changes . I may look into seeing a dietitian.
Sorry this sounds like I’m complaining. I’m very happy to be given this chance.3 -
Retroguy2000 wrote: »Nope. I would never. Lifestyle changes > drug.
What happens when someone stops taking it, or do they need the drug for life?
For me, I lifestyle-changed my way to 300 pounds after trying literally everything… I am back to MFP now with my Wegovy script in hand. If lifestyle didn’t get it done for me in all these years, was one more try going to get it done this time? No, I only felt more out of control and more hopeless.
What it has done is it has stopped my brain yowling at me for food all day. I can eat like a normal person - eat a meal, be satisfied, move on till the next meal, repeat. I think people without these dysfunctional hunger cues may not really understand why this is a major factor.
If it’s for life then it’s for life. That’s fine. It takes one minute out of my week to dose it and my side effects are minimal. I’m nowhere near crossing that bridge but man, I had to do something different because I was the very picture of insanity - trying the same things over and over expecting a different result.28 -
sarahneverquits wrote: »Retroguy2000 wrote: »Nope. I would never. Lifestyle changes > drug.
What happens when someone stops taking it, or do they need the drug for life?
For me, I lifestyle-changed my way to 300 pounds after trying literally everything… I am back to MFP now with my Wegovy script in hand. If lifestyle didn’t get it done for me in all these years, was one more try going to get it done this time? No, I only felt more out of control and more hopeless.
What it has done is it has stopped my brain yowling at me for food all day. I can eat like a normal person - eat a meal, be satisfied, move on till the next meal, repeat. I think people without these dysfunctional hunger cues may not really understand why this is a major factor.
If it’s for life then it’s for life. That’s fine. It takes one minute out of my week to dose it and my side effects are minimal. I’m nowhere near crossing that bridge but man, I had to do something different because I was the very picture of insanity - trying the same things over and over expecting a different result.
This was my situation totally. I knew all the right things to do and to eat. Did I do it all the time? Hell no, but that's because I am human. I will take all the help that I can get. If it means a script, sure. Lots of ppl take meds to live healthy lives, if I'm one of them, so be it!!!8 -
Melwillbehealthy wrote: »Sandie,
I’m so glad to hear about what works for you. I’m seeing my doctor in another Two weeks and she’ll probably refer me to a diabetes class at the hospital.
I’ve been on ozempic for 10 days now. My appetite definitely fluctuates a lot. I seem to be starving, then after a little bit feeling full. I’m so worried that the drug won’t work for me. I’ve developed a huge appetite, especially this last year. Logging my food was difficult today. I was babysitting my grandkids and served them a lot of food. I tried to log what I ate. The calories were ok, but I think I ate too many carbs for someone with diabetes. I can’t wait to take that class at the hospital.
I feel unsure if I’m making the correct diet changes . I may look into seeing a dietitian.
Sorry this sounds like I’m complaining. I’m very happy to be given this chance.
Not complaining at all. There is no one size fits all (don't we all know that) solution to getting to the weight that we all want to live life at. I know it's hard, but really focus on the water intake and try to eat slowly, like super slowly. My doctor did mention that Ozempic doesn't always work for everyone, or maybe the dosage isn't correct for you. It might be another version of the same drug will work. But don't give up.0 -
I've been on Oz for about 5 weeks now, and I can totally understand why this drug has skyrocketed in popularity. The appetite suppression has been almost scary. I was always a high-volume food person, and now I look at a two-egg burrito and think "no way I can finish that". As sarahneverquits said, my brain has just quit howling about food all the damn time. Like some others, I've actually struggled with eating enough, which I never would have expected. This means the weight has been coming off fast, but not in a healthy or really sustainable way. I just hoped it would take the edge off and help keep me from bingeing, not totally annihilate my appetite for everything, but maybe it's the short time frame?
But even if it didn't touch my appetite at all, I'm grateful for a once-a-week blood sugar control mechanism, because I am a disaster when it comes to pills. Now, I am doing my best to adapt to a new normal of eating that is more glycemic-friendly, but after the first week, I haven't had a single blood sugar spike. (woo!)9 -
I’ve been on Mounjaro since Thanksgiving. So far I’ve lost about 40 pounds. I do not feel apologetic about using a drug to help me with the weight loss. I don’t think it is entirely my choice to have lived my entire life of over six decades with cravings that approach obsessiveness. There simply are some things that vary among us that make certain tasks like self control over food to be more difficult. That is not to say this cannot be overcome without drugs, simply that it is more challenging for some of us than others. I may be very good at math, and you might find it particularly challenging. This may simply be another kind of difference between us. What I do know is that this drug has helped to reduce the compulsion to eat so that now I can, in fact, exercise genuine choice. I can look at something that seems tasty and enticing, and still decide that I’d rather not have it , without the same level of struggle as I used to experience. I still have a long way to go. At least 60 pounds more and ideally another 90 pounds. But with every 10 pounds I’ve lost, I have found it increasingly easy to do the things I know I need to do, like exercising, or simply walking more . My desperate hope is that once I’ve lost more weight, I will be able to have both a pattern of eating that is now ingrained, and a desire and ability to move and exercise more. These things could, I hope, allow me to maintain the weight loss, even if I reduce my dosage, or go entirely off the drug eventually. But like so many others here, I have lost tremendous amounts of weight and put it all back on in the course of a lifetime . So I am realistic. Optimistic, but still realistic.15
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I find it really encouraging to read of other’s experiences with weight loss while taking a drug. Not everyone is the same. I’ve been on ozempic for 3 weeks. I’ve lost about 8 lbs. I’m very heavy so I don’t think it’s an unhealthy loss. Yes, I’m sure the drug is helping, but I’ve noticed that I have to consciously do my part too. It certainly hasn’t killed my appetite. It’s made it more manageable. Even now I struggle with wanting to binge eat. I don’t think I have a choice if I want this to work. I’m going to have to practice and learn healthier eating habits while taking the drug.I’ve tried to cut down on carbs because of my newly diagnosed diabetes. Maybe it will suppress my appetite more when the doctor increases the dosage. Hopefully, when I don’t take it anymore my body will be physically better, and able to stay healthy.5
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