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Is using a GLP-1 for Weight loss Cheating?
NeefahNee5
Posts: 5 Member
in Debate Club
I haven’t been on mfp in a while but i started my health journey again after eating all of my feelings i gained over 31 pounds since November of 2023, after getting my blood work done and my cholesterol levels & hemoglobin A1c determined I was a pre-diabetic I decided to use compound tirzepatide, but I’m still doing the hard work as in changing my eating habits and cutting unhealthy foods, I’ve including exercise back into my daily routine so am I really cheating? I’d appreciate your feedback.. let’s debate!
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Replies
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Who or what would you be cheating? Why would anyone else's opinions matter when it comes to whether or not you're cheating, since your choice has pretty much zero effect on them?
I don't think you're cheating.
There seem to be a few people who believe the drugs are enough, i.e., they don't take on the work of changing eating/activity habits, but expect the drugs to make it automatic. (I don't think most do that, but a very few who've posted here sound that way; and I'd guess that participating in this site slightly over-selects for people who DO want to work on changing habits.)
Personally, I don't think the small minority of people who think that way are cheating, either . . . but I do think they have low odds of long-term success. (I hope otherwise, but think they're on a poor path. I'd like to see everyone succeed, using any reasonably health-compatible drugs, methods, supplements, etc., that may help them achieve that success.)
There's been a bit of discussion about this beforehand, such as:
https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10899263/using-semaglutides-is-cheating-or-not/p1
Do some people think you're cheating? Probably. Some people believe almost any nonsensical thing we could imagine. For example, some people think the earth is flat, too. We can't let idiots influence our achieving our best life, y'know?
Best wishes!14 -
Hi there, cheating or not, who cares. Your business.
I do want to warn you that compounded medicine can be very dangerous. It is not a well regulated space, nothing you receive from a compounding pharmacy is FDA approved. Patients often receive formulations that are not identical to the mass manufactured medicine available through a traditional pharmacy. This can impact the effectiveness and/or safety of ANY medication. There are applications for compounded medications, but should only be done when physician and pharmacist are working together.
In the glp-1 space, there are a lot of businesses trying to take advantage of people who are eager, even desperate, to use glp-1 inhibitors for weight loss. They are overcharging people for medication that they claim is the same as wegovy, mounjaro, ozempic, etc, but is not. You need to be very careful. I do not recommend compounded glp-1 inhibitors for any of my patients.
If you are interested in using glp-1 inhibitors, I STRONGLY recommend that you discuss the medication with your primary care physician (not an app doctor!) to make sure you are being prescribed something that is effective, safe, and worth your hard earned money. You should share with your physician that you are considering going to a compounding pharmacy so they can inform you of any specific risks associated with conditions you may have or be at high risk for and ensure that you are going somewhere reputable.8 -
Hi there, cheating or not, who cares. Your business.
I do want to warn you that compounded medicine can be very dangerous. It is not a well regulated space, nothing you receive from a compounding pharmacy is FDA approved. Patients often receive formulations that are not identical to the mass manufactured medicine available through a traditional pharmacy. This can impact the effectiveness and/or safety of ANY medication. There are applications for compounded medications, but should only be done when physician and pharmacist are working together.
In the glp-1 space, there are a lot of businesses trying to take advantage of people who are eager, even desperate, to use glp-1 inhibitors for weight loss. They are overcharging people for medication that they claim is the same as wegovy, mounjaro, ozempic, etc, but is not. You need to be very careful. I do not recommend compounded glp-1 inhibitors for any of my patients.
If you are interested in using glp-1 inhibitors, I STRONGLY recommend that you discuss the medication with your primary care physician (not an app doctor!) to make sure you are being prescribed something that is effective, safe, and worth your hard earned money. You should share with your physician that you are considering going to a compounding pharmacy so they can inform you of any specific risks associated with conditions you may have or be at high risk for and ensure that you are going somewhere reputable.
Very well said! Of course using weight loss meds is not cheating or wrong or anything else. Do what's best for you, but I also agree that compound pharmacies are not ideal. I also understand that many people don't have the luxury of getting their meds through an fda regulated source.2 -
I have been on this app since 2010 and normally after dieting for 6 weeks I’d be miserable and ready to have a giant binge that will ultimately lead me back to all my old bad habits and putting weight back on.
I’ve been on mounjaro since August. Eating healthier, moving more and feeling happy. I have no urges to binge and can finally see the light and the end of the tunnel with regards to my weight.
I would recommend it to anyone that struggles losing weight or anyone that wants to lose weight without getting depression, guilt and other unhealthy food habits.
Obviously the price is another issue and I sincerely hope that underprivileged individuals that want it can receive it through nhs or insurance in the near future.
Good luck to everyone on their weight loss journey, whichever path you choose ❤️8 -
If this is cheating I am sticking with it. I have been taking compounded Wegovy for 8 months and have lost 33 lbs. Just got the results for bloodwork and my triglycerides went from 227 down to 127! I have never had it this low ever! And I am not even to my goal weight. I am definitely getting healthier.13
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I just can’t understand the whole concept of a medical treatment being called “cheating”. I guess the people who think that it is also think that people should just “be happy” instead of having antidepressants.9
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It's a complicated question. Is it cheating? Not for the people that can't lose weight, it can facilitate a situation where the body interacts with basically the enteric nervous system that slows digestion therefore increasing satiety and we eat less and subsequently lose weight. They also engage other hormones and enzymes involved in digestion. But the main one is it's interaction of the ERS (enteric nervous system) The suppression of glucagon which are also what GLP-1's are, help prevent an increase in blood sugar and it's the continuous spikes in blood glucose that is a main
driver of hunger. And this is where what a person eats makes a difference, shout out to higher protein! Unfortunately the data indicates most people when they go off this medication just gain most of that weight back, or add some more.
These medications where originally for diabetics and the pharma industry soon discovered if they upped the dose, a lot, people would lose weight, which there's lots of data that shows that, so these are the new money makers especially for Novo Nordisk and Ely Lilly with combined revenue of about 55 billion for 2023 and estimated to be around 105 billion for 2029 which also represents about 40% of total earning.
Diabetes 2 is a problem of chronically elevated blood sugar, period, without chronically elevated blood sugar there is no diabetes for the most part. For the vast majority of Americans that either have diabetes, prediabetes or insulin resistance consuming mostly processed foods including UPF which just on their own represent over 60% of what people consume which are shown to be highly addictive from the sheer volume of refined carbohydrates, sugar, salt and fat and to be the main driver for elevated blood glucose and contribute to metabolic syndrome which obesity is one of the symptoms and studies show that people consume around 500 calories more than someone that consumes more of a whole food diet.
Basically this pretty much states unless people are willing to change their eating habits that the weight will just come back, and it is. In other words GLP-1s are a band aid for the most part and are only addressing the symptom of the problem by making us less hungry and not the direct mechanism that is overeating to begin with. It's like if the water supply was toxic and there was a medication that address this and the medication made us less thirsty.
Anyway, for people that feel hopeless in their fight to lose weight GLP-1's are very helpful but I think it's imparative that people strive to learn more and do their own research and dabble in real science because main stream media is complicit in their involvement with big pharma and your not going to get honest information to say the least, but they have nice jingles and beautiful people with wonderful lifestyles in their ads that depict a different message.
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Afterthought: Is someone you know saying you're cheating; or is it something you've read someplace; or is it a fear from within yourself?
Consider the source.
If someone you know: Are they overweight, maybe envious because they've struggled to lose weight? Formerly overweight, and struggled to lose weight but did manage? Always at a slimmer weight, don't really understand that achieving weight loss is more of a struggle for some people vs. others? Close to you, and concerned about you because they see you losing weight faster than they've seen other people around them do in the past? Worried that your weight loss will make you pull away from closeness to them?
People can have all kinds of psychologically subtle reasons for thinking what they think, or saying what they say. They may not always even completely know their motivations themselves (in that all of us have some subconscious/unconscious motivators of our feelings). To me, it seems like a lot of folks here assume the most negative reasons for others criticisms (like "they're jealous"), but I think it can be more complicated.
On the other hand, if these are feelings coming from inside yourself . . . think about why, what the influences are that make you worried about that. Folks above have given lots of logical reasons why it isn't cheating, but if it feels like cheating, there may be some reasons that logic can't talk us out of, but that can still be something we can puzzle out ourselves.2 -
neanderthin wrote: »In other words GLP-1s are a band aid for the most part and are only addressing the symptom
Yes.
Prescription medication addresses symptoms.
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Afterthought: Is someone you know saying you're cheating; or is it something you've read someplace; or is it a fear from within yourself?
Consider the source.
If someone you know: Are they overweight, maybe envious because they've struggled to lose weight? Formerly overweight, and struggled to lose weight but did manage? Always at a slimmer weight, don't really understand that achieving weight loss is more of a struggle for some people vs. others? Close to you, and concerned about you because they see you losing weight faster than they've seen other people around them do in the past? Worried that your weight loss will make you pull away from closeness to them?
People can have all kinds of psychologically subtle reasons for thinking what they think, or saying what they say. They may not always even completely know their motivations themselves (in that all of us have some subconscious/unconscious motivators of our feelings). To me, it seems like a lot of folks here assume the most negative reasons for others criticisms (like "they're jealous"), but I think it can be more complicated.
On the other hand, if these are feelings coming from inside yourself . . . think about why, what the influences are that make you worried about that. Folks above have given lots of logical reasons why it isn't cheating, but if it feels like cheating, there may be some reasons that logic can't talk us out of, but that can still be something we can puzzle out ourselves.
My 2¢
It’s often a combination of perfectionism and ableism.
Both internalized when directed at the self, and externalized when directed at others.
People sometimes think that if they can’t accomplish something like weight loss without assistance, then it’s a moral failure.
Messages of gluttony, laziness, and lack of moral courage to power through are very common in diet culture and discussions of body size.
We are only now on the beginning edge of learning how individual variations affect appetite and energy levels.
If an individual and their medical team has decided that someone could benefit from a prescription medication?
It’s not cheating to use it.
I include many medications in this opinion. Because I have heard this “big pharma just wants your money” argument used against people who need anti-depressants, insulin, and many other medications.
It’s an attitude rooted in eugenics.
🤷🏼♀️11 -
I have been using semiglutide for 9 weeks. I have been a MFP user for 10+ years. I am 55, and in my early 40's I started gaining (130# to eventually 222#). I Managed a GNC, I was active, busy and tried to be as healthy as I could, between injuries and menopause I lost myself.
I have spent the last 2 years in a depression, hating my body ( weight and injuries) feeling like every time I tired to lose weight I would end up in more pain. In July I decided to try a glp-1. I was skeptical, but what did I have to lose?
9 weeks later I am down 16#s and more active than I have been in the last 4-5 years. I watch my protein and my fiber and my calories. My body doesn't crave sweets ( or other foods) I eat what I want ( within reason) and hope to change the way I view food, increase my activity and enjoy being the healthiest person of myself!!!
If this is cheating ... I am a cheater, and I encourage all those people who have list hope to be a cheater as well!!!9 -
I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made. The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.4 -
jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
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MargaretYakoda wrote: »jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
Coming back to this:
The last few days I’ve been mulling over something.
I’m about 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight. It’s likely going to take months to get there. Even with the GLP-1.
It’s really hitting me that once I’ve achieved that goal, I absolutely have to remain in maintenance mode for the rest of my life.
I do think that GPs don’t emphasize this enough.
It’s a lifelong commitment. Just like diabetes management.
I’m glad to have this online community where we can share these insights and experiences.
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MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
Coming back to this:
The last few days I’ve been mulling over something.
I’m about 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight. It’s likely going to take months to get there. Even with the GLP-1.
It’s really hitting me that once I’ve achieved that goal, I absolutely have to remain in maintenance mode for the rest of my life.
I do think that GPs don’t emphasize this enough.
It’s a lifelong commitment. Just like diabetes management.
I’m glad to have this online community where we can share these insights and experiences.
I think that's the heart of the essential mindset shift. It's a completely different thing from treating weight loss as a project with an end date.4 -
I don't think it's cheating. I lost over 100 pounds the standard way and so I know it can be done. I regained a little less than 40 of that over a few years and when I tried to use my same strategies again it just seemed a lot harder. It's like something in my brain didn't want to deal with the extreme restriction that it takes for me to lose any weight, since I am small of stature and thin of bone.
I'm on my second week of GLP-1 and it's been like night and day. The medication overrides my biggest weakness, the urge to nibble all the time, and makes it so much easier to just have the nourishment I need and no more. I'm using it as a tool to re-train myself on portion size so when I go off it I can maintain more effectively once I reach goal. I already know what to do, this is just making it a lot easier to do it. But the medication is only that - a tool - and not cheating, in my opinion.5 -
Do what works for you. Make you you educate yourself on anything you decide to do when it comes to medications. Read studies and get questions to ask your doctor. If your doctor seems to not really know then go to a specialist that knows. I dont know much about Ozympic/wagovi.... however they are spelled. My understanding is that they are meant for diabetics and work for weight loss. I've heard that once you start on them as a crutch there is a larger chance of regaining weight as apposed to people that did gastric bypass. I'm not recommending either. Do what is right for you but be aware that getting healthy and losing weight for life is about changing your life.
"Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results". Einstein.1 -
To the "you'll just regain the weight when you stop" - um, yeah? When I stop taking my blood pressure meds, my blood pressure goes up. When I stop lifting weights, my strength diminishes. When I take my glasses off, my eyesight returns to crap. So, duh, I take my meds and lift weights and wear my glasses. I even take my vitamin D and iron supplements because when I do I'm not deficient. I don't see what the problem is, all sorts of ways I take care of my body I have to keep doing in order to retain the results.10
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siobhanaoife wrote: »To the "you'll just regain the weight when you stop" - um, yeah? When I stop taking my blood pressure meds, my blood pressure goes up. When I stop lifting weights, my strength diminishes. When I take my glasses off, my eyesight returns to crap. So, duh, I take my meds and lift weights and wear my glasses. I even take my vitamin D and iron supplements because when I do I'm not deficient. I don't see what the problem is, all sorts of ways I take care of my body I have to keep doing in order to retain the results.
It isn't a problem. Some people have decided to take the shots for the rest of their life. Unfortunately if you are not diabetic your insurance is not going to cover it after you pass below 30 BMI. And in the US those shots can cost over 1k a month. It has been used for over 7 years so i'm sure there is data on the long term effect. The point is it might be better to reprogram yourself to do the right thing, when that is possible instead of taking a imo un-needed and expensive medication.1 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
Coming back to this:
The last few days I’ve been mulling over something.
I’m about 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight. It’s likely going to take months to get there. Even with the GLP-1.
It’s really hitting me that once I’ve achieved that goal, I absolutely have to remain in maintenance mode for the rest of my life.
I do think that GPs don’t emphasize this enough.
It’s a lifelong commitment. Just like diabetes management.
I’m glad to have this online community where we can share these insights and experiences.
I think that's the heart of the essential mindset shift. It's a completely different thing from treating weight loss as a project with an end date.
I think treating weight loss as a project with an end date is fine for people who just want to drop ten to twenty five pounds for an upcoming event.
Overweight is one thing.
Morbidly obese (I don’t like the BMI categories for a bunch of reasons but here there is a useful distinction) is a whole other thing.trixsterjl31 wrote: »siobhanaoife wrote: »To the "you'll just regain the weight when you stop" - um, yeah? When I stop taking my blood pressure meds, my blood pressure goes up. When I stop lifting weights, my strength diminishes. When I take my glasses off, my eyesight returns to crap. So, duh, I take my meds and lift weights and wear my glasses. I even take my vitamin D and iron supplements because when I do I'm not deficient. I don't see what the problem is, all sorts of ways I take care of my body I have to keep doing in order to retain the results.
It isn't a problem. Some people have decided to take the shots for the rest of their life. Unfortunately if you are not diabetic your insurance is not going to cover it after you pass below 30 BMI. And in the US those shots can cost over 1k a month. It has been used for over 7 years so i'm sure there is data on the long term effect. The point is it might be better to reprogram yourself to do the right thing, when that is possible instead of taking a imo un-needed and expensive medication.
By “reprogram” I think you mean change your habits?
People who take GLP-1 meds already know that is part of the process.
Categorizing solely focusing on diet and exercise as doing “the right thing” gets into making a moral judgement about drugs that have been prescribed by doctors who know the medical needs of their patients far better than anyone else. And I don’t really think that helps anyone. Although I do understand why it’s a common point of view.
That said, I’m 100% with @siobhanaoife
I’m prescribed metformin. If I stop taking it my A1C will rise. I’m prescribed thyroid meds. If I stop taking them my metabolism will tank. Taking necessary medication daily is just something lots of people need to do. And, as I commented earlier in this discussion, the idea that it’s something that should be avoided unless someone is in dire shape is rooted in eugenics.
These discussions about GLP-1 medications are filled with people who report that these medications have an effect that nothing else they’ve tried has ever had.
And they have one off-label use that I’m aware of too. They appear to decrease or completely reverse NAFLD.
That’s the reason why my GP prescribed Ozempic. To treat my liver disease.
Am I diabetic? Yep. Well controlled.
Am I overweight? Also yes - but I’ve been doing relatively well slowly losing.
In theory I really didn’t look like a candidate for Ozempic. And I was surprised when my GP suggested it.
My point is that these drugs are giving doctors and patients a very effective tool. And some insights into a complex metabolic pathway that has some very important implications for overall health.
We may be on the verge of a paradigm shift in how class II and III obesity is treated. And I think that is awesome.
If it turns out that I need to take Ozempic for the rest of my life? I don’t see why I shouldn’t.
Also, just a detail.
My insurance (CHAMPVA, similar to TriCare) is providing Ozempic at no cost to me, and will continue to do so as long as my Dr prescribes it. BMI is not a factor, although being a type II diabetic is.
I just wanted to mention that so others reading this could ask their doctor about it if they happen to have a VA provided insurance.
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MargaretYakoda wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »In other words GLP-1s are a band aid for the most part and are only addressing the symptom
Yes.
Prescription medication addresses symptoms.
True - I've considered weight loss meds BUT my bigger issue is maintenance. I've been at goal weight and screwed it up (more than once).2 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »{Snippet from earlier post}It’s an attitude rooted in eugenics.
{Snippet 2nd post later}
Taking necessary medication daily is just something lots of people need to do. And, as I commented earlier in this discussion, the idea that it’s something that should be avoided unless someone is in dire shape is rooted in eugenics.
@MargaretYakoda - you have mentioned this twice, which has me curious as to 'how/why' if you care to say more. New idea/info to me, so curious.
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MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
Coming back to this:
The last few days I’ve been mulling over something.
I’m about 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight. It’s likely going to take months to get there. Even with the GLP-1.
It’s really hitting me that once I’ve achieved that goal, I absolutely have to remain in maintenance mode for the rest of my life.
I do think that GPs don’t emphasize this enough.
It’s a lifelong commitment. Just like diabetes management.
I’m glad to have this online community where we can share these insights and experiences.
I think that's the heart of the essential mindset shift. It's a completely different thing from treating weight loss as a project with an end date.
I think treating weight loss as a project with an end date is fine for people who just want to drop ten to twenty five pounds for an upcoming event.
I think that anyone who wants to stay at/around goal weight long term (or permanently) is poorly served by treating weight management as a project with an end date.
Permanently different outcomes require permanently different habits.
I agree that the challenge can be more profound for someone who's materially overweight, because the more overweight/obese, the bigger the permanent habit change(s) will need to be.
Sure, not true if a person just wants to be slim for an event, and go back to old habits and old weight (probably plus a little, realistically) after that event.
Overweight is one thing.
Morbidly obese (I don’t like the BMI categories for a bunch of reasons but here there is a useful distinction) is a whole other thing.4 -
MargaretYakoda wrote: »neanderthin wrote: »In other words GLP-1s are a band aid for the most part and are only addressing the symptom
Yes.
Prescription medication addresses symptoms.
True - I've considered weight loss meds BUT my bigger issue is maintenance. I've been at goal weight and screwed it up (more than once).
Honestly, maintenance is a whole other discussion. There’s definitely people here who can provide advice.
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@MargaretYakoda
"I’m prescribed metformin. If I stop taking it my A1C will rise. I’m prescribed thyroid meds. If I stop taking them my metabolism will tank. Taking necessary medication daily is just something lots of people need to do. And, as I commented earlier in this discussion, the idea that it’s something that should be avoided unless someone is in dire shape is rooted in eugenics."
I both agree and disagree with this. I learned the hard way the fear of medications is not a reason not to take them. I refused BP meds until I ended up with chest pain and being told that I could do real damage if I didn't manage the numbers. The other side of that is how we have move to an over medicated society:
In the early 1900's Heroin was developed and approved as a cough suppressant and then later to treat alcoholism. It worked for both. We all know how that went. There are literally endless drugs that were used and then recalled due to the side effects that were unknown at first. Even the current Covid vax (which i took) is causing deaths (maybe, depending who you believe). Not really wanting to debate that one but ... the point is if you need a medication to live, by all means, of course take that medications. If you can manage your condition weather it be diabetes or obesity with a change in diet... do that first. People will take a medication like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenfluramine/phentermine Phentermine because "it is completely safe" unless you listen to the very quick and quiet list of side effects in the commercial. Then when they have a heart attack they will join the law suit.
If they started a study for a medication that stopped aging tomorrow I'd be first in line to roll the dice though.
***I agree with trust your Doctor. If you don't... get a new doctor. If they say take it ask the questions that concern you, but take the meds.
Eugenics: I'm not sure with how avoiding medication unless it is necessary to live has anything to do with creating a more prefect human.
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MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »jwardtabitha1 wrote: »I think it depends. If you are doing a competition with others who are not using medication to lose weight, then yes. Otherwise, it's just part of your journey.
This issue comes when people stop taking the medication and gain the weight back because real and sustainable changes were not made.The drugs make it much easier to eat less calories since decreased appetitie is a medication side effects. Everyone I know has gained their weight back after stopping the medication.
Regain of weight is something that happens with every system of weight loss, and should not be used as a reason to avoid taking prescription medication that a medical professional recommends.
Coming back to this:
The last few days I’ve been mulling over something.
I’m about 40 pounds away from my ultimate goal weight. It’s likely going to take months to get there. Even with the GLP-1.
It’s really hitting me that once I’ve achieved that goal, I absolutely have to remain in maintenance mode for the rest of my life.
I do think that GPs don’t emphasize this enough.
It’s a lifelong commitment. Just like diabetes management.
I’m glad to have this online community where we can share these insights and experiences.
I think that's the heart of the essential mindset shift. It's a completely different thing from treating weight loss as a project with an end date.
I think treating weight loss as a project with an end date is fine for people who just want to drop ten to twenty five pounds for an upcoming event.
I think that anyone who wants to stay at/around goal weight long term (or permanently) is poorly served by treating weight management as a project with an end date.
Permanently different outcomes require permanently different habits.
I agree that the challenge can be more profound for someone who's materially overweight, because the more overweight/obese, the bigger the permanent habit change(s) will need to be.
Sure, not true if a person just wants to be slim for an event, and go back to old habits and old weight (probably plus a little, realistically) after that event.
Overweight is one thing.
Morbidly obese (I don’t like the BMI categories for a bunch of reasons but here there is a useful distinction) is a whole other thing.
In general I agree.
My point, which was admittedly not well fleshed out, is that I think that in people who are more than ≈ 40 pounds overweight there is something else happening often in addition to overeating combined with a lack of physical activity.
We do see a lot of anecdotal evidence of this in all of these discussions here about GLP-1 meds. Reports of quieting a background food noise. I’ve even experienced it in the past month that I’ve been taking Ozempic. Prior to taking this med I would never have said that was an issue for me. But I can feel a significant decrease in cravings. Something I didn’t expect, because I just thought that sort of thing was normal.
Example: I used to avoid buying Halloween candy because I would find it very difficult to moderate the amount I would eat. Single serving packs are helpful. But even so. it was something I had to pay attention to.
Now? My partner purchased a bag at the beginning of the week.
I’ve had some. And it was nice. But I’ve not been obsessed by its existence in the house. The bag is currently still half full.
Prior to Ozempic that would have never happened.4 -
trixsterjl31 wrote: »@MargaretYakoda
"I’m prescribed metformin. If I stop taking it my A1C will rise. I’m prescribed thyroid meds. If I stop taking them my metabolism will tank. Taking necessary medication daily is just something lots of people need to do. And, as I commented earlier in this discussion, the idea that it’s something that should be avoided unless someone is in dire shape is rooted in eugenics."
I both agree and disagree with this. I learned the hard way the fear of medications is not a reason not to take them. I refused BP meds until I ended up with chest pain and being told that I could do real damage if I didn't manage the numbers. The other side of that is how we have move to an over medicated society:
In the early 1900's Heroin was developed and approved as a cough suppressant and then later to treat alcoholism. It worked for both. We all know how that went. There are literally endless drugs that were used and then recalled due to the side effects that were unknown at first. Even the current Covid vax (which i took) is causing deaths (maybe, depending who you believe). Not really wanting to debate that one but ... the point is if you need a medication to live, by all means, of course take that medications. If you can manage your condition weather it be diabetes or obesity with a change in diet... do that first. People will take a medication like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fenfluramine/phentermine Phentermine because "it is completely safe" unless you listen to the very quick and quiet list of side effects in the commercial. Then when they have a heart attack they will join the law suit.
If they started a study for a medication that stopped aging tomorrow I'd be first in line to roll the dice though.
***I agree with trust your Doctor. If you don't... get a new doctor. If they say take it ask the questions that concern you, but take the meds.
Eugenics: I'm not sure with how avoiding medication unless it is necessary to live has anything to do with creating a more prefect human.
I’m sorry but it’s very difficult to respond to so many points that aren’t separated by paragraphs. Just a technical point.
Can we pick one or two to focus on?1 -
Adventurista wrote: »MargaretYakoda wrote: »{Snippet from earlier post}It’s an attitude rooted in eugenics.
{Snippet 2nd post later}
Taking necessary medication daily is just something lots of people need to do. And, as I commented earlier in this discussion, the idea that it’s something that should be avoided unless someone is in dire shape is rooted in eugenics.
@MargaretYakoda - you have mentioned this twice, which has me curious as to 'how/why' if you care to say more. New idea/info to me, so curious.
It’s a huge and often academic discussion which would really derail this topic.
And, to be quite honest, as a physically disabled person, I’m not really up for it in an open forum, because (reasons)
The tl;dr is that eugenics is a philosophy that seeks to create perfect humans through a variety of methods. Someone who needs a prescription to remain healthy or even alive is, within a eugenics framework, a person who is less-than, and ideally (under eugenics) an outcome which should be avoided.
Please don’t take this as me saying that prescriptions are always the answer.
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I envy anyone who can tolerate semaglutide. My Endo had me try it. It worked....I started losing weight. But I was also so constipated and my stomach was SO upset all I could do was sit around. After 9 weeks, I was done. So now I am doing it the old fashioned way. Maybe someday they will come up with a remedy for the side effects of the drug. But for now, I can't use them.5
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