Wegovy Day 1 Getting started 11/16/2024

Kathleen_Presnell · November 16

Greetings!

Got up today knowing this is the new journey that I'm starting. My sister and her husband have been doing the shots now one year. They have both lost over 60-70 pounds each. I begged my doctor for help and he only wanted me to do the stomach surgery. I decided not to do it after speaking to the dietician and finding out some of the side effects and long life changes afterwards.

I requested the weight loss shots. I am not diabetic. I do not have high blood pressure. My insurance covers it with a small co-pay. I have Aetna insurance.
Starting weight is 279. My highest weight was at the doctors office two weeks ago at 281. I hate this...I am 58 years old and this is scary.

The shot today was easier than I thought it would be. I decided to do my lower stomach area. It didn't hurt. I could taste metal flavoring in my mouth. I know I am pretty sensitive to things. I was a little sick to my stomach. I didn't take my vitamins yet and I just had a protein bar and it's 11:30 am I went to work today. I hope to keep busy and focus on work not food.

I always have "Food Noise" in my brain. What am I eating? What meal is next? What food goes on the shopping list? Trying not to go to McDonalds while driving home or go somewhere else to eat... my brain never turns off that noise. My sister says, it will in time go away. I hope so - I want to think about moving my body, cleaning the house, doing low impact exercise. Getting my life back.

Goals: Saturday Shot Day
eat 6 small meals a day
get in 90-100 grams of protein day
drink a gallon a water per day
purchase one chicken pre-cooked and divide the meat into smaller portions
Get cottage cheese for quick meals
Purchase more protein bars
Use protein shakes daily to get protein in my diet plan
Take a walk during breaks at work to get my body burning fat
Weight myself once a week not daily

I hope to find others doing this journey for support. I have my sister and she has given me hope and has offered support. I am not alone. You are not alone. We can do this for our health.

I'm praying that this is my new beginning. I've tried several times on my own but now I am believing this will be the change for me.

Kathleen

springlering62 · November 17

Hi Kathleen. I started at 56, well into the 200’s. There was no shot six years ago, so I did it with diet and exercise. Not wagging a finger- it simply wasn’t an option at the time. I don’t know what I would have done if there had been. But I’m grateful, because it forced me to learn new habits and new tools to reach goal and stay in maintenance. And it’s cheaper, too, lol.

I guess I have “food noise”. I’m constantly thinking “when is my next snack or meal?” but I’ve found that if I pre-log, I know when that will happen, and can relax until it’s time. It’s basically a food schedule. I try to pre-log in the morning and often pre-log several days out, as I’ve done now.

Having things pre-logged also gives me the flexibility to make quick changes. I didn’t have enough time for a snack before yoga? I’ll pull that snack and add something else after dinner. Hungrier than usual after a swim? I’ll eat my protein bar before lunch and cut somewhere else in the afternoon.

Whoops! Not enough protein? I can easily substitute something that is higher (although I’ve generally taken that into account when pre-logging).

Don’t stress over the minutiae when starting out. Focus on getting enough calories to fuel yourself. Paying attention to what you eat and logging accurately and honestly is a great start. The rest will come.

Much success to you. When I lost the weight, moving became enjoyable again, and now it’s as much of a necessity as food. There’s no better feeling than jumping up and doing something on a whim, instead of struggling out of the barcolounger and feeling like everything is an exhausting effort.

If I can do this, any damn fool can do it.

tmlong33 · November 19

Hi Kathleen! I have been on Wegovy for awhile now. I have tried different shots and Wegovy is the one that works best for me. I started out at 255 and am now at 227. For me the shots didn’t kick with the true effects of it until I was on the higher doses so the most important thing is to BE PATIENT. The appetite suppressant will kick in, but it might not be for awhile.

And one of the things that has been a huge benefit for me is that I actually am no longer a slave to food. I’m not constantly thinking about my next meal or my next snack. In fact, sometimes I have to force myself to eat. I have read articles that shots like Wegovy are actually being looked at to help with addictive behavior.

I also find myself eating slower. You will know when your shot is kicking in because you will be eating a meal when suddenly you realize that if you eat another bite you are going to be sick to your stomach.

Bottom line, you got this! With all the factors I had working against me (thyroid disease, kidney disease, PCOS, insulin resistance), these shots are made for people like me who have trouble losing weight through conventional meals. I had to change my diet as well and limit myself in calories, but the shots aid greatly and have been so beneficial when you are a person who has trouble losing weight through regular means. Not everyone has a high metabolism! Keep taking your shots and keep doing what you are doing!

Kathleen_Presnell · November 21

Thank you so much for your support. Can you tell me what you set your protein, fat and calories? The hunger went away actually on day one. I guess I'm a cheap date like booze or beer. I only need one. In fact, I actually had hunger pangs for the first time in years. I've never really fasted enough for my tummy to growl. I know I'm losing water weight already went down from 281 down to 275 and it hasn't even been a week yet. I need to stop weighing daily. I already broke that rule of mine. I also have PCOS, insulin resistance, bad knees, arthritis in my bones. But I love to swim and I need to love the gym. My sister said it's very important to eat protein and work out. The meds tend to work on muscle and not fat if you don't and I don't want that! Anyone that I ask about this journey says to work out. My co-workers wife has lost 27 pounds now in 5 months and feels great. I'm hoping that my metabolism will change. It's at like "0" but I know in time I will be a different person inside and out!

springlering62 · November 21

Kathleen, you say you like swimming, but don’t like “the gym”.

Don’t schluff off swimming. Its an excellent calorie burning, muscle building activity and if you like doing it, that’s where the magic happens.

I am a painfully slow swimmer. I just started swimming laps last year, after I broke a toe and needed something that was low pressure on it.

I’m slow and steady. I don’t do flips at lane ends because that makes me nauseous. I just hug the wall and kick off in the other direction. It’s not pretty, it’s not professional, but doggone, it’s an effective calorie burn.

It doesn’t have to be fancy to be a workout.

This is my calorie burn for my swim this morning:

I am highly active, and eat unusually high protein. I find it satiating, and like that it helps me retain muscle. BUT, I came to this realization after monitoring my food and learning what worked for me for many months.

KISS. Keep It Simple, Stupid. I started with the simple basic macro proportions that MFP recommended, and focused more on getting my weighing and logging down pat, then on making changes and lower cal substitutions. It’s like learning to play an instrument. You start with whole notes and learn to do those properly before moving on the 32cd notes and trills.

You’ve got your whole life to get those macros down pat. Find the forest before you focus on the trees!

Kathleen_Presnell · November 21

Wow, great advice for sure. I play the clarinet so you hit me right in the face with that analogy. I should have said, I love to swim. When ever I have a day off from work - I swim and I love to swim laps. When I had my knee replaced I swam and did water aerobics. I can't go there daily, because I work downtown and it's closed when I get off work. But, I do my thing, get some sun and smile. For me, I want to do it every day. Been thinking of finding another place to swim that is open later in the day to fit my schedule.

Thank you so much for the advice. I love it!!! God knows I needed to hear that I am doing it baby steps at a time. I'm proud that I'm posting my food daily. This tool will be my friend and it took a long time for my stupid Doctor to allow me to do it. He wanted me to op for stomach surgery. I know I can lose it. Thank you!!!!

Wegovy Day 1 Getting started 11/16/2024

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