Hard to motivate…

No, I don't feel that way. I'm not sure I even understand, though I'm not questioning or criticising you for feeling that way - my lack of insight isn't a criticism of you.

Like Lietchi, I lost weight before those drugs were a common thing. (My loss was 2015-16, so I'm in long term maintenance now since then.)

From reading posts here, what I think is that the drugs can be an important tool for some people. A very common comment from those who get big benefits from the drugs is that the drug regimen reduces what they call "food noise" - constant, obsessive thoughts/cravings related to food. Those "food noise" effects can be physical, from genetic issues, maybe composition of eating style, and more. If the drugs break down that barrier that's very difficult for some people, and help them reach a healthy weight with only tolerable side effects, I'm cheering for them.

I do think that people who choose that route are more likely to succeed long-term if they use the drug to create space where they can learn and practice new, positive eating and activity habits that will help keep them at a healthy weight long term, as well as reaching that weight initially. I fear that if people treat the drugs as more of a magical thing, and don't try to consciously remodel their routine habits, there are more likely to be difficulties in their future.

I think the drugs can soften or remove a barrier some people have that makes weight loss more difficult for them, but they aren't some kind of cheat code or universal total solution.

If I were losing now, and needed those drugs, I'd take them. But I'm maintaining quite happily now, and as far as I know that kind of "food noise" wasn't one of the reasons for my obesity in the first place.

I know it's not true for everyone, but once I got serious and committed to the process, I found weight loss quite straightforward. It wasn't psychologically easy every single second, but the mechanics were simple, and I found a way to apply them that was doable for me without huge struggle. (I know I'm lucky, since that's not a universal experience. The thing is, I didn't think it would be that manageable until I committed and did it. I was surprised how effective it was, without major misery or struggle.)

I guess I'm curious: Do you feel you need those drugs? If so, why are you choosing not to pursue them - is it cost, fear of side effects, something else?

If other people need them, and I don't, I wouldn't be demotivated by their experience, personally. Different things work for people, and that applies beyond drugs or surgery: We differ in our eating and activity/exercise needs, too, since we're all unique individuals with our own preferences, strengths, challenges and lifestyles. For example, if keto works well for some people, I'm not demotivated because that wouldn't work for me at all - I wouldn't like eating that way, so it would be a struggle. I just pick a different route that works for me.

If I needed the drugs, and couldn't get them for some reason, I guess I can see how that would be demotivating to a certain extent. It still doesn't roadblock all other possible avenues to success, however. For example, some foods increase our bodies' natural GLP-1 production. That's a weaker or shorter effect than the drugs supply, but it might be a helpful avenue to explore for some people who can't use the drugs for whatever reason.

But maybe I'm not someone who should even be trying to answer this question: I'm not a big believer in "motivation" as an important tool, at least for me personally. I don't have much of a budget of motivation, willpower or discipline. There was a point where I did need to commit to changing my habits, once I accepted that I'd need to if I wanted to reach my health improvement goals . . . but I was focused on finding the easiest, most pleasant, least annoying, least motivation-requiring tactics I could find.

I hope you're able to find a path past your current sticking point. Wishing you success!

You're doing the right thing for yourself, which is perfect.

As an aside: There's still no magic pill. Sure, now there's a pill. That's (IMO) a good thing, potentially helpful to some.

Those whom it benefits may feel so relieved that they think it's magic. I wish them long term success, very sincerely.

The clickbaiters, marketers, paid-off blogosphere/IG/TikTok influencers and their ilk will say it's magic, at least in the headlines . . . because clicks and sales are $$$ in their pockets. They don't care if it's even true, as long as they profit.

In the long run, if it turns out not to truly be magic, high odds that last group will start clickbaiting that it's doom, unlike the next hot thing they're pushing by then.

There's already a bit of doom-wave foreshadowing: "Ozempic face" and that sort of thing.

I'd say: Cheer for anyone it genuinely helps to long-term success, but ignore any publicity, because it's pretty much always exaggerated. JMO.