Well done losing 50 pounds! I am diabetic but couldn’t tolerate Ozempic or Monjauro. I barely got off the bed for a week and had to take Zofran every eight hours to keep from vomiting. I’m happy it’s working for you. ❤️
On Reddit, some people with your story have found success by using very small doses at first, allowing their bodies to acclimate. (You get the vial instead of the pen and inject a tiny dose calculated by your doctor). Some people need to eat very bland low-fat diets, too. I’m not a doctor, but that may be an approach for you. Also, there are multiple new drugs coming soon. Retatrutide is in final testing and those who have used it report excellent results. There may yet be an answer for you — I hope so!
In 2019, I got a blood test for food, sensitivities, and intolerances, stopped eating, gluten and dairy, and within three weeks, I was completely off the blood pressure medicine I had taken for years, and had decreased my cholesterol medicine by 80%. Since then, I have fine-tuned my food sensitivities and have dropped 25 pounds but better yet have managed the major health threats. My rule of thumb is not to buy any foods that have words on the label I have to look up, everything that producers need to keep it on the shelf longer and to keep it prettier in your fridge. The most miraculous part was that I had struggled with restless legs syndrome since childhood and now I can manage it. My beef with insurance is that most doctors don’t even know about food sensitivity tests, and if they do, they are out of reach for most normal people. Because insurance doesn’t pay for them.
I stick mostly to whole foods. The most processed things we eat are vegetarian meat substitutes that I sometimes use. (I’m not a vegetarian but my husband is.) A few years ago I decided to try a strict elimination diet. I think it was mostly rice, lamb and pears? I wanted to see if I could eliminate hives. Nothing came of the elimination diet for me, and the hives kept coming although now I realize I can’t remember the last time I had them.
I’m writing a similar story to this one right now. Well, it’s adjacent, with a central theme of, if you want anything from the world—especially relationship or career—and you’re a woman—and especially, an older one—you’d better be attractive and slim. The meds may cost a fortune. But the opportunity cost of *not* taking them may be higher.
Getting the draft done is nearly destroying me but I think it’s almost done. Your story has helped inspire me to push through, so I thank you!
I also pay an Old Tax for being gray, even though I think my silvery hair looks better than my colored hair ever did. I frankly gave up trying to get a job several years ago and that's why you see me writing so much stuff!
But it also means I can stop worrying about what the world thinks about my appearance -- others are free to think I don't look young and attractive and that's fine. It's immaterial to me. I am just happy all my blood work is good now. :)
I’ll definitely share my link with you once this epic story is done. I’d welcome your thoughts! The working title is “Better Living—or at Least, Looking—Through Needles.”
Thanks for writing this. It rings so true. I’m enjoying not having hunger pangs while on Mounjaro. Sadly I’m staying on the downlow because I’m not tough enough to ignore the judgements of others.
I've lost 20lbs myself on Wegovy, but it took developing A-Fib for my insurance company to cover it, though most of my health issues are weight related and it would have been a wise investment to save them money later.
Isn't it weird that they don't want to cover this, but they'd cover things like knee and hip replacements without question? I hope this means I'll never need knee and hip replacements, plus many other things.
Researchers are ringing the bells about an epidemic of Alzheimer's. Some of these drugs are looking like they may stall or even prevent the development of ALZ. Could be a miracle that stops a crisis in its track if it is made available to all who need it. The big "if".
That's the crazy thing. The naysayers are screaming that this drug is SO dangerous, while the actual research keeps finding ways it's very good for us. The truth is probably somewhere in between and it will take time, but for now, I am quite sure this is good for me.
Good for you! I was downright skinny, until I was on my own and making a decent salary. I’m also a terrible cook, so since I could afford it I ate out twice a day. I’ve been fighting my weight ever since, though recently it’s coming back under control. Mostly through stress.
My husband is having good luck with a weight loss drug. He was advised to lose weight before his hip replacement surgery. I’ve noticed his wine consumption has gone way down, too. I lost weight when I had surgery to repair my esophagus and have been able to keep it off. I avoid alcohol because it triggers my depression.
I enjoy having a drink or two, but I can barely finish one drink now. We will see how it goes this summer, when we usually serve wine in the backyard. Maybe I'll have to switch to iced tea or something. The relaxation of a drink is nice so I hope I can have one occasionally.
Last night, walking the dogs without a big coat for the first time in months, a neighbor I don’t know said she noticed I’d lost weight. I immediately told her I’ve been using this drug, that it’s worked well and that it’s improved my health. There are many hateful people faking concern about the dangers of this drug — I’ve decided to be a witness.
At first, I was hesitant to talk about it. But the truth is I’ve been on the same sort of healthy journey for years and losing ounces. And, during Covid I felt really badly for not being able to lose weight and in a sense contributing to the problem. Now, I do tell people what I’m doing if they ask. And I am super lucky to have gotten a chance with the medicine and am constantly coming up with back up plans for when (inevitably) they become inaccessible to me (for whatever reason)…
Congratulations, great picture. As a former thin person who grows increasingly zaftig in middle age, I have to say the struggle is real. I am definitely eating healthier than before but the scale keeps trending up and I can’t afford the exhaustion from severe calorie restriction. I am happy you have found that medication is the best solution for you.
That’s what has been driving me crazy — I cook most of our food from scratch, incorporating lots of vegetables, beans, whole grains etc. Essentially, the Mediterranean diet. Still fat! Not my husband, even though I bake bread for him regularly with all that flour!
In 2019, I got a blood test for food sensitivities and intolerances, stopped eating gluten and dairy, and within three weeks, I was completely off the blood pressure medicine I had taken for years, and had decreased my cholesterol medicine by 80%. Since then, I have fine-tuned my food sensitivities and have dropped 25 pounds but better yet, have managed the major health threats. My rule of thumb is not to buy any foods that have words on the label I have to look up, everything that producers need to keep it on the shelf longer and to keep it prettier in your fridge. The most miraculous part was that I had struggled with restless legs syndrome since childhood and now I can manage it. My beef with insurance is that most doctors don’t even know about food sensitivity tests, and if they do, they are out of reach for most normal people. Because insurance doesn’t pay for them.
Well done losing 50 pounds! I am diabetic but couldn’t tolerate Ozempic or Monjauro. I barely got off the bed for a week and had to take Zofran every eight hours to keep from vomiting. I’m happy it’s working for you. ❤️
On Reddit, some people with your story have found success by using very small doses at first, allowing their bodies to acclimate. (You get the vial instead of the pen and inject a tiny dose calculated by your doctor). Some people need to eat very bland low-fat diets, too. I’m not a doctor, but that may be an approach for you. Also, there are multiple new drugs coming soon. Retatrutide is in final testing and those who have used it report excellent results. There may yet be an answer for you — I hope so!
Thank you! Something to consider.
In 2019, I got a blood test for food, sensitivities, and intolerances, stopped eating, gluten and dairy, and within three weeks, I was completely off the blood pressure medicine I had taken for years, and had decreased my cholesterol medicine by 80%. Since then, I have fine-tuned my food sensitivities and have dropped 25 pounds but better yet have managed the major health threats. My rule of thumb is not to buy any foods that have words on the label I have to look up, everything that producers need to keep it on the shelf longer and to keep it prettier in your fridge. The most miraculous part was that I had struggled with restless legs syndrome since childhood and now I can manage it. My beef with insurance is that most doctors don’t even know about food sensitivity tests, and if they do, they are out of reach for most normal people. Because insurance doesn’t pay for them.
I stick mostly to whole foods. The most processed things we eat are vegetarian meat substitutes that I sometimes use. (I’m not a vegetarian but my husband is.) A few years ago I decided to try a strict elimination diet. I think it was mostly rice, lamb and pears? I wanted to see if I could eliminate hives. Nothing came of the elimination diet for me, and the hives kept coming although now I realize I can’t remember the last time I had them.
Our bodies are weird!!
I’m writing a similar story to this one right now. Well, it’s adjacent, with a central theme of, if you want anything from the world—especially relationship or career—and you’re a woman—and especially, an older one—you’d better be attractive and slim. The meds may cost a fortune. But the opportunity cost of *not* taking them may be higher.
Getting the draft done is nearly destroying me but I think it’s almost done. Your story has helped inspire me to push through, so I thank you!
Thank you!
I also pay an Old Tax for being gray, even though I think my silvery hair looks better than my colored hair ever did. I frankly gave up trying to get a job several years ago and that's why you see me writing so much stuff!
But it also means I can stop worrying about what the world thinks about my appearance -- others are free to think I don't look young and attractive and that's fine. It's immaterial to me. I am just happy all my blood work is good now. :)
“Old tax,” hahahahah. Familiar with that one. 😏
I’ll definitely share my link with you once this epic story is done. I’d welcome your thoughts! The working title is “Better Living—or at Least, Looking—Through Needles.”
I love every last word of this post. Thank you. 💙
Thanks for writing this. It rings so true. I’m enjoying not having hunger pangs while on Mounjaro. Sadly I’m staying on the downlow because I’m not tough enough to ignore the judgements of others.
All the more reason for people like me to SHOUT THE TRUTH.
Ok, I can't unsee that one. LOLOL
Seriously, you're lovely (and brave). Congrats.
I've lost 20lbs myself on Wegovy, but it took developing A-Fib for my insurance company to cover it, though most of my health issues are weight related and it would have been a wise investment to save them money later.
Isn't it weird that they don't want to cover this, but they'd cover things like knee and hip replacements without question? I hope this means I'll never need knee and hip replacements, plus many other things.
Researchers are ringing the bells about an epidemic of Alzheimer's. Some of these drugs are looking like they may stall or even prevent the development of ALZ. Could be a miracle that stops a crisis in its track if it is made available to all who need it. The big "if".
That's the crazy thing. The naysayers are screaming that this drug is SO dangerous, while the actual research keeps finding ways it's very good for us. The truth is probably somewhere in between and it will take time, but for now, I am quite sure this is good for me.
Overweight and underpaid? Flo and Eddie (a.k.a. Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman) felt that way, too, back in the day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLorE3fGnUc
Good for you! I was downright skinny, until I was on my own and making a decent salary. I’m also a terrible cook, so since I could afford it I ate out twice a day. I’ve been fighting my weight ever since, though recently it’s coming back under control. Mostly through stress.
So well said! And congratulations! Also: love the pic ;)
Thank you for this. True. True. And true.
“The purpose of medicine in America, as you know, is not good health for the masses. It is profit for the few.”
“If you are eating just enough to satisfy your hunger and are sticking to a reasonably healthy diet, you can still get pretty damn fat.”
“It has always been OK to shame fat people if you do it by pretending you care about their health.”
My husband is having good luck with a weight loss drug. He was advised to lose weight before his hip replacement surgery. I’ve noticed his wine consumption has gone way down, too. I lost weight when I had surgery to repair my esophagus and have been able to keep it off. I avoid alcohol because it triggers my depression.
Alcohol triggers, my depression, too, particularly wine (sulfites). We should figure that out decades ago.
I enjoy having a drink or two, but I can barely finish one drink now. We will see how it goes this summer, when we usually serve wine in the backyard. Maybe I'll have to switch to iced tea or something. The relaxation of a drink is nice so I hope I can have one occasionally.
Alcohol is a depressant. It’s like trying to dose a fire with gasoline.
Hey Michele - am on a similar journey - have also lost 50lbs on various GLP-1s - and feel just much better. Thank you for this post.
You’re welcome!
Last night, walking the dogs without a big coat for the first time in months, a neighbor I don’t know said she noticed I’d lost weight. I immediately told her I’ve been using this drug, that it’s worked well and that it’s improved my health. There are many hateful people faking concern about the dangers of this drug — I’ve decided to be a witness.
At first, I was hesitant to talk about it. But the truth is I’ve been on the same sort of healthy journey for years and losing ounces. And, during Covid I felt really badly for not being able to lose weight and in a sense contributing to the problem. Now, I do tell people what I’m doing if they ask. And I am super lucky to have gotten a chance with the medicine and am constantly coming up with back up plans for when (inevitably) they become inaccessible to me (for whatever reason)…
A trip to another country to stock up is one possible answer I’m considering
Congratulations, great picture. As a former thin person who grows increasingly zaftig in middle age, I have to say the struggle is real. I am definitely eating healthier than before but the scale keeps trending up and I can’t afford the exhaustion from severe calorie restriction. I am happy you have found that medication is the best solution for you.
That’s what has been driving me crazy — I cook most of our food from scratch, incorporating lots of vegetables, beans, whole grains etc. Essentially, the Mediterranean diet. Still fat! Not my husband, even though I bake bread for him regularly with all that flour!
LOVE the photo, the article, and I was an early reader to Trailer Park Rules, and recommend it!
In 2019, I got a blood test for food sensitivities and intolerances, stopped eating gluten and dairy, and within three weeks, I was completely off the blood pressure medicine I had taken for years, and had decreased my cholesterol medicine by 80%. Since then, I have fine-tuned my food sensitivities and have dropped 25 pounds but better yet, have managed the major health threats. My rule of thumb is not to buy any foods that have words on the label I have to look up, everything that producers need to keep it on the shelf longer and to keep it prettier in your fridge. The most miraculous part was that I had struggled with restless legs syndrome since childhood and now I can manage it. My beef with insurance is that most doctors don’t even know about food sensitivity tests, and if they do, they are out of reach for most normal people. Because insurance doesn’t pay for them.