Grateful for your post. As a former food professional and still a writer whose work is heavily food focused, I have avoided the conversation and have been very private about it. I have liver fibrosis and genetically high risk cardiac disease, and had a Covid stroke in September 2020. Post-menopause, I gained significant weight that I could not lose no matter what I did. A year ago, my cardiologist put me on Wegovy, and it has been a godsend. I haven’t lost a ton of weight—17 lbs—but all of my markers have come way way down, my fibrosis is now stage 0 (from stage 2), and my neuro-inflammation markers are way down. I’m grateful for it. The first few months were rough, but I had been used to feel ill pretty much all the time. I still have the odd queasy day, but rarely.
I am so grateful for Mounjaro. My therapist suggested it for a skin picking disorder I have and it didn't work at all, but I ended up losing some stubborn weight and honestly, I feel so great. No shame at all. I am wearing a bikini this summer and do not care (I'm 59) It is so freeing to just not even think about weight or whether I should order the salad or the rib eye. I eat healthy, move a lot, am a solid size 6 which makes shopping not frustrating for once, and I feel sexy again! I micro-dose now because I don't want to get smaller. My only criticism is that it should be available to everyone, not just people who can pay the exorbitant price. Happy you found it too. I think talking about it is important, and no one should feel bad about taking it. And no one should feel bad for NOT taking it.
Thanks for sharing your journey. Glp1s are life changing and while we need more research, we also need to remove the stigma around them and weight loss in general. It’s biology.
I vividly remember your article, The Fat Trap. I actually remember starting to cry about halfway through. The part that really got to me was the info that someone who lost a significant amount of weight needed to eat up to 30% less than someone who maintained that weight naturally. It was so validating because that had been my experience for all of my life as a weight struggler.
And I also remember the slide show of the Bridges, a married couple who maintained significant weight loss by doing an extraordinary amount of exercise and painstakingly limiting and tracking calories. I’ve actually talked about them and thought of them throughout the past 12 years since the article. Have you ever followed up with them? Are they still successful at maintaining their weight losses?
I should follow up with the Bridges! If I hear from them I will let you know. So nice to hear that story helped you. I had the same response when I learned that 30% fact -- It was validating for me too. Since learning that I've been a lot kinder to myself, which is a good place to be. Thanks for writing.
Hi, I've been taking a GLP1 for almost 5 months, have lost 35 lbs so far, and I thank science and Medicare every single day that it is available for me for a reasonable cost. You're right about exercise and eating healthy. I eat more veggies and salads and protein now than I ever did and my sugar intake is now limited to fresh fruit. 90% of my diet is natural and I rarely buy prepared foods. I walk more, and do strength training. I am lucky in that the only side effect I have had is a bit of constipation, but even that is helped immensely by the extra fiber I eat every day. Seriously, I have never eaten healthier in my life! And you are right—it's not easy! But we do it because we all want to be healthy!
Refreshing to read your recognition of “GLP-1”s as potentiators, part of a team with diet and exercise to deliver you to better health; especially important as questions remain about what life after these drug helpers will look like and whether they need be continued for weight maintenance going forward
I really value that you described managing weight as a chronic condition, I think not enough people are seeing obesity as a chronic disease that needs medical treatment. That's how I see it and have explained it to people. I've been on Mounjaro for about 15 months now and it's been life-changing and so freeing. Thank you for sharing your experience
I’ve been taking a glp-1 for 5 months. I didn’t take it specifically to lose weight but because my labs taken every 6 months showed that I was pre-diabetic despite being an endurance athlete and eating a clean diet. My provider was dismissive and wouldn’t help despite my clear diabetic symptoms. I got a subscription on my own. It’s been so freeing to be able to eat and not have such a blood sugar rollercoaster that I have to lie down for an hour after eating. Also, my MCAS symptoms are gone. No more crazy allergic reactions to random foods. I have lost weight and that’s a bonus but I have also been eating more than I had previously.
These individual stories and narratives are such an important part of modern wellness.
Candidly sharing how you’re pursuing precise medical intervention for chronic conditions while diving into Reddit for community support is practical, destigmatizing and inspiring.
GLP-1’s are not a part of my journey. But I feel such symmetry and validation in how I’m pursuing my own battle with Long Covid.
Been taking a GLP1 for almost 3 months. My goal was to lose 30 pounds, and I'm 5 pounds away from my goal.
The pros: Rapid weight loss is super encouraging. Heavy, greasy, and sugary foods have become repulsive for the most part. I can move better without my 25 pound gut hanging in front of me. I have a little more energy.
The cons: I feel nauseous and too full for about 3-5 days after the injection. It wears you down. I have to force myself to eat and drink. I've gotten severely dehydrated twice, which adds to the nausea and feeling crummy. I know I'm not getting enough protein and worry about muscle loss. The 1st 2 weeks I couldn't eat more than about 500 calories a day, and I think I was literally starving. One more way to feel not well! It gives me really bad reflux; lansoprozole helps but doesn't eliminate it.
I've been spacing out the dosing interval to 8-10 days; this helps me have a few days of feeling normal. I'm also going back down to 5mg, from 7.5. In fact, the 7.5 mg dose made me feel so badly that I'm taking a week off entirely, just to let my body return to normal. It's helping a lot.
So, overall I'm glad I'm doing it, but it sure isn't easy. My goal is to lose enough weight to have normal blood pressure and cholesterol, so I can stop 3 meds. In fact, one of my cholesterol meds has a $150 copay. That goes a ways towards paying $300-$400/month online for the GLP1 med.
GLP 1 meds changed my life and enabled me to start doing the hard, emotional work that led to my eating habits. It’s a huge WIP but since I’m not so occupied with weight management, I can actually focus on the underlying issues and spend energy to repair the root causes. I did have a hard time with food aversion but spacing out my dose and preparing protein shakes has helped a lot with that!
it's strange to see the part about sugar and breakfasts - particularly with cereals, they've lost in popularity to Greek Yogurt and more keto forward breakfasts for a while. Fiber/fibre is still definitely an issue.
There are definitely some breakfast options that are too high in sugar, but I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting something sweet in the morning. I eat Skyr along with something I’ve baked (muffins, scones, bagels) and fruit and I don’t experience any blood sugar crashes.
Grateful for your post. As a former food professional and still a writer whose work is heavily food focused, I have avoided the conversation and have been very private about it. I have liver fibrosis and genetically high risk cardiac disease, and had a Covid stroke in September 2020. Post-menopause, I gained significant weight that I could not lose no matter what I did. A year ago, my cardiologist put me on Wegovy, and it has been a godsend. I haven’t lost a ton of weight—17 lbs—but all of my markers have come way way down, my fibrosis is now stage 0 (from stage 2), and my neuro-inflammation markers are way down. I’m grateful for it. The first few months were rough, but I had been used to feel ill pretty much all the time. I still have the odd queasy day, but rarely.
I am so grateful for Mounjaro. My therapist suggested it for a skin picking disorder I have and it didn't work at all, but I ended up losing some stubborn weight and honestly, I feel so great. No shame at all. I am wearing a bikini this summer and do not care (I'm 59) It is so freeing to just not even think about weight or whether I should order the salad or the rib eye. I eat healthy, move a lot, am a solid size 6 which makes shopping not frustrating for once, and I feel sexy again! I micro-dose now because I don't want to get smaller. My only criticism is that it should be available to everyone, not just people who can pay the exorbitant price. Happy you found it too. I think talking about it is important, and no one should feel bad about taking it. And no one should feel bad for NOT taking it.
thanks for sharing. agree with you on all points and enjoy your bikini life this summer!!
Thanks for sharing your journey. Glp1s are life changing and while we need more research, we also need to remove the stigma around them and weight loss in general. It’s biology.
I vividly remember your article, The Fat Trap. I actually remember starting to cry about halfway through. The part that really got to me was the info that someone who lost a significant amount of weight needed to eat up to 30% less than someone who maintained that weight naturally. It was so validating because that had been my experience for all of my life as a weight struggler.
And I also remember the slide show of the Bridges, a married couple who maintained significant weight loss by doing an extraordinary amount of exercise and painstakingly limiting and tracking calories. I’ve actually talked about them and thought of them throughout the past 12 years since the article. Have you ever followed up with them? Are they still successful at maintaining their weight losses?
I should follow up with the Bridges! If I hear from them I will let you know. So nice to hear that story helped you. I had the same response when I learned that 30% fact -- It was validating for me too. Since learning that I've been a lot kinder to myself, which is a good place to be. Thanks for writing.
Hi, I've been taking a GLP1 for almost 5 months, have lost 35 lbs so far, and I thank science and Medicare every single day that it is available for me for a reasonable cost. You're right about exercise and eating healthy. I eat more veggies and salads and protein now than I ever did and my sugar intake is now limited to fresh fruit. 90% of my diet is natural and I rarely buy prepared foods. I walk more, and do strength training. I am lucky in that the only side effect I have had is a bit of constipation, but even that is helped immensely by the extra fiber I eat every day. Seriously, I have never eaten healthier in my life! And you are right—it's not easy! But we do it because we all want to be healthy!
That is amazing Mardee, and very encouraging - eating healthier is such a positive outcome, along with the exercise. Continued success!
On the GLP1 train with you and feel
Your pain. So excited about your success to date. Keep chugging along, T, you are doing great!!
Thank you!!! Those of us on this GLP1 train need to support each other!
Refreshing to read your recognition of “GLP-1”s as potentiators, part of a team with diet and exercise to deliver you to better health; especially important as questions remain about what life after these drug helpers will look like and whether they need be continued for weight maintenance going forward
I really value that you described managing weight as a chronic condition, I think not enough people are seeing obesity as a chronic disease that needs medical treatment. That's how I see it and have explained it to people. I've been on Mounjaro for about 15 months now and it's been life-changing and so freeing. Thank you for sharing your experience
I’ve been taking a glp-1 for 5 months. I didn’t take it specifically to lose weight but because my labs taken every 6 months showed that I was pre-diabetic despite being an endurance athlete and eating a clean diet. My provider was dismissive and wouldn’t help despite my clear diabetic symptoms. I got a subscription on my own. It’s been so freeing to be able to eat and not have such a blood sugar rollercoaster that I have to lie down for an hour after eating. Also, my MCAS symptoms are gone. No more crazy allergic reactions to random foods. I have lost weight and that’s a bonus but I have also been eating more than I had previously.
These individual stories and narratives are such an important part of modern wellness.
Candidly sharing how you’re pursuing precise medical intervention for chronic conditions while diving into Reddit for community support is practical, destigmatizing and inspiring.
GLP-1’s are not a part of my journey. But I feel such symmetry and validation in how I’m pursuing my own battle with Long Covid.
Been taking a GLP1 for almost 3 months. My goal was to lose 30 pounds, and I'm 5 pounds away from my goal.
The pros: Rapid weight loss is super encouraging. Heavy, greasy, and sugary foods have become repulsive for the most part. I can move better without my 25 pound gut hanging in front of me. I have a little more energy.
The cons: I feel nauseous and too full for about 3-5 days after the injection. It wears you down. I have to force myself to eat and drink. I've gotten severely dehydrated twice, which adds to the nausea and feeling crummy. I know I'm not getting enough protein and worry about muscle loss. The 1st 2 weeks I couldn't eat more than about 500 calories a day, and I think I was literally starving. One more way to feel not well! It gives me really bad reflux; lansoprozole helps but doesn't eliminate it.
I've been spacing out the dosing interval to 8-10 days; this helps me have a few days of feeling normal. I'm also going back down to 5mg, from 7.5. In fact, the 7.5 mg dose made me feel so badly that I'm taking a week off entirely, just to let my body return to normal. It's helping a lot.
So, overall I'm glad I'm doing it, but it sure isn't easy. My goal is to lose enough weight to have normal blood pressure and cholesterol, so I can stop 3 meds. In fact, one of my cholesterol meds has a $150 copay. That goes a ways towards paying $300-$400/month online for the GLP1 med.
Hope this helps. Wishing you all the best.
GLP 1 meds changed my life and enabled me to start doing the hard, emotional work that led to my eating habits. It’s a huge WIP but since I’m not so occupied with weight management, I can actually focus on the underlying issues and spend energy to repair the root causes. I did have a hard time with food aversion but spacing out my dose and preparing protein shakes has helped a lot with that!
Ive read you in NYT for years. Delighted with this SUBSTACK
Thank you for sharing all of this!
it's strange to see the part about sugar and breakfasts - particularly with cereals, they've lost in popularity to Greek Yogurt and more keto forward breakfasts for a while. Fiber/fibre is still definitely an issue.
There are definitely some breakfast options that are too high in sugar, but I also don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting something sweet in the morning. I eat Skyr along with something I’ve baked (muffins, scones, bagels) and fruit and I don’t experience any blood sugar crashes.
Tara, TYSM for sharing this - just curious - did the MD who Rx'd the GLP-1's recommend seeing a dietitian?