Ozempic new starters thread

[MedievalMadness]

Wondering if anyone would like to join me starting Ozempic. I’m doing my first injection tonight and am very nervous about reactions/side effects. I’m 5’ and 10.5 stones with very high blood pressure which medication is struggling yo bring down, high cholesterol and arthritis.

I would like to get to 9 stones realistically and ideally 8.5. I do seem to have unusual reactions to some medication so am really hoping I can take this without too many problems as I’m sure I’d be far healthier minus a couple stones.

@kkr168 sorry, our messages must have crossed. Thank you, that's really helpful

I’ve just had my next dispatch email from my juniper so seems like there’s some out there. Hope you manage to get your next batch.

To those asking about appetite suppression, I’m on week 4 and my appetite has massively reduced. I used to plough through crisps like crazy and I don’t do that anymore. I’m sure it’s not all willpower even though it was at the beginning. My portion sizes have reduced - I had 2 pieces of filled pasta, some asparagus and mushrooms last night, couldn’t finish it all and left my garlic bread which is unheard of! Keep at it, you’ll start to notice the change as it builds up.

hi there i am on week 3 and it’s going ok! I just wondered if anyone else is doing this with a finite timeframe in mind i.e. in my case I was thinking 12 weeks then stop and hope my mind/eating/exercise/focus has changed and i can carry on without the meds. Am I wrong to think this way?

Hi. This is something I’ve been pondering too. My weight was completely static before I started no matter what I did. This has really balanced out whatever my body was struggling with. I don’t see myself taking it long term, but I do see me on it until I’m at my target weight. Especially with shortages etc I wouldn’t want to come off it and struggle to get it again knowing my luck!

Yes i guess there’s that - but also the money! And a 2 week holiday in which i would like to be able to drink more than half a glass of wine without feeling shit for 2 days! (I know but i like wine on holiday)

@minimonkey11 Personally I don't think 12 weeks is long enough to completely retrain your health habits long-term. That's more like "going on a diet" rather than treating obesity.
I suspect this is the reason most people put their weight back on after losing no matter what method they use. You're fighting maybe 20, 30, 40 or more of unhealthy habits, you're not going to lose them in 12 weeks. This is why Ozempic's not a quick fix and meant for longer-term use

I’m on my second dose of 0.5mg and only now feeling the appetite suppressant effects. Thank god! I was worried that it wouldn’t work. I am grossed out cooking, etc, and liken it to very mild morning sickness. (I had hyperemesis every time I was pregnant a billion years ago, so pleased to report nothing at all like that!) I think I SHOULD be hungry, but don’t want anything. It’s just what I needed.

I took my 5th dose last night, still at 0.25ml.

As there is enough left in the pen for another dose, I wonder should I take another 0.25ml this morning to make it a 0.50? I’m not really feeling the effects on 0.25 anymore.

Anyone know if it’d be ok to take another dose 12 hours later to move me up to the next level?

I’ve just taken my first 0.5 dose (two bashes of my existing 0.25 pen) and my leg is stinging like a bitch! I’ve barely noticed the previous weeks so this has come as a surprise!

Weekly update for me today. 5th weigh in and 6th dose.

So after losing a stone since I started, I had no weight loss at all this week. But no gain.I wasn't even going to weigh as im due my period any time now, and I never have seen a loss of the week of my period.

Decided to do a 0.5 dose this week as I had noticed I had just started to look at junk food longingly, after nearly 5 weeks of no cravings for junk/sweet stuff...I'm hoping the cravings go away again!

...and now that im reading my post back, I just realised that my cravings might be because of my period, and not because the 0.25 in not as effective... doh! oh well, too late now!

2lb off today which is 10lb in 4 weeks. I’m thrilled, I really feel like my body has reset for weight loss. I’m also noticing a definite change in my shape. I was losing and putting on the same 1lb doing slimming world only. Up to 0.5 tonight so hopefully side effects will be minimal.

That’s brilliant Franklin2000. Good luck with the 0.5. My weigh-in and first 0.5 is tomorrow . Like you I’ve made so much more progress so far than I have with any other attempt. I was never able to lose more than 3 or 4 lbs no matter what I tried.

Hi all can anyone let me know the cheapest they've managed to find a months supply for?

2nd week weigh in from me and lost 4lb. It feels incredible to me that this is even working being still don't notice any appetite suppression nor are my cravings at all curbed. I'm trying my best to stick to my calories but honestly, regularly have not managed it.

As mentioned above i was also wondering how long people expected to stay on the drug for?

Good luck to everyone starting their first 0.5 doses this week. I hope side effects are limited.

I initially thought four months ish for me to stay on the pen but am now thinking definitely till Christmas (supplies allowing!). I do have a lot to lose though. Around 5-6 stone. Has been a couple of months ish so far so looking at around 9mths. With a slow tapering off!

End of week 2 weigh in and lost 2lb giving a totally of 6lb. I have still been sticking to 1200-1400 calories and it's not been too hard so i did think I might have lost a little more but just happy I'm losing this early on. I have a lot to loose around 6 stone so I reckon I'm in for the long haul probably a couple of years. I'm trying not to think about the cost.

Hello everyone just checking in. 4 doses down and 7lb off so far. I was kinda hoping for more but I have had really minimal side effects so would rather lose low and slow than have hideous side effects and lose a lot in one go.

But I have made a bit of error, my card I originally ordered on was cancelled and I forgot to update my details. So my new pen isn't likely to come by Sunday when I usually have my dose.

I seem to have plenty left in my current pen so have just ordered some needles so will just use that. But I want to increase to 0.5 now. Do I change the needle for each dose? Do 0.25, pull out, change needle then another 0.25mg?

I never changed the needle and had no problems @BelBabe

Juniper isn't accepting new patients, is there anywhere else I can try please?

Week 5 and I lost a pound. The lowest loss so far but I haven’t kept to my calorie allowance well. First 0.5 was on Fri morning and so far no side effects other than the ongoing constipation. I’ve definitely felt hungrier over the last week but portion sizes are easily half what I was used to and was enough. I’m planning on taking it for 6 months unless I start to have any problems with it. The thing that worries me is my continuous hunger returning if I stop . I wonder if it can retrain your brain to be satisfied on less? I hope it does.

By the sounds of it any weight loss on .25 is a bonus as it’s not a therapeutic dose. I’m amazed I’ve lost 9lbs in a month. Easily more than I’ve ever lost on any diet.

@MedievalMadness If you use your time on Ozempic to reduce your intake of simple and refined carbs, increase protein rich foods and reduce UPFs that will naturally stop blood-sugar peaks and troughs and reduce hunger. It's not entirely a surprise that lower carb and higher protein foods naturally have a beneficial effect on GLP-1 in the same way as ozempic does. I've posted a link to an article about it a couple of times now. It's also worth reading Why we eat (too much), which is also very useful to understand how the type of food we eat affects our endocrine system.

mumwheresmyribena. Thanks for this. That sounds a good plan - using the time to change the type of foods I eat . I’ll read that article

I had my 3rd dose of 0.25 on Wednesday, 10.5lb loss so far. Struggling with constipation but no other side effects. I’m going to finish my first pen before ordering another and thinking to stay at 0.25 whilst it’s working until I start to struggle.