Ozempic - for those of us a few months in - Part 2

[Peridot1]

Just spotted the other thread had filled up so started I new one.

3 stone is a lot to lose. It always slows down when you have less fat to lose. Could you try walking to help the weight loss too?

@Peridot1 You are exactly the same weight as me this week. I did a happy dance when I saw 12 on the scales!

Has anyone else found ozempic has changed your tastes? Coffee tastes horrible to me now and a milky drink leaves a funny metallic taste in my mouth for the day

@caringcarer - yes that’s exactly what I need to do. I’m thinking of joining a gym nearby as I really need to tone up as well.

@DrMadelineMaxwell - twins! I did a happy dance too.

@DrMadelineMaxwell I hear you! I tried everything and sure, laxatives work but it's just awful, crampy and debilitating. What really works for me now is insane amounts of water + 2 x psyllium husk fiber capsules a day, and a few Werthers Original sugar free sweets, or M&S sugar free strawberry & cream drops (the little boxes).

@Peridot1 & @DrMadelineMaxwell - triplets! I'm so, so happy I tried this.

Side effect question: Anyone else experiencing mild leg discomfort above the knee area? I saw some reddit posters discussing it but nobody here. It feels almost as if I'd been working out too much (which I certainly haven't!). I have never had any knee issues either. The feeling wears off towards the end of the week, and yesterday when I injected agan (always in alternating thighs) sure enough, some discomfort in that knee an hour later, and today both sides.
It's really minor, I just find in interesting what this stuff does.

Today I've eaten a bowl of high fibre muesli and a lot of fruit to try and get things moving! Luckily it is just annoying and not usually uncomfortable.

Thanks for the new thread

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 not experienced the leg discomfort you describe but it is an odd drug for side effects.

No constipation but often horrific diarrhoea with real urgency and nasty cramps.

Does anyone else feel just not great on the drug. I'm nauseous alot,fatigued and a few days a week bad diarrhoea. Today I had an episode of being freezing just couldn't warm up. I've had it before and think it must be related to my metabolism and ozempic. I was shivering and had to go to bed.
I'm failing dismally on exercise and weights work as I just feel generally grotty.
Anyone else? X

Other than the hunger reduction I've not had any side effects so far. I do poo less but I'm eating less in general and what I am eating is higher protein so that's more likely to be diet related than Ozempic related.

Saturday is my weigh in day so here's the stats.

29th March 23 - 232lbs
3rd June 23 - 213 lbs

Total loss so far - 19lb in 12 weeks so averaging 1.6lb loss a week.

@Peridot1 I'm worried about getting baggy skin because I'm losing weight quite quickly so I've made myself walk 3 or 4 times a week even when I'm tired, and also I've been bending up and down a lot tidying up and weeding in the garden, usually a job I let DH do.

@Peridot1 I've lost 12.5 kgs and have upped my exercise lots and am doing lots of swimming and have actually toned up more than I imagined I could. This could of course be famous last words because still have 20 kgs to go....

So I’m now 10st 7lb, about 16lb away from my goal! However this last bit is taking forever to lose. I’m only 5ft 2 so I’m still overweight for my height. I’m doing at least 10,000 steps a day but I’m in desperate need of toning up! I really want to swim but I just don’t get time. Weekends are filled up with the kids and I only have one day off a week which is filled with housework food shopping, life admin. If a swim only took an hour that’d be fine but the nearest one is an hour on two buses each way and I don’t drive so it takes 3 bloody hours out of my day! Ugh I don’t know what to do. The shortages, my saggy skin and very slow loss now are getting me down. I’m determined to get to my goal, I won’t believe I’m not fat until I see 9 something on the scales!

Prettybubblesintheair, I know you've mentioned swimming but what about a 20 min exercise session at home in the morning? Or a gentle yoga first thing? They'll all help to tone and you don't need to leave the house. I like fitfonaj on Instagram.

I have been gardening too @caringcarer. Hoping it helps a bit but not sure it’s enough really.

I have to say I do now have some lose skin. My neck is definitely saggy. And my inner thighs and upper arms.

@Karmakamelion - I definitely need to add in exercise at this stage. Should have done it sooner of course!

@Prettybubblesintheair - swimming doesn’t sound very practical for you at the moment. As @MiniCooperLover says there are lots of ways you could exercise at home. There are loads of workouts available on YouTube. Even just doing some press ups, squats and lunges and planking every few days will help. That’s probably what I will start with.

Try the Couch to fitness programme by Our Parks.

It's completely free, only equipment you really need is a yoga mat or a non-slippy rug.

Same concept as C25K so the workouts start out easier and get progressively harder over 9 weeks. 3 x 20 min workouts a week, 1x cardio, 1x Core and 1x Glutes.

What I particularly like about it is that they have multiple instructors in each video and each one is doing a slightly different variation of the move so that you can do the variation that you are capable of, it's really adaptable and you can repeat weeks if you don't feel ready to move up to the next level.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzyGqy4hi5yAr4wQImo5HgwZIZ58PVyY-

That looks interesting @FatAgainItsLettuceTime. I’ll have a look.

I signed up for a 60 day strength training programme but hurt my back on day one and fell a week later and was out of action due to injuries and haven’t gotten into it. Also find it a bit all over the place so would prefer something a bit more structured.

I like my local zumba class. I've had a hip operation for impingement but years ago now and mostly fixed so I can exercise again. But recently I've been out of action with shoulder impingement. Physio has 90% sorted it so I'm aiming to go back to the zumba gold class first as its lower impact.
Steps I easily manage 8k a day just at my school job. Oazy this week though due to half term.
Weight loss should pick up next week due to less time spent reading and with my lunches all planned out.

I inject on Wednesdays but have had the most awful diarrhoea today, could it be a side effect? I’m on 0.5mg.

Do you know I hadn’t even considered another exercise! I loathe running. If there was a choice between running for a minute to catch a train or missing it and waiting an hour for another one I’d miss it! But I can definitely try some yoga. Thanks for the ideas. There’s supposed to be a pool opening near me next year so that’s something I can consider doing when it’s more practical because as you say at the moment it just isn’t!

On first read of these threads and then on starting I felt sorry for the people who gave up as for one reason or other Ozempic wasn't working for them. Now sadly I'm going to be another.

I built up as I was supposed to, and
am now on my second 1mg pen with 1 dose to go. I've lost 4lbs.

I'm gutted. Almost as much because of all the money I've wasted as because it didn't work for me.

I didn't calorie count, as it was supposed to work regardless of whether you did - although I notice most do. I did notice a reduction in my appetite although not a huge one. Obvs not enough to give much weight loss.

So sad but chalking up to experience. Will discuss with doc as they were aware I was starting although I haven't kept them updated on my (non) progress.

I've just signed up to Noom and am hoping I will see a change with that. I lose great with keto but don't want to be that rigid with my diet any more as it sucks the joy out of life.

Good luck everyone that is finding Ozempic working for them. I hope you get to your goal weight soon and it stays off.

The thing is I don't think it is supposed to work whether you calorie count or not, it's supposed to help you calorie count as you aren't craving things? It's a 'as well as' issue (that's how I understand it anyway). Sorry it hasn't worked for you.

Yes you do still need to calorie count, not ridgedly but you won't lose weight unless you have less than 1400 calories or so. (Size dependant of course).

So many things have hidden calories etc that you need to educate yourself on what you can have in a day. The Ozempic is a tool to help you not feel so hungry so that is it easier and more comfortable, It's certainly not a magic pill.

The lessons you learn whilst doing this is what you need to take on board for when you come off Ozempic.

I am definitely calorie counting, everything I eat or drink goes into MyFitnessPal and I have a top limit of 1700 calories a day which is completely achievable and is seeing me lose a steady amount each week.

Without calorie counting I'd still be eating chocolate and biscuits and crisps instead of real meals.

I absolutely think you need to calorie count, at least in the beginning. I for one cannot trust myself not to - it's how I got so big in the first place.

I have some time frames when I don't - I've not really counted this week as it's been half term - but I got back on it yesterday and I'll accept staying the same this week as a response to that.

I likely won't be able to stay on ozempic forever so I need to make this work for me long term.