Ozempic for those a few months in - part 3

[DrMadelineMaxwell]

Thread was full so I've started a new one. 😀

Congratulations! I hit this goal last week and it's a real landmark loss for your brain! 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

Thank you so much for replying to me. I'm biting the bullet and going up to 1.7 for my next order. Does anyone have a code for asda? I've found it to be the cheapest way to buy wergovy x

I have definitely felt the effect of my meds over Christmas. Last week I went up to the full 1mg to use up my last pen, after sticking at 0.75 for a while.

Then this month I am as stuck with 0.5 as quickmeds decided there had been too much of a gap between my orders to fill my 1mg pen. I have a few doses of that left as already had a pen on the go and took my first dose last week.

Christmas day I ate
Breakfast - A bacon butty
Lunch - A pain au chocolate.
Dinner - 3 roast potatoes, 2 parsnips, broccoli, sprouts, carrots, gravy, turkey and stuffing.

Despite only taking 0.5 this week, I was far too stuffed for any pudding which had been the plan for the late evening. No chocs or anything else either.

I've dithered about coming off it after losing a stone and a half this year. But I've seen a new stone bracket on the scales for the first time in over 15 years and it's a bit addictive to be able to just go about my life not thinking or caring about food but staying the same and even slowly dropping the odd lb without any effort.

Quick meds will fullfill me a 1mg this time, apparently, so that will take me to Feb on 0.5 doses. So I've reordered.

Morning All,

I'm back on the wagon as of today, although by my usual standards, I never really fell off it!

I bought very few extra treats and was given very few. Some of these were regifted, and some are in the pile for the food bank. I have made my way through one small box of chocolates since Xmas day - I finished these last night along with the Baileys. I haven't felt like I've gone without this Christmas, and I dont feel like I've lost control. I haven't any guilt about greed.

I've lost a huge amount of weight this year, and I'm so unbelievably proud of myself. My before and after pictures are amazing. 🤯

My plan for 2024 is to get even fitter and even stronger. I've more weight I could lose, but it doesn't feel like the same insurmountable task that it did in January 23.

My ozempic anniversary is March 7th, I wonder where I could be by then!

I hope you have all had an enjoyable and restful Christmas, cheers to what 2024 will bring us. 🥂

Wow @WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa we have exactly the same Ozempic anniversary!!! I'll think of you on March 7th!

To all who are on this medication or thinking about going on it - I've been thinking about how much I've changed this year and how transformative the decision to invest in my own health has been.

I was miserable so short and overweight, I've never been able to eat in moderation, and believed the lie that I was just lazy, had no self control, that if I really wanted to do something about it, I would. I don't believe that any more.

I haven't been a super responder on Ozempic/Wegovy, I've powered my way up through the doses and am now on 2.4mg and have lost 20kg in 10 months. It's been a good, steady loss for me. I've felt strong and healthy and full of energy. I've gone back to exercising, which I'd stopped for ages, I'm going for long walks and building up strength with reformer Pilates. I've never calorie counted or put my body into any sort of starvation mode - I want this new regime to be about health and longevity.

For others doing this, my mantra would be 'listen to your body'. If I'm starving in the morning, I eat a hearty breakfast until I'm full. But then I'll find I probably don't need lunch until 4pm and then I don't need dinner. If I'm not hungry in the morning, I won't eat until I am. I've always wanted to eat like this, but I was always starving! Ozempic has enabled me to consume food as normal people do! Maybe in the future, obesity and the causes of it will be seen as a disease, to be treated, and Wegovy will be like statins, a totally normal part of a healthy life, for people who need it. Who knows.

So, 20kg down (nearly a holiday suitcase!), plantar fasciitis gone, weak pelvic floor gone, lifetime atopic eczema nearly gone, bra cup down two back sizes and neck pain much better. I can buy size 14 clothes from normal shops and they fit (unlike before, desperately hoping to be able to do up size 18). I feel like I've won the lottery.

I hope this is helpful to some people, I've loved this board this year, it's been brilliant to be a quiet part of this community of people making positive changes for themselves.

I've attached my little note of targets reached (and changed my username in case this is all too outing!). I love looking at those green ticks. There are lots more targets to go, I really hoped to get down to 70kg by my anniversary. I'll more likely be about 72, but it's still lighter than I've ever been as an adult, so I'm just over the moon!

Good luck all, keep up the good jabs! 😊

Well done @cordialzempy I think 20kg is an incredible weight loss! You must look and feel amazing

Targets pic attached now!

I second all the positive things you are all saying!
Anniversary mid March here too. Absolutely life changing, I never thought my 50s could feel this good.
Haven't deprived myself at all over Christmas, but listened to my body. Just smaller portions, really.

Had a lovely DM about my extreme calorie deficit and concerns about flirting with disordered eating which I really appreciate, and am aware of. I just want to clarify that I have probably lost the weight faster than is advisable, but I have done it in a careful way (allowed myself treats, religious about supplements and protein intake as I really didn't want to lose too much hair or muscle, or get malnutrition). I work in a shallow industry and next year has a lot of big events for me, and that's what spurred med on to try to shed faster.
It's sad, but slim privilege is very real in our society.

Wishing everyone a happy new year. This thread is so lovely.

Checking back in post Christmas. I have missed two doses over Christmas but put myself straight back on 1mg tonight.

Fully expecting to feel sick tomorrow but I have really eaten poorly over Christmas. I only overate on Christmas Day itself but the rest of the time I haven’t eaten properly at all. No meals, just been eating biscuits, crisps and Celebrations 😬

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 @cordialzempy @WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa another one here who started at the same time. I have lost just under 4 stone and like you all are incredibly proud and happy. I took a two week break just now as I was in Cape Town. Came back yesterday and pleased to say I have only put on 2lbs. I have not really been able to drunk alcohol since starting so I just wanted to come off it to enjoy visiting the winelands! I still ate well, obviously lots of protein and I didn't eat any carbs. Just lovely salads and meat. So I have a 1.7mg in the fridge. And I have a 2.4mg arriving on the 2nd Jan. I think I am going to take a 1mg this week and then go up to the 1.7mg. Just need to get the next stone off and I am at my (new) goal.
I saw friends in Cape Town. They were amazed at my weight loss. I felt no shame in telling them about the drug. I don't know why people would. Own it! Who cares what others might think. You are doing this for you, for your health so absolutely nothing to be ashamed about.

I am interested to know for those who have missed doses over Christmas or holidays - have you returned to your original dose or taken a smaller dose to titrate up again?

Yes, I have just taken a 1mg after having two weeks off.x

I took ozempic for a few months earlier this year. I stopped due to shortages and high prices and also because I had terrible nausea.
I have just bought a wegovy pen 0.25 as I'm going to give it another go.

Any anti nausea tips?

Has anyone taken any anti nausea medication? Was it over counter/online prescription or via GP? On an American Facebook group I joined lots are on Zofran but I doubt a GP would prescribe me that here in England.

Thanks!

@UsernameFail I have gone straight back into 1mg after two weeks off. I had intended to start back on 0.75 but I have eaten badly and so I wanted the full dose.

I don’t feel sick at all yet, just very tired.

Thank you @Zempy and @Circa1840

I just wanted to join in with the positive stories. I started at the end of January 2023 with Juniper. I was at BMI of 43.9 having tried every diet and never list more than about 7 pounds. I have now lost 24 kilos since January. I can run 5k now, I can walk without sore knees. I went sales shopping today and although I didn't buy much apart from a size 14 blazer, I loved browsing the clothes in the normal sections.

I feel like the food noise and chatter has been turned down, I feel like I'm not a slave to food for the first time in my adult life. This medication is truly life changing.

I'm on 1.7mg now with Boots, I think in the new year I'll go to 2.4mg to try the full dose. I do worry about how I'll come off the medication.

Well done everyone and thanks for this supportive thread.

Hey all, how the heck are you all? I started at the end of Feb '23 and was doing so well, hardly any side-effects and steadily losing weight, until the end of July when, after a stressful house sale we emigrated. It's much more difficult to source Ozempic here and Wegovy isn't
available at all. Although I still had a couple of months supply left, my eating was all over the place so I decided to come off Oz and keep my stash until I was able to source more to continue properly. Life's now much saner and i've now found a source, so from 08/01 I'm back on the wagon.
I've put back 6kg of the weight I lost (2kg since the beginning of Dec!) but kept off much more so it wasn't all in vain and I'm now in a head-place that I can do it justice again.
I recognise some names and I'm so pleased so many of you are where you want to be. Great work people!

@WeKnowFrogsGoShaLaLaLaLa @cordialzempy @VanellopeVonSchweetz99 So happy for all of you. I also started around the same time and can say my life is completely different compared to a year ago. I never thought I would be this fit again, and my goal for year 2 is to get strong and commit to moving my body every day. I do still struggle with nausea and fatigue but my joint pains and crippling nerve pain are all bit gone now. I think I had a lot of inflammation that either the medicine or the weight loss helped relieve.

Lovely to hear so many positive updates. I've been on ozempic/wegovy since the end of March. I've lost 4st 9lb, bringing my BMI from 35 to 25. I'm 4lb away from the heathy weight range. I think I'm a strong responder as haven't gone higher than 1mg until the last couple of doses (have gone up to 1.2 so I can eke a 2.4mg pen over 8 weeks). I have also been going to the gym but the semaglutide has been really life changing in terms of helping me consistently change my eating. I have another stone and a halfish to go to get to my target (aiming for BMI of 22). I have developed gallstones (or at least the symptoms of them, they could have been there for ages) over the last couple of months which is a bit of a bummer, but still feels worth it even if the gallstones are linked to the meds. Am sure the health benefits outweigh the negative. This is definitely the best thing I've ever done for myself. Like everyone else I'm a bit apprehensive about coming off it, but I'm hoping at that point it will be easier to up my exercise and maintain. I'm planning to do a half marathon in September so training for that should help. I love dipping into this thread to hear people's progress, so thanks for sharing!

It’s been lovely reading all these positive stories. I’m another who has very much found Ozempic to be a miracle. I started in mid January and have lost 22kg since then. I’m still on 1mg but have just bought a 1.7 mg Wegovy pen to start once my current one is finished. Hopefully this will kickstart 2024. I still have loads to lose, and I’m in my 60s so have been overweight for what seems like forever. But it’s been lovely to have some nice compliments over the festive season about my weight loss, and also been nice to buy some new clothes in the sales!

My weight loss in the second half of the year has been much slower but I’m hoping the increase in dose will help that and I always find January easier to lose weight.

@gingerbubs Just a few words on the gallstones:
I got them a few years ago after losing around a stone (but I didn't make the connection then) and eventually had my gallbladder out, day surgery under GA, no regrets, easy recovery. The attacks were the most painful I have experienced and were becoming more frequent, almost thought I'd die.
Dr said gallstones extremely common in my ethnic group + female + weight loss, and once a gallbladder has started to malfunction it's best to have it out.

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 thanks! I believe they are classically associated with being 'Female, Fat, Forty, and Fair' 🤣. But yes weight loss can be a factor too. I only had my ultrasound to confirm them last week and haven't spoken to GP yet but am sure they'll refer me to get it out. The couple of proper attacks I've had have been terrible but seems to have been settled for about a month, even with some Christmas roasties and cheeses creeping in over the last week...

Hi everyone, just joining this thread as I'm now a couple of months in and made it to the 1mg dose of wegovy. Little bit queasy still. It's been lovely to read so many positive stories from people achieving their goals. I have a long way to go but my first mini goal is to get under BMI 30...which I have been edging ever closer to.

Has anyone researched the cheapest 1.7mg pen please? I have been searching but a bit fed up of all the consultations and having to add photos etc. Also, sometimes you don't get the price until you have hone through the whole process.

For info - I have been on these threads since Feb, lost 3 stone and very happy with it. Want to shift about 1.5 stone really before going it alone.

Hi all. I reached 1 year on semaglutide yesterday so I’ve been feeling very reflective about things! I’m so glad I started, it’s probably the best choice I have ever made for my health.

I started at 14 stone 7lbs, and I am now at 10 stone 5lbs.

My bmi has gone from 32.7 to 23.5 😊

I lost 57lbs total which I am delighted with. If I hadn’t started ozempic a year ago, I know I’d still be the same size now (or bigger). I look like a different person now. My waist has lost 7 inches too.

Not sure what my long term plan is for maintenance - I think I might go off it but if I go over a certain weight, go back on it to maintain the loss.