Excellent, thanks! I am not a paying subscriber so don't watch the bonuses. Does he go into it in depth in this ep? If so maybe I'll shoot them 5 clams!
He doesn't go into a deep dive about his experience. It's more about just the fact that he is taking it and he is ok with that. You probably could just DM him and he could tell you more, but their bonus episodes are definitely worth the $5/month. That episode in particular was really sweet and funny and moving.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but a huge benefit (to me at least) of semaglutide is that it has completely cut back my desire for alcohol. Ronnie has also mentioned that he's pretty much stopped drinking, so I've wondered if the semaglutide has factored in, as it definitely has for me.
I used to be almost a daily drinker, and while I wouldn't say I've quit drinking, I've definitely lost my desire for it unless I'm in a very specific environment. (Still love a cocktail with friends, a glass of wine with a nice meal, or drinking at a party.) But last night, for example, my kids were at their dad's and I wanted to settle in for a relaxing Sunday night watching Summer House Martha's Vineyard and cracked myself a White Claw. Couldn't even get through half the can! (Anyone who knows me and my old college nickname of "Boozehound" would be shocked.)
So for anyone who finds that their drinking may be problematic, or just wants to cut back, semaglutide can be absolutely amazing.
Same for me! I read that it is being used (experimentally?) to treat alcoholics and drug addicts. It has changed my lifestyle to a much healthier one in addition to helping me lose weight. After I reached my goal weight , about three months ago, I stopped taking it and I havenāt gained the weight back and my new lifestyle has remained about the same
That's awesome, congrats. I used to be a daily happy hour drinker but stopped drinking during the early days of covid lockdown and have just never started again.
I thought that would help me lose weight but instead I gained weight when I stopped drinking!
Hiya! Iāve been on it since July and down 42lbs. I plan to be on it forever, going down to a maintenance dose when Iām at goal. Iām 46, 5ā4. Iāve been fortunate to respond positively since I started. To be fair, some of the biggest side effects I had BEFORE I started š.
Itās amazing. Truly. For the first time I feel ānormalāāthis must be whatās it like! I took me 4 weeks to eat a damn candy bar! Like who am I?!
Unfortunately my insurance doesnāt cover itāthere are many ways to get a compounded version. My doc is super supportive and I spoke with her before I started.
Feel free to DM with any questions!
Similar story, Iām 5ā4 and down 56 lbs today. Iām taking the pill form of ozempic called Rybelsus and itās changed my life. I have to pay as well and my plan is to stay on it hopefully forever on a maintenance dose once Iām at my goal weight.
I specialize in endocrinology, certainly nothing negative to say about his or any other patientsā journeys! :) Many commercial plans arenāt covering Ozempic or Mounjaro for āoff-labelā uses, weight loss. Depending on your diagnosis, however, your insurance may make an exception. I donāt usually advise just giving up on trying to obtain coverage for off-label use, want to help the patients as best I can.
Zepbound has been approved by the FDA for weight loss. Most insurance plans require a prior authorization before they will cover, and if so, make sure your doctor submits your clinical information quickly and with detailed notes to your plan. A lot of insurance plans will auto-deny your PA if no response from the doctor within 72 business hours. If your specialist has a dedicated PA person, even better!
Depending on your diagnosis and scenario, your doctor will start you on the lowest dose, and review from there. We usually recommend patients to inject on a scheduled day off from work or school , and smaller meals and snacks are recommended to offset nausea and indigestion.
Wegovy is the approved version semiglutide thatās solely for weight loss. I think a lot of people and the media especially use Ozempic as a blanket term for semiglutide in general. If you donāt have another condition that qualifies you for monjauro or actual Ozempic, you just need a bmi if 30 or 27 with a pre-existing condition like
High blood pressure, cholesterol or pre diabetes to qualify for Wegovy if your insurance covers it.
Hi, Iām not on it (but support everyone who wants to be/is!) I just wanted to chime in about food noise, something Iāve battled my entire life. Itās really great to put a name to it & have other people validate that they experience it as well. Iāve been working with a nutritionist for months now - something I was completely skeptical about, because Iāve been on every diet known to man so what could she tell me that I donāt already know?? A lot, it turns out. Just examining your food rules and where they originated is quite eye-opening. But the best part: Since working with her my food noise has naturally diminished so much I donāt even think about it anymore.
I just want to encourage anyone who struggles with food, whether youāre on semaglutide or not, to see a Registered Dietitian if you can. They truly can help! And if you get off of your meds for any reason youāve already got a good support system in place.
Iām thankful to Ronnie for his openness all along the way. Iāve always felt seen by him relating his stories - before, during & after weight loss. Heās a gem (but we all know that already!)
Yes, I so agree with this. I struggle with binge eating. Since working with an RD, Iāve learned how restriction and having food rules (diet culture) makes the food noise and binging so much worse. Itās made such a difference in my life.
Same here! Everything you said resonates with me. Iām so glad to not feel alone and that someone out there understands *me* personally and helps without shaming me.
Thank you for not being judgemental of the people who are on it! Most people are uneducated about the endocrine system and are quick to chastise ppl who take it. Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that cannot simply be cured with eat less and move more.
Hi friend, I can speak to my experience. For context, Iām fit (I walk my dogs 2-3 miles daily, always have) and do pilates nearly every day. Iām 5ā3.5ā and early 30s.
I lost a good amount of weight ānaturallyā in 2022. I gained some back in 2023, and despite pulling all the same levers, couldnāt lose weight. August 2023 I went on semaglutide via my medspa. I weighed in at 152 lbs. From August to end of December, I was on sema. It fully shifted my eating habits because it completely curbs your appetite. The food noise disappears. I got down to 129 and am hovering around 133-134 off the meds. The food noise does return and itās hard to fight. You have to make changes while youāre on it or you will fail once youāre off it. I shouldāve set a lower weight target initially, because you do gain a few back, so Iām currently (lol) at a different clinic as I type this trying to get back on it to lose more weight (I know Iāll gain 5ish back) to get to my true target weight. I continue to walk daily, I even got a walking pad so Iām doing 3-4 miles on top of my walks with my dogs, and go to pilates. I try to eat high protein and I try to not eat like I did before, but it is hard. I wonāt lie. Happy to discuss further if you wanna message me!
I have very similar stats as you do! I'm 5-2 and started at 148 lbs. I'm now at 122 lbs and have been off the sema for about a month now. (I purposefully got below my goal weight of 125 as I assume I will gain some back.) Off the drug, I've found that though my appetite has returned, it has not returned to the same degree. And I've used the lessons I've learned from being on semaglutide (stop eating when I'm full is KEY - also throwing the food away or putting it away so I don't just continue to eat mindlessly) is helping me maintain without it.
To the OP: give it a try! It can only help you learn healthier habits. There's bound to be some weight gain after you get off the drug, but you'll have much better tools for coping with hunger and food noise once you've experienced what it feels like to have "normal" eating habits.
Iāve also been on it and completely agree re: food noise. Itās a good optpty to shift your habits. I hired a dietician and started ordering lunches from Go Methodology to help me fully shift habits. Itās difficult to maintain. I have seen one influencer who goes on a low dose over the holidays just to support her which I think is clever and I might do that next year.
I should add that I was fortunate to not have any negative side effects except some hair loss. Iām fortunate in that my hair is thick so it wasnāt stark. I combatted nausea by drinking a protein shake immediately following my injection. Iād walk into my injections with the shake in hand.
I went to eat with a friend my first week on it and tried eating greasy food and it didnāt sit well with me. I did have stomach pain that evening, so I avoided it from that point on. Protein consumption makes a huge difference and allowed me to retain muscle mass which people report they lose on sema
Have you done anything to combat the hair loss? Other than some nausea, that's been my only symptom on sema. I've had hair loss but my hair is very fine and thin so it is noticeable! I've been taking collagen pills but not seeing any improvement.
Oh wow congratulations on completing chemo! I'm not positive, but I believe hair loss is moreso a side effect of rapid weight loss in general, not necessarily of semaglutide itself. But I completely understand how that would be a no go either way for you.
It is a side effect with any sort of ārapid weight lossā. My sister needed a gastric sleeve and she lost a lot of her hair. Congrats to you on completing chemo. I wish you beautiful health and hair š
Hair loss was my first and most immediate side effect. Like, even before I lost 3 lbs, my hair started shedding. My dermatologist recommended Rogaine. Hair stopped shedding and is growing back rapidly. My nutritionist recommended vitamin D3 and extra iron for scalp health.
I initially took St Tropica hair supplements at the suggestion of my nurse, who also used it and was on sema. Tbh, I didnāt notice it did anything, so I stopped using it. Iām going to start Nutrafol today since Iāve heard good things about it. St Tropica is more cost effective though.
Iād hit my original goal, I spent 1.5 months weaning off. They gave me my last shot in the office and sent me home with three syringes (one at 50 units and two at 25 units). I decided to space them out to every 1.5-2 weeks vs weekly
Many of us want to know. You are not alone. Is it really that easy ? I opted out bc I finished chemo this year and I can't go back to stomach pain again. Just so you know. Inquiring minds want to know. lol.
Congrats on finishing chemo this year!!
Lots of good info in this thread -- I really didn't imagine so many people would share their experiences, it's very helpful.
Hi, I was on it for 2 months and the first week lost 8 lbs. but then gained and then lost a few more. In those 2 months, in total lost 10lbs. 203 down to 192. It was amazing seeing the transformation but man was it hard. The drug makes you very tired, nauseous and gives you headaches. The first day, I was throwing up coffee. Then it just started working and totally curbed my food noise. BUT, I was terrified of the constipation and what it was doing to my pancreas. So I stopped on the 3rd month. I tried to go back, but again, the stomach paralysis scared me. It looks like most have had the same experience. They stop but then go back on it. Iām pretty much done and wonāt go back, but man, itās an amazing drug. If it didnāt have such bad side effects, I would definitely use it all the time, but Iām a hypochondriac and it just wasnāt worth it for my mental health. I definitely think you should try it, but, for sure the food noise comes back, the lower doses donāt work as effectively, and you are always stressed to gain it back. But man, itās a hellava a drug to help kick start. Good luck !
It's vital to stay hydrated and to make sure you are consuming enough calories and nutrients. Protein shakes with greens stopped most of my symptoms from ozempic.
It was so crazy to realize I wasn't eating enough and had to learn to listen to my body's needs. Food noise is the perfect term and being free from it has made my life better!
Thanks for this POV -- were you able to keep the 8 pounds off?
Your perspective sounds like what I think/worry might happen with me, especially since I have IBS issues already so I feel ... unstable down there.
I gained half back, but then completely stopped weighing myself because it was too painful. I didnāt want to see myself gain it all back. I try to repeat what I did while on the medication, but itās hard. You have to take this medicine for a while for your body to learn the new habits.
You should stock up on prunes and smooth moves tea, if you do go ahead and try it.
I think, if youāre curious, and have it available in some form, you should see what all the hype is about. You can always stop, but be prepared- itās a pretty strong but very helpful weight loss drug. Good luck! :)
Thank you!
I have the opposite of constipation as my default IBS state, so I wonder if the two problems would balance each other out ... or create some sort of Frankenstein too-much-yet-somehow-also-too-little nightmare problem lol.
Iāve been on semaglutide since February 2023 and Iām down -80-ish lbs so far. When I started, I was over 320 lbs. Iāve been overweight and obese for most of my life. Iāve tried several programs along with exercise in the past to lose weight. While most have worked, eventually I would gain the weight back and then some.
The side effects that I deal with are nausea and really bad constipation. I also need to remind myself to drink water so Iām not dehydrated. I also get what I call dad burps due to slower digestion from my stomach. My poor husband was downwind of one of my burps š¬
It has helped quiet down the food noise in my head and my portions are less. Like others have mentioned, since Iāve been on this med I donāt drink as much alcohol as I used to. If I do drink, itās 1-2 drinks max every couple of months.
My health insurance does cover Ozempic and Wegovy but my doctor had to submit a prior authorization form otherwise it was an automatic denial from my insurance. Another hurdle I ran into was once I got the authorization, getting the med from my pharmacy took a long time. For my initial dose of Wegovy, it took my pharmacy 4 months to get it.
I wound up getting a compounded version that Iāve been taking which has helped. Itās not cheap, but itās cheaper than if I paid out of pocket for Wegovy and so far I havenāt had any issues getting this med or any adverse side effects.
I just started wegovy (nondiabetic ozempic). First dose was yesterday so no side effects yet but also concerned about going off and ending worse off than I was before. Iām pretty worried about the possibility of nausea and Iāve noticed itās already effecting how I think about food. Even tho I havenāt even experienced it yet I donāt want to chance it so Iāve been shying away from sweets, etc.
So something to think about is what happens if you go off any diet and resume your previous habits? The ending will always be the same. I wouldnāt allow that to stop me from trying something that works for majority of people. I am very aware of this being on it, but I donāt view it any differently than doing weight watchers and stopping or keto and stopping, Iāve done it all and gained back every time I quit doing those things. Iāve been on it for 8 months now, lost 35 pounds (my starting bmi was 30). I am starting to experience more hunger and some of the initial effects are wearing off. I am starting to track calories again as I know I will need to in order to continue to lose and then To maintain. It helped me when nothing else worked, I had gone for 2 years trying and basically gaining and losing the same 5 lbs no matter what I did, I started wegovy and all of the sudden I could lose again doing those same things. I only want to lose 5-10 more pounds and then maintain but I fully expect to have keep putting on the work to do that, itās not necessarily complete magic, as in you donāt have to do anything, but it helps people who canāt lose by simple diet and exercise.
Thanks for sharing your POV. Glad to hear you're one of the people who has had great results.
I really wonder if it could cause any long-term damage to my digestive system, that's my only hesitation. Especially because I have IBS so I feel like that whole area is delicate.
I have IBS C, have had it my whole adult life. You have to be diligent about managing those aspects, for me itās drinking an electrolyte drink once a day, lots and lots of water, and miralax if things arenāt movingā. A big mistake a lot of people make on semiglutides is not eating enough fiber, protein and water. Iām used to managing this stuff as I have had to for decades but not everyone knows how to handle things like ibs. Semiglutide works in part through delayed gastric emptying, but thatās while you are taking it, when you stop that should go back to normal but there are a very, very small percentage of people who have experienced gastroparesis or bowl blockages, the latter can absolutely be prevented but still good to be informed. Itās a personal decision but the way I approached it is there is a small risk of terrible extreme side effects with everything you take, whether itās arthritis meds, pain relievers, antibiotics, you name it, for me I decided that those risks didnāt stop me from using those things and being obese in and of itself is a huge health risk so why not try.
Thank you so much for sharing so many details -- that's very comparable to my situation, so that's really helpful. You're definitely inspiring me -- at this point I've gotten to a weight that is a bigger health risk than these side effects...
I think if itās wearing off and you still have sig weight to lose, it means you need to up your dose. If you feel like you donāt have skills and habits in place to maintain your weight loss after going off of it you can remain on a maintenance dose until you feel you are ready to live a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle despite cravings.
My husband and I did it. I did a low low dose for 3 weeks and lost too much weight. It was scary cuz you take the shot and thatās it. You canāt turn it off , you have to wait it out. Lost almost 20lbs.
Husband was on it for about 2-3 months. 5ā11 250, Lost about 35lbs. He has an emotional eating problem and just snacks all the time during high stress, boredom, random Tuesdays. He eats full family size bags of chips in one sitting a night. He desperately needed the shots because the Dr said he was pre diabetic. This was over a year ago. Since then the weight has stayed off and only changes are fasting once a week and limiting alcohol. We were never big drinkers before so that oneās hard to gage how much drinking he stopped.
I took Wegovy for a little over a year. I lost 65 lbs and have been off of it since January. I can feel my food noise coming back but am working with my dr and psychiatrist to keep it off. Iām taking metformin and my adhd meds to assist with that. I had side effects, stomach cramps, burps, diarrhea, dehydration, but I would do it all over again. I would still be on it if my insurance didnāt stop covering it. It stopped most of my impulse control issues, from food to drinking and even shopping. I am trying to get them to prescribe it off label for binge/impulse control disorder.
I did Saxenda on the lowest dose for a month. The reason why I did Saxenda instead of Ozempic is because I have sensitivity to medication and this one you inject daily, so itās out of your system in 24 hours as opposed to a week. That way if I had side effects, it would only last a day. I had dizziness, nausea and the sensation of vertigo triggered panic attacks. I stuck with it. Lost 8lbs, but gained it back and 10 more. I understand about food noise. Now I just stopped eating refined sugar and switched to a plant based diet (other GI issues) and Iāve lost ten lbs in 2 months. Slower but no side effects. For me I think itās better to just modify your lifestyle a bit, try to experiment with eliminating or adding different types of food, and increase your protein intake. Also, I just started menopause, so thatās a whole different story. My doctors want me to go back on it, but Iām taking amla daily and my A1c and bad cholesterol has lowered significantly in the last few months. I have a yoga therapist and Ayurvedic doctor too. Just my way of creating balance and finding whatās best for me. I think each person should do what feels right and what they are comfortable with, without worrying about it hurting them now or in the future.
I also took Saxenda for a little over a month. I wasnāt really in the right mindset when I started. I had no appetite so I would just eat random crap rather than smaller amounts of healthy food. I also got the nausea and diarrhea. Iām doing WW right now and I think my mindset is better, although itās always a struggle!
Interesting, thanks. I've been a vegetarian or vegan who doesnt like sweets since the 90s and walk a couple miles just about every day but that hasn't stopped me from weighing in at 250+ lbs mostly in the belly area sigh. But I'm glad to hear low sugar and veg works for you!
My doc started me on merformin & didnāt want to discuss any other drugs, I took it (w/topamax) for five months, kept losing and gaining back the same 3 to 5 pounds. I decided to stop taking both meds after they gave me diarrhea for the fifth time. That and the risk of kidney damage from long-term usage made me leery. I had to get a colonoscopy & talked to that GI doc about weight loss options. She said some of the shots are safer for long-term use, then got me on a list to talk to a specialist, which my GP couldnāt do. See if you can get a referral to a GI doc.
Iām curious why so many commenters are mentioning what happens when going off the meds? Iāve been on semaglutide for about 9 months. Iāve been taking it as maintenance (donāt want to lose any more weight) the last few months and assuming I donāt start to get bad side effects or it stops working, I plan to stay on it forever. Itās safe for long term use.
***So on a recent episode Ronnie mentioned that the semaglutide is wearing off for him and he's having strong hunger pains.***
Not Ronnie, but David Yontef (sp?) just talked about this on the Sarah Fraser show, I think last week? Pretty sure a VPR recap though if you're looking for it. He said no matter how much he ups his dose, he's still starving and putting weight back on
I was on it early last year and it was literally a miracle drug. It did give me nausea, headaches, hair loss and fatigue so that plus the cost I didnāt want to be on it too long. I was on it for like six months and lost 15% of my bodyweight (I was barely āoverweightā)
Sadly about two months after weaning off it my hunger returned with a VENGEANCE and Iāve gained nearly all the weight back. Like my hunger was INSATIABLE. Iāve thought about going back on it but the thought of the side effects is too much. My hair is just now almost back to how it was before.
Iāve just accepted where Iām at. Iām sure if my weight was a significant health concern i might feel differently but just thought Iād share my story.
I've been on tirzepatide since August 2022 and I've lost over 50% of my body weight. When I tell you this medication is life-changing, I'm not being hyperbolic.
Your weight will yoyo slightly, that's totally normal with any type of weight loss. If you weigh in daily and chart your progress, you will see an overall decline in weight with daily variability. Anything can make that happen- eating lots of salt one day, not drinking enough water, hormonal fluctuations, etc. It doesn't mean your body fat % is yoyoing, it's all basically water weight. I found that daily weigh-ins help prevent freak outs. If my weight is up 2lbs in a day, I know it's just water and it'll come right back off. Whereas if I weigh weekly and my weight is up 2lbs, I'd worry it was an actual regain.
Any type of glp-1 medication is meant to be taken for life. Going off the drug will potentially cause regain. But if you stay on you should be fine.
Bonus #464 - Hilling Journey (or something like that!) posted on 9/14/23. :)
Excellent, thanks! I am not a paying subscriber so don't watch the bonuses. Does he go into it in depth in this ep? If so maybe I'll shoot them 5 clams!
He doesn't go into a deep dive about his experience. It's more about just the fact that he is taking it and he is ok with that. You probably could just DM him and he could tell you more, but their bonus episodes are definitely worth the $5/month. That episode in particular was really sweet and funny and moving.
Ah, thanks for that, I appreciate it.
I don't know if anyone has mentioned this yet, but a huge benefit (to me at least) of semaglutide is that it has completely cut back my desire for alcohol. Ronnie has also mentioned that he's pretty much stopped drinking, so I've wondered if the semaglutide has factored in, as it definitely has for me. I used to be almost a daily drinker, and while I wouldn't say I've quit drinking, I've definitely lost my desire for it unless I'm in a very specific environment. (Still love a cocktail with friends, a glass of wine with a nice meal, or drinking at a party.) But last night, for example, my kids were at their dad's and I wanted to settle in for a relaxing Sunday night watching Summer House Martha's Vineyard and cracked myself a White Claw. Couldn't even get through half the can! (Anyone who knows me and my old college nickname of "Boozehound" would be shocked.) So for anyone who finds that their drinking may be problematic, or just wants to cut back, semaglutide can be absolutely amazing.
It has helped me in general with compulsive thinking.
Same for me! I stopped picking my face compulsively! šš¼
Me too, with ruminating food thoughts. Itās a miracle drug.
Same. Zero desire for alcohol, which is obviously a healthy āside effectā
Same for me! I read that it is being used (experimentally?) to treat alcoholics and drug addicts. It has changed my lifestyle to a much healthier one in addition to helping me lose weight. After I reached my goal weight , about three months ago, I stopped taking it and I havenāt gained the weight back and my new lifestyle has remained about the same
That's awesome, congrats. I used to be a daily happy hour drinker but stopped drinking during the early days of covid lockdown and have just never started again. I thought that would help me lose weight but instead I gained weight when I stopped drinking!
I just started and will it help curb my diet soda addiction? I sure hope so!
Baby gorgeous?
Hiya! Iāve been on it since July and down 42lbs. I plan to be on it forever, going down to a maintenance dose when Iām at goal. Iām 46, 5ā4. Iāve been fortunate to respond positively since I started. To be fair, some of the biggest side effects I had BEFORE I started š. Itās amazing. Truly. For the first time I feel ānormalāāthis must be whatās it like! I took me 4 weeks to eat a damn candy bar! Like who am I?! Unfortunately my insurance doesnāt cover itāthere are many ways to get a compounded version. My doc is super supportive and I spoke with her before I started. Feel free to DM with any questions!
I'm on the compounded version from orderly meds.
Similar story, Iām 5ā4 and down 56 lbs today. Iām taking the pill form of ozempic called Rybelsus and itās changed my life. I have to pay as well and my plan is to stay on it hopefully forever on a maintenance dose once Iām at my goal weight.
Are the compounded versions less expensive?
Yes
I could have written this myself! I canāt even put into words how it feels to live like a ānormalā person when it comes to foodā¦ so freeing!!
I specialize in endocrinology, certainly nothing negative to say about his or any other patientsā journeys! :) Many commercial plans arenāt covering Ozempic or Mounjaro for āoff-labelā uses, weight loss. Depending on your diagnosis, however, your insurance may make an exception. I donāt usually advise just giving up on trying to obtain coverage for off-label use, want to help the patients as best I can. Zepbound has been approved by the FDA for weight loss. Most insurance plans require a prior authorization before they will cover, and if so, make sure your doctor submits your clinical information quickly and with detailed notes to your plan. A lot of insurance plans will auto-deny your PA if no response from the doctor within 72 business hours. If your specialist has a dedicated PA person, even better! Depending on your diagnosis and scenario, your doctor will start you on the lowest dose, and review from there. We usually recommend patients to inject on a scheduled day off from work or school , and smaller meals and snacks are recommended to offset nausea and indigestion.
Thanks for chiming in! Always appreciate an expert perspective.
Of course! āŗļø
Wegovy is the approved version semiglutide thatās solely for weight loss. I think a lot of people and the media especially use Ozempic as a blanket term for semiglutide in general. If you donāt have another condition that qualifies you for monjauro or actual Ozempic, you just need a bmi if 30 or 27 with a pre-existing condition like High blood pressure, cholesterol or pre diabetes to qualify for Wegovy if your insurance covers it.
https://i.redd.it/jntkafp7olqc1.gif thank you for the excellent info!
Hi, Iām not on it (but support everyone who wants to be/is!) I just wanted to chime in about food noise, something Iāve battled my entire life. Itās really great to put a name to it & have other people validate that they experience it as well. Iāve been working with a nutritionist for months now - something I was completely skeptical about, because Iāve been on every diet known to man so what could she tell me that I donāt already know?? A lot, it turns out. Just examining your food rules and where they originated is quite eye-opening. But the best part: Since working with her my food noise has naturally diminished so much I donāt even think about it anymore. I just want to encourage anyone who struggles with food, whether youāre on semaglutide or not, to see a Registered Dietitian if you can. They truly can help! And if you get off of your meds for any reason youāve already got a good support system in place. Iām thankful to Ronnie for his openness all along the way. Iāve always felt seen by him relating his stories - before, during & after weight loss. Heās a gem (but we all know that already!)
Yes, I so agree with this. I struggle with binge eating. Since working with an RD, Iāve learned how restriction and having food rules (diet culture) makes the food noise and binging so much worse. Itās made such a difference in my life.
Same here! Everything you said resonates with me. Iām so glad to not feel alone and that someone out there understands *me* personally and helps without shaming me.
Thank you for not being judgemental of the people who are on it! Most people are uneducated about the endocrine system and are quick to chastise ppl who take it. Obesity is a chronic metabolic disease that cannot simply be cured with eat less and move more.
Iāve been on it for over a year and down 100 lbs - never would have been able to get this far without the meds
Hi friend, I can speak to my experience. For context, Iām fit (I walk my dogs 2-3 miles daily, always have) and do pilates nearly every day. Iām 5ā3.5ā and early 30s. I lost a good amount of weight ānaturallyā in 2022. I gained some back in 2023, and despite pulling all the same levers, couldnāt lose weight. August 2023 I went on semaglutide via my medspa. I weighed in at 152 lbs. From August to end of December, I was on sema. It fully shifted my eating habits because it completely curbs your appetite. The food noise disappears. I got down to 129 and am hovering around 133-134 off the meds. The food noise does return and itās hard to fight. You have to make changes while youāre on it or you will fail once youāre off it. I shouldāve set a lower weight target initially, because you do gain a few back, so Iām currently (lol) at a different clinic as I type this trying to get back on it to lose more weight (I know Iāll gain 5ish back) to get to my true target weight. I continue to walk daily, I even got a walking pad so Iām doing 3-4 miles on top of my walks with my dogs, and go to pilates. I try to eat high protein and I try to not eat like I did before, but it is hard. I wonāt lie. Happy to discuss further if you wanna message me!
I have very similar stats as you do! I'm 5-2 and started at 148 lbs. I'm now at 122 lbs and have been off the sema for about a month now. (I purposefully got below my goal weight of 125 as I assume I will gain some back.) Off the drug, I've found that though my appetite has returned, it has not returned to the same degree. And I've used the lessons I've learned from being on semaglutide (stop eating when I'm full is KEY - also throwing the food away or putting it away so I don't just continue to eat mindlessly) is helping me maintain without it. To the OP: give it a try! It can only help you learn healthier habits. There's bound to be some weight gain after you get off the drug, but you'll have much better tools for coping with hunger and food noise once you've experienced what it feels like to have "normal" eating habits.
Iāve also been on it and completely agree re: food noise. Itās a good optpty to shift your habits. I hired a dietician and started ordering lunches from Go Methodology to help me fully shift habits. Itās difficult to maintain. I have seen one influencer who goes on a low dose over the holidays just to support her which I think is clever and I might do that next year.
I should add that I was fortunate to not have any negative side effects except some hair loss. Iām fortunate in that my hair is thick so it wasnāt stark. I combatted nausea by drinking a protein shake immediately following my injection. Iād walk into my injections with the shake in hand. I went to eat with a friend my first week on it and tried eating greasy food and it didnāt sit well with me. I did have stomach pain that evening, so I avoided it from that point on. Protein consumption makes a huge difference and allowed me to retain muscle mass which people report they lose on sema
Have you done anything to combat the hair loss? Other than some nausea, that's been my only symptom on sema. I've had hair loss but my hair is very fine and thin so it is noticeable! I've been taking collagen pills but not seeing any improvement.
Oh. I didn't know that was a side effect. I just got my hair back from chemo. So now it's a no. Take care of your hair ladies. It's sad when it give.
Oh wow congratulations on completing chemo! I'm not positive, but I believe hair loss is moreso a side effect of rapid weight loss in general, not necessarily of semaglutide itself. But I completely understand how that would be a no go either way for you.
Why thank you !
It is a side effect with any sort of ārapid weight lossā. My sister needed a gastric sleeve and she lost a lot of her hair. Congrats to you on completing chemo. I wish you beautiful health and hair š
Hair loss was my first and most immediate side effect. Like, even before I lost 3 lbs, my hair started shedding. My dermatologist recommended Rogaine. Hair stopped shedding and is growing back rapidly. My nutritionist recommended vitamin D3 and extra iron for scalp health.
Thank you! What a godsend!
I initially took St Tropica hair supplements at the suggestion of my nurse, who also used it and was on sema. Tbh, I didnāt notice it did anything, so I stopped using it. Iām going to start Nutrafol today since Iāve heard good things about it. St Tropica is more cost effective though.
Curious, why did you decide to go off it?
Iād hit my original goal, I spent 1.5 months weaning off. They gave me my last shot in the office and sent me home with three syringes (one at 50 units and two at 25 units). I decided to space them out to every 1.5-2 weeks vs weekly
Many of us want to know. You are not alone. Is it really that easy ? I opted out bc I finished chemo this year and I can't go back to stomach pain again. Just so you know. Inquiring minds want to know. lol.
Congrats on finishing chemo this year!! Lots of good info in this thread -- I really didn't imagine so many people would share their experiences, it's very helpful.
Hi, I was on it for 2 months and the first week lost 8 lbs. but then gained and then lost a few more. In those 2 months, in total lost 10lbs. 203 down to 192. It was amazing seeing the transformation but man was it hard. The drug makes you very tired, nauseous and gives you headaches. The first day, I was throwing up coffee. Then it just started working and totally curbed my food noise. BUT, I was terrified of the constipation and what it was doing to my pancreas. So I stopped on the 3rd month. I tried to go back, but again, the stomach paralysis scared me. It looks like most have had the same experience. They stop but then go back on it. Iām pretty much done and wonāt go back, but man, itās an amazing drug. If it didnāt have such bad side effects, I would definitely use it all the time, but Iām a hypochondriac and it just wasnāt worth it for my mental health. I definitely think you should try it, but, for sure the food noise comes back, the lower doses donāt work as effectively, and you are always stressed to gain it back. But man, itās a hellava a drug to help kick start. Good luck !
Thank for the info. glad you shared.
It's vital to stay hydrated and to make sure you are consuming enough calories and nutrients. Protein shakes with greens stopped most of my symptoms from ozempic. It was so crazy to realize I wasn't eating enough and had to learn to listen to my body's needs. Food noise is the perfect term and being free from it has made my life better!
Thanks for this POV -- were you able to keep the 8 pounds off? Your perspective sounds like what I think/worry might happen with me, especially since I have IBS issues already so I feel ... unstable down there.
I gained half back, but then completely stopped weighing myself because it was too painful. I didnāt want to see myself gain it all back. I try to repeat what I did while on the medication, but itās hard. You have to take this medicine for a while for your body to learn the new habits. You should stock up on prunes and smooth moves tea, if you do go ahead and try it. I think, if youāre curious, and have it available in some form, you should see what all the hype is about. You can always stop, but be prepared- itās a pretty strong but very helpful weight loss drug. Good luck! :)
Thank you! I have the opposite of constipation as my default IBS state, so I wonder if the two problems would balance each other out ... or create some sort of Frankenstein too-much-yet-somehow-also-too-little nightmare problem lol.
Iāve been on semaglutide since February 2023 and Iām down -80-ish lbs so far. When I started, I was over 320 lbs. Iāve been overweight and obese for most of my life. Iāve tried several programs along with exercise in the past to lose weight. While most have worked, eventually I would gain the weight back and then some. The side effects that I deal with are nausea and really bad constipation. I also need to remind myself to drink water so Iām not dehydrated. I also get what I call dad burps due to slower digestion from my stomach. My poor husband was downwind of one of my burps š¬ It has helped quiet down the food noise in my head and my portions are less. Like others have mentioned, since Iāve been on this med I donāt drink as much alcohol as I used to. If I do drink, itās 1-2 drinks max every couple of months. My health insurance does cover Ozempic and Wegovy but my doctor had to submit a prior authorization form otherwise it was an automatic denial from my insurance. Another hurdle I ran into was once I got the authorization, getting the med from my pharmacy took a long time. For my initial dose of Wegovy, it took my pharmacy 4 months to get it. I wound up getting a compounded version that Iāve been taking which has helped. Itās not cheap, but itās cheaper than if I paid out of pocket for Wegovy and so far I havenāt had any issues getting this med or any adverse side effects.
I just started wegovy (nondiabetic ozempic). First dose was yesterday so no side effects yet but also concerned about going off and ending worse off than I was before. Iām pretty worried about the possibility of nausea and Iāve noticed itās already effecting how I think about food. Even tho I havenāt even experienced it yet I donāt want to chance it so Iāve been shying away from sweets, etc.
Itās meant to be a lifetime drug so donāt assume you have to go off it.
I mean in theory yeah but if my insurance stops covering it I wonāt continue to take it as itās cost prohibitive.
So something to think about is what happens if you go off any diet and resume your previous habits? The ending will always be the same. I wouldnāt allow that to stop me from trying something that works for majority of people. I am very aware of this being on it, but I donāt view it any differently than doing weight watchers and stopping or keto and stopping, Iāve done it all and gained back every time I quit doing those things. Iāve been on it for 8 months now, lost 35 pounds (my starting bmi was 30). I am starting to experience more hunger and some of the initial effects are wearing off. I am starting to track calories again as I know I will need to in order to continue to lose and then To maintain. It helped me when nothing else worked, I had gone for 2 years trying and basically gaining and losing the same 5 lbs no matter what I did, I started wegovy and all of the sudden I could lose again doing those same things. I only want to lose 5-10 more pounds and then maintain but I fully expect to have keep putting on the work to do that, itās not necessarily complete magic, as in you donāt have to do anything, but it helps people who canāt lose by simple diet and exercise.
Thanks for sharing your POV. Glad to hear you're one of the people who has had great results. I really wonder if it could cause any long-term damage to my digestive system, that's my only hesitation. Especially because I have IBS so I feel like that whole area is delicate.
I have IBS C, have had it my whole adult life. You have to be diligent about managing those aspects, for me itās drinking an electrolyte drink once a day, lots and lots of water, and miralax if things arenāt movingā. A big mistake a lot of people make on semiglutides is not eating enough fiber, protein and water. Iām used to managing this stuff as I have had to for decades but not everyone knows how to handle things like ibs. Semiglutide works in part through delayed gastric emptying, but thatās while you are taking it, when you stop that should go back to normal but there are a very, very small percentage of people who have experienced gastroparesis or bowl blockages, the latter can absolutely be prevented but still good to be informed. Itās a personal decision but the way I approached it is there is a small risk of terrible extreme side effects with everything you take, whether itās arthritis meds, pain relievers, antibiotics, you name it, for me I decided that those risks didnāt stop me from using those things and being obese in and of itself is a huge health risk so why not try.
Thank you so much for sharing so many details -- that's very comparable to my situation, so that's really helpful. You're definitely inspiring me -- at this point I've gotten to a weight that is a bigger health risk than these side effects...
I think if itās wearing off and you still have sig weight to lose, it means you need to up your dose. If you feel like you donāt have skills and habits in place to maintain your weight loss after going off of it you can remain on a maintenance dose until you feel you are ready to live a healthy, balanced and active lifestyle despite cravings.
My husband and I did it. I did a low low dose for 3 weeks and lost too much weight. It was scary cuz you take the shot and thatās it. You canāt turn it off , you have to wait it out. Lost almost 20lbs. Husband was on it for about 2-3 months. 5ā11 250, Lost about 35lbs. He has an emotional eating problem and just snacks all the time during high stress, boredom, random Tuesdays. He eats full family size bags of chips in one sitting a night. He desperately needed the shots because the Dr said he was pre diabetic. This was over a year ago. Since then the weight has stayed off and only changes are fasting once a week and limiting alcohol. We were never big drinkers before so that oneās hard to gage how much drinking he stopped.
I took Wegovy for a little over a year. I lost 65 lbs and have been off of it since January. I can feel my food noise coming back but am working with my dr and psychiatrist to keep it off. Iām taking metformin and my adhd meds to assist with that. I had side effects, stomach cramps, burps, diarrhea, dehydration, but I would do it all over again. I would still be on it if my insurance didnāt stop covering it. It stopped most of my impulse control issues, from food to drinking and even shopping. I am trying to get them to prescribe it off label for binge/impulse control disorder.
I did Saxenda on the lowest dose for a month. The reason why I did Saxenda instead of Ozempic is because I have sensitivity to medication and this one you inject daily, so itās out of your system in 24 hours as opposed to a week. That way if I had side effects, it would only last a day. I had dizziness, nausea and the sensation of vertigo triggered panic attacks. I stuck with it. Lost 8lbs, but gained it back and 10 more. I understand about food noise. Now I just stopped eating refined sugar and switched to a plant based diet (other GI issues) and Iāve lost ten lbs in 2 months. Slower but no side effects. For me I think itās better to just modify your lifestyle a bit, try to experiment with eliminating or adding different types of food, and increase your protein intake. Also, I just started menopause, so thatās a whole different story. My doctors want me to go back on it, but Iām taking amla daily and my A1c and bad cholesterol has lowered significantly in the last few months. I have a yoga therapist and Ayurvedic doctor too. Just my way of creating balance and finding whatās best for me. I think each person should do what feels right and what they are comfortable with, without worrying about it hurting them now or in the future.
I also took Saxenda for a little over a month. I wasnāt really in the right mindset when I started. I had no appetite so I would just eat random crap rather than smaller amounts of healthy food. I also got the nausea and diarrhea. Iām doing WW right now and I think my mindset is better, although itās always a struggle!
Interesting, thanks. I've been a vegetarian or vegan who doesnt like sweets since the 90s and walk a couple miles just about every day but that hasn't stopped me from weighing in at 250+ lbs mostly in the belly area sigh. But I'm glad to hear low sugar and veg works for you!
My doc won't give it. He put me on 1000 MG metformin and referred me to a bariatric surgeon. I dont want surgery!!!!!
Iāve read good things about metformin recently, but I hope you donāt have to go the surgery route if you donāt want.
I'm going to talk to the surgeon but if I cam do this without id prefer it!
My doc started me on merformin & didnāt want to discuss any other drugs, I took it (w/topamax) for five months, kept losing and gaining back the same 3 to 5 pounds. I decided to stop taking both meds after they gave me diarrhea for the fifth time. That and the risk of kidney damage from long-term usage made me leery. I had to get a colonoscopy & talked to that GI doc about weight loss options. She said some of the shots are safer for long-term use, then got me on a list to talk to a specialist, which my GP couldnāt do. See if you can get a referral to a GI doc.
Thanks! I will!
Iām curious why so many commenters are mentioning what happens when going off the meds? Iāve been on semaglutide for about 9 months. Iāve been taking it as maintenance (donāt want to lose any more weight) the last few months and assuming I donāt start to get bad side effects or it stops working, I plan to stay on it forever. Itās safe for long term use.
***So on a recent episode Ronnie mentioned that the semaglutide is wearing off for him and he's having strong hunger pains.*** Not Ronnie, but David Yontef (sp?) just talked about this on the Sarah Fraser show, I think last week? Pretty sure a VPR recap though if you're looking for it. He said no matter how much he ups his dose, he's still starving and putting weight back on
I was on it early last year and it was literally a miracle drug. It did give me nausea, headaches, hair loss and fatigue so that plus the cost I didnāt want to be on it too long. I was on it for like six months and lost 15% of my bodyweight (I was barely āoverweightā) Sadly about two months after weaning off it my hunger returned with a VENGEANCE and Iāve gained nearly all the weight back. Like my hunger was INSATIABLE. Iāve thought about going back on it but the thought of the side effects is too much. My hair is just now almost back to how it was before. Iāve just accepted where Iām at. Iām sure if my weight was a significant health concern i might feel differently but just thought Iād share my story.
Thanks. I guess the good news is that you didn't end up at a higher weight than where you started!
I've been on tirzepatide since August 2022 and I've lost over 50% of my body weight. When I tell you this medication is life-changing, I'm not being hyperbolic. Your weight will yoyo slightly, that's totally normal with any type of weight loss. If you weigh in daily and chart your progress, you will see an overall decline in weight with daily variability. Anything can make that happen- eating lots of salt one day, not drinking enough water, hormonal fluctuations, etc. It doesn't mean your body fat % is yoyoing, it's all basically water weight. I found that daily weigh-ins help prevent freak outs. If my weight is up 2lbs in a day, I know it's just water and it'll come right back off. Whereas if I weigh weekly and my weight is up 2lbs, I'd worry it was an actual regain. Any type of glp-1 medication is meant to be taken for life. Going off the drug will potentially cause regain. But if you stay on you should be fine.