@scampano3
I’m so glad this weight loss program, (Optavia, now known as Trilivy) worked for you. Losing 55 pounds in 5 months is huge! Congratulations!👍😃

I see from your profile you are a male Army veteran + Powerlifter for 25 years + 13 spinal surgeries. That tells me you have perseverance and determination in the face of adversity!

I’m not any of those things. We are all “snowflakes” (unique) when it comes to how to lose weight AND our health.

I’m a 62 yr old female. Over the past 20 years I’ve tried diets similar to the one you did. I’ve lost 60-70 pounds on each diet and gained it all back when I went on their maintenance programs. I’ve spent over $5000 combined on all these diets.

I take meds for diabetes + high blood pressure + high cholesterol + hormone replacement (post menopause). I also have sleep apnea and use a CPAP machine.

Endocrinologist put me on Ozempic in 2019 = no weight loss and A1C never got below 7.

Finally Nov. 2025 at 275 pounds, I went to a new endocrinologist and she put me on Mounjaro plus two supplements to help with weight loss and blood sugar. I also use the Carb Manager phone app so I’m sure to get high protein + low carb + medium fat + reduced calories. Plus I exercise on recumbent bike.

With all of this I’ve lost 40 pounds in 4 months and I’m excited to continue losing weight. My endocrinologist said if and when I reach a plateau, there’s medications to help with that. I don’t feel hungry or deprived. My A1C went from 7.6 down to 6.2.

This healthy way of living is working for me. I don’t call it a diet because my body will require me to continue on Mounjaro + healthy food + exercise the rest of my life due to my family genetics of diabetes, heart attacks and strokes.

Basically I’ve learned that obesity is a disease for some people. They can lose weight but regain it all.

The book “Enough” explains all of this = “The new obesity medications target the biology. Part of brain which manages energy stores tells body to hold on to more fat than it needs. Neuro metabolic disease. Medication recalibrates those signals so body wants to store less energy and fat. When treating obesity it’s a lifelong process which helps prevent other obesity related conditions which can lead to death = cancer and heart attacks.”

I highly recommend reading/ listening to this book! 👍😃