Obesity and weight loss

My doctor put me on Monjouro for weight loss. I lost weight with that, but the biggest thing was giving up on HIGH Carb foods. I mostly gave up things like potatoes (would have a small baked potato and would eat only half), I gave up French Fries totally. I only had miniature peanut butter cups in my house for low blood sugar episodes and stayed away from them otherwise. I stopped buying cookies, bars, cakes, etc from the store so I wouldn't have them in front of me. I gave up having ice cream as I was lactose intolerant, and if I ate too much, Oh Oh. It's takes willpower to do it, but my friends were understanding. If you go out to eat, start with the Salads, (limit the fatty dressings), stay away from anything that has breading and is deep fried. Eat baked Fish, Salmon, Chicken, Turkey, eggs (high in protein). I started having PROTEIN shakes once or twice a day also for a meal replacement or snack. I also bought Protein Bars for a snack between meals instead of having potato chips or other snacky things high in carbs. Hope this helps you.

I will share what I have experienced, but everyone is different. I do get your frustration though. Been there before. There are multiple people in my family who have weight issues. It is complicated.

Maybe you’ll see a change when the dose of Wegovy is increased. Do you have diabetes or any other medical conditions that might impact your weight loss struggle?

Most of my life I was thin to average size, but always struggled to stay that way. I joined Weight Watchers once, joined 3 different medically supervised diet plans. All worked somewhat.

I gained a lot of weight during covid. I attended a retreat with friends at a magical Lake near a mountain in NC last summer It was a special time that changed my life. It helped me change my internal dialogue. I needed this, since my overeating was rarely due to being hungry. It was about something else. I also began talk therapy. Yes, joining a gym, meeting with a nutritionist, following strict calorie intake, etc. are helpful, but for me it was more about me and my life. I don’t know how to explain it. Oh, I also think I got scared of poor health, pain, disability and early death, if I didn’t get my health to an ideal place.

@joysmiley64
Thank you. I know I am an impulse eater. I thought the WEGOVY would reduce my cravings but so far nothing. I told my wife I need to go back to me taking charge and not relying on WEGOVY.

I can lose it but it comes back on. I do a lot of exercising and was doing Sprint Triathlons. Injured my leg pretty bad sliding off a dock and could not exericse for 3 weeks. Gained 10 lbs because bored and snacked.

Then caught COVID for first time even after all shots and boosters. Really hit me hard and caused sinus infection and bronchitis. This was back in June and still not fully recovered. Again in that 2 months gained another 10 lbs. as was eating anything to make my throat feel better as was so sore could not talk (ice cream, choclate, grilled cheese sandwhich).

I need to go back to what you mentioned. The high protein and stay away from carbs. Thought my answer would be the WEGOVY but not on the started dosage.
Thanks!

@celia16
I do not have diabetes. I do have heart failure caused by a virus but have no exercise restrictions as in on left side only.

I think what you said when they raise the increase in WEGOVY I might get some assistance. I guess I did the wrong thing it getting a full plate and thinking it was going to kick in and would not eat it all. Nope, nothing and no side affects either. I was thinking maybe takes a couple of days to kick in but nope 5 days since I injected it (ouch).

It seems when I am tired I eat more. It seems when I am bored eat more and when something happens psychologicallly I eat more snacks. I know I need to control and change that but really takes will power.
It is only after I retired that weight really went up. I did lose 60 lbs on Nutrisystem with my wife and others saying way to much weight loss.
Thank you for your input. I do have that internal dialogue that you mentioned and one side don't do that and the other side do it. Got to work on listening to the good side saying don't do it even though easier to give in.
Thanks for reply!

I will add that over the years that I worked to lose weight or to keep it down, it was always a real battle. I suffered a lot of anxiety and frustration over resisting temptation, deprivation, binges, etc. It wasn’t until I came to peace with my decision that all that angst left. I felt free to sit down and write out my food plan, menu, grocery list and enjoy my food. I love my delicious dishes of lean protein, healthy fats and whole grains. I no longer desire empty calories. I’ve never been a fast food fan, but I have no desire for that. If I see high empty calorie food, I think of how devastating it would be to my body.

I feel highly motivated to fuel my body with the best things possible. So, I don’t buy anything but good items, like berries, apples, avocado, poultry, veggies, whole grains, diary, etc, I will occasionally treat myself to a sweet food, but not often, as it doesn’t hold much enjoyment anymore. I can’t explain the reason, but for me I had a lifestyle change. Just trying to use willpower never worked for me. I have lost almost 90 pounds on my own, in about a year. My doctors, who didn’t supervise it, are amazed. I didn’t use any medication, though there’s nothing wrong with that. I also see a therapist every other week and talk therapy helps me with my anxiety. Plus, working out at the gym 5-6 days per week keeps me accountable.

Best of luck to you! I’ll look forward to seeing your progress.

I have my husband do the grocery shopping. That way no junk food is brought into the house. I’m on Ozempic and it definitely has helped curb my appetite. I am an emotional eater and work with my psychologist on changing my behavior.

I have not tried wegovy I had gastric sleeve over 10 years ago … before that I canso relate nutri system , weight watchers I always lost but always gained back until gastric sleeve …. It is the only thing that has worked and helped me keep it off because your stomach is small so as long as you eat small meals you won’t stretch out your new sleeve …..still years later when having a sandwich I eat half and may fruit or salad but always stop when full …. Don’t eat much carbs more meat veggie person ….i changed my whole way of eating ….i exercise and make good choices and use my will power which I have in abundance now and I can tape into ……my best advice to you is stick with it the earlier dosage is more of a struggle…..try to find a weight lose support group to help through tuff times …. Food addiction like smoking or other addiction if you can fight through the cravings will make you stronger…don’t have bad food in your house will give you time to think about it if you have to go get it … for now you will have to help the wegovy, it will get easier if you stick with it ….good luck

@ezas123
Thank you!! Great advice.
I thought WEGOVY would work immediately but did not factor in I am on lowest dose to begin with. I just took for granted it would work even on low dose and was not doing much to help it work. Sure would have been nice for WEGOVY to advise may not get results on low dosage regimen.

I am going to use your suggestions. I need to do my part and not rely on WEGOVY like I did alone. Got to work on the will power. It is snacks not my meals that is the problem. I have a wife that is a snack aholic and buys tons of snacks items.

I was eating a cup of nuts as was told healthly snacks only to learn there are 180 calories in a quarter cup. I was eating over 700 calories in one snack alone and usually did it twice.
Thanks again for advice!

@misssuezq
If I did the shopping I don't think it would helped as it is my wife that likes to buy and try different snacks.

Did Ozempic put you on a low dose to begin with? If so did it work at the low dose?

I am an emotional eater as well. But I also snack when bored, tired, sick (to feel better). I do see a psychiatric PA medicine. I take escitilopram (spell) and several other medications. The PTSD had developed into anxiety/panic disorder. With the medication the PTSD really diminshed and came off XNAC and Trazadone.

I added a lot of exercise and regrettfully snacks in my battle to beat the PTSD.

@celia16
Thank you. I have been looking in the mirror to say WHOA and get your act together. I know I gained most of my weight when was hurt during a Sprint Triathlon and could not exercise for about 6 weeks. Then got COVID couple of months later and then bronchitis and sinus infection.

Those two things put 20 extra pounds on me alone. Now the long battle to get it off but more important keep it off.

I told my doctors when I had COVID (first time and took all shots and boosters) that gave me sinus infection and bronchitis that my throat was so sore I constantly was eating ice cream to sooth my throat.

If only weight would go off as quick as it goes on. But what I am learning from respondents what works is individual determination.