Obesity and weight loss: What weight loss plan worked for you?

@laurie22
What great advice and philosophy.

I think I will look up an OA in my area. Do they have on line groups?

I am on WEGOVY now but the lowest amount first. It has done nothing. I guess I thought could just let it do the job of losing weight so ate what I wanted to and gained weight. I am told the higher levels will have more of an affect but have to start at lower dose to see if going to have side affects and which level will work.

You are a great coach and spokesperson for weight loss and taking responsibility for losing it.

I struggled with weight all my life and even gained weight on Atkins, despite test strip saying I was doing it right. I was, but no matter our wishes, consuming too many calories means too much weight. That's science. When I got desperate enough, I found Overeaters Anonymous, a non-profit program. Yup, I had to admit that I ate too much and was powerless to stop. I'd restrict and lose a few pounds, reward myself with goodies. Up and down, up and down. Before OA, if I was happy - I ate to celebrate; if I was sad, frustrated, angry - I ate to feel better. But it was never worked. I ended up feeling shamed. When I found OA, I found that I have an actual disease - Compulsive Eating Disorder. My brain/thinking was not my friend. OA gave me people who understood how I felt, a sponsor to talk to regularly, meetings that discussed the solution and so on. Have you ever met someone who got sober in AA? Well OA works the same for food disorders and has plenty of people who have found a healthy weight without dieting. It takes more calories to weigh more, so eating the amount of food that will maintain my healthy weight meant I lost down to it and stay here as long as I follow the healthy meal plan every day. But I didn't do it alone and I have never felt deprived. At 5' 1" I am keeping off 85 pounds for 13 years now but that feels like just a side effect of what the program did for me. I am grateful every day for OA. If it were too easy, nobody would need it. If it were too hard, nobody would do it. But it is just right, and life becomes happily livable with some extra work and without extra food. It also gratefully works with professionals who help with weight loss. Look up OA.org

@missuezq
I think my first dose of WEGOVY is at the .25 dosage. They start low to see if you are going to have any serious side effects and then raise it up one dosage each month.

My wife does do the grocery shopping. Most of it on line now and she really enjoys doing it. I hate it. I am a researcher and label reader and it drives her crazy when I come with her.

I am working with PCP to find a way to get this off. I really get offended by myself when I look in the mirror as only I am to blame.

I don’t know of any of those professional services, but they are advertised online, according to reports. I shared my experience with a person in my office and she said, of course, that place is famous for what you experienced! I had no idea! So, I’d check with your friends and maybe check it out. I look forward to returning.

@celia16

Thanks for sharing, it does look like beautiful spot to regenerate. I have friends in NC, would be great get away. Love the movie Dirty Dancing !

@jc76
Well then I guess it’s good your wife doesn’t do the grocery shopping 🤣
I started Ozempic at a low dosage.5mg and it was effective.
I have PTSD and anxiety and panic disorder as well. That is great you were able to come off some meds as they can have issues themselves. I know some of mine cause weight gain and that has been a challenge as I’m trying to lose weight. I’m working with my doctor to get off some meds too.

It was a planned get together with a few close, longtime fiends, as well as some other friends and a couple of new friends! Men and women. We rented a house right on Lake Lure next to Chimney Rock, NC. I hadn’t been there since I was a kid.

Oh, I was impressed that this is the lake where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed! The cast stayed at the local Hotel during filming where they still provide a tribute to the film and cast. The boat tours will point out famous sites from the movie. I took some photos.

We had our own itinerary that included hiking, boat rides, outdoor lakeside dining, local flower garden, etc. Plus down time to reflect and breathe deeply. Plus, sharing our feelings with our friends. It didn’t hurt that most of my friends were very health conscious . Some are vegan and they all are very active. It was the most memorable vacation in the US. Photos below, The bear near the boat was taken from our dock!

ADDITIONALLY, I later discovered that there are professional resorts at that location that offer what I experienced! It’s described as a place where there’s a portal to a place of transformation! I had no idea when I went. Therefore, I think it’s real. To each his own, but I’m a believer. 😉

@celia16
Love the idea of retreat to take time to work on yourself. I am curious if this was just group of friends that got together or a retreat that offered classes, etc to help you change your thinking.

If formal retreat, are you willing to share the name of the place?

Great points! I like the part about auto pilot. Exactly!

I am winning the battle now lol… but took years…. All I can say is don’t ever give up ….the awesome thing is there are so many products to utilize to help fight obesity you don’t have to do alone …: let’s face it if it were just a will power thing we would all be thin … but you have to work with the medication and not find ways to cheat your way through…. I seen some people do this with the sleeve and they gained their weight back ….my surgery was over ten years ago and I have never had a carbonated beverage lol … my thing is it stretches your stomach not sure if it does but have not drank soda …..this is a life journey at first it is very conscious in all your food decisions , but once you retrain your mind and body than your on auto pilot …. Don’t get me wrong I have a goodie now and than but now its portion and quality over quantity….so everyone out there this struggle you can win but you have to do your part and there are no short cuts …. So work with whatever diet you choose, exercise and make smart choices and in 10 years you will be here encouraging others ….