The big question is, is it a wonder drug or the work of the devil? I don’t know but I do know it works.
I’ve had diabetes since I originally gained a lot of weight back around 2007. That’s when I quit smoking and it’s certainly true that you gain weight after you quit. It happened to me (although I can hear some people saying I got lazy or I have no willpower). I’m pretty sure it takes willpower to stop smoking so, proud of myself for doing that.
With the weight gain, I also developed sleep apnea. That’s quite common from what I understand. I started using a CPAP machine and it allowed me to get a good night’s rest. I started with a regular CPAP (same pressure all the time) and moved to APAP several years ago. Autopap machines will increase and decrease pressure to keep you just below the threshold of having events.
Several years ago I went on Trulicity, a once-a-week injection for managing Type 2 diabetes. It did bring down my A1C but I didn’t notice any weight loss although I might have been less hungry, but probably not. My insurance paid all but $40/month for it so it was quite manageable. In July 2021 I retired and went on Medicare. They do not pay much for it so I stopped taking it. I also stopped taking Janumet, another diabetes drug that is quite expensive and went to Metformin which is very cheap. We also moved to Arizona.
Near the end of last year (2023) I restarted the Janumet and also a drug called Victoza, a once-a-day injection. I started noticing I was less hungry and was dropping a few lbs. Sometime in March I decided I should add a daily walk to my regimen so started walking around the block which is around .8 miles. I’ve continued that at least 5 days a week but now it’s really warm in the morning so may need to move inside to the treadmill.
That was around March and in April my drug company said they would prefer I move to Ozempic which is a once-a-week injection. You start at 0.25 mg per week and after 1 month you go to 0.5 mg and the next month you go to 1 mg if you tolerate the increases. You can also move to a 2 mg dose but I’m currently at 1 mg and plan to stay there as long as my blood sugar stays down and I keep a steady process in my weight loss.
Ozempic’s generic name is Semaglutide and it’s also the ingredient in Wegovy which is marketed and approved for weight loss. Wegovy is typically done in a higher dose. Lots of celebrities are taking one or the other and some (like Chelsea Handler) suggest they didn’t know that’s what they were taking. I’m not sure how you could inject something into your body and not know what it was. I’m inclined to believe they don’t want the stigma of using something to help but who knows.
It’s been about 6-7 months since I’ve started taking either Victoza or Ozempic and I am now officially down 65 lbs. Just a few days ago I realized I don’t have to struggle to put on socks and shoes anymore. There are other benefits like having more energy and not being out of breath a lot. My goal originally was 200 lbs but I’ve moved it to 180. It may take me another 6 months but I can see making it there. I think I will need to stay on this the rest of my life or at least until someone else starts caring for me. I’m not sure what the long-term studies are showing but I understand the benefits far outweigh the issues.
A final thought before I wrap this up. How is my appetite? In-check is the only way to describe this. Semaglutide slows digestion and makes you feel like you’re full for much longer. So you don’t really have hunger pangs. Sometimes I do have a craving for something I shouldn’t eat, and sometimes I do eat it but I try to stay below 1200 calories a day. With Ozempic it’s not that hard.
Donnie: I’m glad to hear you are seeing positive benefits. The weight loss is amazing. You are dedicated and definitely determined. Nice work ( and I know you are putting in the work!)
Comment by Wanda Revells — Sunday July 16, 2023 @ 7:00 pm
Hi Don, Praying for Betty and for you. You are such a strong and loving soul.
Hope AZ is treating you well. Do you love it there? Hot there? It’s hot AF here in Tejas. Thank God for my pool.
The chemtrails have been amazing. Funny how they can bring on the heat or bring down a waterfall of rain. The DS sucks. HAARP is almost all they have left.
Getting to the point of considering early retirement. I have an ESOP here at work that I fear will disappear if the market crashes (and it will) so, the thought of getting ahead of that is enticing.
Hey – Get off those meds and just do Ketovore. So much easier and you’re not funding big pharma. It’s working for me. I’m actually almost completely off of my thyroid meds because of my diet/lifestyle. No more knee pain either. I include rounds of Intermittent fasting and occasionally do a 30 day carnivore challenge. I love it. I do not miss sugar at all. I’ve been doing this for the last 2 years.
Hope you are well and happy – that’s key. Would be great to talk again.
Sending you a hug ~ feel it?
Suzy
Comment by Suzy Taylor — Wednesday September 6, 2023 @ 6:55 am
Thanks for commenting Suzy! I’ll have to give you a call. It’s been another couple of years and we just lose touch.
Love you!
Comment by Don — Thursday September 14, 2023 @ 1:02 pm