Did Ozempic make you realize how much you were eating/overeating?

[Anonymous]

For those on a semiglutide medication - has taking it (and losing weight) made you realize how much you were eating/overeating previously? Did it give you new perspective on what is a normal amount of food to eat?

[Anonymous]

It had helped me realize I didn’t need all the snacks I was eating. I already had VSG so I can’t eat huge portions, but my brain would constantly tell me I was hungry even after having eaten til my tiny stomach was stuffed. I would just constantly eat small amounts all day. Now I have four small planned meals a day and don’t even want to eat those most of the time.

[Anonymous]

I'm not on a semiglutide, but I've started using an app where you log your food, and it was eye opening for me. I don't have a sweet tooth, and eat whole grains and vegetables, but it really has given me a new awareness, because I was still taking on a lot of calories. I've adjusted my portions and some of my food choices, and seen a difference. (By the way, not saying my app-thing this is better than taking semiglutide. Just agreeing with OP about the phenomenon of gaining awareness.)

[Anonymous]

No, because I’ve dieted and lost weight a million times before. I knew how much I was overeating, I just couldn’t stop.

[Anonymous]

Yes, because I couldn't finish my regular portion size and I stopped craving sweets or to eat a snack before bed. It was freeing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For those on a semiglutide medication - has taking it (and losing weight) made you realize how much you were eating/overeating previously? Did it give you new perspective on what is a normal amount of food to eat?

No. It made me realize that I need to eat far less than that recommended for me to lose weight. I have counted calories for as long as I can remember, and I always struggled to lose weight — doctors have always recommended I eat around 1200 calories/day to lose weight, but it was always a struggle to stick to it because it never seemed to work (except make me hungry). Now on Wegovy, I realized I needed to eat about 1000 calories/day to lose weight, but Wegovy takes away those hunger pangs. I have lost about 45 pounds. I think “maintenance” will be around 1200 calories/day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For those on a semiglutide medication - has taking it (and losing weight) made you realize how much you were eating/overeating previously? Did it give you new perspective on what is a normal amount of food to eat?

No. It made me realize that I need to eat far less than that recommended for me to lose weight. I have counted calories for as long as I can remember, and I always struggled to lose weight — doctors have always recommended I eat around 1200 calories/day to lose weight, but it was always a struggle to stick to it because it never seemed to work (except make me hungry). Now on Wegovy, I realized I needed to eat about 1000 calories/day to lose weight, but Wegovy takes away those hunger pangs. I have lost about 45 pounds. I think “maintenance” will be around 1200 calories/day.

How long did it take you to lose 45 lbs? The only way your maintenance would be 1200 is if it's taken you 2 years to lose the weight.

[Anonymous]

I lost 20 pounds on Mounjaro. I am weaning now - shot every 2 weeks. So far so good, but I definitely see how little I need to eat to keep the weight off. I work out a lot (nothing new, I always have), but that seems to help quite a bit.

[Anonymous]

It was for me. I counted points, macros, weighed portions and the scale didn’t move. I started Wegovy about 2.5yrs ago. I ate so little and the weight finally started to come off. Because I ate so little I really had to watch what I ate. If I had a cookie I would be stuffed so I only ate protein, vegetables and fruit for sweets.

It took me 1.5 to lose 50lbs. I’ve kept it off for a year. I still don’t eat a lot but I do eat more than when I was on the meds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It was for me. I counted points, macros, weighed portions and the scale didn’t move. I started Wegovy about 2.5yrs ago. I ate so little and the weight finally started to come off. Because I ate so little I really had to watch what I ate. If I had a cookie I would be stuffed so I only ate protein, vegetables and fruit for sweets.

It took me 1.5 to lose 50lbs. I’ve kept it off for a year. I still don’t eat a lot but I do eat more than when I was on the meds.

What was your go-to protein food?

[Anonymous]

It certainly made my eating more intentional. I fell into the “have kids, eat what you can (often “kid food”), when you can, as fast as you can before some little person needs you” trap.

I have definately learned to put a 1/2 to a 1/3 of my former portion size on my plate, concentrate on much more nutrient dense foods and SLOW DOWN. Eat protein and veggies first. And stop after I’ve eaten about 1/2 of what is on my plate, engage in conversation or read some, and see if I am physically hungry in a few minutes. If not, I stop eating. Seems obvious, but I’m from the “kids are starving in China, you will sit there until you clean your plate” generation. Turns out, you can package what’s left and presto— lunch or dinner tomorrow.

So, it’s made me more mindful of what I eat and how much. And changed some bad but deeply ingrained eating habits. I’m down almost 90 pounds in 13 months. I suspect I will be on some dose of a GLP-1 at some interval forever, and am okay with that. But also, that when I dose down, many of the good habits I’ve developed will stick. And I’ll need a much lower dose much less often to maintain, simply because I’ve reset my eating.

Also, even in weight loss mode, I’ve discovered that I can eat 2-3 bites of a dessert and enjoy it. And ten be done. Often because we eat out and I just try a couple bites of what DH has. Or serve a 2 bite portion. Ot eat only a little then put it up. Turns out I don’t need a huge slice of pie or cake to enjoy dessert sometimes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It certainly made my eating more intentional. I fell into the “have kids, eat what you can (often “kid food”), when you can, as fast as you can before some little person needs you” trap.

I have definately learned to put a 1/2 to a 1/3 of my former portion size on my plate, concentrate on much more nutrient dense foods and SLOW DOWN. Eat protein and veggies first. And stop after I’ve eaten about 1/2 of what is on my plate, engage in conversation or read some, and see if I am physically hungry in a few minutes. If not, I stop eating. Seems obvious, but I’m from the “kids are starving in China, you will sit there until you clean your plate” generation. Turns out, you can package what’s left and presto— lunch or dinner tomorrow.

So, it’s made me more mindful of what I eat and how much. And changed some bad but deeply ingrained eating habits. I’m down almost 90 pounds in 13 months. I suspect I will be on some dose of a GLP-1 at some interval forever, and am okay with that. But also, that when I dose down, many of the good habits I’ve developed will stick. And I’ll need a much lower dose much less often to maintain, simply because I’ve reset my eating.

Also, even in weight loss mode, I’ve discovered that I can eat 2-3 bites of a dessert and enjoy it. And ten be done. Often because we eat out and I just try a couple bites of what DH has. Or serve a 2 bite portion. Ot eat only a little then put it up. Turns out I don’t need a huge slice of pie or cake to enjoy dessert sometimes.

Wow 90 pounds! Congrats! You must look like a different person?

Did you get any loose skin on lower face/neck and if so did it improve?

[Anonymous]

It has made me realize how much less I have to eat to lose if I come off. It is a lot less. I didn't eat like crap before. But basically I can barely eat if I want to lose. I do have PCOS and am 51.

But seriously, I'm only losing 1 pound a week which I am thrilled with (didn't want to lose too rapidly) but my food intake is so much less.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was for me. I counted points, macros, weighed portions and the scale didn’t move. I started Wegovy about 2.5yrs ago. I ate so little and the weight finally started to come off. Because I ate so little I really had to watch what I ate. If I had a cookie I would be stuffed so I only ate protein, vegetables and fruit for sweets.

It took me 1.5 to lose 50lbs. I’ve kept it off for a year. I still don’t eat a lot but I do eat more than when I was on the meds.

What was your go-to protein food?

Chicken

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It certainly made my eating more intentional. I fell into the “have kids, eat what you can (often “kid food”), when you can, as fast as you can before some little person needs you” trap.

I have definately learned to put a 1/2 to a 1/3 of my former portion size on my plate, concentrate on much more nutrient dense foods and SLOW DOWN. Eat protein and veggies first. And stop after I’ve eaten about 1/2 of what is on my plate, engage in conversation or read some, and see if I am physically hungry in a few minutes. If not, I stop eating. Seems obvious, but I’m from the “kids are starving in China, you will sit there until you clean your plate” generation. Turns out, you can package what’s left and presto— lunch or dinner tomorrow.

So, it’s made me more mindful of what I eat and how much. And changed some bad but deeply ingrained eating habits. I’m down almost 90 pounds in 13 months. I suspect I will be on some dose of a GLP-1 at some interval forever, and am okay with that. But also, that when I dose down, many of the good habits I’ve developed will stick. And I’ll need a much lower dose much less often to maintain, simply because I’ve reset my eating.

Also, even in weight loss mode, I’ve discovered that I can eat 2-3 bites of a dessert and enjoy it. And ten be done. Often because we eat out and I just try a couple bites of what DH has. Or serve a 2 bite portion. Ot eat only a little then put it up. Turns out I don’t need a huge slice of pie or cake to enjoy dessert sometimes.

Wow 90 pounds! Congrats! You must look like a different person?

Did you get any loose skin on lower face/neck and if so did it improve?

Thanks! People say so, but I can’t tell when I look in a mirror— although I can in side by side pics. The body dysmorphia piece of losing that much weight is awful for me.

And, so far no loose skin or aging on my face. And again— side by side pics. BUT (and this is a big one)— I’ve have crippling migraines since I was teen, so I’ve gotten a large amount of Botox injected in my face, scalp and neck every 3 months since I was 20– except when I was pregnant. In fact, was in one of the early clinical trials for Botox for migraines. According to my neurologist, this means I never formed wrinkles, so if I stopped now, I would have a 25 year olds skin tone. I’m sure it’s also helping with lose skin. So much pain for so long— it’s nice to see an upside.

Now, my abdomen (especially since I have an C-section apron) and under my arms— yeah— you can definitely tell there.