Ozempic and social life when not interested in eating/drinking?

[Anonymous]

Talk about taking the lazy way out.

I was told in early 2022 that out of the blue I had gone from totally fine to Type 2 diabetes. My A1c was somewhere in the low to mid 8s

Even then the doctor didn’t want to put me on any medications without me trying to see if lifestyle changes (food / exercise) would work. Still, I insisted on metformin at my spouse’ suggestion.

I cut out sugars almost entirely (cheating on weekends), starting paying attention to carbs, and began walking 5 or so miles a day (sometimes more).

I lost 20 pounds within two months, another 10 in the next two and a year later haven’t gained any back. My A1c also has dropped to 5.4, which is the lowest level for prediabetes and is barely above normal.

I also do whatever I want on weekends, including plenty of eating and drinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk about taking the lazy way out.

I was told in early 2022 that out of the blue I had gone from totally fine to Type 2 diabetes. My A1c was somewhere in the low to mid 8s

Even then the doctor didn’t want to put me on any medications without me trying to see if lifestyle changes (food / exercise) would work. Still, I insisted on metformin at my spouse’ suggestion.

I cut out sugars almost entirely (cheating on weekends), starting paying attention to carbs, and began walking 5 or so miles a day (sometimes more).

I lost 20 pounds within two months, another 10 in the next two and a year later haven’t gained any back. My A1c also has dropped to 5.4, which is the lowest level for prediabetes and is barely above normal.

I also do whatever I want on weekends, including plenty of eating and drinking.

Rich to call other people lazy when you yourself have a lifestyle-induced chronic illness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you really enjoy your life full of food, friends, and wine. Not really sure I understand why you would give that up for the sake of losing 10 pounds. 10 pounds is not a health issue; it's aesthetics.

If it were me, I would just enjoy my life.

This is a good point. I guess I want to have my cake and eat (part of) it too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Talk about taking the lazy way out.

I was told in early 2022 that out of the blue I had gone from totally fine to Type 2 diabetes. My A1c was somewhere in the low to mid 8s

Even then the doctor didn’t want to put me on any medications without me trying to see if lifestyle changes (food / exercise) would work. Still, I insisted on metformin at my spouse’ suggestion.

I cut out sugars almost entirely (cheating on weekends), starting paying attention to carbs, and began walking 5 or so miles a day (sometimes more).

I lost 20 pounds within two months, another 10 in the next two and a year later haven’t gained any back. My A1c also has dropped to 5.4, which is the lowest level for prediabetes and is barely above normal.

I also do whatever I want on weekends, including plenty of eating and drinking.

Rich to call other people lazy when you yourself have a lifestyle-induced chronic illness.

Except I don’t. That’s the point. I did, and now I don’t.

Also, diabetes is hereditary and not necessarily lifestyle-induced. A$$hole.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(re-posting on diet & exercise forum)
As many are doing, and I assume many more will in the near future, I would love to try Ozempic or similar for a month or two to lose the pesky post-menopausal 10 lbs. But I am also intrigued by/wondering about what I have heard about how (while on drugs) you lose interest in food/ability to eat much; similar loss of interest in (much) alcohol. Which got me thinking- how does this otherwise affect your daily life/social life? The reason I struggle with the extra ten pounds is because I love food and I love a glass or two of wine or a couple of IPAs (with the food). So many of our (my husband's and my) social plans revolve around meeting up with friends for a drink/dinner; having friends over for a drink/dinner. It is fun! Fun conversation, great food, etc. What happens to your social life/daily life if you lose interest in these things?? (I think a month or so ago, the Atlantic had an article talking about people stopping the drugs before vacation so they could enjoy going out to eat . . . ). Very interested in folks' experience - what do you use to fill the time once no longer interested in food/drink planning meals/thinking about next outing?

It won't be great for a quick 10lb. You have to start at .25 for a month, then .50 etc... The therapeutic dose is 2.4.

So the first 2-3 months you're on a very low dose amount and some people don't get appetite suppression at those low levels.

But you really have to go up slowly- the nausea and stomach issues are no joke. You can look at the Wegovy website. It explains the titration schedule and why it's necessary.

That said, I'm using it to lose 20lbs (ish). I didn't lose much at all until month 3 with a higher dose. I've lost about 15 lbs now and am considering a little lower weight goal than planned maybe another 10lb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one takes Ozempic for a month or two to lose a pesky 10 pounds.

+1 Waste of time, will just come back when you stop the drug.

And it won't be approved. I'm overweight, BMI 30, A1C pre-diabetic. Prior Authorizations are all denied. You must have Type 2 diabetes in order to be authorized (per my insurance, I know it's highly dependent). Even then you have to have tried metformin and other weight loss programs before you are approved.

Your insurance should be using your starting weight as the marker. So that's how they calculate if you're obese or overweight.

It's DESIGNED to work like all meds for chronic conditions work... You go on a maintenance dose at the weight you want to maintain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Talk about taking the lazy way out.

I was told in early 2022 that out of the blue I had gone from totally fine to Type 2 diabetes. My A1c was somewhere in the low to mid 8s

Even then the doctor didn’t want to put me on any medications without me trying to see if lifestyle changes (food / exercise) would work. Still, I insisted on metformin at my spouse’ suggestion.

I cut out sugars almost entirely (cheating on weekends), starting paying attention to carbs, and began walking 5 or so miles a day (sometimes more).

I lost 20 pounds within two months, another 10 in the next two and a year later haven’t gained any back. My A1c also has dropped to 5.4, which is the lowest level for prediabetes and is barely above normal.

I also do whatever I want on weekends, including plenty of eating and drinking.

It's late and I'm tired- did you just say Wegovy is the lazy way out? But you took Metformin? Pot meet kettle.

Ozempic/Wegovy are just more effective than metformin. But are medications assisting with weight loss lol 🙄

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you really enjoy your life full of food, friends, and wine. Not really sure I understand why you would give that up for the sake of losing 10 pounds. 10 pounds is not a health issue; it's aesthetics.

If it were me, I would just enjoy my life.

This. You'd be giving up some of the best joys in life for 10lbs.

[Anonymous]

I'm on ozempic and still enjoy going out. I just eat/drink a lot less. What I can't do is tasting menus/prix fixe deals because it is too much food. I order appetizer portions.

If you are focused on weekend socializing you can get your shots on Mondays and by Friday you will be able to eat a bit more. Of course that will make it a lot harder to actually lose weight so might defeat the prupose.

In any event, I lost 10 lbs in the first month. Surely you can socialize without excess food/drink for a month or two? And if not then just live with the 10 pounds - sounds like it's a vanity issue not a health issue.

[Anonymous]

I’m on Wegovy and have a significant amount of weight to lose. Seven weeks in, I’m still building up to an effective dose and I expect I will be on at least a maintenance dose for a long time. Nothing stops me from going out and socializing. Because I do it for the company and not the food. Without the food noise, it’s easy to order a healthy meal, an appetizer for an entree, grace, eat a bite or two of my spouses dessert. I don’t really want more.

Also, tasting menus are great. A few bites. A wait. A few more bites. Again, I more interested in being with friends and family than what exactly I eat.

And OP’s plan sounds profoundly unhealthy. I have no doubt that in 5 years there will be a new diagnosis in the DSM as an off shoot of bulimia. Rather than binge and purge, it’s binge and inject. Same deal. Except this class of drugs acts on brain chemistry, your blood chemistry, your GI system and your endocrine system. I can’t believe you can eat whatever you want, go directly to a high enough dose of Wegovy to get the results OP wants in a few weeks (no effort weight loss) rather than titrate up for 3-4 months and then back down, like you are supposed to. And then return directly from an effective dose to eating whatever you want. Rinse and repeat every 3 months. Sounds like a great way to develop all sorts of physical problems. And an ED.

If you are happy with you life and eating habits, you don’t have diabetes or similar, and the only issue is 10 pounds, don’t go there. Improve your diet on days you don’t socialize and drop a few pounds. Or don’t if your blood work looks good. Big difference between BMI of 26 and 38.

[Anonymous]

Soon everybody is going to be thin. I feel like those of us not taking this will look “fat,” even if we’re not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one takes Ozempic for a month or two to lose a pesky 10 pounds.

+1 Waste of time, will just come back when you stop the drug.

So then I can do it again a few months down the road if/when the 10lbs come back. There is no doubt in my mind that the drug will be widely used this way by many many people, very soon. It already is being used this way by celebrities (and Elon!) and rich white women. But I am interested into how you fill the time/mental space when you are no longer focused on planning next (tasty) meal. E.g., on vacation, when you are already talking about dinner plans when you are at lunch. But maybe that is just me (and explains the extra ten).

I too considered it for the perimenopause 15 and watched social media for reported side effects. Lots of people on Oz are seeing tons of hair loss. Doctors keep dismissing the hair loss as a result of fast weight loss. Unfortunately, it’s happening among those losing weight slowly or not at all. That’s why the celebrities and influencers on Ozempic are all chopping off their hair.

It’s a bummer because I really want to try it. Tread carefully.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one takes Ozempic for a month or two to lose a pesky 10 pounds.

+1 Waste of time, will just come back when you stop the drug.

So then I can do it again a few months down the road if/when the 10lbs come back. There is no doubt in my mind that the drug will be widely used this way by many many people, very soon. It already is being used this way by celebrities (and Elon!) and rich white women. But I am interested into how you fill the time/mental space when you are no longer focused on planning next (tasty) meal. E.g., on vacation, when you are already talking about dinner plans when you are at lunch. But maybe that is just me (and explains the extra ten).

You’re going to have to do some MAJOR doctor shopping to convince a Dr to give this to younger 10lbs. I’m a pharma sales rep and I represent Novo Nordisk and I don’t know a single Dr that will prescribe it for weight loss if you are not over 27 BMI plus a risk factor. The vast majority are requiring at a BMI of 30 or above.

I guess you could find the equivalent of a pill mill doctor, but I don’t know anyone doing that currently like they did back a few years ago with opioids. Most doctors don’t want to be caught facilitating abuse of drugs.

[Anonymous]

Diabetic here who is taking ozempic - I don’t think you understand how this drug works. You still have to eat, hon. You can still go out to dinner. You just eat a little less.

Also, good luck getting your refills. I’m in LA where everyone is on ozempic and I honestly don’t care, because pharmacists openly prioritize diabetics. I almost always get my prescription filled same day. You won’t have the same experience, so I’d recommend a med spa for the compounded version.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one takes Ozempic for a month or two to lose a pesky 10 pounds.

+1 Waste of time, will just come back when you stop the drug.

So then I can do it again a few months down the road if/when the 10lbs come back. There is no doubt in my mind that the drug will be widely used this way by many many people, very soon. It already is being used this way by celebrities (and Elon!) and rich white women. But I am interested into how you fill the time/mental space when you are no longer focused on planning next (tasty) meal. E.g., on vacation, when you are already talking about dinner plans when you are at lunch. But maybe that is just me (and explains the extra ten).

You’re going to have to do some MAJOR doctor shopping to convince a Dr to give this to younger 10lbs. I’m a pharma sales rep and I represent Novo Nordisk and I don’t know a single Dr that will prescribe it for weight loss if you are not over 27 BMI plus a risk factor. The vast majority are requiring at a BMI of 30 or above.

I guess you could find the equivalent of a pill mill doctor, but I don’t know anyone doing that currently like they did back a few years ago with opioids. Most doctors don’t want to be caught facilitating abuse of drugs.

PP. As NN management knows well, telemed services are not verifying weight. Their product is being prescribed to women with BMIs under 25, never mind under 27.