I started Ozempic 2 years ago, at 250 pounds; It's prescribed by a weight loss doctor. In the first 6 months I lost about 35 pounds and since then, switched to Monjouro, (sp?)) and now I'm on Zepbound. Not losing any weight, but my appetite is completely curbed, I never have cravings any more; one would think I would be *skinny as a rail now from how little I eat compared to before, but I keep hanging out around 210! If I had to pay for it myself, I'd have quit long ago, but since I don't (cuz my insurance covers it), I'll keep taking it as long as doctor keeps prescribing. I have never had relief from compulsive overeating like I do now. (I caught that addiction from both sides of my family, and so did my 8 siblings.) So grateful to be relieved of it. I am scared to death though of going off it because I'm afraid I'll start to stuff myself again. BTW, no bad side effects to speak of though I don't know what long-term effect of liver or kidneys may be. I don't think they could be ay worse than the diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and anxiety I have recovered from since 2 years ago.
We talked about this on my most recent Fucked-Up Friday appearance, but for benefit of others: These drugs are amazing and I hope people will stop judging the use of them as “cheating.”
If obesity were a moral failing, it would be the only moral failing I know that could be fixed with a weekly shot!
My husband loves me regardless, so I didn’t start shots for appearance or date-ability. More for health. It’s been great.
You can get Tirzepatide using a coupon from the manufacturer that’s half the list price. You can pay even less if you have it shipped directly from Lily. Worth checking. Hit me up for details.
Oh goodness, what an amazing post. I’ve been down a very similar path and struggles. I’m glad the glp is working for you. I may try it again when I’m back in the states not to reach some unattainable goal but like you, for my health and wellbeing.
Thank you for this, Dana. I too am Gen X, and I identified strongly with your origin story. My mom at age 87 is still absolutely preoccupied about her weight. I am happy for her that she has finally, through the vagaries of age-related illnesses, managed to achieve her pinnacle of achievement, her high school weight. She comments freely on my weight - I've always been normal to thin, either through anorexia or absolutely punishing exercise - and now for the first time I weigh more than her, and she can't help crowing about it. The benefit to me: as she loses, she buys clothes in a smaller size, and she buys high quality stuff from higher end stores, so I get her barely worn castoffs. Still mom can't help commenting her 'old' clothes aren't as loose on me as they are on her. I started to write I hope, I'll change that to I am determined not to be like mom when I reach the same age. I'm tired of it as a topic that I both despise as an utter waste of time but whose social relevance has nevertheless dominated much of my linternal life. Hope you continue to experience success...xo
Apologies for the long comment, but I am struggling with this exact issue. Your writing hits on so many things occurring in my life too. Anyway, putting this out here:
my insurance recently approved it. I'm 55 and 70 pounds overweight. Recent blood work showed elevated cholesterol. Several friends seeing success on it (Zepbound) are saying, 'just go for it!' My three daughters (20, 18, 16 y.o), who are all fit and healthy, are encouraging me to first try exercising consistently before trying it. My feeling is that they think these shots are cheating. In my fantasy, I lose weight the natural way, of course, and they proud. My reluctance also has to do with the feeling that I'd be starting something that I'd need to keep up for the rest of my life. I take daily vitamins, but have never taken medication regularly aside from birth control in my 20s and 30s. I talked about it with my new PCP, who listened very patiently as I talked about the gradual weight gain of the past 20 years. She suggested I do my best with healthy eating, reduced sugar and regular exercise for the next three months and return for a follow up visit. If, at that time I haven't seen progress, then I'll try it.
There's so much rich detail here that I think is so valuable in helping us understand these now drugs and how they interact with culture, biology, and emotions. Thank you for sharing.
I had a suspicion. Sorry about the insurance, though. I wrote a post about the challenges of being obese in our society a while back. I can relate. I'm *really* lucky to have the insurance I have, and I know it.
I hear you. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. And Mounjaro is a diabetes drug first. That's why my insurance covers it, even though my A1C has been quite low for some time. But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
I can speak a little to this. I was on The Shot for three-ish months and then on a much cheaper stimulant for four months after that. It totally changed the way I look at food and how I eat. It was worth it. I am different now and I could never go back to how I was before. I don’t claim to know how that works at all. But it did something.
I am using injections too. I had a bad experience with compounded Terzepatide, but am going to do something different. Just registered w Noom. going to get serious about logging what I eat, and getting better sleep at night. I'm one of those weirdos who never wants to go to bed! I don't think it's doing me any favors.
Thank you for your sincerity in this critical issue affecting many of us. Whether thin or not, we must never forget who we are hurting the most, whether it be ourselves or someone close to us. Weight has always played a massive part in many people's lives. We should never forget to love ourselves the way we are! ♥️🙏🫶
First off you are very beautiful specially that smile!!. I too take my shot every Friday. I was almost 300 pounds now I’m finally under 200! I’m tired of being fat I’m happy I’ve lost weight and continue to lose weight. Not so much I care what others think but what I think. And how I feel health wise. I have diabetes but it under control, I have MS which is also under control I also have lots of arthritis in every joint in my body. It’s improving but not where I want it. The only two things I dislike is the extra roll of skin I now have and how my shorts keep falling off me and the constant pulling up of said shorts. Luckily no one has seen me lol. Good luck on your journey may all your dreams come true!
I think your writing is great…I especially loved this line
with women counting calories instead of rosary beads.
Often wondered why someone would give themselves a shot! I so hate needles. Thanks for your explanations.
Oh, the shots are soooo easy, not at all like the insulin shots my son took as a juvenile diabetic.
I started Ozempic 2 years ago, at 250 pounds; It's prescribed by a weight loss doctor. In the first 6 months I lost about 35 pounds and since then, switched to Monjouro, (sp?)) and now I'm on Zepbound. Not losing any weight, but my appetite is completely curbed, I never have cravings any more; one would think I would be *skinny as a rail now from how little I eat compared to before, but I keep hanging out around 210! If I had to pay for it myself, I'd have quit long ago, but since I don't (cuz my insurance covers it), I'll keep taking it as long as doctor keeps prescribing. I have never had relief from compulsive overeating like I do now. (I caught that addiction from both sides of my family, and so did my 8 siblings.) So grateful to be relieved of it. I am scared to death though of going off it because I'm afraid I'll start to stuff myself again. BTW, no bad side effects to speak of though I don't know what long-term effect of liver or kidneys may be. I don't think they could be ay worse than the diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure and anxiety I have recovered from since 2 years ago.
Glad to read this!
We talked about this on my most recent Fucked-Up Friday appearance, but for benefit of others: These drugs are amazing and I hope people will stop judging the use of them as “cheating.”
If obesity were a moral failing, it would be the only moral failing I know that could be fixed with a weekly shot!
My husband loves me regardless, so I didn’t start shots for appearance or date-ability. More for health. It’s been great.
You can get Tirzepatide using a coupon from the manufacturer that’s half the list price. You can pay even less if you have it shipped directly from Lily. Worth checking. Hit me up for details.
Thank you, Dana for your amazing use of language to explain how I feel but can't put into words. I'm so glad I found you on Substack. ♥️
Oh goodness, what an amazing post. I’ve been down a very similar path and struggles. I’m glad the glp is working for you. I may try it again when I’m back in the states not to reach some unattainable goal but like you, for my health and wellbeing.
Yeah, based on my limited experience, I’d say it’s worth it—whatever “it” is for you.
Thank you for this, Dana. I too am Gen X, and I identified strongly with your origin story. My mom at age 87 is still absolutely preoccupied about her weight. I am happy for her that she has finally, through the vagaries of age-related illnesses, managed to achieve her pinnacle of achievement, her high school weight. She comments freely on my weight - I've always been normal to thin, either through anorexia or absolutely punishing exercise - and now for the first time I weigh more than her, and she can't help crowing about it. The benefit to me: as she loses, she buys clothes in a smaller size, and she buys high quality stuff from higher end stores, so I get her barely worn castoffs. Still mom can't help commenting her 'old' clothes aren't as loose on me as they are on her. I started to write I hope, I'll change that to I am determined not to be like mom when I reach the same age. I'm tired of it as a topic that I both despise as an utter waste of time but whose social relevance has nevertheless dominated much of my linternal life. Hope you continue to experience success...xo
Apologies for the long comment, but I am struggling with this exact issue. Your writing hits on so many things occurring in my life too. Anyway, putting this out here:
my insurance recently approved it. I'm 55 and 70 pounds overweight. Recent blood work showed elevated cholesterol. Several friends seeing success on it (Zepbound) are saying, 'just go for it!' My three daughters (20, 18, 16 y.o), who are all fit and healthy, are encouraging me to first try exercising consistently before trying it. My feeling is that they think these shots are cheating. In my fantasy, I lose weight the natural way, of course, and they proud. My reluctance also has to do with the feeling that I'd be starting something that I'd need to keep up for the rest of my life. I take daily vitamins, but have never taken medication regularly aside from birth control in my 20s and 30s. I talked about it with my new PCP, who listened very patiently as I talked about the gradual weight gain of the past 20 years. She suggested I do my best with healthy eating, reduced sugar and regular exercise for the next three months and return for a follow up visit. If, at that time I haven't seen progress, then I'll try it.
There's so much rich detail here that I think is so valuable in helping us understand these now drugs and how they interact with culture, biology, and emotions. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much—I really appreciate your kind words!
^new drugs
Mounjaro is a lifeline.
Yeah, it seems far more effective than the others and I’m kinda wishing I’d started with it…
If your insurance covers it, do it.
If not, it's probably not worth it unless you're making a heck of a lot more on substack than most. 😏
My insurance won’t cover any of them. I’m paying out of pocket for the compounded stuff through hers.
Substack is most def not footing the bill for GLP-1s… 😏
I had a suspicion. Sorry about the insurance, though. I wrote a post about the challenges of being obese in our society a while back. I can relate. I'm *really* lucky to have the insurance I have, and I know it.
Yeah, I wasn’t fat enough and my cholesterol wasn’t high enough. Thanks, American healthcare system! 😬🙄
I hear you. I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. And Mounjaro is a diabetes drug first. That's why my insurance covers it, even though my A1C has been quite low for some time. But I'm not looking a gift horse in the mouth.
I am going to reread your piece and think about it. Lots to digest in what you have written.
I also think this deserves a rereading.
💜💜💜💜💜
I'm honored you read it once, let alone multiple times. Thank you!
It took me many months to process everything enough to complete this story. So I appreciate you taking the time and energy to dive in.
I can speak a little to this. I was on The Shot for three-ish months and then on a much cheaper stimulant for four months after that. It totally changed the way I look at food and how I eat. It was worth it. I am different now and I could never go back to how I was before. I don’t claim to know how that works at all. But it did something.
I’m so glad it helped you!
I am using injections too. I had a bad experience with compounded Terzepatide, but am going to do something different. Just registered w Noom. going to get serious about logging what I eat, and getting better sleep at night. I'm one of those weirdos who never wants to go to bed! I don't think it's doing me any favors.
Girl, changing the night owl tendencies is so hard!! I get this.
Wow, thank you for such an eloquent, nuanced elucidation of a complex issue, your voice clear and true, guiding you.
I’ve heard about the drop in “noise” and it sounds like quite a relief. Thanks for sharing your experience.
Thank you for your sincerity in this critical issue affecting many of us. Whether thin or not, we must never forget who we are hurting the most, whether it be ourselves or someone close to us. Weight has always played a massive part in many people's lives. We should never forget to love ourselves the way we are! ♥️🙏🫶
First off you are very beautiful specially that smile!!. I too take my shot every Friday. I was almost 300 pounds now I’m finally under 200! I’m tired of being fat I’m happy I’ve lost weight and continue to lose weight. Not so much I care what others think but what I think. And how I feel health wise. I have diabetes but it under control, I have MS which is also under control I also have lots of arthritis in every joint in my body. It’s improving but not where I want it. The only two things I dislike is the extra roll of skin I now have and how my shorts keep falling off me and the constant pulling up of said shorts. Luckily no one has seen me lol. Good luck on your journey may all your dreams come true!