In February, I wrote about my first week on Wegovy (GLP-1). You can check out that blog here. At the time, I weighed 230 pounds. That blog was written on February 17, roughly five months before the publication of this update.
Since then, I’ve officially found myself below 200 pounds, weighing in at 199. Of course, that fluctuates with water weight, but I refused to do an update until I had lost at least 30 pounds, and here I am!
As far as goals go, I’d like to get down to 175–180 pounds, so I still have a bit to go. However, the results so far have been promising. So, how has the journey been? This is my honest take on what’s happened since the winter.
As a disclaimer, I am not getting paid for writing this blog. I have no affiliation with Wegovy or any GLP-1 medication, and I am not a medical professional, just a guy who has struggled with weight for 30 years.
If you recall from my first update, the food noise had almost totally left my mind. That’s the voice in the back of your head that always tells you you’re hungry. I have tracked all my meals using the “Lose It!” app, and thanks to the food noise being gone, I was able to keep my daily calorie intake averaging just below 2,000 calories.
My activity level isn’t anything insane. I usually walk a few miles a week, and my full-time job keeps me on my feet most of the day.
I get my medication through Ro, which I’m mostly satisfied with, but you have to be careful. I say this because they want to increase your dosage, sometimes a bit too soon in my opinion. My first 30 days, I was on 1.5 mg of the Wegovy pill. The next month, they increased me to 4 mg, which kept the food noise away.
I was doing well on the 4 mg dosage and probably could have stayed there for another month, but instead I followed their suggestion and jumped up to 9 mg. Too soon!
One of the side effects of Wegovy and other GLP-1 medications is nausea. I experienced that on a very low level when I first started and again when I moved up to 4 mg. However, when I jumped to 9 mg, I struggled with nausea for about a week and a half. I never vomited, but there were a few moments when I wasn’t sure what was going to happen.
If I could go back, I would have stayed on 4 mg for another month. They do give you that option.
I’m now on my second month of 9 mg and doing well with it. I have noticed some of the food noise beginning to come back, but it’s nowhere near what I experienced before starting the medication. Given that, and my goal of getting back to a healthier weight, I will most likely move up to the next dosage when my current supply runs out.
As some of that food noise has returned, I’ve noticed my weight loss has slowed a bit, but I’m still losing weight.
Doctors with Ro suggested that a cleaner diet with less fat could help with the nausea, and they were willing to prescribe medication to assist. I opted for an over-the-counter option, Nauzene, which has been very helpful with no noticeable side effects.
In my original blog, I mentioned that my anxiety had been reduced quite a bit. This could be due to more than just the medication. At that time, I had been off my full-time job for about three months because of an injury. That job is mentally exhausting, filled with constant overstimulation and a very toxic environment. So it’s possible that the break also helped reduce my anxiety.
That said, I have still noticed that while taking the medication, the things that used to bother me really don’t bother me as much anymore. Being more comfortable in my clothing, having more energy, and enjoying the benefits of not carrying around an extra 30 pounds has improved my overall mood.
As far as the price goes, there’s a good chance your insurance won’t cover it, but for me, it’s been worth it. I’m paying somewhere around $240 for a 30-day supply, plus a $149-per-month subscription fee to Ro.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have a side hustle that helps pay for this, but as I said, it’s worth talking to your doctor about. I find the price reasonable, though you may be able to find better options.
Five months later, am I still a fan?
Yes.
People have told me they couldn’t deal with the nausea, but for me, the benefits have far outweighed the few bumps in the road. It is 100% worth checking in with your doctor about these medications. It’s about more than how you look, it’s about being healthier.
