I’m not going to lie all this sounds like heaven to me.
I absolutely hate the way my appetite works. I have a genuine dysfunction with food. It goes back as far as I can remember. My cravings never stop, even after being satiated. It’s an endless cycle of weight gain then loss then gain as my willpower fluctuates for a variety of reasons.
My insurance only recently started to cover these weight loss drugs, and I have been looking into them over the last month because I think I’m an ideal candidate for it.
If it gives this kind of control over cravings and appetite I’m really looking forward to how this can genuinely make my life better
I'm a few months into this drug as well, and I have to say, it doesn't offer control. What it offers is a lack of cravings & appetite. That is different, remarkably so.
Control would mean I might still feel hungry. Ever. Or that I could decide to eat heavily at one meal, but I don't and as long as I take the drugs, I won't. That doesn't feel like control, it feels like I've had something removed. I guess it's a matter of perspective?
I don't know if its a common sentiment but this drug treatment is the hardest thing I've ever done for my health. I'm not sure I'll be able to continue though. It's like I've robbed myself of the one joy I had left and now I have none. Tread carefully.
The difference here may simply be in how our mental health relates to food.
It sounds to me like it brings you enjoyment you miss. I respect that.
Food for me isn’t that. The lack of cravings and appetite means I would be firmly in the drivers seat with it. It means I can eat exactly the amount I’m suppose to and not feel like I must have more
Note that if you're doing this treatment at home (aka bought a vial and a syringe off the Internet and are injecting yourself), you can simply give yourself slightly less next injection. It's not a binary "hunger (y/n)" but more of a spectrum. (anecdotally)
I don’t understand what’s missing. What was the joy?
For me, hunger is misery, and so is feeling over-full. I’d do anything to take that away (well, short of sacrificing my financial security to pay the market rate for the drug.)
I've been on them for over a year now. I was 320lbs at my peak. I'm down to 247 as of today. I have about another 27 pounds to lose, and then I think I'll be where my doctor wants me.
Here's my experience (n=1):
* Zepbound is better than Wegovy. Wegovy has more side effects than Zepbound. Also the Zepbound pen is better than Wegovy.
* If you're worried about needles, don't be. The injection feels more like a rubber band snapping at the skin. And you'll get used to it.
* I typically have moody days maybe 2 or 3 days after I inject. I attribute that to blood sugar changes.
* Food tastes differently to me now. Food I used to really like can sometimes now just be okay. I don't like french fries so much anymore like I used to (they're good, but not what I remember). The huge bowl of chips I got from the Mexican restaurants don't taste as good anymore. Potatoes aren't really as attractive anymore. I prefer protein.
* I had constipation, which is a side effect. There was a stool softener I took from costco that helped. Eventually that went away.
* I got a bike for exercise. It's nice in that I feel like I actually go places rather than sitting on a Peloton. I also get fresh air. I had to find something I wanted to do, and I hate walking frankly.
* As I lost weight my alcohol tolerance dropped, but it's to be expected but still surprising when one beer hits you harder than it used to.
Maybe some tips:
* Nausea might a be a side effect, more so with Wegovy than Zepbound according to my doctor. So I guess plan to take it easy if you can.
* Your relationship with food will change, so be prepared mentally for that. Food used to make you happy maybe, and now it won't. So figure out what activities and interests that make you happy which don't involve food.
* Sugar is the one thing that can still ruin your progress. So be careful with desserts/candies/sweets/sugared sodas/etc.
* There's some debate about whether diet sodas spike your insulin levels or not. I would recommend going to black coffee to get your caffeine if you haven't already, and black coffee will also help to stimulate your bowels as well. That said, diet sodas are still better than sugared sodas.
I'm a major snacker in my 40s, have been most of my adult life. When I don't have my daughter I would fill myself up with cookies, cereal, and chocolate candy. I've been a few months off of all of that shit, accidentally didn't really plan it, I just haven't had any cravings whatsoever. I'm sure it could come back easily but it's not here and I don't miss it. I've lost a lot of fat. I'm not just eating fruit and vegetables, but I'm finding meals alone are enough.
So compounders can no longer legally sell tirzepatide and will soon (April-May) be unable to legally sell semaglutide.
That said, the lowest doses direct from Lilly without insurance are $350-500/mo. And if you can do math, you can pay for a higher dose and spread it out over time to achieve a lower average price.
I absolutely hate the way my appetite works. I have a genuine dysfunction with food. It goes back as far as I can remember. My cravings never stop, even after being satiated. It’s an endless cycle of weight gain then loss then gain as my willpower fluctuates for a variety of reasons.
My insurance only recently started to cover these weight loss drugs, and I have been looking into them over the last month because I think I’m an ideal candidate for it.
If it gives this kind of control over cravings and appetite I’m really looking forward to how this can genuinely make my life better