lost 40 lbs on Ozempic and stopped being prediabetic

My starting weight was about 275 lbs and now I weigh 235 lbs. It is still a lot for a 5'5'' woman, but it is much better. Even little things are a relief: it is no longer a big uncomfortable task to tie my shoelaces.

The weight loss of more than 14% of starting body weight has been effortless. I mean, I do strength training, which requires effort, but I do not expend any effort trying to eat less: I am simply not ravenously hungry, unlike before, and when I eat, I get full quickly.

The average weight loss has been 6.5 lbs a month. Initially I was on Zyprexa and later switched to (hopefully not weight-gaining) Thorazine and Latuda. I am still on Gabapentin, which is considered mildly weight-gaining, but I get depressed if I try to go off of it, so for me Gabapentin is here to stay. I thought that I would lose weight more quickly off Zyprexa, but no, the speed of losing weight stays the same. What changed is that on Zyprexa, I knew when once-a-week Ozempic was wearing off because I would start getting hungry again. Off of Zyprexa, I need a reminder to inject Ozempic because I no longer feel that the dose is wearing off. So it was still good to be able to abandon Zyprexa. Not feeling those hunger pangs is so liberating and reassuring.

I do not know what will happen if I lose the insurance that covers Ozempic, but for now I am really happy with the process and the results.

There are some GI side effects, but they are tolerable and I hope that with time they will go away.

I wrote this post because Google photos reminded me of my picture exactly a year ago, before I started on strength training and on Ozempic. The picture made me realize what a huge difference losing those 40 lbs (and for me it was all in the belly area, where fat is very dangerous) has made. And a year ago I did not believe that I would find any solution for obesity and hunger pangs.

I am now also no longer morbidly obese. For my height, 240 lbs and above is morbidly obese. I now am obese, but not morbidly.

Coverage for Ozempic was at first denied (I was not diabetic, but prediabetic, so that might have been why), but the medical weight loss doctor appealed and then coverage was provided. The insurance still would not cover Ozempic 2 mg (the highest dose): they only cover 1 mg or less, even though the price of the drug is the same. But oh well, it works at a lower dosage. Maybe it would work faster at a higher dosage, but I would not know it.

Of course I sometimes get afraid of regaining weight, but I try not to think of that often.

Attaching my A1C and average glucose results. 1/1/2022 is roughly when I started taking Ozempic, first at a very low dose, but then increasing.

That's wonderful, Tart Cherry Jam! Thanks for sharing your experience. So many could benefit from such a med.

Thanks for this! I am waiting on my ozempic prescription to be filled. There is a shortage here.

Yes, I am aware of supply shortages. I had to switch to a different pharmacy to get mine filled. I hope you get yours sooner rather than later!

That's awesome!

I was wondering about that. Maybe i will ask tomorrow when i get my flu shot. But this pharmacy is more expensive than the other. I guess i can switch fir just this one.

Thanks for the info.

How exciting! I understand, I think, how you feel about your weight loss because I was on SSRI's for about 30 years, and always had high blood pressure. In August I stopped taking any SSRI's. My blood pressure immediately decreased and has remained in the normal range. It's a terrific feeling to be healthier!

Congratulations, Beth!

I got notice my ozempic is ready for pickup at the pharmacy.

Start slowly at 0.25 mg. Do not rush to increase the dose. The GI tract needs to adjust. All the best!

How are you @Tart Cherry Jam?

Congratulations on your weight loss that’s awesome news!

Little by little. Thank you for asking. Not working now, on disability, but the job is still kept for me in case I am able to return.