Lost 30 pounds
Hey, I found them!
I seriously need to change my sedentary lifestyle.
If anyone here is concerned about their weight from a health perspective, don’t be shy about looking into medically managed weight loss. And it doesn’t have to be surgery- there are plenty of options out there now with independent medical research supporting them.
I started in November with my local hospital network’s weight loss surgery and medical weight management team, and I’m down 80lb over the last 8 months even on the non-surgery track, and it’s all covered under my insurance plan (unlike subscriptions with a the diet company).
Medical support isn’t a cop-out, no matter what Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers and NutriSystem tell you. And your doctor is incentivized to actually get you healthy rather than have you regain everything the moment you stop so you come back to pay them more.
What does a non-surgery track look like if you don't mind me asking? Is it just a medically managed meal plan or are there weight loss supplements/drugs they prescribe you?
No problem! I’ve been taking the prescription medication Wegovy. You may have hear about the Ozempic craze over the last year or so, and Wegovy is the same medication but specifically FDA approved for weight loss. For me it massively cut down hunger signals, cravings, and capacity - I basically get full on about 1/3 the food I used to eat and no longer have issues with stopping mid-plate. I’ve also started eating at least a serving of protein every meal and snack which keeps me full on smaller amounts overall.
If you don’t want to do prescriptions or medications, these programs usually have a full team including nutritionists, psychologists, physical therapists, etc to help with tips and tricks to start eating more balanced foods (like the protein trick), identify and break down any mental barriers you might have that make it hard to change your habits, and help you get more active in a safe, planned way if you’re not so mobile or have physical restrictions.
Thank you for such a detailed response! Have you noticed any side effects taking medication for weight loss? That's been the main reason I haven't really looked into it
I got a planned diet and a drug that prevents you from feeling hungry. It doesn't change your habits though and I gained some of the weight back.
Agreed, I'm on the surgery track with my weight management team and it's been great so far. I think surgery is what's best for me, but I could absolutely see it working without the surgery. I was 8 pounds from the goal they set for me when I last checked in, so hopefully my effort being good on vacation turns out results.
good job, that's a great accomplishment!
Awesome! I've been trying myself, I know what an accomplishment this is!
Nice one! Congratulations.
Congratulations! It's been some time since being at my heaviest, but the memories of shedding the weight and feeling good about new healthier habits is still fresh. I hope you celebrated the milestone with something that will help keep up that good work you're doing
I haven't celebrated with anything yet, got any good ideas? I know when I finally hit 100lbs lost, I am going to get my first tattoo to commemorate it
When I lost the first twenty it was a new cookbook, and at thirty lost it was some new pants and shirts for the rotation. That quickly became additional better fitting clothes since I was still dropping weight.
Congratulations! Care to share any tips on how you've been successful with everyone here?
The first one in my experience would be to reduce or cut out soda and beer.
Oh yeah, liquid calories are absolutely a killer. Even stuff like orange juice or fruit juice in general has insane amounts of calories.
I haven't done anything fancy really, just focusing on being aware of how many calories I consume. Not necessarily counting them, but having a general idea. This past month I've only been eating different variations of chicken, vegetables, rice, and beans.
Just cutting out empty carbs and replacing with higher protein/fat foods will naturally fill you up more with fewer calories.
Also, if you know you've hit your calorie limit for the day and are still dying of hunger, drink a large glass of water. Just chug it and that shaking stomach feeling of being hungry goes away for a while, at least in my experience.
Congrats! It's something I've been working on as well so I know how awesome it feels to see the progress. Well done!
And also welcome to Beehaw :D
Thanks! So far this seems like a great community!
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