During the summer of 2022, I felt so incredibly left out of my life. Activities with kids, my husband, and even for myself. I was at the heaviest weight I had been, and my body was holding me back. I started looking at my options, and VSG was the route I wanted to take. I had tried every diet and exercise plan out there, and wanted to do something that would truly make a difference.
After going to my GP to get a referral, she suggested I try a GLP-1 before doing any major surgery. A few months wasn’t going to change much in terms of my weight or my body. But if it worked, it would save me from having to undergo surgery that came with massive long-term risks. I said I would give it a go and took my first Ozempic injection on December 29th, 2022 at the weight of 364 pounds.
A few notes before we dive in. One thing I am not going to do here is apologizing or censoring my words. If you are not interested in reading details about intentional weight loss, I totally understand. This is not the post for you. I won’t be tiptoeing around the subject.
The before and after, so you can stop making them.
I was beautiful then, and I’m beautiful now.
Within 48 hours, the food noise, that I didn’t even know was running my life, stopped. Completely quiet. I had no idea how many times a day I was passively doing hand-to-mouth motions or opening the fridge just to see if what was in there had changed from five minutes ago. I had thought I had a very healthy relationship with food, but it turns out I was actually using it as my only coping mechanism and only source of dopamine. This isn’t to say I didn’t still experience hunger cues, but the constant, “what am I going to eat next” voice didn’t exist anymore.
Within my first month of taking a GLP-1, I had lost 16 pounds. I have to say it was completely without trying. I wasn’t tracking my calories or watching what I put in my mouth. I was just going through my days, eating less than I was before, but still more or less the same things. I wasn’t working out or doing anything new other than taking the weekly injection.
Over the last fifteen months, I have lost 130 pounds. And I won’t say it has been easy, but it has been simple. I take a weekly shot. I prioritize protein when I am planning a meal. I workout maybe three times a week. And I live my life. I have never once felt like I have been missing out on life like I have on every diet I have ever attempted. I get to go out to dinner, attend parties, make treats, and feel confident in knowing that I am going to eat till I am full and then move on.
I have never been formally diagnosed with an eating disorder, but like many women, I have gone through periods of anorexia, purging, and unknowingly years of binging. Since starting Ozempic, I haven’t had one binge episode. I remember a few months into starting having a terrible anxiety day and all I wanted to do was binge eat my favorite food. But the GLP-1 does whatever it is that it does (I’m not a doctor or a scientist, so I won’t be talking about that) and more or less stops me from even starting. I truly couldn’t have binged, despite wanting to fill that void.
Overall, I have had such a great experience with Ozempic. It hasn’t been perfect, but it has been the best option for me to feel like I can do all of the things in life I want to. Should all bodies be accommodated in society? Of course, they should. But I was done waiting for that to happen and am so happy I took my life into my own hands.
I am going to be sharing a post next week answering all of your questions in detail. If you have any specifics you would like to know, make sure to leave a comment!
xoxoxox
This was a great post, IMO.
I can’t wait to get back on it. Thank you for sharing. It’s such a touchy subject with so many.
Dr. Tyna has some great podcasts about GLP-1s if you do want to learn more about the science part.
Thank you, Maddy, for sharing your story! I have been on Zepbound, after dealing with shortage issues on other brands, and I am very thankful for your story!
Thanks so much for sharing your story. I’ve felt helpless trying to loose weight my entire adult life (not to be “skinny” but to be healthy and able to get out and do all the things I want to do!) and I’m thankful to have a new option. I recently started on a different GLP1, time will tell if it works out as well for me as it has for you. 💕
You have always been so gorgeous now and then! Thank you for speaking your truth! It’s not your responsibility to care what others think, but as always your graceful approach is top notch!!
I am so blessed to call you my friend xoxox
Thank you for sharing! 🤍
First of all thanks for sharing your experience. I’m wondering if you ever have experienced a plateau while using this? If so, what did you do to move past that?
Maddy,
Thank you for your willingness to share your journey. It has been amazing to watch and gives us the courage to start. The internet is a weird space, to say the least but it also provides for some genuine connections. You have shown nothing but grace to your followers and are always willing to help out, whether it’s a restaurant recommendation or this journey. I am just starting my journey. Thanks again for this post.
Sincerely appreciate your honesty and willingness to share your story! ✨
Thanks for sharing!
Great post!!! Thank you for sharing your story! I am also on Ozempic, and echo how silent it is now with food! So appreciate your vulnerability over this!!! Makes me feel less alone!
You are right! You were beautiful before “O” and now. I admired how confident you were with yourself before. I’ve tried everything, would lose the weight and then gain it back. I am now 60, and overweight. Really wanting to try this to now keep up with my granddaughter. Thank you for speaking out.
Yes!!! So so happy for you! I’m wondering if you maxed out on the dosage size, or if you found lower amounts still help you? And now that you’re happier with your size and able to participate in your beautiful life more, what do you think maintenance might look like for you?
Thank you for sharing! I’ve been on Zepbound since mid-January. My weight loss has been pretty slow, only 14 pounds so far. Happy with that progress, but wishing I could see faster results. I know everyone’s journey with it is different though! Zero side effects other than needing more fiber, eating smaller meals, and way less food noise. Just like you, there have been times I wanted to comfort myself with food, but my mind/body doesn’t work like that anymore. Finding new ways to comfort myself has been healthy. Also learning to cook more!
14 pounds is amazing!! Take the “only” out of your vocabulary (I have to tell myself this too so I know it’s easier said than done). 💖
Feel this so hard! I’ve been on it since the end of October and have lost 20 pounds (I really wanted to say “only 20 pounds”). It’s tough to feel better mentally but feel like you aren’t seeing the physical results you expected/hoped for.
Congrats! Some people lose nothing, some people are super responders. We are all diffent, no better, no less because of how your body processor the medication. It has taken me a year and a half to lose 60lbs on wegovy. But this is the first time in my life I have been successful at weight loss, and I am a whole lot happier now than I was a year and a half ago. My depression and anxiety are also a whole lot better. Give it time. It’s always hard to see other people progress faster to where you want to be. We are each on our own journeys, so try not to compare yourself.
Thank you for being so real with us and sharing your journey.
If you had any side effects, how did you manage them?
Maddy, thank you for sharing your experience. Your vulnerability to share your post 100+ weight-loss body and how that affected your skin was helpful. Will you need take the drug for the rest of your life? All the best. Tanya
I really appreciate your sharing. I have wanted to try one of these drugs, but need to learn all about them first. I too am starting to feel like I can’t do the things I want to do or wear clothes I want to wear. I have spent a long time telling myself I didn’t care. But I do care and if this tool can help you, me and others who want help what a marvelous medical breakthrough! Congratulations and good luck on the journey.
Thanks for your honesty, Maddy! In a similar place in my life and you are inspiring me to go after what I want!
yes! yes to all of it! I never knew my brain was so occupied by all of thr food noise but WOW. So thankful for you and others for speaking out about this journey so I could feel a little bit more confident about going to the doctor.
This literally brought to tears to my eyes! I am struggling and have my whole life, but you brought up thoughts that I never truly thought about before. Thank you for posting this! I have followed you for a few years now. Thank you for being you!
I never knew I suffered from food noise or that it wasn’t normal for everyone until I went on semaglutide and it stopped. Thank you for sharing your journey!
Thank you for this post. I appreciate the honesty and am at a similar place in my life with a 2 year old and wanting another baby if possible. This possibility would be expedited if I lost some weight to avoid pregnancy complications. I know your family is complete, but my question is, if you had been planning to have another baby, would you have felt safe taking it knowing that then you may get pregnant? I’m a bit nervous about it being in my body prior to a pregnancy and knowing I would be off of it during.
Thanks for the post Maddy! I know you were hesitant to speak on it but I’m thankful you did. I start Zepbound next week and am excited and nervous. Can you explain why you chose Ozempic vs Monjouro/Zepbound?
hey Maddy,
Thanks for sharing your story. My husband is on Ozempic as well and I am wondering how to best support him? I am a slim straight-sized person and food has absolutely never been an issue for me (I know I am lucky) so I am struggling to find ways to be helpful without doing too much and making the whole thing awkward. I know I can’t understand what he’s had to go through and I 100% support that he should be able to take all the decisions he wants when it comes to his body, and he knows that. But beyond being mindful of not making poor comments based on what “I” feel is enough or not enough food for a meal to be complete, I am not able to identify behaviors that I could have that would make him feel uncomfortable. Is there any thing your partner or family did that made you feel great throughout your journey with this drug? thanks for sharing your thoughts as always.
That is amazing! I applaud you for trying Ozempic. I too am on it but have not been as successful as you. My A1C has lowered but would like to be down 50 lbs after almost a year. Keep up the great work, you look absolutely amazing.
Your honesty and vulnerability are so refreshing! Thank you for sharing and not giving a F about it! I have been on Semaglutide for a year now and have lost a lot of weight too. But for me the biggest help has been the quieting of the food noise as you mentioned! I could still lose more weight, but I’m also completely happy if I stay the size I am now because I feel SO much better physically and mentally! Thank you again for sharing! There are so many of us in the same boat and we shouldn’t be ashamed to speak about it!!!
Thank you for sharing your journey with us! I took Mounjaro for almost a year and it made a huge difference in my life! I always considered myself to be an emotional eater, but once I started the shots I was able to get to the root of my food issues and saw that food was a coping mechanism and I had been using food as comfort for almost 40 years! The lack of food noise allowed me to focus on my trauma and begin to heal the things I was attempting to avoid with food. I was so withdrawn from my life before the shots and didn’t even recognize myself. I know many people focus only on the scale with these meds but the mental and emotional benefits I’ve gotten have changed my life!
Thank you for sharing! I was curious but didn’t want to ask. I’m wondering if you’ve had any bad side effects or are concerned about long term ones?
Hi Maddy,
Thank you for your post, and being so vulnerable.
I have been considering doing this for myself too. I am wondering what type of dosage(s) you have taken? Did you increase it gradually? Also, have you noticed any side effects while taking it?
Thank you!
Thank you for sharing and being so open. I am sure it was very hard. There is so much shame around eating disorders. Too bad no one would prescribe it for a-ed. It sounds like it would help with all the food noise of what not to eat. Maybe releasing it’s hold.
Thank you for sharing your story! At what dosage did you start to notice weight loss?
Thank you for this post Maddy!! I have also been on Wegovy and now Zepbound for a little over a year, but I have felt shame being bigger and I’ve felt shame taking the meds to help me get smaller. It’s been a while, emotional ride but I’m glad to fit in the rollercoaster a bit more comfortably.
Genuinely curious, and asked without judgement: what do you think will happen when you go off this medication? Is there a fear of weight regain?
Food Noise….so that’s what it is. I’m curious about cost and how long one might stay on it? how are people affected when they get off of it? thank you for sharing!
Thank you for sharing. Looking forward to your next post! Really considering getting on one myself!
Hi Maddy, thank you for sharing. I am considering asking my dr about this medication as an option for me at my annual exam in July. I have a few questions for you: 1) Is the medication covered by your insurance and (if you’re comfortable sharing) what is the monthly cost of the medication? 2) It’s been publicized that some of these medications are in short supply- have you encountered any supply issues? 3) Have you experienced any negative side effects while on the medication? 4) Is this a medication you see yourself remaining on long term or do you anticipate stopping use at some point?
Thank you for sharing your journey!!! I love seeing and hearing about your progress as you choose to live your best life everyday!!!!💕
Thank you for sharing! Would love to know side effects if any?
Do you and your doctor make an ‘exit strategy’ for when you stop taking Ozempic? Or do you take it forever? I truly don’t know what the protocols are and am just curious. Thanks for sharing Maddy!
I so appreciate your honesty and willingness to share. My doctor prescribed the medication but insurance is a hurdle. How did you decide (or did you get to) which medication you’re on? What kind of side effects have you had and how did you work through them?
Maddy,
Thank you for your vulnerability and willingness to share your journey. I *just* took my third shot of zepbound and this blog post was perfect timing. I, too, used food for my dopamine hits. I didn’t even realize that was happening or that it had become such a truly unhealthy coping mechanism. The quiet in my brain and diminished urge to binge has been a miracle! Our health insurance plan specifically excludes ANY weight loss medication and since my bloodwork came back good (not even prediabetic, thankfully) I was not eligible for ozempic/Mounjaro or medication coverage. We’re paying $550 a month out of pocket, which is absolutely insane, but if that’s what it takes then so be it. I’m putting myself and my health first after always prioritizing my children and husband.
I’ve followed you for several years and you’re beautiful inside and out at every step of the way. Your platform is and has been inspiring, fun, honest, refreshing, vulnerable and safe. Thank you for providing that little corner on social media!
Thanks for sharing your story! I’m curious what your bingeing episodes consisted of.
Thank you for sharing this ! My question is have they increased your dose during this process or have you been on the same dose for a long period of time ? I am currently taking it and have sort of plateaued . Not sure why .
Thank you again for sharing your journey !