So lost in my journey. I started using the golden ticket tonight. Hope this works!

Day 1- no noticeable affect, nor any side effects

Day 7- Lost an unofficial 2 pounds this week. Definitely noticed a decrease in my hyper-focus on food and was able to get back to exercising. The exercise dip was directly related to trying a BP reducing medication. The BP medicine was a terrible fit for my case. It was like this medicine was turning my body off. I was so tired, even more so than my usual fatigue. I took it for 10 days but it took about 3 weeks after stopping it to approach my normal.

After the first shot of the golden ticket, my BP was shooting up alarmingly high at night. My BP was already bad but these numbers were scary bad. I was able to start a diuretic this week and it has helped tremendously. My BP is better, no longer alarming but still bad. A little less bad than before though.

Today is the second (weekly) shot of the golden ticket. The package has a total of six shots in it so there will be four left after today.

At total loss of -16 pounds from when I started this journey in 2018.

Gosh- nearly 2 months since posting. That's a new record for me.

There really isn't much to post with regards to weight loss. It looks like I am down 11 lbs after 8 weeks on the GLP-1. Four of that was from a bout with COVID though. Luckily, it was a short infection. I tested positive on a Monday and tested negative by the following Thursday. I had COVID nearly exactly 2 years ago and took Paxlovid. After that infection, I felt great and was able to blow through the weight plateau I had been stuck at for two years. I took Paxlovid and I am very curious to see what happens this time. So far, my exercise tolerance has increased noticeably. Additionally, I feel good after exercising instead of worse and tired.

Working on getting back to posting at least weekly. For a long time, I posted daily then I got fatigued from the whole process. I stopped making progress or even maintaining and was backsliding.

So 9 weeks using the golden ticket, I have officially lost 7.5 lbs. Roughly 3/4 of a pound a week. For me, this is absolutely fantastic!! Especially considering before trying this medication, I was gaining weight consistently and could not stop gaining. In addition, I went on a fairly long vacation with a lot of good meals and an absurd amount of temptations. The medicine helped me navigate that well.

Notably, I am still on the lowest dose. I was suppose to increase the dose 5 weeks ago but wanted to wait. I do have side effects from it- mostly gastrointestinal. Sometimes, I have had stomach pain that wakes me up in the middle of the night. It is similar to a pain I had when I ate something I know I have an issue with. However, the new pain was more frequent (although has lessened now) and lasted longer. If I am more careful with my eating (smaller meals and higher quality food), I don't get that side effect. Another thing that makes me wary of upping the dose is my blood pressure shot up for a few days after starting it. The doctor does not think it is related but it was an unsettling coincidence. Also, I want to be able to get off of the medicine at some point. Ultimately, I believe that the lower the dose, the easier it will be to stop.

I am still hungry on it but am able to stop eating. It has put an end to the insatiable appetite which is an relief. The medicine is once weekly injection. Around day 5, for me the effect is noticeably less. My plan is to not increase the dose but to take it twice a week with my doctor's approval of course.

I am still seeing my weird health improvement after my bout with Covid and taking a course of Paxlovid. Logically, it has to be something about the Paxlovid rather than the Covid. I tried to figure it out once but didn't get far and the doctor has no explanation.

Week 10 and down 9 pounds officially. I know many people would scoff and claim they could lose more faster without the medication. Bless their hearts! I sure hope they do! Me? I couldn't and I gave it a really good go. Six years as a matter of fact. The hunger still creeps in and still having GI issues that some time disrupt my sleep.

All in all though, it is a much easier journey than before. I am struggling with increased fatigue. As a result the irresistible sugar cravings are back upon occasion. Even though I cave more often than I care to admit, I am still losing weight. Since the GI issues are continuing, I am hesitant to take it more often and I really don't want to increase the dose at this point. This week I have a doctor's appointment so we will see what he says. Blood sugar looks good and blood pressure is bad. Although, it seems the BP may be every so slowly edging down.

The last couple of weeks, I have cut way back on my exercise. We have a house guest coming and I want to get the house clean. This includes a lot of decluttering. I am not a hoarder but I am just one crisis away from being one. Also with my limited energy, the housework is what was sacrificed so I could do more enjoyable forms of exercise. Hence, the limit on exercising now. I need the energy to coax the house into shape.

Doing about the same. Hit a new low weight since the scale reset last time. It's an unofficial total of -11.5 pounds since starting the GLP-1 medication. It has been so easy. I can't help but wonder how well it would go if I was actually working at it properly. I now weigh a little less than I did at the start of the year. I nine pounds the first few months of the year with no signs of being able to stop the gain. The medicine was able to stop it and to help the weight come off. Still 15 pounds above my previous low weight.

Still having stomach issues in the middle of the night and the cravings still sneak back in 5 days after dosing. I talked with my doctor about dosing more often and staying on the lower dose. He has no objection to it but it depends on which one I can get through insurance. Some are adjustable syringes and some are one use at a set dose. I will most likely qualify for the one use type.

Down -12 pounds. Not bad considering I had a 10 day vacation in there with unlimited buffets and a 24/7 soft serve ice cream machine. I did go to the gym 7 of those 10 days plus there was a lot of schlepping luggage around.

Down a total of -12.5 pounds. So glad to still be on the downward slope. This is the least I've weighed all year. I have traveled the last two weeks and have one last trip coming up this week. Looking to lose faster once I am home more.

~ 3 pounds per month across 4 months. It doesn't seem like much but it is fantastic! I was gaining at an alarming rate prior to the medication and I am only on the lowest dose. Plus loads of travel in there.

At -12 pounds total since starting the GLP-1 medicine 15 weeks ago. The first 13 were on Ozempic and the last 3 were Wegovy. Same medicine different indications. All injections have been at the lowest dose, hence the much slower than typical progress. For reference, someone I know is on a stronger version of the GLP-1 (different medication) for half as long and they have lost twice as much. They say they forget to eat- LOL! That will never be me.

I just want to lose weight in a sustainable way and want to be able to stop the medication without the regain. I am okay with slow but have stalled this week. With some luck, it is just temporary bloat from the most recent travel. The food decisions I was making on this trip were better than the previous trips this month. Definitely disappointing the better choices didn't show up on the scale.

Overall, I am feeling better and have more energy. This is big for me since I have been battling fatigue for decades! My sleep has suddenly improved also. I should note the amount of exercise I have been doing has dropped quite a bit. I am looking to increase it but don't want to be so fatigued again. Also, starting to re-engage on the weight loss journey. I have being sliding along all year from diet fatigue. I really want to be at a new low weight by the end of the year.

There's trouble ahead though. My insurance company won't cover the GLP-1 medication. The out-of-pocket self-pay cost is obscene. To complicate matters, I may not have a job after December. I have two weeks to figure it out before I run out of medicine.

Had a pleasant surprise this morning. The scale was down 2 additional pounds! It is a new (recent) low weight! I also tracked my calories today.

Bouyed by the recent drop, I was leaning into being healthier. Ate less and better food; kept up with my exercise program.

I was rewarded with a one pound gain- so frustrating!

For those that may be interested, the out of pocket cost without insurance for a 90 day supply of Wegovy is $4147.56.

At -13 pounds total since starting GLP-1 medication. Very happy to be below my starting weight for the year! An inconvenient truth for me is if I eat better the side effects of the medication are much improved. Even with the golden ticket, I am still losing the battle in the kitchen. I don't understand why i am unable to give up certain foods.

I have an appointment with my doctor next week and I will talk with him about using a compounding pharmacy for the GLP-1 medication. It will still be expensive but it may be possible to self pay for it. In the end, it will be well worth it to avoid additional conditions associated with obesity. My poor health is the biggest risk to my retirement plan. Not so keen on the compounding pharmacy because of how they are regulated but I have learned my state has stricter rules for compounding pharmacies.

Lost another pound this week! Down 14 pounds total since starting the GLP-1 medication 15 weeks ago. For me this is fantastic! Before I started it, I was in an uncontrollable gaining cycle. I was gaining even though I was doing things right at times (eating less and exercising). The first 20 weeks of the year before the medicine, I gained 9 pounds. This does not include the 5 pounds I gained in December! The weight was piling on faster and faster- oh my!

For reference someone I know lost twice as much weight as I did in 12 weeks but they did it half the time (6 weeks). The were on a different GLP-1 (Zepbound) that is considered to be stronger. I am okay with slow and steady. Looking toward the endgame where I can ease off of this medicine without the potential regain.

My doctor's visit went well and we found a way to coax down the cost without using a compounding pharmacies. It involves using the GoodRx coupon. This makes the cost per month ~$970 for the prescription. I did see Costco has it for ~$960 at their pharmacy. Both are lower than the previously quoted $1383 per month. We are tightening the belt at home and will cut costs where we can. The first thing to go is our storage lockers.

Hi Popsicle; reading your recent posts with interest, I am about to start Ozempic for my diabetes and to help with weight loss.
I have been told that using the leg instead of the belly for injections reduces the side effects. Many people report that they stop the cravings, or what I call food dreams. I wake up at times thinking about food that is in the fridge. Happens less since I tend to clean out the cupboards and fridge of tempting treats. But when I do have them, not doing so well.
I also have no drug coverage for it, and it cost $531 CD for my first two month supply.
Don't mean to hijack your personal thread, but thanks for your informative posting.