Hi Mad! So glad to hear from you! I am really interested in hearing how your journey on Ozempic goes! It has been so powerful for me. Thank you for the tip on injecting into the leg rather than the belly. Oh my gosh- food dreams! I thought I was the only one. I would dream about eating a food I really wanted (usually cake- LOL) and I would wake up because I realized it wasn't there. Then, I was sad. Now that you mention it, I have not had a dream like that since being on Ozempic.

Ozempic feels like a lottery ticket to me. It has brought back my belief that I can get this weight off. I realize keeping it off will be its own struggle but I need to get there first.

Last week and this week I worked really hard on limiting my calories and eating better. Plus, I worked on ramping up my exercise back to what I considered my standard to be. The result on the scale this week was nothing less than STUNNING!! I lost 3 pounds! In theory, if I kept this pace (3 lbs/week), I would only have 117 days left in my journey. This is mind boggling to me. It also feels too fast. There is another notable difference in the last two weeks. I started taking the medicine (with my doctor's approval) twice a week instead of the typical once a week injection.

I am now through the barrier I usually see at -30 pounds total. I was plateaued there for 2 years and had a minor regain in there. Then I got COVID and after that the next 10 pounds flew off. They returned no matter how hard I fought to keep them off. I was still gaining and could not get it turned around. This directly led to my decision to try the GLP-1 medications.

Welp, I think I've done the impossible. I seemingly gained a pound this week while using Ozempic. I do need to remember I am on a very low dose but if this becomes a trend I will consider increasing the dose.

I am really hoping it was just a temporary blip because I went out last night. On Thursday, it was looking like I was going to have pound and a half loss for the week. We'll see how things shake out next week.

This week I lost 2 pounds which makes it 16 pounds lost since starting GLP-1 in mid-May. In total I am down 32 pounds overall. There is a solid chance for me to lose new weight before the end of the year (instead of losing regained weight). Doing everything within my power to make that happen. For the month of October, it looks like I will have a 4.5 pound loss. Fantastic for me!

Being on this medication has really driven home the fact that obesity is indeed a disease and not a moral failing. On this medication, I am able to do all of the things I tried to do without it. I could not willpower myself out of this diseased state. My sense of purpose and faith for my health goals have been renewed. It has been easier to engage more on this weight loss journey.

To be frank, I am in a bit of disbelief about how much I have lost this week. This week I lost 3.5 pounds which makes it 19.5 pounds lost since starting GLP-1 in mid-May. In total, I am down 35.5 pounds overall. Just over half way to my posted goal of -70 lbs. WootWoot, I made it through the candy centric holiday of Halloween!! This is a total of 6.5 pounds lost for the month of October. I will not hold me breath but the possibility of losing new weight (instead of losing regained pounds) is more real than ever. To actually see my efforts pay off on the scale is amazing! I've done very similar things (actually more) before and it would not translate to the scale! In the end, I could not sustain it long enough to get it to show up on the scale. But now!?! Things are really lining up!

I feel like the medication has impacted my overall metabolism. Years and years ago, I split a cinnamon roll at the mall with my then fiance. While we were sitting there, he turned bright red and started sweating. Basically, it seemed as though his body was burning off the excess sugar as we sat there. Well last night, I felt I had a parallel experience- just not to the degree he did. I had been indulging in the leftover candy and my cheeks got really warm!

Weight is the same this week as last week's. I'll take it as a victory considering the indulgences in leftover Halloween candy. Trying to plan well for the week of Thanksgiving to avoid the same trap.

To recap a little, in the 17 months before starting GLP-1 medication, I was gaining and average of 1.7 lbs per month. This was despite my best efforts to rein it in. Sure, there were a couple of months where I didn't gain and one where I lost a little. However, overall it was a steady, unending gain much to my chagrin. After 6 months on the medication, I am losing an average of 3.4 lbs per month (a total of 20.5 lbs). Not like some of the GLP-1 stories out there but beautiful to me nonetheless. Especially, since I am playing to the end game where I can stop the medicine and the weight will stay off!

A big milestone that quietly drifted by with no acknowledgement was going from being Obese Class II to Obese Class I on October 10. I am so excited to have moved back to this class. Generally, I perceive a change in my body when crossing this mark. Basically, I have more of an actual figure rather than being round. It seems like there is a good basis for these levels although it is not clear how they are determined. It would be fabulous to make it to the Overweight category by New Year's. Although it is not impossible, it is highly improbable. The information for the weight categorization comes from Wikipedia.

Starting to lose new weight (not weight previously regained) by the end of the year is still very realistic despite not losing anything this week.

Despite feeling like I was doing okay this month, so far I am only on-track to lose a half a pound this month. I won’t be able to properly weigh in until December and I missed last Sunday’s weigh in.

Everyone have a great Thanksgiving weekend

For November, I lost 3 pounds (at -37.5 pounds total). Very excited especially because I was traveling 12 of the last 15 days and there was a major holiday in there. Additionally, I am hoping there are a couple of sleeper pounds waiting to be released due to being a bit bloated from traveling so much.

There is a slim possibility I will be able to reach a new low weight before the end of the year. Definitely going to try my hardest!

How fun!! There was a 1.5 pound sleeper loss in there after all! -39 pounds total now. Losing new weight by the end of the year is more probable now!

Holy Cannoli!! Another pound fell off this morning! At -40 pounds total! Losing new weight (not recycled regained weight) by the end of the year is even more possible now!

Simply unbelievable!! Another pound off this morning!! At -41 for the total loss.

Nearly speechless!! Another pound off this morning!! At -42 for the total loss. I only have 2.5 pounds of regain left. After that, it is new low weights!

The universe likes to keep me humble. My weight went up 1.5 pounds since yesterday. I am back to -40.5 pounds for my total weight loss rather than -42 pounds. Also, Sundays are my "official" weigh in day so this is the one that counts. I can't complain too much because I have lost a total of 3 pounds for this week. It was really fun watching the scale drop nearly everyday this week. I hope it happens again and stays off!

Four pounds of regain left to lose before losing new weight. Possible before the end of the year but definitely a challenge!

At -42.5 lbs today, a loss of 2 pounds for the week. It will be a real nail biter to the end of the year. I need to lose 2.5 by then to have started losing new weight and not regained weight. It should be possible but as mentioned previously, the universe keeps me humble.

With regards to skating, I am really struggling right now. Part of my program is to ice skate 3-4 times a week (6-8 miles). Up until recently, skating had been going really well. However, starting last Tuesday. The Tuesday after Thanksgiving. I was only able to do about half of my laps around the rink because I felt really unsteady. I stop early because I was worried I was going to fall.

I had a doctor's appointment two days later on Thursday and mentioned it. He didn't really have any guidance or helpful advice. I left the appointment and went directly to skating. I was fine. However, when I tried to skate the following day, I was only able to do half of my laps. Then on the next Tuesday, I skated about 20 feet and had to stop. When I headed back to the rink on Thursday, I brought a helmet since I was still scared of falling. I got one lap in. It seems to be an inner ear thing focused on my left ear.

Going to the right, I was a little unsteady. Turning to the left was a completely different story! I felt my left inner ear kind of squeeze and I got chills down my right arm and side. Plus, I felt queasy. The event is hard to truly describe and just weird. I have a break from the ice for the next week and a half. I am hopeful when I go back, all will be well. It will be so hard if I have to stop ice skating entirely! It has been a big part of my life for many years and it has been enjoyable>

Hi Pipsicle, Noticed you posted this morning and thought id stop by. Doing very well, I see! I think you should go back to the doctor anr see about the inner ear issue, unless it goes away.

Myy doctor mentioned GLP1 but we never really looked into it and now hes retiring. I was hesitant because of the cost and side effects. I foolishly think I can do this on my own, in spite of how long ive been trying and my recent regain. Do you have any side effects?

Reading what you and Mad had to say, I have never had food dreams, or really bad cravings. I hope they dont start now, power of suggestion. I often get hungry during the night but so far I let it ride. Never got up to eat. I mostly dont eat after 4-5 PM so I get a long overnight fast. I go to bed early, 9-10PM,very little late night eating.