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Megan Chere lost 55 pounds by walking and eating healthy despite being on a calorie deficit.
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She then lost an additional 50 pounds by using a weight-loss drug called Wegoby, which suppresses her appetite.
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Tjelle, who suffers from PCOS, also started having regular periods again for the first time in years.
Megan Tjelle was tired of missing out on life.
as her weight Creeped past my 20sshe found herself refusing social events because she felt self-conscious and also noticed her health struggles.
She skips a pool party because she doesn’t want to wear a bathing suit, and ends up sweating, her hair curls, and she has trouble putting on socks.
Tjelle was an athletic child; started gaining weight After entering nursing school, I became less active.
“Coupled with the stress of nursing school, I was coping by overeating,” Tjelle, 29, of Chicago, told Business Insider.
Mr. Celle is studying. Diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndromeI experienced plantar fasciitis, which is associated with irregular periods and weight gain and can cause stabbing pain around the heels and arches of the feet.
After she graduated, things got even worse. Chere had a tough start to her career and working night shifts as a nurse made it difficult for her to develop healthy eating and exercise habits.
“It got to the point where I didn’t even want to see myself in pictures,” she said. “I didn’t want to be in the picture.”
I tried celle fad dietbut they only caused her weight to fluctuate, leading her to regain what she lost and more.
In October 2022, she weighed 246 pounds and decided enough was enough. She felt starting her new job with regular work hours was the perfect opportunity to work on becoming healthier.
Tjelle made two changes to make her weight loss easier and more sustainable. I stopped relying on takeout and started eating balanced meals at home. calorie deficitand gradually began to move.
“That change had a huge impact on me. I feel like that was the biggest thing that started my weight loss journey because it finally allowed me to have normal eating times, normal sleeping hours, and “I can now sleep eight hours a night,” she said.
According to research, Getting enough sleep is the key to weight lossOne study found that participants who got enough rest tended to eat about 270 fewer calories per day.
The changes also reflect the reality that the weight-loss mantra of “eat less, move more,” a pillar of the $90 billion weight-loss industry, is easier said than done without the right circumstances. .
Over six months, through diet and walking alone, Tjelle lost 55 pounds and her health began to improve.she plantar fasciitisAt first it was because of work, but it got easier after losing weight.
Then she went on to lose another 50 pounds. weight loss drug wegobee After several years, my regular periods have returned.
Although Wegovy and other drugs in the same class known as GLP-1 agonists are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration for PCOS, some women report that the drug improves their symptoms, including returning their periods. ing. Research suggests there is a strong connection between the two. PCOS and obesityTherefore, it is an interesting topic for doctors.
Tjelle started small by just walking.
When Chere tried to lose weight in the past, she said she didn’t have the right mindset.
“What was different this time was that I was completely fed up, and I knew it was over, it was over, and it was time to commit to that change. I came,” she said.
Tjelle wanted to make her new lifestyle sustainable, so she started small. She promised to go to the gym every day, but at first she only walked on the treadmill for 30 minutes.
she heard about it “12-3-30” training This involves walking on a treadmill at a 12% incline at 3 miles per hour for 30 minutes. It was too difficult at first, so she started with her 2% incline and gradually increased the incline.
As Tjelle lost weight, she felt more confident, more active, and healthier.
“Looking back, it was really hard to get up to the weight section,” she said. “I was so nervous and scared that everyone would be looking at me.”
Over time, Tjelle transitioned to resistance machines and running, and now runs half marathons and can do pull-ups without assistance.
Tjelle replaced takeout with healthy prepared meals
When Cele stopped eating takeout, she turned to a local meal delivery service called Seattle Sutton. This service provided three nutritionally balanced meals each day, helping to create a gradual deficit in calories needed for good health. fat loss.
Although it wasn’t cheap, Cele said she thought she still had money saved up because she was spending so much on takeout.
“I just wanted something that would make it easier for me,” Tjelle said.
Cele also stopped eating late at night and started drinking regular coffee with milk instead of creamy, sweet coffee.
“Quiting sugary drinks was huge for me,” she says. “I didn’t really realize how many calories I was consuming.”
It wasn’t easy to develop new habits, but she stuck with it with a strong determination to lose weight, regain confidence, and improve her health.
‘Food noise’ led her to Wegovy
But Tjelle was still struggling. ”food sounds” That means she was constantly thinking about eating, which is a common complaint among people who take GLP-1, which suppresses appetite.
“It’s very difficult to maintain a calorie deficit when you have almost uncontrollable cravings and the sound of food is constantly in your head,” says Tjelle.
That voice in her head made her worry that she wouldn’t be able to keep losing weight naturally, that she would reach a plateau, and that she would eventually gain the weight back. After all, research shows that people who lose weight have a harder time maintaining that weight in the long term.
Tjelle asked about weight loss pills wegobeeIt contains the same ingredients as Ozempic, tends to quieten eating noises, and has been associated with reducing eating noises. Symptoms of PCOS. Her doctor agreed that she should try it.
Chere said the sounds of food quickly disappeared.
She started on a low dose and slowly increased the amount.She experienced nausea – common side effects — the first few months faded away over time.
Although her appetite decreased, she continued to eat healthy and remained healthy. eat enough protein This is so that you can maintain muscle while losing fat. GLP-1 patients should eat a healthy diet and exercise when taking these drugs.
During the first six months of her weight loss journey, Tjelle’s rare and irregular periods became more frequent, but using Wegovy made them more regular.
PCOS patients can have insulin resistance, and GLP-1 can increase production of and sensitivity to that hormone. Weight loss is also thought to be effective for symptoms such as menstrual irregularities.
“When I started Wegovy, I started having regular monthly periods for the first time in my life,” she said. “Before, I would go years without getting one.”
Lost 105 pounds, Tjelle took Wegovy maintenance dose
After losing 50 pounds and eight months, Tjelle decided to transition to a maintenance dose of Wegovy. She still receives weekly injections, but at lower doses and plans to continue as long as her insurance covers them.
“When I play this, I feel like a different person,” Cele said.
Although Tjelle no longer receives food deliveries, she aims to eat the right amount to maintain her weight.
“I’ve continued all my healthy habits,” she said. “I don’t count calories, but I eat healthy most of the time. I still give myself permission to eat different foods in moderation if I’m going out to dinner or there’s dessert. So I don’t limit myself because I’ve done that in the past and I still want to enjoy life. ”
people are treating her differently now
Chere is shocked and saddened that people are treating her better now that she has lost weight.
“People are kinder to me when I’m smaller,” she says. “I feel like people are offering to do more things for me. People are offering to hold doors for me, people are offering to carry things for me.”
this is “thin privilege” is often said by people who want to lose weight.
Tjelle is also attracting attention from men, including some who weren’t interested in her before.
“Men I’ve dated in the past when I was heavier have contacted me again,” she said. “People who ghosted me or didn’t want to go on a second date are suddenly trying to talk to me.”
But Tjelle’s main takeaway is that she’s more capable than she thought.
“I think I always knew I had it in me, but I never really believed in myself,” she said. “I can’t put limits on myself because now that I’ve lost 100 pounds, I feel like I can accomplish anything I set my mind to.”
He added, “I want to reach my full potential and be as healthy and happy as possible.”
Do you have a health story you’d like to share? Contact Rachel Horsey: [email protected].
Correction: April 24, 2024 — A previous version of this article contained inaccurate information about PCOS and obesity. There is a strong association between PCOS and obesity.
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