I’ve always had a good appetite and for most of my life I was able to eat whatever I wanted. I never worried about my size because I thought I had a fast metabolism. However, when I turned 45, perimenopause came knocking on my door, and I started gaining weight steadily every year. Then, during the pandemic, I gained about 20 pounds.
Food is my love language and I’ve always been a big eater. And as a mother, wife, and business owner, food has always been a comfort to me and something that brings the family together. Portion size was not on my radar. I ate three servings of pasta for dinner and didn’t even get a single eyelash. To be honest, it felt like my brain wasn’t giving me signals that I was full or telling me to stop eating. Plus, I’ve never been much of an exercise person.i already tried yoga, pilates, runningI have also purchased. peloton, but I always end up feeling burnt out and have a hard time staying motivated. Instead, daily walks with my dog are my go-to.
To put things into perspective, I was about 5 feet 5 inches tall and at my heaviest I was 180 pounds. Some people think this is no big deal, but personally, I was heavier than I was when I was pregnant with my daughter. I’ve always had a naturally curvaceous figure, but now I had visibly gained weight in my midsection, face, and arms. Since I can no longer wear my favorite boots, my calves have become thicker than before.
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Aside from being aesthetically pleasing, I was always out of breath and chronically tired. My doctor also expressed concern about my weight and high cholesterol. I was discouraged and the weight continued to gain. I just didn’t feel like myself.
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I started researching weight loss drugs and weighed my options.
Last year I saw a lot of ads like this: weight loss drugs heard on social media success story Through friends. I was intrigued, so I started researching medical weight loss drugs and weighed my options. I wanted any medication to be effective and safe, but since most medications are not covered by insurance, I also needed to be financially realistic.
One day, I saw an Instagram post about a new medical weight loss clinic in my area. My monthly fees were within my budget and I knew my charge nurse was happy with the process and trusted her expertise. I immediately registered and made a reservation.
Pilar before starting semaglutide
After a physical exam, blood tests, and detailed medical history, my nurse and I decided to start the generic version at 0.25 milligrams in late April 2023. Semaglutide, the active ingredients of Ozempic and Wegovy. (FYI: Wegovy is FDA-approved for long-term weight management, while Ozempic is FDA-approved to treat his type 2 diabetes, but is often used for medical weight loss.) (Prescribed off-label.)
My doctor discussed the possible risks and side effects, such as nausea, constipation, abdominal pain, and even pancreatitis, but to start with a lower dose of semaglutide to limit side effects and see how my body responds. explained that it is the best.
weekly magazine The drug is administered by injectionbut the first administration was easy and painless.
There were some side effects, but my body quickly got used to it.
Side effects are common when taking semaglutide, and I experienced headaches for the first few weeks. Fortunately, they were tolerable and easily managed with Advil.
I also quickly realized that I had no desire for food at all. I wasn’t hungry and nothing felt right. The only food I occasionally craved was cottage cheese, but after a few bites I was full.
Mentally, this was a little weird for me. I have always loved food and take pride in cooking three meals a day for my family. When I’m not cooking, I’m meal planning. Now I can barely even think about food without feeling a little nauseous.
After about 3 weeks, the dose was increased to 0.5 mg, but the side effects quickly increased. Eating something when I wasn’t hungry made me feel nauseous frequently and developed severe heartburn. One afternoon, I split a chocolate chip cookie with my girlfriend’s daughter, and after one bite I got so bad that I had so much heartburn that I slept the rest of the day.
As a result, I became very conscious of what I put in my mouth. Instead of snacking when I wasn’t hungry or eating mindlessly, food became my fuel. I prioritized eating fresh, whole foods in moderation (in addition to cottage cheese, and occasional meat cravings) to nourish my body.
Pilar preparing dinner for her family
I also significantly reduced my alcohol intake. Before I started my weight loss journey, I was drinking wine every day. Now my craving for alcohol is completely gone and to be honest I almost always prefer water.
I started working out with a personal trainer and realized how strong I was.
As I mentioned earlier, fitness has never been a weakness for me.but i know importance of exercise, especially at my age. My nurse continues to tell me that lifestyle changes are very important while on semaglutide, and that weekly exercise is mandatory to maximize the effectiveness of the drug. So she signed up for personal training at a local gym that offered 30-minute sessions. I told myself that she could do anything for 30 minutes, and a week she decided to work on two training sessions.
I didn’t know (or think) that I was strong, but after a while training, I feel stronger and more confident than ever before. I used to lack the discipline to maintain a regular exercise routine on my own, but finding a trainer I like and connect with has been huge. My personal trainer Lindsey gives me the motivation and extra push I need. She holds me accountable.
pillar lifting weights
I still love walking my dog, but I’m also learning new ways to move that are more comfortable for my mind and body. I’m really enjoying the process so far and just signed up for another month.
I continued increasing my dosage until I reached my goal weight.
In addition to eating a healthy diet and exercising weekly, I continued to increase my semaglutide dose every few weeks under the guidance of my healthcare provider. At my peak I was taking 1.5mg a week, and by the end of August I officially reached my goal weight. I lost 30 pounds.
Pilar achieved her goal
Currently, I weigh about 147 pounds and feel like myself. My face and midsection are slimmer, I can train without out of breath, I’m stronger, and my boots fit me better. Other than the lingering nausea and loss of appetite, my other side effects have subsided and I feel much better.
The goal is to eventually come off semaglutide, and my nurse recently reduced my dosage as I move into more of a maintenance mode. I am currently taking 1.0 mg every two weeks and plan to gradually reduce the dose as I come off the drug. I’m a little nervous about gaining the weight back, but I’m definitely more mindful and grateful for the lifestyle changes. I will continue to train, limit alcohol, control my portions, and focus on a balanced diet.
Semaglutide has changed the way I nourish my body. And I have never felt better.
Personally, I believe this drug is a miracle. I’m so grateful that I got semaglutide and I’m lucky that my body was able to adjust. I feel like I got myself back and I couldn’t be happier.
Apart from losing weight, semaglutide also taught me to be mindful of how I feed and treat my body. After years of dieting and trying every weight loss hack on the planet, semaglutide gave me the opportunity to lose weight without feeling restricted.
Instead of giving up my love of food to lose weight, semaglutide changed my mindset. I’m learning that it’s okay (and healthy!) to eat whatever I want and that losing weight shouldn’t be a punishment. By prioritizing whole foods, watching your portion sizes, and reducing your alcohol intake, you can: embrace fitnessmy weight loss journey was a huge success.
