So, you've tried every diet and exercise regimen under the sun to no avail, or the thought of having to count calories, add more movement or DO one more thing, pushes you over the edge. AND, your friend Kim looks fabulous at the holiday party and tells you its the result of fill-in-the blank Glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) Should you try it? That depends...
What you can expect when taking a GLP-1?
For starters, no two humans have the exact same reaction to anything so this is just my non-medical opinion based on my experience. In order to be prescribed a GLP-1 (Wegovy, Zepbound, etc...) you will need to see a medical provider.
We are all different...
About Money...Unless you have a BMI over 30 and your insurance plan covers GLP-1s you will be paying out of pocket, and even with coupons that will cost you between 650/month and 1300/month! In other words, you can expect to pay a chunk of change!
In Tolerance to Side Effects...Side effects can be BRUTAL. Individual tolerance to GLP-1s varies but the most common side effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, stomach (abdomen) pain, headache, tiredness (fatigue), upset stomach, dizziness, feeling bloated, belching, low blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, gas, stomach flu, heartburn, and runny nose or sore throat.
What I experienced taking a GLP-1
For starters, I was at the end of the line, when good digestions were handed out. I am Celiac, have had my gallbladder removed, and have lived most of my life with Acid Reflux and IBS. My doctor warned me that I was not a great candidate for those reasons.
Alas, I had tried everything and was exhausted. Unless I eat PERFECT (I mean breakfast salads for dinner and salmon/broccoli) and am really diligent about movement, the meno-belly will not budge. Between moving house for 4 months and starting 2 businesses I couldn't imagine working out more or fretting constantly about my meals. So, against my doctor's sage advice I tried a GLP-1. TLDR...I made it one month (barely).
Week 1 was a breeze. I literally thought all those posting and whining about stomach distress were exaggerating. I was a little nauseous for the first two days, but by the end of week 1, I felt better AND I had lost about 2 lbs. Success! Keep reading, that's not how it turned out.
Week 2 wasn't bad either. I couldn't believe how easy the medicine was to inject. Using the pen, I barely noticed the pain. I had no issues with injection site reactions, which is unusual for me (I get hematomas from bumping into a mattress, and rashes from my own sweat), and again, I was only really nauseous on Day 2. I had a little bit of reflux towards the end of the week, but it was nothing a Prilosec OTC couldn't fix.
Then came Week 3 (Thanksgiving week). I had almost no appetite for the majority of the week. Like, it literally took all joy out of eating and drinking. Not being able to merry make at all was depressing during the holidays (as a celiac who watches her diet, eating isn't that joyful to begin with). Then came Thanksgiving night...I had 3.5 glasses of champagne/wine over the course of the day and night (12 hours), which is more than my typical weekly consumption. I ate probably 1/2 of what a typical relatively healthy person eats for Thanksgiving. By 10:30 PM I was praying for a speedy death.
If it was a digestive side effect, you name it, and I had it. Here comes the TMI part: After finishing our Emily in Paris binge-a-thon I quickly said goodbye to my Aunt and Uncle so I could run to vomit. It felt like a combination of pregnancy nausea and the worst hangover I have ever had in my life. The GLP-1 may have ruined turkey for me FOREVER. It was easy enough to blame myself for overindulging, even with those drinks being spread over 12 hours, but that peptic feeling didn't leave.
I reluctantly went for Week 4 and it broke me. Food began to depress me which is a really bad place to be. I literally didn't want to eat anything and when I didn't eat, I felt even shittier. If you've been pregnant, you may remember carrying crackers or bland treats with you to keep the belly blues away. In the case of the GLP-1, that didn't work. Pepto didn't work. Prilosec didn't work. Literally nothing worked. I dreaded eating and not eating alike.
Plus-I had to eat bland starchy food to not be sick so I put the weight back on.
Add to the pain and fear of eating, a $650/month copay because I didn't meet the medical criteria for taking a GLP-1, and it really was a losing proposition for me. Again, every person and situation is different. I'm simply sharing my experience.
I called time of death on my GLP-1 trial at Week 5, and decided to use my money and time for something that made me look and feel great...Fillers.
"Food began to depress me which is a really bad place to be. I literally didn't want to eat anything"
Should you or shouldn't you try a GLP-1 for weight loss?
You should do whatever feels right to YOU!
Here are some caveats:
- I am NOT a doctor and I don't play one on the internet. Consult a qualified medical professional before changing anything in your diet, medication, or exercise regimen.
- If you have a prior history of stomach, and/or gallbladder issues, my experience may be helpful for you to read. My prior history DEFINITELY affected my ability to tolerate these medications.
- If you qualify for insurance and your provider deems that taking these medications has more benefits than risks that is super important to consider.
- If money is not object for you, that also may change the value story. As a woman who owns two small business startups, paying all that money for something that made me feel terrible wasn't a good proposition.
In summary, talk to a qualified medical professional to see what is right for you. If you have a history of stomach issues and are looking to lose those final 15 lbs., there are other options that are more work, but may offer you a better quality of life.
In the end, I decided I would strive to take off 10 lbs., over time in the healthiest way possible (lean protein, vegetables and movement...blech!) while learning to accept the other 10 as part of a life lived well!
Thank you for sharing your experience so artful and candidly. As a medical professional working with mone 40+, I have seen both sides of the GLP-1 coin in recent year – dramatic results that impove overall health and contribute to disease prevention as well as severe effects leaving the patient despondent and ill. Noting that it’s not for everyone, despite what advertising and social media may say, is the key point here.