[ 2020 ] Let’s share our journey for those of us that want to pursue a healthier lifestyle to lose weight.

[DrQ]

Never expect to get there again, lost a lot of muscle mass along the way.

You can join a gym. Here is my current routine two times a week:

Leg lift - 5 lbs per leg (15 reps X 3) per leg​

Side Walk with RED Band - 2 laps​

Diagonal Walk with RED Band - 2 laps​

Wood chop - 20 lbs (15 reps X 3) each side​

Seated Row - 70 lbs (10 reps X 3)​

Pulldown - 70 lbs (15 reps X 2)​

Underhand Pulldown - 70 lbs (15 reps X 3)​

Chest Press - 70 lbs (15 reps X 3)​

Leg Press 2 leg - 100 lbs (20 reps X 4)​

Leg Press 1 leg - 70 lbs (20 reps X 2) each​

Leg Curl - 40 lbs (15 reps X 3) per leg​

Leg Extension - 40 lbs (15 reps X 3) per leg​

Recumbent Cross Trainer - 15 minutes @ 115 steps per minute @ level 8​

I intend to add 10 laps walking in the pool 3 times a week.

 

[Panina]

I began this journey in January 2020 and started this thread in February 2020. When the pandemic hit, it closed down the Weight Watchers classes in my community, prompting me to try Optavia, where I experienced significant weight loss.

Many of you helped me through the difficult breakup with my ex. By September 2020, I had moved to Florida, knowing no one living there, but feeling proud of my new weight.

I focused on maintaining this achievement with a healthy diet of 1,500 calories a day, alongside regular exercise.

However, by October 2024, I found myself back at my starting weight even though I maintained a 1500 calorie diet. Everyone except my significant other thought I was over eating when I wasn't. It was frustrating. Despite reducing my calorie intake even further, I didn't see any results.

Then, in March 2025, my therapist introduced me to intermittent fasting. I decided to stop eating between 4 PM and 5 PM, aiming for the earlier time. I eat breakfast between 8:30 AM and 9 AM. Remarkably, I continued to consume the same healthy 1,500 calories as before, and to my delight, I lost all the weight I had regained—37 pounds in total!

 

[billymach4]

I began this journey in January 2020 and started this thread in February 2020. When the pandemic hit, it closed down the Weight Watchers classes in my community, prompting me to try Optavia, where I experienced significant weight loss.

Many of you helped me through the difficult breakup with my ex. By September 2020, I had moved to Florida, knowing no one living there, but feeling proud of my new weight.

I focused on maintaining this achievement with a healthy diet of 1,500 calories a day, alongside regular exercise.

However, by October 2024, I found myself back at my starting weight even though I maintained a 1500 calorie diet. Everyone except my significant other thought I was over eating when I wasn't. It was frustrating. Despite reducing my calorie intake even further, I didn't see any results.

Then, in March 2025, my therapist introduced me to intermittent fasting. I decided to stop eating between 4 PM and 5 PM, aiming for the earlier time. I eat breakfast between 8:30 AM and 9 AM. Remarkably, I continued to consume the same healthy 1,500 calories as before, and to my delight, I lost all the weight I had regained—37 pounds in total!

Have not read your entire thread. So forgive me for asking if you have already discussed this topic? What is your opinion on the use of one of the injection meds like ozempic?

 

[Panina]

Have not read your entire thread. So forgive me for asking if you have already discussed this topic? What is your opinion on the use of one of the injection meds like ozempic?

The thread is long. I mentioned my intermittent fasting before but I doubt many will read it all. I feel it is important to reiterate an over 65 year old woman who could not lose weight eating healthy and exercising finally had success without diet foods or injections.

I was offered the injection option and turned it down. Ozempic for diabetes is a life saver. I have a friend who is on it and now has his diabetes under control. A side effect was he lost weight. I have another friend who is on it, over 65, that has lost weight very slowly. She is now on it 8 months and tells me she often feels sick from it. She asked me how I lost my weight and she said I can't do that, I have to snack in the evening. I am too hungry. She also told me once she stopped taking it and gained weight back.

Ultimately, my opinion... is it is a personal choice. Drugs always have a risk factor involved. We do not know the long tern effects of Ozempic for those taking it that do not have diabetes. When you are extremely overweight that outweighs the risk factor of taking the drug. It can save your life. For what I had to lose, with all my reactions to different medicines over the years, it was not worth the risk.

 

[VacationForever]

I messed up with my diet because I get stomach ulcer and pain when I go hungry and not eat. Once I get gastric pain, I have to feed the beast and also take pepcid and pantoprazole until it heals. After 4 months of constant eating, I had put on 5 pounds after losing 2. However, the meds have finally healed my stomach enough that I stop feeling pain when I am hungry. For the past days, I managed to combine lunch with dinner to essentially reduce calorie intake. I am finally just a pound heavier than when my weight loss (starvation diet) started in March, as opposed to 3 pounds heavier. I am still trying to lose 11 pounds, but I will have to not let myself get hungry to where I develop stomach ulcers.

 

[Theiggy]

Have not read your entire thread. So forgive me for asking if you have already discussed this topic? What is your opinion on the use of one of the injection meds like ozempic?

I’m jumping into this thread. I’ve been following it prob since it started but haven’t read many posts in a long while.
I take one of the weight loss meds and have been absolutely thrilled with the results.
I take Zepbound. I have lost all the weight I wanted to lose and then some (total about 57lbs). I’ve been on the medication for over a year but I reached my goal around the 10 month mark. I had minimal side effects, mostly constipation. I was never nauseous but I did eat very cautiously in the beginning. The positive benefits have gone way beyond weight loss for me. I feel like a different person. Firstly all the swelling and inflammation in my body went away, especially in my legs and feet. My anxiety actually decreased. My “food noise” went away and I went from living to eat to eating to live. My alcohol consumption went to zero but eventually it crept back in and I probably have maybe 2 drinks every two weeks. I can move, bend, and I feel young again! I can hike without being out of breath. Negatives- some saggy skin and a few new wrinkles (I’m 50), and I lost some hair during the weight loss phase. I am currently on the lowest starting dose for maintenance and I don’t take it every week I sometimes skip some extra days. I hope to stay on forever if my insurance will continue to cover! Any questions for anyone on this I am open to it bc I truly think it’s a miracle drug. And I’m not someone who is usually a pill popper I’m pretty conservative with it. It’s the only thing that has worked for me to lose weight without absolute misery and keep it off.


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[DrQ]

Firstly all the swelling and inflammation in my body went away, especially in my legs and feet. My anxiety actually decreased. My “food noise” went away and I went from living to eat to eating to live. My alcohol consumption went to zero but eventually it crept back in and I probably have maybe 2 drinks every two weeks.

This pretty much mirrors my experience too. I started out on Bydureon BCIS, which my doctor later told me was one of the first GLP-1 antagonists. He told me at the time that it prevented my liver from releasing blood glucose, so it was to help me manage my blood sugar and not weight loss. I had taken it for a couple of years before I hurt my hip and decided to enroll in a medically supervised weight loss program. I did notice that I was able to stick to my diet and that I no longer had the ravenous hunger which had plagued me all of my life. It wasn't until early this year when my GP switched me from Bydureon to Mounjaro that I asked why he was putting me on a GLP-1 antagonist. Essentially he said: "Silly rabbit, Bydureon IS a GLP-1 antagonist!" Then it all started making sense; My ability to give up my favorite foods and not have cravings and the midnight hunger pains, I had never been able to do that before. I can now STOP and take home leftovers from a restaurant and eat a reasonable portion. I can now look at a menu and find the healthy offerings, instead of going for high carb items. While I was not a huge drinker, I did enjoy Scotch whiskey weekly and I was able to go dry for over a year. I have just recently introduced it back into my diet as DW found a cocktail that she enjoys, so we will split one occasionally between us.

So I have been on GLP-1 medication for years and (knock on wood) without problems.

Now, for the first time in 60+ years, I now know what it is like to be normal.

 

[Theiggy]

@DrQ
You hit the nail on the head. I immediately thought “so this is what it’s like to be normal?”

It enables you to make healthy food choices and be satisfied.

And I chuckle at you mentioning taking home food from restaurants. I barely eat half of what I order and I have to be careful not to eat too many appetizers or any at all bc then I don’t even touch my meal. My husband always laughs when they put the big plate of food in front of me. He’s like “you won’t even get through half of that!” I definitely try to go for protein first, so I don’t fill up on carbs. But now that I’m on such a low dose I’m getting a little hungry again, but as long as I’m maintaining, I’m happy.


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[geist1223]

Patti quite often asks for a Take Home Container when the Meal is delivered to the Table. She puts half in it even before she starts eating. If she is going to want the Left Overs the next day she puts m her name on it. Otherwise it is available for me.