Did either of you experience any side effects from the medication? My sister is seriously contemplating wegovy? But is hearing some scary things.

I only have some manageable nausea.

I know probably a dozen people on some version of this drug. My observations are that they all lost a good deal of weight and the side effects vary from mild to nearly non existent. I am not on this drug but I have watched my wife use it and now she is on a tiny amount (maintenance amount I suppose) and it has performed amazingly. She’s happy, she’s healthy, she’s back at the weight she was when we married. Unless she dies of something these meds caused I would come close to calling this a “miracle” drug, ie fantastic results with no (so far) side effects. The diet/fitness people hate this drug but combined with a reasonable fitness routine it is a tough combo to beat. I suspect this will be OTC eventually. It’s been approved (diabetes) since 2016 I believe so there is data out there.

Thanks for your information guys. I’ll let her know!

I got some weird numbers(triglycerides) last year when I had my annual-doc and I thought it was due to the week of drinking I did in Jamaica the week before. She sent me for a untrasound on my liver to rule out anything there.

This year the number was still high. I’ve been on a statin for a decade due to my stroke although I never had high cholesterol.

I had a physical in February this year and the number is still high. Total cholesterol is 192, tri-418,Hdl-34, no ldl was given

So I talked to my best friend whose wife has fatty liver disease and knows things. I began keeping track of my diet with an app. Basically eliminating carbs to go into keto. And I’ve been keto diet and carnivore since. (Which is similar to my regular diet minus carbs). Quit drinking all together. Taking niacin 3/wk to flush my system and NAC to help remove fat from my liver.

In 30 days I’ve lost 15 lbs down from 185 to 170. No extra exercise or walking just limiting what I eat. And going carb and calorie deficit.

I just sent a request to do another blood test to see where my numbers are. She hasn’t responded.

The worst thing is black coffee with no sugar. Now I have a cup of hate first thing and plot on the world. Muhahahaha

Back in April a physician friend I have challenged me to do some 48 hours fasts combined with intermittent fasting, for a while, as part of an effort to loose weight. 10 years ago I lost a lot of weight, well into the triple digits, and over a number of years it all came back. My body composition stayed changed, much more muscular and less 'beachball' than it had been before, but still obnoxiously overweight.

So, I started doing some 48 hour fasts every Thursday and Friday, coinciding with the start of my work week and pair it with basic Intermittent Fasting (eating window noon to 1800) and a general thrust of less processed food and virtually no processed sugars. Generally I'd limit carbs during my first meal and eat them after the fats and proteins.

I saw some encouraging signs quickly, and I liked the added simplicity of not bringing food to work (12-16 hour shifts).

The better eating also helped motivated me to become more consistent with my workouts, which were 3ish times a week, and kind of meandering and without focus.

Since May 1st I have not missed a pre-shift workout, even on days following a 16 hour shift. I wake up at 0200 and hit the gym. 20-30 minutes lifted and 65-80 minutes walking on the treadmill after lifting, inclined. Incline and speeds vary a bit, but it always happens. For several months now I've also added a weighted vest. The first time I tried, it was 20lbs and kicked my butt hard. I stripped it off after about 5 minutes. This was a couple months back. This morning I did 80 minutes, 6.0 incline, 3.0 mph, with 53lb vest.

I went to my doc in early may and asked for labs to act as baseline. The results were actually quite good, considering a starting weight of *at least* 450lbs... lipid profile was really pretty good (HDL 36, LDL 80, Trg 100, total 136), glucose was 103 and A1C 4.6. A closer study of the metabolic panel showed some signs of minor metabolic distress, according to my physician friend, but as he put it, it was really quite good given my size. My treating physician was happy with it all, even the 103 glucose, when looking at the total picture. He offered Rx for all the weight loss drugs, but I declined. I wanted it on my own. No shortcuts, no easy button, just new habits.

After 6-8 weeks of various fasting regimens I settled into a routine I really like. I measure my days in 2-week chunks aligning with my work week. On week 1 I work Thur-Sat, on Week 2 I work Thur-Sun, so in that 2-week rotation it is 7 days off and 7 days worked. During my workdays I do OMAD, only eating once, at dinner time. If I only work 12, I eat at home. If I have to work late, I grab tacos from a taco truck. Perfect. On my weekend I don't eat before noon (but often don't get around to it until 1300-1400) and ensure I'm done eating at 2000, though usually by 1900. Every other Wednesday I don't fast at all.

For the first half of those 6 months my lifting focus was increasing my deadlift number as that has always been my favorite lift. I wanted to get back to the 500+ numbers I was able to do a couple years ago, but it was proving elusive. I was doing heavy weights for just a couple reps and a couple sets, chasing that 5 plate deadlift again. Just could get past 475.

So, someone I respect said set that aside for now and try and spend more time in hypertrophy to increase my metabolism. "Increase the size of your calorie burning engine, not the horsepower". I was down for that and switched it up. 4 different days: back/biceps, chest/triceps, front legs, back legs. 2 movements per group (like small incline DB chest press + flat DB fly), 3x15. It is quick and easy since I have limited time for lifting before work. Muscle size is growing leaps and bounds.

As of my 6 month check-in with my treating doc I am down 85lbs on the scale but also plus 25lbs muscle mass (according to the Fitbody 3d scan thingy). BF% is down double digits. I've lost significant inches of pant size. Joints hurt less, shocking, I know.

The biggest eye opener for me was the change in labs.... Both doctors were happy with the baseline from May, but the new ones from November show marked improvement across the board. Glucose dropped to 97. A1C dropped to 4.6. Liver and Kidney show improved function. Creatinine levels indicate significant muscle growth, triglycerides dropped to 59. The HDL went from the low 36 to 44. Every sign of metabolic distress was reversed... of course, this was all explained to me, I don't have the knowledge myself. My treating physician said the labs are what he'd expect in a mid 20's high level athlete. He's loving the changes.

Time to keep chugging along. Still more than 100lbs to go on the scale before I reach my "reassess my goals" weight.

Keep pushing, men. We can change our lives.