‘Being On Ozempic Completely Changed The Way I Look At Food’
I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a teenager, and I struggled with my weight throughout my teenage years. I struggled to figure out and stick to a healthy diet and exercise routine. I also didn’t have regular cycles because of my PCOS (which is a hormonal disorder that can cause irregular periods) and my weight was always fluctuating.
Fast forward to 2022, when my weight was the highest it had ever been at age 35: 280 pounds. It was affecting my mental health as well as my ability to do my jobs as a hairstylist and a caretaker in Houston, Texas. I stand all day long, and I was getting worn down quicker than I wanted to admit.
In late January 2022, my family doctor mentioned Ozempic to me and said that I could benefit from it and lose weight. More importantly, the possible resulting weight loss would potentially help me get my menstrual cycle back in check. I had heard about the medication and seen the catchy commercials, so I was willing to give it a go.
I went into the Ozempic journey really open-minded.
I also trusted my doctor, which I think is so important. I felt strongly that if my doctor thought the drug was a wise idea for me and my health (and also safe), it was worth a shot. But to get more information up front, as well as support after I started the medication, I joined a Facebook group.
The Ozempic / Wegovy Weight Loss Support Group helped me gather both real-person perspectives, information about what it's like to be on the drug, and more. When I first started on Ozempic, I knew I didn’t want to discuss it with my clients or people close to me, which felt a bit lonely. But being part of the online Facebook group, however, was full of other people going through similar experiences to me, and I no longer felt alone in my journey.
I started sharing details about my journey with the Facebook group, and it felt like my safe space. (Interestingly, when I started on Ozempic, I didn’t know that many people in my personal life were on it too, which I would find out later.)
I quickly learned that starting Ozempic meant easing your way in slowly.
This drug was meant to be a long-term intervention—not some overnight quick-fix.
I started taking a lower dose of o.25 milligrams, before my doctor eventually upped my dose to 0.5 milligrams. (It's standard to start at the 0.25 dose for a number of weeks to give your body time to adjust to the medication and hopefully give time to adjust to the side effects.) During the first three months, I was losing about two pounds per week.
I stayed on the 0.5 milligrams for about nine months, and in that nine-month period I lost about 55 pounds. I increased to a one milligram dose around the holidays last year. I found that transitioning onto the medication fairly seamless, as I had taken an injectable medication before, so it was pretty familiar to me. (I now only see my doctor once every three months since I've adjusted to the medication and things are pretty smooth-sailing for me now.)
I found myself putting on clothes I hadn't worn in years. Having my clothes fit differently was a surprise I didn't know that I needed. It was motivating. I went from around a size 16 to an eight.
By September 2022, after those initial nine months, other people in my life started noticing changes in my body and mindset.
While the impact on my weight and confidence was a huge plus, Ozempic came with not-so-pleasant side effects at first.
Early in my transition to being on Ozempic, I had multiple nights where I have thrown up and pooped simultaneously (sorry, TMI!) for hours on end. It was hell—just awful. Then, I'd find myself super dehydrated. This type of icky night probably happened five or six times, especially at the beginning.
I called my doctor and learned the side effect also likely had to do with what I was eating, and how much, while also on the drug. I was eating stuff that was really greasy, or that had a lot of sugar. Alcohol also contributed to the negative side effects, so I cut back on my intake.
Despite the early side effects, Ozempic has completely changed the way I look at food.
I started eating less because I became full much faster. (The medication in Ozempic, semiglutide, helps decrease appetite and slows digestion, research has shown.) I learned how important protein was. I’ve swapped breakfast for protein shakes or protein pancakes with peanut butter. I no longer crave chocolate or soda or ice cream.
But the biggest win is that I no longer have what I call "food noise" in my life. I simply don’t really think about food anymore. Before, I always noticed my food cravings around my period and would become hung up on them.
For the first six months on Ozempic, I felt like I was eating for the old version of me, still ordering and making big plates. For instance, I love Chick-fil-A and still have my old order saved in the app: a 10-piece Chick-n-Minis, an iced coffee, and hash browns. I had that four days a week. Now, if I go as a treat, I order a kids meal and I’m fully satisfied.
Today, I am able to eat in moderation. One alcoholic drink is all I can handle. I don’t think about going to Starbucks for a sugary drink. I just don't have those yearnings anymore.
Ozempic has also motivated me to change other habits in my life. My husband, who has been incredibly supportive, helped me put a modified home gym in our garage. I also walk my dogs more often and farther these days. I have more energy naturally.
Yes, I still have days when I want to sit around and watch TV and take naps. But now I find genuine enjoyment in closing the activity rings on my Apple Watch.
Since going on Ozempic, I have a newfound respect for myself and my body.
I see myself differently, and with more self-compassion. I have more motivation.
I also now have regular cycles for the first time in my adult life. While I can't prove for certain that going on Ozempic and the resulting weight loss led to the regulation of my menstrual cycle, I believe it did. My OB even asked, “what are you doing?” My Apple Watch can finally accurately predict when my cycle will be. In general, I'm way more in tune with my body thanks to the weight loss.
Once I get to a weight I am comfortable at, I will reduce my dosage to a "maintenance dose." Right now, I’m still taking my one milligram dose weekly, and I have about 10 to 15 pounds until I reach a total weight loss of 100 pounds—which has been my goal. Once I reach that, I will use 0.5 milligrams weekly or every other week to continue to maintain my new weight and keep food cravings at bay. My doctor also said that I can come completely off of Ozempic if I want, so we'll see how I feel once I get to that point.
When the weight started to come off, I also started sharing more with my friends and clients. Many would tell me, “I didn’t know you were on it—I am too!” We discuss topics like, “How are you getting your protein?" Being open about it publicly has made my support group bigger.
I’ve also been fortunate in that I've never received any backlash for my Ozempic use. I look at Ozempic as a tool as opposed to a medication. It's not a shortcut or a cheat—it's a tool that's changing my life. It’s helping me become the healthiest, happiest version of myself.
To have a tool to help me accomplish the wellness goals I spent the better part of my 20s and 30s trying to do on my own has been a game changer. I wouldn't change my decision for the world.
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