My GLP-1 Weight Loss Journey: Life After Losing 100 Pounds

Disclaimer: Before reading, please note that this post shares my GLP-1 weight loss journey. I’m not a doctor, and nothing here is medical advice — please check with your healthcare professional about what’s right for you. And if reading about weight issues is tough for you right now, I completely understand if you want to skip this one. Come back next time!

My GLP-1 Weight Loss Journey Begins

I’m a GLP-1 pioneer. Long before these new diet drugs saturated our social media feeds and news headlines, I signed up in 2021 with a company called Calibrate to give this “new” drug called Ozempic a try. It had been used for diabetes for more than 20 years, but it was showing great promise in treating obesity. 

I was 260+ pounds and desperate to drop at least 100 of those. Take my money and give me that shot.  

How Being Overweight Affected My Life and Travel

Vacation, All I Never Wanted

In summer 2019, my family of six took a trip to Los Angeles. It was our first really big family vacation, with our four kids grown enough that we could actually enjoy ourselves without the hassles of traveling with little ones. 

The Emotional and Physical Toll of Obesity

If I’m being honest, though, it was a low point for me. Being so overweight in the land of beautiful people – with temperatures soaring past 90 every day – was ROUGH. I put on my Happy Mom Face but inside I couldn’t wait to get home to the sensible shirts and capri pants of the Midwest.

My ankles and feet hurt from walking, I was sweating all the time and I was a little (lot) on the cranky side. During a trip to the beach in Santa Monica, I had to take a long, hot, sweaty walk in the sand from the ocean to the restroom and about halfway there I honestly wasn’t sure I was going to have the stamina to make it. That was a low moment that still sits deep in my psyche.

Turning Down a Dream Trip to Ireland

When we got back from that vacation, my husband and I started talking seriously about taking the trip to Ireland that we’d dreamed about forever. As excited as I was, I knew deep in my bones that I would never be able to navigate the long flight and the hills of Ireland feeling the way I did in LA. I was torn – I didn’t want to deny my family this trip we’d all been talking about forever but I also didn’t want to go and have to sit on the sidelines. What to do? 

Finding Calibrate During the Pandemic

Why This Program Felt Different Than Dieting

Enter two things: the pandemic (which postponed our trip to Ireland) and a Calibrate ad I saw on Instagram. I decided to try it because this was different – it wasn’t about willpower or counting or telling myself that cauliflower is a perfect substitute for mashed potatoes. I enrolled and did all the required steps – blood work, doctor visit and finally taking that first shot of Ozempic. 

Full disclosure, we had excellent insurance at the time and it paid for all but $25 a month, I know I am very lucky to have had that opportunity. We don’t have that insurance anymore and I pay a lot more now, which is grossly unfair to me and to so many other people in the same situation. But that’s for another blog post.

The rest, as they say, is history. For me, quite simply, it worked. I ate less and lost weight. Period. That’s it. I didn’t really exercise, didn’t count calories – just ate what I wanted in far, far smaller amounts. I consistently lost weight every week and would color in the boxes of a “75” I downloaded from Etsy to track my loss. 

We planned our Ireland and London trip for July 2022 and I was down about 65 pounds by the time we left. Of course it was amazing because, well, Ireland. I don’t think anything would have stopped me from loving every minute of it. But I did feel so much better than I did on that LA trip – even wearing a sundress a few times. Thanks to the effects of Ozempic and SO MUCH WALKING, I came home lighter than when I left and kept on going. 

What I’ve Learned from My GLP-1 Weight Loss Journey

Life Without 100 Extra Pounds

I’ve been living in this new body for a while now, hitting the 110-pound mark more than a year ago. Here are a few things I’ve learned about life a little lighter: 

• I need to say it again: I’m still the same person at 150 that I was at 260. I was a decent human being for 50 years, no matter what my weight was, and losing it didn’t make me better or worse at my core. I’m still kind of lazy, a little judgy and I don’t like vegetables.
• Having said that, I am happier because I feel so much better. Life is easier without 110 extra pounds. There’s no other way to say it. I move better through my day, I am not always on guard for situations that aren’t suited for an obese person, and going to the doctor is no longer a litany of excuses at the scale. But …
• That’s not fair. Everyday things like fitting in theater seats, getting the right health care without a lecture on body size and finding stylish clothes that fit should not be limited by BMI. We’ve built a society with a HUGE bias toward overweight people, especially women. We need to demand products and an infrastructure that support everyone of every size. 
• How I lost weight is nobody’s business. I willingly share that I lost on a GLP-1 and I’m very honest that this is the only way I could do it. Most people I know have been supportive and understanding, but along the way I’ve heard a few variations of “just use willpower,” “put down the fork,” or “go take a walk.” Thanks for those original ideas, guys. It’s funny how nobody ever lectures me about using willpower to cure my wonky thyroid. 
• I would do it again in a minute. The GLP-1 journey wasn’t easy but it was the easiest I’ve ever lost weight. After decades and decades of every diet known to humankind (and joining Weight Watchers enough times that I probably paid for a new WW office building), I know the “problem” is not me and my insatiable desire for chocolate. It’s biology. Period. I am so grateful for the tools to get it under control. 

Find Your Path and Take the First Step

If you’re thinking about starting a GLP-1, there’s no harm in investigating whether it’s right for you. I strongly encourage you to find an actual obesity medicine specialist through the Obesity Medicine Association. They know these medicines inside and out and can make sure you’re using the right one correctly. There is tons of great content out there, too, but make sure your source is reputable. One of my faves is the Obesity Guide podcast with Dr. Matthea Rentea. She’s a board-certified obesity doc who’s on her own GLP-1 journey. Find the sources you trust and stick with them.

I would love to hear about your GLP-1 journey! Drop me a note and let me know!