Side Effects

 Day 1 - I woke up earlier than normal and was nauseous. Morning nausea isn't new to me; when I'm worried about something, my tummy takes the brunt of the anxiety and I sometimes end up throwing up. I was worried about all the side effects and my own kids finishing up their semesters and my work kids and the yearbook that we need to finish...and it goes on. Anyway, I have tools in my toolbox thanks to a great therapist and set of friends to help on the normal anxiety nausea but it wasn't working this time. I went to the WW app to check in with the side effects and noticed it recommended drinking water and eating some crackers. 

Did you know saltines expire? Well, this morning, I learned that. I found a sleeve of saltines in our lazy Susan and popped one in my mouth - then stood over the garbage can and tried to get it all out of my mouth as quickly as possible. Luckily, I also found some Ritz crackers and that worked great - a little bit of food and water and I was good. 

I realized quickly that I had no hunger, like none. I told my friends to remind me to eat. I increased my water and surrounded myself with healthy snacks. Week 1 

Day 2 - repeat of day 1, except much better without the disgusting saltine cracker start. For the first week, these were the only two days I had side effects. I worked during the week to increase my movement, my iWatch must think I'm in vacation prep with all the increased steps I've been taking. I certainly am a person who thinks an annual pass at Disney might be better than any gym membership! I guess I sort of am in vacation prep - I want to spend time on my summer trips enjoying the trip, not trying to recover physically from the last one. As most of you know, if I'm home, I'm napping....so I spend as much time in the summer traveling. 

I did my second shot on May 13 - this time I did it all myself, and it went fine. No nausea or at least nothing I don't know how to handle with some crackers and water...but a new interesting development, my period started today. I can't tell you the last time Aunt Flo came to visit. I've had an IUD since Jacob was born (2010), with a brief time of bleeding when it was swapped out. Normal people might call the doctor, but I'm pretty sure my doctor is going to yell at me for trying Semiglutides without her input. So we'll wait and see!

Some highlights of the "week" include my Saturday with the WW leader Tammie, who's been a leader at WW forever. She's so honest, kind, and genuine. My WW friends and I got together and made some low point snacks and desserts. Many of us have a sweet tooth and need a quick snack to throw in until we can make better eating decisions. This summer it will be nice to eat when I'm hungry versus eat when I have time, according to the bell schedule at work.

It is Time

First off, I kind of forgot that I had a blog! I obviously don’t and never did use it a ton. I decided on May 1 it was time to start putting myself first and start some sort of weight loss journey. Last year, I went with the attitude over the summer to eat less and move more.I was somewhat successful, but it too, fell by the wayside as so many other weight-loss adventures that I have tried. I was somewhat successful, but it too, fell by the wayside as so many other weight-loss adventures that I have tried.

I sat down after school, looked down and realized that the zipper on my pants had blown out, and my fat, for my tummy, was not a thing of beauty. In the past, I had looked at the website hers, spoken with my doctor about the medications that hers recommended after I took their quiz. But I knew that Weight Watchers was something that always had worked for me in the past.

I went to the website and checked out all of the different options. I did some self-reflection, and thinking about whether medication was something that I thought I needed. At the time, they had a Semaglutide option that I could self-pay for. My insurance does not cover weight loss drugs or weight loss surgery. I've not investigated it myself but others have and I trust their wisdom.  Weight Watchers has a clinic that you can have virtual appointments with clinicians. I was partnered with a group and they asked me to upload my last bloodwork so they could take a look and see if; tides with something that they recommend. My last blood draw was in December 2024. My workplace has started a wellness program within the last five or six years and I have really enjoyed getting to see my cholesterol, glucose, and all that kind of stuff to give me an idea of what my numbers were. I had always joke with the doctor that I needed something to be off the charts or unhealthy for me to ever get serious about weight loss fortunately or unfortunately, all my blood work for the most part fell within range so I continue to kick the can down the road and do it later...not now.

The clinician that I virtually chatted with was worried about my blood pressure, so I took it again with a machine that we have at our house. Blood pressure or something that my husband also struggles with so we have a Walgreens, blood pressure pressure taker. The Weight Watchers clinician also wanted me to follow up with my doctor about my blood pressure which was slightly high and my cholesterol that was on the higher range. She did thought think I was a good candidate for Semaglutide and went ahead with the prescription. Weight Watchers works with a pharmacy in Canada and I received the vial of Semaglutide within a couple of days along with needles and alcohol wipes.

On Tuesday, May 6 at 8 PM I did the first shot of 0.25 mg of their Semaglutide.