Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. I’m just documenting my GLP1 journey.

Week 1 – The Beginning

Hi all, I finally did it. I finally got on the GLP-1 train. Obesity and weight loss have been a constant loop for me. I’ve tried every diet under the sun, including calorie restriction, keto, fasting, and even longevity fasting mimicking programs, along with every version of “this will finally work.” And for a while, some of it did work, until it didn’t.

What I started to realize is that weight loss for me wasn’t just about discipline or knowing what to eat. It was deeper than that. It was the mental dynamic at play for me. As a mom, constantly thinking about food and food preparation was the norm. I was always thinking about what was going to be for dinner as the main meal prepper for my family, but it was also the constant internal loop of “what am I going to eat next,” running in the background like noise I couldn’t shut off.

On top of that, life was life-ing. Like many of us, I was inundated with ongoing stressors, responsibilities, and emotional weight. Recently, my ex-husband passed, and that shook me in a way I didn’t expect. He was only two years older than me, and his passing made things feel profoundly real. I found myself thinking, if I don’t take better care of myself and address my weight, what happens next? That realization stayed with me.

When I finally decided to get on board the GLP-1 train, I was both anxious and excited. I had been following the research and information for about a year. Someone at my job had already been on this track for two years, had lost over 100 lbs, and was still on a maintenance dose. I also had two close friends who had been on the same journey for a year and were seeing strong results, each losing over 50 lbs. I was watching real-world outcomes in motion, and I decided it was time to move forward. Everywhere I looked, the signals and data pointed in the same direction, and I chose to follow that track.

Next, I made an appointment for my yearly physical with my primary care physician. We discussed the various options and the changing dynamics of GLP1 medications and insurance coverage. I had already chosen the medication I wanted based on my daughter’s experience. She had tried one a year ago, and our insurance had covered it with an affordable co-pay. I requested the same medication, assuming it would still be covered. While researching, I learned that this specific GLP1 works in two ways by reducing hunger and helping with fat loss. That made it feel like maybe this wasn’t just another attempt at weight loss, but a supportive tool that could actually help me in my journey.

Once my prescription was sent to my local pharmacy, I checked my co-pay and saw that it was a whopping five hundred bucks!👀 After speaking with the pharmacy, I called my insurance company immediately. During that process, I found out that I needed pre-approval to receive the medication at an affordable cost, from a company that had been collecting my medical premiums for 18 years. It turns out that many people were using GLP1 medications, costs were increasing for insurance companies, and now, in my opinion, they were gatekeeping access. They told me I had to complete a 12-week lifestyle management step therapy program that included meal prep, exercise, and nutrition counseling before they would decide whether or not to cover the medication my physician had already prescribed.

It felt like fat shaming 102. Fat shaming 101 is when society tells you to eat less and exercise as if no other factors play into obesity. Fat shaming 102 is when your insurance company assumes you need preauthorization and their guidance via behavior modification before approving something your PCP has already approved, while continuing to collect customer premiums.

Fortunately, we are living in the information age, and one thing I’ve learned on my weight loss journey is that obesity is now recognized as a disease, not just a willpower issue. That shift helped me look at my situation differently. The American Medical Association has classified obesity as a disease, which means there are real biological factors involved, not just “eat less, move more.” As I started digging deeper, I came across experts like Dr. Robert Lustig and Dr. David Ludwig, who discuss how hormones, metabolism, and food processing impact weight in ways we don’t always control. The World Health Organization also recognizes obesity as a chronic condition that requires long-term support, not quick fixes, and that aligned with what I’ve been experiencing. Other professionals like Dr. Louis Aronne talk about GLP-1 medications as tools that help regulate hunger and metabolism, which explains why this feels so different from anything I’ve tried before.

After re-consulting with my physician, I was prescribed an alternative option through another company, and the cost was $200 less than my insurance co-pay. Affordability and access to essential medication became very real in that moment, a reality many of us in this country are familiar with. The idea that you might have to go into debt just to get healthy is real, and it is part of this story.

Finally, after filling my prescription, I became part of a community that understands what I have now come to know as food noise. This was the biggest shift for me, the absence of it. I wasn’t prepared for that. I could drive home and not think about what I was going to cook or where I was going to stop to grab something to eat. Food was no longer running the show in my thoughts or controlling them in that same impulsive, addictive way.

Instead, I started thinking about what foods I would eat, how I would meal prep, and how I could bring together all the best practices I’ve learned over the years into one aligned effort to support my weight loss. I thought about exercise and walking, which I was already doing five times per week. I thought about my protein intake and incorporating longevity-focused shakes from my fasting mimicking diet experience. I planned keto-style dinners and used protein bars and shakes as pre-selected convenience snacks to support my busy schedule. With the food noise reduced, I was finally able to engage with these other thoughts more effectively. I wasn’t reinventing the wheel, I was finally able to use it to move forward.

This journey isn’t just physical, it is mental too. I’m learning to check in with myself, not just my weight. That includes being open to support, whether that is a counselor, my doctor, or people in my life who genuinely support me. Having the right circle matters. Community, friends, and family who understand what you’re trying to do and don’t make it harder can make this feel sustainable rather than temporary. I texted my BFF when I saw progress during the first week, which also made me think about sharing. Some people say don’t share, others say do. For me, I share when I want to and I don’t when I don’t. There are no rules. Today, I’m sharing in case you are on your own journey too.

By the end of Week 1, I had started thinking about food differently. I returned to prepping my meals and adjusted my pantry to include snacks that support my lifestyle and goals. After sticking to my plan, I was down 8 pounds. Since the first 5 pounds are often water weight, that may realistically be closer to 2 pounds of fat loss. Still, it was meaningful progress and a strong source of motivation, and I will continue to share updates as I move foward.

What is working for me right now is structure, support, and strategy. It is not just about taking GLP1 and hoping for the best, but building a system around it. That includes prioritizing protein, staying consistent with hydration, and layering in successful strategies I have already used instead of starting over. Meal prep has made daily decisions easier, and I have maintained my exercise routine by continuing what I was already doing.

Some general takeaways from my first week is that the biggest shift so far has been the absence of food noise, and it has been profound. Also, I’ve realized that I didn’t need a completely new plan, I just need to combine what already worked for me. Next, when it comes to weight loss, it’s not just physical, it has a mental and emotional component as well, and seeking support matters. Preparation is more effective than relying on willpower alone, and having meals and snacks ready that align with my goals makes a difference. I am also learning from real-life examples around me, including friends and data, and recognizing that I don’t have to figure this out on my own. There is also a broader conversation to be had about the cost of and access to medications that can significantly impact people’s lives.

For now, I am sharing this as a way to process my journey in real time, on my own terms, when it feels right. Most importantly, I am focused on supporting my body, not just shrinking it.

– Ms. G.

References

American Medical Association. (2013). AMA adopts new policies on second day of voting at annual meeting. https://www.ama-assn.org/

Ludwig, D. S., & Ebbeling, C. B. (2018). The carbohydrate-insulin model of obesity: Beyond “calories in, calories out.” JAMA Internal Medicine, 178(8), 1098–1103. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.2933

Lustig, R. H. (2012). Fat chance: Beating the odds against sugar, processed food, obesity, and disease. Penguin Books.

World Health Organization. (2021). Obesity and overweight. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight

Aronne, L. J. (2021). Modern approaches to obesity treatment: GLP-1 receptor agonists and beyond. Obesity (Silver Spring), 29(Suppl 1), S1–S3. https://doi.org/10.1002/oby.23001