Women Share The Truth About Their GLP-1 Journeys

A Change of Plans

“I wrestled with the idea of going on a GLP-1 for quite some time. I have been about 50 pounds overweight for years and have seen so many women find success with Ozempic. I finally decided to bite the bullet and pay out of pocket. I was so excited! I lost 10 pounds in the first few weeks, but the side effects were awful. I felt nauseous, had heartburn, and all sorts of stomach problems; it really impacted my day-to-day energy and quality of life. I didn’t want to eat much because I felt so lousy, and I knew it wasn’t something I could tolerate long-term. After two months on the medication, I decided to call it quits, and yes, I gained back everything I lost pretty quickly. But today, I feel great and have found success with a medication called Contrave, which I take in pill form. It helps with food noise and binge eating, and I don’t have any side effects. It’s slightly cheaper, too.” — Nicole, 56, Rhode Island

Too Good to Be True

“As someone who wants to lose weight but doesn’t have diabetes [or other medical condition], my insurance won’t cover the medication. I struggle with food noise, joint pain makes it hard for me to exercise, and I am constantly trying every diet, only to fail in the end. I have spent hours online researching GLP-1s, compounded GLP-1s, microdosing, and more; I have visited all the many websites that advertise prices that seem too good to be true. It turns out the prices are indeed too good to be true, because the advertised rates are usually just for the first month. Unfortunately, because I can’t afford it, I’ve had to pass on this miracle weight loss drug, and it makes me a little upset, to be honest. It’s frustrating to know there’s something out there that actually works, but that it’s out of reach for me.” — Catherine, 55, Massachusetts

A New Way of Life

“I have been on Mounjaro for 3.5 years now — down 130 pounds. I first gained a lot of weight post-college when I developed hypothyroidism. As I managed that, I also lost a dear friend and, through grief and depression, gained more weight until I was my absolute heaviest and in the hospital with a diabetes diagnosis that was not under control. I spoke with my doctor about GLP-1s, and thankfully they were covered by my insurance. Within the first six months, my A1C had completely returned to normal, non-diabetic range. I joined a Reddit community to talk about progress and non-scale victories (first was airplane seatbelts and Broadway theater seats) but also side effects. For me, the pros greatly outweigh the cons. I’m active again, working with a trainer and doing all the hiking I love. The medication truly works in both a mental and physical way, and I feel like I’m fixing my relationship with food. I was also able to convince my dad to go on it, and it’s slowly lowering his A1C as well.” — Emily, 36, Pennsylvania

Of course, five brave and honest women can’t paint the whole picture — so do a little digging of your own. Research online, ask around in person, and, most importantly, talk to a medical professional who knows you. What’s clear is that these medications are changing lives for some women. And if there’s one thing we do know, girlfriends, it’s that life is short and goes by oh-so-fast, so we may as well do what we can to feel our best (inside and out) with the time we’ve got.

Are any of you on a GLP-1 journey? Let us know in the comments below.