The weight loss wonder drug has finally arrived.
Today I begin my sixth week on the injectable GLP-1 medication Zepbound, and I suspect many of you are wondering what all the excitement is about. Is this the latest bottle of snake oil? Is it dangerous? Is it another overhyped medical fad? I hope my experience helps answer some of those questions.
My healthcare comes through the Veterans Administration. Free medical care for life was part of the compensation package Uncle Sam handed me when he drafted me into military service many years ago. As I’ve gotten older, I have to admit the government has kept its promise in a big way.
Age eventually sends everyone a bill. Mine arrived in the form of heart and kidney issues that require careful attention. Yes, I’m overweight, but my physicians were actually more interested in the cardiovascular and metabolic benefits of this medication. The weight loss was simply the icing on the cake. Ironically, I’m not very interested in cake anymore.
The treatment is simple. Once each week I give myself a tiny subcutaneous injection in my abdomen. If you’re imagining some medieval torture device, forget it. The injector is brilliantly designed. The needle is so small that I honestly can’t even feel it. I’ve had mosquito bites that were more dramatic.
The results have been astonishing.
Without dieting… without feeling deprived… and without spending my days fantasizing about food, I’m losing about 1.5 pounds every week.
Now comes the part that almost seems unbelievable.
I’ve always loved great food. A thick ribeye steak, a lobster dinner, Chicago deep dish pizza, and far too much Sprite were old friends of mine. Today? Those friends barely get a second glance.
The strangest part isn’t that I can’t eat much. It’s that I simply don’t care.
A single hard-boiled egg satisfies me. A bowl of chicken noodle soup feels like a complete meal. I can’t even finish a modest Quarter Pounder anymore. If I make the mistake of eating dessert first, there’s no room left for the protein, so now the chicken, fish, or meat comes first.
Who would have imagined I’d become the guy preaching protein before dessert?
Even my grocery cart has undergone witness protection. The mountains of food I once bought have disappeared. I’m actually spending less money at the supermarket. And for reasons I still can’t explain, I’ve developed a surprising appreciation for tomato juice. No sugar, very few calories, and yes, probably too much salt. Fortunately, sodium isn’t a problem for me.
Yesterday I ordered a small bowl of chili for lunch. Three tablespoons later, I was finished. The rest went untouched. That’s something the old me would have considered a criminal offense.
I still enjoy chocolate, but only a small piece. That’s enough.
For someone who once believed the refrigerator should always be fully stocked “just in case,” this is an entirely new world. Hunger no longer calls the shots. Food has gone from being entertainment to simply being fuel.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of all is this. I have experienced no negative side effects whatsoever. Everyone responds differently, but in my case the transition has been remarkably smooth.
GLP-1 medications are not experimental miracle potions. These drugs have been studied extensively and have been used successfully for years. They are serious medications that deserve serious medical supervision.
So if you’re considering one of these treatments, don’t listen to internet rumors or miracle cure salesmen. Have an honest conversation with your physician. If your doctor believes it’s appropriate, you may discover, as I have, that the biggest change isn’t just the number on the scale.
It’s realizing that, for the first time in decades, your stomach is no longer running your life.
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