It seems unreal to me that I am on week 34 of taking Ozempic.
I started this journey with the hopes that I could control my glucose levels, along with lose a little bit of weight. Both of those things have happened.
If you would like to read about my journey from the beginning, click here.
This blog post is specifically about how week 34 went while taking Ozempic.
Side Effects:
I have mentioned in the past that during some weeks, the nausea and feeling of fullness are more pronounced than other times. What occurred to me this past week is that maybe it’s a combination of eating different foods, along with just being ‘used to’ the nausea that is actually happening.
There were a few mornings recently when I realized I didn’t really want to eat due to the feeling that I may get sick if I did so. However, if I was just going about my morning routine without the thought of food, I was okay. Basically, if I didn’t try to push myself to eat, my stomach was fine.
I have also learned on this journey that I will generally need a ‘take-home’ box for leftovers if I go out to eat somewhere. This was rarely the case prior to my taking Ozempic.
My husband, Brian, and I went to a Mexican restaurant a few days ago. I ordered a burrito, while he had a steak fajita. The first thing I did when my meal came, was to cut the burrito in half. Early on in my journey with Ozempic, I would have believed without a doubt that I would finish the burrito and be fine.
I know better now.
I finished the first half, but honestly, I could have ate less than that. My stomach was full a third of the way into the meal. I boxed up the rest and Brian ended up finishing it that evening.
My mindset is changing as far as how much I can eat at one time. I’m definitely making progress from where I was at when I first started taking Ozempic, but I’m still not to where I need to be with my understanding of food amounts and what I can and can’t eat while on the medicine.
Sugar Levels:
Well….mostly my glucose levels have been fine.
My morning levels continue to be in the low to mid 100’s, while my evening levels are typically below 200.
My issue this past week has been strawberry freezer jam. (If you would like to read my Mother’s Day post about making strawberry jam, click here.)
I learned this past week that four cups of sugar are mixed with two cups of crushed berries to make a 2 1/2 to 3 pints of pure goodness.
That’s a lot of sugar.
I have had zero will-power when it comes to jam sandwiches this past week. Honestly, I just had a sandwich for lunch. It was amazing. I also just checked my sugar. My number was 234 about 45 minutes after I finished the sandwich. It’s one of the higher numbers I have seen in awhile.
Moral of week 34: If I behave somewhat, sugar levels are completely manageable. Eating strawberry jam daily is not a way to control glucose levels, even while taking Ozempic.
Weight Loss:
When weigh-in day arrived, I stepped on the scale apprehensively.
I’ve had this back and forth relationship with the scale lately. One week I lose, another week I gain, and it just seems to keep that same pattern.
This week, however, I didn’t gain nor lose – I stayed the exact same.
I know what I did (or didn’t do) to make it so that I didn’t lose any weight this week. The jam sandwiches were a factor, as were sweet potatoes, and cheeseburgers.
No weight gain is a small victory.
- Week 1: -4.5 lbs
- Week 2: –1.5 lbs
- Week 3: -1 lb
- Week 4: -2.8 lbs
- Week 5: -1.6 lbs
- Week 6: +1 lb
- Week 7: +1 lb
- Week 8: +/- 0 lbs
- Week 9-11: – Didn’t Weigh In
- Week 12: -3 lbs
- Week 14: -3.4 lbs
- Week 15: -1.4 lbs
- Week 16: -2 lbs
- Week 17: +1 lb
- Week 18: -0.8 lb
- Week 19: -2 lb
- Week 20: -1.4 lbs
- Week 21: + 1.2 lbs
- Week 22: Didn’t Weigh In
- Week 23: -1.6 lbs
- Week 24: -1 lb
- Week 25: -1.2 lbs
- Week 26: +0.8 lbs
- Week 27: Didn’t Weigh In
- Week 28: +1.2 lbs
- Week 29: -1 lb
- Week 30: Didn’t Weigh In
- Week 31: -1.4
- Week 32: Didn’t Weigh In
- Week 33: +1 lb
- Week 34: +/- 0 lbs
- Total Lost: -24.4 lbs
Summer Days are Almost Here
I am looking forward to quiet summer days and evenings. I teach elementary school, and while I love my job, I’m looking forward to spending more time writing and just being outside.
This will be my first summer since starting Ozempic. While I am not to my goal of losing 40 pounds, I am still 25 pounds lighter than I was in the fall when I first began this journey.
My clothes are much loser and it’s easier to move around compared to 8 months ago.
I still have a ways to go, but I’m happier and healthier than I have been in a long time.
Ozempic has been a game-changer for me.
Goals for Today:
- Go For a Walk
- Plant Flowers
- Stay Away from Strawberry Freezer Jam