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Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

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Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#741

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't know that there's a consensus on what the limit really is. Semaglutide is good for about 15%, tirzepatide about 20%, and retatrutide about 25%. Some people don't get that much, some people get a lot more. Personally, tirzepatide got me just over 35%. I never got anywhere near max dose, either, I am what is colloquially referred to as a super responder.

Sorry for personal questions please answer any OR none as you feel comfortable 1) How is your energy/stamina following the 35% loss 2) Have you done any dexascans/bodyspecs to measure your lean mass percentage before and after your loss 3) Did you take any steps to reduce the muscle loss? 4) with 35% loss, what BMI are you at?

I also lost 35% body mass, from 318-208 today. It took from September 2024 to beginning of January 2026.

1) amazing, I can actually do things now. I didn’t realize how much I was resting and just not doing anything around the house. I managed to do my work with stimulants but that’s about it.

2) I did a scan and am currently around 110% for with 100% being the baseline for the average male my age, for my muscle mass. I did lose more muscle mass in the 230-210 loss than most of the previous, but I think that’s because I couldn’t ride my bike everywhere as it’s winter time. I had to chug protein shakes while losing weight and do physical therapy for a few body parts, especially my hip and my shoulders as they were easy to hurt. Going to the gym regularly solved this long term.

3) I guess I answered question 2

4) I’m now 27.1 BMI, although my percent body fat is only 18.9%, so I’m not concerned about the number since I have access to a body scanner and can see I’m fine. My visceral fat levels have dropped below concerning levels, which is great.

I also sleep way better, and the heartburn I thought was just a part of life went from “literally every day” to “once or twice a year, and only if I do something I shouldn’t have”.

I was also way more aggressive about just going to the dose and hit 15mg in April of 2025, and have stayed there. I might go for another 10 pounds mostly out of vanity.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#743

> Notably, about one-third of users stopped taking the medication during the study period. This isn't always the patient's choice—my insurance/PBM (CVS Caremark) dropped coverage for the GLP-1 that I was taking (Zepbound) and had several rounds of prior-authorization shenanigans over a few months before they approved the previous-generation GLP-1, Wegovy. Now I've had to start the ramp-up of a different medication ag…

I got a sleep apnea diagnosis so have that in my back pocket if they try to push me off Zepbound. I also had substantial mental health and physical side effects (like crying hysterically at 3am in the bathroom while vomiting) from that drug that I made sure my doctor documented.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#744
post #739

For Ozempic to "change the foods Americans buy". Just how many Americans are on Ozempic?

Not enough! Every time I see an overweight person now (I lost 110 pounds), I want to suggest it. I convinced my sister to try it, and she’s shedding lots of weight!

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#745

Earlier quoted context omitted.

that’s the dirty secret. once you start this drug you basically need to be on it for life. I mean, you _can_ get off it, but studies show the effects reverse pretty quickly. Crucially, if you decide to get off of the drug, you’ll likely end up in a worse position than you started. Why? Many Ozempic patients lose some bone density. That can be an issue as you age. So if you get off the drug, your food habits revert to…

> Ozempic reduces your bone density We should be clear here - bone density loss is not something intrinsic to ozempic, it has to do with your rate of weight loss, exercise and dietary habits, etc. It is entirely possible for someone to modify their diet, lift weights, etc., while on ozempic and gain bone mineral density. But if you don't do those things and just lose a bunch of weight really fast, you're going to los…

Ozempic: Weight loss at a breakneck pace.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#747
post #671

> It's insane to me that so many people need these to get off the processed foods killing them in the US The American diet is insane, full stop. However, I've just begun a GLP-1 regimen to address a willpower problem, not a nutritional problem. I'm not quite young anymore and have given lots of other approaches a shot over the years, but have persistently failed to achieve a weight that is not a threat to my health.…

Alcohol is no joke. It can take hold of families and persist for generations. Kudos to you!

> Alcohol is no joke.

I never got this, other than seeing it's hard for others. So in that sense I agree. I've seen the effects on others and how hard it is to quit. That's no joke indeed.

I just don't get why I find it quite easy to stop drinking for a year (or longer). While I haven't been able to stop for life, doing those yearly challenges is relatively easy, for me.

If I'd be a normal person then that's whatever. But I say this I say this as a person whose whole family consists of alcoholics. Genetically, I have to have an addictive personality. Yet, I find myself I can easily not be addicted by substances.

What I find harder:

* YouTube (I recently have been able to stave off a social media addiction but YouTube specifically is tougher)

* Coffee

Maybe I should make a blog post. Throw in my 2 cents. While anecdata is anecdata, if it helps one person it'd be a good thing.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#748

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Processed foods are much cheaper per calorie than "healthy" options. GLP-1 helped me kick my cravings for junk food, but that just meant I was eating more of the "expensive" stuff. Instead of $0.50 worth of Doritos as a snack, I'm eating $1.50 worth of Greek yogurt and $1.50 worth of fruit.

No this is the most repeated and most incorrect thing in the whole debate about food. More than a billion asians eat nutritious, cheap and calorie-balanced meals every day, unprocessed. Staples like legumes and rice don't cost much and are very nutritious. And supplementing with moderate amounts of seasonal fruits and vegetables and moderate animal protein is still very affordable and healthy. A kilo of (dry) legumes…

This is the kind of thing that looks good on paper but then breaks down when you try it.

If you are seriously comparing the attractiveness of “legumes” (what legume and recipe is that?) with the attractiveness of Doritos I don’t know what to tell you.

If you cook something that is nearly as attractive as ultra processed foods, the price skyrockets.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#749
post #731

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ve lost 110 pounds on Zepbound and still absolutely love food. My relationship has changed with it substantially, though. I used to feel a strong urge to eat, often, and anything I could shovel down. I felt like I literally could never eat enough. I had terrible heartburn all the time. I’d eat a box of zebra cakes on the way home from the store. Something was very wrong with me. Right now I’m enjoying a homemade ma…

That's great it works for you. I was basing my comment on an article from a German newspaper that cites an obesity researcher who said that lost pleasure from eating is a major reason people quit: https://archive.ph/UnjMe The evidence still appears anecdotal. They don't cite any studies that bear this out.

Most people quit, because it doesn't work:

https://www.theguardian.com/wellness/2025/aug/14/ozempic-wei...

I hoped it will finally shut up those stuck on the dogma, but it seems the denial is far too strong, and nothing will change.

And yes, it is a dogma, because no kind of evidence no matter how strong makes people like you reconsider.

Re: Ozempic is changing the foods Americans buy

#750

> Yogurt rose the most, followed by fresh fruit, nutrition bars and meat snacks. I would guess that this is because people are replacing full-blown meals with smaller snacks. The meat snacks is probably because people are warned about losing muscle mass. Perhaps this affects yogurt consumption as well. > Notably, about one-third of users stopped taking the medication during the study period. This seems pretty high co…

I get a lot of side effects on it, and during those side effects, yoghurt is about all I can stomach.
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