Global Courant 2023-04-15 14:00:00
Staci Rice before and after semaglutide.Staci Rice
Staci Rice had tried all sorts of fad diets before trying semaglutide for weight loss.
It has been a “miracle” for Rice, who hopes to endure it long term.
Rice said the drug got rid of the “food noise” in her head, as well as her cravings.
Staci Rice had tried “every diet out there” before she started taking the new one breakthrough weight loss drug semaglutide.
Rice, 40, who lives in Gray, Georgia, would try a different diet every spring before a beach vacation. But one day she saw an ad for semaglutide while scrolling Facebook and noticed it was cheaper than previous weight loss plans she had tried.
Semaglutide, which suppresses appetite, was originally developed for diabetes and sold as Ozempic, but was FDA-approved for weight loss in 2021 under the name Wegovy.
A hype has quickly developed around the drug, which has led to shortages And rumored to be used by celebrities. Semaglutide isn’t cheap, costing up to $1,300 a month, which is why some people have turned to compound versions of the drug despite the potential risks.
Although many people have had positive experiences with semaglutide, some people say the side effectssuch as nausea and constipation, were severe enough that they had to stop.
When Rice bought compound semaglutide from a nurse at a weight-loss clinic, she thought she’d only take it for a short time until after her vacation (she usually stopped dieting then), but decided to keep going.
Rice lost 62 pounds in the eight months after she started taking it in May 2022. In January 2023, she shifted her focus to maintenance and started injecting semaglutide every 10 days instead of weekly, she said. Her appetite has returned a bit, but she has managed to maintain her weight.
Rice hopes to further reduce the frequency of the injections, but never wants to stop taking the medication, she said.
“I’m really looking forward to it being long term, because I know myself and my habits, and if I don’t have anything like that, then I’m going to put the weight back on,” said Rice.
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After years of fad diets, those health experts warn against, Rice said semaglutide has been a game-changer because she hasn’t removed any food groups and doesn’t feel deprived. She hasn’t changed her diet, just eating smaller portions of what she ate before. The smaller portions also mean she saves money on groceries, she said.
For her, the investment is worth it.
“Semaglutide has changed my life and I hope it will be there forever,” Rice said. “It’s been a miracle for me.”
Rice’s “food sound” disappeared on semaglutide
Staci Rice lost 62 pounds in eight months.Staci Rice
Rice didn’t immediately notice a difference in how she felt when she started taking semaglutide, but she did develop a dry mouth that didn’t go away when she drank water and a bloated abdomen, as well as some nausea and fatigue, she said.
Her weight fluctuated for a while, which was frustrating, but by month three she was eating much smaller portions, she said.
“The food noise was gone,” Rice said.
As she woke up with a sugar craving, all her cravings and desire to snack are goneshe said.
Rice is now ordering kids meals
Now when Rice goes out to eat, she orders a kid’s meal or takes her leftovers to go and gets another, if not two, meals out of it, she said. Rice now also prefers healthier foods and tries to eat enough to keep her energy up.
She also takes multivitamins to make sure she gets all the nutrients she needs while eating less.
Rice never exercised because she didn’t enjoy it and had knee pain from an injury. But she’s noticed the inflammation has decreased since she lost weight, and she now enjoys exercise more, she said. For the first time in three years, Rice managed to run after her dog.
In addition to a smaller appetite, rice is also included users who have noticed that they no longer have the urge to drink on semaglutide. She drank alcohol only occasionally, but no longer craves it at all.
Rice shared her journey TikTok and is surprised by her own confidence to do so.
“I used to feel like nobody,” Rice said. “But now my confidence is sky-high. I can stand up and speak in front of people, and that’s a huge thing for me.”
Read the original article Insider
