One year ago, that’s how long it has been. It’s hard to believe that I reached a point when I threw in the towel, knuckled under, threw up my hands, cried uncle…all of those phrases that indicate someone quits, caves, gives up. But did I really?
On February 17, 2025, I began a health journey on a GLP1. Que the judgement. Trust me, I’ve heard it all – or at least it feels like I have. That’s the reason for this post, to address the reality of being on a journey to control your health and lose weight utilizing a GLP1 as a tool. Swallowing the judgment and continuing to push forward in the knowledge that no one walks in your shoes (literally). No one has any idea how many miles you put on a pair of tennis shoes in the five years prior to starting this new direction, while you continued to struggle to keep off that 20 pounds that you lost.
I went through all the questions. Why do I need this tool? Why can’t I just keep going and take the next five years to lose another chunk of weight? What are the long terms benefits? What will my family and friends think or should I tell them? I’m a fairly transparent person. I’m generally not afraid to talk about my life journey, the ups and downs (mostly ups), and love to hear from other folks about their journeys. This, however, felt different to me. Back to paragraph one…….admitting failure? What was the turning factor to lead me down the GLP1 road?
A visit to a new PA, another yearly blood test results with an A1C that was creeping up, getting older (I mean, we are all getting older), and a letter from my husband’s company that because they now see the verified health benefits research they would begin covering needed GLP1 medications in 2025. Yet, I was still unsure. Hear me when I tell you that making a leap to completely change the way you’ve approached your health and weight your entire life isn’t easy or to be taken lightly. Prayer, lots of prayer, and then like with most things in life, I pushed forward.
Let me address how a GLP1 is the “easy” way to lose weight. NOPE, NOT EVEN CLOSE!
If someone asks you how much protein you should consume in a day to preserve muscle while losing weight, could you answer that question without researching? If someone asks you how many steps you need while trying to lose weight would you give them the 10,000 per day response? If someone asks you whether you need to never eat carbs or sugar on your weight loss journey, or how much fiber you have to consume each day to preserve your gut health, or what is your calorie deficit…..you get the picture.
After a year on a GLP1 I can answer those questions (and many, many more) because regardless of what people around you think, a GLP1 isn’t a magic fix. It isn’t a magic bean that will just drop the weight and allow you to keep it off. It’s a lot of hard work – if you need to verify this just ask my husband, kids and grandson. What can Nana eat, is that restaurant okay, can we get ice cream today (always, even if I only have two bites – that’s the tradeoff)? My family is amazing!
I’ve felt the judgment from the outside (not from my family) since I began my journey and it’s made me uber aware of my own shortcomings of judgment for those around me. Yes, it’s difficult to hear someone that weighs so many pounds less than you ever have say that they are fat, that they can’t lose that ten pounds that’s troubling them, but that is their journey and that ten pounds is just as difficult for them as the 50+ is for me.
Here’s what I’ve learned in the last twelve months:
- I know how much protein I need each day to keep moving forward.
- I know that there are times when I don’t want to see another protein shake or an egg.
- I know that when your nutrition changes….so does your hair (and it sucks).
- I know that I have to exercise but that I can’t destroy my self-esteem when I don’t.
- I know that the 10,000 steps per day isn’t a one size fits all – that’s a myth.
- I know that being obsessive about all of the above is terrible for your mental health.
- I know that being creative with recipes is a lot of work but worth the time.
- I know that there are days that I don’t feel like I can eat anything but I have to eat, we all have to eat.
- I know that each pound lost is a success.
- I know that losing slower is absolutely okay.
- I know that a GLP1 is but a tool in the toolbox – a great one, in my opinion.
- I KNOW that losing weight creates health benefits.
- ONE YEAR OUT, I know that losing 48 1/2 pounds is a success, even if I want/need to lose more.
I was speared to write about my journey when someone in our church approached me and asked if I had lost weight and how good I look. She then shared that she, too, is on a GLP1 journey – because after two bouts of breast cancer she needed a different way to approach her health. You never know what someone else is walking through. I’m grateful for her words and her sharing her story with me, and I wish her well on her journey.
My advice (you knew this was coming) to those who are losing, those who need to lose and those who are fine just like they are. Be honest with yourself. Never be afraid to ask questions, to learn new ways, to stretch your daily intake (information and food). Be mindful of what you say to people about their health journeys. You haven’t walked in their Sketchers or Brooks. Don’t be afraid to compliment people if you see that they’re on a journey. It’s helpful to have someone say in a kind way, without judgment, that you’ve lost pounds or that you look great. Don’t compare yourself to them, or anyone else, it serves no purpose. Pray, and then pray some more.
To my family, thanks for putting up with this journey. I know that it’s not easy when I’m so mindful of what I can eat today (or tomorrow) but I will always be able to find something on any menu! We all have to approach our health from our own mindset but we know that we have to address it. None of it is easy work but we have so many things to do together! I want to be able to hike the mountains and enjoy all the crazy adventures. My sister travel is important and this babiest has to be able to carry the bags, chauffeur, etc, someone has to be in charge! I am terribly grateful for the support you’ve all shown me over the last year – I could not – cannot – walk this path without your support (near and far).
And we enter year two…..adventures, here we come!
Nana Reflections 