My Journey in OZ

Super excited you are here! So many questions come up in the group, but one of the most frequently asked questions people seem to ask is advice for just starting out.

This is only what helped me in the beginning, I am not a medical professional, just a regular person that has been on OZ for over a year now. Please make sure you are working with YOUR doctor, to map out your best path for success! This is just too long to type out in the comments each time, so I wanted to write it here. Again, this is only my personal experience. I started Ozempic in January of 2022 and to date (Jan 2023), I have lost 45 pounds.

1. Notes. Take note of everything you are eat, feel, etc. I had no idea how important this was, so I stress it a lot. Whether you get a journal, or write everything down in a notebook everyday, keep that information logged! What I found helpful was meals/side effects felt/mood/water/and whether I pooped! Sounds super weird but one of the side effects for me was/is constipation, so I need to remember with certainty when my bathroom trips take place. This is so helpful to piece together patterns (this food made me sick, or I got a headache the day after my injection). When it comes time to follow up with your doctor, you have a handy journal or notebook with all the information and/or concerns that you have. You can find a whole other article about the journal that I use on the homepage if you are interested.
2. Constipation. Yes, it was a battle for me. Still is! I tried it all, and on the group, there are many wonderful suggestions for products that people have been successful with. What finally got it under control for me was a cereal called All Bran: Bran Buds. You can find it on the bottom shelf of the cereal aisle at Walmart. It’s around $5 a box. You will get 61% of your daily fiber in a half a cup. That mixed with Raisin Bran has been amazing. I liked the idea of a bran cereal, more than taking a laxative pill etc. But again, just personal preference, we are all going to respond differently to different things.
3. Water. Drink PLENTY of water! Don’t fill up on a bunch of fiber if you don’t want to drink that water to keep stuff moving along. Again, consult with your doctor on what works best for you, but I aim for at least 64 -80 ounces a day.
4. Injection Day. I never had super horrible side effects, but I do get headaches the day after. They have gotten ALOT better the longer I have been on it, but they were pretty brutal in the beginning. I also experienced ALOT of fatigue for the first 2 months. Because of this, I always did my injection the day before I was off work. I would also do it in the morning so that I could make it home in case of any evening side effects. That never happened though, mine always started the next day.
5. Which brings me to my final tip – Side Effects. Talk about ANY side effects with YOUR doctor. This one actually scares me. So many times, I have seen people post in groups asking if they should go to the hospital, or if the pain they are experiencing is serious. Only your doctor or medical professional can answer this. If you experience any pain, or just any feeling of unwell, please consult your doctor and your doctor only. Not Facebook groups. Our group is 100% not a place for medical advice, it’s strictly to share our experiences and encourage one another with what has worked best for us.

Best of luck on your journey, the group is here to cheer you on, so please share status updates with everyone!

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One year and 40 pounds off my body! Although my weight loss on OZ hasn’t seemed to be as fast as I happily imagined, I am proud of my results! Prior to starting this medicine, I was gaining and losing the same 7 pounds over and over and over. Since 2019!

One of the tools I’ve used consistently over the past year is a journal. I think it’s been interesting to look back and see how far I have come! Journals are important, but especially for people on these types of medicines. First, there are various side effects (I’m looking at you heartburn at 3AM!), and things to keep track of (when did I poop last?). Sounds silly, but when you have a journal, you can connect the dots of your journey.

My Food & Fitness Journal – $9.99 Amazon

This is my absolute favorite journal! It was designed specifically for Friends of Oz! It tracks food, measurements, weight, exercise, injection site, poop, steps, and loads more! AND it’s a hefty 8.5×11 sized book, so there’s plenty of room for notes!

With a spot for weekly measurements, you can easily track your progress throughout your weight loss journey. This journal also provides a place for the date, your dosage, and the injection site. This has been so helpful for me! So many times, I forgot the date that I took my injection and had to refer back to my journal.

Scroll through the photos above to see what your daily journaling looks like. With lots of room to track all your food, you can also track side effects on the very next page. This has helped me figure out what foods work best, and which ones have given me side effects that were so bad, I couldn’t eat them again (hi onions!).

More journals will be added to this post as I find them and try them out. If you have a great one that you use, please let me know in the comments below!

Best of luck on your journey!

Allie

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