When I returned from my third overseas trip this year in August, just four days later, I started a diet with the help of Ozempic & exercise. The weight seemed to be falling off, and in less than 3 weeks, I lost approximately 7 kgs.
However, I soon started feeling unwell. The combination of Ozempic, ADHD medication, lack of sleep (only 5 to 6 hours per night), and insufficient nutrients was taking a toll on my health. I joined a Facebook group for Ozempic users in Australia and the reviews were mixed; some had little to no side effects and others, like me were feeling sluggish, nauseous, irritable, tired, and moody.
Whilst on the Ozempic I didn’t feel like myself at all.
Despite all of this, the numbers on the scale that were lower than what I’ve seen in a very long time kept me motivated to continue with this dangerous & unhealthy weight loss plan.
During a 4-day family cruise to Moreton Island over the October long weekend, I had no choice but to stop obsessively weighing myself twice a day, and I also put the Ozempic on hold.
It was during this time that I realized how much I needed a break from these habits, the constant weigh-ins, obsessing over calories and logging daily meals were getting out of hand and as one of my children mentioned my behavior was becoming borderline compulsive.
As I write this, it has now been one month since I stopped taking Ozempic, and I’ll be honest, I was afraid that the weight would creep back or that I wouldn’t be able to lose any further weight.
However, I have managed to maintain my progress & even continue with my weight loss journey. I have made significant changes to my eating habits, started taking supplements, walking daily, working with a personal trainer, going to the gym 3-4 times per week, drinking more water, and aiming to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night. Additionally, I see a chiropractor & get treated to weekly massages by a close friend who has recently become certified as a massage therapist and practices lymphatic massage and deep tissue massages on me. My current self-care plan is more than what I’ve ever done to take care of my body, mind and spirit.
It feels incredible to drop dress sizes and wear clothes from my wardrobe that were once too tight and are now currently loose; last year I purchased a Halloween dress online that was too tight therefore I wasn’t able to wear it so I made sure to wear it last week knowing that next Halloween it will definitely be too big.
Every so often someone notices the changes and compliments me as I walk past them, this feels both empowering and surreal.
Every work day, I embark on a 25-minute walk during my 30-minute lunch break, and one of my colleagues cheers me on, calling out “You go, girl!” as I pass her workstation. I don’t think I’ve ever received this type of encouragement before, & it truly boosts my confidence.
I am determined to reach my goal of losing a total of 20kg by December 31st 2023, and surprisingly, I have already set my next goal for the next four months, which will be my April 2024 goal.
Overall, this journey feels amazing, and I am excited to continue on this path of self-improvement.
The Patty project 
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