u/BlackorDewBerryPie — reddlx

As others with ADHD may know, sometimes you learn a skill via special interest and then it fades as a new dopamine source appears…and then years later you’re like “oh yeah I know how to do that” and sometimes it comes back as the current hobby of choice.

Well currently I am in my Embroidery Era, after a 20 year break - and it really is a nice thing to occupy my hands when I have to be on excruciating long conference calls.

Here’s the current project, might turn into an actual face or I might just keep adding to the eye. I ran out of some colors and will be getting more today (black, grey, and purple) to add more depth as I go.

I also have recently decided that I enjoy denim for these “in a meeting” projects, and I am lucky to have some old jeans that I could cut up!

We're all on different journeys in this group but I wanted to share where I am so far in mine.

I am, under doctor supervision, trying to lose over 100lbs. (See flair for details)

I have a myriad of medical issues that mean that traditional "move more eat less" wasn't working for me on it's own.

Very long story short: thyroid issues, PCOS, severe osteoarthritis, hypermobility, insulin resistance and then good ol' perimenopause all came together to make the last 5 years a roller coaster for my poor body. I gained over 80 lbs and for much of it was in constant chronic pain.

Let's also add in a needle phobia that meant I couldn't do the dang shots. (Boy did I try!)

So now I'm here, with the pill, on a medically supervised lower calorie diet. I work out with a trainer for an hour each week (since early 2022) and have been ramping up my general activity level since starting the pill thanks to the other benefits re: inflammation/pain.

Started the pill in late January, and as of this week I'm down 35 lbs.

I do an average of 1200 calories a day (again, closely monitored with a dietician and macro focused), and have been losing steadily an average of 1-2 lbs a week.

I wake up early to take the pill, then go back to bed for 2 hours to get max absorption.

I then take my daily thyroid meds and start my water/electrolyte routine. I average about 72 oz a day.

I don't get hungry for food until lunchtime, and I generally keep my lunch under 400 calories.

I also will do 1 or 2 snacks max 200 calories each, usually protein shakes or bars.

Dinner gets the majority of my calories, and I am currently doing a lot of one-pot meals like stir fry or stews where I can pack in lots of veg and protein easily.

Thanks to all my attempts in the past, my actual diet was never bad - but it was quantity and other medical issues that meant it didn't matter. The pill has been a lifesaver for me. As an adult, I had lost the ability to feel full/sated. I would just eat until it hurt. Hey, turns out, that's not what being full is? That's just binging. Even if its "healthy" food. Now my body actually tells me when I'm done and I can stop after a normal portion. AMAZING.

Food noise is gone, I no longer spend time thinking about my next meal or having weird cravings. Once I'm full, I feel full/not hungry for hours!

I also no longer get weird blood sugar spikes/valleys - because not only is my overall nutrition better, but I no longer have as much weird insulin resistance.

Also I was living with chronic pain and inflammation that is now almost all gone! I can move without it hurting, and I don't immediately tire out because everything isn't sore all the time. Getting up from sitting down is no longer a Production where things are stiff and I have to heave myself - even before I lost any of the weight, I noticed I could just....move?! Because I wanted to?? MADNESS.

My takeaway from all of this is that it feels like I am example of the exact population this medication is meant to help. My body has responded so positively - no nausea, no headaches, etc. I am still losing weight several months in. Makes me think that my body, much as it has in other areas, needed this hormone boost/agonist to help it function as expected. I think of it like my thyroid or allergy meds.

I am about to start the 25mg this week (my doctor wants me on the therapeutic dose), and I am feeling optimistic. If I stay on the same trajectory I will lose the 100 lbs my doctor wants me to in about a year. She actually would prefer if I lost close to 150, but I feel like 100 is already a big enough goal for now.

And hey, I made it to 35lbs down. I just need to do that like 2 more times....