Re: GLP-1 MEDS AND PLUS SIZE CLOTHING SALES

Dusty1 · ‎03-10-2010

@september I think there is plus sized clothing, which I interpret as people who are just bigger than average, and then there is plus-plus sized clothing, which I'd say is for people who are seriously overweight and unhealthy.

How do you get to judge who is "healthy" or to judge which is acceptable plus sized clothing & which is for lazy, fat, slobs?

I am fat & but I am not unhealthy.

I see my doctor regularly. I just saw her Monday. Had my checkup & all of my bloodwork done.

Would she & I like me to be less fat? Absolutely!!!!

Meanwhile I am not unhealthy.

I am not on medication, except an anti depressent that I have been on for 25 years.

I am not sitting on my couch drinking milk shakes & eating burgers & fries all day.

Life is hard enough for each of us without people making judgements about us based one uneducated comment or that fact that we wear plus sized clothing for overweight & unhealthy people.

If the world suddenly went blind people would be a lot less worried about looking "healthy".. No one cares about my health. They only want to make themselves feel better because they can fit into a smaller size pair of pants than I can.

It's so silly.

Everyone I know, seriously everyone, is paying for the shots. A lot of them can not afford those shots. My sister's best friend was supposed to get a breast biopsy 2 years ago & has not gotten it because she can't afford it. But she is paying for the shots so that she can be "healthier" & not be judged for being fat.

I have feelings about this subject, obviously.

Dusty1 · ‎03-10-2010

@smoochy What side effects did you have while you were on the shots?

I'm glad it worked for you & that you are doing so well.

smoochy · ‎03-10-2010

@Dusty1 wrote:
@smoochy What side effects did you have while you were on the shots?
I'm glad it worked for you & that you are doing so well.

thanks. When I bumped up to the middle dose I had a problem with diarrhea. That eventually went away and currently I don't have any side effects that im aware of

MICHIGAN STATE MOM

MarnieRez3 · ‎02-19-2015

@Puppy Lips
Ironically, GLP-1 meds have been used by diabetics for 20+ years with no serious long-term issues.
"What have you really accomplished?" is your question; obesity has been directly tied to 6 of the major cancers, heart disease and diabetes, so for many people, the shots represent a way to kick-start their weight loss journey and finally take off substantial amounts of weight and reduce their BMI. And, for me, it put an end to yo-yo dieting, which my doctor points out frequently, is actually more dangerous than being overweight.
You do not have to stay on a GLP-1 for the rest of your life, although continuing on a micro-dose is recommended for at least a few months after a substantial weight drop so as to avoid the cruel fate of your body returning to its "set point."
The key understanding with any medically-enhanced weight program is: if I return to my old eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, the weight will creep up again. Any overweight person will tell you there is nothing worse than working hard to take off weight, only to gain it all ba

back AND MORE once you come off a diet.
Fresh, healthy foods eaten in moderation, walking/exercising daily, drinking water, being part of a supportive social group and staying mentally strong are all part of the continuous maintenance program after coming off a GLP-1. These are not miracle drugs, but they are the most efficient and successful treatment for diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high BMI to be available during my lifetime.

smoochy · ‎03-10-2010

to the point about regaining the weight.. literally every person I have known over the years who had bariatric surgery, gained all the weight back and more.

Remember when that surgery was popular?

MICHIGAN STATE MOM

Puppy Lips · ‎05-09-2010

@MarnieRez3 wrote:
@Puppy Lips
Ironically, GLP-1 meds have been used by diabetics for 20+ years with no serious long-term issues.
"What have you really accomplished?" is your question; obesity has been directly tied to 6 of the major cancers, heart disease and diabetes, so for many people, the shots represent a way to kick-start their weight loss journey and finally take off substantial amounts of weight and reduce their BMI. And, for me, it put an end to yo-yo dieting, which my doctor points out frequently, is actually more dangerous than being overweight.
You do not have to stay on a GLP-1 for the rest of your life, although continuing on a micro-dose is recommended for at least a few months after a substantial weight drop so as to avoid the cruel fate of your body returning to its "set point."
The key understanding with any medically-enhanced weight program is: if I return to my old eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, the weight will creep up again. Any overweight person will tell you there is nothing worse than working hard to take off weight, only to gain it all ba

back AND MORE once you come off a diet.
Fresh, healthy foods eaten in moderation, walking/exercising daily, drinking water, being part of a supportive social group and staying mentally strong are all part of the continuous maintenance program after coming off a GLP-1. These are not miracle drugs, but they are the most efficient and successful treatment for diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure and high BMI to be available during my lifetime.

@MarnieRez3 Thank you for your response, and I do understand all that. I wonder though if there could be long term side effects for those using the drugs who DON'T have diabetes. I guess my other thought is that once the weight is off and you get off the drugs, you do have to continue eating less (and better). But if it was so easy (and it isn't), you could have lost the weight that way to begin with, without the drugs. I don't know much more about it, so I will leave it at that. I hope that those who use the drugs remain healthy and can keep the weight off. I have a few to lose myself, but I don't want to take the chance on those meds.

Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else. Margaret Mead

Deb213 · ‎05-27-2011

@MarnieRez3 wrote:
@smoochy
Can you believe how long we have been monitoring and obsessing about our weight?? My heart breaks for both of us. Yes, our models of beauty back in the day were thin and flat-chested with no curves whatsoever. I forgot about Carnation Instant Breakfast! Yes, that was a meal replacement for my sister and me too. Then we discovered the Cambridge diet shakes. It never ended.
I think if people really understood what it was like to be writing your weight in a high school diary followed by the word "fat!" or if they remember Karen Carpenter and her agonizing death from anorexia, or if they could have seen my sister and I obsessively counting carbs in our teens instead of having fun and enjoying our youth, they would not rush to judgment about GLP-1 medications. I am so grateful, as you, to be able to afford them and to have access to them. I know we speak for many others when we say they are life-changing.
Smooch, you absolutely nailed it when you wrote: "No wonder so many Baby Boomer women have spent our lives fighting with our bodies and mindsets around food." Amen, sister. That is my truth, your truth and the truth for SO MANY. I cry when I think how my life and the lives of many of my friends and my own sister would have been SO different if we didn't spend so much time worrying about our weight, trying to change our weight, envying other's weight and going up and down the scale in a futile attempt to LOOK a certain way.
Geneen Roth writes extensively about what we really lose in our endless quest to lose weight. My hope is that the next generation of young men and women have a clearer understanding of weight issues and the toll that yo-yo dieting takes on their bodies. I hope these medications becoming less expensive and the shame and judgements surrounding their use ceases.
Thank YOU for your honesty and raw, emotional candor. Keep the faith. Call out if you need a sister-in-arms. We'll ride at dawn. 💚

Love your posts, along with @smoochy, on this topic! I can so relate to the struggles that began early in life.

Without getting too personal, could either of you speak to the affordability issues? That is the only thing holding me back as the costs are prohibitive at this point, at least in my case. In your cases, were the costs covered by private insurance or are they all out of pocket? If they were covered by insurance, were you given your choice of GLP drug or were you limited to just a few? Do you know if they are covered by Medicare at this point? I thought I had read that Medicare would eventually cover them, but haven't seen anything on that to date. Any info re affordability that either of you can provide would be so helpful. Thanks!

MarnieRez3 · ‎02-19-2015

@Deb213
Thanks for your nice words. Sorry you have also had the weight struggle. We are in an exclusive club that only those that are members can fully understand.
Yes, to answer your question:
I had to pay completely out of pocket for my meds, solely because my own private insurance would only cover the cost of appetite suppressants, taken orally, which I had tried years ago and which made me absolutely nutty and prevented me from sleeping.
The cost was not an issue for me because I work full-time and I started on my shots a month after they announced the price was falling considerably for the injectables.
I am not on Medicare yet, but I do remember an announcement a while back that said Medicare would be covering the meds, but that may have been for diabetics only? I am not certain on that.
I used a company called Ro because my sister had used it as well and had had success with their doctors. The cost was roughly 500 to 600 a month; I also informed my primary physician I was going on a GLP-1 through a private company, and he has been checking my kidney, liver and glucose levels about every 6 months. I know there is a thyroid risk with some of the injectables, so I also have a thyroid panel done about every 6 months. (The bloodwork is not covered by my insurance plan, so I pay out of pocket for that as well.)
I know there is a new pill that delivers roughly the same results as the shots, but I am not familiar with the pricing. It is manufactured by Ely Lily.
If you have diabetes or you are pre-diabetic, if you have a very high A1C and/or sleep apnea, SOME insurance companies will apparently cover the weekly shots, but I was not that fortunate, neither was my sister.
Hope this helps. And I send you lots of support whatever decision you make. 💚

Deb213 · ‎05-27-2011

@MarnieRez3 wrote:
@Deb213
Thanks for your nice words. Sorry you have also had the weight struggle. We are in an exclusive club that only those that are members can fully understand.
Yes, to answer your question:
I had to pay completely out of pocket for my meds, solely because my own private insurance would only cover the cost of appetite suppressants, taken orally, which I had tried years ago and which made me absolutely nutty and prevented me from sleeping.
The cost was not an issue for me because I work full-time and I started on my shots a month after they announced the price was falling considerably for the injectables.
I am not on Medicare yet, but I do remember an announcement a while back that said Medicare would be covering the meds, but that may have been for diabetics only? I am not certain on that.
I used a company called Ro because my sister had used it as well and had had success with their doctors. The cost was roughly 500 to 600 a month; I also informed my primary physician I was going on a GLP-1 through a private company, and he has been checking my kidney, liver and glucose levels about every 6 months. I know there is a thyroid risk with some of the injectables, so I also have a thyroid panel done about every 6 months. (The bloodwork is not covered by my insurance plan, so I pay out of pocket for that as well.)
I know there is a new pill that delivers roughly the same results as the shots, but I am not familiar with the pricing. It is manufactured by Ely Lily.
If you have diabetes or you are pre-diabetic, if you have a very high A1C and/or sleep apnea, SOME insurance companies will apparently cover the weekly shots, but I was not that fortunate, neither was my sister.
Hope this helps. And I send you lots of support whatever decision you make. 💚

Thank you so much for your detailed response! That was great info and will help me very much when it comes to making decisons. Yes, we are a part of an exclusive club that many do not understand or sympathize with, unfortunately. It is good to know we are not alone though!

Congratulations to you on your success and I hope you continue to make progress. I have seen the commercials for Ro and I believe Serena Williams endorses it. She looks amazing! Good to know how the process works and the cost. Being retired, that will not fit into my budget as it stands right now. The pill available now is called Wegovy and the price seems to be lower, but is still expensive. I am hopeful that we will see these prices dropping eventually and the wait will not be too long. I am also hopeful that we will not have to have pre existing conditions down the road and can obtain them purely for weight loss alone. I am anxious to get started.

Thanks again for your kind words and all of the information that you provided. I know these things are very personal and private decisions and I really apprecate your openess and help!

MarnieRez3 · ‎02-19-2015

@Deb213
You are so welcome, friend!
Yes, I understand; the cost is huge and not available to everyone.
There is light at the end of the tunnel, though, because when the GLP-1 injections first became popular they were about 1,200 a month, so the price has fallen almost by half since then. I think they will definitely continue to decline in price; the demand amongst both women and men is increasing and there are organizations like Weight Watchers that are adding them to their offerings for weight management. When they were first popular (and only celebrities could obtain them and afford them), there was a shortage of Ozempic; now I think it is in full supply.
Sending you lots of support across the miles. 🩵 Thank YOU for reaching out. 😉