I started taking GLP1 drugs about 2 years ago because I went into heart failure. GLP1 drugs are now also used for certain types of heart failure, and I had a type that responded to it. When I started the GLP1 drugs, I weighed around 200lbs. I am now stable at around 155. I have had a similar experience as PedroPero, in that there is an almost complete lack of “food noise”, and that eating can literally be a chore sometimes because I am not hungry, and eating sometimes produces really severe heartburn, aka GERD, that is unrelenting at times. I also went from being a social drinker to having no desire for alcohol at all…I have no desire for its effects, and it induces heartburn like crazy.
It’s really odd not having any food noise…after a life time of loving to cook, collecting cookbooks, and eating foods all over the world. I’m still interested in the culture of food, but I just don’t want to eat it that often. What I also notice in taking the meds is early satiety…as much as I want to eat more, I simply feel uncomfortably full after a small portion. The injectable GLP1 drugs are taken weekly. I can actually feel the desire to eat more come back as the week wears on and it’s time to inject again. The same is true for the side effects…I have my worst heartburn symptoms in the days immediately after an injection.
I think the term “food noise” is the most apt. The feelings, the thoughts, the cravings, the hunger simply is gone. If you get philosophical about it, it can sound depressing, but enough of the desire is there that I am still here on HO, I still collect and read cookbooks, and still enjoy cooking…I just don’t want to eat as much.
I never had a weight problem until Covid closed my gym, then I went from 218 or so to 244 over a couple years. When the gym opened back up, my workouts were no longer enough to keep the weight off. I was at the gym the same amount of days as before Covid but the intensity was lacking. I went into afib and was having a hard time doing basic stuff.
A year and a half ago (?) i started taking Ozempic and bought a Peloton. Between the two of them I got back below 220, though with a lot of loss of muscle. I miss lifting weights, a lot, but other things have sprung up that make lifting problematic.
But in 18 months or so I have used 6 pens and it has changed my life for the better. I hope that I can get past the point where I need Ozempic to keep the weight off but I will use it if the weight starts coming back.
I think the “food noise” that changed for me was simply reducing my satiation point, as Wabi noted. I used to eat a lot in each of my 4 meals. Now I eat a moderate amount at my 4 meals/snacks. One of the biggest things that has helped me is that I threw out all of my old 16 ounce tupperware containers and bought 12 ounce containers. I prepare a lot of food in advance, freeze it and then cook it in the microwave. I always told myself to fill the 16 ounce containers 3/4 of the way but always filled them more. Not having the option helped me with portion control and Ozempic helped me to stop raiding the fridge after lunch or dinner.
Thank you so much for sharing your personal experience with us, which is very similar to what I hear from friends. It’s always strange to me when people with absolutely zero first- or even secondhand knowledge about the topic feel the need to chime in, based on nothing but their Very Strong Opinions about it.
Most of the people I know had / have to be on these meds for various health reasons, but a few “just wanted to drop those last 10, 20, 30 lbs” and are pretty torn about their ‘success’ on one hand — i.e. finally adhering to random beauty standards society has decided on (mostly for women, of course), and what you describe: indigestion or nausea, practically having to force-feed themselves, and when they do, barely enjoying what they eat. But as the dumb-ass saying goes “nothing tastes as good as being skinny feels” or some such nonsense
I am glad that it’s working for you, and that you can still enjoy eating the foods you like. Quantity isn’t nearly as important as the pleasure of taste, texture, aroma, etc.
@wabi A friend of mine has a similar reaction to her GLP injections. She started taking them a few years ago to control diabetes–bloodwork showed that she was dangerously close to developing type 2 and she was about 70lb overweight. Now she’s down over 50lb and her sugar is well controlled. She takes her injections on Sundays, so if she wants to enjoy a good meal she does it on a Saturday. It took a while for her to get used to not eating as much, but since her overall health is much better it’s something she has adapted to. @linguafood I’ve heard that same line “nothing tastes as good as skinny feels”. What a crock. I agree that it sets an unhealthy standard for women especially. In my Very Strong Opinion, nothing tastes as good as a meal made with love.
Just to say about Noom, which was a fascinating case for how it set a model for a new kind of diet culture (‘it’s not a diet, it’s an eating disorder!’) that was mostly the same thing as always-- strict calorie reduction. What it did offer was CBT as a means of dealing with the possible ways a person’s context could enhance or trigger food noise.
As for taking on the drug-- it was an ongoing debate amongst uses for years (and a point of contention too_-- Noom is making sure it can continue to make money and participate in an economy that has always been dependent on stigmatising bodies in some way or another. I’d say more but I really need to reward myself with the new episode of Taskmaster.
It’s a fancified calorie restriction program with pop psychology. I was not impressed, and most every single person I know who was on it gained their weight back. Quickly. Plus then some
ONE guy did not. So far.
Is the new TM available on the youtubes, or do we US folks have to wait?
Can I ask a question?? And I’m not trying to be mean or anything – just curious.
For those that hear the “food voice” does it get quieter or even go away if you are very focused on a task? Like if you are doing yard work or solving a jigsaw puzzle or doing your finances/taxes, etc. – can you still hear the food voice??
I know if I’m super focused on a job/task, I forget to eat. When I was putting a new roof on my garage; it turned into a two day job. When I got done the first day, I completely forgot to eat. I took water up on the roof and drank plenty of water during installation, but didn’t eat.
The only people I know who “forget” to eat or “just aren’t hungry today” have eating disorders.
I’ve certainly got caught up in work or have been simply too busy to eat, but my body will def make it clear that I should be eating something when I haven’t, i.e. by being fatigued, light-headed, or nauseous. I don’t ignore those signs bc it is a healthy and normal thing for your body to require sustenance, especially if you are physically active.
I usually don’t eat until early afternoon bc I don’t wake up hungry & get busy with work. BUT by 2 or 3pm at the latest I generally need something — even if it’s just an apple or a bowl of yogurt with fruit & walnuts. Or leftover salad from dinner the night before.
I don’t think I have an eating disorder, but there have been several occasions where my mind was preoccupied with “something” and eating dinner – just slipped my mind.
On days, I catch myself snacking (too much) – I ask myself “Am I hungry or just bored?”
I realized it sounded like I was saying that, but I was solely referring to female friends of mine (it’s always, always women). It’s disheartening to see even the most outspoken feminists I know buy into this idea that we’re mostly in this world as a decorative element, and our main goal should be to shrink. In fact, I find it so insulting I wrote a song about it
I’m not a snacker, save for the very occasional popcorn when we watch something at night, or a handful of Sichuan peanuts, which are an excellent complement to my martini.
Personally, I try to follow my doctor’s advice on all aspects of my health (including weight).
I do know that Sunshine’s doctor advised her to lose about 10 pounds, so my baking of cakes, cobblers, etc. has halted. I think his advice is about keeping her (heart) healthy.
Oddly enough, my “food voice” goes away when I am cooking a large meal!
If I’m engrossed in some sort of task, then I generally won’t get hungry. But if I take a break, then I realize it’s time for something to eat. If that task is cooking, then I’m usually tasting or nibbling a bit and not particularly hungry when it’s time to eat. People who experience this often might have an eating disorder, but I’m not a nutritionist or anything. I doubt if it happens on occasion that it’s anything to be too concerned about.
