Why I would never take Ozempic (And What I'd Do Instead)
|
Read this on Dango.co Unless you've been living under a rock, you probably have heard of Ozempic. It's being promoted as a miracle weight loss drug, and from my experience, I'm seeing a lot of doctors (and even medspas) prescribing it. What many people have to understand is that there are no free lunches, especially regarding medications. So, in today's newsletter, I want to share five reasons why I would never take Ozempic and what I would recommend instead. You ready? Let's go 🔥 Why I Would Never Take Ozempic (And What I'd Do Instead)To illustrate the effects of Ozempic, I want to share a story from one of our clients: His name is Larry (name withheld). At his doctor's recommendation, Larry took Ozempic while making lifestyle changes through our coaching program At first, things were great, but as time went on, Larry started to experience terrible side effects. But I'm getting ahead of myself. First, we want to know what Ozempic is and what it does. *Dan's Note: We are not against people taking Ozempic while coaching with us, but we will make sure we have a game plan to taper off of it in a responsible way to avoid the adverse effects of what you'll see below. What is Ozempic?Ozempic (aka. semaglutide) is a prescription medication primarily used to manage blood sugar levels in people who have type 2 diabetes and is now being prescribed to obese people. It does this through controlling hunger through your GLP-1 receptors. How does it control hunger?
Sounds good, right? Well, not quite. While many people consider Ozempic a shortcut to fat loss, they must understand that this is not a decision to be made lightly. Why I Would Never Take Ozempic (And What I'd Do Instead)1. Side Effects and DangersWhile Larry was losing weight with us, he was also experiencing severe nausea to the point where he couldn't eat and couldn't even function at work because of how sick he felt. This is one of the many different types of side effects that could come from taking a medication like Ozempic. Others include vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, thyroid cancer, gastroparesis, liver or kidney failure, pancreatitis, acute kidney injury, hypoglycemia, and even vision loss. There's also Ozempic Face, in which people lose too much weight too quickly, making them look hollowed out and older. 2. Weight Regain Even though Larry had dropped 20+ pounds in a very short amount of time, due to the side effects, he had to get off of the medication. What happened next was shocking: His hunger returned, and it felt even worse than before. Despite his best efforts, he regained all the weight he had lost. This is normal because it's been shown that people regain up to 2/3 of their body weight once they get off the drug. 3. Muscle and Bone Loss I talk a lot about muscle and that we need to maintain our metabolism by keeping as much of it as possible as we lean out. But one of the worst problems with people who go on Ozempic is that people can lose up to a third or even 40% of their weight from lean body mass due to not making the necessary lifestyle changes. You also run into bone loss when you lose muscle and lose weight rapidly. In rare cases, what we're seeing is people going on Ozempic and being diagnosed with things like osteoporosis. Thankfully, while Larry was on Ozempic, we were strength training and following a high-protein diet, so even though he had lost 20 pounds, he did not lose lean mass like many other people do when they take this medication. 4. Lifetime Subscription When you take a shortcut to blunt hunger, you inevitably deal with the idea that hunger will always return. This is why a medication like Ozempic is meant to be taken for the long term. Also, if one does regain the weight once off the drug, they'll have to get back on it to lose it again. Something we're starting to find is that the longer that you stay on these drugs, the more prevalent the side effects become. 5. There are no shortcuts Looking at Ozempic as the solution for obesity is missing the forest of the trees. The main issue with weight gain and modern health, especially in countries like the United States, is the widespread consumption of highly processed foods and sedentary lifestyle. While a very small number of people may benefit from taking Ozempic, the vast majority who saw this as a shortcut will be set back further than they think. As my friend Dr. Suneel Dhand posted,
What I Would Do Instead Of OzempicNow, the reason people love Ozempic is because it lowers hunger. While it may not be as effective as the Ozempic, we can mimic the GLP-1 hormone that tells your brain you're full through lifestyle changes. 1. Eat more proteinProtein increases the production of GLP-1. It also makes you feel fuller and slows down digestion. The aim is to get 0.8 to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight daily. 2. Fix your sleep habits When you lack sleep, you lower the GLP response, making you feel hungry all the time. Aim to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep to make sure that you keep your hunger in check. If you need a free guide on how to do this, click here. 3. Increase your fiber intake Volumize your meals by adding more fiber-rich vegetables to your diet. Fiber mimics GLP-1 by increasing satiety and reducing hunger hormones. 4. Take in more healthy fats Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats help increase GLP-1 secretion. Plus, fat is the slowest macronutrient to digest. It takes about six to eight hours to break down. 5. Exercise regularly, specifically with resistance training and walking Resistance training and walking can naturally boost GLP-1 levels. Being active can also make your body more sensitive to the GLP-1 you already have. Take The Long Path
"The longest way round is the shortest way home." - C.S. Lewis One thing I will mention is that there is a subset of people that will benefit from taking medications like Ozempic: Type 2 Diabetics and the morbidly obese. Also, others who are not type II diabetics or morbidly obese get benefits from taking Ozempic. For me and many others, the risk-to-reward ratio (and cost) of taking Ozempic is too high. As for Larry, he has lost the original 20 pounds using the lifestyle changes recommended above without using Ozempic, and he has also built a few pounds of muscle. A mentor once told me, "The long path is the shortest, and the short path is the longest." It may take longer, but you can get lean by doing the right things if you are patient. I hope this newsletter helped point you in the right direction and got you a little bit healthier. Onward and upward. 🚀 - Dan When you're ready, here is 1 way I can help: 1. Promote yourself to 404,610+ subscribers by sponsoring this newsletter. References:
Disclaimer: This email is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services. The information provided should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, and those seeking personal medical advice should consult with a licensed physician. |
