Story by rhosie@insider.com (Rachel Hosie) • 2h ago
Staci Rice had tried all sorts of fad diets before trying weight loss drug semaglutide.
It has been a “miracle” for Rice, who hopes to take it long-term.
Rice said the drug has made the “food noise” in her head disappear,
as well as her cravings.
A woman who lost 62 pounds on Ozempic says the cravings and ‘food noise’ in her
head disappeared, Staci Rice had tried “every diet around” before she started taking
the new game-changing weight loss drug semaglutide.
Semaglutide, which suppresses appetite, was originally developed for diabetes and sold as Ozempic, but was approved for weight loss by the FDA in 2021 under the name Wegovy.
‘I miss eating’: the truth behind the weight loss drug that makes food repulsive | The Guardian
Rice, 40, who lives in Gray, Georgia, would try a different diet each spring before
a beach holiday. However, one day she saw an advert for semaglutide while scrolling
Facebook and noticed it was cheaper than previous weight loss plans she’d tried.
Hype has quickly built around the drug, leading to shortages and rumors that it’s used
by celebrities. Semaglutide isn’t cheap, costing up to $1,300 a month, which is why some
people have turned to compounded versions of the drug despite the potential risks.
While many people have had positive experiences on semaglutide,
some people say the side effects, such as nausea and constipation,
are severe enough they’ve had to quit.
When Rice acquired compounded semaglutide from a nurse practitioner at a weight loss clinic she thought she would only take it short-term until after her vacation (which is when she’d usually quit a diet), but she decided to keep going. Rice lost 62 pounds in the eight months after she started taking it in May 2022.
In January 2023, she moved her focus to maintenance and started injecting semaglutide every 10 days instead of weekly, she said. Her appetite has come back a little, but she has managed to maintain her weight. Rice hopes to reduce the frequency of the shots further but never wants to stop taking the medication, she said.
“I’m actually looking forward to it being long-term because I know myself and my habits, and if I don’t have something like that, then I will regain the weight,” Rice said.
After years of fad diets, which health experts warn against, Rice said semaglutide has
been a game-changer because she hasn’t cut out food groups and doesn’t feel deprived.
She hasn’t changed her diet, but simply eats smaller portions of what she ate before.
The smaller portions also means she saves money on groceries, she said.
“Semaglutide has changed my life and I hope it’s around forever,”
Rice said. “It’s been a miracle for me.” For her, the investment is worth it.
Staci Rice lost 62 pounds in eight months. © Staci Rice
Rice didn’t immediately notice a difference in how she felt when she started semaglutide but she did get a dry mouth that didn’t go away when she drank water and a bloated stomach, as well as some nausea, and fatigue, she said.
Her weight fluctuated for a little while, which was frustrating, but she was eating much smaller portions by month three, she said. “The food noise was gone,” Rice said. While she used to wake up wanting sugar, all her cravings and the desire to snack have disappeared, she said.
When Rice goes out for a meal now, she either orders a kid’s meal or takes her leftovers
to go and will get one if not two further meals out of it, she said. Rice also prefers healthier
foods now and tries to eat enough to keep her energy up.
She also takes multivitamins to ensure she is getting all the nutrients she needs while eating less. Rice never used to exercise because she didn’t like it and had knee pain from an injury. But she has noticed the inflammation has reduced since she lost weight, and she now enjoys exercise more, she said. For the first time in three years, Rice managed to run after her dog.
As well as a smaller appetite, Rice is also among users who have found they no longer have the urge to drink on semaglutide. She only used to drink alcohol occasionally but no longer craves it at all. Rice has been sharing her journey on TikTok and is surprised by her own confidence to do so.
“Before, I felt like a nobody,” Rice said. “But now my confidence is sky-high,
I’m able to stand up and talk in front of people, and that is huge to me.”
There are always benefits and consequences for our choices.
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Pros and cons of the popular weight loss product Ozempic (WEWS Cleveland, OH)
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I’m Kirsten Jackson, a dietitian who follows the Mediterranean diet.
The Mediterranean diet emphasizes vegetables, oily fish,
complex carbs and includes wine in moderation. Getty
The Mediterranean diet has long been lauded for its wide-ranging health benefits.
Dietitian Kirsten Jackson told Insider she follows the diet to boost her gut health.
A registered dietitian who follows the Mediterranean diet, which is lauded for its
wide-ranging health benefits, has shared what she always keeps stocked in her kitchen.
The diet is widely considered to be one of the healthiest ways to eat, thanks to its links with heart health and a lower risk of various diseases including Parkinson’s and diabetes.
It emphasizes vegetables, legumes, seafood, olive oil, and wine in moderation, and encourages minimal consumption of processed and fried foods, red meat, refined grains, added sugars, and saturated fats.
Registered dietitian Kirsten Jackson follows the Mediterranean diet because research suggests it reduces the risk of multiple health conditions such as type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and mental health conditions, she told Insider.
“As an IBS sufferer, the Mediterranean diet also provides me with the recommended
30 different sources of plants per week which I know will help me diversify my gut bacteria,” she said.
The Mediterranean diet doesn’t need to be strict though, and you can still enjoy other foods in moderation, Jackson said. Jackson shared six foods she always keeps in her kitchen to help her eat Mediterranean style.
Jackson shared six staples she always has in her kitchen,
including olive oil and whole grain carbs.
Nuts are a good source of healthy fats. Getty Images
1. Nuts and seeds
Jackson likes to keep a mix of different nuts and seeds in a container,
which she sprinkles on meals like salad and oatmeal.
“This provides a good source of healthy fats but also diversity
which the gut microbiota love,” she said.
Pasta can be made with whole grains. Getty Images
2. Whole Grain carbs
Whole grain carbohydrates, such as brown rice, wholemeal bread,
wholemeal pasta, oats, and quinoa are staples in Jackson’s kitchen.
“They all cook really quickly and form an awesome base for your main meals.
* Be mindful meat sauce contends high contents of sugar!!!*
Eating a wide variety of vegetables is good for our health. Getty Images
3. Vegetables
Jackson eats a variety of vegetables because she’s signed up to a delivery service that
sends her boxes of in-season vegetables or those that might have been thrown away.
Eating a wide variety of vegetables can help reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke,
and certain cancers, lower a person’s blood pressure, and improve digestive issues,
Insider’s Savanna Swain-Wilson previously reported.
Frozen fruit can be cheaper than fresh. Getty Images
4. Frozen fruit
Frozen fruit is cheaper than fresh, and it also contains more micro-nutrients
as it’s frozen soon after picking, Jackson said.
High quality virgin olive oil is a staple for Jackson. Getty Images
5. Olive oil
Jackson keeps two types of olive oil in her kitchen:
High quality virgin olive oil: “It’s amazing for its antioxidants and making things
like hummus or drizzling over bread,” she said. Extra light olive oil for cooking,
as it’s more stable, meaning it doesn’t release harmful compounds when heated.
Tinned fish is be a cheap source of protein. Getty Images
6. Oily fish
“I always have tinned sardines in tomato sauce in the cupboard as it is super tasty
and less costly than fresh fish,” Jackson said. “The Mediterranean diet is regarded
as Healthiest in the World!”
Read the original article on Insider!
Are you looking to try out a fad diet?
Fad Diets Explained: IIFYM, Keto, Whole30, & Paleo | Brain Gainz – YouTube
| Fad Diets | IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros)/Flexible Dieting:
• Counting and tracking of calories and macronutrients. Utilizing various percentages of protein, carbohydrates, and fats to reach a calorie goal. An example breakdown is a 30% protein, 50% carbohydrate, and 20% fat breakdown. Depending upon your fitness goal
(fat loss, muscle gain, maintenance, etc.) you will either increase or decrease the three macronutrients.
• Tracking 101 – Utilize an App like MyFitness Pal to track your food and macros.
• Calories 101 – Protein (1g=4 calories), Carbohydrates (1g=4 calories), Fat (1g=9 calories) Keto Diet:
• Focused on consuming a high fat, moderate protein, and low carbohydrate diet,
with the intentions of converting the body’s energy system from glucose to ketones.
• Keto transition – cut carbs drastically (less than 50g/day) and utilizing
“keto supplements” (BHB and/or MCT Oil products). Confirming “ketosis”
via urine strips is recommended, but not required.
• Typical macronutrient breakdown: 60-75% fat, 15-30% protein, 5-10% carbohydrate Whole30:
• Directly from the Whole30 rules: “Eat moderate portions of meat, seafood, and eggs;
lots of vegetables; some fruit; plenty of natural fats; and herbs, spices, and seasonings.
Eat foods with very few ingredients, all pronounceable ingredients, or better yet, no ingredients listed at all because they’re whole and unprocessed.”
• 30-day challenge • No sugar (real or artificial), alcohol, grains,
legumes, dairy, baked goods, junk food, etc.
• No weighing or taking measurements of yourself for 30 days. Paleo:
• “If a caveman didn’t eat it, neither should you.”
• Focus on whole foods and avoid processed foods.
• Focus on: Meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruits, nuts,
seeds, herbs, spices, healthy fats and oils.
• Avoid: Processed foods, sugar, soft drinks, grains, most dairy products,
legumes, artificial sweeteners, vegetable oils, margarine and trans fats.
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