Full update - full dose

August 11th Draft: 

Hello!

I haven't been writing because I have nothing to complain about. I know it is confusing to me too. 

I am on the full dose of Saxenda and I am good. I am good with myself and my progress, I feel good. I feel hopeful and optimistic. 

It really has changed my relationship with food -- I have since realized I never felt 'full' before. I could eat non-stop with no physical cues to stop. I had to solely bank all of my goals on my willpower and the 'want' to stop. I love eating and never wanted to stop -- I never had a physical reminder to stop.

That is what Saxenda has given me, a break and a brake. A tool to tell my brain and my mouth to 'stop we've had enough' and that urge is stronger than the need to clear my plate. I have stopped mid-way through my fav meal because I am done. I don't panic about not finishing and than punish my guilty mind for finishing. 

I don't feel anxiety around food at the moment, I am not worried about eating the 'wrong' thing or ruining my progress. I just eat till I am almost full and then stop - no pressure or anxiety. And without restrictions and calorie counting I don't feel deprived or hungry. My brain thinks I am full so I have no cravings or demands to keep eating. 

Aside from chemically what it's doing to me, that alone has affected my waistline and my family. I don't make separate meals, I don't skip the 'good ones'. I don't stress about the portion sizes in front of my kids and in turn I feel good. I had the headspace for more important things.

October 13th:

Hi,

I still feel all of the above, I still feel grounded and connected to my body. I've heard a few stories about Saxenda and complications, but so far its just the burps, unrelenting, tonic flavored, loud burps - ALL. THE. TIME.

I am at 19.5lbs lost since starting - it is a slow process, but I think that's good. I feel less bloated and uncomfortable. 

Things are good. I will probably complain in the next post, because it's me. 

Love! 

Melanie

The feeling --

 -- of being SO full. That's the best way to describe it. 

When you sit down to eat a turkey diner with all the fixings, but it's Thanksgiving so you've already been eating all the apps, wine and water - to try and make it all better. So you sit down to the feast, you want to eat and most of it has healthy options. You jump in, because this only happens a few times a year (3 in Canada -- Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas), you eat and eat and discuss how full you are, but keep eating. 

Then at 7pm -- hours after dinner has been consumed and cleared away -- your body feels big, full. That's the feeling. That's the feeling all day with Saxenda. It feels as if you are stuffed to the brim and the burps and burn is something to get used too. 

And yet -- at this point (1:38pm on a Tuesday) I haven't eaten. I haven't had the urge, I feel full and uncomfortable. I've drank a gallon of water and a kombucha. 

I know I need to eat something, but the thought of putting 'more' into this body right now - *barf*

It's hot and I am uncomfortable. I am in good spirits though - the scale is in continuous decline (yay), but I hope this side effect quits soon. I am so full. 

The so-full does help with the snacking, I just don't have space or time. 

So that's the update -- I am empty and full all at the same time. 

Hmmm.... 

Saxenda - Update

 Good Morning!

I am have way through the first week of my Saxenda and it's going well - I think. I have a before  picture, but I am saving that embarrassment for when I have a good after/during photo. It's no surprise I don't love my before -- I had behind black and baggy clothes. 

First - the injections, I thought this would be tricky - I do need to psyche myself up a little bit, but it's going well. The pen fascinates me, it is used for multiple injections - I just swap out the needle head, click my dose (0.6mg the first week). I have found my favourite spot - the fupa. I move around my lower belly, changing positions every day. It doesn't even hurt (although I did try my thigh and I didn't like it). 

Second - the feeling, I am not sure I feel different, but I do. I don't even know how to explain it - I feel full, but in the uncomfortable bloated way. I hope that subsides as my body adjusts, but truth is it stops me from snacking through the evening because I am full. I had a headache through the first 3 days, but that could have been the weather, a rainy heat wave. 

Third - the scale, it's going down consistently. I am hesitant to get excited about the loss, could be water weight or a wonky scale. I will do an official weigh in on Saturday when I up my dose. 

Fourth - side affects, I am so tired. I haven't hit my workouts at all this week. I am drained by the time I get to the end of the day and have been sound asleep by 8pm. And the heartburn -- it's like I am pregnant and I just swallowed a fire. I am not used to that, but it's manageable. I would stand on my head if it would work.

Fifth - the mental side, I still haven't broadcasted my use of Saxenda, it still feels silly that I need this kind of help. I haven't fixated on food or volume - I just eat good food when I am hungry and that seems to work. I don't feel as anxious at mealtime as I typically do and I am not counting every calorie.

So that's it -- I think it is a positive review so far. I wish I had hit more workouts, but I am ok with sitting out this week. Everything opens back up next week - then I will book my OTF classes in the evenings I don't have strength training. I'll see if that helps. 

Until then - stay healthy!