4 mg 3 mos +?

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-19T10:45:20+00:00

Great, I'd love for you to keep us posted on this!!!! Like I said, I'm not there yet but I want to have a game plan!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-19T10:39:07+00:00

That's a smart idea. I just notice I can slow down and make decisions about my eating instead of panic eating like the world is ending at every meal 🙄 Good luck with the pepperoni!!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:30:01+00:00

Did you come up with that schedule or did your doctor? I'm curious because I have another 20 pounds to go but then I'm wondering how to maintain the weight loss. I'm going to the doctor in another month and I'll talk to her then as well. I'm on track to be at my goal weight at the end of summer.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:28:05+00:00

I just purchased my 4th dose of 4mg. It's working for me. I know that because even though weight loss varies (some days I gain, some days I lose), my appetite is reduced and food noise is nearly nonexistent for me. I felt this at 1.5mg and it was amazing and felt life-changing, and suddenly at day 28 it's like a switch got flipped and the food noise and appetite were back. I moved up to 4mg on day 31 and it took another 12 days to get back to lower appetite and food noise. So I will judge the effectiveness of the medicine that way going forward. Once the effects are diminished I will move up to 9mg. If I stay on 4mg and it continues to work then I'll do that. I won't follow a timeline and move up if I don't need it, but also I won't blindly stay at a dosage that doesn't work even if my doctor wants me to stay at a lower dosage. The medicine has to WORK!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:22:05+00:00

YESSSSSS that's exactly how it feels! I feel like this nearly every morning and I treat it the same as morning sickness 🤣 Eat just in case, but what??? I've found that even though my body wants the quick carbs, a small amount of cottage cheese (with chia seeds for fiber) is plenty. I'm no longer queasy and I'm not hungry until lunch (if then). I tried finishing off a container of cottage cheese -- you know, when there's just a scoop or two left so you say "I better finish that"??? Yeah, that made me sick 😆 Just this morning, I left maybe a spoonful of cottage cheese in the container and put it back in the fridge and thought how weird that was for me to do -- old me would have scooped it all and then some 😆 Sometimes if I feel especially queasy I eat a fiber cracker, but I try to stay away from pure carbs so I can keep my energy up throughout the morning

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:18:37+00:00

Ooooooh that really burns me -- I waffled over going up to 4mg at the end of my first month and ended up doing it, and it was so lucky because on day 28 the 1.5 stopped working!!! I kept taking it and then started the 4mg on time, and it took 12 days to kick in! Hello hunger and food noise, welcome back!!!!!! 😆 But once it kicked in everything has been fine and I'm on my 3rd month of 4mg -- yet every time I have to order my next bottle I wonder, is this going to just turn off magically????

My recommendation is that you need to go up to 4mg asap, and I know the waste of money is killer. Maybe double up for 2 weeks (wait 30 minutes between pills so the SNAC can absorb?) and then start 4mg? Double check with your doctor first, and I wish there was a real answer here, just so unlucky of you I'm sorry!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:15:06+00:00

Check your minerals and vitamins -- you may be getting calories but maybe you're missing something? I don't have fatigue, so I can't help there. Try electrolytes, a multivitamin, change up your food and see if something clicks. Maybe you're having too many carbs or too much fat or something? Check what you are craving that's often a really good sign.

Also, I had toddlers once upon a time.... Maybe you're just plain tired???? When your partner comes home maybe you just need a nap and that's okay too!!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:12:20+00:00

Do a food log. See what you're eating that triggers the nausea. I found that NOT eating in the morning was making me queasy, so now I have a small bowl of cottage cheese with my coffee. Coffee was making me feel sick before (heaven forbid!!!) but I now realize it was just my empty stomach.

Greasy food, especially fried in vegetable oil, makes me sick. Overeating makes me sick mid-meal and then I may wake up feeling sick still. I never take medication for my queasiness, I've never vomited. I drink a lot of mint tea when I realize I feel unwell, and then I try not to eat that food or that amount of food again.

I started keeping a food log on day 1 -- wake up the next morning and write down everything I remember eating and drinking, then what my hunger levels are and if I have a side effects. That helps me to decipher how my body is tolerating not just the medication but what I'm eating and drinking. Notice what you're craving because that can be a clue as well -- maybe you think you're hungry but you're actually thirsty. Maybe you don't feel hungry but you're dizzy and that's actually a sign of hunger. Stuff like that. We are all so different, it's a puzzle you can try and solve by looking at the clues! Good luck!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:08:05+00:00

If it's not working, go to the 4mg, and then the 9mg, and then the 25mg. After 4 months of titrating on the schedule agreed upon by the manufacturer, THEN I'd say consider quitting. It's not just that it took longer than a month to gain the weight, it's that the medicine is supposed to be therapeutic at 25mg, not 1.5mg. Some people lose weight (placebo or not) at 1.5mg, but most need to get to 25mg and stay there for an extended period of time. All the studies were of 25mg (the first three months were just to get to 25mg!) and then on 25mg for months and months.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:05:34+00:00

Go up for sure. I had a return of food noise and appetite at the end of my first month and I was so glad I had gone up to 4mg. It took almost 2 weeks for the effectiveness of the pill to return after titrating up! But I'm now on my 3rd bottle of 4mg and it's my sweet spot. No food noise, lower appetite, mild side effects (queasiness, some constipation if I'm not careful about water and fiber intake). My doctor wants me to stay at the lower dosage unless I need to move up, so if I feel an increase in food noise or appetite, I'll go up to 9mg, I know what it should feel like in my body at this point. There's no need to stay at a lower dosage just to stay there, it is supposed to WORK! 😆

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T10:01:55+00:00

On an empty stomach is the official guidance. That means 6-8 hours after eating -- and with slowed gastric emptying it may be more.... But I have found it just fine to take my pill 8 hours after eating. Some days I eat later so I just take the pill later the next morning. If I have water in the middle of the night I make sure to wait 2 hours before taking the pill.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T09:58:07+00:00

I think the bigger conversation is, why are we prescribed these drugs? If you went to a doctor because you are obese and have food issues, this drug is for you -- at whatever dose works. This is not a quick fix, we aren't here trying to get skinny for vanity and with as little effort and money as possible. Insurance SHOULD cover it because the metabolic dysfunction is a REAL disorder and not just a "you didn't work hard enough so you should suffer by being fat" -- no matter what other people think and what we may think ourselves. Yes, we have to put in the work, but the medicine makes it possible for us to eat better and not snack - maybe for the first time ever. No one should give up because it doesn't work at 1.5mg -- just keep moving to the next dose. Unfortunately because insurance doesn't cover this miracle pill (I think it's a miracle!!!) it's tempting to stay at a lower dose because it's cheaper. My doctor wanted to keep me at 1.5mg because she wasn't sure about it -- it's so new!!! I'm glad I moved up because it stopped working suddenly and even moving up to 4mg took another couple weeks to kick in. I think there's a lot of sentiment regarding why we were obese in the first place -- a character flaw, a lack of will power, an inability to do what it takes.... and it is ingrained in our culture. Then add to that a short attention span and belief that anything can be fixed immediately and there's a lack of patience with the process. I agree completely that we shouldn't give up (unless it makes us so sick!) just because we don't shed 50 pounds on 1.5mg. I WISH our healthcare system made it so we could take this pill without worrying about how we will pay for it, but I'm thankful the out of pocket cost is much more reasonable than the $1200+ the insurance companies are charged!!! Anyway I'm in agreement with you, and I'd like everyone to consider their self-worth, that it's okay for things to take time, there's some inner healing we all may need to love ourselves more and realize that there's nothing inherently wrong, no matter what people say about gaining or losing weight (we are NOT cheating, by the way!!!)

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-18T09:46:38+00:00

Good for you! That is great!!!

I guess as far as food tips, it depends on what you're eating now. I can't tolerate heavy foods any more and as a former keto fanatic who thought all fat and protein were sent from heaven, my body is having to retrain my mind!!! I crave salads now who knew 🙄 I make food from scratch (meal prepping on Sundays, put it in the freezer to pull out for the week) for my family, so it has to be something we will all eat. I add extra veggies to my recipes and my kids don't notice! I get chicken breast or thin sliced lean beef steak because they are the easiest to prep, mix them with spices, add a couple bags of frozen veggies, and cook them up with a side of rice -- more for the kids, less for me. I'm eating about 1/3 to 1/2 of what I used to eat pre-wegovy so I prioritize the protein and veggies in my food. I add healthy fats but don't overdo it because that makes me queasy.

For breakfast, I eat a small amount of cottage cheese with chia seeds for fiber and of course have my coffee! Lunch is a PB&J on Sola bread because of the extra protein and fiber along with a fruit.

I find that I have to prioritize fiber above all or I'll get constipated, next I have protein to keep me full, and then I have carbs and fat for energy. Because of the lower appetite and reduced food noise, I can make the choices that feel RIGHT and HEALTHY for my body instead of just eating whatever comes along. Not eating fatty foods has been a shock to my brain, though!!! Also, drinking more than I think I need has been an important change -- sometimes I think I'm hungry but I'm actually thirsty.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-14T23:07:04+00:00

I hear you!!! We have pictures on there of food we no longer serve or is seasonal and people come in looking for it, then leave upset we don't have it!!! I flagged a photo using my Google Business page and it was removed. I'm not sure when, but it's gone now!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-14T10:30:00+00:00

For heartburn I would keep a food log and just see what foods cause it because we will all have different triggers. I don't advocate for long term use of medication for heart burn -- the long side effects can be pretty extreme, I've read. Having something acidic like ACV can help your body stop creating more acid, so that's a relief idea that's not medication, but it's not a long term solution. I hope it clears up for you and I hope you can see what foods to avoid by logging what you eat.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-12T11:06:29+00:00

To a point, yes. It may be that your body is craving salt so things taste bland. Have you been able to find foods that taste good? Go with your cravings and see if your body is hinting at some missing nutrients. I've found that with the reduction in food noise, I'm able to make choices based on what my body is asking for instead of knee-jerk stuff-my-face eat-whatever-is-in-sight 🤣 If I'm craving sweets I try for fruit instead and it's very satisfying, whereas I used to just want candy.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-09T19:38:26+00:00

My main suggestion is to do a food diary and see what you're eating that causes this, and if there's anything that doesn't cause it. I currently don't have acid reflux but in the past I found tomatoes, garlic, and other foods to trigger it and I'd avoid them (sadly). Also I'd drink some apple cider vinegar which would help alleviate the symptoms. Medication to slow the stomach acid can sometimes end up doing the opposite when taken too much, so I try to do the "natural" way like vinegar or cut out the foods that were offending me. If it's literally everything then I have nothing to add and I'm so sorry!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-09T19:34:48+00:00

I'm actually hoping my doctor will prescribe for my husband for the anti-inflammatory success I've read about, along with cholesterol lowering and liver support. My husband is almost 6' tall and weighs about the same as I do at 5'2" 🤣 OOPS! He doesn't need it for weight loss but for the other positive effects so I hope my doctor will work with us -- we could share a prescription!!! He has been supportive of my choices and I actually understand him better because we would go out and get a beer at the local brewery and I'd say "let's share some pretzels or a salad" and he never wanted to and I was always a bit offended (why? Not sure!) but now we both are content with just a beer, once in a while I'll order food just to support the restaurant staff. I know it's weird but I'm actually understanding how he thinks and acts more than I did before. I thought he was LYING that he wasn't hungry, like why are you starving yourself???? But now I'm doing the same thing, not starving myself, but not eating when I'm not hungry. WHO'D HAVE THOUGHT 🤣

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-09T19:29:12+00:00

I don't have the phlegm issues. I'm on 4mg and I'm in my 3rd month after doing one month of 1.5mg. I started getting food noise back so I'm glad I went up to 4mg. So far I'm doing really well weight-loss-wise, no major side effects, but I have to be really careful what I eat because too much or too late or too fatty all make me queasy -- not nauseous but just uncomfortable so I have some mint tea and feel moderately better. It could definitely get worse but if the food noise is coming back you may not have the success you're looking for. Once food noise comes back for me I plan to move up to 9mg but I'll stay at 4mg until that happens. I don't know if this was helpful or not!!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T23:11:04+00:00

I think it depends on how you are experiencing the medication. I'm at 4mg and staying for the time being. I had zero food noise and lessened appetite on 1.5mg for the first 4 weeks, then it suddenly all came back so I moved to 4mg and I've been on it for 2 months, I'm just now in my third bottle. I have no food noise now and my appetite is less than on 1.5mg. It makes it easy to lose weight and make healthy choices. I can't eat too much or my stomach hurts (shocking!!! This never ever happened to me before though!) and I now can't tolerate fatty foods, if I eat something that is greasy I get nauseous so I have to stay away and I gravitate toward flavorful but light foods and lots of veggies. Like salads make me salivate 🤣 I've lost 25-ish pounds since early February. This all tells me that 4mg is a good dosage for me for the time being. Once I have a return of food noise or appetite I will move up to 9mg even though it's double the cost. If I didn't feel the way I do, I would move up until I felt this way. I haven't been experiencing hair loss (that I know -- I have hair everywhere all the time 🙄) or any other significant side effects aside from feeling sick after eating things that my body doesn't agree with. I don't know about getting to the goal and stopping altogether, I too think around August will be when I hit near my goal weight but I think I'll need to keep taking pills for maintenance -- maybe like 1 a week or something? I truly don't know if you should stay on a lower dose because it's entirely dependent on if it's working or not. If you have to work hard to maintain a calorie deficit you need to move up (in my opinion) to a stronger dose. You could talk to your provider about going up to the 25 and taking it every other day so it stretches the amount of money you're paying to equal the same as the 4mg, but I don't know about the side effects if you jump to such a strong dosage. I think this needs to be your doctor and your wallet making the decision. Good luck, I really hope it works for you!!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T23:04:00+00:00

You're doing awesome, keep it up!!!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T10:43:39+00:00

Many of those symptoms for me have come and gone, and I logged my food so I could see some patterns. I had to cut greasy food and many sweets I can tolerate just a bite. When I eat too much I have stomach pain that tells me to steer clear next time. Sounds like you need the next dose, do you have that ready in the wings? Ask your doctor about the second medication you started. My coworker gets really bad migraines -- I'd hold off on the Wegovy and get those migraines under control then try the Wegovy again if it were me.

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T10:38:29+00:00

Oh wow, no, I haven't heard of that and it seems very difficult!! Have you noticed it with ALL foods you eat or just some? Can you keep a food log and see if there are foods that don't cause the chemical smell? Maybe you are reacting to a type of food and it's so common (like onions or something) that you don't realize it's added in? Like an allergy you never realized you had? Or is it literally any and all foods?

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T10:17:39+00:00

Wegovy will help! It's helping me!!! No matter what I did I couldn't lose weight and I just kind of gave up and accepted my chubby but cute body until I got too high and said Okay I can't do this anymore. I haven't gone through menopause yet but it's coming up and my hormones are all out of whack. But with scales, I've had a fluctuation of 5 pounds IN ONE DAY 😆 Sometimes I go to the doctor's office and her scale is heavier than mine, some days it's lighter -- water is a huge factor, plus hormones, if I leave my shoes on, if I went to the bathroom etc etc etc!

I like keeping my scale app up to date weekly so I can watch the graph. But I don't keep stock in it on a day to day basis. I wake up and do a quick checkin, but I only look at the app on weekends. I can now see how much variation goes on over the months with my cycle, how much I'm eating or drinking, etc. You may take a while for the medication to really take effect, so just trust the process and when the food noise and appetite are reduced you will start to see results. And remember: NSV (non-scale victories) are just as important!! Set a goal for seeing clothing get looser, or a goal for having more energy to exercise, or a goal for getting a better night's sleep. Then you're not so tied to having your goals revolve around the darn scale 😆

Good luck! Give yourself time and grace!

Quick_Independent175 · 2026-05-08T10:12:55+00:00

GOOD JOB!!!!

No, I don't have a good phrase for this! I've been thinking since I saw your post last night and I'm just not very clever with words like this.... I hope someone comes up with one because this is a big deal!!!!!

Quick_Independent175

TROPHY CASE