I was down 2 lb earlier this week but am up today. These are normal fluctuations for me and I am not stressing them. Yet. I am not seeing the big losses that some of the GLP-1 folks report in the early weeks but I havent made major changes in my eating. I was already eating pretty well and losing prior to starting ozempic so perhaps that is why. I do notice the reduced appetite and it definitely helps to stay on track and avoid temptations!

Right now my focus is on adjusting my eating patterns -- mostly eating a little more midday and a little less in the evening. I have also shifted my evening meal earlier. It wasnt unusual on a busy day to eat at 7pm or even 8pm -- and then immediately shift to my night routine to close things up and read until bedtime. I am thinking it will be helpful to keep my eating times during the parts of the day where I am most active.

Also, I have backed off on trying to force myself to eat breakfast .. I tried for a number of weeks and it isnt coming easily. It just isnt feeling right to try to eat when I am not hungry. I do know that starting the day with protein does help with blood sugar management through the day so I will try again but for now, I am not going to make it a "thing".

My eyes are doing well and my ophthalmologist is very pleased with the results. He has officially passed me to the specialist to pick up from here... I will not have a prescription until then (end of April) so I am struggling a bit but I knew it would be a process so I am just eager to get to the next step! In the meantime, readers are a big help for working at the computer and reading and I ordered a pair of progressive readers to see if they will help with more general activities. All is moving along as planned and on schedule!

How are you all doing?

Great news about your eyes, Funky.

I am back in NY for a few weeks. Both DH and I have things to do, including medical.

I have not one but two chipped teeth! I don't trust Florida doctors , so I am seeing my dentist here.

I am 2 pounds up, but would prefer to loose them. But, even with this I am at an all-time low.
I just know how things can sneak up on me. Better to catch 2 pounds than 4.

Good for you, Eld! What is your secret?

Funky, so glad to hear you are healing well from your eye surgery! As far as breakfast, I read something recently, forget where, that said "listen to your body;" a lot of people are not hungry when they wake up.

I lost 2lbs this week and am pleased. I credit the ceviche LOL. I had missed workouts while I was on vacation, but even so I sailed thru my routine with my trainer, and was even able to up my weight on a few of the exercises.

Congratulations Funky on your eye progress! You must be so excited.

I have been sick for the past week. I started having pains in my side last weekend. A slight fever and nausea. By Sunday evening, no bowel movement for 2 days. I took a few laxative chews and by Monday morning had a BM. I thought that was it. The pains did not go away and I was still slightly feverish in the evening. My PCP's office recommended a trip to urgent care. They referred me for a CT scan where I was diagnosed with a severe diverticulitis flareup.

I have been on a liquid diet for the last 3 days and just yesterday added some soft foods. I'm also on antiobiotics for the infection.

At my last colonoscopy, they found a few diverticuli pockets. My doctor told me that was normal as we age and didn't offer any other advice such as diet changes. I do tend to have some constipation days and that is what can bring on flareups.

So I'm to keep up with soft low fiber foods for 2 weeks. After that I'm supposed to start adding more fiber to my diet and definitely more water. I haven't eaten breakfast in years but I'm thinking of adding a bowl of high fiber cereal to my routine to boost fiber intake. Does anyone do that? Do any of them NOT taste like cardboard? LOL.

I've lost almost 5 pounds in the past week. I'm definitely not celebrating though!

Oh no im so sorry Czarina… feel better soon

@czarinalex I am so sorry you are suffering with that kind of pain. I get digestive turmoil and it is really awful.

This is the best dry cereal you will ever eat. We absolutely love it and all excellent ingredients. And it stays crunchy in your bowl for the whole time you are eating it!

Funky so glad about your eyes. And sounds like you are sorting out diet changes and scheduling , all good things.

@eld6161 maybe you and @mtnrdredux_gw swapped the 2# ! ❤️❤️

DH and I went back to the way we used to eat for a long time and then somehow got sidetracked .

We are back having 2 meals a day. Breakfast at about 8 or 8:30 AM that is fruit and yogurt and toast or an egg and grits and toast or some variation with ham and eggs etc. Then we have a real meal at 4pm with meat and vegetables and a starch with many variations and fruit for dessert. I have lost 4# between the extra work outside and the meal change up.

We have a new Dr and have had the ” intro appt ” in January. Tomorrow is fasting blood work and then the f/u appt is in a week. He’s young and just joined his parent’s practice a year or so ago. Our DDIL goes there as does our DGS. He is very thorough, asked questions I have never had an MD ask . So we shall see .

Czarinalex, so sorry to hear you've had issues! Hopefully you'll be back to normal in a few weeks.

I actually like All Bran -- but it has 9g of added sugar. Fiber One has much less sugar but I havent tried it. I would add berries -- they add color, flavor AND more fiber.

So sorry you are having diverticulitis Czarina, it is miserable. I have pockets of diverticula and when I am having symptoms it’s quite painful as well as inconvenient, iykwim.

DH and I are having extensive genetic testing so we will have a better idea what to expect in older age, primarily for long term care planning. His current problems (getting worse yearly) are the most likely culprits to put him in a nursing home but there may also be surprises in store. My tests could turn up anything. It’s an odd feeling to wait for results like that.

I am continuing to eat mostly healthy food and to exercise and my weight has found a stable window of 125 to 129 snd I am happy with that. It’s a full time job keeping up with my family, social and civic obligations and still try to do something creative every day. Saturday is a long oil painting class downtown and I am beyond excited! We had the boys all weekend and I watched Lucy most of last week (their ongoing house situation) and have been dying to get my paints out. I sneaked and made a couple of birthday cards with the kids’ gel glitter pens while they were watching Aladdin!

I normally eat an Oikos pro yogurt (20 g protein) and some fruit in the mornings on workdays We put Benefiber in our coffee. On weekends we will fix eggs or whole wheat pancakes (Kodiak brand).

Funky, some people do not lose as much on the lower doses. I didn't really see an increase in weight loss until I got to the higher doses. I think my first month I lost 3-4 lbs. Then there are people who lose tons of weight on the lowest doses. Everyone's journey is different.

Wow, time change hitting us this week. I have Pilates today at least. Weather is great.

Hope you feel better soon, czarinalex.

Thanks GScience! I only just went up .5 mg yesterday so I guess I shouldnt be surprised. Also, I ate at a chain steak house on Saturday (great nephew's choice) and while I had 1/2 a caesar salad and shrimp, I am sure it was loaded with sodium.

Really, the real win is that I am eating well and feeling good. I am not tracking as religiously as I did the first week but I know my calories are down. It will catch up soon!

Good news about your eye progress, Funky! This is going to have such an impact on your quality of life.

Czarinalex, I hope you're feeling better. Those GI issues are tough and often unpredictable.

My latest issue is sleep. I've never had issues with sleep, but the past few months have been tough. I'd like to attribute it to over-analyzing because of my new Garmin watch, but I think I'm just more aware of it. There is such a difference in my energy levels and mood when I get good, restorative sleep. But it seems being aware of my "sleep score" may be disruptive to how I would otherwise go about my day.

Everything else is fine. I'm mostly cooking healthy meals at home. But I'll have guests coming into town, so eating out more is in my future.

Have a good week, everyone!

I am definitely seeing the impact of eating out -- I have been making decent choices (salad with protein) but this last time out it was at a chain steak restaurant and I suspected the meal was loaded with sodium. Yup. 2 days after, I am back down the 2lb I added. That isnt fat gain/loss in 2 days... it is bloating. I am going out again this weekend but to a higher end restaurant. Not sure that will make a difference but we'll see.

Feathers wrote: But it seems being aware of my "sleep score" may be disruptive to how I would otherwise go about my day.

Yes! This is my experience also .. I do have a history of sleep issues but for some reason, having a record of my poor sleep has been more disruptive than that lack of sleep. :( I havent stopped wearing my oura ring but I check the stats maybe once a week, if that.

I had to take my Garmin off for a couple weeks- the sleep score and orange stress overnight was causing me more stress! I don't think they are very accurate. I started wearing it again and my sleep score is so much better than it ever was before - seems unlikely. DH had really good scores when he first started wearing his and then slowly fell off.

I have been weighing myself every day for the least week or so and I am officially trending up 7 pounds from my normal weight. Not unexpected, but I need to get myself in order. I was at the same weight for about 3 years after I lost 25 pounds. I've had several bad habits sneak back in. More snacks, less exercise. This week my goals are more water and more steps.

I hope you're feeling better @czarinalex. I eat chia, flax and hemp seeds most mornings so that's a decent amount of fiber. Usually I just put them in my oatmeal, but today I tried a new recipe inspired by some pancakes I had on vacation and written by Chat. It was a nice change..

1/4 cup super seed mix - chia, flax and hemp - mix with one egg and 2 T greek yogurt and let stand 5 minutes. Pour into buttered skillet and thin out. Then press down blueberries and some raw pumpkin seeds on top, cover with lid and cook on medium low around 5 minutes or until bottom is browned, and flip. Chat tells me it's around 14 grams of fiber and 22 grams of protein depending on the amount of berries and pumpkin seeds. I added cinnamon to mine and used a lot of blueberries.

Yesterday I was at Sam's and they had roasted edamame bean packets. Those have a lot of protein - 10 grams per 100 calorie bag. I'm thinking they might help with my chip addiction :) It took a long time for me to eat 100 calories.

I wondered about the chia, flax and hemp seeds.. are they allowed and/or recommended with diverticulitis? I don't have diverticulitis but there is a family history of both it and colon cancer.

That reminds me of another protein breakfast--ricotta pancakes. They're so moist that you really don't need much syrup. You could probably top with jam, berries or lemon curd instead.

Oh, I don’t know anything about seeds and diverticulitis! Good point.

funky - great news about your eyes! I agree with the sentiment that you eat when you're hungry and don't force yourself to eat (breakfast) if not hungry. I feel the same about water intake. Drink when you're thirsty. Our bodies are good at telling us what we need. Well, except maybe my daily chocolate craving. I'm quite certain I do not need that!

Czarinalex - sorry you're having issues. Hopefully you're back to normal soon. Digestive issues are terrible.

I have no updates. I'm not feeling great. Naseous and light headed last night and today so did not work out this morning. I cannot be sick. DD and I go on our 2nd annual spa trip on Thursday. Two days at a wonderful spa we found last year. I cannot be sick!

jdk i hope its a 24° thing and you are well for your trip!

czarinalex hope you too are feeling better.

yes anything with the small seeds can wreck havoc on diverticulitis , they get in the pockets.

funky i am with you on eating out it almost always disupts my gut in some form or fashion. I try to be mindful but with food choices and often the time of day it is usually not a good idea .

my sleep last night was the worst in I don’t know when. And today our monthly newsletter from DH’s retirement system had an insert devoted to heart issues r/t poor sleep. ugh. I have tried staying in bed, getting up, a snack of protein/ milk , bed early bed late etc. I refuse to take anything as it has always made me feel worse. I am excellent at falling asleep but staying is the problem. And here I am on screen time but i put the light as low as it will go.

Jsk , I really hope you’re not getting sick. Maybe things will be okay in the morning. Czarine, you, too.

We’ve been having freakishly warm weather, so I decided to catch up on a few things in the garden that didnt get done in the fall. Got a lot done, then I reached too far and — wham — I pulled my lower back out. Ive been i ing it and took some Tylenol. I took a very careful walk around the block to hopefully keep it from stiffening up. Darn!

Ive been trying to up my protein and water intake. I find that staying hydrated helps combat fatigue, which is a problem for me.

In the meantime, Im sitting here eating my Jennifer Aniston salad. Yum Link to salad. I bought mine,

Weather goes back to March as should be here, on Friday. This warmup was a little too much, too soon, but a nice taste of spring.

Latest word from Johns Hopkins says chia & flax seeds are OK if you're not in a Diverticulitis flare: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/expert-qa/foods-for-diverticulosis-and-diverticulitis

EDIT: popcorn OK, too!

Yum, that salad looks great @dedtired. We had sheet pan quesadillas stuffed with barbacoa. I added black beans to mine.

That is one of my favorite salads, Ded! Just as written .... some will use a green goddess dressing but I like the lemon and evoo.

Where are you getting it premade?? (Hoping it is someplace that is also here!)

Sorry to hear so many are injured or not feeling well! Take care all!

Interesting article…

https://katiecouric.com/health/aging/menopause-weight-loss-glp-1/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=WUC_Wednesday_March11_2026&utm_term=all_users

REM sleep- I decided to look up some general info. I am feeling much better about my sleep pattern. REM sleep happens off and on all night. It is shorter cycles 10 min early in the night and longer cycles , up to 90 min late night early morning.

It is common to wake up after a cycle. I believe that is what is happening. It is also common for the best and longest REM at the last part of the night and that is when I get my longest sleep and my best sleep.

I am glad that I read your comments saying that looking at your devices was not helpful. It prompted me to read a bit about all this !

Our outlook affects everything. I have decided to say ” I am sleeping REALLY well”. ”I feel rested” . ”DH guess what I slept like a pig!”. That is a family joke , our DD answered her Dad one morning when she was so little and he asked how she slept. ❤️😊.

I have decided to be a good sleeper. 🙏c

Interesting article, Sue. Perimenopause is definitely when I lost control of my weight -- I started to get it under control in menopause but as many of us have experienced, it has been a slowwww go. Unfortunately HRTs arent/werent an option for me due to a genetic clotting disease but so far I am doing well with the GLP-1.

Yeah, so I just checked my sleep last night. 18 min REM sleep (5%) .. that is the very lowest end of acceptable. Going back to not checking now 😂

I actually do not think HRT has helped me with weight loss but (1) I am on a low dose and (2) who knows, maybe without it, I would be enormous!?!

Just to be clear .. menopause hasnt been my friend but a desk job with long hours, limitations on my activity level, a lack of commitment and a crappy F-it all attitude have all been contributors to my weight. I could have done better :)

Funky, i buy it at Aneu. They have stores in several locations around Philadelphia and the shore. All their food is clean and healthy. ANEU ⬅️

Thanks, Ded.. I never heard of Aneu but I will keep an eye out. I don't think they've made it this far west as yet so I will need to do my own chopping and bulgur making lol.

As for diverticulitis, I mentioned adding raspberries to cereal because they are high in fiber-- but they DO have tiny seeds which I believe are to be avoided. Sorry about that! That said, my mother has diverticulitis and she eats raspberries. I hate to suggest trial and error since a flare up is so painful but I think you will figure out what works for you with your dr's guidance.