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If you’re reading this, you’re probably considering—or have already taken—the plunge into the world of Wegovy, the popular FDA-approved weight loss medication.
As someone who’s been on this wild ride (with more ups, downs, and sideways moments than I can count), I want to share some things I wish I knew me before I started this GLP-1 medication.
Buckle up; this Wegovy review is part diary, part rant, and 100% real.
What I Wish I Knew Before Starting Wegovy
I’ve been wanting to share my Wegovy experience for quite a while now and hope it helps you navigate some of the side effects (mental and physical) so you can take full advantage of all that the medication can offer.
#1 | Gastrointestinal Issues – Especially in the Early Days.
I’ll never forget the first few days after my first injection. I was feeling normal—until suddenly, my stomach staged a revolt. Nausea, bouts of vomiting, and a series of “what did I just eat?” moments had me Googling remedies in the dead of night. Trust me, a little heads-up goes a long way.
#2 | Fatigue. Sometimes Extreme.
Honestly, this never really went away. When I first started taking Wegovy, I was completely exhausted for the first two days after the shot. Sometimes sleeping for most of the day. I had to adjust my injection schedule, so it didn’t completely derail my life and my job.
After I’d been on the dose for a while, I may only have days of just being tired for a day or just a little sluggish.
#3 | The starting dose of Wegovy is pretty low.
Don’t get too excited at first. The initial 0.25 mg dose is essentially a “warm-up” for your body. It’s not the secret sauce for shedding pounds—it’s more like the tasting menu before the real course begins.
I did lose a fair amount of weight on the starting dose, but wanted to increase after the first month. Because there was a shortage, I jumped from 0.25 to 1.0mg and that was a BIG mistake. The side effects were unbearable. I ended up doing another month of 0.25mg and then moved up to 0.5 mg when it was available.
#4 | Hydration is key… and sometimes water isn’t enough.
If you’re not chugging water like it’s your job, prepare for some rough days. I started carrying around a huge water bottle and was getting in about 80 to 100 ounces per day.
There were many times when that still didn’t feel like enough, so I tried adding electrolyte drinks. BIG difference in how I felt and it also saved me from the worst of the constipation blues.
#5 | Constipation is real. Really real.
I’ve never had any issues with constipation — and never thought I’d be talking about it on a website! – but with Wegovy it is definitely something you need to stay on top of. I almost had to go to the hospital because it had been so long since I’d had a bowel movement and none of the over the counter medications were working.
After that scare, I had to start tracking to make sure I didn’t go more than 2 days without a bowel movement. If I did hit the 2-day mark, I would take some over the counter gentle laxative like Miralax. Much later, I also figured out that taking Magnesium Citrate before bed helped things move along.
Learn more about Common Wegovy Side Effects (and How to Handle Them Like a Pro)
#6 | You are what you eat.
Even though your appetite is often dramatically reduced on Wegovy, my old habits—binge-watching TV while munching on greasy or sugary snacks—had to go. Wegovy works best when you treat it as part of a lifestyle overhaul. I learned to swap out that bag of chips for a protein-packed snack (and yes, sometimes I miss the chips, but my stomach is happier now).
Fast forward to today and I can tell you that I don’t even miss my old favorite treats. I’ve probably tripled the amount of protein I eat each day and thanks to that (and the medication!) I rarely have those carb and sugar cravings anymore.
#7 | Do not overeat. Go slow, my friend.
Like many people who are overweight, I had some “disordered eating” issues. I used food as comfort and when I felt full, that was (somehow) comforting. With Wegovy, there is delayed gastric emptying, so food stays in your tummy for much, much longer.
I would eat quickly, only to discover that I ate way too much. For hours afterwards, I would be so wildly uncomfortable I could barely move. Now, after learning the lesson the hard way, I eat slowly and listen to my body. I always try to stop eating before I feel completely full.
#8 | Be mentally prepared for Day 6 and Day 7.
As you probably know, you take the Wegovy injection every week. Many times the medication wears off before it’s time to take the next shot. The food noise starts sneaking up on you on Day 5 or 6 and it just gets louder.
I had to wrap my head around this and honestly, it took some time. Eventually I came to realize that the days before the next injection were the perfect opportunity to put my new healthy habits to the test. I couldn’t rely on the GLP-1 medication forever, so I needed to stick to my normal eating schedule and find distractions when those cravings tried to take over my head. #willpower
#9 | Increase your Wegovy dosage SLOWLY.
The instructions from the drug maker (Novo Nordisk) show that you can increase your dosage amount every month. Remember that this is just a guideline. Many people (including myself) stay on one dosage for several months before going up to the next one.
Not only will you minimize the side effects of Wegovy, you won’t reach the highest dose too quickly and have no where else to go.
Increasing the dosage doesn’t automatically mean you are going to lose more weight. Just listen to your body and when/if your weight loss stalls, make a few changes to your diet and/or exercise routine. If that doesn’t work, then you and your doctor can talk about a dose increase.
#10 | Need to adjust to a changing metabolism.
As my body started to lose weight, I realized my metabolism was shifting in ways I hadn’t anticipated. I experienced weight loss plateaus that left me scratching my head (and sometimes my stomach), realizing that constant tweaks were part of the journey.
As you eat less, your metabolism can slow down. If you build up more muscle, that can keep your metabolism revving along. So as you start to lose weight, add in some resistance training to start building up your muscle mass.
You’ll thank yourself later – I promise!
#11 | Ozempic face… and butt.
We’ve all heard the jokes about Ozempic face, right? It really has nothing to do with taking Wegovy or Ozempic, it’s just about the possible impact of weight loss in general. If you lose a bunch of weight and you are older, you may see some of the wrinkles that were hiding behind your chubby cheeks!
I’ve not only had the pleasure of experiening Ozempic face, I also have Ozempic butt! It’s flat as a pancake (LOL). Probably over-sharing, but I want to give you the complete picture of my experience on Wegovy!
#12 | Wegovy is not a magic bullet.
Spoiler alert: Wegovy won’t turn you into a supermodel overnight. It’s a tool—a really powerful tool—but it still requires you to put in the work. Diet and exercise are still non-negotiable parts of the plan.
#13 | Comparing your progress (or lack of) to others.
I’ve met folks who shed pounds like magic and others who struggled despite doing everything right. The reality is, your body’s response to Wegovy is as unique as your fingerprint. I have friends, family members as well as people I’ve met in Wegovy Community Groups on Facebook and everyone moves at a different pace.
If you are 55 years old and need to lose 100 lbs, your experience is going to be completely different from a 25 year old who needs to lose 40 lbs. So when you see people posting that they’ve lost 50 pounds in 2 months on Wegovy (and you’ve only lost 12), please don’t beat yourself up. I firmly believe that slow and steady wins the race!
#14 | Results take time… so be patient.
I wish I’d known that my scale wouldn’t be doing backflips after week one. Significant weight loss is a gradual process. Patience (and maybe a few extra pep talks) are key here.
#15 | Psychological impacts of a new body.
Lastly, the emotional journey is real. Losing weight isn’t just a physical transformation—it’s a total overhaul of your self-image. I struggled with my new reflection at first (and yes, sometimes I felt a bit like a stranger in the mirror), but eventually, I’m learning to embrace the change. It’s both liberating and a little bittersweet.
Learn more: How to Stop Emotional Eating: Healthy Coping Strategies
There you have it—the 15 things I wish I’d known before embarking on my Wegovy adventure.
While the road is bumpy (and sometimes hilariously unpredictable), it’s also filled with moments of genuine triumph and self-discovery. Remember, this isn’t just about losing weight—it’s about gaining a healthier, more confident you.
So, if you’re thinking of starting Wegovy, take these lessons to heart, laugh at the inevitable mishaps along the way, and never forget: you’re not alone on this journey. I’m still working to get to my goal weight, so stay tuned for more updates on my Wegovy / GLP-1 experience!
Wegovy Review by Kerry at Building Better Health. Stay tuned for more updates on Kerry’s GLP-1 journey!
Please note: This website contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
