Ozempic Versus Total Body Transformation
Let’s talk about Ozempic. I understand the excitement. I understand the draw. Could there really be a simple and effective way for us to lose weight with medication? I mean, this has been the Holy Grail for a long time. And people seem to think Ozempic is it! One simple injection a week, and the pounds just fall off! But is it really all it seems? Of course not. Let’s walk through the pros and cons of Ozempic.
First, let’s talk about how it works. Of course, we will provide a simplified version of things. Semaglutide, which is the non-branded name for the drug, acts in a similar way to our hormone GLP-1: first, it sends signals to your brain to let it know that your stomach is full, even if it’s not. It also reduces the speed at which starchy carbohydrates are digested in your stomach. Thirdly, it increases the production of insulin, as well as the rate at which blood glucose is processed into your liver. When you put all that together, it attacks several of the key causes of weight gain. It’s like a multi-pronged attack! And that’s absolutely amazing. Especially for extremely obese people, for whom even movement might be an issue.
However, for the average person, who might be holding a lot of extra weight, the cons outweigh the pros. First, let me put a thought in your mind: if Ozempic is simply mimicking a hormone, GLP-1, that we all have in our bodies already, why do we need it? Can’t we just find a way to increase our own supply of GLP-1 naturally? Hmmm…
So, let’s take a look at the cons of Ozempic. First, the physical side effects. The most common are:
Nausea
Diarrhea
Stomach (abdominal) pain
Vomiting
Constipation
Not the end of the world, right? Although, not fun either. But wait, there’s more:
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Anaphylaxis (Serious allergic reactions)
Inflammation of your pancreas (pancreatitis)
Changes in vision
Kidney problems (kidney failure)
Gallbladder problems
Oohhh, those are a bit worse… But wait! There’s still more:
Ozempic® may cause serious side effects, including:
Possible thyroid tumors, including cancer. Tell your health care provider if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, hoarseness, trouble swallowing, or shortness of breath. These may be symptoms of thyroid cancer. In studies with rodents, Ozempic® and medicines that work like Ozempic® caused thyroid tumors, including thyroid cancer. It is not known if Ozempic® will cause thyroid tumors or a type of thyroid cancer called medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) in people.
Do not use Ozempic® if you or any of your family have ever had MTC, or if you have an endocrine system condition called Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia syndrome type 2 (MEN 2).
This is from Ozempic’s own website. Now, I want to stress, these more serious side effects are far rarer than the common ones, but I also have some experience with them. A few weeks ago a former client reached out to me. Years ago, we had worked together and gotten great results. She ended up going out on her own and, eventually, fell off the wagon for a variety of reasons. She put on quite a bit of weight, and eventually decided she needed to do something about it. She got an Ozempic prescription in an attempt to jumpstart her weight loss. Unfortunately, she had experienced a lot of the more serious side effects. When she reached out to me, she had severe kidney issues, had lost vision in one of her eyes, and was losing vast amounts of hair. I wonder if the hair loss was simply from the stress of it all. Again, she’s only one person, and for the majority, they won’t experience anything so severe.
So if you think that maybe you’re willing to risk the potential side effects for the benefits, let’s talk about the cost. Interestingly, the price of the drug varies from country to country. I know in Canada, it retails for around $300 a month. In the states, it can be upwards of $1000 a month! So it’s a significant financial commitment.
Okay, so now let’s revisit that idea I mentioned earlier about finding ways to naturally use this hormone, GLP-1, that Ozempic mimics. What if I told you that is what our Total Body Transformation program does? It’s true. Here’s how: exercise naturally increases GLP-1. Meaning you’ll get all the same benefits, reducing cravings, supporting healthy blood sugar, etc., with none of the side effects. Eating healthy carbs, fats, and proteins are ALL associated with an increase in GLP-1 as well. And to top it off, so does increasing your fiber and water intake…
So, Ozempic is essentially completely unnecessary if you were to join TBT.
“Wait… what?” Yes. That’s correct. And it shouldn’t be a surprise. We all know that exercise and healthy eating leads to healthy weight. We also know that it helps with a bunch of other stuff too: like improved cholesterol, increased strength, better mood (exercise and diet are incredibly beneficial in depression and anxiety!), better libido (in fact, some Ozempic users are reporting decreases in libido and difficulty in achieving orgasm! Yikes!), improved energy, better sleep, increased longevity. I mean, I could go on forever!
“Yeah, but Simone, if working out were that easy, everyone would do it!” Yes, that’s true, it does take commitment to get started. I liken it to riding a bike: those first few pedals, when you’re starting from a dead stand still, can be a slog, but once you’re moving, it gets so much easier! Once you’ve established movement and healthy eating as a habit, it’s way easier to keep it going. Although, I’ve found that one of the best ways to stick with it is through community. Having that support network and accountability can really help keep you on track!
“Okay Simone, but what about eating healthy? I’m the queen of celery sticks and spinach salads, and I never lose any weight!” Yep. You’re right again: eating well can take a bit of teaching. It’s really about getting the right balance of all your macronutrients: carbs, fats, proteins (and I like to add fiber and water as well). I don’t believe in low-carb/keto diets, I believe in proper intake of ALL your macros, at the correct ratio. Check out my post on Macro Balancing here to learn more! Ultimately, one of the biggest things that Ozempic does is help regulate our blood sugar. It prevents the ups and downs that result in cravings and binging. And when we eat a balanced diet, filled with healthy macros, we balance our blood sugar, prevent insulin resistance, and keep things stable. When we exercise regularly, our body’s insulin response to food is way healthier!
So yes, working out and nourishing your body properly can be hard to get started, but the benefits are waaaaaay greater than any benefits that Ozempic can provide, and any “side effects” are good ones!! Why run the risks, not to mention the cost ($300 - $1000 a month?!) when there’s a better alternative?
The only time I would get on the Ozempic train is for people with severe, severe obesity. Otherwise, if you can move, you’d be better off with workouts and macros! Which is, of course, what I do! I get that it can be hard, and that’s why we have the TBT program: you don’t need to think about workouts - we’ve got them for you. You don’t need to worry about macros: we have tons of recipes and we’ll help you find your best macro ratio (the amount of carbs, fats and proteins you should take in at each meal). And we have an AMAZING, supportive, wonderful community! Plus, and for many of you this will be the kicker: we are way cheaper than Ozempic!!
Thanks again for taking the time to read through this, hope it was helpful!
Xo,
Simone
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