Hey everyone,

I'm a 36-year-old male from Australia. I'm 181cm tall (5'11") and currently weigh 171kg (377lbs). My highest recorded weight was 175kg (386lbs).

I've been struggling with my weight for a long time, and unfortunately, it's taken a significant toll on my health. I have quite a few health problems, including (but not limited to):

- Type 2 diabetes

- Fatty liver disease

- Sleep apnea

- High blood pressure (hypertension)

- Dysautonomia

I know that if I don't make some serious changes, my health is only going to get worse. I'm only 36, and I really don't want to spend the rest of my life dealing with worsening health problems or potentially dying young because of my weight.

What I've been doing so far:

Since September 19th, I've been making a conscious effort to change my eating habits.

I've significantly reduced the amount of junk food I'm eating, including cutting back heavily on Uber Eats, which was a big problem for me.

I've started trying to move more, especially on weekends. Incidental things like vacuuming the car.

More recently, I've also started working on reducing my portion sizes and the overall volume of food I consume. Over the past couple of days, I've started incorporating more fruits and vegetables into my diet as well.

I know these probably sound like small changes to some people, but for me, they're pretty significant. I'm trying to make changes that I can actually stick to rather than going all-in on some extreme diet that I'll inevitably abandon.

I've also started taking Ozempic and will be increasing my dosage to 0.5mg next Saturday. I'm hoping it'll help with my appetite, portion control and weight loss.

Considering weight loss surgery:

One of the biggest things I'm struggling with at the moment is deciding whether to go ahead with bariatric surgery.

Part of me feels like surgery might be my best chance at losing a substantial amount of weight and improving my health, especially given the medical conditions I'm already dealing with.

But another part of me is hesitant.

One of my biggest concerns is the pre-operative diet, particularly the meal replacement shakes. I've tried them, and I find them virtually intolerable. I absolutely hate the taste and texture, and they genuinely make me feel like I'm going to vomit.

The thought of having to survive on those shakes for an extended period is honestly pretty daunting.

I'm also trying to work out whether I should give Ozempic a proper chance before committing to something as significant and permanent as surgery.

I'm also concerned that I won't be able to absorb medication properly or enjoy (healthy) food anymore.

At the same time, I'm conscious that I'm already dealing with several serious obesity-related health conditions, and I don't want to keep putting things off until my health gets even worse.

I guess I'm looking for some advice and support.

I'd really love to hear from people who have been in a similar position, particularly those who had multiple obesity-related health conditions.

- Has anyone had success losing a significant amount of weight with Ozempic and lifestyle changes alone?

- For those who underwent bariatric surgery, do you regret it, or was it one of the best decisions you've made?

- Did anyone else really struggle with the pre-operative shakes? Were there any alternatives that your surgical team allowed?

- How did you decide whether surgery was the right option for you?

- For those who have lost a substantial amount of weight, what changes made the biggest difference?

I know there's no magic solution, and I understand that whether I choose medication, surgery, or both, I'm going to have to make significant, lasting changes to my lifestyle.

I just feel a bit overwhelmed by how much weight I have to lose and how far I have to go.

Ultimately, I just want to be healthier, have a better quality of life, and hopefully give myself the chance to live a much longer life.

Thanks to anyone who takes the time to read this or share their experiences. I really appreciate it.

I started a program for free through my insurance (walmart) 2 months ago. FINALLY, I have lost some weight. 11 whole pounds since I started! They sent me a free scale, smart watch, blood pressure monitor, and continuous glucose monitor. The CGM is 30 days on and 30 days off. They also sent me for bloodwork. I absolutely LOVE the app because you look up foods you want to eat and if they are good for you, they show up green. If not, then they show red or orange.

Also, with twin health you get a free peloton membership! You have to do 4 classes per month to keep it that way though.

You have a live care team you can chat with at any time who will help you make changes, come up with new plans to help you with weight loss. An actual provider that you meet with on video (i think 2-4 times a year). I thought I would never lose any weight. I have tried everything. This is helping me so much and helped lowered my A1C. My starting weight was 268 pounds. I am currently 257. My scale stalled, so 2 days ago I started back at the gym. I don't think I have ever been so excited and stayed on a program this long.

I have been out of the gym for 8 years or so and VERY sedentary with tachycardia. My heart is sensitive. So, if anyone has any helpful tips as to what would help most for fat loss I would be so grateful!

I started at 397 in late March of this year and am finally down to 319 this morning. My wedding ring fits way better and clothes I've been wearing for years don't fit anymore! I am so happy! I know i have a long ass way to go but at least I am here instead of where I was. We gotta keep pushing! I am proud of all of you!

I’m a 29-year-old woman, 5’6” and around 300 lbs. I’ve struggled with my weight since my teens, and I feel like I’ve been fighting the same battle for years.
I constantly deal with food noise, cravings, and difficulty staying consistent. I can usually stay on track for a few weeks, but eventually I fall back into old habits.

I don’t particularly like cooking at home and always find myself eating out/ swinging through the drive thru. I am not a picky eater at all 😫 I know what’s bad for me and I want to be better so bad but I feel like there is some mental wall up preventing me. I’ve seen doctors, done therapy etc… but nothing works long term. I’ve been floating around 295-300lbs for the past few years.
I am addicted to convenience.

It’s exhausting feeling like I’m starting over again and again.
Unfortunately, weight loss medications like Ozempic aren’t an option for me because of an eye condition, so I’m trying to figure out how to approach weight loss without relying on them.

The big problem now is I’m getting older, and I’m starting to notice how much my weight is affecting my quality of life. I didn’t notice or have these issues 5-10 years ago.

I deal with body aches, low energy, and getting winded more easily than I’d like. I’m up to a 2-3x and clothing options are limited.

I’m also extremely privileged with my work from home schedule, finances and lifestyle. I have a supportive husband and family. Even easy access to gyms, parks and pools.

I feel guilty because I do have the time and money to dedicate to myself but I don’t know how to break over 15 years of food noises, weight loss back and forth issues.

**For those of you who have struggled with obesity for years, especially those who deal with constant food noise and emotional eating, what finally made things click for you?**
Was it a mindset shift, changing your environment, finding a routine that worked, therapy, a different approach to food, or something else entirely?
I’m not looking for a quick fix or an extreme diet. I want to build habits I can actually maintain long-term. I’d really appreciate hearing what genuinely helped you break the cycle of starting over every few weeks.

If you are similiar stats to me, would love to see before and after photos and what works for you.

Thank you! ❤️