22 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JANUARY 22-28, 2026 www.montereycountynow.com noise.” I didn’t know what that meant, precisely. But I figured it out almost immediately upon starting semaglutide. I was no longer going to sleep thinking about what I’d have for lunch the next day. The around-the-clock mental inventory of my fridge and cabinets subsided. I just didn’t spend my time thinking about food. I no longer had to carefully mete out my mental energy; there was finally some to spare on myself. GLP-1 meds also decrease a variety of cravings and research is underway as it relates to substance abuse disorders. I have never had an addiction to alcohol, but in an act with which I’m sure some readers will be familiar, I had downplayed my intake with my general practitioner. Since starting semaglutide, cracking open a cold one is no longer part of my nightly unwinding routine and I have a drink maybe once a month. Honest, doc. At times, my appetite dropped so significantly that I knew I wasn’t eating enough, and my low energy levels supported that theory. I began to track my diet in an app that helped me count calories and the important macronutrients of carbohydrates, fats and protein. I’ve never been a regular breakfast eater, but I started having a protein shake with my coffee in the mornings. I keep fruits and vegetables for snacks in the fridge at the Weekly office. Instead of our weekly production night pizza, I bring in cooked chicken to boost the accompanying salad. I have made easy swaps and figured out a diet that makes me feel fueled, not queasy. I’d heard tales of people on GLP-1 losing muscle alongside the excess fat, as well as concerns for bone density. As a 40-year-old woman, I’m reminded daily that my anatomical prime is in my past and that I should be concerned about muscle wasting and osteoporosis. I reintroduced weight training and bought the tell-tale signs of a perimenopausal woman: the weighted vest, the walking pad and the pedometer. I set a goal of 10,000 steps per day. I don’t always hit that number, but I try. I have lost some muscle, but I’m still strong and getting stronger. As for my PCOS symptoms, I have had a standing appointment with a nice gal who waxed the lower half of my face every six weeks and I haven’t booked her in a year. In short, a very welcome win. There were some downsides to this process. The aforementioned side effects were unpleasant until I learned how to keep them at bay. But perhaps the biggest hurdle was the cost. Name-brand, FDA-approved drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy are not covered by insurance for patients without diabetes. Out-of-pocket costs in that case can be upward of $1,000 a month. Telehealth companies contracting with compounding pharmacies can create a semaglutide medicine with the addition of vitamin B-12 to skirt the patent, and the one I work with is close to $300 a month. It’s a start, but still a hard line item to add to any working person’s budget. I did some math and realized that if I stopped going to the drive-thru and skipped happy hour beers that lead to pub food dinners and didn’t pick up multiple six-packs of beer a week, I could eliminate about $500 a month from my dining-out budget. My next step is to titrate down in dose. With my doctor, we will slowly reduce the amount of semaglutide I take each week over a course of months. Despite the cost, I may decide to continue with a small dose of the medication because of the way it eliminates my PCOS symptoms. One year after starting, I have lost 80 pounds (in addition to losing 40 pounds in the previous 18 months). My once-high LDL cholesterol is square in the middle of the normal range. My vitamin D levels are way up, and my liver enzymes are back where they should be. GLP-1 did not do the work for me, but was a tool that set me up for success to fine-tune my diet, drinking and exercise. Losing 120 pounds is pretty noticeable, so people have made comments about my body. I have been vocal about my use of semaglutide. Sometimes I have been met with judgement, but more often than that I’ve been asked questions. I have a thick skin and a firm commitment to my health. Plus, I feel fabulous. Health& Fitness I just didn’t spend my time thinking about food. Friedman Eye Center and Hartford Optometry have merged to create AvantiEye! Now offering patient centered eye care services in Monterey, Carmel Valley, and Soledad. PREVENTION•EDUCATION TREATMENT•RECOVERY NATIONAL MEDICINE ABUSE AWARENESS MONTH According to the 2022 Monitoring the Future Survey, 1 in 31 teens report misusing over-the-counter OTC cough medicine to get high. Let’s continue to educate the public about the dangers of abusing prescription and OTC drugs. WWW.SUNSTREETCENTERS.ORG
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