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| I brought water to a cupcake fight. Eventually, I called for backup. |
I was afraid to take weight-loss medication.
I read about the side effects. I heard people’s horror stories. I imagined my organs gathering for an emergency meeting to discuss my latest questionable decision.
But I was also watching my weight creep up while my ability to refuse food apparently took an extended vacation.
Then came the potlucks.
Cupcakes.
Donuts.
More cupcakes.
Another donut because apparently the first one needed emotional support.
Eventually, I decided to try Wegovy in the name of making my body slim down—or at least stopping it from expanding every time somebody brought baked goods into the office.
The Cupcakes Were Gaining Ground
I know what people say:
“Just eat less.”
“Use willpower.”
“Make healthier choices.”
Excellent advice.
Unfortunately, the donut was sitting three feet away from me, covered in chocolate, and did not care about my long-term goals.
I felt like I couldn’t stop eating. Even when I wasn’t truly hungry, I still wanted something. If food was available, my brain treated it like an urgent assignment.
Eat it now.
You might never see another cupcake again.
Logically, I knew that was bullshit. Cupcakes aren’t endangered.
But my appetite wasn’t interested in logic.
I Finally Tried the Medication
I initially went through Hims & Hers because I wanted help and was willing to try something different.
The medication itself wasn’t the only thing making me nervous.
The membership cost was also trying to reduce the weight of my bank account.
It was expensive, especially when you add the medication and membership fees together every month. Apparently, losing weight can also help your wallet become noticeably thinner.
I eventually started getting the medication through my doctor, which makes me feel better because I can discuss the dose, side effects, and concerns with someone who knows my medical history.
That matters to me.
This isn’t something I want to treat like a random supplement I found beside the checkout counter.
From 164 to 156.8
When I started, I weighed 164 pounds.
Now I weigh 156.8 pounds.
That’s a loss of 7.2 pounds.
Is it one of those dramatic transformations where I step out from behind a curtain wearing completely different pants while everybody applauds?
No.
But it is progress.
My weight isn’t climbing the way it felt like it was before, and I don’t feel as controlled by constant hunger.
The medication didn’t personally slap the donut out of my hand. I can still eat cupcakes. I can still overeat. Apparently, the medicine does not install an invisible security guard beside the potluck table.
But it has helped me feel less desperate to keep eating.
I Like This Better Than Other Pills I’ve Tried
One reason I’ve continued is that this medication hasn’t made me feel the way some other weight-loss pills did.
Other pills made me feel like my heart was trying to leave my chest without completing the proper paperwork.
Palpitations.
Headaches.
That unpleasant feeling that your body has consumed seventeen cups of coffee even though you haven’t.
So far, Wegovy has felt more manageable for me.
That does not mean it is harmless or that everyone will have the same experience. It only means my body has tolerated it better than the other pills I tried.
Bodies are annoyingly individual.
One person feels fine.
Another person spends the day negotiating with their stomach.
Then My Coworker Mentioned Kidney Stones
Just when I started feeling more comfortable, my coworker told me that her husband was taking 25 mg and developed kidney stones.
Of course, my brain immediately responded:
Fantastic. A new fear has entered the chat.
I started wondering whether the medicine caused it and whether my kidneys were somewhere inside me packing their bags.
But one person developing kidney stones while taking a medication doesn’t automatically prove that the medication caused them. There could be other factors, including hydration, diet, medical history, or something completely unrelated.
The official Wegovy safety information warns that nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea can cause dehydration, and severe dehydration may lead to kidney problems. It also warns about gallbladder problems, including gallstones—which are different from kidney stones. That is why staying hydrated and discussing ongoing side effects with a healthcare professional matters. You can read the official Wegovy safety information.
So I’m not ignoring what my coworker told me.
But I’m also not diagnosing myself based on her husband’s experience.
Her husband’s kidneys are not my medical chart.
The Internet Does Not Help
Searching for medication side effects online is a dangerous hobby.
You start with:
“Is this normal?”
Ten minutes later, the internet has informed you that you are either perfectly fine, severely dehydrated, growing a second pancreas, or already dead.
There is no calm middle option.
That is why I’m trying to pay attention to my own body and talk to my doctor instead of treating every frightening story as a prediction of my future.
I can take the risks seriously without immediately writing goodbye letters to my kidneys.
I’m Still Responsible for What I Eat
Wegovy is helping me, but I know it isn’t a magical cancellation button for cupcakes.
I still have to make choices.
I need to eat enough protein, drink enough water, and stop treating every office potluck like a competitive eating event.
The medication can quiet some of the hunger, but it can’t prevent me from making direct eye contact with a donut and saying:
“You know what? We both deserve this.”
It is a tool.
It isn’t a substitute for every healthy habit I have spent years avoiding.
Annoying, but true.
Apparently, Quality Matters Here Too
At work, I was told that quality matters more than quantity—right before receiving a pile of work that had to be finished that day.
If you missed that contradiction, read:
Quality Over Quantity—Until the Whole Pile Has to Be Done Today
The same idea applies here.
I don’t want the fastest possible weight loss if it comes at the expense of my health.
I would rather lose weight gradually, monitor how I feel, and work with my doctor than chase a dramatic number and end up starring in my own medical emergency.
Quality over quantity.
This time, I actually mean it.
The B.S. Truth
I started taking Wegovy because I was tired of feeling hungry, watching my weight rise, and losing every negotiation with the office dessert table.
I was scared when I started.
Sometimes I’m still scared.
But I have gone from 164 pounds to 156.8, and so far, I like how I feel on it better than I felt on other weight-loss pills.
I’m not claiming it is perfect.
I’m not telling anyone else to take it.
I’m saying that this is what I chose, this is how my body has responded, and I’m now taking it under my doctor’s care.
I’ll continue paying attention to side effects.
I’ll try to drink enough water.
And I’ll attempt to remember that a potluck is a shared meal—not an eight-hour buffet specifically organized to test my medication.
No promises about the cupcakes, though.
Those bitches are persuasive.
B.S. or Truth?
Have you ever been scared to start a medication because of somebody else’s experience?
And why does every workplace potluck contain enough cupcakes and donuts to feed an entire city?
Tell me in the comments—but please don’t bring dessert.
This post describes my personal experience and is not medical advice. Medication effects and risks vary. Talk with your healthcare professional about your prescription, dose, symptoms, or concerns. Seek prompt medical advice for severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhea, signs of dehydration, severe abdominal or back pain, difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, or other serious symptoms.
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