re: Am I Essentially Doomed To Weight Loss/Diabetes Medicine?

One shorty to another, I tried everything when I got to 40. Was on all types of meds. Fasting is the only thing that works for myself. Black coffee in the mornings, nicotine pouches and water all day, from 4-7 I eat anything I want. If I feel the need for something sweet I will eat a PB&J right at the end of my eating window. Once your body gets past the cravings the weight will drop. I don’t care who says it’s healthy or not. I don’t take any meds anymore have dropped 30 and sleep like a baby.

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Good work Cokes. You took the bull by the horns and that is what the OP needs to do.

Losing 25 lbs is simple and can be done in 8-10 weeks

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Thanks. I actually am proud of myself for finally doing something about it after talking shite and not doing anything for years.

I lost 20 pounds in a matter of a few weeks. It was nuts. Just the fasting and watching what I eat, with some exercise mixed in, and boom. But apparently it's easy for guys to do that. But then I plateaued for a while and stayed at 20 pounds. So since then it's been a gradual thing where I essentially aim to get my base weight down five pounds at a time. My base weight currently is about 195, so some days I'm 193 and some days I'm 196/7 depending on when I've eaten and how much liquid I'm retaining.

But I'm only 5'6" and I was at about 240 at my heaviest. And like I said, most people didn't believe I weighed that much, or even close. But I did.

What got into my head was my buddies and I were at our Man Weekend last year and watching an LSU game. And Jared Jones came to bat and they talked about how he was 6'6" 246. And I was like holy shite that dude is a foot taller than me and shredded, and I weight less than ten pounds than he does. That was a mental kick in my arse. That's why when I started all this health bullshite last summer I finally decided to get off my fat arse and do something. And in all honesty, I don't do a lot (despite my long arse post above)...if I buckled down and tried a lot harder, I'd lose more weight. But I've found what's comfortable and achievable for me and it has become my routine. And that's what OP needs to do before his dumbass doctor gets him hooked on GLP1s.

And to the OP re: fasting. Most people say and think that they can't do it. But IMO it really is much easier than it sounds. let's say you want to try the typical three-day fast. Once you power through that 36 hour mark, it's sort of downhill from there. Sure, you'll be hungry, but just drink water when you are. And you can also get some electrolyte mixes to mix in as well, just make sure they are the no sugar/no calorie ones. But after that day and a half mark, it's easy to just ignore the hunger and it sort of just goes away.

On my 4-day fast a few months ago, I made it to about 90 hours and then decided to eat because I was having my surgery in a couple of days and didn't want any side effects of not being nourished enough. But in two of my other 3-day fasts, I felt like I could have pushed at least another day easily had I wanted to. It really is a kinda of "mind over matter" thing. And for me, I don't really eat breakfast or lunch most days anyway, so in my mind I'm really only skipping dinner.

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my dad and his health, and then eventually my dad passing away

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[img]For others in this situation, is there any hope of using Mounjaro or a GLP-1 to get the weight down and the go off of it?[/img]

I went through the same thing with my mom, she was in North La and I was in DFW juggling a job, raising a kid and trying to run back and forth helping. I put on a bunch of weight (stress eating and drinking beer), eating out and on the road.

Zepbound helped me (along with no alcohol, walking daily, lifting 3-4 x a week), I lost 70 lbs.

BC/BS stopped paying for GLP-1's for weight loss so I went off, appetite came back X 100 so I paid the money to go back on it.

Figure I'll save enough on food to offset the $365.00 a month.

Caloric deficit.

Only way to lose weight.

Try eating two meals a day. Do not eat before 11am or after 6 or 7 pm. Start walking. Slow at first, but get up to a fast walk and try to get at least 4 miles/day. Strength training helps as well, but isn't as important as other excercises to get you into caloric deficit.

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The issue for me I think is snacking and having those cravings. That's what I can't seem to get under control.

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You can't snack if you don't keep snacks in the house. My wife used to always keep snacks available .. it was too easy to see them and cave .. grabbing one here and there. Since she passed away, I simply don't buy snacks .. and since they are not there, don't see them, and don't really miss them.

She passed away on 9/3/2025 and I (6 foot tall) was just under 250 pounds. Currently sitting around 210 pushing to get under 200. Omeprazole (for heart burn) and Rosuvastatin (cholesterol) are the only things I take. Feel so much better overall .. 56 years old w/ B/P of 124/72 and resting heart rate of 68 .. probably helps that I am already double retired w/ zero debt (no stress).

Good luck to you ..

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Strength training helps as well, but isn't as important as other excercises to get you into caloric deficit.

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Obviously, weight loss is synonymous with “fat loss” - no one should be wanting to lose muscle mass while their weight loss journey but muscle will be reduced, along with fat, while in caloric deficit without a defined strength (resistance) training program. Just a note-reminder to the OP to not ignore the importance of strength (resistance) training as an integral part of his “weight”, I.e., fat loss, journey so as to mitigate muscle loss in the process.

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Get on a healthy diet, and get on a running program.

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He needs to do more than run. He needs to do some resistance training. Building muscle will increase resting metabolic rate and burn more calories.

Resistance training >> running for losing weight.

I know a lot of people swear by intermittent fasting in the morning but I’d say have a protein shake with at least 30grams to start off the morning and get ahead of any carbs you eat. If possible cut out all the carbs.

Also it’s hard but if you can do the carnivore diet I think it’ll help if not get rid of your issues. I’ve seen magic happen to many people who’ve done it for just a month. I want to do it but don’t have the time or ability with a wife addicted to carbs. And we’re already in great shape but we workout a lot which some can’t find the time for. We have kids but we make everything about being active so it works for us.

Brother man it’s a lifestyle choice. Cheat days are by far the most common and easiest way to fall back into bad food habits.
Create the healthy lifestyle and always eat or try to eat healthy. By a year it’s second nature and in a few years you’ll wish you would’ve done it at a young age. I know I sure as shite wish I’d done it two decades ago

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I like to eat. Sometimes, eating is because there is nothing else to do. I constantly have to remind myself to put the fork down.

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Name checks out.