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

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I take an antihistamine for allergies, two nasal sprays for sinus and allergy issues,

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See an ENT. I was in this same boat and then I got a septoplasty and allergy shots and I haven't taken a single allergy med (pill or spray) in over 2 years since. It was truly life changing for me and I can breathe so much better which made exercising so much easier and managable. I wish I had seen the ENT 10 years sooner.

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1 medication for high blood pressure

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weight loss will likely take care of this issue

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1 medication for asthma

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I'm not sure there's anything you can do about this. It is what it is.

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I'm trying intermittent fasting, only eating between Noon and 8:00 p.m.

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Try changing that from noon to 6:00pm. I know it doesn't seem like much of a change but it will make a big difference. Also, watch your calorie intake. The only real way to lose weight is to have a calorie deficit (burn more than you take in). The fasting can be helpful because it essentially eliminates 1 meal from your total calorie intake.


As for exercising, there are many different ways to go about it but the main thing for weight loss is cardio. Walking is the easiest way to burn calories. The simplest way I know is to get 10,000 steps per day. If you consume under 2,000 calories and walk 10,000 steps every day then you will lose weight. It's really that simple if you are consistent. And watch your alcohol intake because usually alcohol has a lot of calories. Life changes don't necessarily have to be drastic. And there are hundreds of diet apps that help with counting calories and macros. It's easier than ever before in history to monitor your diet. I promise you these simple changes over time will make a huge difference. Don't get to caught up in what to eat or which exercises to do. Just be consistent. Keep your calories low and your step count high.

You know the interesting thing about it man is that right at the outset of your post you identified the cause of your weight gain as stress and grief. Address the root cause through counseling or therapy and the weight problem will take care of itself. I really believe that.

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That's what I can't seem to get under control. Anything over the counter that genuinely cuts down on cravings?

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Cocaine works well

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No victim mentality here. I know I got myself in this mess and only I can get myself out of it.

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Your A1C is in the low 6’s, you’re not dying next month.

Start eating more protein and veggies, cut out the sweets. Limit your carbs, quit drinking soda, drink water. Don’t pour sugar and flavored creamers into your coffee, drink it black. Use sourdough bread instead of generic white bread.
Get up and moving as you can tolerate it. You don’t have to run a marathon or spend 5 nights a week in the gym, even using resistence bands will help.

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The issue for me isn't necessarily overeating I think. And I don't drink coffee, I don't eat sweets and I've really cut down on alcohol consumption

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Everyone thinks this

They say thermonuclear dynamics do what they do but ive lost 128 lbs, and 100 lbs at different parts of my life. I only eat dinner. No soda, no sugar free this or that, just a meal of 1200 calories tops. Im 6'2 ex olineman, but my body has been set at 280 since 9th grade.

Same for my wife. Weve both been successfully skinny. Ive been 180 at different parts of my life and that is arguably unhealthy skinny for me, ive gotten comments.

The only way weve achieved weight loss is 48 to 72 hour fasts with high protein low carb/cal meals in between. Genetics play a hell of a role. Really is unfair but ive also had friends the opposite end. Had a friend who was high motabolism/high energy and hed get up after midnight to eat and he still couldnt put weight on. 30 year old guy who ate 4 meals a day and was damn near a stick.

Anyways, thats my experience. I can help you with fasting info if you want to take that route, theres a good bit of info to doing it healthily. Just certainly not fun to put in a hard days work to come home to nothing to eat but maybe broth (and thats a struggle too because if you oversalt, which is easy to do, youll get diarreah and flush your entire system).

Edit: To be clear, theres an alternative but its not a diet, its a lifestyle change. You can drop to your ideal weight but maintaining it will still seeing you eat only a meal a day, and certainly not carb/cal binging for that meal everyday. Pick your poison.

you know who this is, don't you?

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but the main thing for weight loss is cardio.

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this is totally untrue
A combination is best
More muscle=better resting metabolism which leads to burning calories even when not exercising

It's not worth it...eat a little less and move a little more. As we age our metabolism slows down.

AI Overview

Mounjaro (tirzepatide) side effects are primarily gastrointestinal, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. They are typically most intense when first starting the medication or increasing your dosage.

Common Side Effects
Most people experience mild to moderate digestive issues as the drug slows your stomach emptying.
These include:
Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea or constipation
Abdominal pain, bloating, or indigestion
Heartburn or acid reflux (GERD)
Burping (sometimes referred to as "sulfur burps") or flatulence
Decreased appetite
Fatigue or dizziness
Injection site reactions (redness or itching)
How to Manage
To reduce the severity of these symptoms, many doctors recommend:Eating smaller, low-fat mealsEating slowly and stopping when you feel full
Staying well-hydrated throughout the day

Rare but Serious Risks
While uncommon, Mounjaro can cause severe side effects that require immediate medical attention:
Pancreatitis: Severe, unrelenting stomach pain that may radiate to your back, often accompanied by persistent vomiting.
Gallbladder Issues: Severe pain in the upper right stomach, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), and fever.
Kidney Problems: Dehydration from vomiting or diarrhea can lead to kidney injury.
Look out for changes in urination, swelling, or extreme fatigue.

Severe Allergic Reactions: Hives, trouble breathing, or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Boxed Warning
Mounjaro carries an FDA boxed warning regarding the potential risk of thyroid C-cell tumors.
Animal studies have shown a potential link, though the risk in humans is currently unknown.
You should not take Mounjaro if you or your family have a history of certain thyroid cancers (like Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma).
Consult the FDA Medication Guide for a complete list of warnings and usage guidelines.
If you are experiencing concerning symptoms, consult your healthcare provider or visit the Mayo Clinic for official prescribing information.

4 years ago I was 300+ lbs and he been for years. A1C had been in a similar range as yours for years as well.

I started walking and slowly making tweaks to what I ate. I neither tried to walk 10,000 steps a day (I couldn’t fathom that) nor switch to a kale and quinoa diet from the start. I just tried to build a habit. I started by walking 20 minutes or so, 3-4 times a week.

After a while I walked a little further, then starting 5 times a week. Over the course of months I started walking every day for about 3000 steps. Once I was in the habit, walking every day became easier and I began walking further and further.

I also switched out foods for others. I stopped eating ice cream all the time and substituted Greek yogurt. I thought I’d hate it, but there are some that are very tasty. After a while I got serious about my caloric intake and began to monitor that. This is maybe a year in. Then I started to restrict my calories most days, saving a few days for eating what I wanted. The main idea was to just become more aware of what I was eating. I still ate pizza from time to time, just not once week.

After a while I was walking more than 10k steps a day and far more aware of what I was eating.

After about 2 years, I had lost 110lbs. All my blood tests were in normal range. My A1C had dropped to normal.

Two years later, I have gained about 10lbs back but I am still down 100lbs. I now walk 14k steps everyday and don’t restrict my diet like it did. I’m still aware of the calories I’m eating but don’t count every one.

I simply got in the habit of doing it. I did is sloooooow because I knew that was the only way I could change my outlook.

tl;dr Eat less and move more. Start slow, build a habit and it will most likely come off in time.