Enigma Uncensored

Here we are, a gorgeous Saturday morning in sunny Whorlando Florida, before the big fire ball in the sky becomes too intense. We are gathered here today to a little walkie poo through my gardens. Are we ready? Let's go.... This week, we're starting in the backyard because I have to show off the passion flower. Has it become obvious to anyone that I absolutely love the passion fruit flower? It's so cool and unique. This particular variety of passion fruit, the blooms only open in the evening. So, I went out last night to make sure I got this picture. Some passion flowers, the blooms open all day and close at night. Still others only bloom during the night and close during the day. Fascinating, huh? As you can see below, I took the crown off the pineapple and planted it to start a new plant. You can do this with any organic pineapple you buy at the store by the way. (Non organic ones have some kind of growth inhibitor sprayed on them). All you have to do is cut off the crown

 I don't have a lot to report. Life on Wegovy has become routine, and I feel as though I'm saying the same kinds of things over and over. That said, there is about to be a change in the household. Nick, my partner, was just prescribed Ozempic through the VA. Yes, people, even the Veteran's Administration prescribes this stuff depending on the case, obviously. Nick is a Marine (Marines never retire hooyah) veteran of the Gulf War. He's diabetic, so he was prescribed Ozempic over Wegovy. (As we discussed last week, they're the same medication.) He and I discussed my journey more in depth. I gave him all my warnings. Drink more water than ever before, eat slow, avoid high fat, high sugar foods, etc. To be clear, I cook for the house, and I make his lunch for work every day. He has, by my diet plan, been following a diabetic's diet. But, Nick has his own mind and this thing called purchasing power and a vehicle. Trust, he hasn't even made an attempt

 I took my 12th injection of Wegovy yesterday. For those unaware of what Wegovy is, it's also known as Ozempic and is a GLP1 agonist. Originally developed for diabetes, doctors noticed weight loss and appetite suppression as a side effect. Then, off label use of Ozempic began. Since so many were using Ozempic for off label, the supply for diabetes patients was being threatened. Therefore, the company decided to start Wegovy to protect the Ozempic supply. They are the same medication, made by the same company, just one is prescribed if you have diabetes and the other for weight loss. This way, diabetic patients would never have to go without their medication. One thing I want to talk about this week boils down to the fact that I've noticed since losing twenty five pounds, people treat me better. Strangers. My friends are the same loveable assholes they've always been. Cashiers look me in the eye now. When I'm walking in the store, people acknowledge my existence

All right all right all right Yesterday, I took my 11th injection of Wegovy.   On June 14th, I saw my doctor for my second weigh in. In ten weeks of taking Wegovy, I lost a total of 25 lbs. She and I are pleased.  As promised, here are my before pics Yes I know there’s a stain on the shirt. Let’s all move on. 😂 Now, before we get to progress pics, I decided to take pics of everything I ate Monday, so you can have an idea of my diet.  I typically wake around 6am when the cats decide they want to be fed and can’t wait a second longer. One of them will climb on me and “make biscuits”. Never fails.  I do strength training four days a week for forty five minutes: Before I go to the gym, I have a protein shake. I still drink this if it’s not gym day, btw. ;) Around 9a, I have a smoothie made of nonfat Greek yogurt, kale, spinach, peas, flax seed, chia seed, hemp seed, papaya, passion fruit, blueberries and mulberries Lunch is around 1130a and was a salad made with chicken, lettuce, kale, ca

Yesterday, I took my tenth shot of Wegovy for weight loss. As a reminder, I'm fortunate in that my insurance was willing to cover this medication because of my dual diagnosis of heart disease and obesity. I am also lucky that the medication worked for me from the start, at the lowest/starting dose. My doctor and I agree as long as I'm feeling the effects, there really is no reason to raise the dose beyond the starter/lowest dose of 0.25mg. I continue to feel the same appetite suppressant effects as well as relief from "food noise". The colloquial term refers to obsessive or intrusive thoughts about food, which can affect people's everyday lives. While I still have cravings, they're for things like blackberries and tomatoes rather than snack cakes and cookies. Cravings I'm happy to indulge, rather than worry about the effect on my long term health. With that said, this has not been "easy". I want to dispel any thoughts one may have that y

 I began taking Wegovy for weight loss nine weeks ago. At my first weigh in, I lost seventeen pounds. That was almost four weeks ago. My next weigh in is June 14th. We will see then what the scales say, but I know I'm smaller. ;) I've continued eating a low fat, low calorie mostly whole food diet. I will repeat this at nauseum, if I have to, I don't have the will, cravings, or even thought of eating what anyone would consider unhealthy food. I have no gall bladder, lost it back when I was in my twenties, after a horrible pregnancy where it needed to be removed but they couldn't because I was pregnant. Less than a month after having a c section, they removed my gall bladder. The gall bladder's function is to store and release bile when you need it. Bile is used to break down fat. This all relates, I'm getting to it, stick with me. ;) Mind you, I (and everyone else who doesn't have a gallbladder) still get bile released in kind of a steady st

This is for my Blogger Readers: This experience I've gone through these last few months, I do mean ALL of it, has changed my life and perspective. I encountered a crossroads and forged a whole new path forward, and you supported me along the way. So to all of you who supported me with your kindness, words of encouragement, and grace these last few months:  Thank you.  Truly.  Joy, JN, Smarty, Odds, Bbuckwwheat, Bow, Bloom, Goddess, and Curious. You are incredible people and deserve more than just my gratitude. Now, onto our regularly scheduled programming: I don't know why I keep needing to do a spiel at the beginning of these anymore. They're super repetitive, don't you think? TLDR: Been on Wegovy for seven weeks due to health issues. If you want to know more, I suggest you read the previous entries. :) All you have to do is click on the Wegovy link at the bottom of this post.  For those who are thinking, what happens when you go off this medication? I say to you, I wa

Diet and Lifestyle Changes  I took my sixth shot of Wegovy yesterday. As most of my close friends already know, I lost seventeen pounds in my first month on Wegovy. To be clear, I’ve been made very aware that this is not typical. But let’s be fair, rarely anything about me ever is. 😂 All the “experts” say “Go slow, don’t make too many changes at once.” I dove in headfirst and changed everything about my diet and sedentary lifestyle. It’s been work, but work made easier by taking Wegovy. It’s not like I’m taking it, eating all the same things, and expecting results. That said, not everyone experiences the same amount of relief from appetite and cravings on the lowest dose. I literally started noticing the very first day I took the shot. I am fortunate in that it was almost instant. Remember, individual results may vary, and consult a healthcare professional before changing your diet and lifestyle, as I did. For clarity, I ate high fat, calorie dense food before taking Wegovy. Baking ha