My Weight lOss Journey

At my postop appointment after my third back surgery, my doctor looked me straight in the eye and said: “You need to lose weight.” He had hinted at it before, but this time he didn’t soften it. I even joked to my mom, “Do you think he really wants me to lose weight?” But the truth was, I felt embarrassed. I felt ashamed. And I knew he was right. He was being real with me.

This wasn’t about vanity. This was about survival. I had pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, and reflux so severe that I often woke up at night throwing up in my sleep — putting me at risk for aspiration pneumonia. This wasn’t just “you’re overweight.” This was my life. I had two children that needed their mom to be healthy.

Imade the decision to start weight loss with GLP-1 therapy (GLUCAGON likE Peptide). I lost over 90 pounds. for every pound I lost, I gained something back. I gained my life. I gained my confidence. I gained my health. I came off three medications. I stopped waking up sick in the night. For the first time in decades, I felt at home in my body again.

But here’s something patients don’t hear enough: after six months, my insurance stopped paying for my medication. I was left wondering how I could keep affording the treatment that had completely transformed my life. That’s when I learned there were other options — including compounded medications — that made it possible to continue safely and affordably. Sometimes insurance covers it. Sometimes it doesn’t. Either way, you deserve access to care that works for you.

Here’s what I want you to know: these medications aren’t magic, and they’re not for everyone. Some are FDA-approved, others are compounded options that are not. I can’t guarantee results. Everyone’s journey is different. But for me, this was life-changing.

If this sounds familiar to you — if you’re tired of the cycle, tired of trying everything and getting nowhere — then listen to your heart, not the voices of fear around you. People may say, “Oh my God, you’re taking that?” But the real question is: what’s the alternative? Staying stuck in the same cycle over and over again?

This isn’t a lifetime sentence. This is a tool. And when used safely, with the right guidance, it can transform your health and your life.

I’M here if your insurance covers it. I’m here if you’re pursuing a brand name. I’m here if compounding is the best option for you. My role is to guide you safely, support you fully, and remind you that you are not alone in this.

This was my journey. Now I get to be a part of yours.