Liz this is on point! I've been listening to The Bible Project Podcast' "Firstborn" series this week and your article is totally tracking with how we humans try to seize things for ourselves (instead of trusting and receiving what God has for us), which lines up with the power structures of culture rather than God's upside down kingdom. Please keep writing about this! How we view and treat bodies in the church is far too cultural and we need some whistleblowing!
I should probably give myself time to digest all you have to say in this post before I respond. I should go through it line by line again, but I might see my blood pressure go up. Speaking of healthy levels of blood pressure, what if suddenly my blood pressure was consistently in an unhealthy range? What would I do? I would watch it carefully, talk to my doctor about it, and see if he thought I needed medication. And if I had to take blood pressure medication to live a healthier and longer life, I think everyone one would agree that I should take the drug. Also, when, if I did take it, my blood pressure came down, would I stop taking it? No, I wouldn’t because if I did, my blood pressure would go right back up.
Now, back to the topic you wrote about: Ozempic and all the controversy some are writing about as it is linked with diet culture and body image and easy ways to lose weight. I read the article you referenced, and I did not have the same reaction you did. I saw the slant the author took missing some very important medical facts. Diabetes II is a serious medical condition. I know because I watched it take my father’s life no matter how hard he fought to keep it under control. I saw it nearly blind him, cause his kidneys to fail, and it cause him great pain and discomfort from diabetic neuropathy. You can imagine how I don’t want the same fate.
I have fought diabetes II for over fifteen years when I was first diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I exercised, watched my diet, did intermittent fasting and was mostly successful until I wasn’t. Between that condition and typhoid disease and aging, my metabolism just was not helping me in my battle. I was losing the battle, and no matter what I did I could not lose weight. This was hard for someone who for most of her life was not overweight, but then I was suddenly obese and flirting with being a diabetic who would be on insulin for life.
My doctor told me in May that she would like me to try Mounjaro (a newer drug that is like Ozempic), but I resisted. I’d read all the scary articles. She said, it is insulin now and for the rest of your life if you don’t try Mounjaro. My husband agreed that I should try it. By the way, these medications were developed for people like me, and they are not administered in pill form, they are administered once a week by giving yourself a shot.
Had I let myself go and that is why I was in the position of needing a medication to lower my A1C and possibly lose weight? I don’t think so. I’ve fought hard for a decade and a half to lose weight so I could lower my A1C. In three months, I lost fifteen pounds without trying, and that was nice, but more importantly, my A1C came down one entire point. I feel healthier than I have in years and have now lost 20 pounds and have never seen my glucose levels this low in all the time I’ve been monitoring them. I no longer have neuropathy in my feet that would keep me awake in pain at night. If I were to stop using this drug once I reach my goal A1C number and weight, would my weight go up? Yes, most likely it would, but that is what happens to those with high blood pressure who stop taking meds once their blood pressure is in range also. I’m grateful for this drug that has the possibility of prolonging my life and giving me a better quality of life.
I hope others realize these drugs aren’t all about magic weight loss. They are what are saving the lives of many with diabetes.
Loved your breakdown of Ozempic here, friend. The Maintenance Phase podcast released an episode this week about the drug as well--haven’t listened to the whole episode yet but the conversations surrounding the drug and the continued toxicity of diet culture are so relevant and important. I just ordered a rental dress for the Navy Ball on Friday and it’s snug (so snug i can only hope shapewear will enable it to zip 😬). And it’s wild how much sizes and numbers affect our sense of self. We’ve been so conditioned to stay within a range, when we exceed or grow or remain beyond thinness, it can feel like such a personal failure. I’m still undoing so much toxic buildup of body image and health, but i so appreciate your voice and countless others who are giving words to all this.
Yes, Dobson's description of Trump as a 'baby Christian' was ridiculous, but I think he was half right!
Liz this is on point! I've been listening to The Bible Project Podcast' "Firstborn" series this week and your article is totally tracking with how we humans try to seize things for ourselves (instead of trusting and receiving what God has for us), which lines up with the power structures of culture rather than God's upside down kingdom. Please keep writing about this! How we view and treat bodies in the church is far too cultural and we need some whistleblowing!
I should probably give myself time to digest all you have to say in this post before I respond. I should go through it line by line again, but I might see my blood pressure go up. Speaking of healthy levels of blood pressure, what if suddenly my blood pressure was consistently in an unhealthy range? What would I do? I would watch it carefully, talk to my doctor about it, and see if he thought I needed medication. And if I had to take blood pressure medication to live a healthier and longer life, I think everyone one would agree that I should take the drug. Also, when, if I did take it, my blood pressure came down, would I stop taking it? No, I wouldn’t because if I did, my blood pressure would go right back up.
Now, back to the topic you wrote about: Ozempic and all the controversy some are writing about as it is linked with diet culture and body image and easy ways to lose weight. I read the article you referenced, and I did not have the same reaction you did. I saw the slant the author took missing some very important medical facts. Diabetes II is a serious medical condition. I know because I watched it take my father’s life no matter how hard he fought to keep it under control. I saw it nearly blind him, cause his kidneys to fail, and it cause him great pain and discomfort from diabetic neuropathy. You can imagine how I don’t want the same fate.
I have fought diabetes II for over fifteen years when I was first diagnosed with pre-diabetes. I exercised, watched my diet, did intermittent fasting and was mostly successful until I wasn’t. Between that condition and typhoid disease and aging, my metabolism just was not helping me in my battle. I was losing the battle, and no matter what I did I could not lose weight. This was hard for someone who for most of her life was not overweight, but then I was suddenly obese and flirting with being a diabetic who would be on insulin for life.
My doctor told me in May that she would like me to try Mounjaro (a newer drug that is like Ozempic), but I resisted. I’d read all the scary articles. She said, it is insulin now and for the rest of your life if you don’t try Mounjaro. My husband agreed that I should try it. By the way, these medications were developed for people like me, and they are not administered in pill form, they are administered once a week by giving yourself a shot.
Had I let myself go and that is why I was in the position of needing a medication to lower my A1C and possibly lose weight? I don’t think so. I’ve fought hard for a decade and a half to lose weight so I could lower my A1C. In three months, I lost fifteen pounds without trying, and that was nice, but more importantly, my A1C came down one entire point. I feel healthier than I have in years and have now lost 20 pounds and have never seen my glucose levels this low in all the time I’ve been monitoring them. I no longer have neuropathy in my feet that would keep me awake in pain at night. If I were to stop using this drug once I reach my goal A1C number and weight, would my weight go up? Yes, most likely it would, but that is what happens to those with high blood pressure who stop taking meds once their blood pressure is in range also. I’m grateful for this drug that has the possibility of prolonging my life and giving me a better quality of life.
I hope others realize these drugs aren’t all about magic weight loss. They are what are saving the lives of many with diabetes.
Loved your breakdown of Ozempic here, friend. The Maintenance Phase podcast released an episode this week about the drug as well--haven’t listened to the whole episode yet but the conversations surrounding the drug and the continued toxicity of diet culture are so relevant and important. I just ordered a rental dress for the Navy Ball on Friday and it’s snug (so snug i can only hope shapewear will enable it to zip 😬). And it’s wild how much sizes and numbers affect our sense of self. We’ve been so conditioned to stay within a range, when we exceed or grow or remain beyond thinness, it can feel like such a personal failure. I’m still undoing so much toxic buildup of body image and health, but i so appreciate your voice and countless others who are giving words to all this.