Weight loss is a challenge, no matter which way you look at it. But Kenny decided enough was enough and took the necessary steps to regain control of his health.
An engineering technician, he spoke to us about his experience with Wegovy, a game-changing drug in the fight against unwanted weight that is expected to launch in the UK in 2023.
Tell us about your weight loss journey, and how you came to try Wegovy.
Trying to lose weight was an ongoing issue since I was 21. I was on a drug before and I didn't have good results with it. It gave me anxiety and heart palpitations. It just wasn't good for me. I went on that for three years and then I gave up on it.
I saw some studies about Wegovy and I was really lucky to get it through my general practitioner. I was one of the first people to actually get it.
Did you have any hesitations about using it?
A little bit. When I first started I heard about some of the bad side effects like throwing up and all of the different things that come along with it like the possibility of cancer. I looked at the data and figured out that a lot of that stuff doesn't happen.
I do get a lot of the side effects everybody talks about. But the symptoms were very manageable with anti-nausea medicine from my primary care physician.
So what motivated you to overcome those hesitations?
I needed a lifestyle change. I was really unhappy with where I was. I kind of ran out of options. I’d thought about bariatric surgery but that wasn't really something I wanted to do. I decided to give Wegovy a shot.
I got really serious with my dieting and exercise on top of that and that was really the driving force.
How long did it take you to start seeing results?
The results were fast. I would say the first month I lost about 16 kg, and then it just started falling off at that point. And it’s been a straight downward spiral until I hit 127 kg in July. So I think I started out at 181 kg. And now I’m at 108 kg.
Are there any bad habits that Wegovy has helped you kick? Are there any new habits that you’ve formed as a result?
It helped me to manage portion sizes.
It also put a stop to the sugary drink addiction that I had. And then I was a pretty big binge drinker before all of this. I would say alcoholism runs in my family. I was definitely going down that road and that's another positive effect of this. I don't drink anymore. I have no cravings for alcohol and all that's gone away.
What's been the greatest challenge on this weight loss journey?
You don't really see what's happening. You're gonna have good days, bad days, hard days, and sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel in the process. I feel like for me that was really the hardest part. I get lost in my own head with it sometimes. Just being hard on myself. The only thing I didn't do was talk with any sort of therapist. I think talking to someone about it would have made it a lot easier.
Would you say your weight impacted your confidence, mental health, and relationships?
Yeah, absolutely. So before all of this, I had a girlfriend through high school and then I wasn't with anybody for about five and a half years. I was embarrassed by my weight and didn’t want to do anything. But now I’m going out on dates every weekend and meeting people. I’m a completely different person.
Do you think losing weight has changed your life in a positive way?
Absolutely. 100%. I'll never go back. This has been a complete lifestyle change for me and it's really shown me how weight loss can transform your life.
Do you ever get cravings now?
Some of my cravings have returned but they're way more manageable at this point. It's nothing like what it was before. For me, it's just being resilient in the gym or substituting with something healthy.
Did you ever reach a plateau in weight loss?
I can't say I ever really plateaued but when I started going to the gym, there were definitely some times when I'd stagnate for a month or so.
I'm not losing weight like I was at the beginning but right now I'm still probably losing two to three pounds a month, which is kind of ideal because I'm trying to get into bodybuilding.
Were there any moments where you really thought about giving up?
For a lot of people, I feel like it's hard getting through that first couple of weeks and letting the medicine build up in your body and get used to it. After you get through that it's definitely worth it.
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