How Ricki Lake lost 35 pounds after refusing to take Ozempic

• Ricki Lake claims her doctor was pushing her to take Ozempic as a weight loss aid.

• The TV star decided to make lifestyle changes and lost 35 pounds.

• Experts say exercise and diet are still important for weight loss, even if people take GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic..

Ricki Lake claims her doctor was pushing her to take Ozempic to help her lose weight.

The 55-year-old TV star, who recently lost 35 pounds, says she was reluctant to use the drug and, along with her husband, made lifestyle changes to lose the weight.

In an interview with Good Morning America, Lake explained, “The doctor insisted, we were both overweight, and he said you’re not going to make it without it,” is what he told me.

“I like a challenge and I like to prove people wrong, and that’s why it pissed me off,” he added.

Lake says she and her husband used intermittent fasting and the keto diet. They also added Pilates to their routine and started tracking their sleep.

Lake says he now feels the best he’s ever felt in his life.

Reflecting on her weight loss journey, she said: This is a lifestyle change, and I’ve made this my job and it’s become my joy. I love it. I think it’s safe to say I’m in the best shape of my life.

dmats like Ozempic are not an answer for sustainable weight loss

Lake achieved his weight loss without using Ozempic. However, the medication has risen as a weight loss tool along with similar GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.

However, health experts say that these drugs are not a magic solution for sustainable weight loss.

Registered dietitian Rachel Benight believes some doctors are quick to prescribe the drug before encouraging their patients to make early nutrition and lifestyle changes.

However, she says it’s important to note that the nutrition training doctors receive is minimal compared to that of a registered dietitian.

She says that taking Ozempic is not the best method for achieving sustainable weight loss.

First, note that not all weight loss is rapid loss.

People who experience rapid weight loss are losing a combination of fat and muscle, and the research here is very clear: as we lose muscle mass, our metabolic rate decreases, making subsequent attempts at weight loss even more difficult. weight, he explains.

Bennight says that people using Ozempic are more likely to lose muscle mass unless they intentionally eat sufficient amounts of protein combined with a strength training program.

As soon as someone stops the drug, they have a high chance of regaining the weight if they haven’t made nutrition and lifestyle changes along with taking the drug, he says.

Kim Shapira, registered dietitian and nutritional therapist, says Ozempic is less of a magic fix and more of a life raft.

They were in an obesity epidemic, and some people will use Ozempic’s medical support as an opportunity to push themselves toward a more sustainable lifestyle, while others won’t, he notes.

Ozempic will not change your eating habits. It won’t change an inconsistent routine either. What it can do is eliminate the urge to eat emotionally and help you tune in to hunger, he says. But in the long run, it will fail completely if changes are not made.

Lifestyle changes which can improve health and help with weight loss

Lakes’ chosen lifestyle changes included intermittent fasting and keto. However, this is not the only way to improve your eating and exercise habits.

The first recommendation I give to all my clients with a weight loss goal is to eat sufficient amounts of protein. Research has shown that protein ingestion increases the release of GLP-1, which is the hormone that Ozempic mimics, Benight explains.

Eating adequate amounts of protein also helps prevent muscle breakdown when you’re losing weight, which Benight says is very important for maintaining a healthy metabolism long-term.

His advice is to get at least 30g of protein per meal.

One nutritional change that is important to make while taking a medication like Ozempic is to eat nutrient-dense foods.

Because of the drug’s appetite-suppressing effects, people tend to consume insufficient amounts of important vitamins and minerals found naturally in food, Benight explains.

In addition to filling your plates with protein, you should prioritize plenty of fruits and vegetables to fill in potential nutritional gaps, she notes.

Exercising regularly is another lifestyle change to consider. Bennight says walking and strength training are good for focusing.

Expert advice for sustainable weight loss

Ultimately, Bennight says effective fat loss comes down to being in a caloric deficit.

Eat at a reasonable calorie deficit based on your needs, he advises. A registered dietitian or nutrition professional can help you with this, but typically eating 250 to 500 fewer calories per day will force your body to break down stored energy (fat or muscle) as a source of calories.

You want to avoid doing anything drastic to make sure your weight loss is sustainable.

Shapira has six rules for sustainable weight loss. Eat when you are physically hungry. Start with half and wait 15 minutes to see if you need more, he advises.

Make sure your diet includes foods you like, too, as long as those foods make you feel good and don’t make you feel bad, suggests Shapira.

His third rule is to eat without distractions. Medicines like Ozempic can help us identify whether we were eating out of stress, boredom or hunger, he explains.

His advice is to pay attention to what you really need and act accordingly.

Finally, he recommends moving your body every day, drinking 8 or more glasses of water and getting plenty of sleep.

Take away

Whether you choose to lose weight with the help of medication or choose to give it up like Ricki Lake, the message is clear.

Making healthy lifestyle changes is important for sustainable weight loss. These can include prioritizing protein, eating nutrient-dense foods, and exercising regularly.

See the original article at Healthline