As a retired Navy veteran, working out and staying active has always been part of my life. But even despite regular exercise, my weight remained high thanks to my food intake. I definitely ate too much in the past. I would often get hungry mid-afternoon and have an entire bag of chips. Eating was also how I managed my anxiety; I would feel better after I ate. Before I knew it I was over 300 pounds and my primary healthcare provider told me I needed to lose weight, especially because I had a heart condition.
I was hesitant about trying weight loss medication but felt they could be an answer to my problems after I saw a commercial for a medication on television. I had previously tried to lose weight by taking supplements from the local vitamin store, but most of them weren’t good options for me because of my heart condition. I decided to go see my provider and see what was available for me.
My provider agreed to prescribe weight loss medication for me, just to try it out. I had some initial issues with insurance but eventually connected with a TriCare nurse, who recommended CONTRAVE as an option that my plan would cover. (I later learned that CONTRAVE is available at a discount through CurAccess specialty pharmacies. As an older American whose health insurance will change over time, I wanted to note this.)
Since I’ve started CONTRAVE, I have lost quite a bit of my body weight! It wasn’t always at the same rate each week, but I have been so happy with the results I’ve seen over the long term. To those considering CONTRAVE, know that the weight loss comes from really sticking with it.
Taking CONTRAVE, my body seems to better understand when I’m satisfied and can stop eating. I still enjoy many of my favorite foods, but now I just eat much less of them. I haven't given up chips completely, I still eat a few chips every now and then, but never the whole bag. I am so thankful that taking CONTRAVE meant I could pass on any crazy fad diets.
I’m fortunate to live in a 55+ community in sunny Florida where I can regularly hit the gym, pool, or pickleball courts. I used to trip and fall a lot when I played pickleball at my higher weight, but losing weight has helped. These days you can find me doing at least one hour of cardio each day.
People have really noticed that I’ve lost weight. I think it’s really important that people know about all the weight loss medication options out there. CONTRAVE has helped me in more ways than one by empowering me to prioritize my health.
As for some future goals, well, I currently have over 50 pairs of pants that are too big for me—maybe my wife and I will have to go shopping soon!
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