Wegovy to Keto: Dev's 15kg Weight Loss Experiment – And the Rebound That Followed

Okay, let's get real. I'm not a fitness influencer. I'm a tech director, a philosopher at heart, and a reluctant biohacker. My body, like my code, is a system I'm constantly trying to optimize. And lately, that system was screaming for a reboot. Neck pain from endless coding sessions, anxiety fueled by caffeine and deadlines, and a creeping waistline – something had to give. So, I dove headfirst into the weight loss rabbit hole, armed with Wegovy, keto cookbooks, and a healthy dose of skepticism.

The Weight Loss Problem: It's Not Just About Aesthetics

We live in a world obsessed with productivity, and I'm no exception. But what happens when your physical health starts dragging down your mental performance? For me, it was a vicious cycle: stress eating, followed by guilt and lethargy, leading to more stress. The extra weight wasn't just about vanity; it was impacting my energy levels, my focus, and my overall well-being. As a developer, I need my brain firing on all cylinders. Coding with brain fog is like trying to debug with one hand tied behind your back.

Furthermore, the sedentary lifestyle inherent in the tech world is a silent killer. We spend hours hunched over keyboards, neglecting our bodies and feeding our minds with information overload. This isn't just a personal problem; it's an epidemic in our industry. We need to address the root causes of this imbalance, not just slap a band-aid on the symptoms with another miracle diet.

Phase 1: Wegovy – The Initial Jolt

I'll be honest: I was desperate. I'd tried everything – intermittent fasting, calorie counting, even that weird celery juice cleanse everyone was raving about. Nothing seemed to stick. So, when my doctor suggested Wegovy, I was intrigued. It's a GLP-1 receptor agonist, which basically means it mimics a hormone that tells your brain you're full. The idea of suppressing my insatiable appetite sounded like a dream come true.

The Honeymoon Phase

The first few weeks were…euphoric. The food noise vanished. I could walk past a bakery without feeling the urge to devour every pastry in sight. I was eating smaller portions, feeling satisfied, and the weight was melting off. It felt like a cheat code for weight loss. I dropped about 7kg in the first month. My neck pain even seemed to lessen, probably due to the reduced inflammation from eating healthier.

The Dark Side of Wegovy

But the honeymoon didn't last. The side effects started creeping in: nausea, constipation, and a general feeling of unease. And then there was the mental aspect. Wegovy doesn't just suppress your appetite; it can also suppress your joy in food. Meals became a chore, not a pleasure. I started feeling disconnected from my body, like I was just a passenger along for the ride.

And let's talk about the cost. Wegovy is expensive. Like, really expensive. It's a significant financial commitment, and one that I wasn't sure I could sustain long-term. Plus, the long-term effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists are still being studied. The anarchist in me recoils at the thought of relying on a pharmaceutical drug for the rest of my life.

Actionable Insight: Wegovy Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Rapid Weight Loss: It works, plain and simple.
• Appetite Suppression: Reduces food cravings and helps control portion sizes.
• Potential for Improved Health Markers: Can improve blood sugar levels and blood pressure.

Cons:

• Side Effects: Nausea, constipation, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal issues are common.
• Cost: Wegovy is very expensive and may not be covered by insurance.
• Long-Term Dependence: Requires ongoing injections and may lead to dependence.
• Mental Health Impact: Can suppress joy in eating and create a disconnect from your body.

Phase 2: Keto – Embracing the Fat-Fueled Life

I knew Wegovy wasn't a sustainable solution. I needed a long-term strategy, something that would teach me how to eat mindfully and nourish my body. Enter: the ketogenic diet. The idea of drastically reducing carbs and forcing my body to burn fat for fuel appealed to my inner biohacker. It felt like a system reset, a way to reprogram my metabolism.

Diving Deep into Ketosis

The first week of keto was brutal. The dreaded