- The Weekly Dose
- Posts
- The Dangers of Comparing Your GLP-1 Progress to Others on Social Media
The Dangers of Comparing Your GLP-1 Progress to Others on Social Media
The Weekly Dose – Issue #4
Hello and welcome to another edition of The Weekly Dose!
Ever felt like your weight loss journey isn't moving fast enough? You're not alone! This week, we dive into why comparing your GLP-1 progress to others on social media might be hurting more than helping.
📌 Here's what's inside this issue:
✅ Main Topic: The Dangers of Comparing YOUR GLP-1 Progress to Others on Social Media
✅ The Weekly Win: Mandi's 180 Pound GLP-1 Transformation
✅ Resources: Atomic Habits - proven framework for improving everyday
✅ Poll of the Week: How has social media impacted your GLP-1 journey?
💡 Let's dive in!
📌 Main Topic: The Dangers of Comparing Your GLP-1 Progress to Others on Social Media
"Comparison is the thief of joy."
If you're comparing your GLP-1 progress to people's success stories on social media, you're doing it WRONG! Social media should spark hope, not make you feel bad about your journey. Use those posts as proof that YOU can do it too!
Before-and-After Photos Without Context
Those amazing transformation photos you see online? They rarely tell the whole story. You don't see the months of ups and downs. You don't see the tears or the tough days. You just see the start and finish line – missing all the important steps in between.
Fast Losers vs. Slow and Steady
Some people lose weight fast on GLP-1 meds. Others lose it slowly. Both ways work! Your body is unique. Your genes, age, starting weight, and many other things affect how fast you lose weight. Just because someone dropped 20 pounds in their first month doesn't mean that's normal or that you're falling behind.
Imagine someone's weight loss journey as an iceberg in the ocean. The small tip that sticks out above the water is what you see in a social media post. But the huge part under the water is hidden from view.
The Emotional and Psychological Toll of Comparison
No one is perfect. I have fallen into this trap before as well. I think to myself, "I did great this week," step on the scale, then realize nothing changed. Even worse if it went up!
Denial sets in and I think the scale is not working. I step off, reset and weigh in again. The same number! What is going on? Now I'm angry!
Then you feel beaten, thinking to yourself "why am I even trying?" This leads to comfort-seeking. For me, it's sweets. I wouldn't eat 1 or 2 cookies - I would finish an entire sleeve of cookies. It's a nasty cycle that must be broken.
Why You Shouldn't Cut Calories Too Low
Some social media posts brag about eating very few calories. This is harmful! Your body needs fuel to work right. Going too low in calories can:
Slow down your metabolism
Make you lose muscle instead of fat
Leave you without energy
Cause hair loss and other health problems
Make it harder to stick with your plan long-term
Your body is smart - if you suddenly eat much less, it thinks there's a food shortage and holds onto fat even more.
The Risks of Skipping Meals to "Speed Up" Weight Loss
GLP-1 meds already curb hunger. Skipping meals on top of that is risky business. You need protein, vitamins, and minerals every day. Without them, you might face:
Weakness and dizziness
Poor healing
Muscle loss
Vitamin shortfalls
Blood sugar swings
How to Stay Focused on YOUR Journey
How do you stop this comparison trap? Journaling! Track your daily caloric intake, activity (exercising/walking), stress, and sleep. Health apps like My Fitness Pal, Apple Health, and Cal AI (AI food tracking) can help track some or all of these data points. If you rewind this scenario and recorded everything, you can see how inconsistent you were and would better understand why the result was what it was.
Success can be measured in multiple ways, not just the scale. Measuring success beyond the scale is what matters. Here are examples of Non-Scale Victories (NSVs):
Having more energy
Sleeping better
Getting off blood pressure medications
Clothes fitting better or looser
Strength gains
Fewer cravings
Your Only Competition Is Yesterday's You
Remember that your GLP-1 journey competition is against yesterday's YOU. How can you make one better choice every day?
Progress isn't a straight line - it's a series of ups and downs. But when you zoom out over the course of one, two, or five years, the trend points downward.
Trust the process. Improve everyday by 1%. Celebrate every win and YOU too will be a success story.
🚀 The Weekly Win: Mandi's 180-Pound GLP-1 Transformation
1️⃣ Tell us about your journey so far.
I took my first shot 1/10/24 at 464 lbs. As of this morning, 3/1/25 I am 279.4! So I've been on the medication a little less than 14 months. 184.6 lbs down.
2️⃣ Which GLP-1 medication are you on?
Zepbound
3️⃣ What made you decide to start GLP-1?
I was miserable in my body and knew I would never be able to lose the weight on my own. My mom had lost 100 lbs on Ozempic and kept telling me I should get on it. I did not qualify for it as I was not diabetic but my doctor told me about the newly FDA approved Zepbound which had promising results so I went for it. It was the best decision I've ever made.
4️⃣ What does your 'final destination' look like?
My goal weight when I started was just to get below 220 lbs because that's what I remember weighing when I was 11. But now I say my goal weight is 214 so I can say I've lost 250 lbs. Once I reach that goal, I plan on getting various skin removal surgeries that will likely bring me into Onederland. I have no desire to be thin. I just want to be healthy and curvy. I want to get to a point where my weight does not stop me from doing anything.
The number 1 tip I'd share is to make sure you are eating enough. I know there are days where the last thing you want to do is eat, but you need to. Just prioritize protein. Make sure you are hitting your goals. And drink tons of water!
Mandi's story shows that big change is possible with the right tools and mindset. She didn't focus on getting "skinny" - she focused on getting healthy and living without limits. Her honest journey reminds us that the goal isn't perfection but progress. If Mandi can lose 180+ pounds and transform her life, you can reach your goals too!
💬 What part of Mandi's story resonated with you the most? Reply and let me know!
📢 Have your own GLP-1 success story to share? Your journey could inspire thousands! Reply to this email or DM me on https://x.com/TheDoseWeekly —I'd love to feature YOU in a future 🚀 The Weekly Win!
🔥 Let's keep winning together!
🛠️ Resources/Tools/Hacks: Atomic Habits - proven framework for improving everyday
Atomic Habits by James Clear was one of the best books I have ever read in life. I can't stop recommending this book to my friends and family. And I am going to do the same to The Weekly Dose community!
The one story that stands out to me the most was about the British Cycling coach who put in place 1% improvements in every part of his team. In a nutshell, the British Cycling did not win gold medals for 110 years until Dave Brailsford was hired. Over the course of 10 years, by making tiny 1% improvements, the British Cycling team won 178 World Championships and 66 Olympic gold medals, and took 5 Tour De France victories.
I can't recommend this book enough. You can get it on Amazon using this link.
How has social media impacted your GLP-1 journey? |
📣 That’s a Wrap!
💌 Enjoyed this issue?
Share this post to a friend on GLP-1s!
Comment & tell us—what’s been your biggest challenge on GLP-1s?
📆 See you next week!
— The Weekly Dose Team
📢 P.S. Follow us on social media. At the very bottom of this email 👇