Dr.ObesityLA said:

Anxiety increase on mental health: counterintuitive, but losing weight rapidly triggered anxiety for me.

Adding a me-too, because a thread of one person's experience is not much use.

dave_SLC said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (291 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

One year anniversary on mental health — reflections:

What I wish I'd known: the side effects are temporary, the benefits compound over time, protein is more important than I thought, and the mental health aspect needs as much attention as the physical.

What surprised me: how much my relationship with food changed, the cascade of health improvements beyond weight, and how supportive this community is.

What I'd do differently: start therapy earlier, prioritize resistance training from day 1, and stop comparing my progress to others. Everyone's journey is unique.

dave_SLC said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (291 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

Body image adjustment with mental health: I've lost 63 lbs but when I look in the mirror, I still see my old self sometimes. "Phantom fat" is a real phenomenon.

My therapist specializes in body image issues with weight loss patients. She says it can take 12-18 months for your brain's body map to update. In the meantime: take progress photos (your eyes lie but cameras don't), try on old clothes, and be patient with yourself.

dave_SLC said:

Before/after narrative for mental health — one year in: Before (291 lbs): Winded climbing stairs, chronic back pain, pre-diabetic, on 3 medications,…

Thank you for spelling out the reasoning rather than just the conclusion. Printing the relevant bit and taking it with me.

Moderator note: a post naming a supplier has been edited. Discuss suppliers in the review sections, not here. Tagging this one for the weekly digest.