I Looked Up, and Suddenly I Was Fat

Thomas Andersen
Managing Editor
[email protected]
April 23, 2026

Preface: I’m not a doctor; this is not medical advice. I’m simply a man on a mission to achieve optimal health and wellness, and I’m sharing what has worked for me as I lose weight and get fit again. What works for me may work for others, but the fact remains – we need to continue this discussion on a larger scale.

Before COVID

Before the pandemic and associated madness, I was a stocky 200 lbs, and I was eating well and rarely drinking alcohol. I had a pretty healthy lifestyle. I mainly used cannabis gelcaps at a 1:1 ratio THC:CBD formulation to brute force pain management. Sure, ibuprofen was a big help in mitigating inflammation, and I was taking gabapentin daily in moderate doses for neuropathic pain. Major cannabinoid therapy covered what conventional pain medications didn’t. I certainly had no need for heart meds or antidepressant medications.  

How Did I Get So Overweight?

The weight did not appear overnight. It came from a sedentary lifestyle that took hold during the pandemic lockdowns and never really went away. At the same time, my alcohol consumption increased dramatically and became a daily habit. My diet got worse too, with greasy, processed foods becoming regular staples rather than occasional indulgences. 

When social restrictions weren’t too draconian, I was staying out late every night, hanging with the homies, chasing tail, or just getting loaded. Eventually, that lifestyle caught up with me. I became depressed, started isolating myself, and fell into a pattern of ordering in food, cannabis, and alcohol, eating and drinking my way into morbid obesity and poor health.

When I Finally Looked Up!

When I finally looked up and confronted what was happening, I went through a full medical workup. That included bloodwork with a full CBC, A1C, thyroid panel, testosterone panel, and lipid panel. I also had CT scans of the abdomen, which gave insight into my organ health, and MRI scans of the spine and skull that showed old injuries as likely sources of pain. InBody body composition scans helped quantify just how far things had gone. 

Blood panel indicated triglyceride levels were so high the doctor said I was at-risk for heart disease, and blood sugar levels measured at pre-diabetic, on the borderline of type 2 diabetes. By that point, I was also relying on multiple prescription medications for blood pressure, pain management, and depression. 

I was, for the first time in my life, afraid of death. I was afraid of dying on these terms.

Table 1: Date, Weight, Body Composition

Date	Weight	Body Composition
12/20/19 10/15/25	200 lbs 350 lbs	20% bodyfat 50.0% bodyfat
10/24/25	330 lbs	45.5% bodyfat
2/20/26	312 lbs	43.0% bodyfat
4/16/26 4/30/26	294 lbs TBD	41.3% bodyfat TBD

So, What Exactly Am I Doing About My Health Now?

There is no magic bullet, no magic pill; this is a pie that has multiple slices, each of which needs to be addressed for optimal men’s health. Focusing too much on any one area without keeping discipline high and maintaining other standards is a quandary I find myself falling into from time to time, but a schedule and documenting progress keep me honest and consistent.

Diet

I began eating a calorie-deficient, paleo-based diet of fruits, vegetables, and white meat. I began intermittent fasting as well. I bought a blender/juicer and began making protein shakes in the mornings and fruit/veggie blends to drink throughout the day. Occasionally, I’d have a steak or burger, but mostly just unprocessed fruits and vegetables, some fish or poultry.

An acronym that a nutritionist told me to remember when remaining cognizant of what to avoid: C.R.A.P.  Carbonated Beverages; Refined Sugars; Alcohol; Processed Foods. That has stuck with me through the mental ups and downs, the temptations, if you will, that arise intermittently when on a strict diet/intake regimen.

Exercise

I began walking – a lot. Light dumbbells for arms and shoulders, with bodyweight calisthenics making up the majority of my exercise. Bodyweight squats, push-ups, and leg lifts are the 3 main exercises incorporated into my calisthenics routine. The more weight I’ve lost, the more cardio I’ve been able to do, as my lower back and knees don’t feel so strained.

Vitamins/Minerals/Supplements

I chose a simple and solid multivitamin as a foundation. For sustained focus, energy, and metabolic support, I take one B-vitamin with breakfast. For bone support, I added calcium citrate, magnesium glycinate, and Vitamins D3, K1 & K2.  

Table 2: Vitamin/Mineral Supplements

Supplement	Details / Daily Amount
Men’s One-a-Day Multivitamin 50+	Daily multivitamin
Jarrow’s Formula’s B-Vitamin	B6 2.5mg; Folate 1360 mcg; B12 5000 mcg / daily
The Vitamin Shoppe Calcium Citrate	1200mgs / daily
Jarrow’s Formula’s Magnesium Glycinate	400mgs / daily
Jarrow’s Formula’s “K-Right”	Vit D3 2000 IUs; K1 500mcg; K2/MK-4 1500mcg; K2/MK-7 180mcg / daily

Disclaimer: The author has no financial interest in the mentioned brands and products. The author purchased these products after finding the quality and price point acceptable.

Medication

After multiple medical consultations and resistance to taking “the jab,” I began a GLP-1 treatment with semaglutide.

Within 8 weeks of starting peptide therapy, I had noticeable improvements in my biomarkers, with normalized triglyceride and blood sugar levels and considerable weight loss.

Cannabinoid Therapies

I researched studies until my eyes watered, and invested time, money, and body in cannabinoid therapies evaluation and titration to effect to remedy semaglutide side effects, and address pre-existing neuropathic and radicular pain.

I created an oral blend from a number of source products and then self-tested it, carefully titrating dosages of selected major cannabinoids, minor cannabinoids, and terpenes to help mitigate side effects while also addressing neuropathic and radicular pain. 

In my experience, THC had a direct impact on neuropathic and radicular pain, and THCv helped counter “the munchies.” CBDa helped with semaglutide-induced nausea and behaved like Zofran in studies. CBD and CBDa also helped with pain and inflammation, while CBD and CBG appeared to assist with liver function, gut motility, and inflammation. CBN supports sleep and recovery. 

Table 3: Cannabinoid Therapies – Dosage and Source Table

Product / Source	Details
Breez THC – Indica / Local Dispensary	THC tablets – 20mg ea
Wyld Gummies – THC:THCv / Local Dispensary	1:1 THC:THCv gummies – 10 mgs ea
Level Experience – CBD / Hemp-Derived, online order	CBD tablets – 25 mgs ea
Level Experience – CBDa / Hemp-Derived, online order	CBDa tablets – 25 mgs ea
Level Experience – CBG / Hemp-Derived, online order	CBG tablets – 25 mgs ea
Charlotte’s Web CBN gummies / Hemp-Derived, online order	20 mgs ea

Disclaimer: The author has no financial interest in the mentioned brands and products. The author purchased these products after finding the quality and price point acceptable.

Current dose: Total cannabinoids, 215 mgs / dose consisting of: THC 100 mgs (20 mgs from gummies that contain THCv, 80 mgs sourced from tablets with terpenes), THCv 20 mgs, CBD 25 mgs, CBDa 25 mgs, CBG 25 mgs, CBN 20 mgs.  Consumed orally, with a glass of water, optimally with a meal or post-meal. 

I titrated to the current dose primarily to mitigate semaglutide-induced nausea and, as a secondary objective, mitigate neuropathic and radicular pain.

Alcohol Consumption Management/Cessation

I stopped drinking entirely for a couple of months after the wake-up call last fall. I have had a few drinks on special occasions; however, not as a daily habit and certainly not to excess. Not only is alcohol basically extra sugar-based calories, which is bad for weight loss progress and achieving milestones, but alcohol also affects both uptake and blood levels of vitamins, minerals, and other supplements that I take. 

A Brighter Outlook on Life

I’m all about looking at the horizon, not what was in the rearview mirror. The more weight I lose, the more muscle I gain, I’m in less pain, and depression is gone.

I enjoy the simplicity of the current routine:

When I wake up, I have my morning coffee, and I enjoy a protein shake. Usually a banana or two, some OJ, and 2 scoops of whey protein powder with a full amino acid profile, for 42g protein + aminos.

I blend up 8 cups of carrots and celery, and toss in a couple of green apples for flavor, and drink this thick blend throughout the day in small portions.

For dinner, I have meat and rice, typically fish, chicken, or turkey.

Parting Thoughts

Will I ever change this routine? Maybe, but not anytime soon. I plan to continue on the current regimen I’m on until and well past my stated goal of pre-pandemic fighting weight of 200 lbs, and under 15% bodyfat composition – not 20%.  I’m not just looking to “right the scales”; I’m looking to improve beyond my pre-pandemic health status and optimize this life for quality, not just longevity.