Satirist “Experiencing Daily Life Disruption” from Side Effects
Transgender YouTuber Pungja shared her experiences with side effects from using Wegovy and Saxenda.
On the 26th, Pungja revealed on her YouTube channel, “There’s been a lot of buzz in the comments. People say I’ve lost a lot of weight and look prettier. I’m very thankful. I’ve lost about 14kg.” She continued, “Some have been asking in the comments if I’m on Saxenda or Wegovy. I’ve tried them both, so I’d like to share what effects and drawbacks I’ve experienced.”
Regarding Saxenda, Pungja said, “Considering my size, I was curious and decided to get a prescription from a hospital. You have to take it daily and gradually increase the dosage. I expected a dramatic decrease in appetite, but nothing changed. There was no reaction.”
She added, “After consulting the hospital, they suggested increasing the dosage. Once I did, my appetite disappeared— it felt like the effect was finally kicking in. Initially, the side effects made me queasy, like I’ve eaten too much while someone is frying pancakes beside me. I endured the side effects, but as I increased the dosage over time, I felt seasick, as if on a rocking boat in the middle of the sea.”
She recalled, “I need to go out for filming, but while on Saxenda for about a month and a half, I carried a black plastic bag everywhere. I felt like vomiting even when stationary, food didn’t seem appetizing, and I didn’t want to eat. Though nausea was a common side effect I endured, going about my daily life became impossible. Even while driving, I felt like I was going to throw up; it was maddening. With frequent mukbang filming, I felt it was affecting me too much.”
Pungja shared that she lost 7kg after using Saxenda for about two months. “It was too hard to lose weight this way, and I couldn’t maintain my daily life, so I couldn’t continue,” she confessed. “After stopping Saxenda, I gained back 7kg in just five days. The weight loss disappeared without the shots, and continuing was too difficult.”
After Wegovy was launched domestically, Pungja went to the hospital. “Saxenda cost around 110,000 won per pen, but Wegovy was 600,000 won per pen. Although it’s more expensive, it’s supposed to be more effective and induces rapid weight loss, so I was tempted,” she explained.
She continued, “You only take Wegovy once a week; one pen lasts a month. There was no reaction initially, so I increased the dosage again and hit a wall. After taking Wegovy, I ordered a large portion of stir-fried tripe later that evening because I wanted to eat so badly. There was no effect.”
Pungja mentioned that after further consultation, she increased the dosage twice. “There’s no nausea like with Saxenda, but my appetite remains. However, I don’t eat much; after half a bowl, I lose interest,” she stated.
Yet, side effects persisted. “While I was considering it effective, I suddenly started vomiting without any warning. That was the first shock. With Saxenda, you can immediately stop if there are side effects, but with Wegovy, you have to endure the side effects for a week. I consulted the hospital, and they said it’s a common symptom,” she noted.
Pungja, who increased the dosage without weight loss, experienced vomiting and diarrhea. “I was going crazy. If the signal comes during filming, I can’t hold it. I can’t live normally,” she recounted.
Currently, Pungja is practicing intermittent fasting without injections. She said, “Injections are not feasible right now, so I make sure to fast for 16 hours. During that time, I only drink water.”
She added, “I eat whatever I want for one meal. If I deny cravings, I end up binge eating later, like ordering pizza at night. Even if it’s just one meal, I taste food that satisfies me. If I’m too hungry, I opt for diet replacement foods.”
She concluded, “I also drink alcohol and eat tteokbokki, but I strictly stick to the 16-hour fast. I plan to continue dieting steadily.”
Attempting drastic dietary changes or intense exercise in a short timeframe might lead to weight regain and, in severe cases, nutrition imbalances that can harm health. Therefore, choosing a more sustainable and healthy method is crucial.
One effective method is intermittent fasting, which alternates between fasting and eating periods, reported to aid weight loss, improve insulin resistance, and enhance metabolic health.
Popular intermittent fasting methods include fasting for 16 hours with an 8-hour eating window each day, eating normally for 5 days a week while restricting calories for 2 days, and fasting for 24 hours once or twice a week.
Selecting a method that fits your lifestyle and health is key.
The reason the 16-hour fast attracts attention is that after about 12 hours, insulin levels drop, and the body starts using fat as a primary energy source. This marks the point where fat burning intensifies, making it an effective phase for reducing body fat.