About

headshot of Andrea M. Rotondo, GLP-1 weight loss drug advocate and writer

Andrea Rotondo

CONSUMER ADVOCATE
FOR GLP-1 WEIGHT LOSS DRUGS

By day, I’m a content director for a travel website. On my own time, I focus on all things related to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, such as Zepbound and Wegovy. I aim to share that knowledge with you so we both lose weight for a healthier tomorrow. I lost 16 pounds with few side effects during the first eight weeks of treatment.

Hey… thanks for spending your valuable time at Shots to Shed Pounds!

I’m thrilled you’re here because it likely means we are walking the same path. We’re both trying to lose weight – and, finally, keep it off – with a GLP-1/GIP weight loss injection medication, such as Zepbound/Mounjaro or Wegovy/Ozempic.

You may find a supportive community here if any of these experiences resonate with you:

  • You’ve tried all the diets and have lost weight — only to gain it back.
  • You experience joint pain that stops you from fully experiencing life.
  • You needed a seat belt extender on your last flight.
  • You can’t find the clothes you want to wear in your size.
  • A health crisis gives you no choice: You must lose weight now.

Is any of that familiar? Then we have some shared experiences. I’ve been where you are right now. While our paths to get here may not have been identical, we both understand what’s like to be overweight — and we are in the process of making a change.

Your resource for Zepbound & Wegovy tips and tricks

My goal for Shots to Shed Pounds is to create a site that offers honest and accurate information about GLP-1 weight loss injection medications, such as Zepbound/Mounjaro and Wegovy/Ozempic. 

I’ll share…

  • Explainers, where I break down clinical trials and medical studies into plain English.
  • How to set safe, science-based nutritional goals.
  • Hacks to avoid medication side effects.
  • Shopping lists, trackers, and recipes.
  • Exercise ideas.
  • Honest reviews of services (like telehealth companies and prepared meal delivery) and products (like fitness gear, scales, and apps), food, and supplements. 
  • My firsthand experiences on Zepbound.

You’ll find this information on-site and in my free subscription-only email newsletter.

My Story

a headshot of Andrea M. Rotondo, a GLP-1 weight loss drug advocate and writer

I’ve been trying to lose weight for 31 years – actually longer than that but 1993 was the first time I joined a program (Jenny Craig) to get the job done. And, it worked… for a while. Throughout my adult life, I’ve lost 75 to 85 pounds twice… and gained back that weight. I’ve cycled up and down 50 to 60 pounds several times. I could lose the weight. I just couldn’t maintain it.

I’d try again and again because the goal – being fit so I can better enjoy my life and be present for my family – was so powerful. I persevered time and time again.

But now, I’m in my 50s. Getting started is tougher. My body resists but after a serious health crisis that could have cost me my life, I don’t have a choice. If I want longevity, it’s imperative that I lose some weight… OK, a lot of weight.

Despite what some think, people like me don’t suffer from a lack of willpower. It’s not that I don’t know the right things to eat. And it’s not that I don’t engage in a regular fitness program.

The fact is: My body is really good at preparing for the apocalypse. It hangs on to every single calorie, storing it as fat I can burn in the end times

Maybe that sounds familiar? Is your body doomsday prepping, too?

And that was a life-saving attribute in caveman days when resources were scant. It’s not so wonderful in the modern era where many of us sit behind a desk all day, drive a car instead of walking everywhere, and have access to quick and calorie-rich food.

Until very recently, many doctors didn’t fully understand or know how to successfully treat obesity. (Frankly, many still don’t get it.) But, after decades of research and with the help of doctors and scientists who studied the underlying issues, in 2013, the American Medical Association finally designated obesity as a complex, chronic disease that requires treatment.

Hallelujah! Many of us have been out here trying to heal ourselves, but the truth is: We need help. We need guidance from doctors and registered dieticians and, some of us may need medication, such as GLP-1 receptor agonists like Zepbound/Mounjaro or Wegovy/Ozempic, to finally get healthy.

Here’s why you should bookmark Shot to Shed Pounds

headshot of Andrea M. Rotondo, a GLP-1 weight loss drug advocate and writer

Here’s my promise to you: I will do exhaustive research in the realm of weight loss science – especially as it relates to GLP-1, GIP, and the forthcoming triple agonist GGG weight loss injection medications – and I’ll share that information with you. Why? Well, for one, my life depends on it. I need to lose weight to counter a health issue.

And, given my background in the New York City publishing industry, I can’t gather incredibly useful data and just keep it to myself. I want to distribute it to everyone who needs access to it.

Over the last 30 years, I’ve been a content director, editor, and writer, so I’m well suited to distill this information in easy-to-access formats so you can find what you need, when you need it. And, you’ll have the peace of mind that the author is someone who is actually living these challenges in the here and now. I can relate to what you’re going through because I’m going through it too.

While Shots to Shed Pounds comprises guides, reviews, and how-tos, it also is an archive of my personal experience with Zepbound. I will share the highs and lows with the hopes that my firsthand experiences will better prepare you for your own weight loss journey.

Plus, I hope to take on some larger-scale projects, such as creating:

  • a database of employers who offer insurance that covers weight loss medications
  • a protein powder pricing and taste index so you can get the best deal on the right product for you
  • pocket-size tip sheets to help you solve all kinds of challenges related to weight loss using receptor agonists

What other resources are you looking for? Let me know and I may take on the project.

headshot of Andrea M. Rotondo, a GLP-1 weight loss drug advocate and writer