Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond Reveals She 'Did Not Take Ozempic, Wegovy' To Lose Weight
"I have not chosen that option…but you'll never hear a second of judgment from me about people who choose that direction,” said the ‘Pioneer Woman’ star
Ree Drummond wants to set the record straight: She has not used any weight loss medications or supplements during her her weight loss journey.
On Tuesday, the Pioneer Woman star, 54, announced on Facebook that she was updating a 2021 blog post where she shared what does and doesn’t do to lose weight. In the update, she wrote, “I did not take Ozempic, Wegovy, or similar medications.”
Ozempic or Wegovy are FDA-approved prescription medications for people with type 2 diabetes and obesity. They are brand names for semaglutide, which works in the brain to impact satiety, and is the latest Hollywood trend as many use the drugs off-label for weight loss.
“I support anyone who has success using the above medications. I know they have been an absolute godsend for so many people; I have friends who've experienced incredible results,” Drummond said, noting that she didn’t know about the drugs when she began her weight loss journey in January 2021.
“I simply didn't know those drugs existed then, so I dove in using all the methods below,” she explained, referring to the blog post’s mention of changing her diet, fitness and lifestyle habits.
“Today, even though I have gained a few pounds up and down, I still have not chosen that option,” she said of the popular weight loss injections. “But you'll never hear a second of judgment from me about people who choose that direction!”
Additionally, Drummond said she hasn’t taken any weight-loss gummies or other supplements. However, she warned that she is one of the many public figures whose name and image have been used in fake advertisements as part of a “celebrity endorsement fraud scheme.”
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Back in October 2023, the Food Network star opened up about maintaining a 50-lb. weight loss for nearly three years, telling Today that her strategies were straightforward.
“The biggest takeaway, which I don’t always adhere to, is trying not to waste calories,” Drummond told the outlet. “I could eat a plate of delicious food with different elements and colors and flavor, or I could eat a donut.”
She explained that she “tackled [her health] from different directions.” She cut out alcohol, started eating more protein and vegetables, and introduced daily exercise into her routine, like walking her dogs and using at-home gym equipment.
“I’m an impatient home exerciser, so the rowing machine was probably my favorite," said Drummond, who admitted her relationship with exercise isn't perfect. “Right now, the rowing machine is a clothes rack."
In general, Drummond’s routine emphasizes a forgiving diet and exercise plan that doesn’t omit entire food groups or adhere to strict workout schedules.
“I think what I’ve done over the past two years is knowing that I don’t want to push things away or say no to foods. I upped my movement a bit. I take a couple extra walks with the dogs each week. I make sure to get on the rowing machine at least once a day, especially through November and December,” she said at the time.
For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!
Read the original article on People.