Sledding and Ice Skating With the Grandkids on Ozempic

Winter break with grandchildren often means sledding hills, outdoor rinks, and snowball fights in the yard. For many grandparents who have lost weight on Ozempic or another GLP-1, it is a chance to join in rather than watch from the car. That is a wonderful thing.

Cold weather, icy ground, and bursts of hard effort also raise the stakes of a fall. Here is how to enjoy it safely.

Why falls matter more

The prescribing information for Wegovy, which contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient as Ozempic, at a higher dose, notes that in the cardiovascular outcomes trial, patients aged 75 and older reported more hip and pelvis fractures on the medication than on placebo. That is a trial finding, not a prediction about you, and not every grandparent is 75. But ice and steep hills are exactly where falls happen, so it is worth being careful.

Dizziness is also more likely if you have eaten or drunk little, early in treatment, or after a dose increase.

Eat before you go out

Cold and exertion burn through energy quickly, and many people forget to eat when they are busy with children. Have a meal with some protein before you head out, and pack snacks for everyone: cheese sticks, nuts, granola bars, and fruit. A thermos of warm soup or cocoa is a good excuse for a break.

Sledding sensibly

Choose gentle hills with a long, flat run-out and no trees, fences, or roads at the bottom.

Let the kids do most of the runs. Riding with a small child on a gentle slope is fun; racing down the steepest hill is not worth the risk.

Take the climb slowly. Walking back up a snowy hill again and again is real exercise. Rest at the top and catch your breath.

Watch your footing on packed snow and ice, and wear boots with good tread.

Ice skating sensibly

Rent or wear skates that fit, and lace them firmly.

Stay near the wall or use a skating aid at first if you are out of practice.

Consider a helmet, especially if you have not skated in years.

Get off the ice at the first sign of dizziness, and sit until it passes.

Dress for the cold

Many people on these medications say they feel the cold more. Feeling cold all the time is also one of the signs of under-eating, along with persistent fatigue, hair shedding, dizziness when you stand, losing strength, and losing weight faster than you and your provider intended. Layer up, keep your hands and feet warm, and go indoors before you are chilled through.

Plan your dose around winter break

Side effects tend to be strongest in the first weeks and after each dose increase. Do not step up your dose right before a week of winter play with the grandkids. Ask your provider to hold it until afterward. Our guide on semaglutide dose escalation covers how the steps usually work.

Protect your strength

Leg and core strength are what keep you upright on ice and help you get up from the snow. Some of the weight lost on these medications is muscle. Eat protein at every meal and keep some strength exercise in your week. Our guide on getting the most out of your GLP-1 treatment covers why that matters.

Watching counts too

Building a snowman, pulling a little one on a sled across flat ground, or cheering from the side of the rink are all part of the fun. On a day when you feel tired or a little off, choose the gentler role without guilt.

Talk to the parents

Let your children know if you are on a new medication and still adjusting, so they understand if you need to sit out a run or head home early. You do not owe anyone details, but a quick heads-up avoids awkward moments.

If you are new to Ozempic

Our guide on the Ozempic starting dose covers why the early weeks tend to be hardest. If you have only just started, this may be the winter to supervise from the bottom of the hill.

Consider this scenario: a 72-year-old grandmother on Ozempic steps up her dose the day the grandkids arrive, skips lunch, and spends the afternoon climbing a steep sledding hill again and again. On the last run she feels lightheaded, loses her footing on the icy climb, and falls hard on her hip. Holding the dose increase, eating lunch and packing snacks, choosing a gentler hill, and letting the kids do most of the climbing would very likely have made it a happy memory instead.

After the outing

Come inside before anyone is soaked or shivering. Change out of wet clothes first, then have a warm drink and a meal or snack with protein. If you took a fall, check yourself carefully once you are warm. Pain in a hip, wrist, or shoulder that does not settle, trouble putting weight on a leg, or swelling after a fall on ice should be checked by a doctor the same day, rather than waited out.

The short version

You can enjoy winter play with your grandkids on Ozempic. Eat before going out and pack snacks, choose gentle hills, take the climbs slowly, stay near the wall when skating, and stop at the first sign of dizziness. Dress warmly, hold any dose increase during winter break, protect your strength, and choose the gentler role on days you feel off.

If you want a provider who will help you stay active with the people you love, TrimRx pairs semaglutide treatment with ongoing provider access.

This information is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Consult with a healthcare provider before starting any medication. Individual results may vary.