Losing weight, weight loss injections or gym?

@undecidedfatty you're doing an amazing job caring for your two children with additional needs and working full time on your own. You are not a poor advocate for the health service at all. You have one issue, which has causes that you've identified, and unfortunately being overweight is one issue that can't be masked in public. Everyone and their auntie will have an opinion on it, as you can see on this thread.

In your position, I would spend some of your higher wages on a new freezer and find a space for it somewhere. Then buy some good quality frozen meals that can be microwaved, and view them as an investment in your health. Ones like from Cook Food for example, no additives and with good nutritional balance.

The gym/spa sounds like a nice idea for a fun time with your children, so if you'd enjoy it and find it not too stressful then go for it. I don't think that it will help directly with weight loss but might help with de-stressing which will help in the long run.

Ah this all sounds so fucking hard. But the feeding yourself for under a £1 is going to be so awful for your health.

When I was really time poor I would literally do cherry tomatoes, peppers, oninons etc etc in a bowl with olive oil, put on a tray to bake, add to coucous (it takes ten minutes, just couscous hot water cover) add feta or halloumi as a veggie. let the idea that money spent on food is wasteful, it’s really not.

Maybe if the OP used the £150 for a chest freezer in the garage rather than injections she could make some healthy quick meals once a week and won’t need to enjoy it any more than she might enjoy doing the laundry, but it would sort out the issue of not eating proper food.

It will help but you need to burn around 3500 calories to burn 1lb of fat so that's the equivalent of running about 35 miles which is an awfully long time in the gym every week!

I'm actually genuinely eating more on WW than I did before. Even from a caloric perspective (as opposed to perceived volume of food). But the type of food I'm eating has changed.

Someone would need to be holding a gun to my head to get me out of bed at 5am to exercise.

Be honest. Are you really genuinely considering a gym membership?

I'm on Mounjaro and I absolute love it. Totally life changing. No side effects; I've lost a stone in 3 weeks, I'm feeling full of energy, great mood, and sleeping really well.

I am simply not interested in food whatsoever, and it's so freeing! When I do eat, it's always high protein or fruit and veg, a habit I'll continue when I come off.

Don't knock it til you've tried it. I have tried everything to lose weight, believe me. It is amazing.

Exercise isn't just about weight loss though.

People NEED to exercise for overall health.
Especially if you want to have a good old age.

I work out at home whilst my little ones watch cartoons. Sometimes they are under my feet which is annoying but it's important. Or after the children are in bed.

Nutrition is also incredibly important regardless of how much you weigh. You won't feel any health and well being benefits by injecting yourself daily but carrying on living off toasties

It's a bit sharp, but I think it's pretty insightful!

If only someone could develop a drug that helped them. Oh, wait…

Bitter much?

There's no secret to weight loss. All you need to do is stop eating so much

But for many it's not something they can do.

I'm currently steadily losing on average 2lbs a week with WW groups.

I've tried everything in the past, SW, Keto, Fast 800, Fasting, Calorie Deficit, Team RH and on and on and on... just not injections.

I had a BMI of 30, NAFLD and prediabetes and due to family history was offered injections on the NHS. I asked if I could try one last go at diy and will be going to my review telling the nurse practitioner this week that I am now considerably lighter, dropped several BMI points and I know from tests the prediabetes and NAFLD have reversed/are reversing.

I'm doing WW differently this time, with a better understanding of nutrition. As well as counting points, I use nutracheck to track macros and calories so I make sure that my protein, fat and sugar goals are appropriate and met. I'm never hungry. I have treats but focus on whole unprocessed foods (and the points system rewards this). It's utterly sustainable. I've never needed a "cheat day". Many of us at group have wanted to avoid the injections due to unknown long term risks and side effects (someone I know developed thyroid cancer as a direct result of Ozempic two years ago, hence my fears).

The people who are struggling at group are the ones who have made no effort to learn about nutrition, despite the fact that every week out leader talks about protein, nutrients etc. There is the option to stuff yourself with Skinny Whip Bars and jelly crystals in quark,
glugging Cherry Pepsi Max for cravings but that's the route that doesn't work ime. I look at my food diary and it's full of 5-8 portions of vegetables and fruits, complex carbs, lean proteins, calcium rich foods...it's how I should have been eating all along. I also make use of the online coaching, Zumba/Club Fit/Hooping/Resistance Band Classes online and the walking and motivation lives on the app and I'm far more active than I've been since my 20s. I signed up with a deal for a year and it's only cost me £8.95 a month...bargain.

Initially LCHF was working for me but although I lost weight rapidly, for the first time in my life I developed high (scarily high!) cholesterol and a heart problem (in my 30s!). Both reversed when I stopped.

Bodies are weird and we all need different approaches. I'd sworn off WW/SW type clubs but it's working now for me...because I understand the science behind nutrition (and the points system)...so all the other diets also got me to this point. And I know it will be a long term success this time.

So that's my long winded reply, that injections aren't always the answer and that sometimes the WW type clubs can work, even if they get a bad rep.

Look for a deal, sign up for a month and see what you think. If it works for you, as it has for me, fantastic. If not, there are other options that will work too.

You sound as though your eating is already quite disordered. I'm not sure the injections will help you with that, although I can feel that you are talking yourself into them.

One day a week to go to the gym won’t make any real difference so don’t waste money on a gym membership.
I know you said you can’t exercise at home but I thought the same until I got a treadmill. You can get a walking mat for under £100. I let the kids go on it! It tires them out and by making it seem like a treat (letting them take a turn on Mummy’s new toy) they will behave while I take a turn. It doesn’t have to be an hour non stop, I sometimes do 15 minutes like 5 times a day when the kids are watching tv or asleep.
Failing that, could you sign up to one of these plans where they send you food? At least that would help save you time and mental energy thinking about what to eat.

This. I am 22lbs down with no calorie counting from cutting out upf food, starting mid May. I suggest using your budget to buy no / low upf food (it is more expensive once you get into the label reading, and it is the organic brands that tend to be low upf). The one thing is time to food prep so batch cooking or buy in some batches cook food. And have a reference list for some quick and easy meals when you don’t have the space to think about what to have. My taste for sweet stuff and biscuits etc has just gone.

The gym isn't a substitute for calorie deficit. You cannot out exercise over eating and excess calories. You would need to spend countless hours in the gym to generate the deficit needed to see weightloss

I read this time and time again, but there is no doubt that when I add in exercise I lose weight more quickly.

You need a healthy relationship with food because your children need a healthy relationship with food.
Injections might stop you eating so much but you need to make the food you eat count.

I've had cross trainers at home and used them daily in the past and was a lot fitter than I am now. Id never go to the gym so that was a good exercise option for me.

I'd buy a step counter or a smart watch if you can afford one. I'd then save towards buying a chest freezer if you have somewhere to put it. I'd then ask for help from family or friends at least for 2-3 hours one afternoon a fortnight allowing you to batch cook some meals to freeze. If they can't watch your kids then I'd ask them to make the meals for you with you buying the ingredients. I'd use an app like nutracheck or any that come with your smartwatch to log your calories, diet and exercise. I'd aim for 6 months and see where that gets you. Only then would I consider injections.

Weight loss injections are not a quick fix that come without any repercussions. They have side effects, yes some might be mild but others are more serious. You will still need to exercise. If you sop taking them the weight will creep up. To lose weight and sustain it you need to make lifestyle changes.