To declare that I’m 14 stone and 5 ft?

I was obese because I ate too much. No secret reason - nothing I needed to unpack in therapy. I didn’t emotional eat, I didn’t stuff my face with cakes or sweets. I just ate massive portions of calorific food because that’s what I’d become used to.

There’s no magic wand that gets waved when you stop using WLI that makes the weight pile back on without you increasing calorie intake. Weight gain can happen when someone stops any diet plan if they haven’t changed their habits and maintain them post diet.

And yes, my body might be a ‘hot mess’ of lose skin but at least I’m not at risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes or a host of other weight related illnesses.

Don’t take WLI if you don’t want to - nobody is forcing you. But there’s no need to be so fucking unpleasant about those who do.

Yeah, I know some people act like weight loss injections are some kind of Holy Grail, but I would never take them even if they were free. As has been said by other posters, as soon as you stop taking them the weight piles back on.

Also, they have bad side effects for many, they can have an impact on internal organs (especially if people abuse them and double the dose, or even more than double it, which many people do,) and the weight comes off so quickly that lots of people end up with loose skin.

On the Vanessa show the other week, a few people rang in and said they wish they'd never started it, as they've lost 6-7 stone and their body is a hot mess of loose, saggy skin.

And as I said earlier, taking weight loss injections isn't dealing with the reason/reasons that you became obese.

@Jazzyyyy indeed - on paper I should look great at around 9stone 3 ( I’m 5ft 4) - but I no longer do at 63 - I’ve got big boobs and too low just makes me look old- I look much better at 10 to 10stone 8 and toned . Which is where I am aiming back for - only 3 stone to go !

@FilthyforFirth well done!! I did a month on MJ but decided not for me as not keen on feeling like I’ve got a hangover combined with heartburn 3 days a week - I have however stuck to the principles of high protein, low carb, lots of water and 11 weeks later am down from 95.1 to 87.1 - still losing at same rate- just without feeling crap - mind you I have always eaten well, just clearly slightly over what I need at 63 to actually lose -

Good luck, last June I was 16st3lbs and 5"1 (I mean, I'm still 5"1!) and this morning I am 12st5lbs. I have been using mounjaro on and off, but also training for a half marathon (and the London one next year) and finally stopping emotional eating. I am not all the way there but I am so good at no longer eating when full or if I dont fancy it but its 'meal time'.

I have also started listening to slimpod at night when I sleep. Best of luck fo you :)

@Madsciencecovid2020 yeah I take BMI with a pinch of salt. I think it’s important to look at a range of health metrics and evaluate how well and strong you feel (and look) at each size . And two people weighing the same can have a very different body composition. I take BMI into consideration but it’s not the be all and end all.

My ideal weight is 9stone which at 5ft 2 would give me a BMI of around 23. According to NHS BMI calculator based on my ethnicity that is considered overweight. But I remember at even 9 stone 7 my waist was less than 28 inches and I was wearing size 8. Much less than 9 stone was too thin for me and I remember having irregular periods during that time. Similarly when I put on too much weight I believe my periods were affected too.

Waist size is an important indicator of health too. I’ve lost ten inches off my waist but I’m only just back within the healthy waist size range as per BHF website, so hoping to lose a couple more inches.

I use body analysis machines and I know they’re not super accurate unless they’re DEXA but I think they give you a rough idea about bone density, protein, body fat etc

It's great that you have decided to do something about it and I wish you lots of luck and encouragement. I'm also 5ft and panicking because I've gone up to 9 stone 2lbs when I always used to be around 8 stone. I try to eat less but need to find the motivation and time to exercise.

I see you referred to NHS trusts. I don’t know what each specific trust requires and have had no reason to look into it as I had zero desire to take WLI.

But I know plenty of people can and do get Mounjaro from pharmacies who will largely give it to people over BMI 30 (obese) which OP is.

So it’s likely OP would be approved. To be clear I’m not suggesting or recommending OP should take it, but I am just saying they’d be eligible at that weight.

No way to live

Mounjaro is definitely worth it! I have lost a stone in 3 weeks. I was 12st 3lb to start.
I lost 15cm from my stomach which I find more satisfying than the weight loss!!!

I doubt it. Currently, it’s BMI 40+ with 4 or more weight related conditions.

Just 1 word really...mounjero. I am 5.2" and was 12st 8lbs. Down to 9.7 in 6 months. I feel so much better about myself and have more energy and drive.

@CelticMaiden I’m taller than you but also heavier. Like you thought I can’t go up any further. Decided I had to do something so am now doing 16:8 fasting period / eating period. So far am about 5lbs down, using an app to track what I’m eating and my fasting periods.

I’m eating what I want but thinking more about portion size and (mostly) cutting out snacks I really don’t need.

I also tried the 5:2 which is good but I’m finding 16:8 fits better with my lifestyle. I don’t want to be put on Mounjaro, not keen on the side effects.

You’ve got this.

We are all different, that is why and come to weight loss with other issues, such as low self esteem. Working hard for my health, calorie counting and exercising has given me a new feeling of self worth. I am doing it for myself and it makes me proud. Self love has never come easy to some of us

I checked your BMI and you'll be eligible to get Mounjaro on the NHS. I don't understand why people would prefer to go down the normally hopeless route of calorie counting if they had an alternative that would actually work.

5ft nothing here and I was 15 st 6. Currently 13st 11, using Fast 800 recipes books. The food is amazing.

I got to the dizzy heights of 17 stone (5' 6"). I have very slowly, since January 23, lost 3 stone, 2 more to go. I don't really want to lose it quickly. I've learned quick loss usually means quick gain. I have an underactive thyroid, I'm menopausal and I don't have a gall bladder. Im using mounjaro privately and its working for me. I have been slim and I have been fat. Bottom line life is better slim....full stop....and I want that again...and I want to live longer and be healthy. If you want it enough you can get there but not by fasting, total food replacement, veg soup diet, slim fast, WW or slimming world etc. Tried all those, the weight goes back on. It's slow and steady changes that maintain a regular eating pattern that doesn't feel restrictive but gives results. Im confident that I'll get there and will be able to maintain it. Good luck!!

@Zov not everyone gets these but unfortunately I felt exactly the same that poster on mounjaro and at the lowest dose -chronic heartburn and like a cross between morning sickness and a bad hangover for 3 days a week -

Hey, good for you for deciding enough is enough. I'm 5ft and in perimenopause, have never struggled with my weight really before this but I reached my maximum tolerance a few months ago. It's shit being small with weight gain. The only thing that works for me is fasting. I have IBS and a hiatal hernia so have to watch the bloaty foods. Fasting means I can eat gluten free pasta meals and potatoes and meat etc without annoying my tummy with too many intolerant foods (which I also love but can't eat!) and I usually can fill myself with these foods and healthy snacks (plus the occasional pack of ringos!) black tea, Green tea and water for fluids but I've still had the occasional glass of wine and even a burger or slice of pizza. I've lost 10lbs in 2 months. Fasting has really worked for me but I know it's not for everyone. Maybe help you to fast softly? Good luck ❤️

You can actually look up the integrated care body's policy in each area. My BMI was 39.5 with associated health issues, I wasn't eligible. I've bought slimming tablets instead.

Just wanted to say good luck and it is totally possible to get back to a healthy weight. I’m only 4ft 10 and my starting weight was 14 stone. I now weigh 7 and a half stone and it took me over 3 years to lose via counting calories.

Don’t aim for perfection. I had so many failed cycles of losing then gaining weight when I would try to be ‘strict’ with my diet, leading to binges of food I’d classed as off limits. It’s true when people say it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change but that takes time to achieve.

for me allowing myself meals out I wanted (rather than just selecting the lowest calorie dish), cake occasionally etc allowed me to balance losing weight and not have it feel like a short term restriction. I didn’t start exercising until I’d lost 4 stone but now it’s a key part of my life and I’m currently training for a half marathon.

I agree. Sod that for a game of soldiers. No way in hell would I use zepbound. Just googled it, and the side effects are horrific. 😱

The side effects are brutal. Like morning sickness combined with the worst indigestion and gut pains ever at times. But for me it is a life saver.

that sound hellish. Is the idea that they will ease up? Or is it permanent symptoms that you have to learn to live with? @Thefsm

I’m in America and one of the reasons I haven’t visited the uk in over a decade is knowi g that my weight would attract comments and stares. I have struggled with thyroid issues and auto immune disorder and even though I wasn’t particularly eating too many calories, I was very sedentary so I gained about a stone a year. My worst point I was 302lbs (5ft 7”). I asked to be put on Zepbound which is like wygovia and it gave me the spur I needed to work on my health. I started swimming 50 lengths of the competition pool four times a week and recording all I ate for a few months. I started in February and so far I’ve lost 42lbs. I can’t explain how much healthier I feel. My knees no longer hurt and I am gaining self confidence back.

it’s not a miracle drug. The side effects are brutal. Like morning sickness combined with the worst indigestion and gut pains ever at times. But for me it is a life saver. Worth looking in to.

I had a faecal impaction with overflow last year. Quite terrifying at first as I didn't know what was happening! Anyway, that massively reduces your appetite and I lost a stone in two weeks. I wouldn't recommend it though.