Really depressed I didn’t just go on Ozempic - only maintained for a year

Have you ever seen that website where women post pics of themselves and their weight. It shows the big range of how different people look at the same weight. I would say if you are in the healthy range then it’s pretty much psychological. Consider really exploring why you compare yourself so unfavourably and why you are so unhappy. How’s your work, relationship, personal life?

I’ve not read the other replies so I apologise if I’m repeating.

But I think you’re a bit confused as what WLIs do.
Your weight still stalls/plateaus when using them - you just tend to lose it quicker - which has its downsides as you lose more muscle, have lower skin and put the weight back on quicker.

Everyone who loses weight will plateau where doing it naturally, through WLIs or surgery.

The big issue with WLIs is what you do - lower the dose, stay the same or go higher.
Many people go higher but the appetite suppressant wears off and so the higher dose you go, the harder it is to keep the weight off in the end.

You’ve done so well to lose the amount of weight you have.
You’ve need to stop competing yourself to other people.

You should put energy into figuring out why you aren’t happy with yourself rather than this weight issue

OP you have every reason to be proud of yourself and I also understand your frustration. You’ve put in the work but aren’t feeling the benefits you wanted and you can now see that someone else has done it without the enormous amount of sacrifice it took you. But don’t be fooled, inside your friend may still have huge insecurities and feel frustrated about her body in the same way you do.

Have you looked into how to change your body composition by burning fat and building muscle. Your weight might not change (it even may increase) but it’s the way to get rid of the flabby bits that dieting alone can’t always do. It also reduces the risk of wrinkly skin because you’re filling it out with muscle. I’m not talking body builder size, just lean muscle mass. Look at what your protein intake needs to be each day (balance this with fibre) and lift weights and you will (in time and with consistency) see a change in your body shape. You can still have carbs and fats but just ensure you have high protein and eat the right number of calories per day.

Also, do some psychological work on your self esteem and being enough as you are as a person and not basing so much importance on looks. I’m speaking all this from experience and it’s been a game changer.

I think the relevance of WLI is that if they were not around OP would be happier with her achievement but the grass looks greener when she looks at her friend. Comparison is always the thief of joy.

It’s really hard but you have to try to plough your own furrow. Everyone is different and there’s no guarantee you’d have the same experience as her even if you’d gone in that direction. Surely if you can do it without the medical assistance that has to be a better way to go even if only financially?

I’m not sure why you think there is judgement from people saying this? You can congratulate someone on their weight loss from low carb/ calorie count/ whatever , without it being a judgement on people using WLIs. I think that the fact that there is now this additional help available for people is amazing.

My big congratulations is partly on OP’s ability to maintain, and that’s a really important part however the weight loss.

You need to go to the gym. Losing weight doesn't correct wobbly bits at healthy weights.

I actually came to say the same thing. Weight lifting will change everything for you. Rather than pay for GLP1s or whatever, and focusing on making yourself smaller, focus on making yourself stronger. You don't have to go straight to deadlifting but the money you'd have spent on the drugs, spend on a good PT who will TEACH you about weight training (I capitalised 'teach' because a lot of PTs will only give you a workout, you don't actually learn anything). Honestly, the only numbers I focus on now are on the plates at the end of the barbell, or on the dumbbells. It's taken years of self loathing. You need to be pushing to failure and it's hard (as is anything worth having), but the sense of achievement and pride in your own body is unbelievable. Cardio isn't the way to change your body, honestly... Learn how strong your body is and what it's capable of. Change your focus and your body will follow. I absolutely promise

It’s also not 0 carbs. All fruit and vegetables contain carbs. What she means is starchy tubers/staple cereal grains.

Let yourself feel rubbish for today. It's okay.
Next time you are at the gym ask about HIT classes and/or lift classes.
Try to switch things up a bit.
Can you go for a run outdoors?
Treadmill etc are good, but you move your body so much more when running outside.
Steady state cardio (where you can run/crosstrain comfortably) is good for overall health, but won't be hitting the mark anymore.
Getting your heart rate up, and hot, sweaty and a bit out of breath for a shorter period can have more of an impact.
Also, bloody well done.
I've lost and gained the same 10-12lbs three times in the last year.
I can't seem to shift to maintenence mode when I lose it.
Just pile it back on again.
(Advise above is what worked for me in the past when I could keep my head in the game).

OP. You have lost the weight. You have reached your goal weight. You’re now upset because you’re maintaining that weight with a diet that includes all food groups.

What that means is that you’re upset that you’re not still losing weight past your goal weight. Be very very careful because the weight loss-continued weight loss thrill, the just ‘one more stone’ drive, the ‘I just want a BIT more off’ promise is how eating disorders start.

You’ve set out to do what you achieved. You don’t need to keep losing more

It’s normal to plateau, OP. I say get advice around overcoming that before putting a chemical in you that you might not need.

But you have lost weight? You’ve lost 55 lbs and discovered a way to maintain your new weight loss, and that’s quite a difficult thing to do, so well done. Every time I e lost weight I’ve managed to put it all back on again, but you haven’t done that. I dont understand your post to be honest. I totally get the beating-yourself-up when you put the weight back on that was so difficult to lose, but you haven’t; you’ve reached a healthy weight and are maintaining. Well done, seriously.

Lifting helped my head a bit as well (not perfectly but a bit). I still will never probably be happy with how I look and always want to be half a stone less but realising that I could pick up my DC as toddlers much easier or carry shopping back from the supermarket and that it destresses me after a hard day at work to pick up some heavy deadlifts were non appearance related wins that I never expected. Try it just for that OP.

You can't go 0 carbs forever, you do need some carbs.

You did amazing, now start building some muscle, focus on that and eat to nourish muscle growth

like the weight loss it will take time but it is amazing for mind and body

you had the willpower to diet, now use that determination and strength to show your body some love and get stronger (=toned)

OP, cut down the cardio, it will help you cut down the carbs. I can’t do no carbs if I’m doing cardio.

Also, you need to lift way heavier than 2kg for it to have any effect whatsoever.

Book yourself into some strength classes at the gym and focus on eating as much protein at every meal you can. Lift as heavy as you can. Increase your weights and decrease your reps every week.

The good thing is that you have found a diet you can stick to when you want to maintain.

My provider definitely checks, not sure about all obviously but the ones I’ve used have all asked for updated weight when I reorder.

But it is well done. She’s literally achieved something that not many people achieve hence the demand/ need for WLI. It is harder to do it without. Harder or for some people impossible so I think it’s appropriate on her own support thread to congratulate OP about her achievement without other people who did use WLI needing to feel judged.

I second this. 2kg weights won't have you see much difference. I personally find dumbells horrible.

Have you tried kettlebells and doing kettlebell swings? I find that better than other weights in that you can use momentum. Also hula hooping is low intensity, very easy to do, but great for toning. I do 10-20mins on a timer while I watch TV. Also swimming.

From what you've said, it definitely seems like strength training will help you. It really helps with metabolism/fat burning too. I've always had a podgy stomach, even when I was younger and slimmer. I was what people called "skinny fat". I also developed bingo wings after 2 kids. But I'm much happier with my body since strength training.

We are, but the OP has already shared she has a major barrier to weight loss - pcos - and that she's done something statistically less than 5% of people achieve, weight loss and maintaining it without medication or surgery. Theres nothing wrong with congratulating her for doing that; it's unlikely to be 'easy' for anyone, but especially not someone with pcos.

Op I recommend Caroline Girvan. Try her 24 days of Christmas sessions on YouTube. Use the heaviest weights you can.

Take a photo today and measurements today.
Do the first day today if possible.
Note how many reps for each exercise and what weights you use for each exercise. Repeat daily.

Measure and photograph weekly.

Then when you finish the 24 days do it again and do the same notes on weights and pics weekly.

Come back in 2 months. Bet you’ll be very happy with how you look.

I understand your frustration OP. It’s one of the things about WLI guidelines that baffle me. People have to have a certain BMI to be prescribed Mounjaro, even privately. But once you’ve started, no one ever checks what your BMI has dropped to. Presumably you could continue to have WLIs with a BMI of 15, as long as it was 30 (or whatever the cut off is) when you started.

I’m not sure cutting carbs entirely from your diet is a particularly healthy way to lose weight?

for context, I lost 7 stone a few years back by calorie counting and running. I was OBSESSED with what I ate, restricted everything and punished myself with exercise if I felt like I’d over done it (if I had 1200 calories instead of 1000). I maintained that weight loss for all of six months before it crept back on. And within 18 months I’d gained it all and more.

Last year I started taking mounjaro and have lost the weight again by eating healthy balanced meals, haven’t needed to count calories as I now only eat until I’m full & don’t ever want to snack or binge. Yes it’s been easier, but it’s also been much, much healthier this time.

OP, you are 9 and a 1/2 stone. Even if you were 5ft tall that’s a low weight. If you have loose skin put some effort in at the gym or if you don’t want to go to the gym do Joe Wicks at home. There’s a sense of jealousy coming off you that your friend is now thinner than you.