To try and get Ozempic even though I’m not obese?

[Campensation]

Named changed and a regular user.

Being completely transparent here, I want to lose a bit of weight in a rush before a holiday. Hands up, I’m crap at dieting and it’s my own fault.

I am looking at getting a private prescription to assist this so that my clothes arent tight and all I hear and see is that Ozempic seems to have excellent results. I have researched and there are companies where you can order online by submitting weight /height and a photo.

My BMI is 23. So not overweight really. It’s purely for aesthetic reasons.

For a quick fix try Prolon - its not pleasant but only 5 days

I know what Ozempic is - I worked in the medical industry, particularly for diabetes related products.

I'm tired. I meant injection not tablet.

But my advice still stands. This is not an appropriate replacement for diet/exercise, particularly given the OP is not exactly overweight!

It really sounds like you have a history of disordered eating and having to force yourself to eat normally (not starve and binge). You also talk about the “food chatter” so I’m guessing you think about food a lot and this is something you have struggled with a long time.

Please don’t take medication for unneeded weight loss - this is just another side of disordered eating.

Of course you looked better when you had a bmi of 19, you were young and hadn’t had kids! I’ve said it before - love the body you have. Congratulate yourself on maintaining a healthy weight and normal eating pattern.

Use the money saved to buy some fabulous holiday clothes. And know that being healthy and enjoying the holiday is more important (plus sets a great example to your kids).

The way it suppresses your appetite is by making you feel very full. When I took it I just felt full all the time and even when I did feel a bit peckish I couldn’t eat much at all without feeling disgustingly full. The low grade nauseous feeling I had also put me off a lot of my absolute favourite foods so the stuff I ate was very bland and light. My 8 year old son ate far more than I did by the time I’d reached full dose.

I know what you mean. I'm in a similar position. I want to do the same, but remember how my mum was on it. She spent most of the 6 weeks on the toilet, with horrendous diarrhoea.

@sweetdreamstenasee what exactly is included with the one off cost? I’ve just looked at it and it sounds exactly what I’m looking for but it’s a lot of money. I’m obese with blood sugar problems and overwhelming cravings for white carbs and sugar. Do you get an at home test to check your gut health and a personalised meal plan? Sorry to be a pain but I don’t want to waist my money. I desperately want to lose weight in a healthy and sustainable way.

I didn’t lose any weight on it. I tried it 6 weeks and didn’t lose anything. Felt a bit disappointed after spending £200 on the injection. Didn’t want to commit to another month with no results. I’ve got a BMI of 34.

I was tempted by Ozempic until I delved a bit deeper and read about the possible link to thyroid cancer. That was enough to put me off frankly.

@sweetdreamstenasee how expensive and what does it involve?

There is sometimes a placebo/ psychological element when people are evangelical about a pill or diet. I heard the same thing about keto for example how it lifted brain fog, broke sugar addiction, stopped thinking about carbs.
I'm not dismissing the claims, I'm saying there are other healthier ways of getting to the stage where you naturally control your appetite such as ketosis which can be achieved by low calorie or low carbing or fasting. For some people, hypnoses is life changing. I'm just not supportive of taking a drug with side effects unless you are experiencing worse symptoms than the side effects ie if you're already between a rock and a hard place. Holiday or a wedding deadline is not a rock or a hard place much as I understand the panic!

You need to crack this weight loss issue on your own from the root (counselling, changing lifestyle completely) otherwise your weight won't stabilise long term.

@TiredSloth I have done Zoe from where you are.

It is great but it's not easy. You get a lot of guidance and results are interesting but it's still a lot of work. There is no meal plan as such but you get scored foods and suggested recipes.

When I consistently got my daily score to above 70 I felt good and lost weight. However, it was tough to get to that place whilst dealing with everyday life. So in that sense it's like other diets and plans, it kind of has to be a main focus until it gets embedded. You also currently don't get a retest so you can't see improvements in your results which I think would have helped.

I also have an issue in that a lot of my high scoring foods upset my stomach or gave me indigestion. I can tolerate chia seeds but not flax for example. Same with fermented foods which other than yoghurt do give me dreadful heartburn.

However, they do some excellent podcasts and insta posts though. If you check those out, up your plants, reduce your portion sizes, cut out as much processed food as you can you would probably get the same results imo.

Just buy some new clothes and enjoy your holiday.

I'm on Ozempic, 3 weeks in and it's been very helpful, but I started with a BMI of 35, I have PCOS and confirmed insulin resistant and pre-diabetic.

You don't need Ozempic, you will be able to achieve what you want through diet and exercise and even if you don't lose weight you are already healthy BMI.

Lots of people on this drug have constant nausea, constipation, sleep problems and those are the common side effects.

OP I know you said that you’re not good at dieting but I have found doing 16/8 intermittent fasting to be brilliant for me. I have a terrible relationship with food and have been on some random diet or another for most of my adult life but I’m finding eating this way is really resetting my thoughts on the way I eat.

Semaglutide does come in tablet form - many people opt for that route rather than the injection. It’s exactly the same medication. It’s also cheaper than the injections usually.

Thank you @vestanesta that’s really helpful. I think I’ll try your suggestions as I can’t really afford the Zoe program at the moment.

@TiredSloth - if you are obese with blood sugar issues you sound like you should be able to get Ozempic on the NHS. You seem to fit the criteria. It might be worth a chat with your doctor. In the meantime a few books you might find useful -

The Obesity Code by Dr Jason Fung
Why We Eat (Too Much) by Dr Andrew Jenkinson
The Glucose Revolution by Jessie Inchauspé (she is on Instagram under The Glucose Goddess too and some YouTube videos I think)
Eat Well, Lose Weight by Dr Rangan Chatergee
Eat More, Live Well by Dr Megan Rossi
and Tim Spector (of the Zoe project has quite a few books too)

@Campensation - how are you doing? Just wondering if you have ever heard of Rebelfit? It’s run by a personal trainer and he launches various missions every few months. He’s very anti the whole diet industry etc so is much more exercise and mindset focussed. They have a new mission launching tomorrow which is all about strength training. Not diet or food focussed at all. It’s two months and £60 one off payment and lots of support in private Facebook groups. Much cheaper and healthier than Ozempic. It might be worth a look for you? I’m going to sign up as I need to start some strength training and I like that I can do it at home at my own pace and with no equipment. I promise I don’t work for them! Not connected in any way.

@Peridot1 I haven’t heard of that, I’ll take a look - however if it involves any time commitment I’m generally not optimistic as I don’t have any! I already get up between 5-6 am and don’t finish the life to-do list until about 9pm so I’m really stumped for anything that takes time up. I’m not getting up earlier than 5 😂

I don’t blame you! That’s a really long day. Have a look at it. He says you can do five mins every day or 20 mins 3 times a week or whatever works for you. Unfortunately there will always be some kind of time commitment to do anything.

@Peridot1 Thank you really appreciate it

What happens when you lose weight and your BMI drops. Do you get to a point where it is no longer appropriate or ethical for you to take it? Say you get to BMI 25. Should you then stop because someone of BMI 25 shouldn't use oxempic but should duet and exercise? Or should you take it until you hit your goal of day 23?