Losing weight, weight loss injections or gym?

[undecidedfatty]

I've recently been lucky enough to go up a pay grade. The number one things which gets me down, which has always got me down, is my weight. I've been a size 16 since I was a teenager and I can't seem to change it. It goes up and down a bit but I've never been a healthy weight. I lost quite a bit a few years ago by fasting every day but I can't do it now as I get too shaky and irritated.
I'm a single parent, I have two small children all the time, I work full time out of the house in a healthcare related role and I cannot lose any weight. This is partly circumstantial as often the thought of a few rich tea biscuits is all that gets me through a difficult shift. My DC's don't sleep, one has autism and I honestly can't keep my mind on dieting. I don't overeat but I often make a cheese toastie for tea or pot noodle (I'm veggie) as I'm so busy and worn out, I'm also skint a lot.
I really need to do something and thought I want to lose weight. I'm not looking for a quick fix (and I don't think such a quick fix exists) but I can't carry on trying to reduce calories as it just feels so joyless in an already pretty difficult existence.
Would the weight loss injections be a good investment? Or would a nice gym membership (with pool) be a better investment? I really want to do something to improve my overall well-being, and feel more refreshed outside of work, mum life.
I would really appreciate some advice from mums in similar situations, especially if you have chosen one of these options. I really don't want suggestions on home exercise (tried it, kids don't let me, no room) or complex diets when I'm constantly on the go, running on adrenaline, no time to cook etc. I'm out the house from 7.30am until 7.30 pm and I have no time nor energy when I get back. I don't enjoy cooking and I can't even batch cook as we have a tiny freezer. I don't even get a lunch break.
I have about £150 a month to tackle this and I really need help after 20 years of trying to do this the natural way.

@olympicsrock that’s great, well done! Did you get lose skin?

In your shoes I’d do the injections plus Noom.

Noom will identify why you eat how you eat (boredom, reward, emotion etc) and that will help when you stop the injections.

The injections will kick start weight loss and give you the incentive to carry on after losing something due to them.

I lost nearly 3 stone purely due to Noom - it’s a bit cringey in its style but it was the only thing that helped me realise how rubbish my diet had become and, more importantly, why it had got like that; why I wanted to lose weight; and how to stop food being everything from a crutch to a reward.

I paid for it for six months and still use the free version occasionally to keep myself on track. Haven’t regained a single pound, over four years on.

It doesn’t sound like you have time to use the gym and frankly what you put in your mouth stops weight loss far more than exercise alone. ‘You can’t outrun a bad diet.’

Your supposed binary choice, really isn’t because there is nowhere in your posts that suggest that you would choose a gym membership You wouldn’t go to a gym, if your out of the house 12 hours a day, where would you find the time? You want to loose weight but you don’t want to change anything in your lifestyle, which means the quick fix that you supposedly don’t want, is exactly what you want.

You knew full well that the weight loss injection fan girlies would arrive in their fist pumping masses encouraging you to go the injection route. So why the pretence? The injections should be part of a plan of measure's but your posts suggest that you have no intention on working on your either your nutrition or exercising. So the injections will just become one of life's expenses that you will become accustomed to paying.

I understand how you feel and I think tiredness has a lot to do with it. I barely sleep and it really doesn't bode well for diet. I don't have time to exercise due to work and a back condition. I certainly don't have the time or inclination to bloody batch cook.

I'm taking Mounjaro weight loss injections and I've lost 5st in 6 months. I've gone from bmi 40 to 26.7 and it's been relatively easy as I haven't really suffered any side effects (some people suffer quite badly).

I just don't want the crap foods anymore. I ate 3 biscuits yesterday - that's the first time in 6 months I've wanted any. I'm not bothered about chocolate/cake/buns at all.

My portions aren't much smaller, but I'm not filling up on rubbish through the day.

You do say in your OP that you want to improve your wellbeing and feel more refreshed. It sounds like you'd benefit from a health club membership, but when would you have the time to use it? Maybe weight loss injections first, then when you are at a healthy weight or your kids are older and you have a little more time, change to the gym/health club membership.

I have no idea what will happen when I stop the injections but I can't see me putting 5st back on (was due to having 3 pregnancies/2 children very close together and a medical issue that meant I was off my feet for months) so I'm not too worried at the mo.

Forgot to mention that I also try to make time for a small amount of exercise. I can't do it every day due to the kids/working away/back condition. I do it mainly when the kids are having tea so are occupied enough to not pester me. The max I can manage is 400 calories but it's usually nearer to 250-300. My weight loss slows when I don't do it and it's made a considerable difference to my legs.

I used ozempic and lost 4 stone over a year alongside a big change in diet. I’m now adding exercise into my life.

Realistically, do you have time to exercise?

Research fully Wegovy etc and also think about what you will do to stop the unhealthy eating habits.

I would use the money to pay for additional childcare so you can spend some time on yourself and your mental and physical well being. I would also consider therapy to look at issues around your weight. I would also consider buying a walking pad or home treadmill so you can get some physical movement in whilst you watch tv in the eve. Best of luck. I too am overweight and know how hard it is physically and mentally.

Well what you'll end up with is throwing food away and you'll need to come to terms with that. I am exactly the same as you in that I cannot stand waste and squirrel every bit of food away, however Ive now had WSL which means I mournfully just have to chuck stuff away and tell myself every single time 'dont over buy'!!!
Im still not quite in the habit, its so hard if you are that way inclined. But I physically cant fit the food in me and have learnt Im not a dustbin! So in the bin it goes.
Criminal really with people starving in the world.

How old are your dc's? Can you tackle this one year at a time?
Weight loss is one thing but you also need exercise for your health going forward. I'm a lone parent but was able to work part time so I did get to the gym twice a week and I walk everywhere. It's hard to fit it all in.

I understand where you are coming from and you have my sympathy.

What struck me is saying you've never been a healthy weight (as in bmi under 25). I am exactly the same so this isnt a criticism at all but what are you trying to achieve with weight loss. Is it how you look, better health outcomes or because you think you should or a combination?

Because I think it's harder for those of us who have always been overweight to get there and stay there and when your existence is stressful and difficult already, setting yourself up to work for something which isn't natural for you may create more stress.

That isn't to say you shouldn't be looking to lose weight at all. I think you will be fitter and healthier for it and it will do you no end of good. I just think striving for a target that your body hasn't ever achieved is a tough ask.

I would echo a poster above about using the spare cash to make positive changes to your day. A babysitter, something nice for your bedroom to make it a lovely place to sleep (weight loss needs good sleep). Food tracking apps can be useful to keep you accountable. Podcasts like the Zoe podcast can be interesting/inspirational.

I know you don't like cooking but there can be some good food prep ideas out there - stuff like your own noodle cups where you shove some dried noodles and pre cut veg in a jar so not actually cooking but better than pot noodles. Stuff like that (instagram is a gold mine for this).

It's a wanky thing to say but can you up your activity levels with the kids on weekends? Walks and swimming and messing around in the park? It's not hard core exercise I know but it's movement and being outside is good for you.

Basically nurture yourself. Spend that money on putting you first for a bit and finding out what that means. Look at ways to improve your health holistically. Remember being fat isn't a failing and you've done nothing wrong.

Its a lot easier to move around once the weight comes off so you'll naturally be more active anyway OP once you have lost some weight.

Honestly, I don't think you should do either. If I were you, I would use the extra money to buy better food and eat more nutritious meals than pot noodles and toast. Stop snacking on your children's leftovers too. When you eat better you will have more energy. Also, if freezer space is an issue stopping you batch cooking, save and spend some of the extra cash on a bigger freezer.

Evidence shows it's more effective to exercise to maintain weight loss, not to lose the weight in the first place.

I agree with this. I am quite fanatical about my health and diet and it sounds to me that your way of thinking about food is really unhealthy. The fundamental thing is your priorities are skewed to loads of things that aren’t a healthy and aren’t about your own self care & health. You can’t live like that surely for your lifetime. I would spend some time seriously thinking about how I can reduce the ‘load’ of your current lifestyle to allow yourself more time and resources to focus on yourself and your health. Maybe you could use the money for childcare so you can get out for a run or two a week, or a gym membership that you can go to during your work day at lunch etc. I’ve no idea about weight loss injections but it seems to me to just be another unhealthy choice. You also need to overhaul your diet so you are eating actual food- biscuits and pot noodles are not real food, ditch all the UPF and eat food that comes out of the ground. You are not a human anomaly in that you’re the only person who can’t loose weight on the earth- you need to overhaul your diet and lifestyle and nourish your body properly. Best of luck however you go xox

I agree with this.

Your lifestyle is sounds unsustainable and incompatible with good health.

Somehow you need to slow down and be able to get decent food and decent sleep. What do your kids eat? This is something that impacts you all.

Focusing on better nutrition should have a positive impact on energy levels & everything else.

Weight is 90% diet. Do an exercise plan at home. for example, Metabolic Aftershock or one of the numerous videos on YouTube. You will never use the gym membership.
I had one injection pen of Wegovy and felt so sick and under the weather taking it I didn’t even do the four weeks. Where it was helpful was calming the chatter in my brain around food. But I also started to feel very nervous about side-effects like pancreatitis.
your go to snacks of pot noodle and cheese sandwich will not help you. Both highly satisfying but deeply unhealthy and bad for weight loss. Can you replace those with fruit veg and nuts?

@myladyjane such a thoughtful and helpful (I think anyway!) post.

It feels like some posters don’t understand what the OP is saying. Also some people have real “food noise” a lot of the time. OP, injections took the food noise away for me. It’s been quite straightforward. But I stay on the lowest dose and eke it out over 9 or 10 days instead of 7. I’m also trying to eat in a way that will be manageable when I stop the injections. Added bonus that now I’ve lost weight I’m much more motivated to do more physical activities!

”Meal prep/batch cooking” is great but I don’t really do it. Also have a tiny freezer. But I do boil a couple of eggs most evenings to have the following day with a salad (pre bought) at work. Thats the level I can cope with!

The gym is a lovely idea but takes time.

Oh, and the overwhelm at choosing better food/reaching for carbs actually did drop for me when I started wegovy. Bit weird, but there you are. And I spend much less on food for me so the cost is slightly offset!

I've learned that changing your diet isn't hard, it's just undesirable at first.

Cooking and eating whole foods isn't time consuming or difficult, it's just habit changing. Having decent cooking tools to make cooking easier. I'd recommend an Airfryer, cooks most food in 15-20 mins. Easy for chicken breast, pork steak and frozen salmon portions. Pair with frozen veg (steam bags microwave in 4mins) or roast fresh veg in airfryer with meat, easy healthy dinners every night. Also, I'd recommend a soup maker (£10 from FB marketplace), used up old veg, frozen or tinned veg with stock and it is nutritious meal cooked for you in 20 mins. I portion it in the fridge for an easy lunch with some fruit.

It doesn't seem like you have a hunger problem which is what the WL meds help with, you have a time and energy problem so finding quick and easy nutritional meals would be key.

You really don't know what you are talking about. I have been going to the gym for a minimum of an hour 5X a week since last September. With a PT for one of those sessions. Of course I have lost some weight. About 3kg. after 6months. I was still BMI 32.

I started Mounjaro in May and have lost 18 kg and now BMI 26.

Whilst I appreciate that many people seem to hate the idea of fat people getting to a healthy weight in any other way but the hard physical and mental slog of diet and exercise. They fail to understand that this particular method is the most common way to pile the weight back on. Never heard of yo-yo dieting. ?

There is no way to know if I will be able to maintain my weight loss. I think I will because I do a lot of exercise and my diet is excellent. What I do know is that- is that being 11 stone is better for my health than being 15 stone. So yes , weight loss injections are worth it.

My only side effect (on 10mg) is slight constipation.

I save a fortune in food costs as I don't snack at all. No interest in coffee out or mindless snacking.

I also save the NHS money as at my fattest I was on metformin, bp meds, statins and 3 monthly knee injections.

Don't need any of those now.

If I was struggling for money every month and suddenly had £150 extra I would struggling less each month. That’s what I would do tbh.

You don't have time or energy to cook and eat so where are you going to find the time and energy from to go to the gym? You might as well throw £150 a month in the bin as put it into gym membership because it won't make you magically loose weight unless you also change your diet.
That said, i wouldn't touch weight loss injections with a barge pole.

You would not have to take the injections for life. There really is no harm in trying one as long as you have no health contraindications. I’m just at the end of my first month of Mounjaro. I was also a size 16, with a slightly lower BMI than you but still in the obese category. I have lost half a stone so far. I intend to keep using it until I am in the healthy BMI range. I won’t go higher than the 5mg dose. It has helped me to break the cycle of comfort eating and too-big portions but it doesn’t make the whole process completely effortless so you are still changing your habits consciously. It just gives you support with the willpower. Also, having spent the money I am sure there is psychology in making sure you get your money’s worth!

As my clothes feel looser I feel so much better in myself already.

Gym can come after you have lost the initial weight. You can’t exercise your way out of a bad diet. I can’t see much of a downside really.

So relieved to see this message!
The gym is a way of life for me.
Lift weights in your 30s and 40s to be able to do physical tasks in your 70s and 80s.
It isn't just about looking good.
Muscle strength. Cardio fitness. Mental health.
Always choose the gym.

Injections.... welcome to 2024 🤦‍♀️

Or choose both, injections to lose the weight then gym to maintain it and get other health benefits .

You need to get away from the idea of being on a diet.
google what your TDEE requirements are for the weight you’d like to be and don’t eat more calories than that. Forever. It’s that simple and that hard.