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.

This is exactly what the injections help you to do.

You won't lose calories just by going to the gym. One chocolate bar needs hours at the gym to work it off. You'll need to eat less, that's the bottom line.

@HotCrossBunplease I don't believe anyone will work as hard at the gym after using the injections, mentally they know they can just inject themselves up to their eyeballs if they don't see progress quickly enough.

This is just total bs. Also ignorant.

Have you thought about trying something like Huel? They do shakes and pot noodle type meals and are great for busy people. They are also a lot more nutritious than bread and biscuits.

I would personally try other avenues before going to injections.

Are you looking for a different job that might really help give you more time as it sounds like you have a lot of your plate and 12 hours out the house with no break sounds tiring and with everything else must be absolutely exhausting. I know it’s not a quick fix and it’s easier to say, but it’s also easy to end up giving up job hunting if nothing perfect opens up. Failing that I would say you need to get a break and try and get out for a 15 minute walk at least.

Even if you have very little time, I would echo the post about doing something energetic with the children, Joe Wicks did the Pe with Joe on YouTube or playing football, frisbee etc and I would try to do something relaxing but beneficial before bed, a short meditation, yoga, tai chi type thing to try and have some you time.

Injections, you may find what you want to eat changes a bit as well, you sound like your life is incredibly full on. Calorie counting and exercise take time and mental energy and OP doesn’t have a lot of that to spare right now. I think once you drop some weight you will find it easier to move around and also without worrying about how much you are eating you may be able to start thinking about what you are eating. Then maybe think about trying out some ten minute youtube workouts.

People moralise about this too much, OP has a problem, she has a solution which at least in the short term may help. She works a long day has a ND child who doesn’t sleep her life is already hard.

I use weight loss injections and no they are not a substitute for the gym, I also go to the gym alongside. However, going to the gym will NOT make you lose the desired weight, if you continue normal eating habits alongside. Same as the weight loss injections. You have to be in a calorie deficit, the weight loss injections make this far easier. The gym is great for health, but not for weight loss.

Tell me you know nothing about weight loss injections...

This is not an either or. Make time and money for exercise. This is not about weight loss as such but stabilty, cardio health and bone and muscle mass. No point in losing lots of weight and going in to older age with poor physical health.

You do not need to spend lots on a gym membership either - look at couch to 5K, at home yoga, simply walking a lot more at the weekends.

There are no quick fixes to weightloss or fitness, it requires the long term adoption of good daily habits and a different attitude to lifestyle.

If you go at exercise hard to try and lose weight you are likely to get injured or give up.

I wouldn’t be touching the injections if you cannot get them through a proper supply chain - ie a medical doctor with specialist knowledge prescribing them for you and monitoring you. Realistically, this will cost more than your budget.

As others have said, gym won’t help with weight loss. There is a huge list of health benefits to exercising regularly and your physical and mental health will be better for it however weight loss is not on that list. It takes a shift in mindset for you to adjust your eating habits and I would recommend researching what will help you achieve this shift. A dietician is probably a much better place to start

I’ve lost just over 2 stone on mounjaro since June and the weight loss injections will most definitely stop you hoovering up leftovers. Mounjaro works on the brain as well and reduces food noise. Before I started I was sceptical about something that suppressed appetite because I didn’t need to be hungry in the slightest to eat crap. I rarely fancy a biscuit now but if I do I’m satisfied with one rather than half a packet. It costs me £150 a month but my food shopping bill has actually decreased by more so I’m actually saving money. The injections do have side effects but for most people these can be managed. Mounjaro isn’t for everyone but for me it’s been life changing. Get yourself a fit bit do 10,000 steps a day and give the jabs a go. Also, if you are on tik tok there are lots of fab creators on mounjaro which I found super helpful.

What are you talking about? Injections don’t increase muscle strength or cardiovascular fitness.

I mean you can lose (or at least not gain) weight through exercise, but it needs to be a lot, not just a couple of gym classes a week.

Mr Monkey is a good for age marathon runner who runs at least three to four marathons a year. He can struggle to eat enough to maintain his weight when in the midst of training. But he is running over 80 miles a week or more.

Look at better gyms they are government run and £30 /40 a month

I’d do weightloss then add in the gym after month 2 or 3.
but I would say that because… it’s what I am doing!!!

you get fit in the gym and slim in the kitchen.

I have kids and have accepted I had to commit to long term fitness for my health and my kids.
while you need to get exercising BUT it’s way easier to exercise and feel motivated if the weight is coming off and way easier when carrying less weight.

exercise without diet change will generally not drive weight loss to any significant level but it will improve overall appearance l, self esteem, health, help maintain muscle mass and enable you to eat more via higher metabolic rate.

Well exactly. And hoovering up her kids leftovers on top of the over eating she's already doing.

I can't believe people are slating the gym. It isn't just weight, you will build muscle, become fitter and also improve your mood.

Focus on food. If you don't have time to cook then you don't have time for a nice gym.

The calories in a pot noodle and the like are.very high and the nutrients low.

Think of proper food as self care.

Weight loss injections won't nurture your body. There are some really quick and easy meals, things like poached eggs, porridge with nuts and seeds and jam, roasted veg and hummus with roast potatoes.

What is the barrier to eating healthy food? Is it time e.g. putting the oven on for an hour is too much when you walk in amd are hungry or is it effort e.g. 30 mins prep and 15 mins cooking is roo much because you're tired?

You've expressed what I was thinking fairly well.
The mental health benefits of exercise are very important, for me at least.

I don't know anything about the injections, but will just say you're going to have to look at your diet no matter which route you go down. The gym will not make you lose weight unless you tackle your diet alongside it, diet is the primary cause for weight loss/gain, you could lose weight without ever taking a step of exercise, but you don't lose weight if you exercise everyday but consume too much in compensation. I'm assuming even with the injections you'll need to be careful with your diet, I assume it impacts appetite so you'll want to be sure what you are eating is nutritious.

So my vote is you spend the money on getting into cooking, some nice recipe books, perhaps some equipment to make it easier (my food processor was life changing!) and that'll support which ever route you decide to go down, and will be important for the children too.

I also hugely recommend Chris Van Tulleken's book, it's been life changing to me. If you do injections, read that book alongside them.

Do you enjoy the gym? If yes I'd do that, as it would help your mental health too and create a positive cycle.

If not, i'd invest in better quality food. I think that there's a triangle of quick, healthy, and cheap, for meals, and you can't get all three at once. You're currently choosing quick and cheap, but you could instead go for quick and healthy, but pricier.

Wish I had that! I have the opposite. I hate exercise, I find it mind numblingly dull, I honestly hate every second of it, and I'm resentful - it's taking up time when I have so many other things I could be doing/need to be doing. I get no mental health benefits from it at all - it's completely the opposite.

But still I carry on, through gritted teeth!

I agree

i did or should i say do both! a lot of people think these injections are the magic answer and initally you will lose weight, but you do also have to look at your diet and do some exercise alongside them

Are weight loss injections the new diet pills?

If you're not losing weight you're eating more than a couple of slices of toast and a pot noodle.

You're currently struggling to buy healthy food but now have an extra £150 so instead of using it to buy healthy food for you and your children, you want to buy weight loss injections.

Exactly. I swear people think that we see the injections as a magic cure, they are not. They are not a magic weight loss drug, they are a tool to help with weight loss.

They won't work without a lifestyle change which for me is giving up alcohol, eating in a calorie deficit, gym 2-3 times a week, walking at least 10,000 steps a day, high protein, low carb and 2 litres of water! All of which I intend to keep up with after injections, but the benefit of the injections is they've stopped me thinking about food, craving food, using food as a crutch or a reward which allows me to shut off all that noise and focus on building healthy habits.

I used to feel that way about exercise too, until I found the one I loved - swimming! I also love to walk but not been a really good long walk in a couple of months.