Risking a flaming but jealous of those on weight loss injections

[Notmyfinesthours]

I’ve specifically not put this in the weight loss section as I’d rather hear from those who aren’t dieting or thinking about it. Might help me find perspective better.

I am not overweight. I never have been.
I have however had what feels like a lifetime of making sure this is the case.

I suspect many women feel like me. Brought up to fear being fat or greedy or ‘let myself go’ as if it were the worst sin.

Ive skirted close to or actually been in the midst of orthorexia for most of my adult life. Always saying no to pudding, finding the latest food that will fill me up but not have too many calories and fixating on it before I find the next one. Exercising most days, fitting it in by missing lie ins or nights in front of the fire.

Fretting in pregnancy, menopause and any ill health leading to immobility that it might trigger weight gain.

you get the picture? Self flagellation is big driven by an instilled fear of being fat given to many in my generation (I’m 58) (and yes I know I should address this first- I am trying but the media doesn’t help)

Several of my friends and family are big eaters, always seem to have the toastie and cake when we are out and by their own admissions do little exercise. They have often jokingly talked about being slimmer but say they like food too much and ‘have no willpower’ and can’t be bothered to deny themselves for the sake of a few dress sizes.

I know it’s more complex than that but they basically enjoy life in the way it should be enjoyed to my mind and accept they will be a bit larger bodied. I’ve actually always really admired this as an attitude or at least been a bit jealous of it.

But with the new weight loss injections several of them have dropped weight significantly and are so slim and delighted.

I just feel so cheated. Like I’ve been so careful for so long and they haven’t but they get to be slim just with an injection.

I know it’s more complicated, I know it costs them money, might have risks etc but it’s clear so many celebs are doing the same and it feels like it’s not going to be more commonplace.

Why is this making me feel cheated and am I just an awful person?

Basically the steroids I’d previously been on when first diagnosed did make me feel more hungry & therefore overeat, but since thankfully coming off those I just couldn’t lose the gained weight at all. I am now on a biologic medication, also due to another separate health issue I am on a thyroid medication. I’m not sure why, but assuming its the medication or hormonal as I’m mid 40s, maybe both? I have been unable to lose any weight even though i have been on a vlcd for post pregnancy weight gain which previously worked, it just didn’t work at all this time, I was maintaining but not losing and was obese at this point.

I tried Mounjaro as I was desperate to counteract whatever was blocking my weight loss from happening, as I definitely wasn’t overeating, I was following a vlcd to the tee, anyway I’m now finally losing weight again, slowly but surely which for me with the heavy medications I’m on & need to take is a miracle! I’m now overweight and 10 pounds off the top of my healthy bmi, I’m hoping once I’m back at the middle of my healthy bmi I’ll be ok to come off unless I have to go on the dreaded steroids again.

Well over centuries there have been warnings or advice about not getting fat, losing weight, various weird and wonderful approaches, from the Greeks, the Romans, right up to the present day.

Its not desirable, save for the odd circumstance, or healthy, thats why people want to be not fat.

What is a crying shame is that we have been taught you can have it all, you can have that takeaway, those snacks, those treats, you can have all those calories but still be 'healthy', you can overbuy, multibuy, multisave, mulitpacks, etc etc, BOGOF etc etc. Over spending, overbuying, over eating.

Who does it suit? Not me and my waistline or purse. It suits supermarkets and food manufacturers.

I am expecting to be on it for ever.

@Idratherbepaddleboarding by definition as you have anorexia, your thoughts are not the same as someone without an eating disorder who easily maintains a healthy weight. People are not referring to people in your situation when they are discussing the changes caused by taking weight loss injections.

YANBU - said as I log my 'afternoon snack' of raw carrot and herbal tea into my app 😭

I think its more accurate to say there are a lot of disordered diagnosers on MN!!!

They do love to diagnose.

Well I can see your point - it is the easy way compared to your commitment.

It’s not just to stay slim, your heart and body will thank you one day, your longevity will be enhanced. Exercise is so good for you beyond body image op. I would get some counselling around self worth as your mother has ruined this area for you it seems.

I have been advised I can stay on it once I reach ideal weight

just a lower dose

I have lost 45lbs and feel great and yes I look a lot better too

What do you mean 'possibly' private?

You must surely know that virtually everyone on these jabs for WL is doing so with private prescriptions, the NHS is not involved.

There are a handful of trusts where it is prescribed for WL, few and far between gt it for WL on the NHS (at the moment, hopefully that will change)

I know what you mean. Like I kind of wish I had that option when I was younger and very slightly overweight. But it's great that it's helping people.
If you really want to, you could choose to put on loads of weight, then get injections. But of course you know that wouldn't be either healthy or sensible.
Some people really do have life threatening weight issues and any drug that can reduce those illnesses is a good thing. Just think of it like a new cancer medicine. You wouldn't begrudge someone getting results from it just because twenty years ago it wasn't available.

I'm not sure weight gain/loss is as simple as avoiding pudding and exercising. But I guess you probably have good genetics which mean you are still at lower risk of cardiovascular issues compared with those needing to take diet injections. So, don't think the injections have necessarily levelled the playing field, if it helps your annoyance. I suspect you're still winning!!!!

You're not 'saying it as it is', you're saying it as you feel attacked for some reason, but it's just your opinion. If you have read the OP's posts and not just posted a knee-jerk reaction then you'll see the distress there quite clearly.

The only person here going for throats is you, at the OP's. The real throats that we should be going for at society's and their judgement of women's weight/shape/appearance.

This, so much this. It just helps me follow the sort of diet 'normal' people have to to stay slim. I'm still having to do Weight Watchers (along with the cost and inconvenience of it), but it makes it far more achievable.

If you want me to have suffered for being fat, I can promise you I have. I'm nearly 50 and have had a weight problem since my early 20s. I've spent literally years combined and who knows how much money on Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Noom, Zoe, MFP, Atkins, Paleo, gym memberships, personal trainers. There was also an emotional cost; my mother who was tiny her whole life and placed a lot of value on looks loathed me for being fat and was vocal in her shame of me. I'd loved to have made her proud, and it breaks my heart that I couldn't.

Now I'm on MJ I am still following WW. I still get hungry because I'm trying to stay on a low dose, but I don't get the enormous blood sugar dips that I got before, where between 3pm and 6pm my hands would shake and I'd feel dizzy and sick. This means it's achievable to wait until the next meal. I feel full on what I suspect is a normal amount of food for a normal person. And now I've dropped enough weight, I can go running again without damaging my body, whereas a couple of years ago I wrecked my joints when I tried.

It's been a real surprise that so many are upset that people like me are losing weight with help. It's like me being upset that people use nicorette to stop smoking because I put in will power and self-sacrifice.

Many, many people on weight loss injections exercise.

I am on it for neither diabetes or weightloss (though weightloss would be a very welcome side effect that is hoped for). Like I say, your pharmacist does not know why you are having it prescribed.

OP while your initial post was very honest, the "cheated" thing is just bs.

This comes down to value being attached to our weight all over again. You see fatties as being below you within the social hierarchy and so you don't want people to overcome that.

This, in spades. The ignorance and judgement is incredible.

You're right. It's more complicated. You don't just take an injection and become slim. You have to put the work in. And many of us are just like you and have been so careful and tried and tried to be a slim person for years. We are all the same.

OP is part of that society dreading and fearing 'the fat' though isnt she?

What is society? We're not outside of it?

Look at all the judgement here about wrong to be fat, wrong to lose the fat.

Wrong uns. All round (pun intended)

That is so patronising
Do you not think ,if we have paid a fortune monthly for this help ,that we won't do everything we can to hang on to any weight loss .
You dont know 100% the weight will go back on
Dear god
All these jabs are doing
Is giving us a fighting chance to be thinner
Is that really bad thing
Can't you be a little bit happy for anyone it works for

Ozempic is the medication that has struggled with stock levels - though they are expected to be sorted by the EOY.

Mounjaro does not have stock issues and I don't think ever had. (They had some in the US but this was due to a change in the drug delivery pen and is now resolved).

I haven't read the full thread but just wanted to add, I have been taking Mounjaro for 6 months and it is absolutely not the easy option. In fact, it's a pretty miserable existence. I get zero joy from food. I eat because I absolutely have to but I crave nothing anymore. I can't face carbs at all and most food gives me the ick just thinking about it. I struggle to eat with my family now and have to sometimes leave the room when they are eating as it just makes me feel sick. I used to love to cook and eat out and I feel like a huge part of my personality has been taken away. I'm only losing 1-2lbs per week. Is it worth it? I'm not sure. The only reason I have continued is because I need to get down to a healthy BMI so I can have surgery for a chronic health condition. But I'll be stopping the drugs as soon as I can.

In that case your medication has been ringfenced by the NHS for what its for (at the moment)

Your average WL jabber is not trotting down to the chemist for it in the high street with an NHS prescription, dont you know how this works?

And you may not be on it for either of those things but you are prescribed it by the NHS yes? In that case you are getting it from a ring fenced source.

Most people buy it from a private pharmacist, and they know exactly why it’s being prescribed, because they’ve prescribed it.

Nonsense
The op has no need for these drugs ,
Why start a bun fight on it
Sick of fat bashing on Mumsnet
Especially fat bashing hidden under a woe is me attitude