People who think weight loss injections are cheating

[AuntieDote]

I've seen this viewpoint over multiple threads recently, and I'm just really curious to understand it a bit more because it makes no sense to me whatsoever.

What do you think people using the injections are cheating at?

As in - what's the competition and who are they gaining an unfair advantage over? What do you think the rules of being allowed to lose weight are/ should be?

Is it more important to you that overweight people/ those struggling with obesity lose the weight, become healthier, reduce the burden on the NHS, stop taking up more than their allocated amount of space in the world, or just stop doing whatever it is that upsets people so much about the existence of fat people -- or is it more important that they struggle and suffer whilst doing so?

Or would you secretly prefer them to remain fat so you can feel superior?

Is it that you feel you've worked really hard to either lose weight, keep it off or never put it on in the first place, so nobody else should be allowed to achieve this without the same amount of struggle?

What do you think the weight loss injections actually do, and do you not recognise that those on them are also doing all the usual things people who are trying to lose weight e.g. modify their eating, exercise etc? Does it not count that they're doing these things because it's made easier in some ways by the drug?

What types of weight loss support or tools are not 'cheating'? e.g. I used hypnosis once and it worked for a bit, to the point that I felt pretty much the same way I do with the injections i.e. reduction in food noise and compulsion to snack etc. It didn't last anything like as long, but it worked for a time - was that cheating?

Would it still be cheating if they weren't as effective as they are?

FWIW, I really couldn't care less if people think I'm cheating - who cares? Who does it impact only me and my bank balance? If someone said here, press this button and you'll be a healthy BMI overnight and stay there forever I'd press it with both hands and not give a shit about how anyone felt about it.

But it's just the logic of it that baffles me - I've never seen it as a competition and have never felt like getting to or being a healthy weight only counts if it's done in a certain way - I suppose I'm not much interested in what size anyone else is or what they do to get that way, so I can't imagine for a second ever thinking another person was 'cheating' - only ever being happy for them if they're happy and hopefully healthy too.

Are you not worried about the side effects of having a BMI of 41?

Why? The drug is approved for life. So myself, and millions of others will be on a low maintenance dose for life.

The idea is new habits, new determination and willpower to not let it happen again. Without any of the above, its pointless yes.

I mean this gently, but does the much bigger risks of obesity not worry you more?

My sentiments apply to all situations. It’s none of anyone’s business what you eat or do, unless you are directly harming someone else. Your weight is your business. I meant both ways. It’s not ok for anyone to comment on someone else’s weight unless invited to.

Knowing how to eat healthily and being able to apply that to your own situation are also two entirely different ways. Sharing the information you know isn’t a lecture, it’s informative. I get it though, in certain professions you’re a beacon to people so it’s in your face if they’re advising how to eat and not doing that themselves. Still none of your business. Ignore and carry on.

I’ve been treated by many overweight doctors and nurses.…it didn’t stop them doing their jobs.

People like that woman at your work and the things they say…it’s not really about you. It’s a reflection of themselves. Still wrong, still none of her business.

I don't give a fuck in general, I personally think they're a shit idea long term.

People can't keep banging on about it though... Sooo because it keeps getting rammed down my throat, I'm going to have an opinion.

If you don't want negative opinions, then just get tf on with it and at least, keep it on the board that's right there for it. Why it keeps being brought up outside of it like it's some sort of holy grail is beyond me.

Just FYI horse riding is also a great way to lose weight :-)

Unless you're too heavy for a horse. Most places have a 100kg limit.

Well, yes, of course. That's why I'm trying to lose weight.

Simply from taking the medication. My BP went from high (had been high for well over a year) to in the normal range within 24 hours (I have a monitor at home) of taking the first injection. I didn't mention that as I was worried people would think I was making it up. My cholesterol levels were measured 3 weeks apart as I have unlimited health checks available in my office and I wanted to see whether there was a difference after a month (it ended up being 3 weeks due to availability of appts). There's a YouTube video that's really interesting and explains some of this. It's what swayed me to try.

I think for the right person these WLI are life changing.
Three years ago I had reached 20+stone. I had been on steriods for twenty years post partum. I was a former athlete who developed RA and later after two devastating bereavements an alcohol dependancy.
I was actually huge for me although I'm 180cm but I work in beauty and I could count on one hand the number of women at my level who are obese.
I knew my drinking was caused by trauma so I had therapy. It uncovered a miserable bullying childhood. Violence from a sibling and abandonment by my late mother. I gave up the booze and joined the MN support thread. I found I used drink and the crisps & cheese that went with it to numb my pain. I said out loud that I never felt loved or wanted. It was a revelation. I had tried every diet, SW and WW with their UPF packets and 'do not freeze a banana' rubbish. I have a nutrition qualification. And I'd say at this point my DC are not fat. I cook daily and have a few chefs in the family. Over the last three years I've lost six stone. It wasn't hard because I don't have food noise and I used an app. I don't really exercise as I am chair bound or on sticks. So along came WLD and I still had 3/4 stone to lose. Two friends had taken them and they were delighted. After approval due to my autoimmune conditions I was approved. Why did I want them? Because I had stopped losing weight and I was now too light. for WLS. I had been on the list for two years. However I had also seen two overseas surgeries that went wrong. One very ill, one still liquidising chocolate!
I had also read that RA and booze noise disappeared. Although I no longer drink it still haunts me. The chance to be pain free, irresistible.
Three weeks in I was hospitalised. Turns out that cheese had turned to gallstones. I now await my gallbladder removal as I had inflamed those big buggers.
I hadn't had an easy ride. Plenty of nausea, sickness and wicked constipation which is still with me. However I struggled to eat a normal sized dinner and had absolutely no booze noise. If you have struggled to stop food noise it will do this for you.
There is research now into dementia and alcoholism with these drugs. All the papers I've read (including the Lancet) suggest they work best on bmi of 40+ which was the point at which you are considered for surgery. People forget how many women were going abroad for these very risky proceedures and coming back in need of corrective surgery. This costs the NHS far more and families have lost their mothers.
I'd say to anyone seeking help on the alcohol support thread you can have medication to stop you drinking. If you are addicted to food you need more support, therapy or something else like medication. There shouldn't be any shame in it.
As a former eat what you like slim person until 38 I know I had slim privelage. I'm always thinking about food but more about fruit because that's my sugar.
I can't take these drugs but I think they are a boon to people with a history of yo yo dieting. The fat doesn't melt off and if you eat badly you will get very bad D and V. Your sugars have been balanced by the drugs. You don't need anymore!
I had backlash from friends but they didn't get it. They've never been obese.
What people choose to do is their business but my advice is read everything and if you can afford it get some talking therapy and decent cook books.

Well, there's several different things there.

Firstly, I am well aware of the risks of obesity.

Secondly, the risks from the weight-loss drugs are different risks, and they would be risks I was choosing to expose myself by taking the drugs. I never intended to be obese.

Finally, I still believe that I can lose weight without the drugs.

It’s not cheating. It’s in many cases levelling up. People are fat for so many reasons but most are victims of it and if there’s a medication to make them healthier and live longer, they should get it. It’s so easy for slim people to sneer and take the good out of it for people who need help.

My partner believes it's cheating. I do not. Having suffered with an eating disorder I do think that some people will need therapy alongside the injections.
His reasoning is that he was obese and lost it through really hard work and if everyone put in that effort they could do it too. Though I did point out that he was in his 20s and actually used a lot of amphetamines to enable him to exercise. So he did use drugs, he did not like that 🤣

I think they're a lazy way to lose weight.
Calorie deficit, high protein eating along side 30 min five times a week weight training and you'll lose weight.
However, that requires far more effort from people than simply stabbing themselves with a needle.

FFS educate yourself about a subject before you spout off on it!
Stabbing yourself with a needle, as you put it, does not melt away the fat, you still lose weight exactly the same way you do- calorie deficit , exercise and maintaining muscle mass🙄

What I find odd here is that people want to fall into two camps. There's no need. And there's no need to slag off the 'other' - lots of that coming from BOTH sides here.

• Everyone is human; most women experience unbearable food noise.
• Very sadly, the majority of women - thin and large - have experienced abuse as well as body-shaming. And yes, you can be shamed by ignorant men (I won't say 'people', though I know a lot of mothers were also victims) at vulnerable times of your life, whatever your actual size.
• What you do with those experiences is an internal process. It's my opinion that binge-eating and anorexia are so close to the same thing as to be inseparable.
• There's no such thing as 'naturally thin'. There is a small handful of people of both sexes who aren't interested in food.

Let's not pitch one 'side' against the other.

Let's not victim blame.

Let's not assume either party has had it easy.

Let's not judge other women. We owe that to the next generation of girls we are raising. Let's show them unity and sisterhood.

None. Literally no side effects whatsoever. It's been truly amazing.

What's your source for 'most women experience unbearable food noise', @LaLoose ?

I have found mounjaro to be a godsend. I had slowly allowed my weight to creep up before , ‘too busy’ was my excuse , too busy to eat structured meals so constantly grabbing on the go , and too busy to commit to a gym. I started the injections , and somehow the shift in my thinking about food allowed me to find the time and will power to prepare my meals, to think about what food I needed for fuel and to start building up my gym sessions with the help of a PT (yet still work in an emergency response sector , juggle 2 kids , a dog , (and a husband) and all the various activities they have so I’ve also overcome that psychological block of having no time). I’ve lost 5 1/2 stone , I now have a BMI of 21 , I have no lose skin (as per other posters concerns , my metabolic age has gone from 5 years above to 2 years below my chronological age , my eczema and asthma are pretty much non existent, my autoimmune condition has had no flare ups meaning I no longer need daily steroids, and my bloods are all back within healthy levels.

I can honestly say I’ve never felt as happy , I’m so much more confident in myself which is radiating into being a happier and more confident mum and partner . I’m not afraid to do Tik tok dances with daughter at home because I’m worried I’ll look ridiculous, I’m not scared of joining in football with my son because I don’t want to be huffing and puffing.

I still had to work hard to change my mindset but Mounjaro was the tool to help me do that, and I’ve been reducing my dosage for 8 weeks and have managed to maintain my weight whilst learning to put all my new tools about diet,fitness and how it all makes me feels into use to balance against learning to manage cravings again .

If anyone wants to judge me for ‘cheating’ says more about them than it does me. I’m too busy actually enjoying living my life these days .

Being in my 50s and knowing lots of women over many years of all shapes and sizes. I wonder if anyone here would claim otherwise? I sort of doubt it.

If you're asking me if any of us can actually feel the other's food noise, then no, we can't and that goes both ways.

It's all to do with the weird moral element that society attaches to weight, when it's not even in the moral category, it's health and has no moral dimension at all.

I have a BMI of 27 and not eligible for Mounjaro but could do with losing 20lbs that I can’t shift so must admit I’m jealous. It did piss me off when Nadine Dorries who had less to lose than me managed to get it prescribed.

I think one of the reasons is that many of us would like a ‘magic pill’ to stop us feeling hungry. I’m a normal BMI just (top end) and wha it wouldn’t give to not have to struggle not to eat what I want and all the lovely high sugar / carby foods not appeal.
But no. Because I strive every week of every year to watch my weight and keep the same size jeans I don’t qualify. I honestly think some larger people think slimmer people have it easy. WE DONT!!

I’ve lost 4 stone since Easter, healthy eating and exercising and I’ve worked hard. But I’ve heard comments such as ‘oh you’re just boring now!’ ‘God it’s become an obsession for you!’ And my favourite ‘I reckon you’ve been on the jabs and you just don’t want to admit it’. So no one can win can they. People just need to fuck off to be honest.

'there's no such thing as naturally slim'

Totally disagree. We're all impacted by our genetics. My dh, SILs, BIL and all their cousins have long lean bodies. Women are fairly flat chested. One or two people have a small paunch in later life. Their arms and legs remain long and thin. The kids are skinny and lanky.

My family - all short and round. Apple shaped. Put weight on easily, double chins, big boobs. Pretty similar healthy home cooked diet across both families.