To be really jealous of people who can afford weight loss injections?

[Charliede1182]

It seems like everyone and their dog is taking them, I personally know several people who are on them with significant and effortless weight loss, and I feel like there is becoming more and more of a disparity between those who can afford to buy themselves a smaller appetite and those who can't.

It's not just a social or cosmetic issue, it's about health equity.

In my case I don't want to lose weight for vanity or to cater to patriarchal beauty standards, I am comfortable and confident in my appearance and keen to model body positivity to my daughter.

However I am on the combined pill (for important medical reasons not contraception) and my weight is starting to threaten my ongoing access to this.

I am very fit, walk 5-8 miles a day, some of it with a weighted vest, gym 2-3 x weekly, resistance training, cook almost everything from scratch and although I am no angel I would say my diet is about 90% healthy.

I just don't feel full with small portions, it is an apparent mismatch between appetite and metabolism which is why I would love these injections to make me less hungry.

Even if I had the willpower to just eat less, being hungry all the time isn't a good quality of life and my attitude has always been I would rather enjoy myself and be a bit heavier than society thinks I should, than be thin and miserable.

Whilst I could probably get the money together for a couple of months of treatment, this is not how these drugs work, as people's appetite just comes roaring back if they stop, and then they can end up in a worse position having lost lean mass as well, so I would only go down this road if I could afford it longer term.

Just wondering if anyone else has Ozempic envy right now??!!!

I'm lucky enough to be able to just about afford them, with cut backs in other areas. I dont think you are unreasonable at all to be jealous- I think its a very natural response. I hope things change soon and you are able to access them or something like them.

Have you considered Slimming world. I find their recipes are useful as they don't want people to starve. A lot of them are available online.

We arent born to a fixed salary or spending pattern. People who can afford things, more often than not, have arranged their lives to that end because its important to them. People can also prioritise what they spend on and where to save, eg gym expenses, working more hours, getting a better paid job for example. Rather than being jealous, why not just make your life better? And you doth protest way too much about your amazing body confidence, just be realistic and get on with life how you want it to be.

I suppose this applies to most things. I have 100k envy right now. Thats all I need to solve a particular problem I have, its not much to some people, but I dont have it and cant borrow it I dont think.

So Im stuck in a situation that would be solved with money to some degree, a bit like the WLI issue.

And this has been caused by the NHS not giving this medication to those who need it, Im not sure Ive ever heard of anyone getting them prescribed on the NHS for weight loss without the diabetes criteria?

It’s not effortless. You still have to make good choices, it just makes making those choices easier.

I am also saving a lot of money on food. Food that would have been one meal for me before now stretches out to 2-3 meals. I also don’t bother with take outs because I don’t find them particularly tempting. I wouldn’t be surprised if I’m saving what I’m spending on the shots, or close to. If you drink and give up alcohol as well that would be a significant cost saving, but I’m not a drinker.

Try really increasing your protein intake. 120g a day. Aim for 40g at breakfast. I have done injections. Lost weight, gained it all back.
Have also tried this combined with calorie counting to lose a low amount of weight each week. Have been more successful with calorie counting, walking and protein. Plus it’s cheaper and more sustainable.

I stopped almost 4 months ago probably 7lb on. I run 3 x a week and walk lots. I am very cautious what I eat and leave food on my playe

Why can't those with high but not high enough BMI get it at cost price? I get the NHS can't fund it for everyone, but why are online pharmacies profiteering out of people's unhappiness?

My BMI was over 50 and I wouldn’t have got it from the GP. What do you mean for people who’s BMI is not high enough? What is high enough?

People have been making money on the back of others unhappiness for years. WLI are not the first example of that:

@MeouwKing You could say that of so many things. That’s just capitalism.

It’s not just a high BMI though. I had a very high BMI when I started (over 50), but I don’t have two weight-related conditions (which are rather narrowly defined), so I had to pay, or wait until I get diabetes or something else so the NHS would fund it.

I have been doing all these things whilst using WLI. Weird that you think people don’t.

@MeouwKingbecause businesses are all about profit.

Beautiful post and I completely agree with you.

it’s nuanced. It’s difficult when you’re not in good health. And yes the worst thing is the judgments on your character when you are fat.

And this is another piece of the problem- anyone on WLI is lazy, hamburger eating loafer. Ignorant about correct nutrition and would not know their way to a gym.
Because to be fat is to be inferior.
Thats the sneering attitude of a lot of people. Us fatties know this. We’ve heard it. And now if we take some medication to support us out of our health crises- we are still ignorant oafs sitting in front of the tv eating chocolate whilst having the audacity to use a WLI and cheat!!!!

It didn’t work for my DH either, the first few weeks he felt too sick to eat. Then his appetite returned I asked him to stop after 7 months, he hadn’t lost weight, still felt starving and was wrecking his gut in the process and costing a fortune.
it’s definitely not an automatic fix.

This. Unless there's some unknown, underlying medical issues, it really is as simple as eating too much and not moving enough. The food you eat maybe fresh, from scratch etc but if you're not in a calorie deficit, then you wont lose weight. Losing weight is 80% diet, 20% exercise. Have you actually logged what calories you eat on a day and do you know what your TDEE is?

I can’t afford them super long term but I could afford a few months. Yes I might put the weight back on after, but I might not, and for me it’s worth the money to give it a go. If I put all the weight back on after I’ve lost a few hundred pounds. But if I don’t put the weight back on I’ve gained massively in terms of health benefits.

I’m still early days but WLIs are allowing me to eat like a ‘normal’ person and I hope that I am going to build good habits, including getting used to tracking all calories, so that I can maintain it after. I also plan to micro dose as long as I can.

The nhs bmi @ 40 is bollox. That’s too late, they would save a fortune in healthcare reducing the bmi by at least 10.

The less you eat, the less you feel hungry. The more you eat, the more it takes to feel satisfied. You can do this on your own

It’s working out about £16 per week for me atm. Now I’m in maintenance I get 5mg pens and do 2.5mg doses, so get 10 doses from a pen. Penis about £165 from Oushk and they have very flexible plans.

Does this sound feasible for you OP?

I do get why some people will be really annoyed about not being able to afford it and I think this is where a lot of the negativity and bullshit narratives are stemming from.

*Not penis, pen is!!

@EmeraldShamrock000 it’s not the BMI criteria that excludes people on the NHS, it’s having to have 4 out of 5 specific weight related health conditions. Your BMI can be 50 plus and you could have 3 of those serious health issues and still not qualify. Because the NHS is trying to ration access based on who is the most unhealthy rather than who is the most obese, which does make sense from a national health point of view.

Firstly, it's not 'effortless' weight loss.

It's not so much the BMI criteria that stops people getting WLIs on the NHS, there are lots of people with a BMI over 40. It's needing to have 4 of the 5 other criteria that's the issue. Hardly anyone qualifies.