Depressed that I can’t afford WLIs

[Velveteengreen]

I am ‘obese’ according to the BMI calculator.
I’m 5’7 and 16 stone 4.
I have lost about a stone through calorie counting, so was even bigger before.
I am now a size 18/20, instead of 20/22.
But it feels like everything has significantly slowed down and it’s much harder to shift any more of the excess weight.

We are on a very low income and I’m unfortunately in significant debt to my credit card. I have several long term conditions that stop me from working full time.
I do get Pip but that covers the necessity costs for my disabilities.

I have started swimming twice a week as any other exercise is awful for my joint pain - in doing that I do feel physically fitter.

I have spoken to my GP and I don’t fit the criteria for jabs on the NHS.

Well yes, I’m sure most people understand that the jabs don’t melt fat. But if they didn’t help by reducing hunger and making you feel full, thereby providing the conditions to support eating in a calorie deficit, why would anyone buy them.

By far the most difficult thing for me is portion sizes, I would love to feel satisfied on a smaller portion. It’s a daily battle, that I often lose, with the result of painfully slow weight loss.

The WLIs are becoming a them and us based on affordability as the NHS thresholds don’t help many who would benefit.

OP I totally understand and empathise! But if you’ve lost weight you’ll have been in a calorie deficit. And I’d say well done so far!

I think losing the first stone is the easiest but if you continue as you are, in a deficit, you will keep losing but more slowly perhaps.

The smaller we become, the fewer calories we need, which is what I’m struggling with, having lost over 3 stone I’m now stalling. I would love to feel full with less and not to be constantly thinking about food. I can’t afford WLIs though so I’ll keep at it as I have no choice if I want to be healthy. But it’s difficult to be surrounded by the obvious benefits of these seemingly wondrous drugs.

I know people keep saying I’ll save money in food anyway, but we do a family food shop and both my partner and DS will still be eating.
Also as far as I’m aware I would need to up my healthy protein intake e.g. fish, chicken, eggs etc which I am doing currently but if on the injections surely I’d still need to buy these plus vitamins?

I don’t drink any alcohol and we probably have a takeaway once a fortnight, if that.

I'm a similar size to you.

Can't take WLI as I'm breastfeeding, so I've joined Slimming World (again). 6lbs down in the first week, 4 in the second! I feel great already, and I'm eating tons as I need to maintain my milk supply.

The recipes are also really good for the whole family so I'm not scrambling to serve different meals all the time.

I know it's not for everyone, but if you do it properly - i.e. cook everything from scratch, I think it's really effective.

I last did it 10 years ago and was able to stay at target for 4 years before the pandemic hit.

Keep going, dont give up - as you would have done before these injections became a thing.
And if it helps.......remind yourself of the possible side effects of these drugs - which wont be something for you to be worrying about if you arent taking them.
Im a similar ish weight. Set yourself little achievable goals as steps to the final goal. You've done well already, no reason why you cant continue to do well. Good luck xx

It’s not like people who want to lose weight don’t know what to do, we all know exactly what we need to do, but sticking to it for enough time is the issue. GLPs just help with that. All the time on MN (and elsewhere) there are people who come on these threads and say “oh just eat less and move more” like it’s as easy as that. I know for some people it is but it’s not like anyone considering using GLPs hasn’t tried it all a hundred times.

@Daisywhatsyouranswer
I know how they work. I’ve done the research when I was considering them for myself.
My concern is what happens afterwards when one stops taking them - unless you can afford to take them for life.
This is why I’ve decided against them and am replying to the OP that they don’t seem to be the magic bullet they’re being made
out to be.
As I say, if you’re taking them I really hope you get the permanent result you’re aiming for.

Would you be able to afford it - if the jabs were more spread out. I don’t take mine weekly as I do every 10 days ( Dr aware) to maintain and I find I was barely eating for the first few days so I need the 10 days to allow some fuel. Therefore I only by a new needle every 6 weeks ish as opposed to monthly - not a big saving I know but …

Would that make it a more financial prospect ?

Weight loss injections don’t melt your fat off, they inhibit your appetite and thus you motivation to shovel excessive food in. The same thing can be achieved by … just not shovelling the food in in the first place.

Let’s be realistic, I say this as someone who is obese.
Losing weight and keeping it off once you’ve been significantly overweight is statistically very difficult. 80% of those who lose significant amounts of weight put it back on. 2/3 of people regain the weight within the year, nearly all regain the weight in the next five years.
They’re not stupid or lazy people. It’s biology and hormones. Why people can understand that hormones are a huge factor in menopausal mental health, physical health, sleep, fitness but deny that hormones play a part in weight gain, I’ll never know. Easier to blame the fatties I guess.
So whilst suggestions of calorie counting are well meaning, they do not necessarily offer a solution for the OP as statistically she is likely to regain any weight she’s lost. That’s why the weightloss injections are so revolutionary, lots of previously overweight people are losing weight on them and they are keeping it off whilst taking the injections. Don’t give the OP false hope to say she can easily replicate this with calorie counting. Calorie counting might offer a slight mindset change, but her hormones will still intend for her to keep to her current weight. They’re very powerful!
It is not fair to compare a size 8 woman who noticed she was getting a bit of a tum and gave up booze for a bit to get her weight down to someone who has been a size 18-24 for years who is trying to lose eight stone. The battle is not the same. The body will not react in the same way.
The WLI literally made me so sick I was unable to work or move much from my bed. But I did lose weight. And that was nearly enough for me, so much so that I continued to be so debilitated by them just for that weight loss. I don’t think people realise how much overweight people want to lose weight.

Op, have you spoken to your GP about weight loss injections ?

And as soon as they stop,the weight will pile back on again. I know someone on them with awful eating habits,so as soon as she has to stop,she's going to be right where she started. She's not exercising or learning new eating habits.

You may regain all the weight anyway. It seems.unless on for life.you sound healthy and swimming is good also

We don’t know what their eating habits are .
They may well be eating well and exercising .
Also they may decide to continue long term with WLI, so they will remain slim

Do you know that the eating habits of the OP’s 2 friends are?

Huh? You have no idea about these people’s diets, how long they were fat for or their plan for maintence.

gosh it’s been a few days since there’s been a bitter jealous thread on these drugs, but we clearly have another.

op, 90 percent of people eligible for the drugs aren’t on them, it’s only 2.5 million that sre. Two thirds of the British population are overweight or obese. I think social media makes people think everyone is on them and they are being left behind, they aren’t, the vast majority of fat people are not on them

the drugs are a huge advancement in medicine, and yes can be used to lose weight in the first place snd regain health, or as a long term maintenance plan to prevent regain or even you can restart with many suppliers within a year of stopping, so periodic use. It is not fair there is a cost now, but over time that will alleviate, price will come down, and the nhs will also ramp up their prescribing.

I have had weightloss surgery, and considered taking wli to lose the last stone or so, but have decided against it , as a lot of people I know who have used them, have lost a great amount of weight, but as soon as they stop them , the weight flies back on faster than before.My DSis put a stone back on in just under a month and lots of my friends say the same, the weight gain is rapid and maintenance dose doesn't work apparently. So even if they work initially, there's no guarantee that once you stop them , you won't gain weight again .

So what do you want people to suggest for the OP. Do you want us to tell her to get into debt to pay for the jab or should we tell her not to even try because she can be one of the 2/3 that regain? What if she’s the 1/3 that don’t regain?
Your post is the pointless one here. People come and claim you’ll save on food, bla bla but as someone who doesn’t drink alcohol, don’t buy take away, I would have to only drink water for a whole month to save close to £250 on food. Many people can’t afford it and that’s the fact. These people have no choice than to try the things at their disposal WLI’s become more affordable or there are other affordable options.

What are the long term health issues that mean you can’t work? Could you do part time remote with UC top up? You would still get your PIP as well?

Here we go; your friends are anomalies. Your body is not changed and you suddenly gain weight from no where, your hunger remains the same, if someone gains weight rapidly they ate enough to do so.

some of the stuff posted on here is mad. 80 percent of people who diet regain the weight, wli will no doubt be the same, the only difference is, you can restart or stay on for maintainence to endure you never regain.

looking at threads on here people eat healthy diets to lose weight on them. Studies of trial participants showed minimal weight loss at 8kg and fast regain, but real life data now coming out shows weight loss is much more signifant for most users and is staying off, likely as the time to lose it is used to relearn new habits, however due to biological factors l think it will be the same as any other diet, 80 percent will regain it all as obesity is a relapse disease.

no one said wli was a magic bullet that they work when you don’t take them and that you’d be magically slim for life after using them.

The idea is preposterous.

Keep going with the calorie counting/burning as you will know where the high calorie/ bad stuff is and will keep the weight reducing and stay off. (worked for me)
Now you have adjusted your lifestyle it is easier to keep to it.
From recent reports WLI are basically appetite suppressants and weight goes back on when they stop as people dont change their basic lifestyle/calorie intake.

If your weight loss has slowed, then your calorie deficit has reduced. How much are you eating? Are you logging absolutely everything you eat, weighing if? Every bite, lick, taste? How many calories are you eating and drinking?

I think it’s a myth that fat people spend more on food. I got fat through being poor. White bread is always reduced, brown bread isn’t. Shit food is cheap, chicken breasts, salmon, pak Choi isn’t. I don’t even do a weekly shop. I just go to the yellow sticker aisle every day. You imagine some of us have a choice that we don’t actually have. So the choice is less WLI or lifestyle change, it’s stay fat or get fatter/ less healthy.

My friends who are on them have said they’re staying on the injections for life - on a low dose. Well one has said that anyway, the other is staying on them for the foreseeable future.

I am trying to walk more - tracking my steps on my watch, but as I said it can be difficult with my chronic pain and fatigue issues.

I’m trying to up my protein intake too.

Also for example instead of standard rice I’m having things like cauliflower rice.
Sweet potato instead of normal potatoes.