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.

I just find it difficult when I see my friend and each time she has shrunk even more. She’s tiny now - started bigger than me and is now almost a size 8. Tiny waist.
I can’t help but feel some jealousy 🫣

Of course people change their calorie intake on WLI, how else do you think they’re losing weight?

I think thays understandable, and I think if more people were honest, they’d admit envy is behind their feelings. Weight is such an emotional topic, and few people like being fat.

I also applaud you for approaching this thread in a balanced manner, and not throwing out stupid jealous comments about how she will just regain or look old or get struck down by some side effect.

i know it doesn’t help right now, but they will start becoming more accessible, and right now you’re doing a fantastic job and should be proud of yourself.

Yes and once they stop taking them and the food noise returns,that's when the weight comes back on.

I was directly responding to the comment about them not changing their calorie intake while on WLI, I thought that was obvious? Of course they do, or they wouldn’t lose weight.

Yes but it is because (as I understand it ) they act as an appetite suppressant not because it is something as a result of an permanent lifestyle change which they are in control of.

You could probably get some significant initial weight loss using WLI at very low net cost.

My weekly food bill is about £30 to £35 a week. A significant saving for me to offset against the cost of the medication.

Do you seriously not think that obese people don’t know this?

The OP has already sought and been denied NHS help. She knows her family budget. God knows she knows about eating the “right” stuff and so for those who say you will spend less on food, that is rubbish. If we mean nutritious foods.

Compare the cost of some good lean protein with other foods - I know as I’m in calorie deficit but my food bill is higher as I don’t eat sparrow portions and focus on protein and whole foods. Proper 0% calorie Greek yoghurt - you seen the price! I think this spend less has got to be because of reduced snacking, eating out, alcohol, etc.And tiny portions often as hey you’re not hungry! That’s how I could visualise my budget if I went on WLIs.

As for false hope? You serious? I know about the hormones and I absolutely believe it. It makes total sense. But tell me, why highlight false hope when there is NO ALTERNATIVE for many of us to buy these drugs privately? What would you recommend?

As another poster said, your post - though undoubtedly well meaning - was pointless.

Looking online it says it costs around £25-80 per week, if you can get it for the lower or mid range then wouldn't the excess food that youd no longer be having to buy offset the cost?

Yep! just like if I stop taking certain meds, my condition pops back up again. Unless the meds are a cure, surely it’s obvious that the food noise and hunger pre WLI returns. The WLIs aren’t claiming to be something that you take temporarily and the once you’ve lost the weight you’re cured. Anyone I know on them plans to stay on for life, and I totally understand that.

That makes no sense at all, did you even think about it logically? You still need to chose what you put in your mouth, you still need to ensure you’re in a calorie defecit. And no diet is permanent unless you make it so.

I don’t think I’ve ever read anything quite so Ill thought throw.

If they stop taking tnem and then it is back to like any other diet, what’s your point,

I understand your frustration; I don’t need to lose weight fortunately but I would like to have the Libre sensor but at £104 per month it’s too expensive.
I’ve had the free trial and was amazed at how much caffeine, cows milk, oat milk and homemade wholemeal bread pushed my blood sugar up.
I have seen adverts for BOLT PHARMACY which suggest their WLI is much cheaper than other suppliers. I’ve not looked into it as I’m not interested in buying any.

Maybe a odd idea but could you do the WLI eating plan without the WLI?
I can't take them but my husband can do I eat the same as him without the WLI
My loss is slower but happening.
High protein.

WLI are not a magical cure, you need will power too. Would your refer you to Slimming world for free?

start cooking everything from scratch and really up your vegetables intake. Move more.

You poor thing .. life can be really unfair for people on a low income. Is there any way you can appeal the NHS decision .. is it a weight thing ? If you are just under the criteria I’d be inclined to stop dieting so you can get the drugs. I’ve neither money nor weight problems but from what I’ve seen they are life changing for people if they work. Losing a lot of weight without them is significantly harder

I think it’s completely normal and valid to feel jealous. But they will have this expense and potential side effects for life. They seem like a miracle but they’re not for everyone and some people experience some pretty nasty side effects.

you’re doing well. You’ve lost a stone and while it’s slower and not as dramatic making sustainable changes to your diet and life style will help you to keep weight off without having to be on injections for the rest of your life. That seems like the better option to me.

keep up the walking and swimming alongside calorie counting and then as that gets easier add in some other bits such as weights, Pilates, yoga, Zumba or even couch to 5k if you think your joints can take it.

Can you go swimming more than twice a week and for a bit longer each time? It’s hard even for ‘normal weight’ people who have a tendency to gain weight to keep it off. I’m afraid it’s all about moving as much as you can and making the majority of your diet clean healthy foods. Chicken, fish, fruit, veg etc. A take-away once a fortnight is fair frequent for many people. And one takeaway can undo a weeks worth of hard work. It’s a tough reality to face and it’s really hard when food that isn’t great for us is literally all around us constantly. Sometimes it comes down to a really difficult choice - do I want that Chinese takeaway or do I want to lose weight? As you can’t have both if you’re serious about significant weight loss. I’m afraid it’s a lifelong mind set too. As you will put weight back on once you’ve lost it if you don’t keep on top of eating well and moving as much as you can. The WLI might accelerate an initial weight loss but once stopped the weight will be regained unless you maintain the same diet patterns as when on them.

It's about the amount consumed.

If you doubled your income tomorrow you'd still get fat on healthier foods if you ate too much.

I am not anti-WLI (think they are an amazing health tool), but its not the same. With WLI you are getting an artificial appetite suppressant that disappears when you come off them whereas this doesnt happen if you lose weight another way.

That said, its really common for anyone who has lost weight to put it back on afterwards. I think because losing weight gives you a (dopamine?) boost that maintaining doesnt. So, however you do it, it needs to be a long-term lifestyle change.

It will be much harder for OP to lose the weight than on WLI. But I do think her chances of keeping it off i think are better than someone on WLI who doesnt stay on forever. Slower weight loss is psychologically extremely tough but physically better. I actually read it takes your body 2 years to adjust to a new weight - no matter how fast you drop the weight.

So you ARE doing really well, OP. It’s a long-term game and you are improving your health and teaching yourself long-term habits. It is do psychologically tough though to see others dropping stones in weeks. But just do not compare.

You can't say that for everyone though, all you have to do is read on the WLI boards on here and so many people have completely overhauled their lifestyle (as recommended when taking them). There are actually very few people who eat crap on them, not least because it would make you feel very unwell.

I get people are trying to make the OP feel better but there is a lot of misinformation and anecdotes based on very limited knowledge.

The grass is always greener OP. With the amount of weight you need to lose the old fashioned calorie counting is probably best method for you, and yes it is bloody hard work. I think that in the long run you will have the last laugh, maybe your friends will put weight back on or have to keep paying for their WLIs.

Im not against them at all. I had a morbidly obese friend whose health was at such risk she had to have her jaw wired - these was 20 odd years ago. WLIs would have been far better for her, but like all life changing drugs they are not the trouble free magic cure a lot of people imagine.

This. My mum eats very well and spends as much on food for two of them as I do for 4. She’s obese. Her portion sizes are ridiculous! When I went for dinner she served me enough for two people!
if you don’t over eat you wont get fat, if you do you will. It’s as simple as that.

My mum always bangs on about how I don’t eat enough, I eat plenty, have a reasonably healthy diet on a budget, exercise regularly and have at most only ever been slightly over weight and never underweight. As soon as I stopped being in the healthy range for bmi purposely lost weight and kept it off. We have a bit of a warped view of a healthy diet and portion sizes in this country and my mother is a prime example of that. Eats very healthily just wayyyy too much for her very sedentary life style.

Op can you console yourself with the fact that you’d likely pile it all back on when you stopped the injections?
Sounds like you’re making good lifestyle changes that are sustainable so maybe you’re on the right path.
can you try increase your daily activity/ step count at all?

This doesnt even make sense. You have to be in a calorie deficit to lose weight, end of!

Why even comment when you don't actually know anything about it. The press will always report on negative sides of everything.