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.

So same as after any diet then?

That's totally normal. I felt the same when friends of mine (before WLI were even around) were losing large amounts of weight and I just couldnt seem to get in the head space of doing that consistently.

My fitness pal is good for tracking, dont go by their daily calorie recommendation though, use a separate TDEE calculator first. MFP will track macros which i find are the key to how much weight I lose and also controlling hunger.

The problem with calorie deficit is your body can get used to the reduced calories and then you need to go even lower to have significant weight loss.
id work out what your maintenance level is (the amount of calories you can consume without losing/gaining weight ) do 4 week’s deficit and 1 week maintenance to avoid this.

My understanding is not so much that your body gets used to it but that when you lose weight (for instance I lost just under a stone in 1st month of my diet) you then need less calories. Mine have had to reduce by over 300 a day. If I stay at one weight my maintenance calories would never really change. I have been dieting for just over 3 months, every few weeks adjusted my cal deficit based on current weight. I have not had a week where I have lost less than 1.2lb so far.

There is an element of people having a plateau and increasing then reducing calories again can help but it doesnt necessarily happen to that many people. Often people plateau for a few weeks, continue on their calorie deficit then have a whoosh of loss on one go.

That also makes no sense, she’s as likely to pile it all back on when she stops the meds as when she stops dieting without them, what consolation is that. Hey don’t worry, 80 percent of folks regain from normal dieting, how good do you feel about that then,

I am currently reading this book written by a psychologist who is an addiction specialist. It’s called Why diets make us fat and tackles the psychology behind our eating habits. It’s a good read, so is her other book The Kindness Method

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1785122770?ref=cmswrffobkcsowaapindpQWH02NHWYV3BAF2FS26K&ref=cmswrffobkcsowaapindpQWH02NHWYV3BAF2FS26K&socialshare=cmswrffobkcsowaapindpQWH02NHWYV3BAF2FS26K&bestFormat=true

Same as every diet people do then.

So the same as every man and women that goes on Slimming world, weight watchers, calorie counting or shakes then👌

I am also in a position of not being able to afford them but have people around me who have successful lost alot of weight on them. Its frustrating but I'm trying to focus on me not them.....and alot of research now suggest people gain back up to 60% of the weight they lost within a year once they stop. I remind myself of that when I feel really down.

Try to not compare. You can't afford it and its not worth the debt. Look at what you can afford.
Swimming is great exercise. Can you walk much? Walking even low impact walking is great for weight loss. I got a small walking pad for at home. Or could you up your swimming per week to maybe 4?
I've got appetite control pills (apple cider vinegar ones). They are not as affective as WLJs but do take the edge off and seem to be helping but they are what I can afford easily.
Do you accurately and meticulously calorie count checking packaging/weighing/ using an app?
Do you accurately record what calories you have burnt

[All] Obesity interventions typically result in early rapid weight loss followed by a weight plateau and progressive regain. Maintenance of lost weight and long-term management of obesity - PMC

This is true of ALL diets, ALL OF THEM from intermittent fasting to slimming world to diet shakes.

WLI are a tool that aides dieting. They are not a magical potion that makes fat melt. They help people diet. They are not the enemy here. They help the way that some people find going to slimming world or weight watchers helps, its just that it is a biological tool.

@Velveteengreen keep going, small incremental changes are the way to go to lose and keep weight off long term. Create healthy routines, make eating well a habit but not one that is restrictive or punishing.

Yes but you've not forked out thousands of pounds to get where you are then to pile it back on again 🤦‍♂️

People waste money on all sorts, like all the takeaways and junk that makes them fat in the first place.
Or the gym they never attend.
and for some, money really isn't the issue or a problem.
That's life.

The general consensus in the US where I am is that people will stay on a maintenance dose for life, just like you do a statin and other tabs. I know it’s expensive at the minute but it soon won’t be, there’s a glut of GLPs about to hit the market this year.

Agree the revealed preference is likely to be lifelong maintenance doses, particularly when it becomes more financially accessible. Let's hope the cheaper options come soon!

I spent far more on food when I was obese than I do now I’m a healthy weight.

It may not cover the full cost of WLI for everyone (depending on dose, if you split doses, spread out doses etc) but it certainly offsets some of the cost for many people.

Just eat in calorie deficit and be grateful that you don’t fit criteria for the WLI.

This article might be useful @VelveteengreenAfter years of failed diets, this is how I lost 7st in 10 months
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/5488a6e9cea5f372

I think it entirely depends on what you were eating when overweight to be honest. I lost 3 stone without WLI but now I’m slim I spend more on food than I did when I was obese because I eat more good quality meat/veg etc. I was never obese from eating takeaways/convenience foods, just large portions of the wrong things (my total share of our monthly grocery spend was about £180) so there’s no way I would have saved enough to make a dent into WLI costs.

So sorry that you cant afford. They are life changing and should be available more widely in the NHS. I am on them as they help with inflamitory condition. Its absolutely cleaning me out financially but the difference to my wellbeing is worth it.
They will drop in price as drug companies have so many of these in development. Thats no comfort to you now though.

I second the Nutracheck app for calorie counting meantime. Its really easy to use which helps keep you on track .

It would just about get you Wegovvy.

Like every other diet then . Except that with WLI you will actually reach target weight without falling iff the wagon a few week in due to hunger.

Well you do fork out thousands to get fat, it is seldom quick. And many people don’t come off, I’m one of them,

WLI don’t work well for everyone they become a crutch, a very expensive crutch, for a lot of people. I’ve been on them 3 times in the last 3 years each time for 6-12 months and I lose weight to start with them plateau exactly the same as with trying to lose weight any other way. I stay on them in magical hope the plateau will end but it’s a very expensive way to do that, a very expensive 2 stone and overall I don’t think they are worth it and I have spent £1000s. Stick with what you are doing small steps and consistency, you can do this!

@Rizzzok so explain to me this. If getting fat is a ‘personality flaw’ (you’re greedy, you lack self control, you aren’t educated in nutrition etc) why are 70% to 75% of the population in the country my dad is from overweight? This is a modern phenomenon following colonialism. Do you think 70- 75% of the population are stupid, lazy or lacking self control? They all have access to the same food, they cook at home much much more than Brits. Do you honestly think there is nothing biological at play?

I merely pointed out that you didn't get fat because you were poor or you ate the wrong kind of food.

You got fat because you ate too much of it and didn't burn enough of it off.

I live in an incredibly poor area and believe it or not, not all the poor people here are fat.

And as I said upthread, you could double your income tomorrow and get fat on healthier foods if you ate too much of them.