Want to give in and get ozempic

[Tiredandtried]

That's about it really, I've been 18:6 for about 6 months now and lost nearly 2 stone (still 3 stone to go!) I'm really pleased with myself but the last 2 months really I've been hovering at about the same weight, even gaining some back some weeks. I was quite strict at first and even though the weight didn't come off very quickly I did see a loss so was kept motivated. But in the last few weeks / couple of months I've been a bit more relaxed - not hugely but a bit - and I've seen this stall in loss. I feel more bloated and sluggish and while I'm still fasting most days I'm struggling to get back into the strict regime.

Of all the lifestyle changes I've tried in the past I've definitely found IF to be the easiest to adopt and have seen real results rather than the yo-yo dieting I'm used to. But the 'food noise ' definitely hasn't gone away! I feel that even though it's easier, it's still a slog everyday and still takes up a lot of my thoughts. It's HARD WORK - and I'm thoroughly disheartened that it seems loosening the reins even a little bit to try and give myself a little self-care has caused me to stop losing weight. I don't think I can stay 'strict' forever but that seems to be the only way to keep the weight off.

Several of my friends are on GLP drugs and I'm beginning to think this is the only way. Seeing them almost effortlessly lose weight at a much better rate than I am is making me very flat. I can't afford the jabs so it's not even a reality for me, but it's getting harder not to just throw in the towel!

Overall, I'm happy I have managed to get this far with just IF. I do feel better, not just at the loss but energy as well. And I'm happy I'm doing it without putting drugs into my body - and will avoid any troubles coming off them etc. but I'm having a big wobble and feel so close to giving up. Some advice to get me back on track and feeling more positive please!

There's no shame in using the medications. The GLP1s mimic a hormone that you produce normally to suppress appetite.

GLP1's are miracle drugs. If there's anything you could cut back on to help afford it it's worth a try. Could you quit smoking, drinking, eating out...? You are correct when you say "almost effortless", you would be amazed!

Come on now op well done and all that but no need to sneer at who use them

Interested to know how your friends are doing it effortlessly on the jabs?

How much do they cost?

I pay between £111-149 every 5 weeks (there are 5 doses in each pen but sold as 4) read up about the 'hard twist' for the bonus dose. Also go to weight loss boards and specific discount board for codes.

I am actually saving money on Mounjaro.

I no longer have a coffee and 'something' at the station in the morning. (£5/6 per day 3 x a week) My supermarket shop for DH self and one adult DC has reduced by £25/30 per week because of a combination of complete elimination of any convenience foods (didn't eat much before tbh but can't bring myself to buy anything but veggies, fish and a little meat) and just buying a lot less food in general.
Also much less food waste.

Strangely, despite no appetite I have re-found my love of cooking. I basically make lovely meals for DH/DC and have a tiny bit myself.

Started at 16 stone 2. in May. BMI 35
Now 11 stone 2. BMI 26

For those on weekly budgets many pharmacies offer Klarna at checkout. A 0% interest way to buy more expensive items on a weekly basis. As I understand it. I have a friend who affords it this way but haven't done myself.

I assume on the 2 days you're eating 5-600 calories? I never could do the 5:2 diet because it actually makes the food noise worse eating a small number of calories than nothing at all. If I know I'm not going to eat anything it's easier to forget about food.

Although I have lost weight previously using IF and low carb, this time I've used Mounjaro because of prediabetes being a factor, until I started it there's no way I could have managed any IF because my energy would have been through the floor. I'm now able to do 16:8 - no breakfast, eating window is between 12-8pm or 1-9pm as I go to the gym in the evening. I find that works better as I couldn't manage a high intensity bootcamp or strength training on fast days, plus seeing to the animals, carrying hay bales about, etc.

It may be that your body has got used to what you're doing and you might need to switch up the fasting cycle.

Thank you for this, that's really helpful actually. We are on quite a tight budget as a family and I am really torn as to whether I can justify 'finding' and spending this money on me alone. But your progress numbers make me want to cry! A bit of jealousy, a bit of exhaustion, a bit of desperation and a bit of longing! I'll give it some thought, thank you for pointing out where you have found you save in other areas, I hadn't thought about it like that

Thank you. You might be right about switching it up. I'm doing 18:6 every day, not the 5:2 - I found is couldn't sustain that for more than a week.

I need to sit down maybe and see where I've started to slip into going over my calorie allowance. It's easy to think because I've done 18 hours I can have lots of chocolate but I know that's not really true!

Not sure I understand what you're asking? As far as they tell me they say the weight is just falling off and they aren't thinking about food all the time/have no desire to overeat anymore