Need to take action, where do I start please? Complete newbie and overwhelmed

[FedUpOfTheFat]

Please could I ask all you wonderful people for some advice?

I have finally admitted to myself that I need some help with my disordered eating. I am the stereotypical yo-yo dieter...I am all in it all out. I am either slim and toned or fat and blobby, but my average weight is going up and up steadily. Not helped by menopause, a DC with additional needs and working from home (from an access to food and lack of exercise point of view).

I am obsessed by food from the moment I wake up to the evening. Thinking about it, eating it, or wanting to eat it.

Size 14. Fairly tall at just under 5ft 8. Weight 14 stone 7 currently (though in my defense even when ive been my smallest, I seem to weigh loads more than it looks like I should).
I'm doing C25K and enjoying it, it gives me slightly more restraint but not much.

I am a proper binge eater. Can't eat one biscuit. Literally have to eat the packet, and could keep going.

My actual meals are genuinely very healthy and home cooked - it's all the shit on top of those.

I know I need help, I'm not going to do this on my own. But how??

• Do I go to the GP? What can they actually do? Can they prescribe?
• how do you go about deciding which drug is best for you? Who actually decides?
• What can you do and not do on injections? What are the biggest restrictions?
• can you take them if you've had a gallbladder attack in the past/gallstones?
• side effects - what's the worst thing?
• long term effects - anyone worried?!

I'm just so sad and embarrassed- I am so fucked off with myself that I can't lose weight through diet and exercise due to the bingeing/boom or bust.

Hi!

First of all, congratulations for deciding you need some help - this is not an easy thing to do. Secondly, the threads here are a treasure trove of great information, advice and tips. So spend some time catching up on those.

Now, regarding your questions:

• The GP won’t do anything much, unfortunately. I think they refer you to a dietitian?! I’ve not gone that route so maybe someone more knowledgeable will come along and shed some light on this. But from what I’ve read the wait times for these services are very long, so nothing is quick. And they certainly won’t prescribe the weight loss injectables. Those are private only at the moment.
• All online pharmacies ask you to complete a consultation online and at the end you get a list of available medication. If you’re looking at injectables the options are two - Wegovy or Mounjaro. Different active ingredient , same idea. You decide which one. Most people on here seem to be on Mounjaro. It has reportedly less side effects and is more effective (people lose more on it). But they’re both brilliant weight loss drugs.
• You can do everything on injections, however if you want to put an end to the yo yo-ing it would be wise to really focus on forming new healthy habits. In that spirit, best to reduce alcohol and rich foods. The medication itself makes this part very easy, the food noise and cravings basically go away, so it’s honestly not a challenge.
• Unsure about the gallbladder- again, have a read on that.
• Side effects, if any, are mild discomforts that wind down after the first few days or weeks. Nausea, tiredness, diarrhoea. That being said, many many many (maybe most?!) people don’t have any side effects. I had low level nausea for about 12 h after my very first injection and that was it.
• long-term effects, you need to do your own reading and research and decide for yourself what you’re comfortable with. I’ve not seen any catastrophic side effects reported, and was more concerned about all the risks and long term effects of continuing to be Obese.

You have nothing to be sad and embarrassed about. Just look around here. You’ve found your people. This tends to be a very supportive space. You have decided you need help and you’re taking the steps - that is admirable. You’re investing in your future self. You got this.

I was you! I had all of your issues.

I went to GP. Supportive but cannot preserve. It was my consultant cardiologist who recommended weight loss injections though as he said all the cardiac conferences are discussing multiple huge successes amongst cardiac patients needing to lose weight.

Chose mounjaro as it has an extra ingredient; it's like the next generation of Wegovy.

I use MedExpress but there are many others you can also choose from. Just pick off the list and DO NOT ORDER THROUGH A BEAUTICIAN etc.

Side effects; I have had constipation, it's an issue for many.
Other side effects commonly suffered are nausea and feeling cold, and of course, loss of appetite.

But for me it's worth it, it's stopped all the bingeing and obsessing, it's like a major drug.

Good luck!