Sharing or not sharing?

[Amelanchier]

I am interested in how much people are sharing with others about their MJ / injection journey. After months of thinking about it I have taken the plunge and ordered MJ via Oushk. I am happy for my GP to know. I haven't told DH though. I might later simply because our finances are normally transparent.

I don't want him to talk me out of it. I have lost almost a stone through cutting back this year and being able to exercise more but I wfh and find it hard to avoid the food noise all day. Proba ly 3-4 stone to lose to be healthy bmi. I am ashamed my willpower is so weak. I think he may worry. Financially we can afford it - but we normally share all expenditure through joint accounts. So I think I will see how month 1 goes and then come clean if I want to continue with it. It doesn't feel right to have secrets from him. It is not something I want my kids to know about though. I try to keep DD especially not worrying about weight (she is perfectly lean as I was at her age although I thought I was fat!).

The only person I've told is my partner. I'd done lots of research and decided to set it up as asking his advice about whether I should or not. I emphasised the impact being obese was having on my mental health as well as the health benefits (given my age and family history). I also dealt with the financial concerns by explaining how we'd save on food and alcohol and that I'd use my own money from interest and premium bonds winnings where I could. He was absolutely all for it which was a surprise as he's never had a weight issue, and has been fully involved the 6 months since including watching me inject with fascination the first time! I think it's important to have at least one close person who can support you and understands what you're going through particularly if you get side effects.

I haven't told anyone else and don't intend to unless I judge it safe to do so - I don't want to enter a debate about my body and my medical treatment.

I've only told my DH. It was important for me to have his support and also that he agreed to the financial implications. This was crucial as we are really scrutinising our finances as retirement looms.

@Amelanchier I haven't told anyone in real life about it. It's a personal decision who you do or don't tell. Maybe tell your hubby and ask him not to talk about it with others, especially the children? There are many good threads with lots of support on Mumsnet.

Only my DH knows as our finances are transparent. He has been the same weight range for ever, eats well but because he exercises a lot, he doesn’t gain weight and obviously, he hasn’t had 3 babies. I thought he’ll be judgemental and recommend the usual working out, etc but he wasn’t at all, he even encouraged me to use the first pen as I had it for over a week and was so unsure. I’ve now joined him in exercising because I don’t want loose skin and also, need to start creating a healthy habit for when I stop.
I will not be telling any body else. It’s my journey. My friends know I’m now exercising and watching my calorie intake which is true but I’m leaving MJ out of it.

I've only told my partner. I don't tell anyone else anything about my personal medical situation anyway, so this is no different. Technically my GP knows as it's on my health record, but I don't see the GP for anything at the moment so I doubt he's actually read the information.

I've not even told DH. I did try, said I wanted to try to lose weight (again) and I was going to try a medication to help. He interrupted with "well it better not that one that's causing shortages for diabetics". I shut up at that point.

(FWIW, it isn't. Mounjaro has never, during the period I've been taking it at least, been in shortage in the UK).

We have shared finances but also personal accounts for saving/spending, so it comes out of my pot and he won't see it.

@10storeylovesong - not the point of your post I know, but have you spoken to a medical professional about passing out? Was it through lack of food?

Thanks all. There's so much shame tied up in this (for me). I suspect my friend has used an injection to manage her dramatic loss and I have nothing but support and goodwill towards her yet why do I feel differently for me?

I'm happily telling friends, they've listened to my woes about weight enough over the years! One is going to start this too as a result. I've told the family members that I speak to lol

Others like work colleagues or anyone I am more distant to, Id have no reason to discuss any personal matters including this.

If anyone asked me, I'm happy to recommend it and be open that I have taken it, as I'd like as many obese people as possible to regain their health.

There should be no stigma attached to taking these WLjabs, any more than there is to pharmacotherapy for high blood pressure!

DH knows and so do work colleagues but only because one of them gave me the code and we've been talking about it

My husband knows and a few close family members. It was becoming obvious at get togethers that I wasn’t eating much and I didn’t want to lie.

I’ve only told my husband and have no plans to tell anyone else, though no idea how I’m going to hide it over the festive period with socialising and events based around food and drink.

My husband knows but no one else. I earn money so can afford it. I did tell him about research etc and is more than happy to support me.

I have the same worries as @Mincepieinthesky

I havent gone out of my way to tell anyone. Dp knew I was contemplating it and saw it in my fridge. We don’t share a home or finances so no need to tell him but I haven’t hid it either.

would definitely not tell anyone at work. There’s a few of people on it. And given it quite a bad rep. Mainly because 2 of the people on it are always poorly and still eating a poor diet just less of it. So that makes other people think they ‘know’ it does awful stuff to your body and I can’t be arsed getting into that discussion.

But also I wouldn’t share the ins and outs of my diet and medication anyway.

No one has noticed me eating less when I am out. I had lunch with my Dad yesterday. Ordered the meal I wanted and ate about half of it. Said I was full and that’s it. He knows I am trying to lose weight and get fitter, so wouldn’t have even entered his head I dont think.

Some brought donuts to work the other day and told me they were there and to grab one. I said thank you and that I might do in a bit and didn’t. And no one commented. I have had been to buffets, lunches, dinners and so on and no one has ever said anything.

People have noticed I have lost weight but no one asked me how. I haven’t decided whether I will tell people or not if they ask. Probably depends on who it is

I’ve been open with those close to me in day to day life. I've told 2 colleagues at work who I am close too (as they’re also larger and thought it could help them). I’ve also told about 5 people in my immediate family and partner (after ordering) as the pen is in the fridge lol. If I’m asked how I lost weight I think I will simply say due to a calorie deficit unless I feel MJ could help them and then I may decided to share that. But I want my willpower to be recognised too! I feel a lot of people that don’t know much about MJ think it makes you lose weight, when it doesn’t, you have to do that all yourself just thankfully with a lesser appetite!

I've told anyone who has asked.
I've struggled with my weight my whole life. The constant cravings, hunger pangs, etc. I don't want someone going through the same to feel like they're a failure just because they've seen me slimming down and claiming I've just started to eat better.

To me, it's medication. It's not something I need to share as if I'm coming out or it's a special announcement anymore than I need to share that I'm on any other medication. If it comes up in conversation, I can decide to say yes I'm on it too or just not say anything. If I'm asked pointedly, I'd say yes I'm on it. It's exactly what I'd do with any other medication.

I’ve told everyone! Nothing to be ashamed of. Gives me more motivation to eat healthy too as I don’t want people to think I’m an idiot who wasted £££ and didn’t even try

My DH knows. We have mutual friend who has confided in us that she is taking it - she’s told a few people but it’s not widely known. She started in August and has done really well on it, and it definitely peaked my interest and I was asking her so many questions about it when we saw her. I think I even said something like “I wish I was brave enough to try it”. One day when I was yet again in tears about my weight and how I look, DH suggested should I look into MJ. I wouldn’t say he persuaded me, but it definitely encouraged me to know the person I’m closest to was supportive and didn’t back away in horror at the thought! I felt like I had permission as silly as that sounds! He’s seen me struggle with my weight and hate how I look for years so he’s been really supportive. My mum also knows - I told her because I stay with her a lot (and so there’s a good chance I’ll have to jab at her house at some point) and she’s very involved in my life and I don’t think I could have kept it from her. I wouldn’t say she agrees - she’s very skinny and has always had the mantra of just eat less and do more exercise. Doesn’t understand food noise when I try to explain it. But she’s seen me struggle for years and I explained how my weight was affecting me and didn’t she think I’ve tried everything else? She reluctantly accepted it and made my swear if I start having bad side effects I’ll stop. She won’t talk to me about it except to ask if I’m ok every now and then! Bizarrely, I haven’t told our friend who is also taking it!

I don’t want anyone else to know. I think I’m a little bit ashamed that it’s got to this point, that my weight has spiralled so out of control I need to resort to a drug to sort it out. It’s certainly not an easy way out - how on earth is injecting myself every week easy? And I still have to work to eat healthy and exercise, this just makes it easier for me to keep my focus. So I think I’m worried that if others know who don’t understand it, they’ll just think I’ve took the easy way out so I don’t have to put the work in, when that isn’t the case at all.

I’ve also told my GP - my prescriber sent a letter but I did double check it had been received. And my dentist knows as I had an issue a couple of weeks ago and they asked if I had any change in my medications. I don’t have an issue with health professionals knowing. I’d rather that and then if something happens they know and can give me the right care with the full picture of what medications I’m taking .

Only started yesterday but only told my husband. I won’t be telling anyone else until I can see a difference and am ready to tell.

Noone knows with me- but I live alone so its easier though. Folks can tell I’m losing weight but I have always been of the mindset of not discussing it and shutting down too much discussion. Mainly because I don’t want to hate on ‘fat me’. Its not nice or useful. I have maybe one colleague I would probably tell if it came up, but noone else I don’t think!

Nobody knows.
Not even my DH, although if he looked in a certain compartment of the fridge he would find the pen.

We do have a joint account that we put money in to but other than that our finances are separate.

I joined slimming world and started an every other day gym habit a month before I started MJ so no one has questioned anything.

I tried saxenda and wegovy in the past and told a couple of friends and DH when i did. They weren't effective though as I didn't really change my diet or exercise.

If anyone asked directly if I was on a WLjab I wouldn't lie. But happy for it to stay a secret for now.