Can't stop eating - help!

[Ijustpopped]

I really need some advice and support please.

I'm 5'4". I started mounjaro 5 months ago, lost a stone in 3 months but the side effects were so awful I couldn't continue. I was taking time off work with awful fatigue, feeling constantly sick despite anti-sickness pills and was nibbling endlessly to try to stop myself throw up.

I stopped Mounjaro, gave myself a break, started wegovy. First month, at 2.5mg, no side effects but also no weightless. I'm now at 5mg and the fatigue and exhaustion are back. I can't take any more time off work and my hunger is raging out of control. I am eating constantly, never satisfied.

I can't eat protein and fats like I know I should. They make me feel sick. I can't eat fresh foods, they don't fill me up. I am just endlessly eating cards, they are the only things that are filling me and I know how bad it is for my blood glucose, I juts can't seem to stop. I'm starving hungry, always.

I've had bloods done. I'm fine, no issues.

What on earth do I do? I had such success with intermittent fasting but then peri hit along with a stressful time. I'm on HRT.

Nothing seems to work and I don't know what to do next. I can't take the side effects of the medicine and I'm still starving all the time.

I have to give up don't I?

Has your gp runs tests to ensure everything is good?

I would come off yes, I think maybe for you two things at play, assuming no health issues, first, mental health with food , bad diet, which is causing you to be hungry due to lack of protein and too many carbs.

why can’t you eat protein and fats? Are you genuinely saying, nuts, meats, fish, eggs, lentils, milk, Greek yoghurt etc all make you feel sick and all you can eat is carbs? That you can’t eat any fresh foods also? What does that even mean?

the drugs don’t work for about 15 percent of people. I’d have the doctor run blood tests as a first step, come off, and then maybe you need referral to weight management clinics to help with your diet, and counselling. At the root of this I think it is likely you’re incredibly bad diet though. And the mental health issues surrounding proteins, fats, and fresh foods.

I've never had problems with protein, fat, veggies before. Just on mounjaro/wegovy.

The hu ger is insatiable and the side effects are awful.

I've had blood tests, they are all fine.

Are you on Wegovy now?
The starter dose is 0.25mg then 0.5mg after four weeks. The maximum dose of wegovy is 2.4mg I believe.

I am older too but don't take HRT.
Can you go to a WW class and follow their GP1 plan? Lots of people use Jane plan for a few months too. You just eat what they send you. It's expensive though.
I just about into week 3 of wegovy and I definitely have suppression but I'm not very happy with some of the side effects. Constipation and sickness.
I do think a meal planner would help.

For me, I feel like I have a physical addiction to carbs. I have no self control and have the insatiable appetite to constantly graze, going from savoury crackers and crisps, then seeking out a sweet treat like biscuits or cake, then a pile of stodgy pasta or potatoes, then back to nibbling on crackers.

The first thing to recognise is that what you are feeling isn’t strictly hunger. If it was hunger, you’d also be hungry for the veg and protein. You are in a cycle of chasing the high from carbs. Like a chain smoker getting antsy when they are stuck somewhere beyond the point where they need a cigarette.

One of the best things that I did for myself when I invested in WLI was also getting rid of the easy hurdles. If I don’t have the stuff around me, and have veg and quick protein available I was able to make those choices. It’s taken the emotion out of eating.

These drugs can be an excellent tool, but they can’t make you completely take the emotion out of your eating habits.

What was your daily diet like before?

I started 5mg wegovy last week, and had to spend a day in bed with the side effects so I'm.scared to take another dose. I can't be off sick from work again.

Before, I was eating more fresh veg and protein. Right now the sickness is making me crave carbs and it's triggering endless binges. I am just so gutted. I have a friend who has lost so easily and I was desperate for this to work.

OP please check your dose. I've attached the chart.
On Wegovy a 5mg would make you hyper and very ill.

For some people the side effects won’t be tolerable and it probably is best to cease using the medication.

What do you believe the contributing factors were to you becoming overweight?

For me, I know my triggers were alcohol and carbs.

Oh ok, that’s very weird, not a known side effect that you can’t eat protein fats and fresh foods, but I’d come off immediately. These are not the drugs for you.

Sorry I mean 0.5

I hit perimenopause. I had an awful time at work, my stress levels were through the roof. Then just as everything settled down, I broke my ankle and couldn't move for 3 months, with ongoing issues so mobility is low. Plus I have always had a huge appetite. I managed really well on intermittent fasting and low carbon, but whenever I try to get back to it, I start feeling sick and shaking.

How frustrating for you. Realistically it sounds like WLIs just don’t suit you.

Come off them, let your body settle down and find something else. I know it not easy.

Have a read of Why We Eat (too much) but Andrew Jenkinson and The No S Diet (there is a book but all the info is free on the website). Two simple approaches to changing your diet that work if you stick to them (like all diets) but I think are easier to stick to than some others. Also Andrew Jenkinson has some really interesting explanations about why we as a society and as individuals are gaining weight.

I'm sorry you've been ill. I've had a lot of sickness on the drugs too but I have autoimmune conditions.
Was the 0 25mg working? You can stay on a lower dose if it works for you. Talk to your provider and GP.

I hear you OP!! I have found Wegovy has made me crave bland carbs. I’ve not had bad effects, just a bit of nausea, but I’ve not experienced that much weight loss (4kg over 16 weeks moving up the dose each time). It’s been very frustrating as have always liked healthy food, just ate too much of it. All I want are salty crisps, pasta, and bread. I’m going to try an alternative injection to see if that helps. I’m not at the menopause stage, so it’s not that for me.

Are you taking anything for the nausea?

I don't have nausea on wegovy. I had it badly on mounjaro and the anti-sickness pills prescribed were not helping at all.

So you don’t have nausea, but actual vomiting on wegovy?

Op I think you’re mixing up drug free, on mj and on wegovy and it is confusing to follow.

you said if you don’t constantly eat carbs and if you eat fresh food, protein or fats you feel sick.

when is this, if not on wegovy as you’re now saying you have no nausea on this.

Sorry I don't mean to be confusing.

Mounjaro - lots of sickness, was nibbling carbs constantly to try to hold it back (felt like morning sickness)

Wegovy - no nausea, but insatiable hunger , which if I don't eat carbs makes me feel sick. Protein and fats make the sickness worse. When I get hungry I get nausea and shakes.

Ok so you’re sick on both, and on both you eat carbs to stop it.

i think just stop. Were you eating too many carbs before either drug?

Op where I’m going is dis you have this situation before. Where you ate lots of carbs, and then felt sick and shaky if you didn’t.

as this would indicate unstable blood sugars due to the amount of carbs being consumed, the drugs would resolve this, but it could be a learned response. You expect to feel this way so do.

or is it you were eating a balanced healthy diet before and this is new?