Shemed Starters - Support thread.

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Hello! Is anyone starting or recently started with Shemed? I think there's a few of us on the boards. I started posting on a different thread when I was looking into MJ but thought it would be nice for us to have somewhere to share our experiences of the journey!

I'm Fatsia. My bmi is huge (22 stone with 11 stone to lose ideally. I'd be happy with less!). I put on a lot of weight after having kids and have tried all the usual things to lose it each time gaining more. We don't have a high income so it's taken some thinking before getting to this place and I'm really hopeful reading others stories of where this can lead. I. Really do want to experience the world in a slimmer body again.

I did the blood test today - stressed out this morning at the app was overloaded with so many starting on 2nd of Jan but the actual experience was great. I'm a bit needle phobic so it was great to have the little device to do the test.

Love to hear from any others interested in sharing experiences.

(Anyone wanting to debate SheMed as a company there are other threads where that is happening)

I've had a couple of very cold days too, it comes and goes. I am quite a cold person anyway. I've been drinking lots of warm squash to try and help warm from the inside

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden
@tinyemmy

Have either of you reported being cold as a side effect?

When I did my jab I had a question about side effects which linked to a form which I filled in. But I can't remember what I wrote. (As I'd only ticked "mild" I got a generic email back but I was impressed they give you the option to pursue speaking to someone.).

I will next week. I've got a hot water bottle now and been watching TV with the family with blankets - and keep asking if it actually is cold or if its me!

Its manageable though. Just cold rather than like when you're really ill and shivery!

So I just went into the contact form to see what the options were and cold wasn't there so I did another form and clicked "other" and now they're going to ring me back. Even though I ticked mild.

Quite impressed really although I'm not overly fussed!

Hi everyone and thanks to @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden for the round ups and remembering us all.
Sorry for the long post but just thought I’d share this.
I was trying to explain to my husband the difference MJ is making and it was really difficult to put a finger on it. I’m a terrible snacker and would find myself mindlessly eating anything I could get my hands on in the evenings - if there was a packet of crisps in the cupboard it would be calling me like a Siren - that urge has almost gone. He was asking why I couldn’t just do that on a diet (that doesn’t cost £100 pm)? It’s really weird because I’ve been asking myself the same question and clearly I couldn’t or I would have (it’s not like I didn’t want to lose weight and have tried many diets) but the ‘eat me, eat me now’ voice in my head was much bigger than the sensible voice and would always seem to win eventually. That’s what seems to have changed - it’s subtle but definitely there.
I’m wondering that if this drug imitates natural hormones then do those people who don’t struggle with their weight just have more of it ? if so they don’t know how lucky they are!
It also makes me feel a little better about myself as it feels less like I’m a weak person making poor choices - I can blame my hormones 😂
Interestingly I put most of my weight on post menopause (which was very early) although I’m not sure that’s the same hormones 😂

@DIYMum Ive experienced similar and thought similar! I often used to get "a little something" and like you say things would call to me. It's really like it's not there.

No Wonder people who don't have this problem look at us and think "just cut back" or "stick to a plan" if it's something that with a bit of effort they could do. I don't struggle with alcoholism and have in the past though it doesn't bother me to "just have one" as it doesn't call to me but for a family member who does she's wired differently. And it's been like that wtih food perhaps for me and yet we still need to eat and it's all around us.

I am amazed at the difference tbh. All the plans I've tried over all the years and it wasn't my/our "fault".

On the flip side I'm also wondering if it means I'll ever be able to come off it or if at a normal weight that inner drive will be less. I'm not convinced.

Its so clever isn't it. It's worth the mild side effects I'm getting at the moment.

I had this on the Human Being Diet and was told Calorie restriction can lead to a lower core body temperature so it may be that? It essentially turns your body into a fat burning machine as a result.
Not sure how much truth there is in it but would make sense.

My blood test results are back!! I was starting to panic a little as I sent my test back on Monday and had seen people on here with the same timescale had already had their results back and some even had their pens. So of course I was catastrophising that there was something really wrong with my results and I was going to be declined.

Well, apart from very slightly raised cholesterol levels (to be expected at my weight I guess) everything is within the normal range. How fabulous is the report though - I've never had blood test results explained to me so clearly (or even explained at all actually). That alone was well worth the fee. I'm really looking forward to sering how they change during the next 12 months.

Now to spend the rest of the morning refreshing the app to check for a prescription!!!!

Just wondering how many of us are here now? I’m gobsmacked at the things I’m reading and thinking ‘that’s me’ I always thought I was just a bit weird having food talk to me.
here I was thinking there was just something wrong with me but if this jab stops this noise in my head that’s good enough for me!
I get cross with my OH if he drinks the whole bottle of wine saying why can’t you leave some for another day and now I feel so bad if he has the same thing going on in his head.
We are away this weekend in a gorgeous cabin in the woods and he was getting antsy as he thought there wasn’t enough cider for the afternoon (hot tub and chilling) so we had to walk to the shops to get some. He hasn’t drunk it but instantly calmed down when it was there. I started thinking you really do have a problem but realise this morning I’m the same. I’ve brought a pack of chocolate digestives with me just in case. I haven’t opened them or eaten any but it’s like a safety blanket.
Sorry for the long post.
Really hoping I hear today/tomorrow

I’m hoping that in the next 12 months the NHS will realise the savings they are making from the reduction in treating health related conditions and will pay for all our maintenance prescriptions 😂

I would like to know this too! Injection Guidance - anybody?

Did they arrive on a Sunday? So pleased you have them back

Yes @MelodicStarfall email arrived at 4:20am this morning and I also had a notification to check the app for my results

@fallenover @MelodicStarfall
For me injections (I’ve done 2) have been entirely painless. I’ve done one in my arm and one in my tummy. The only thing that surprised me was how long you have to press the ‘plunger’ and I thought I’d done something wrong. The person on the end of the line talks you all through it though if you want them to stay on the line while you inject.

Definitely go up to 5mg.
2.5mg is not a treatment dose. It's just to get your body used to tirzepatide.

I am so glad that so many of you are sharing your battles with "food noise". For years now I have been racked with guilt and self loathing when I give into my cravings. Especially as I am the sort of person who must eat a whole packet of biscuits or a whole bar of chocolate rather than taking one or two pieces like "normal" people. I even have been known to hide the evidence of my gluttony rather than happily scoff everything in front of others.

I did manage to lose almost 3 stones on slimming world before the covid lockdowns. I really struggled with the hunger and couldn't understand those people who said they were always full up on SW! I honestly can say I constantly felt hungry.

My insatiable appetite has definitely got worse over the last couple of years while I have been going through the menopause, so it is definitely a hormonal thing for me.
I am so hopeful that this jab will be the answer. I am happy to put in the work on eating better but just a bit of help with the greedy thoughts will be amazing.

For those people who think taking this medicine is "cheating" would probably take medication for other health issues so this is no different. So, well done to us for taking this step! 👏
Mind you, if I am one of the people it doesn't help then I will be fuming 🤣🤣

Just been accepted 👏. Now the anxiety changes to oh goodness am I doing the right thing? When should I jab? Where should I jab? Will I get side effects? 😳

Thank you @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden

My prescription arrived early this morning via Royal Mail.

For those wondering how it appears... first box is about shoe box size and pink.
Children about so literally opened and shoved the insulated packaging inside in fridge so haven't actually explored.
Also got a sharps box and side effect package of medication too.

I am going to inject this evening.

I suppose this means it will be my day going forward. Not sure if that means post always a Sunday so more likely to be in.

So grateful to actually be accepted and have it ready.
The process in total has been 1 week but a life time of weight gain and wishing for something like this to help.
Can't wait!

Well that's me finished my first two performances, so took my first jab 5 minutes ago.

Don't have another performance until Friday night so going that any side effects will have dissapated by then. Will let you all know how I get on.

Still loving this thread. So supportive.

Thanks @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden I was finally approved yesterday! Pen due on Monday.
Similar to you and others I am wondering whether to wait until Friday to jab due to having work Monday-Friday.

Congratulations on your weight loss and to others. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend

So anyone else who is feeling cold do report it as a side effect "other" as they are collecting the info.

I got a call back today and was genuinely really impressed. The pharmacist was very knowledgeable and happy to chat and I said it wasn't concerning me I was just reporting it but they always ring back anyone with "other" which I was quite impressed with. She said they'd had another patient say about the cold too!

This was me lovely, but we are doing the right thing to be better and heather!

I jabbed yesterday evening after my kids fell asleep and it was quick and painless. I decided to jab in my thigh xx

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden I always feel very cold, the day after I inject. It's a known side-effect.
It's weird, isn't it.

Wahoo to those jabbing.

And yes @TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne . I'm perimenipausal (I think) and combined with being 10000stone I'm normally very hot/rarely need a coat so it's an unusual thing for me!

Same here!

Although now I've lost 6st 9lb, I'm not 10,000st anymore
🤣