Scared about weight loss drugs

[Nicecuppatea2025]

I need to lose weight. 5 stone. I’m very fat. Would love to be able to tie my shoe laces without puffing.

I’ve read in the news about people dying from weight loss drugs. I’d love to give it a try but I’m shit scared very nervous about it.

Any thoughts? (Apologies for yet another weight loss jabs thread). And do I have to be referred by a doctor (I’m in the uk).

Far too much of a risk for me to take, I would rather diet the traditional way.

I don’t know what age you are but for me diet was much more important in losing weight once I got to my mid thirties. I feel exercise played a bigger role in losing/maintaining my weight when I was younger.

I’ve lost over a stone this last 6 months by focusing on diet and barely exercised, but everyone’s body is different and of course exercise can be good for your mood and general health anyway.

Fair enough, everyone should do their own risk assessment. For me, there is no risk at all of this particular condition with Mounjaro and only a possible unproven tiny risk with semaglutide. So for me, the risks of remaining morbidly obese massively outweighed the actual risks of using Mounjaro.

If I had been able to lose the weight via diet and exercise without the assistance of Mounjaro then I would have done. But decades of trying left me at my highest ever weight. So it seemed sensible to take a different approach.

If you only have a stone and a half to lose, you probably wouldn’t be eligible anyway. It’s a risk/benefit calculation and if you aren’t obese, you’re not carrying the risks of those of us who are. (Inc diabetes which can lead to blindness!)

How’s that going for you?

Quick update! I’ve done it. I’ve just ordered!!

My own experience. I weighed almost 16 stone at the end of 2019. I started off by using Mysimba, which is a pill, and lost three stone. Last January I was thirteen stone and started on Wegovy (private prescription).
It's been a miracle drug for me. No real side effects (bit of constipation) and a greatly reduced appetite and almost no 'food noise'. My largest dose so far has been 1.7mg (highest possible 2.4 I believe) and this week I weighed in at 11.5. I'm ecstatic.

If it was that simple no-one would be fat.

There's a documentary on IPlayer called 'Irresistable - why we can't stop eating?' which I really recommend. It's about the food industry and how it's engineered to make us eat non-stop.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0025gqs/irresistible-why-we-cant-stop-eating

I am planning to wait and see how this Mounjaro thing pans out. It's relatively new so not much known on long term effects. I am increasing my exercise and try to eat healthier. If it looks like the risk is very small for long term side effects I might try.

I think it works if you also portion control. Lots fruit and veg, I go off and on it and I keep gaining and losing. But it's my mindset that causes it. I stress eat.

What about slimming world? It does really work. I am about to restart.

I did portion control. I didn’t go mad . I stuck to it like glue. See also weight watchers, slim fast and all other diets. Nothing and I mean nothing worked til weight loss injections

Presumably you didn’t reduce your portions or change your diet enough enough though if you feel like you need injections?

Because is reducing portions/saying no to food basically not the main thing that injections help people to do ?

It’s probably the same as injections in that once you come off it you’re going to put on weight unless you massively increase your daily exercise/movement to compensate.

I’ve noticed my friend who has done really well on it and lost 5 stone without exercising or walking much will put on as much as half a stone in say a couple of weeks off on holiday.

The injection I’m taking helps with insulin resistance as well as making you feel fuller. Insulin resistance makes you store fat. Even on 1200 calories a day I previously struggled to lose weight and felt shocking and ravenous all the time, my whole waking thoughts were food and calorie counting. Now with the jabs (absolute minimum dose) I eat far far more and lose weight (eg have 50 grams of porridge v 30 before, eat what my family eat but small portion of whatever carb they have, full fat greek yoghurt v weight watchers ones)I have changed what I eat to lower carb tho because the jabs work better that way. I have a mantra now that if I can control my insulin response I can control my weight. For me it’s definitely not calories in v calories out.

Don't use them then. There's many other ways to lose weight.

Why do people keep banging on about putting on weight "afterwards?" Anyone who loses weight on a concentrated programme (be it Mounjaro, WeightWatchers, Slimming World, exercise) will regain weight if they revert to their previous patterns.
My pre-jab weight was high but had remained stable for a couple of years. I wasn't actually eating a huge amount and ate little sugar /fat but the weight just wouldn't shift.
Once I get to my goal, I intend to wean myself off the jabs gradually and maintain via lower intake and continuing the exercise regime I'm now able to enjoy because I'm so much lighter.
We'll see how it goes - I regained after losing 3.5 stone on WW, although it took 6 years.

i think it’s a way to put people off , in their heads, or wishful thinking, it’s cringe worthy, personally I’m going to stay on, a low maintenance dose which I will increase if I find I regain.

True 👍

I mean it's true that coming "off plan " definitely results in weight gain.