Shemed January support - Thread 2

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Fantastic we made it to thread 2!

This is a thread for all those who have started or are about to start the Shemed programme in January.

Those waiting for blood tests /first pens hope you hear soon!
Those on their first/second jab hope it's going well - do come and tell us how it's going.

This is designed as a supportive space to share with each other how it's going, worries, side effects as well celebrating wins and results :)

Hi Fatsia! Just done my first check in, how did you get on with yours? Sorry if I've missed it on the thread.

So... I am 800g down, or 1.7 pounds. Can't lie, I am a bit disappointed it wasn't a bigger loss to get me started for my first week, but DH keeps reminding me that slow and steady wins the race and it's better and more sustainable in the long run.

Since I joined on 22 January, it's been 3kg in total, so about a kilo a week. On the really positive side, I am not suffering from any bad side effects and my energy levels are off the scale - I am positively bouncing today.

My starting weight was 79kg, I am now 76kg and aiming to go back to my very comfy 60kg, as I am 1.69cm tall.

Hoping week two remains good and bouncy and that the scales smile on me next Friday!

Funnily enough I've had a direct email today asking me to update my GP details but they're already in the app 🤔

I had the same gp requesting thing, sometimes the app just needs time and sometimes doing a checkin smooths it all out.

Anyone noticed Shemed are now advertising at £159 instead of £199? I guess it wasn't competitive at the higher price!

Week 4 day 1 here and up to 5mg which I took and then instantly wondered if I should have gone for 3.75!!

So far ok. No weight loss this week, but I've lost just over 17lbs in 4 weeks. This week I've been really unwell with a horrible cold.

I am worried about side effects on 5mg as I had terrible diarrhoea that didn't respond to loperamide for 2.5 days.

How are those who've just started 5mg finding things?

I've also just noticed that Shemed are offering £149 as a standard price, so £199 didn't last long!

My first day on 5mg and the appetite suppression is back with a vengeance. I cooked a three corse meal for friends and couldn’t finish anything, not feeling nauseas as such, but really queasy at the thought of overeating -a complete novelty for me - and is going to take some getting used to - I’d usually be the one having second helpings of everything.
like some others here my weight loss has not been dramatic but steadily going down so well pleased.

Morning! I started 5mg yesterday after work ( @DIYMum , @OneAzureMaker we are in similar timelines I think) And @tinyemmy a bit ahead with 5mg.

I am fearful of D and V and touch wood so far okay (but only been 12 hours!) my period came on with a vengeance today. I thought my irregular (as in light every 2-3 months) periods were perimenopause but this is 28days after my last one. Maybe it's regulating period related hormones?? It's heavy and painful again (used to be light and only first day) and I'm a bit bunged up but that's normal for the first couple of days for me (not quite sure what's tmi on this thread!)
@OneAzureMaker 17 pounds is amazing!!! I think I'm at about 9. I so would have done 3.75mg if not on this study - I have been really nervous of going up but I think they chuck us off if they realise we've not done what we've said. I'm now hoping I'm either lucky or the side effects are just this weeks. Apart from driving kids places I've planned lots of home stuff to do so intentionally not going out /to friends just in case! @DIYMum wow it sounds like it's working (both steady weight loss and not wanting to overeat). I think there's so many incidental moments in the day where I might have picked at soemthing or "just had another" or had seconds that I'm just not doing now.

@tinyemmy you're so right at the consistency. Id have made so much effort to get to this point before and not been able to sustain. I hope you're still not suffering with 5mg!

Well done to everyone jabbing and to those going onto their next pen. I think they're delayed a bit at the moment it seems

@Brighton2019 Welcome. I have a similar amount to lose. I think there's people on this group with lots of different days - some choose monday/weekday to still "enjoy the weekend". Others go Friday to get side effects while not at work. There's a mix. Good luck whenever you start and well done on the stone from last year!

@minerva7 I get that must be frightening. Good luck and hope you hear soon. And agree with Meaty this could help! I hope there's nothing too worrying on it.

@Newshoesnewname I do keep reading that 2.5 is a starting dose so although it does effect some people it is just designed to get the body used to MJ and 5 is the first "proper" dose. In my late night Google fu I did find quote a few stories where 2.5 didn't do much but later doses did! And as you say fab loss already :)

@snowy well done. A kg a week and at your weight you'll be at your goal in 4 months!!! We're you planning to "maintain" for the rest of the year? (assuming you're on the year plan)

It does sound like they've got a glitch about the GPs. I don't know what the answer is though or if they carry on. I do like the programme but their customer service is shocking and certainly not the 24/7 they suggest. Although they do seem to respond to side effects quickly. I hope it's just been the initial rush and that they get on top of that. Not being able to contact them isnt great.

My titration appointment has come throught for adhd meds. I honestly thought that would be a few months away and give me some time to settle on this first. Will have to have a think.

I know I haven't responded to everyone. I hope everyone is okay and you all have a fab week end
Do all keep us updated how you all get on. I'm so hoping not to be worse today on 5mg but kindnof expecting it. 🙈

Hi ladies

Some practical advice please 🙏
Brain on overtime.

I am finishing week 3 and jab/weight day to begin week 4 Sunday.
I am worried about missing this and impact on my ongoing pricing etc

I am currently with my dad who is very unwell and likely palliative. I drove overnight to be here (3 hours). I did bring my injection pen knowing at log in the need to confirm it.
Problems:
I do t know how long I'll be here
I forgot to pack the actual needles 🙄
I don't think k I have scales here

Should I just log on Sunday & tell them?
Can I order the right needles?
Is it a good idea to still inject while I clearly go through a very difficult time?

Any advice welcome please

Jab day is Sunday

@Reginaphalangeeeee Oh I am so sorry to hear about your dad. I don't know what I'd do in your position.

I would think this would be grounds for stopping if you wanted to.

If you want to do it I'd be tempted to see if I could optain more needles and just check in late (I think you go back into the calendar) and maybe message to say you want to change the day as that's acceptable to them.

I wish I could say just contact them (and do try) but we know what their customer service is like.

Ooh the pharmacy has good customer service apparently - maybe ask them what you need needle wise and either order from them/ Amazon/wherever is fast.

How have your side effects been? It's such a personal decision to weigh up what to do isn't it.

All the best with everything 😢.

Really sorry to hear about your Dad.

When will you be back home? You can try the "change check in day" button in the app, hopefully it lets you explain your circumstances.

Alternative, if you have access to scales, try a local pharmacy for needles, or do the check in weight and jab when back home if that's Monday?

Really sorry, you don't need this now 😔

It seems like most of us are telling no one / a very limited group of people. How’s everyone tackling social situations?

I went for dinner for a friend’s birthday last night at an Italian place. I had hoped for a salad but there weren’t any on the menu so I ended up having a prosciutto and mushroom pizza. Thankfully it’s proper Italian so it wasn’t an oily / greasy pizza and I only had two slices (such a change!), but my stomach is definitely reminding me of what a bad idea that was! I have another dinner in two weeks that I don’t think I can get out of, been pushing it out but we are going for Mexican food. I’m already dreading the morning after! I’m a chronic people pleaser, though, so I have no idea what to do without just cancelling on them.

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden @OneAzureMaker
I'm now on day 4 of 5mg and feeling pretty good. I'm perhaps tired, but I haven't been eating much. Appetite suppression is great, I made my usual size pasta with pesto for dinner and I couldn't eat it all. Although I managed a fair amount for lunch (I promised myself to eat more at lunch or I'm just not getting enough calories in).
On 2.5mg I had some mild constipation and on 5 it seems ok but not normal but I'm not eating normally either so it's to be expected.
I'm very glad I moved up but I'm unlikely to move up at the end of the 4 weeks as if anything I need to start eating more bit less!
I lost 10.6lbs on my 4 weeks on 2.5mg (although it could have been more as one of those was a holiday week)
Since Wednesday I've lost another 2.4lbs! I'm out for lunch today and will have whatever I want, how amazing!!! (Knowing I won't eat too much of it anyway so unlikely that bbe huge calories! Plus I'm drawn to slightly more healthier things / don't fancy food in the same way, it's like food is finally fuel. When people have said this before it's been impossible to imagine and now I am looking at how can I get my protein and fibre in within my appetite)
Have a wonderful day everyone!

Feeling a bit dispirited today, it’s only W1 D3 but I’ve definitely eaten less. Just weighed myself and I’ve put on .5kg. Perhaps I didn’t expect to have lost but I feel like I should at least be the same. Hope it’s just all the wind, and once that settles I’ll weigh a bit more accurately.

I'm so sorry about your dad. My thoughts are that your dad would want you to be healthy so I would try and continue with your journey if you can. As others have mentioned try and contact signature pharmacy or failing that another pharmacy might be able to supply needles or insulin syringes.
If you can't get them by Sunday then do the change day and see what happens and message Shemed, they will reply eventually. Maybe mark as urgent in the title.
Lastly, if it's all too much then just concentrate on you. You need to be kind to yourself. Although I will add that my mum dying a couple of years ago definitely added to my weight problems and if I'd have had mj then I wouldn't be where I am now!! ❤️🤗

I've just been ordering what I fancy and eating until I'm full, what a novelty 🤣
Apparently a friend asked my husband about my eating and he told them I was on the John Tractors diet and I order what I want but only eat half 🤣
I went out last weekend and ordered sausage and mash and ate two of the three sausages and half the mash and gave away my kale (normally I'd eat the veg and try not to eat too much if anything else whilst clearing my plate and then having dessert 🤣). No one has asked me directly about my eating, I think people presume I just didn't enjoy it. I'd have a stock answer ready (I'm still full from last night's dinner or something similar). I think we are probably overthinking it, most people are only worried about themselves!
I am also doing slimming world which I also like to keep quiet but I am likely to out that as my reason for eating less / losing weight when the time comes. Although I'm barely following the plan, I just don't need to. I love mj 🤣

@Reginaphalangeeeee I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad. I have been there myself. I would try to contact them if you can. I struggled to do so, but found that a DM on Facebook resulted in a quick response on 2 occasions, so that might work better. Amazon sell boxes of 100 needles that are identical if that is helpful, though I suspect any pharmacy would too.

@tinyemmy that is really encouraging to hear as the diarrhoea I had in week 2 on 2.5mg was really quite scary! So far, 24hrs in to 5mg, I feel very tired, light headed and cold, which I remember from my first week. But so much better than gastric symptoms!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you @OneAzureMaker

I've been going out and ordering off the light bites menu or starters or something. I still don't eat it all. Id absolutely avoid pizza at all costs. Anything really fatty doesn't sit right with me. Opt for grilled chicken and a portion of veg or salad most menus have something like that.

People haven't asked yet but it won't be long before they do. I'm going to tell people as a year is a long time to lie for. It's personal choice but I think it's easier to have people in on it than wondering why you're dropping a dress size quickly. People around me would be worried if I did that as it's always meant I'm not coping with a situation before now, as I'm not a comfort eater, I'm the opposite with a nervous tummy when under stress so my style when I'm ruminating on something is to under eat.

X

I've managed to get some new scales! According to them, I'm 10lb down since Monday!! I am going to get my son to weigh himself, plus the dog, when I get them home, to see how accurate they are with my old ones though.

First official weigh in and 2nd injection on Monday. Currently away in a hotel with a friend who doesn't know I'm doing this, so it's interesting making food choices when we're out, as she knows I'm normally a big eater. Told her I'm trying to cut out carbs a bit and get a bit healthier, so so far, so good!

Came back on to tell you all as I am also not telling people beyond my immediate family (yet... I will once I have lost a lot! Cant face the questions until I am obviously loosing which for me will be some time...!)

I AM NOT SICK! I was so fearful of D and V that I had planned today at home and I know it still might come but not yet :) Had some brunch. All good so far. I so want to go through the rest of life just hungry for meals and not fussed outside of that.

@OneAzureMaker and @tinyemmy Glad its okay for you too - I was so convinced I'd be unwell.

@Bananaramram Im also a people pleaser but I haven't got much on so wont have to worry too much. I think I'd still eat as we do still need to eat. Are you so full youre struggling to eat a meal? Or is it more reacting with you?

@tinyemmy completely agree I am so loving the freedom to eat something and just not "need" to finish it or still be hungry but just meet for lunch for example and it just be food. Not this all consuming thing. No wonder people who dont struggle wonder why eat. I moved towards reducing upf a few weeks before I started but its not been tricky on this as I don't really crave junk. I think it is actually magic. Stock answer is a good idea.

So happy you haven’t had symptoms @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden !

I’ve got mild suppression, enough that I don’t think about food but enough that I can eat properly. I think it’s more around fear about them noticing my changes in eating habits. Obviously always prefer the healthier options but not always possible!

one of my hobbies is pole fitness so I do think it will be noticed quite quickly by my friends - bra and shorts doesn’t leave much to the imagination! But I have to say, I’m already finding everything easier with a stone off.

I had read some of your comments about periods but gee whiz! The cramps are awful, usually heavy but this is on another level and the migraine ain't shifting!
Apart from that w3d3 (I think) and the dry not dry mouth is back and food isn't appealing

I am pretty much giddy with happiness about how much this has changed my life. I had to go out early this morning with no time for breakfast and at about 11:30, just had a small yoghurt. I am eating well and healthily but the lack of noise (it was a lifetime of constant food noise) is just a revelation. It’s wonderful to make great choices, knowing that the food your are choosing is nourishing you!

I am so excited to see what the lack of food noise feels like, I think I’ve spent every day of my life thinking about what I’m next going to eat 🤣 It sounds the dream!

I’ve been enjoying reading these posts and learning about how you’re all doing- I think you’re all amazing! Sending virtual hugs to those with side effects 💜 I finally got approved on Friday so my first pen should arrive next week- hopefully everyone else who was waiting has had there’s approved too and we can start together 🤞!x

@QuirkyPinkFinch Did you get approved this week too?x