If you didn't lose much in your first couple.of weeks

[NorthernGirlie]

Did you go on to lose more?

Started at the same time as 2 friends. They've lost 12 / 14 lbs in their first 2.5 weeks whereas I'm only 5lb down.

I'm similar size and weight to one, although I am older and perimenopausal.

I'm just feeling a little disheartened and hoping for positive stories of losses.

I lost 2.5lbs in my first week and half a pound or a pound every week since. I’ve never been on a diet where I’ve lost every week for 6 months before! Keep going, the end result will be the same. No saggy skin as I’ve lost slow and steady too.

Are you following a low calorie diet and eating in your deficit? Would recommend a food tracking app. Also when i eat less carbs and drink lots of water, i have a noticeable shift in weight loss. it is important to eat protein to fill us up but also drink lots of water to avoid water retention and bloating. I started 13 stones bmi 32.4 and I'm now 11st 9lbs bmi 28.8. It's taken me 4 months but I've not had any side effects and my skin is fine, I'm 43 and prediabetic insulin resistant so I found the higher doses better for me with appetite suppression and reducing inflammation.

5lbs in 2 weeks is a good loss. Your friends are probably showing a lot of water loss which will return as their bodies balance. I've never lost more than a pound a week sometimes less, but I've lost 3 stone on WLI doing slow and steady and never once felt like I was on a diet.

Huh? A stone on 2 weeks? Surely you know that’s deeply unhealthy?

It's easy to compare and feel a bit of envy.
I lost 6lb, then 2lb and that's it! Been maintaining for 4 weeks now and it's frustrating because I'd rather save £150 a month. Yes to the calorie deficit and eating healthier. So I'm only hoping that my body will slowly adjust and lose further.

For me, I've justified this in my head that there are clearly other people holding a lot of weight not necessarily as fat, but water/bloating/inflammation/hormonal imbalances and more, and as this calibrates, there are huge losses.

I never had any of that, I have proper fat to lose, so this might take time, but I am hopeful!

(Also 49000cal=1 stone, so it has to be more than just the calories and fat, as otherwise the weightloss hardly makes sense.)

2.5mg is not a therapeutic dose and lots of people don't lose very much at all until they move up to 5mg or even 7.5mg.

I lost 4lbs in 4 weeks on 2.5mg and 13lbs in 4 weeks on 5mg. There's nothing you can do except try to understand and accept that everyone's biology is different, everyone will react differently to the drug and it really doesn't matter how other people are getting on as long as you are gradually moving in the right direction, however slowly.

Anyway, losing quickly is not all it's cracked up to be, higher risk of all sorts of nasty things from gallstones and pancreatitis to loose skin and weight regain. You do you and try to enjoy the process of looking after your body and finding your way to better health.

One thing I've learned on MJ is comparison is the thief of joy. I was a really slow loser and didn't start losing much until 7.5mg. Now I'm 4 1/2 stone down and actually looking forward to holidays this year because I feel more confident. I've been on it since last May and had comments on here saying 'I wouldn't have spent all that money not to lose so little' but I'm expecting to have lost 5 stone by May so for me it was worth every penny. Don't compare yourself to anyone else because we are all different.

@spuddy4 Thanks for your message, this is giving me positive vibes! I am on week 7, 5mg and haven't lost since week 2 and feeling deflated. I know I am eating within calories, making better choices etc but the scales seem to have a different idea!
Can you talk me through your journey reaching 7.5mg? Because I feel like I'll also be quite similar. I have quite a lot to lose, circa 7 stone.

@mamabeeboo I had a small amount of suppression with the 2.5 & 5 mg but it completely ramped up after a few weeks on 7.5mg. I just felt like it clicked into place and if I'm honest it spurred me on to make better choices and up my protein and water intake. I also found I was walking more and actively trying to get my steps in, I do think it's psychological because once I felt it was working I worked harder alongside it. I've lost 3 1/2 stone from the 7.5mg dose to the 12.5mg that I'm on now and didn't lose control over Christmas either. I think some people respond faster than others but honestly stick with it and you'll see results.

Thank you so much!!! Genuinely feeling positive again about the process.

I have been on the injections for 13 months and have always been a slow and steady loser. I have gone from a 22 to a 14/16 and am thrilled

I have plateaued recently, so I am going to do intermittent fasting again, as this helped in the past.

Thanks all - thos is what I needed to read!

I'm just envious, and I know that's my issue, I just want to be healthier.

My pals have both suffered a bit with diarrhoea and nausea whilst I've sailed through so far so I'm glad about that.

Fingers crossed - I'm definitely motivated. Whenever I've joined Slimming World etc I've always "cheated" or just dieted the 2 days before class and expected to lose whereas I'm having really small amounts of cards, lots of fresh veg, lots of protein etc now!

Just a question please as someone who is at the start of their journey, I'm size 26. How slow and steady were your losses? and what was your dosing history?

I'm at week 5 and started 5mg but only lost 8lbs in the first 2 weeks and nothing since, feeling no reduced appetite and can happily eat what I always have done. Just looking for some encouragement and personal experience, thank you!

You've lost 8lbs in 5 weeks. That's a good rate of loss. You've only been on a therapeutic dose for a week. Although you say you have no reduced appetite you've still lost weight which shows you have a great approach already. Be patient with the medication and you'll find that calorie deficit easier and easier to stick to.