Shemed January Starters - Thread 3

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Wow thread 3! I just went to post on the other thread and realised we'd got to the end. I hope everyone finds us - I wasn't able to post a link!

This thread is a support thread aimed at those who started with the Shemed 1 year plan in January (or there abouts).

How is everyone?

I am not nauseous today and seeing light at the end of the tunnel- but so glad I have stuck on 5mg for the next one. I am definitely eating less too - I'm hoping that lasts!
@OneAzureMaker - ah we can be second 5mg pens together! I really want to do some exercise but similarly will have to wait until I have some energy. @tinyemmy Yay hope you are still going okay too - will be a few of us on our second 5 pens!

@Reginaphalangeeeee

Wow - fantastic results! And great the side effects have remained calm. I've had side effects each weekend of the 3 5mg jabs I've taken but they've decreased. This weekend was much more manageable for me. I think the suppression is more constant now too. I will stay on this dose if it carries on like this for a while.

@JBJ Yay for more loss - and good luck with 5mg

@BruhWhy Is the nausea easing?

@Needtomust96 I think some people in the facebook group have - you can use the section at the end of the form to request it and do say why. From reading randomly online it does seem some people need the higher doses to respond although a 1kg a week is what I'm aiming for. You might find that 5mg does it for you in a way 2.5 doesn't.

@Monmonss I did my questionnaire early Friday morning and the pen is supposed to be arriving Tuesday (tomorrow) . I think they issued it Sunday. Hope it settles for you - have you tried taking anything and all that?

@YouWillFindMeUnderCats I was the same - 13lbs and not quite the stone! I am now though - slow and steady does keep adding up. Hope the 5mg goes okay for you.

@Mazd323 How has today been? I think I'm eating less on 5mg but it still wears off towards the end of the week

@Lostatsea10 and @MrsMidgeMaisel and @Follydear I am sorry you are both still struggling. :( It's a hard thing to weigh up isn't it. It does seem Shemed do let people out of the contract if they're struggling or give them the option of Wegovy, and definitely seem to let them stay at 2.5 for longer if needed. Good luck whatever you both decide.

@Humptyandhambel Yay for a steady weight loss and hope 5mg is treating you okay.

Tagging people as I couldn't put a link onto the other page - hope that's okay and please do tag anyone I've missed out (probably quite a few!)
@afromom @kittykarate @floweryjones @Earthgirl3971 @Bananaramram @ForPeachSake @SnowieBear @bluesmartie83 @bertieallsort @Brighton2019 @TLMoo @Newshoesnewname @Bigknickers56

I've not told my mum or friends yet - I dont think I'm going to hide it a such but I guess it will be along time before its properly noticeable.

Having said that my mum asked what I was doing to lose weight and I didnt give her a straight answer. Difficult history with her though and she'd tell my dad who is critical of everything so I'd like to be a lot slimmer first. I won't be on a cruise with her though - just take her out a couple of times a month. I can imagine being on holiday with anyone would be tricky around food if they didn't know.

My kids and husband know though so don't have to pretend to like duolingo 😂

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden you have prompted me to check my stats on Shotsy - I am on week 11 and I have lost 16.1% of my starting body weight, I am shocked now.

Wow that's amazing Snowie!!! That must make you a super super responder!!!

Ah thanks @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden great to know and have some reassurance about response to this all. I have felt I was doing well but then I always do at the start of things but then it’s the keeping going and rebound, I gain more than I started with each time.
The last time I tried to loose weight in 2021 (diet and exercise I went from 124KG to 112…. Then the next time I braved the scales 2 years later… 136kg!!! I was shocked and I think this time I absolutely have to stay accountable and keep weighing myself rather than go into denial.

I have lost 13% in 3 months which is great. I just have to keep it up and the hardest challenge for me: keep it off!
@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenI hope we can celebrate together in the summer hitting the 100kg marker. It’s weird though, I still not sure it is doable for me. I worry this drug will just stop working or I’ll have to stop before I really get towards my healthy weight. I can not imagine being healthy and normal sized.

@SnowieBear16%! That is so impressive!

Thanks all, my cold not too bad but do feel worse than normal day 1 post jab and was sat wondering if I did the right thing. Just so tired and achey. Eating dinner will be a serious struggle today. 🙁

I absolutely relate to all that - the fear it will, stop working or I'll get a symptom which means I have to come of it. Fingers crossed we'll both get to that hundred mark! Will be fab to be there looking back on us now :)

Yup, I get that too.

Being below 100kg feels almost like a fantasy even though I've lost 15% in 13 weeks.

I lost the same amount in 2020 following fast 18, I got down to 106kg and then back to 130kg. It's just so demoralising.

@OneAzureMaker I am sorry the same thing happened to you. I have to say it gives me so much reassurance to be in company with others that have similar experiences.
I didn’t even know how quickly I put it back on as avoided weighing myself in the full knowledge I was gaining weight and I didn’t want to see how much.
The lockdown changed lots about the way I was eating… bread bread and more bread. Oh and chocolate rewards every day!
I know these are my weakness and slippery slope. Because of my weight gain I consciously avoided dieting again in fear I would end up putting more on.

And so… what I am trying to say is, although easier to loose weight and continue to do it while on MJ, I genuinely don’t know how to cure myself for life to avoid gaining long term.
I wish there was some data about long term use of MJ as I feel I will need it for life.

This is my history, every diet resulting in more weight. Prior to the last few years I managed to keep a tighter yo-yo of around half a stone. I really hope this doesn't rebound and probably the only option is to remain on mj for a considerable amount of time, which I'm happy with.

Oh my gosh @tinyemmythis picture really does say an awful lot about normal dieting and success with MJ!!!!
I wish I had this sort of record but avoided weighing.
Can I ask what app you record this in?

My weightloss history is very similar, I can knuckle under and lose weight on <insert current diet> for a limited time, but as it's work, and not a way of life, I would always gain it back and more.

I was doing really well with a hypnosis based thing before Covid, I'd lost 30kg over 2 years and kept 20kg of it off for another 2. During Covid things just spiralled,my grandmother broke her leg and it was very traumatic as she was trapped in hospital for 6 months without visitors, I tore a hip flexor so for 3 months I couldn't walk further than the end of my street without agony and you know, I just snacked like a grazing horse.

So my concern about any of this is the 'maintenance' and what happens next really, I'm all fingers crossed a maintenance tablet becomes available.

Similar here in that I'd lose a stone or tao then within a year it would be back and a bit more and it's just gone up 9 stone over 13 years 😬. It's felt like I was always trying something and usually my depressing in winter was fixated around health and the futility of it all.

I was hoping if I stayed a new normal weight for a couple of years with the meds it would reset my "set point" but so much I've read seems to think it's a bit like blood pressure tablets and weight will, just rise without the meds.

It shows how little control we actually had (and how horrible it is obese people are stigmatised and blamed). I read somewhere only 5% of people who diet/exercise keep it off long term and who would do soemthing with a 95%failure rate...

But financially I'm concerned as we only have the shemed price for a year and that was a stretch. Yet my health was suffering...

I've also just left my main job (burnout) and doing some self employed work but I'm not sure what I'll manage longer term. I certainly feel I've tried so hard in all areas of life and just made a mess of it all 😳. I do think I'll perform better at interviews when not morbidly obese. I'd love to think it doesn't matter... But we know how subconscious impressions are made.

This uses Libra, it automatically gets added from my renpho scales and I added a few more bits of data from myfitnesspal which I used before I got the renpho. What I find interesting is that I weigh a lot when the weight is on the way down and don't weigh on the way up. Head in sand. I think I will need to weigh weekly forever. Although I have previously said that I would deal with it if I put on 3lbs but the reality is that I haven't been able to until mj.
If you have iPhone there is an app called Happy Scale, Libra is the android equivalent

Same! I'm hopeful by the time the year is up there will be more maintenance options...

I hate to say it but I do think when you weigh less you will do better at interviews but a combination of unconscious bias from the interviewer but also because you will be more confident.
I am hopeful that a tablet will come out in the future which will make it more affordable. It's brilliant that we can buy it privately. It would be far worse if this was available but we couldn't access it. I think mj is a game changer for the future, but I do think it is a long term, perhaps lifelong medication although not necessarily in its current form.

Hi, it’s a while since I last posted! I’m doing really well, still no major side effects just hiccups for a few minutes after I’ve eaten & getting a bit constipated from time to time.
i had my 9th jab yesterday, they’ve kept me on 5mg for my third pen which I’m fine with. The appetite suppression is still crazy with me & I struggle to eat at times but it’s getting better. I’m still finding it strange to be able to leave food on the plate because I’m full & I’ve had a really horrible stressful few weeks when normally I’d end up eating cakes & haribo to comfort eat & not even having the urge to do that is really strange too.
i have noticed in the last 2 weeks the suppression easing on the last day or so before I have my next jab though. I’ve lost 2st 1lb now, I had to speak to my GP about something else last week & I mentioned I’m taking MJ. I was a bit worried cos she is very cautious about things but she was fine about it & said she had noticed because of SheMed getting in touch with them, she was pleased that my BMI has finally dropped below 30. I did think she might be concerned about how quick the weight is coming off but she was fine about that too.
I’ve told a few more people about being on it now, especially my mam. I didn’t know how she was going to react but I didn’t want her to worry that I might be ill because I was losing weight fast.
I’ve been avoiding alcohol since I started but I’ve got my birthday coming up next month & some trips away when I’d like to be able to have a few drinks, has anyone had any bad effects from that?

I haven't had any terrible effects with drinking, just really predictable effects.

• I just don't have the physical capacity I used to, so basically 3 pints and I'm completely full to the brim.
• Anything that gave me mild indigestion previously will now really give me horrible burps and acid indigestion (so bye bye prosecco!)
• I get 'funned out' with it a lot sooner, so even if I've drunk tactically avoiding the first 2 problems, I will slow down and stop drinking sooner than previously (so basically, a bit like when eating a meal, you just feel 'done')

@tinyemmy@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden @kittykarate
completely agree.

I actually think for people using MJ like a traditional ‘diet’ and dare I say it… but people with less to loose than us who have to commit longer term. I think it will be a dangerous thing where yo yo weight will be on a faster and more drastic scale than traditional diets have allowed. People can loose a lot of weight quickly on MJ but sure once off it, it can pile on quicker too. I think that rapid change is actually more dangerous than the slow over years gain.

I actually think with the availability of this drug, people with minor weight issues which could be addressed in traditional ways may end up with bigger problems is the gains and losses are amplified.

I am so so scared of ever being this big again.
I have previously hung on to some of my ‘big clothes’ as knew I would need them again. It’s so expensive replacing a wardrobe! Think psychologically I need to let my bigger clothes go this time.
That includes back up items like the bras I seem to still have in every size from 38g to 42JJ yet only 1 bra is truely comfortable and worn to death until panic sets in the wire begins to poke me. Then I have to try all the ones that don’t fit and hunt online to replace it with as similar as possible, but the new one is so tight and not stretched out and worn in like my old one.
ahhhh bra problems!

I know we are hoping for some sort of maintenance pill. But Does anyone actually know or have reliable literature it is coming?
I was thinking once my year is up SheMed may offer something to keep us? When did the £99 deal start? Maybe other groups on here will have the answer before My January deadline.
Seen some injections available £89 for 2.5mg now. Maybe that sort of thing would temporarily have to be my maintenance 🤷‍♀️

I mean GLP-1 in tablet form exists, and was shown to be 'less' effective for weightloss than the injections. What I don't know is if any company is working towards testing and licensing it as a maintenance tool.

I was also wondering about my bigger clothes but assuming I can remain on mj there is no need to keep them...
I think there is a pill that is currently going through trials but availability might be after the SheMed study. i think the study started in December.

Anyway, check in day for me today, and I'm up in weight slightly (damn you 100g of doom) but I had to pay at some point for the time on the river cruise! It was questionnaire day for me too, so who knows what they'll prescribe.

This drug is strange! 7th dose of 5mg yesterday and I have no appetite at all today, which is a first! I started off the first couple of weeks of this dose with no suppression at all, then it seemed to kick in at a good level and I was getting hungry a couple of times a day. Today, I’ve had to force a slice of toast down as I didn’t fancy anything at all. It’s bizarre how my body is reacting differently each week to the same dose! After the first couple of weeks of hoping they’d move me up a dose, I’m now really hoping they don’t!

@tinyemmy your graph and your comments about only weighing on the way down make so much sense to me!

Been talking a lot with DH about what we will do to keep from regaining, and one of the strategies I put forward is religious zeal in weighing weekly - he has a set of Renpho scales coming for his birthday, poor dear!

Being constantly on top of our health journey will be key. You can do something to intervene after a Christmas holiday, say, it becomes unmanageable five Christmases on with our heads stuck in the sand.

I’d be interested to see what the cost of it will be by next January seeing how much the prices are starting to drop now & whether SheMed will do any kind of offer for those of us who’ve been on this study.

I started my 3rd 5mg pen on Monday. I really wish they’d moved me up. I’ve literally been snacking all day! So annoyed with myself but I just wanted to eat. Just hoping I don’t put weight on this month and that they actually move me up next time because this isn’t good!’

Weigh in 13 today & I am exactly the same weight as I was the previous 2 weigh ins. Suppression is still there & I'm making good choices. It’s a little frustrating, plateaus are normal I just wasn’t expecting one this early 😞

Jab 13 // 5mg dose // 8.3kg loss so far