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

That's a shame, I don't know how their call centre works as I've always had someone available in probably under a minute. I don't use their weight measurement so I'm not worried about that thankfully. I'm often wearing jeans etc but my home weight in is naked and on the renpho for all the stats

Yes not had a problem before connecting. However, I am still awaiting a reply to my emails sent a week ago about prescription. Disappointed they have been so bad at responding to me. Just want to know they will put me up to 7.5 next & hear their reasons for not doing it this time.

Sent my repeat blood test yesterday-although still not clear why I am
doing it earlier than 6months. I don’t know what was missing from first one. @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden don’t know what was missing from yours. Have you got results yet?
Only thing raised on mine was cholesterol
so hope that’s down now.

Another NSV- noticed Resting heart rate come down from 70bpm to 62bpm according to my Fitbit.

In more fabulous news my waist measures a whole 18cms less than before I started MJ. Lost 9-10 from hips and chest.
Sadly I am not sure it notices in dresses I am wearing, the size is the same but they are just looser.
I asked my husband if my faithful black dress still fitted ok? Kinda hoped he’d say no, it’s far too big for you now, but another one in a smaller size. Instead he said, no it just looks less tight, better really. 🙄

Good news, they put me back up to 5!

So I did my blood test on Monday and got my results yesterday. My total and LDL cholesterol were both in the red as expected but the shocker was my GGT being off the scale at 133! I was drinking over the weekend as we had local VE day celebration events, I didn't think about the knock on effect for my bloods. I'm waiting for the clinicial team review but I have a feeling I will be turned down for the jab because of this reading😒

Hellooo everyone. It's been a while since I've checked in - glad to see there's a third thread @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden!

Still on 5mg at the mo, although I suspect SheMed will up me to 7.5kg with my next pen as I've sort of plateaued. Yet to have my blood test ordered but I'm due one at the GP next month for my annual bloods after having GSD so quite excited to see how they go.

SW: 88kg
CW: 69kg
GW: 63kg

I'm feeling great, had lots of comments from people saying I've lost weight and managed a week abroad in the Easter hols.

How are you all doing!?

Great to see you back @themumformerlyknownas . You've been doing well!

I've just been moved up to 7.5mg, I hit a bit of a sticky patch last month where the scales barely moved.

I'm feeling pretty good in general though I'm definitely feeling a lot better in myself. Still get out of puff far too easily exercising though.

SW: 90kg
CW: 76kg
Personal GW: 65kg
BMI GW: 58.5

Hellooo @kittykarate - thanks! Ah you're doing brilliantly, we're very similar trajectories aren't we. How have you been finding meals? I've been on 5mg for a while now and like you did, feel like I've hit a sticky patch. I'm fluctuating between 68kg and 70kg at the moment even when I stick to eating right and moving more.

How did you find moving up to 7.5mg? My body did not like the increase to 5mg at the time so scared I'm going to be suffering for a week again if they increase my dose 😥

I haven't actually done my first 7.5mg yet, it's eyeballing me from the fridge! I still remember a colleague saying to me "You'll never trust a fart after 5mg" so that's haunting me a bit.

Tomorrow is my 3rd jab of 7.5mg, so I can't believe that means ordering another pen.

My first week on 7.5 was not much different from 5, but this week, loads of suppression, much diarrhoea and feeling dizzy/floaty again.

Wow! @OneAzureMaker That means it must be my reorder day tomorrow too - gosh that was quick! I was a bit naughty and have done 6/6.5 and going to do 7 tomorrow (7.5 next week) as I was a bit scared of the side effects. I really don't like not following rules. I've had the crazy diarrhoea this morning and the sulphur burps for a few days out of the blue. Also nearly finished another blinking period just over 2 weeks after the last one! Never have I had that before so am a bit all over the place. Hope your diarrhoea calms down. I just discovered this evening that Asda version Imodium is only 90p!

Seems a few of us on 7.5 or going onto it now - hope everyone is okay. @themumformerlyknownas lovely to see you and hope 7.5 bumps it back into action! I have heard it can slow down when you are closer to goal but I'm very much the other end of things at the moment!

@Reginaphalangeeeee I had my blood test the beg of April - have you got results yet? I've got quite a few weird results as I have fatty liver disease - I've got another GP blood test beg of June to investigate more liver things. Grrr. I am hoping it starts to improve on MJ rather than have anything else going on. Bizarre they sent it to you if you hadn't got any missing from your last lot. Yay for new results though - although just seen yours were pretty good anyway. It wont be long until its 6 months really.

Are you nearly due to go up to 7.5 anyway now? Can't believe they didn't get back to you - have you pestered or heard anything since? They were really quick with me :(

@tinyemmy Yay for going back up to 5! You have done amazingly

I really love catching up with this thread and seeing what everyone is upto . Today was Day 9 of "going for a walk of at least 30mins a day". I historically get excited about doing New Things and then Give Up fairly soon after. I've roped my husband in with this and its been really good. Some very difficult work days this week and I didn't want to go out but actually its been really good. I think it will have MH benefits as well as physical ones. I still can't believe that for so long I couldn't walk v far at all. My average daily steps in Jan was 2500 and that was with some intentional "I will try and go for an 8 min walk even if it hurts".

I love your walking @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden I have been really committed to this too. I feel like if you have a few things slotting into place it's easier for other too as well, so eating well and losing weight inspires me to exercise more!

I took my cheeky 5mg yesterday (double dose of the 2.5) and I don't really feel like I've taken it. I hope I haven't ruined it and I get some suppression later in the week! I went out for lunch with a friend and ate most of it then ended up eating biscuits! My old self sabotaging habits creeping in. I know I haven't put on loads of weight overnight and just need to stick to eating healthily. I'm very pleased to be back at 5mg!

I took my first 7.5mg just now, immediately felt weird and thirsty.. luckily have nowhere to be tomorrow ...

Using renpho scale and had none scale victory of two years down on my metabolic age and now have only average visceral fat. I started in the 'high' categories.

I love watching my stats go into the green. I'm still chasing my elusive two stone , I'm about 1 lb off it now! but I'm so much smaller. Have decided to do waist hips and bust measurements every two months while I shrink.

At work today I had the 'you look well comment' but people haven't placed why yet. 😊

I'm thinking can I really lose another 2 stone now things are falling into 'average' category. ? Will ponder this.

X

I hope those checking in today have a good week.

Dose 3 of 7.5mg today, I have filled in the repeat form and asked to stay on that dose for next month - so we shall see! The first week I didn't feel any different, but this week has been high suppression, dizziness and diarrhoea all week.

Anyway, 2kg down.
SW 130.6kg
CW 108.3kg

BMI is down from 44.4 to 36.6

So an update - took 7.5mg on Tuesday morning. Felt ok just the weird thirst without the dry mouth. Tiredness hit me in the afternoon. Since then it’s been great feel like I’m back in the zone - not sure if it’s psychological or if it’s the MJ but I’m on it!! Started week 4 of couch to 5k and after my cheeky weigh in this morning I’ve lost 2lbs so far which has given me a bounce in my step. I have a day of sorting out the housework today and getting on top of the jobs I need to do so going to crank up the tunes and dance my way through the day!

@tinyemmy Thanks -yes I agree it seems to have a knock on effect on other things doesn't it. Even though I've had quite a lot of "dealing with side effect weekends" its been literally completely lifechanging. Do go gentle on yourself - one day of biscuit eating won't ruin it and we need to manage this long term which will include the odd meal out/celebrations/need for biscuits. I think the "Old me" would say right thats it and then give up completely - whereas it really is just a blip and part of life.

@Earthgirl3971 Wahooo for green stats and nice comments. Stats are a good idea. to look back on I think. I wish I got more "before" photos from different angles/different levels of clothing.

@OneAzureMaker Wow 2kg down!! That's amazing! My BMI is down from 50 to 42 - I can't wait to be under 40!

@bluesmartie83 Yay for minimal side effects going up! Do you think the extra energy is MJ/weight loss related? I am much more on it (when not on side effect days) but I also started ADHD meds so not quite sure which is which sometimes (I had a gap of a few months but I guess its all kicking in now!)

I jabbed this morning - I love how routine this is now and I can just nip in the bathroom and do the call and a quick jab (I use shotsy to record the locations) and its not a big thing anymore. I jabbed 7 - will do 7.5 next week and asked to stay on the same dose. It only occurred to me last night they could put people down. I hope not!

Hope everyone is going okay and side effects are manageable

1.3kg loss this week yay!
SW 138.2 kg
CW 118 kg Bmi 42... so close!
16th Jab.

Oh 19th jab not 16th. No idea why I wrote 16!!

Thanks @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden

I had a very generic response from SheMed, not impressed. Basically copied off the website and ‘most people move to 7.5ml at 16weeks’ but didn’t explain why I haven’t. I have asked again, if they made and error then own it I think.

So I was jab 17 Sunday and went to 6mg on my 5mg pen. Think supression better but wanting chocolate. I am satisfied with just 1-2 squares of dark chocolate so that is at least I suppose.

Bloods, yes no idea why I was sent them now.
My LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol now normal but HDL have dropped lower 😬.
Everything else was in normal anyway so no major changes for me.

Plodding on, not expecting much weight loss this week, but will keep going. I’ve got no choice, got lots more to loose.
@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden and @OneAzureMaker as our starting weights and losses are similar, I am curious…. Have you changed clothes size?
I expected to look, well much thinner and be in smaller clothes than I am.

SW 136 BMI 46
Cw 113.5 BMI 38

I was in very tight size 22, and now size 20 is loose - depending on the brand. I have just bought a pair of size 18 jeans, they are snug but not uncomfortable.

But not vast, vast changes - yet!

@OneAzureMaker I was size 20-22. I have ditched most 22’s except dresses still seem fine (maybe the style). My trouser situation is frustrating size 20 are loose and baggy which is unflattering. Size 18 too tight/revealing and maybe not comfortable to sit in.
It’s an awkward stage. I think my bottom has shrunk recently and tummy protrudes more than bottom again. Hopefully tummy will shrink a bit more. I means I have lost 18months from my waist… how do I not look that different 🤷‍♀️
I think shape has a lot to do with it 🤷‍♀️

Just to let you know, for those who are at a similar stage to me. I've just been approved for a 2nd 7.5mg pen. At present I'm really pleased with that, side effects whilst not unmanageable are not ideal so I think a 10mg would not be good at the moment!!!

I was properly approved today for a second 7.5 - I was a bit nervous they'd either drop me down for losing well or make me wait to find out about my extra period! Phew all good. It was a friendly thing in the prescription too with a "Keep up the good work" and a "congratulate you for losing 6.6kg these past four weeks" which is more than they usually write in mine.

@Reginaphalangeeeee - Using my figures (my first shemed one was higher as was clothed and later in the day before I twigged I was going to do mornings in thin clothing!)

SW - 138.2 bmi 49 (was 50 a few weeks before starting)
CW - 118.0 bmi 42

I can't wait to be under 40 - it could be 6ish weeks away but that seems just out of reach at the moment!

Your loss is fantastic! I hope the next few weeks are okay. Do write very clearly in that box at the end that you expect to go up due to slowed weight loss and having been on 4 5mg pens! I'm frustrated for you they didn't get back to you properly - the cs person was rubbish but I did get a pharmacist who was brilliant when I companied.

I'm also much bigger than you and @OneAzureMaker it seems. I'm 5ft 6 - are you both taller? Or it could just be that I have so much fat around my stomach.

I'm wearing size 26-28 in Seasalt (stretchy jersey dresses and leggings) which are fitting me much better. I haven't needed new clothes yet but I think perhaps I was wearing them a bit stretched and they fit better....

I suspect I will be closer to 16 stone before I need new clothes although maybe these will start to look baggy? I would love to be size 18-20 and able to buy in actual shops! I am absolutely nowhere near an 18. I wouldnt get that around my hips/stomach.

I do have sulphur burps today, and been nauseous all morning -manageable but noticeable. And despite my rather increased er sex drive since all this last night fell asleep before we even started so the fatigue is back just not as bad as it was. I've had one bought of diarrhoea but it was okay. So yes side effects there and noticeable but manageable and hopefully will decrease with time. I don't want to go up to 10. I'm more nervous of recording them now too!

Hi Shemeders, has anyone changed their check in day? Can anyone advise how to do it?

@Dobbysdad I did I emailed them and it was sorted within 15 mins of my email. No issue -
I moved it a day earlier. The calendar was updated and I checked in on my new date last week.

Ah great, thank you. I saw in their FAQs they'd do it between specific time periods, i wasn't sure what that meant!