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

@Reginaphalangeeeee The problem you have is that they only have the data supplied, and they will work on a monthly average to smooth out other hormonal/menstrual effects. 2kg a month is within guidelines, though I guess doesn't feel fantastic compared to your other months.

I also think a lot of the general guidance is evolving based on experience of people taking MJ for weightloss and prescribers are probably trying to slow the conveyor belt upwards. You are on the 'half way' dose, there is currently only 10,12.5 and 15 left for you to go to. My colleague is slow/stalled on 15mg, and has nowhere to go.

Thanks @kittykarateI have lost 1 KG this month. Yes I still have a lot more to loose but on the 12 month program I am now have 5months left which I want to be as effective as possible. They recommend 1-2 months for transition which is what I have done and they have previously stated transition doses are not licensed for prolonged use where as 10mg is.
It is also seems out of keeping what they are suggesting for others who started at the same time.
How many here at jab 29-32 are not on 10mg, I am curious?

@JBLdid you request 10mg or did they? You seem to have had similar weight loss to me.

& @Kaggi9 with your immense weight loss have they kept you on lower dose given your fantastic results?

I've just started my 3rd 7.5mg, I think I've pretty much done at least 2 at each dosage (even loading 2.5).

I started at beginning of february and I'm on 7.5mg , this is my third pen so fully expecting to need to go to 10mg for my next one. I hope that helps. My loss is around 34lbs in total.

Thanks I did 2 on 2.5mg, 3 on 5mg and will be 3 on 7.5mg having started in January I think most people who started then are on 10mg now?

I've had 3 pens on 7.5, my next pen, which is 10 has just arrived, go start on Friday, but given that I am moving house and it's my birthday and everything is rather stressful, alongside knowing that I tend to struggle with side effects when the dose changes for usually a couple of pens, I may take less than 10 on Friday when my first dose is due.

I’m on 7.5mg and haven’t been any higher than that.

I’ve had 1x2.5, 3x5 and 3x7.5, taking my final shot of 7.5 on Friday before I move onto ten. I’ve lost 4st2lbs so far

Thanks @Kaggi9. How many 7.5mg pens have you had and are they happy to keep you on that dose given it is a transition dose?

Update. Really interesting, a shemed clinician called me to discuss the prescription and said they do NOT advise staying on 7.5mg for more than x2 doses routinely and there should be a good reason for it (side effects/tolerance). Their preference is to move up to the stable dose of 10mg as soon as side effects allow and stay on that for as long as possible provided you are loosing. Evidence that it is optimal effectiveness.

She has changed my prescription to 10mg which thankfully hasn't been sent out yet.
She apologised for the incorrect information I was given over email and will feedback to that person. She said regardless of my weight slowing to under 2kg, the decision to keep me in 7.5mg should only be based on difficult side effects & a request from the patient, not instructed by clinician.

Anyway, I am pleased I did email a nd request a call back. She was very helpful and sonrexommend anyone not sure about next dose/prescription ask to speak to someone before they issue the prescription. Schemed didn't actually do this and issues it anyway but my call soon after meant it could be amended.

Thanks all for sharing your experience of 7.5-10mg. It is so helpful to have a group to ‘ask the audience’ and I am very grateful!

She recommended loosing less than 2kg is worth discussion/consideration but not recommended by clinician until you slow to 1.25kg in a month.

I'm pleased they've sorted it out for you @Reginaphalangeeeee

I wonder if I get kept on dosages for slightly longer because I have had some side effects that I diligently report (nothing terrible, but possibly enough for them to go "Hmmmm, lets not rush her")

In other news - after 2 weigh ins the same, I've lost 0.9kg this week, so I'm pretty happy. That takes me to an official 18kg off, which means I've lost 20% of my starting weight.

When I did a sneaky nudey weigh in today, there was a brief flash of a number starting with 6 before it went nope, it's 70. I don't think I've seen that flirty number 6 since before covid started.

That’s interesting, as I’ve not really had any side effects but they kept me on 7.5 for 3 because I was continuing to lose regularly!

@Bananaramram yes there does seem to be some inconsistency in their messaging which I asked about.

She said they review side effects and loss but if they made decision to move up from 5mg, then it should be up to 10mg once side effects manageable.

She did say it was different clinicians emailing response compared with those calling and apologised they got it wrong for me.

Great success @kittykarate & glad scales moving for you again.
Hitting a new weight boundarybis so exciting.
The one I am most excited about is getting under 100kg. 7kg to go! It was a completely different time when I was last there and feel hopeful I can get there again.
On holiday in 5 weeks, wondering how close I will be then, maybe by time the kids are back to school I could be there.

So far I’ve had one dose from my third 7.5ml pen. I would have happily stayed on 5ml, but they moved me up after I stayed the same for 3 weeks (I think it was due to a particularly bad time of the month.

Sorry such a late reply I forgot to check the thread. Thanks and that’s interesting re second time around . They have moved me up to 12.5 and I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck ! But the last 2 weeks I’ve lost steadily (2lb each time ) so I think I’m back on track , I suddenly feel able to calorie count efficiently and it feels ok . Have to say it was on the 10mg (second month of it ) as I only just took the 12.5 this week so maybe I just took longer for it to take full effect ? I have lost and gained but the she med dr had said id not lost enough over all. A bit disheartening but it did give me a bit of a kick as I want to stay with it .

Hello!
Not my weigh in day but excitement here as the scales showed 16stone 13.9999999. Still technically 17 stone but I SAW A 16! I expect it will bump back up by Friday but I saw it!!!

@JBJ I keep thinking there will be weeks in life when there are birthdays etc and we want to celebrate and that will be okay. I think sometimes when we have high upf food we retain more water so it isnt always fat - hope you get back to the 4st again this week and the scales are kind to you. Yay for festivals and a fun week :)

@tinyemmy I hope the ADHD assessment is soon and you get some answers. I think it depends on the provider how soon they start meds if deemed appropriate - Dr J with me was just a few weeks whereas for some providers its months! I've twice missed my ADHD meds and realised after lunch and there's definitely a difference. I do wonder if it means I'll be able to reduce to a low dose MJ (cheaper!) eventually as I'm on 7.5 now and likely to go up before I finish!

@Reginaphalangeeeee Wahoooo over half way! Although I've lost a lot I'm still not half way yet 😳About another half stone and I will be though. It seems possible though. I similarly am excited about 16 (although just scraping in) and very aware I will have lose skin and that that will affect what I wear. I know I need to accept it and its better than being m.obese but it is harsh too isn't it. I'm interested in the plateaux stage you mention. I've slowed down but don't know if its natural slowing down or will speed up again.

@Kaggi9 I am also in awe of your loss. That is very fast! Have you a plan to maintain - have shemed contacted you etc? Did you feel particularly hungry or lacking nutrition etc?? Are you returning to eating a bit more now or is it hard to eat... I really cant imagine being at target yet - presumably you don't just wake up and resume normal eating!

@Mortigua Ooh fab to be losing 2lb a week that's great! Hope this is the dose for you.

@Reginaphalangeeeee I'm starting my fourth 7.5 pen this Friday. I don't think they're so fussed about trying to move people up. Not this pen but last pen I did contact them in the box wondering whether to go up or to stick and I actually did have a bit of a woosh so I was glad to stick. I think ideally I'd like to stay on each dose for as long as I can as I know I might well need help for a good while (and the lower the dose the cheaper it will be when I come off) but I will mention it is slowing for me. I guess for both of us it is relative as we've lost a lot so far (around 1kg a week average?) so for it to slow a bit feels slow but if the goal is 1-2lb a week there will be weeks of a 1lb (me currently!)
I'm curious who here is on 10mg now

Ah just read your next post - I am surprised they said no more than 2 pens as I'm on my 4th and it did seem from others it is being treated as a regular dose. I've not told them of any side effects (I get sulphur burps and tiredness but haven't kept reporting that) so interesting to read your response. I wonder if I should have been on 10 then!? The whole thing puzzles me. Maybe I should ask for 10 next time. It's very helpful to see your post thankyou @Reginaphalangeeeee . I did say i wasn't sure and asked for advice but I got a reply rather than a call last time. Also very very helpful to see some figures.

Well done @kittykarate Yay for a good weight loss this week.

@Bananaramram Yes me too! Literally what they write in the prescription. I wasn't particularly in a hurry to go up but interesting to see the inconsistency in the prescribers.

@Reginaphalangeeeee I know I have a bit further to go than you (I think I'm shorter) but I'm at 107.9 and also have my heart set on 100kg! And yes its so exciting to think its actually possible now :)

Good luck everyone - hope all is well. I've had my last "busy day" before the school holidays. I still work a bit but I'm mainly TTO so I am excited about being able to get a bit more exercise in and not having to rush early in the morning to get up and get the kids out!

Just thinking if I do ask for 10 next time it would give me 10 days before starting back client facing which might be a good idea even if I wasn't initially pushing to go up. Hmmm. You've all made me think now!

Congratulations @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden I am so grateful for mj for unlocking weights that had been hidden for a long time / didn't feel possible. You are absolutely smashing this journey, even if the scales bounce up this week they will hopefully come back down next week!

I wish I'd signed up for Dr J when I first started talking about it (ADHD procrastination), the ADHD UK website said 8-12 week wait and when I actually signed up they said it was 18-20 plus another 8 weeks for medication. Since then a new provider has come on that's more like 8 weeks, but hopefully once I see them they will be good. My biggest issue is chasing sugar for seemingly no reason which I think is an emotional response but plus also dopamine seeking. Mj keeps it at bay but not quite at 2.5. I seem to be dieting or not dieting, I am off on holiday on Monday where I won't have access to my usual food which I think will be good and I can embrace goats cheese salads and other yummy foods. I'm going to keep 3.75 on the Monday so that at the start of the holiday at least I can keep the portions down. I will probably jab 2.5 on the Wednesday when I'm back and then decide on the Monday the dose based on the scales... Probably 3.75 as I suspect I will have gained some weight! I'm hoping ADHD medication means I can lower my mj dose, but I have started to read good things about mj and similar for autoimmune thyroid disorder so I think I will stay on it, or perhaps see if my doctor will prescribe something like Metformin (although it's not quite the same). I will wait until the end of SheMed before doing anything, hopefully prices will come down and I will just stay on it forever...

It took me literally years from first seeing a GP about it (and being fobbed of) to get to the point of diagnosis... But I am so glad I did.

You have done so well. It sounds like you're firmly in a healthy bmi and have been for a while now - just looking at the fine tuning. I am wodnering similarly about antiinflammatory side of it but hoping I could get down to 5 or 2.5 for that when the time comes. I might have to stay higher - I don't really know how it works when you've been on the higher doses. I will read up when I get there!

Hope you have a fantastic holiday and properly relax and enjoy yourself ❤️.

(just realised how waffly and talking out loud my last few posts are - esp last night I'm literally talking to myself about doses 😳. Ignore me!!)

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenyou are doing great and if you are happy with 7.5mg then don't push to change. If you feel effects are reduced then ask a clinician to call you as it seems a different response than email in my experience.

I just want optimal effects and it seems results at 10mg and 15mg are best and not dissimilar from the research.
There is no data on prelonged 7.5mg use.

You have caught me up… we weigh similar now at 107.1 although I know you have lost more overall as started a bit more than me. We are both doing great!

I want 10mg to really work for me so will combine this with more exercise. This plateux has made me re-evaluate this too.
I still don't know what my end game is but I have worked out for me:

BMI 34.7 = 104kg is ‘under 35’
BMI 29.7 = 89kg is ‘overweight’
BMI 24.7 = 74kg ‘normal’

I don't ever remember being less than 77 at mybbery youngest/fittest in teen years.
Getting into the 80’s may actually be best plan and assess from there so I have somewhere between 20-27kg to go. I’ve done 28.9kg so far so.….
We can do this!

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden

A plan to maintain?! Not really - I had to expected to get here that fast! The weight loss has been amazing, but the fact that it’s stabilised my blood sugar and reduced the menopause symptoms makes it very worthwhile!

I’m slowly starting to increase calories, although that is hard when you don’t feel the incentive to eat. I’m making better choices though and don’t feel like I’m denying myself anything. Tonight I’m sat on a lovely campsite, having spent the day cycling and paddle boarding with the BBQ on and because I don’t have the cravings, I know when to stop. Previously I would just keep eating because it was there. For that reason, I think if I’m given the option to stay on MJ long term I will.

You are doing amazingly! As we all say, it’s a long journey, and although I might be fairly close to my goal weight, it’s actually just the start of the next phase - the maintenance is a forever thing.

I lost less than a 1lb this week which im glad about as Im still to incorporate exercise routinely into my day. I have asked the clinician to make a decision to keep on 7.5mg or move to 10mg I'll trust their judgement on that. I didn't mention maintenance as I may try and get down past 10stone in the 5/6 months I have left.

I was around this weight 8 to 9 stone for most of my adult life until I had my first child. I don't suffer with food noise but I had terrible inflammation that's been impacted positively by MJ.

I'm pleased with my blood results. When started I was 50 healthy , 40 not and 10 in between. Now in 80 healthy , 10 not and 10 in-between. Still have elevated liver results (may get these investigated at the doctor's) and total cholesterol needs improvement but everything else is green. Does a clinician compare from before results to now for you.?

My main aim now is to have all markers positive by the end of the study and I want to be on a lower dose for maintenance. If that works at 2.5mg then that's good for me.

Naturally I eat much less upf now, I need to start setting alarms to eat though as it's easy to forget. Even forget to feed my kids on time lately, oops!

X

@Kaggi9 I totally agree with staying on this long term. I went up to 5, lost the weight and then have been on 2.5 for 2 months but went back up to 3.75 on Monday as there were some bad behaviours creeping back in. I suspect I might need to be on a slightly higher dose even to get the best of both worlds - enjoy my food but not too much.
I have recently discovered Metformin seems to be recommended for autoimmune thyroid disorder which may explain why I've felt so good on mj, yet another reason to carry on. I'm happy for now, I just wish I could say I'm taking it for my thyroid, maybe in time that will happen...