February 2026 starters

[Crossfitgirl]

Hi all, I have my first pen on the way and as far as I can see there is no starter thread for Feb, so I hope it's ok to make one.
All welcome whether recently started or looking to start this month - I think by the time mine arrives it will probably be February!
Hoping for support, experiences, recommendations, more support and the rest!

I am nearly 40, 2 young kids and full time job, starting on wegovy, with the goal of lowering my cholesterol (and reducing my huge belly).

@TheEgg2 I am getting totally ripped off then! I’ve just cancelled my subscription with them which was really easy tbf (cost me £50 to cancel though 🙄)
I will have a look on Monj.co.uk for a better deal. Need a simple sign up process too though as can’t be doing with video calls etc.. sending photos is traumatic enough 😆

These are the prices for Lloyd’s that’s a chain of local ones, don’t know if you have any near. Process I experienced with ASDA and Boots was v good and you’re supposed to get Advantage points with Boots but I never did…..my pharmacist told me that if he price matches ASDA he is still making a VERY decent profit! If you’re in the public sector some providers give discount for Blue Light Cards and, if you google local private clinics you’ll find a host of registered ones that also allow micro-dosing and are more “laid back” about your BMI if that becomes appropriate, e.g. we have the Healand Clinic in Leicester and the Director is v keen on using GLP1 for many issues and often in the news…..

I’m paying 219 for 5mg from a local pharmacist. It’s not too bad at the minute if I’m taking smaller doses and tbh I have really valued (and used!) the in-person support. They are also relaxed about prescribing gaps. They like to see and weight you every month, but are happy for you to skip a purchase if you have plenty,

@InstantRegret have you got sorted? I got my 5mg pen from medexpress and havegot a referral code but they do a good sign up offer anyway! I wanted to reorder with medexpress but I couldn’t get any discount codes working for it! It’s looking like 7.5mg will be £200. Asda seems like similar price to Lloyds £250. Currently the cheapest on the price compare is PillSorted which is £196!

Thank you @TheEgg2 for the info and screenshot 🙂

@RedApplePiesounds like that’s working for you so no need to change if you’re happy 🙂

@Cookiedough123 I was considering Medexpress but also looked into Dr Weightmans, IQ Doctor and Lotus which all seem better priced. I am also considering not continuing at all. I was hoping I could coast along on 5mg like a lot of people do but clearly I need the higher doses as I only lost 1st total in around 14 weeks by using 2.5mg and 5mg. I’ve put on quite a few pounds in the last few weeks whilst still being on 5mg so I definitely need 7.5mg now but I might just join a gym instead! I’ve been considering the gym for a while but always thought they were so expensive (one nearest me is approx £75/80 per month) but considering I’ve been spending over £200 a month I’d actually be saving money!

Hi, my apologies but I actually pay £180 for a 5mg pen not £140, sorry, I didn’t have my glasses on when reading my receipt, doh!
I’ve totally bodged my jab this morning. Pen jammed at 2.3mg not the 3.5mg I was hoping for. I was distracted and forgot to use the sterile wipe and managed to jab myself. What an amateur…..really hacked off with myself as wanted and “needed” to go up a 0.5mg dose as not losing anything at present and have ended up going down a dose.
I’m now wondering if I should genuinely stay low and rely on willpower and calorie counting as a way forward to see if I can do this with MJ in the background doing its stuff? I am getting hungry by day 4/5, craving sweet food and alcohol most days but I do feel full quicker. I have lost 5.5 lbs in 8 weeks and have another 2 - 2.5 stone to go. I am however very jealous of the big losers and wondering if it’s best to “suffer” the side effects and lose the weight quicker. Writing it down on here makes me think that the “low and slow” route is safer and more sensible but that’s something I’ve rarely been accused of! I also think that maintenance would be easier long term. What do you think?

I do feel quite envious of faster losses sometimes but I am very risk averse with these meds for some reason (totally not in other areas of life!). The best way to reduce the risk seems to be staying on a low-ish dose and losing slowly. The side effects I have with doses increases are also unpleasant enough to deter me from going faster. Plus literally no one has noticed me ‘dieting’. I’m also building muscle relatively quickly though, so I know that will be making weight losses look less as almost all the weight loss I’ve had is coming up on the scales as fat loss with associated muscle gains. I’m hoping one day I’ll turn into a little fat gobbling monster with big, active muscle mass.

Week 16. Early weigh in this morning. Scales at 13.1. I’m a pound down on last week. Given how hot and bloated I’m feeling due to the heat and that I drove for over 5 hours yesterday that’s an absolute result.

I am also a slow loser and I prefer it this way. I don't want to be reliant on the jabs and want to just get better habits. I have definitely slipped recently and am now calorie counting again for a few weeks which I'm hoping will up my losses, as I've just maintained for several weeks now. However, my fat % has gone down and my clothes are looser so this is a positive! I want to lose just another half stone or so, and I have 1.5 months left of the jabs as I wanted to do it for 6 months max (was going to be 3 but that didn't happen!). I haven't had loads to lose though, I think I'd have gone higher dose and much longer if I did.

@Crossfitgirl yes, that’s my plan too. Lose slowly, change habits, keep
it off this time.

I’m not sure how long I’ll keep jabbing. I started with a view to them kick starting me into good habits and thought I’d do 3 months and see what happened. Im 4 months in. I’m probably going jab for 6 months then taper down. I’ve not needed to be on more than 0.5 WG so far. I need to lose another stone to not be overweight but I’m actually measuring success more by my body shape, the loss of inches and fat, and what clothes look like. I also managed to run 5k in under 30 minutes which is a huge milestone for me. If I manage to lose at a pound a week over the next 8 weeks I’ll be thrilled.

Weigh in day, week 15. A bit disappointed as only 0.3kg off, so a total 17.7kg down (2 st 11 lb).

I've definitely drifted in terms of monitoring my diet. I need to go back to basics and start recording everything again. I was using the nutrition geeks collagen powder in my breakfast oats with chia seeds. But then I tried to switch to a complete protein powder, but none I've tried mix well, so I've just ordered the collagen again, to get my breakfasts back on track.

Morning all,

Not had much chance to catch up with all the thread but hope everyone is doing OK and not suffering from side-effects.

I returned from my week away last Sunday, gained a grand total of 2lbs while away and I remained on a sun lounger for most of the week! I did my injection that week the night before we flew out and did it again the night we returned (stupid o clock). I have weighed this morning and the 2lb has come back off. I remain at 11st 9lb, a total loss of 1st 8lb since 1st Feb.

I decided to stay on 1.7mg of Wegovy for a second month and if I don't lose anything over the next 3 weeks then I may move up to 2.4mg.

My appetite feels pretty stable with a small but noticable increase in hunger before/during my period. I currently have my period so will see if I drop a lb or 2 in the next week when it has passed.

I just wanted to add, I wore a triangle bikini top (thanks for the advice there @Crossfitgirl!) And high waisted bikini bottoms from M&S. I think it looked quite alright and I didn't feel self conscious around the pool. There were many people of all shapes and sizes in bikinis around the pool and nobody cared. I'm glad I wasn't too hung up on what I looked like and by the end of day 1 I just got on with it like everyone else.

In fact, I loved it so much that I'm booking to go again. I DO feel better with a tan and SO much happier to have lost some weight so I felt more comfortable.

So, the next holiday is a big incentive to keep going.

Are we almost due another thread @Crossfitgirl? Who was it who needed to hide their pen - did you find a solution in the end? 😁

Glad you had a good holiday and minimal damage in terms of weight fluctuations! Also glad you felt good in a bikini!
I am still not budging on the scales. I'm not sure whether to move up a dose or stay the same and up my exercise or my calorie deficit. Probably the latter, but I do feel like I need the extra help and what else am I buying the stuff for? I've only just done the first dose of my 5th pen, which is only 0.5 wegovy.
I do feel like my portion size has stabilised at a small size, minimal side effects and I feel like it should be easy to wean off at this point... But I still want to lose another half stone. I can afford to keep going, but I hadn't wanted to be on them for more than 6 months.
Should I increase, or do I need to knuckle down more? I'm torn. I feel like the whole point was for the help and to develop new habits - which I feel like I have and I'm maintaining with that. But I'm not losing!

I had been so adamant I'd only need 3 months, then I've upped it to 6. I really didn't want to have to up it again, but I've never managed to lose weight before through pure will power alone. It's always been by accident or through stress or similar. I think I'm talking myself into going up a dose.

Sorry I do feel like all I've done is have a whinge the last few times I've posted.

I will start a new thread, and link it in my next post!

Forgot to add - there's a few of us still doing this in secret. My hiding place remains in my bag of period stuff in my bathroom drawer, and I winged it with a lunch bag and ice packs hidden in my bedroom when I needed to store one for a few days! The carrot bag in the fridge was a bit risky, as we are eating a lot more salad with it being warmer! Haha.

Anyway... I made a new thread! This one's nearly full so...

Link to thread number 2:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5536844-february-2026-starters-thread-2?utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

@DanaScullysLegoHair good to hear that you felt confident enough to wear a bikini on holiday! I’m still a solid tankini wearer but it’s a size 14 rather than 16 or 18 so I’ll take that.

@Cookiedough123 38 lbs is a brilliant loss and being within half a stone of your GW must feel great. How do you get your app to predict when you’ll hit your goal? I’ve got Shotsy but can’t see it….

@RedApplePie I don’t think you’re a wuss going up so slowly in increments. You still need to be able to function whilst losing weight and your side effects have been bad.

Still losing slowly (set up new thread for those of us on a low dose) but increased to 3 mg today and seen some new digits on the scale. I’m hoping to be on holiday in Madeira in 2 weeks when my DP retires, was so looking forward to it especially as have been off work with work related stress for 2 months. However my step-Mum was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer this week and her need for urgent treatment and to care for my elderly Dad is now a real issue especially as they live a long way from the hospitals and won’t temp live with us/near us with a hospital half a mile away. It’s been very hard to navigate together with DD doing exam retakes. My DP is his fabulous self and a week with him away from stress would be just fabulous. Hey ho, that’s life. Let’s hear your positive weight loss news!!

@TheEgg2 , so sorry to hear about your step-mother. Also, sorry to read that you may miss the much looked forward to holiday with your DP.
Congratulations! On the new digits on the scale.

@RedApplePie I’ve been on 2.5 since mid Feb so would love a link to your thread. I’m losing slowly- 20lbs overall and need to lose another stone or so but wary of going higher atm. I’m a teacher so might go up to 5 mg in the holidays to shift the last chunk.

Just wondering how everyone is getting on, Still chugging along on 2,5 mg here - ended up missing a dose owing to holiday and then tummy bug. I started on 12 th Feb and have gone from 12 stone 5 to 10 stone 9. Got about a stone to lose but not in a hurry.

I’ve given up. I don’t understand how to make appointments at Tesco to get it prescribed each month. Triggers a massive anxiety attack so I haven’t bothered. Shame as it was helping and I did feel as if I was getting smaller.

Awww @sanityisamyth , that's a shame. (I didn't know Tesco did WLIs, good to know). How did you get it prescribed the first time? Did you pick it up in person? Or have it delivered?
Is there no phone number to call? Or no-one to go into Tesco with you to give you moral support?
When was your last jab? Sounds like you only did one pen? You can still continue.

Oh that's a shame. Can you just find a new provider and get it delivered online instead? I'm with voy and it's just delivered each month and everything is via their app. I think a lot of companies are similar.

I have gone up to 7.5mg wegovy for my final month (or 6 weeks ish, as I've got a 1mg pen).
Except I couldn't be arsed taking it on Sunday night because I was in bed before I remembered, and I've still not had it 😂 so I think I'm just going to do 5mg tonight then 7.5 on Sunday!
I have finally shifted another couple of lbs, so I'm very close to target now and I plan to come off after this month. Maybe I should titrate down again but i don't think I can justify the cost. Ive no idea how I'm going to maintain. I'm desperate not to gain weight again as it's been a slog, but I feel like I've been pretty rubbish at instilling new habits, other than eating smaller portions. My sugar cravings haven't ever really stopped - and maybe that's a good thing tbh, as that won't be a big change when I come off.

@Notellinganyone @sanityisamyth come join us on the new thread, this one is nearly full.

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5536844-february-2026-starters-thread-2