What are the best non GLP1 weight loss aids?

[inigomontoyahwillcox]

I’ve got esophageal motility issues (possibly achalasia but waiting for further testing), so GLP1s are not an option for me. I’ve been overweight for some years now and have dieted and exercised and gone up and down a bit (very down during flare ups, but put it back on again unfortunately). I hurt my lower back a while back (exercising ironically) and peri is kicking in hard, so have gained a bit more and really need to do something about it. Am a poster child for the sandwich generation with a ND teen and elderly parents I care for, as well as an older brother with severe MH issues that I am supporting, as well as FT job, so prioritising diet has gone out of the window these past couple of years. And the food noise has become louder and louder.

I spoke to a pharmacist about Mysimba and Orlastat and he said they’re useless and hardly worth taking? Is that really the case?

Well, they're not useless, as they both produced clinically significant weight loss hence why they were both approved as weight loss treatments. But that's only 5 to 10% of starting weight after a year of taking them, so not comparable to the results seen with GLP1s.

The issue for me with both of these is that they have risks of unpleasant side effects that really outweigh the benefit of losing a small amount of weight. Orlistat in particular requires a significant change in diet in order to avoid those side effects, and the medication doesn't do anything to help you make those changes.

MySimba can commonly cause nausea, vomiting and constipation, which makes me wonder whether it would be suitable for you as well?

Not sure I’d class that as signficant weight loss, particularly at the 5 oercent level,

op, thr reasons these are not successful or popular is due to the unpleasant side effects, for example anal incontinenance and leakage

the truth is there really isn’t anything pst glp’s. But you can give these a try, they do work for some.

Healthy Mediterranean style diet, coupled with intermittent fasting. No UPF, refined carbs, sugar, alcohol. Mostly and vegetables mostly, some fruit (especially berries), plus limited dairy in the form of full-fat Greek yogurt (Lidl’s is particularly tasty).

And see a physiotherapist to sort out your lower back. Aim to strengthen your core, which is the key to exercising effectively. In the meantime, look at Lucy Wyndham Read for easy bite-sized workouts - many have options for people who are weak or physically impaired.

That’s great advice - thanks. I am seeing a physio and am just about to start Pilates to strengthen my core. I think I just need to really plan my weeks/shopping better so i can stick to a better diet. I think stress has had a massive effect on diet/weight; unfortunately that’s going nowhere soon but I need to prioritise my health a bit more.

Has berberine helped anyone? Been touted as “nature’s ozempic” (know it doesn’t work as a GLP1 imitator).

Pilates to sort your back out is good advice. Then start lifting weights to build/keep muscle.

I agree. Obviously clear what it is safe for you to do with your physio, but Heather Robertson’s Pilates based workouts - with and without dumbbells - are great for exercising at home.

Planks are great for strengthening the core. Check out the Bowflex 3-minute plank which I do almost every day.

Lucy Wyndham Read’s Thighs and Glutes workout is really good. All free on YouTube.

And yes to not keeping ‘bad food’ in the house! I also find Dr Becky’s short talks very motivational:

I do mat pilates four times a week and a hex trap bar weight routine three times a week. Adding the weight lifting changed my fitness and strength quite markedly. I'm nearly sixty and have dodgy L3 & L4 discs.

I tried berberine, both liquid and capsule, made absolutely no difference at all.

The Mediterranean diet worked wonders for me. Low carb by cutting out potato, rice bread and pasta completely and no UPFs. Plenty of protein and fibre and you don’t feel hungry or get sugar spikes. It really does work wonders in my experience and really works well to control blood sugar.