Another new starter with no idea where to start

[Sbera]

There’s probably a hundred of these threads but here I am, another person with no clue where to start or what to do first.

I have around 4 stone to loose (14stone and 5ft3 currently). I typically hate taking medicine or injections but I have tried for the past 3 years to shift some weight through diet and exercise and menopause is making this impossible. A kilo comes off and 2 more are going on.

I don’t want to see my GP and truthfully there’s probably a little shame to how I feel about it all.

I did a quiz on Voy which suggests I am eligible and to start with wegovy.

I’d be grateful for any advice or signposts to articles / threads that you think might be useful.

You will definitely qualify for wegovy pills without any problem or difficulty

i use Bolt. I had to upload a photo and the pills arrived the next day

I started in Wegovy pills at the end of July and have been really pleased at my weight loss so far. I’m taking a slow and steady approach with the tablets staying on each dose for 2 months before moving up. I’ve had no real side effects. I’m 5’2 on a good day and what kick started me was a) some pictures from a wedding I attended earlier this year and b) finally plucking up the courage to get on the scales and discovering I was 79kg. I spent a couple of months dithering and reading on here and then took the plunge. Best decision I’ve made in years. I use boots online doctors and collect my meds from my local branch.

Good luck @Sbera

The only regret most people have is not starting sooner. I lost over 7 stone in a year (17st11 to 10st4) and have stuck around that weight for the last few months.

I use Mounjaro, but when I started there wasn't that much price difference. Because Wygovy is so much cheaper, if I was starting again I'd use that.

Because you are buying a prescription drug, you will receive exactly the same product from every (licenced) pharmacy. So as long as its a licenced pharmacy (and everything on Monj is) then just go for the cheapest.

Most/many pharmacies offer discounts for new customers. The cheapest way to do this is often to swap suppliers to get discount codes. This is very straightforward.

I use Juniper and really rate them. They send you a free set of digital scales and tape measure with your first order. Like many, its a subscription. So if you want to swap suppliers from them you have to send an email to cancel. That's easily done (and they often send you a further discount to encourage you to stay).

I have a £100 discount code for Juniper if you are interested? You can use it off Mounjaro or Wygovy, injections or pills. Send me a Mumsnet direct message and ill share the voucher code with you.

I've attached the Juniper price lists (this is without the discount code applied). Its important to consider the prices of the higher doses because, while you might not need to go to the highest dose, its unusual to stay on the lowest dose.

Much like you, I have just been so fed up with being overweight. I finally decided to give the injections a go; it’s been years of losing and gaining the same lbs. I’ve gone for Wegovy due to the price and Bolt pharmacy. 4 weeks in now, 7 lbs lost. The app is easy to use and easy with them to check in. I will have an appointment with a clinician soon as I move up to the next pen. Also have a code if you want it.

Thank you. Very similar starting positions so appreciate the advice. 🙏

Best of luck to you.
I’m not sure I am there yet, i am a huge researcher and need to get my head totally in the game of something before I commit.
But people have been so generous with pointing me in the direction of extra reading so I feel more informed than I did :-)

This has been great, everything I wanted from a thread and more. Thank you so much to everyone who shared their journeys and pointed me in the direction of extra reading. The Asda stuff in particular was very useful 🙏

If I were starting again I would definitely try wegovy first because it is the cheaper option but isnt always ideal for everyone. I tried it after a while on mounjaro and it didnt work for me so I had to switch back, however a friend of mine made the switch and it works really well for her.

There are tablets too and again may be worth a try to see if they are effective for you.

I hated the idea of injections, I cant even look when my blood is being taken and the first injection I got my Husband to help as the idea freaked me out but now its really not a bother at all, you quickly get used to it.

You’ve had lots of good tips already that I would echo. Firstly loyalty to pharmacies is not rewarded - learning this early will save you a lot of money - monj.co.uk is a brilliant comparison site (and has a wegovy version too). I would always avoid anything that’s a subscription model eg voy, shemed, juniper, you often get stuck before being able to cancel and the hiked prices of subsequent months negate any saving of the straying price that sucks you in. Secondly - no one should be sharing or offering you codes on here by PM. That’s against pharmacy and mumsnet rules - you’ll get legit codes on monj or its ok to use one from a real life friend who you trust not to recommend just for the credit they will receive.

i chose mounjaro but there wasn’t such a huge price gap at that time. It’s been life changing though and if you can afford it I would highly recommend. Many people do have success on the lower doses - I never went above 5mg - which also opens up the opportunity to make it more affordable by buying higher dose pens and subdosing (eg taking a half or quarter dose) which if you do your sums you can see makes it much more affordable over time. That’s something you could look into once you are under way and see how you respond. But some do need the higher doses so you need to be prepared for that cost. Swapping pharmacies each month is the best way to keep purchase costs down. Takes 5-10 min extra effort in questionnaires and photos etc which is worth it imo.

as for the jabs and side effects, the needles are tiny and barely even feel it. Watch some videos to get the hang of it. I had some mild nausea/gastro side effects in the first couple of months but then nothing.

i lost over 4 stone in around 8 months was a similar starting weight to you. It’s been life changing.

final thing - find the monthly support thread for October - there is bound to be one - it’s really great to have the support of those at same stage - mine is still going and it’s inspiring seeing how successful so many have been.

I am 5 foot 3 and 13.5 stone so we are very similar. I started yesterday after months and months of prevarication. I feel I have run out of options. Thanks for starting this thread. Maybe we can compare notes?

That’s not what I meant. I meant that it’s best to do your own research rather than simply asking people what to do before you even start. Of course Mumsnet is fabulous and I’ve asked things of it myself. But just start by looking around and researching for yourself rather than getting others to do it for you.

Heaven forbid! 😂

OP, this might be useful?
Its a BBC podcast, I have just seen on the website this moment .

'How to eat for success on weight-loss drugs' .

Disclaimer: I haven't listened to this yet myself, so cant comment on it , but am intending to later on today.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w3ct8swm

Apperently theres a book recently out the interviewee also called 'The Appetite Reset' . Blurb says this explores WL medication,/ eating food for success.

Again , I haven't read it as only just seen it. But I may buy it once I've listened to the podcast.

@Sbera Like you, I’m with Voy—who provide an excellent service (especially when it comes to sending out spare needles & swabs free of charge) but get expensive pretty quickly.

I’m also someone who probably won’t ever need to go above 2.5 mg (I’m using Mounjaro). At most, I may need one month of 5 mg, then I’ll be back to 2.5 for maintenance. For whatever reason, it seems to work very well for me, and based on reading I’ve done elsewhere, it does seem 5 mg is effective for many people long term. Not everyone is the same, though.

Good luck with everything!

I am still on 2.5mg after three months. I could maybe go up slightly but I’m still losing weight so persevering until the weight loss stops.

I’m using MFP to track calories too.

I switched from 3/4 spin classes to resistance / weights classes. Now I’m doing 3 weights / resistance and parkrun.

Thank you everyone
some brilliant extra bits over the last few days. I will definitely listen to the podcast.

I really appreciate it thank you 🙏

Well done for starting - I’m not sure I’m quite there yet mentally. Though I do appreciate lots of people have told me to just stop overthinking it.

hopefully it all goes nice and smoothly for you 🤞🏻🤞🏻

i am a bit confused about the calorie thing. I want to do intermittent fasting so have two meals a day and smaller portions. I was listening to a podcast which tells you not to track calories. Surely no one is going to lose weight if they eat above their calorie deficit even on MJ?

Not all podcasts are right on everything!

I have tracked calories as it helps me make good choices. Lots of other people haven't and have lost well.

@Frenchjamisbest no, people won’t lose weight if they aren’t in a calorie deficit even if they are on Mounjaro. But being in a calorie deficit doesn’t mean you have to calorie count. I haven’t for the 2 years plus that I’ve been on Mounjaro and I’ve lost just over 11 stone. I occasionally do a week where I calorie count for a double check that I’m still in a deficit. But otherwise I eat smaller portions, have periods of fasting etc similar to what you describe.

I wouldn’t tell people they should or shouldn’t calorie count. Whatever works for each person and be prepared to change what you’re doing if it isn’t working for you.