Anyone on Ozempic or any other self injectable weight loss drugs ?

[habibihabibi]

Yesterday my GP sent me for pre prescription tests (bloods and thiroid scan) for a new weight loss injectable.
I have about 12 kgs to shift to get into a normal Bmi range and although I exercise and eat low carb with lots of vege, I gain weight easily and dropping it is impossible.
I am peri menopausal so that obviously doesnt help .
Anyone else tried injectables ?

I don't know. It has some important side effects and risks which I am not sure are worth it for 12 kgs.

"increases diarrhoea by 166% and deep vein thrombosis by 266%. " but mostly the main issue is that you gain the weight back unless you keep injecting. "After randomization, the estimated mean weight change from week 20 to week 68 was –7.9% with continued semaglutide vs. a mean increase of 6.9% among participants switched to placebo"

Low carb isn't necessarily the best option for all. You might respond better to low fat. Low carb is a very vague description because it puts the focus on what you avoid, but it is what you put in your mouth that will determine if you gain or lose.

Animal protein from meats to cheeses raise insulin as well. A lot of low carb meal plan are very high in inflammatory food and could explain your difficulty in losing. Low carb is quite unfriendly on the gut microbiome and this could be another reason why you can't lose.

If you look at this research comparing a healthy low carb vs a healthy low fat, there is no difference . Some people do better in one, some people do better in the other. jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2673150 (click on download pdf for the full text)

What do you eat in your low carb plan?

I am sorry that you are struggling and it must be quite frustrating. I don't know if the injection are the right (last resort) choice for you, but read a bit around.

There are several discussions on Reddit about it.
Some negative
www.reddit.com/r/diabetes_t2/comments/cs3uxx/ozempic_never_taking_it_again/
Some positive
www.reddit.com/r/diabetes/comments/jz57cx/ozempic_success_stories/
There are many more there

Right now a typical day is
Either yoghurt and berries for breakfast or eggs
Lunch salad or eggs or yoghurt (alternate with breakfast)
Dinner meat and vege
I have not eaten eat processed foods like cake pasta, bread or pastry for many years as have allergies . Potatoes maybe once a week. I eat beans and legumes. Very occassionaly nuts. No alcohol or juices. Lots of water. The only dairy is yoghurt because it also causes me skin problems.

I have tried MFP etc. I could still gain weight on day.
My metabolism is very slow, I eat more than I burn obviously . My weight was not a problem until mid 4os.
I do moderate exercise - 3 cardo classes a week , 2 yoga. I walk everywhere.
I was thinking of doing weight loss surgery until this was suggested.
My BMI is 29 currently .

I just want to stay in a healthly weight range as I age.

Sorry should read gained weight on 1000 calories a day

I lost 5 stone on the sister drug saxenda. I'm in my 50s and it's been life changing. A proper alternative to weight loss surgery. I'd say you were unique if your gp has prescribed as most of us have had to pay (it's very expensive).

There's a good saxenda thread on here. Search for saxenda and hopefully you'll find it.

Consider Mysimba also !

Thanks all.
I know 12kg is not a huge amount but when you are unable to shift it ,it feels like it is. I am willing to risk it.

I have been on liraglutide for 10 years as I have diabetes. It is a very very effective appetite suppressant. I have no side effects. It makes losing weight much easier as you can eat very little without feeling hungry. I’ve recently lost 20kg, eating very few carbs/calorie counting & am now maintaining my weight without feeling deprived at all. It means I can eat yummy things, but feel full after a couple of mouthfuls. I would definitely recommend seeing if it works for you.

Oh, i do 16:8 intermittent fasting too which seems to suit my metabolism.

12 kg is not much but if you haven't been able to shift them for so long and you have even considered drastic measures such as surgery, then it is enough for you.
We can't know how this weight makes you feel. Give it a go, maybe don't buy too many to see how you respond to it. Some experience severe side effects, some none.

While you wait for the tests and stuff, would you try to eat differently?
Having only one animal protein meal a day instead of three? try to swap the yoghurt and eggs for fibre , so flaxseeds or chia seeds with fruit for breakfast (chia seed pudding with frozen raspberries minus the honey/syrup is really nice) , a big salad or soup for lunch with at least 5 different veggies (green beans+ tomatoes+cucumber+red onion+ parsley) and maybe a couple of spoons of lentils/chickpeas/beans and make it BIG, and then your dinner with your meat/fish/eggs/dairy-product/

People don't realise how inflammatory animal products are until they change to more plants. Increase the variety of your vegetables. Don;t worry about missing on protein. Every single food has amino acids, so they will sum up by the end of the day.

If you focus on having as many as possible and not focus on what you cut out, you might be surprised. From asparagus to zucchini, really from A-Z.
Often, it is making something different that brings results and you are in for good taste. A French ratatouille (easy on the oil), oven roasted pumpkin, a rocket salad with pear and walnuts (just 4 crumbled) , sautéed okras.

In those who can't absolutely lose weight no matter what , it has been found that their gut microbiome was the reason. By tripling or more the vegetables you eat, possibly including some fermented food such as real sauerkraut or nato/kimchi , you will make changes in your gut.

Whatever you do, I hope you are successful.

12kg is loads, nearly two stone.

I am wondering what happens after coming off meds though.

I was also wondering if fermented food is a fad. Never tried kimchi or anything.

I'm not sure that your GP should not be offering this on the NHS as the current guidance says it should only be prescribed by secondary care specialist weight services and only if certain clinical conditions are met
www.saxenda.co.uk/hcp-nhs-availability/#

It's not available on the NHS
It's a private prescription and Saxenda works out quite expensive

I'm not on the UK and it is covered by insurance .
At 181cm I am aiming for 75kg.
12kg would be a 7.5 % body mass loss .

@habibihabibi

I'm not on the UK and it is covered by insurance . At 181cm I am aiming for 75kg. 12kg would be a 7.5 % body mass loss .

So when you get a prescription, do they think you have to take it for life?

I dont know - going back next week to discuss.

I know people who use it and have had great success
If you can manage the side affects you may find it a great help
Of course .. ultimately the aim is to develop better eating habits , become fitter and more motivated to a healthier lifestyle MSI you don't have to rely on it for too long , especially as you shouldn't use it with a BMI of less then 30

So not MSI sorry
Stupid phone

From what I've heard it stops you feeling hungry

I just wondered, if you go back to normal levels of hunger afterwards, has your stomach shrunk or anything?

My understanding is that it works because it limit the amount of food you eat, either because you feel sick or because it interfere with appetite because art delays gastric emptying , all of this is reversible.

All weightloss will always be about less calories in. When you stop whatever you are doing (injecting, dieting, ....) or find a way around surgery (smaller constant snacking, liquid calories such as ice-cream) and go back to previous habit, the weight comes back. Always.

There are some risks which are reported but harder to find, especially on causing cancer in animals.

medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a618008.html
"Semaglutide injection may increase the risk that you will develop tumors of the thyroid gland, including medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC; a type of thyroid cancer). Laboratory animals who were given semaglutide developed tumors, but it is not known if this medication increases the risk of tumors in humans. "

The most recent literature on Ozempic is paid by the manufacturer. Previous literature have raised concerns for pancreatic and thyroid cancer in animals, but the time equivalent for humans would be a lot longer (10-12 years) , the conclusion are inconclusive and are a matter of harm / benefit when considering anti-diabetes drug. But you don't have diabetes, so the harm/benefit balance is shifted in a different way .
Have a look on pubmed
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3920789/

There is a good balance of benefit-risk here www.drugs.com/tips/ozempic-patient-tips

I understand you are frustrated by not being able to lose it and willing to risk it. None of us has been in your shoes. Just don't plan on taking it for long, and don't buy many doses as you don't know how you will react.

There must be something in natural medicine that mimics this?

A pp mentioned gut microbiome and veg. I like veg but can't fathom eating a load of extra in the hope that it alters microbiome.

Really I'd like to eat less. I am not in the office but some women seem to exist on air and prosecco and be tiny. I'd just be ill if I tried that!