Ozempic - For those of us a few months in

[Lndnmummy]

Hi all, thought I would create a designated space outside of the newbie zone for those of us who are in it for the long haul and are a few doses, stone, months down the road.

As I said we don’t really know but generally I would think that of course yes your appetite would return. We are driven by appetite to eat to survive. The problem is WHAT we eat. If you eat a higher protein and fibre diet with low carbs and avoid ultra processed foods etc then you would hopefully be able to maintain. That is certainly what I am hoping. I know I’ll need to work at it. My thinking going into it was that trying to lose the five stone I needed to lose was an incredibly hard task. But actually maintaining a loss would hopefully be manageable. I know I’ll need to eat a low carb way of eating most of the time and exercise etc. Since I’ve been on it and read more I am now aware I may need to take it long term.

As more of these drugs become available and research into obesity is evolving etc it may well get to a stage where different types of obesity are treated medically in different ways. So it’s possible that I might be able to have it prescribed if it can be proven that it works for me because it is providing something my body needed. We don’t know yet really.

Thank you for your honesty and sensible advice. It feels too much of a gamble to try right now in every sense! The thought of regaining the weight and possibly more means it just isn’t worth the risk for me. Good luck everyone else!

As it becomes more mainstream there will be more data ( and hopefully the price will come down) so it may be an option for the future.
That’s the way I’m looking at it myself right now.

Yes, that seems like the best way for me to look at it too. It's so expensive right now. I hope long-term it becomes a proven and healthy way of tackling obesity, because it really does seem transformative and I'd love it to work for me! But I do also have a niggling worry that it's a ticking time bomb that could worsen the obesity crisis with everyone regaining when they stop. But I suppose the NHS wouldn't have approved it if it was?

@JRHartley72 ". It’s impossible to fight against hormones/body chemistry etc"
That's not strictly true. What we and when we eat affects us our apoetite, hormones and blood chemistry very strongly. I posted a link to an article talking about food that affects our blood chemistry in a similar way to GLP-1 meds in this thread a week or so ago. The books "Why we eat (too much) and "The obesity code" also go into it in some depth. Not particularly oddly, many of the foods/way of eating mentioned, are strongly similar to the sorts of foods recommended when on Ozempic - you could say it's food for thought 🙂

"appetite" not "apoetite"

I have confidence in the NHS so I do think it's safe, yes.

I think when it is marketed for weight loss under the name Wegovy it will become more acceptable for people to talk about taking it without fear of judgement. There is probably a lot more to learn about how it works and hopefully the price will come down soon too.

Absolutely; it's horrific!

Is anyone else struggling with the fact that they can no longer eat food for pleasure? Or - I suppose - is that the whole point? That I shouldn't eat food for pleasure but instead merely see it as fuel?

I'm about three weeks in to 0.5 and my appetite is just gone. The other day I'd had a banana all day until 6pm and I only ate dinner because I knew I had to rather than feeling hungry.

I just don't care about food any more. I don't think about it, I don't anticipate it, I don't look forward to it. Is this a 'bad thing,' or - is this just how it should be normally, for normal people, who are not overweight?

I think it would be wise to stay on 0.5 a little longer if I am still feeling this way in a couple of weeks?

I struggled with this when I was on Ozempic, and I was only on it for a few weeks! Nevertheless, it made me realise how much of my socialising & pleasure revolves around nice food and wine.

Not going to lie - when I was forced to stop taking it due to the side effects, I was half pleased to be able to enjoy things like eating out again. Everything tasted so good and was so enjoyable again.

Now I've put some weight back on and wish I still had the appetite suppression! No pleasing some people, I guess.

It's not something that affects me, I still really enjoy my food (pan-fried sea bream and garlic tender stem for dinner, yum), I know it's "a thing". There was something similar in The Guardian a while ago. www.theguardian.com/food/2022/nov/09/i-miss-eating-weight-loss-drug-ozempic-food-repulsive?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

I still enjoy my food too. I just need less of it. I still get hungry. But generally smaller amounts satisfy me.

How bad were your side effects @Twiglets1 that you had to give up?

When I look back on it, they weren't THAT bad. I had frequent nausea and vomited a few times and I was only on 0.25mg so it wasn't like I increased the dose too fast. I was trying to keep it a secret from my husband so it was awkward feeling unwell. I was very sick once after 2 glasses of Prosecco - so ill I had to take to my bed at about 7pm and stay there until morning.

Reading these threads, I have subsequently realised that some people get the same side effects as me but pushed through and they did find that the nausea subsided after a few weeks so I do wonder if I was a bit quick to give up on it.

I'm giving up my job in a few weeks so may give it another try when I'm not worrying about feeling ill at work, will also feel more tempted when Wegovy is available in Boots etc. Although I read up a lot about the drug before starting, I have since learnt a lot more about it from the people on the Ozempic threads so I think I would be better prepared next time. Wouldn't attempt alcohol until my body had fully adapted to it, for one thing!

Hi all

I'm a newbie having just taken my first dose but the newbie threads are a little too controversial for me.

Hope you don't mind if I listen and learn here.

@greylad I found it confronting in the first few weeks. Not just how much socialising revolves around food and drinks but I had a hard realisation that I eat because I'm bored. Busy job, young DC, live in a city away from my hometown and friends so have filled the void with planning what's for dinner or what cocktails we can make at home, which new restaurant to try etc... added in chronic pain from stage 4 endometriosis I sought comfort from food and constant snacking on "treats".

I'm in week 12 now and have got into a better headspace. Recognised that this is a gift to have the headspace to tackle my awful habits and make new ones. Plan activities, home improvements... anything besides food and alcohol. I'm a slow loser (average 1.5lbs a week) so I've definitely got more months to go but I'm hopeful that this time to create new habits and a new lifestyle will set me in good stead when the day comes when I'm no longer on Ozempic.

@HolidayHappy123 welcome to the cool, calm and collected bit 😉

Thanks, I’ll try and find it, these threads move too fast for me to keep up with!

https://www.mumsnet.com/search/advanced
search by username = mumwheresmyribena
date from (say) 27/04.23 and 01/05/23
🙂
I can't remember the exact day I posted, probably Sat

Ahh, thank you @Twiglets1 🙂

may I join too? Losing patience with the newbies thread and people angry that they aren’t losing 10kg on their first week.

I’m three jabs in and 5lb down, thrilled with it. I’m avoiding alcohol for a bit to help me and also for my mental health. No real side effects so far- odd bit of nausea or heartburn.

Has anyone ordered from bury healthcare online?

I'm on my 4th month, 16lb down so far, I have about 2 more stone to lose. I think I would have lost more if I'd lost my liking for wine but I am def eating healthier, shed loads of water, great skin, sleeping well and just feeling better. I've started to exercise too which is helping me feel better. I just couldn't bring myself to buy new gym clothes and though a stone hasn't made a huge difference it's enough I fit in my gym gear again 👍

Very overdue check in time! 3 months in and 30lb down. Still with Juniper who were great recently when I’d plateaued for 3 weeks, however once I’d reached the 1mg dose the weight loss (and side effects) picked up again.

PP mentioned about not enjoying food, I can relate to that in the early stages but now portion control is becoming a learned habit, I can enjoy food but in much smaller quantities. Even learning to leave food on a plate when rather than forcing it all in feels ok now too. Thinking about post-jab portion control will be key to preventing weight gain, that was always my problem, I’m not going to starve or get told off or feel guilt if I don’t eat everything. Training the DH to NOT buy sweets has been hard too!

Moving forward introducing exercise will be my next goal as I still have a way to reach target 😊

yes i did came very quickly but less than impressed with the packaging
no ice pack just an envelope and some silver foil type bubble wrap.
but were quick and efficient