" I started Ozempic last night" THREAD FIVE"

[Beenalongwinter]

Link to previous thread "I started Ozempic last night” THREAD FOUR http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weightlosss_chat/4761416-i-started-ozempic-last-night-thread-four

Manual code for anyone starting

manual.co/r/U-O6x8se14VL

Babybels are already on the shopping list!

I've been having protein yoghurts and raspberries (apparently full of fibre!) as the afternoon snack.
Think I need to up the healthy fats - thanks for the tips and support @Peridot1 😘

I like beef jerky as a snack. Sainsburys do some in the fridge section by a brand called Ember, one is venison and the other is peppered beef. They're delicious, high protein and about 100cals a pack.

Be careful with the protein yoghurts @UsernameFail - some can have a lot of sweeteners and stuff added. I saw a clip on Instagram with Tim Spector (Zoe) and he just just recommends full fat Greek yoghurt or natural yoghurt and he suggested adding kefir to make it a super yoghurt. Good for your gut.

@Beenalongwinter I'm expecting my Juniper parcel today. Don't need the scales though and wondering how I explain them to my OH as he doesn't know I've been on Ozempic for the last 12 weeks!

@LadyFarnborough I used the FRIEND50 code on Tuesday that another posted gave me but didn't need to put her details in, so assume they're no longer giving the referring person a £50 discount too.

@UsernameFail I think side effects can be so varied from person to person so fingers crossed its working fine for you. I generally don't seem to be affected by side effects on other medications whereas my mum and sister really do. I did question myself in the first few weeks whether it was really working, I think I was expecting to feel physically full after eating but I can honestly say its more of a psychological feeling of not wanting/needing to eat any more - I still experience that side of Ozempic after 12 weeks and my portion sizes are still reduced and often don't finish a meal and feel I don't crave as much sweet stuff - but find when I do have carbs I tend to crave more so only allow myself the odd treat. For me I accept that there will be times I feel hungry and crave things and Ozempic isn't going to switch that off, I just have to make a conscious effort to make the right food choices knowing that I'm very sensitive to carbs. I'm also in perimenopause and started HRT just before Christmas so fighting against that too, my weight loss has been slower than most (15lbs in 12 weeks) but I'm happy that its in the right direction and around 1lb a week. As @Peridot1 suggests full fat greek yoghurt is probably best as lots of others tend to be low or 0% fat and have sweeteners added, I find the FAGE one to be quite high in protein and lower in carbs and the Aldi one is quite good too - just try and avoid anything that's says "Greek Style" as these typically have sweeteners and other additives.

I eat biltong too @FatAgainItsLettuceTime which is similar to beef jerky

There is such a mixture of pros/ cons over full fat vs artificial sweeteners depending on who is saying what.
I completely get that artificial sweeteners are bad for you but equally (and maybe this is because I've been on a diet most of my life) full fat has more calories which when you're trying to lose weight every calorie counts.. @Peridot1

But full fat will keep you fuller for longer. And sweeteners can just make you crave more. It’s a balance! Obviously it’s up to you. But bear it in mind going forward. The sweeteners may be making you hungry.

Longley farms full fat cottage cheese. Available in Morrisons, Asda and weirdly some Home Bargains/pound shop type stores.

It's a game changer in the world of cottage cheese. Not a weird sour lumpy pot of revoltingness. No this is creamy and cheesy and thick enough to stand a spoon in. Good fats, high protein, eat it by itself or have it on a jacket potato or a scoop on top of some chilli,.

I hear you @RebelGeek76 week 2 I definitely had the psychological effect and don't get me wrong, I still lost 2kgs whilst away for 2weeks mostly eating and drinking what I like, but I'm also noticing I'm hungrier and thus thinking about food more.

I'm going to take on board what you're both saying on the artificial sweeteners and start eating Fage again.

@Peridot1 @UsernameFail the whole fat makes you fat is wider debate :-) , but personally for me having done keto-style eating on/off for a few years I agree with @Peridot1 and tend to eat higher but good fats as find them more filling and satiating. I think the rationale behind this is that whilst fat is more calorie-dense, as fat is filling on the whole you're likely to consume less calories in total than a diet that was higher carb. May not be the case for everyone though.

Skyr is yoghurt with even more protein than greek.

Ive been following these threads for weeks and just completed my purchase on MyJuniper using the FRIEND50 code. I had butterflies in my tummy, not sure why! I think part of my brain thinks it’s wrong? I’m excited though and going to double up by also using Noom and doing strength training at the gym.

I’m 5ft 3 and my starting weight is 200lbs/14st 4z My goal is to lose 200lbs in the next 11 weeks ahead of a big family reunion. Does this weight loss seem realistic on Ozempic?

I assume you mean 20lbs and not 200lbs :-) Your starting weight and height is around the same as mine was. I've lost 15lbs in 12 weeks but my metabolism is pretty screwed up following years of dieting with peri thrown into the mix and I know others have faired better over a shorter timescale! I'd say it can be possible especially as you're also exercising and making changes to your diet. Don't see it as a short term fix though, good luck.

Hoping you mean 20lbs, 200lbs would disappear you 😀, it's possible but not necessarily realistic and you could find yourself lapsing if you g9 too hardcore.

Work on the basis and expectation of 1lb a week, some weeks you'll lose more, some you'll lose nothing, some you may gain. It's not linear you have to look at the long game and work towards an overall downwards trend over time.

That cottage cheese sounds interesting @FatAgainItsLettuceTime. I must look for some. I have a few cottage cheese based protein bowls saved on Pinterest which I’ve been wanting to try.

The whole fat debate is interesting and changing as @RebelGeek76 says. I also hugely went off the low fat low sugar free stuff and much prefer more calories of real food rather than processed chemicals. Just see how you feel with it @UsernameFail.

I must try Skyr too @polopolopolopoo. Keep meaning to.

Definitely meant 20lbs not 200!

@RebelGeek76 i would take 15lbs in 12 weeks over nothing any day! Well done!

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime One of my biggest problems is I have an all or nothing personality and have yet to approach any aspect of my life (work, friends, hobbies, home and of course weight loss) with moderation. My brain doesn’t seem able to do a middle ground and I have no idea how I teach it to do that because I’m sure it’s part of the reason why I can’t lose weight and keep it off.

@SkinnySally - good luck with it. I wouldn’t try to put too much pressure on yourself much as I know that’s hard. You don’t know how you will react to the medication and as I’m sure you know the initial starting dose is quite low and some people don’t really see any big losses. Have you listened to the Zoe podcast or read the transcript? That’s definitely worth doing. Very informative.

@SkinnySally I am very similar, I tend to find a new thing, go all out on it for a few weeks, buy all the kit, read all the research, then abruptly drop it and never think about it again.

Back in 2020 when the world stopped for Covid I went on a weightloss and fitness binge, lost 5 stone March-October, felt fantastic and managed to maintain for about 6months then slipped back into my old ways.

I need to get a handle on it for good!

I am a spreadsheet freak so I've got my new sheet all set up, I've set myself goals based on weight, size, activity levels so even if the scales aren't playing ball I'll be able to congratulate myself for non-scale victory's .

My watch has already congratulated me on an improvement in my resting heart rate since starting Ozempic 4 weeks ago.

There's also other ideas like putting a £1 coin in a jar for every 1lb you lose so that once you hit target or reduce clothes size you have clothes money set aside to spend.

Hello all.

Loving the thread, the great nutritional info, the tips and the general comradery.

So, I've waited weeks to say this as I really wanted to give it a good chance.

I started 5 weeks ago. I've had 4 x 0.25 doses and 1 x 0.5 dose.

It has made literally NO difference to my appetite, my "food chatter" or my weight!

I've really had no side effects other than some acid reflux and some burping.

I know it can take 12 weeks to kick in but I'm impatient and had really hoped to see an (ANY) improvement. I had such high hopes, reading everyone's stories and watching ticktocks lol.

I'm doing the click method with the 1mg pen so I'll keep going for at least the next 5 weeks and see if anything changes....fingers crossed!

Am so pleased and impressed with other peoples results. Keep it up!

Sometime told me last night that I looked like I’d lost weight. 😊 first time since i started so nice to know it’s having a visual impact now, considering I’m a stone down and my jeans are barely looser.

I’m about to do my third 0.25 dose this afternoon, having done 2 full weeks now.

Towards the end of w1 I was definitely much hungrier than I had been after my first dose, I do seem to get the “good” side effects where I’m much less hungry and fuller much quicker too. This week (end of w2) I’ve not been as hungry towards the end of the week, so today and yesterday. However I’m finding it easier to snack/graze whereas earlier in my week I just don’t want to. I’m pretty stressed though as house renovations about to start (thankfully only a couple of weeks but v disruptive/lots of prep). Looking forward to weighing tomorrow.

Im definitely feeling more constipated than I would do. Drinking loads but doesn’t help much with that. Sometimes get a bit burpy but not sulphurous (yet!). Occasionally feel a bit heartburny too, but that’s normal for me at this weight, I’m assuming that will go away in about 10kg 😂

Im hoping for more appetite suppression as the weeks go on, I’ve made a concerted effort to track calories and eat much less, but it’s been a lot easier than when I’ve just calorie counted in the past I think. Managing to fast 7pm-11am at the moment too which was not feasible pre ozempic.

I’ve just been told by Numan that they are struggling to get Ozempic 1mg, which is annoying. I really don’t want to skip any weeks. Where are people getting it from at the moment?

Is anyone doing meal replacement shakes?

the nutritionist coach at Manual suggested them over protein shakes but slim fast is full of sweeteners and chemicals and I’m trying to avoid ultra processed foods after reading why we eat too much. Huel looks better but is so expensive.

Manual do their own range of meal replacement shakes so I assume they’re told to upsell them, same as some of the vitamins and glucomannan

@Sameiam thanks.

I read on another site @Twilightstarbright that Hurl do a powder which works out cheaper than the bottles