I'm starting saxenda this week.

[Saxendastarter]

I'm 33.

I'm 1m68 (5ft6)

I don't actually know what I weight and I got rid of my scales last year when getting on them just made me cry every time and I was just too depressed to even try and start loosing weight - I have ordered scales and will weight myself tomorrow.

However last time I weighed myself nearly a year ago I was 94kg (14st 11) and I know that I have gained since then.

I started gaining weight the beginning of covid, before 2019 my very highest weight had been 68kg ( 10st10) and my normal weight had been round 62kg for most of my adult life, so I have massively put on weight over these last four years. (Separation, depression, stress at work, and just general giving up).

My body is ruined by stretch-marks and my boobs that used to be great are now just swollen and saggy and stretch marked.

I'm really depressed by my weight and have decided its time to do something about it.

I have an office job and I'm not at all active.

I've tried to start making small changes, walking to the underground instead of getting the bus, getting the stairs up the one flight to my office instead of the lift but everything feels like a struggle and I have such awful thigh chaffing that walking is often excruciatingly painful.

I how I need to make a change because on top of it being so unhealthy being so over weight just makes me so upset. I've stopped going out as much and have just retreated into a shell.

I also have an appointment with a psychologist tomorrow.

I decided last month that enough is enough and I need to do something about it all.

I've started using face cream, and am finally having laser on my very very hairy thighs and - the point of this thread - I'm going to start saxenda tomorrow.

I thought I'd journal here.

Sorry long non weight related ramble ahead.

@Bloodylovecrisps Thankyou! I'm thinking of resigning but as a single adult I have a massive Parisian mortgage. Because of how thinks work here I won't get any benefits if I straight up resign, if I manage to negotiate leaving I can get a leaving allowance of a few thousand when I leave and that if I didn't find another job straight away I could get 57% of my current salary as unemployment benefits for up to two years. It would be tight, but enough to pay my mortgage and if I rented out a room in my appartement I could even go travelling for six months which is something I increasingly want to.

The thing is that I have to loose weight before looking for a new job as France is profoundly fat phobic as is the corporate world and quite a few serious studies here have found that overweight women earn on average 18% less that their non overweight colleagues with the same qualifications and job roles .... And I'm just not going there!

But yet, I think that unfortunately it's time to jump ship. It's a shame because I'm proud of what we do and of my job for the first time in my life - to put it as one of my very funny colleagues says in a very French accent when asked what we do " You know baybies ? Yes? We save dem". And he's not far from the truth.

But honestly I don't enjoy being a director, I don't enjoy the stress and I don't enjoy having to manage a team and to be honest I'm finding managing Gen Z in positive and benevolent way increasingly difficult. And my life/work balance is fucked. I leave work round 7.30 ish in the evening, go out, get home round 10pm ish normally, eat trash, spend another hour of two doing emails and clearing up mess from the Gen Z ers approximations and shortcuts. Fall asleep exhausted. Wake up round 6.30 get a coffee and go back to bed to do emails for a hour before getting up and getting ready to go to the office.

I was in corporate banking before and don't really want to go back ( + non of my very smart banker clothes would fit now and I'm not investing in more! And I've got used to being able to go to work in a hoody) but I'm sure I can find something, I have a double masters in law and finance and over 10 years experience so I shouldn't have trouble finding, but it's finding something I want to do that won't fuck my life up with stress, pressure and horrific hours.

I'll get there, but I really need to deal with the weight issue first so I can start whatever new journey feeling my best...

@Saxendastarter it's such a shame that being overweight in France has such a negative impact! That is really awful.

I think you have to weigh up the work/life balance and how much it's had a negative impact on your mental/physical state. I always say you work to live, not live to work. It sounds like you have your head screwed on though and you're looking at all of the options pragmatically to make a decision and it sounds like you've got some good options there. Getting a lodger in is a great idea, my partner and I have a bit of an age gap, but we have both always rented out rooms in our properties and he has managed to pay off his mortgage doing it and I mostly, we don't have kids so obviously we save some money there, but it's a really good opportunity and it's not as weird as most people perceive it to be. Some of our lodgers are now some of our closest friends.

I hope it all works out for you, sounds like you have got lots of great experience to take with you and travelling sounds amazing too. You seem like such a lovely person, you deserve to be happy and reap the rewards of your hard work.

Also enjoy Mani/pedi! Sounds lovely, getting my nails done is my one treat I will never give up, always makes me feel good.

@Footgoose I'm also getting a bit lost keeping up with everything 😆 but enjoy reading everything and keeping up where I can!

I had a bit of a slip up yesterday and ate 4 of those delicious cookies they do in the bakery section of the supermarket 😆 however the calories for the day still worked out at deficit, some days I've eaten a lot less so looking at calories for the week I'm definitely still in a deficit. But I think it may be time to up my dose again, I had the food chatter for the first time since before starting yesterday and evidently gave in, but nevermind. Today is a new day.

I've taken my dose a bit later this morning as had a very long lie in, so will see how today goes.

It's beautiful and sunny here so going to try and get out to get some exercise in. Feel a bit lonely at the moment because my partner has had surgery on his ankle so means I'm doing everything on my own, I usually like time on my own but going into the 6th week it's getting a bit boring on my lonely dog walks now 😆

Hope you're all enjoying your Saturdays!

@Saxendastarter 'Yes, the people who say eat less, move more can get to the far side of fuck. As if it was so simple. Dicks'

Also absolutely yes to this! Infuriating. Eating less and moving more, it's really not as simple as that. People just don't understand. Trying to lose weight for some is absolutely relentless and most people just don't get that. There are SO many more determining factors than just eat less, move more. Patronising people who think it's a walk in the park can get fucked 🤌🏻

Does anyone know how I get a Boots discount code?

If it's your first order I used WELCOME20
If you've ordered before, I've seen people say if you add it to basket and leave it in there, within about 12 hours they send you a discount code. Not tried that myself though so not sure whether it's true.

Day 23

Breakfast:
2 black coffees
1 cold herbal tea (thanks for the tip in replacing flavored waters!)
2 pitta breads with butter

Lunch (ish):
A Moscow mule
Coffee
Water

Snack:
Iced coffee
A CBD flavored water
5(!) babybels

Supper:
Not hungry
Water
Cold herbal tea

I have bright pink toenails, dark green fingernails and as a first for me (and my friend) a lash lift. It was lovely weather today here so we had coffee and a cocktail and then a mani pedi and a short walk. Looking forward to tomorrow when I going to Provins a little medieval town near Paris for lunch and a walk.
@BinnityBoo I basically have "free lodgers" the whole time anyway - I host a lot of people, friends, friends of friends etc - as a free spare room is a rare commodity in Paris in my circle - I looked on our equivalent of spare room and I could easily rent out my spare bedroom for 900 a month so think I might give it a go, (on airbnb I could get 1400 ish - but not sure I'd want the hassle of the turn overs), after tax the money would cover all my bills (electricity, internet, insurance, my cleaning lady and leave a bit over for saxenda /my mortgage). It's actually a 3 bed but I use one as a home office so I'd still have a spare room at a pinch for "essential visitors" ... We'll see!

Hello everyone!

Well a quick update I'm on day 17 and now 1.8 and lost 5lb so far (pic attached of my graph in st /lbs and kilos) next gaol is under 200lbs. Renpho weighs in lbs or KG rather than st which is a bit irritating!

We had a weekend of entertaining last weekend so it's not as good as it should be. Already slim husband is 'going on a diet' so no doubt he will lose a stone in a week.

I'm feeling good and swam three times each week since I started and now do 1km each time. My body is looking better despite it not showing on the scales. I have chronic low back pain though and swimming aggravates it which is super annoying.

I am not feeling hungry and the urge to snack has gone which is great but I need to focus on more healthy food! Have a great week all!

@Asparagus1 have you used boots before then put in basket and wait 12 hours they will offer you a code!

I've been looking into this before but got slightly confused with the injections.

Do you use 1/4 of a needle at a time?

Hello @Saxendastarter ive loved reading your thread. I started saxenda about 2 weeks ago. My side effects were fine until i moved up to 1.2 and had the most horrendous vomiting and diarrhoea for a couple of days. My husband thinks it was food poisoning but its very off putting. Im back to 0.6 now but not seeing any weight loss even though im not eating as much. Has anyone else had the same? Im feeling deflated about it but its clearly working for others which is fantastic.

@user40643 it's a pen that last between 1-3 weeks depending on dose. You use a fresh needle each time

After struggling at 0.3mg for a week I'm finally at 0.6mg and it's not doing anything anymore
My appetite feels normal so I'm going to start gradually increasing!

I'm day 11 and still only -3lbs

Picked up my prescription today, it's taken me a couple of days to get into the pharmacy in the local town.

Planning on taking my first dose tonight, I am a 1lb down already this weekend from trying not to snack as much as normal!

Hoping the side effects stay relatively non existent, I have a busy week at work!

Hello! Joining in. Am also in a French speaking city (not Paris sadly) and have an appointment with endocrinologist in 2 months.

Dr has requested/suggested we talk about saxander... currently weighing in at 120k. Weight gained slowly over last ten years, but especially since 2020.

Also share same goals as you @Saxendastarter !
So, here to follow for inspiration. Am preparing myself to be told off, they are not very tubby tolerant here... (hence I avoid medical interactions unless necessary).

It's not going great for me this week, I've definitely eaten more, but still not anything like before Saxenda but so far I have PUT ON weight this week!? 😭 I'm going to really focus tomorrow onwards and try increasing the dose a bit. Its definitely made me think I'm not going to be able to sustain this when I go away in 2 weeks time.
Having a crappy weekend with the weight loss life 😪 I'm hoping the mentally of it being Monday might help me kick start things again in the morning.

Wow, so many new people, it's so uplifting to know that so many people are on the same journey and that I am not alone. Hi @user40643 @Crimblecrumblelover @saxendaqs @charlotr366 Salut @justsaxy.

@cherrypied 5lbs is good going! Well done for the swimming. I'm still not "there yet" to be able to go but hope I'll make it before the end of the summer. My next mini intermediary goal is also under 200 lbs - I'm kilos but liking using lbs too as it gives me 2x more significant little goals to cross and reach.

@Bloodylovecrisps hang on in there - I think this is a rare occasion when the annoying expression "it's not the destination that counts its the journey" can fuck off. Keep your mind on how you'll feel when you get there. I've had to go to 1.8 - low doses don't seem to work for everyone. And weight up and downs are a pretty normally - Tmi, but maybe if you can weight yourself just after your next poo for a morale boost? Tomorrow is another day!

@Crimblecrumblelover Sorry to hear about the d&v. Maybe give it a little more time to see?

@saxendaqs 3lbs in 11 days is still amazing - rounding down this would mean 8lbs a month - this would mean 28lbs down by the beginning of September and "la rentrée" this is really a symbolic time France and symbolizes back to school and the start of a new work year after the summer holidays. That would mean 2 stone... even if you loose half of that you'll have a lost a stone by September.... thats still pretty cool.

@charlotr366 Let us know how your first week goes - I hope you have minimal side effects.

@justsaxy are you in France metropole? I feel for you, being an overweight woman here is not easy - I was pretty skinny up until just after covid and have seen how being overweight makes my life so much harder from a social interaction point of view. No more extra fruit for free at the primeur, no more security men offering to help me queue jump at museums and shows, no more overfilled glasses at bars with a wink, no more randoms helping me carry my shopping, no more bus stopping if I try to hail it outside a bus stop, no more waiters magically finding an extra table on full terasses, general distain that is particularly bad from men over 50. To be honest (and I hate myself for writing this) sometimes I even miss the constant catcalling I used to deal with ... I never realized the skinny white woman privilege I used to have - and I miss it! It's not fun being fat here.

@Saxendastarter
I hear you! Even down to a colleague complaining about my weight and clothes choices in the hot weather. (I wish I was joking...)
Am desperate to lose the weight, as I don't feel as if I deserve to exist in public anymore...

So am hoping that this will help me.

Day 23

Breakfast:
2 black coffees
1 cold herbal tea (thanks for the tip in replacing flavored waters!)

Snack:
Half a sugar laden chai latte that was so sweet I couldn't finish it (and I love sugar)

Lunch :
3 glasses of white wine
A beef and tomato Borek, half a spinach and cheese borek
Coffee

Snack:
Coffee
Pasion fruit
Water

Supper:
Fizzy water
A massive serving of pastis from a waitress who looked about 15 and we think she thought that Pastis was served by full glass, not as spirit to be mixed with water ...

Today was a good day. Got to the station to get a train to Provins to realize the station was empty and there were no trains running this weekend from the station (happens once a year) - took us a while to figure this out as we were auto congratulating ourselves for being out so early on a Sunday that the station was empty (reader, it was 10.30) . Decided to basically run for it across a bit of Paris to another train station to get a train to Giverny instead - got to the station... no trains to Giverny this weekend (there are major works...), ditto Chantilly ... and so went to yet another station and , well maybe someone will guess from pictures where we ended up. Arrived, round 12, had a walk round the market, got boreks from the market, had them at a cafe with some wine and then walked to the main attraction. On the way out the weather was not great but cleared up and was lovely. I'm really proud of myself because after about 2 hours walking I started to get chub rub and I told my friend/favorite person of the moment. I could never have done this a few weeks ago because I'd have been so embarrassed and would have just kept walking and wincing until it was totally unbearable before crying in pain once I got home... But I told him and not only did he not jusge, he sympathized and came up with a solution that sorted the issue in under 10 minutes and then did not mention it again. We walked and walked and walked and walked. And it was just such a nice day - and a lesson in not giving in because honestly when I realized the train to provins wasn't running I was ready to go back home to bed and would have if friend hadn't suggested Giverny ...
And it was great ... and one we got back to the station in the evening we had drinks before getting the train back. My iPhone says 34 600 steps or a massive 24.2km for today ( thats 15 miles ... ).

View from train to Eiffel Tower on the way out vs the way back

More pictures

And a last one

Hello everyone

I started on Saxenda on Tuesday night, so have just completed 5 full days. I feel nauseous but it’s completely manageable. Really incredible how little I want to eat. Feeling thirsty so trying to drink little and often.

Looking forward to supporting each other.

Hi @Tarragon123 Welcome. I Hope the nausea subsides. I’ve always been a big drinker ( all liquids, not just alcohol) and have always been a thirsty person so I haven’t noticed much of a difference but I think that drinking enough is essential for Saxenda to work from what I’ve read so far.

@justsaxy I hear you! Qu’il aille se faire cuire le cul ton collègue. C’est vraiment dingue les commentaires que se permettent les hommes ici. Im lucky enough to be senior enough to put most people back in their place at work if I think they’re overstepping and have often used the « vous outrepassez vos droits là, je vous demande de retirer ce que vous venez de dire et de présenter vous excuses, j’attends, et tant que je ne les ai pas entendus je considère que cette réunion est ajournée. » . And then if I hear anything in a non meeting/hiérarchie situation I have no problem telling the often younger little fucker that yep I’m fat and it’s because of all the delicious food I can afford with the money I earn and the fact I don’t even have to move at home because Ive got a cleaning lady and that and that they don’t, and that all in all, we’re in a money driven society and money equals worth and therefore society thinks I’m worth more then them. This is of course a horrible way to think, and not at all how I actually see things or « le fond de ma pensée ». I for instance don’t think I have more value in society that a check out lady, my cleaninglady, nurses etc. The little superficial counts that judge on weight in the workplace do though … So to hear that hurts them - that shock horror a fat woman earns more than they do. I often find that with French men you have humiliate them in front of other men for them to get the message. You should try, it’s liberating. Another easy one is « yep but I could get changed or loose weight, you on the hand, well, your connerie is inné et pas acquis! »

My week 1 weigh in is -6lb! Never have I ever lost so much in the first week of trying to lose weight! Unheard of for me! I'm delighted. I can only pray it continues to feel so easy. I know it probably won't be though 🙈.
I've moved up to 1.2 as I think I was starting to feel a little more hunger day 5 onwards. Not much, but I definitely ate a little more at dinner.
Hoping that I won't need to move up too much though 🤞. The injection actually hurt a little for the first time last night. I must have hit a sore spot as it hurt as soon as the needle went in to my thigh.
Hi @Tarragon123. I get really thirsty too. I am now always drinking when I think I could be hungry, and more often than not it turns out to be thirst.
Fabulous pictures @Saxendastarter. And wow to all those miles covered! I'm in awe!
@Bloodylovecrisps this is one of the reasons I'm daily weighing at the start because I know I'd feel so demotivated at a weekly weigh in go think I'd gained, when in all likelihood it is just normal fluctuation. I'll stop after a while once I know the scales are regularly heading in the right direction, but it does give me a little boost to see the over all trend.

Well done @ThisMustBeMyDream, that's a brilliant loss and it's so encouraging. Even if the subsequent weeks aren't always as dramatic, seeing the overall trend is great.

It's my seventh weigh in and I'm down 1 stone, 2.5 pounds, which I'm thrilled with. As I mentioned before I dropped my dose down to 0.6 because I had a week away visiting family but I seem to be back on track and I'm two pounds down since I got back five days ago. If I could shift 5 and a bit pounds I'd be into the 17 stone brackets which would be amazing so my goal is to do that by 31st May. Here's hoping.