Am I being selfish using inheritance to pay for weight loss injections?

[DDisnotnormal]

I need to lose around 8 stones for my mental and physical health. I'm utterly miserable being the size that I am, and it's starting to affect my physical health (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, NAFLD, high risk of diabetes because of family link). I want to try weight loss injections, but I don't feel comfortable ordering them online. I want to be monitored and see someone face to face because I have health anxiety. I'm a widowed parent so I'm very conscious that I'm all my children have which is the main reason I want to do something about my weight. I'm thinking about paying for a private GP service for a year. I can just about afford this due to some death in service money I received after my partner died but I feel selfish using that money on myself instead of our children. I have nobody to discuss this with because my family will say I'm wasting money and I just need to eat less and move more!!! I know this is basically what I need to do but I've got myself into such a horrible place mentally that this hasn't worked for me. I'm obsessed with food and feel hungry all the time so I think the injections could help. Am I being selfish or is it worth the investment in myself?x

No I agree I don’t think anyone would judge you but this is so complex from what you have explained I don’t think it’s a good idea for any of us to give you advice. You have a chicken and egg situation and really only a health care professional can give you what you need in terms of reassurance. You have complex mental health needs so I would focus on getting some support there

I completely agree. Spend some of the money now on really good therapy, which will hopefully put you in a better head space to then tackle your issues with food. If you then need to spend more money on getting treatment, so be it.

Spend money on therapy. The injections are not a solution. This is beyond weight, you have mental issues that need addressing otherwise its yet another bandaid. You need to save the children some of the money. Use the health anxiety to eat better and work out.

The injections cause side effects and are forever, if you can't afford them by your own money you shouldn't fritter away money for the children on another gimmick. The only exception is for you to get therapy because that will be the root of your obesity and will enable you to be a better parent. Losing weight wont solve your issues, plenty lose weight and still as insecure and depressed. You need to master yout own head because it is the cause of all this.

It's not selfish
Being healthy also benefits your children
Please do go to a specialist rather than online though
When you stop taking the injections it basically stops working so you can pile the weight back on very quickly
You will need the continual support beyond injections which you won't get online.

Have you tried joining a gym and healthy eating? Or have you and are trying injections as last resort?

I would be concerned the injections aren't the long term solution OP.

I mean this respectfully but needing to lose 8 stone suggests you need to completely change your attitude to food and re-educate yourself so that it's a lifestyle change forever..not sure injections will do that.

The food noise has disappeared for my friend who started ozempic just before Xmas, she is 28lbs down and her cholesterol and blood sugars have come down drastically - she is a great advert for this weight loss injection.

Good luck OP I think it’s a sensible idea of yours.

I don’t think it’s selfish. I assume you spend a lot of money on food atm, and this will go
down a lot once you start injecting. You don’t need rhe private GP service though, for that cost you can join a gym and have a PT!
you can get weight loss injections at superdrug or boots online.
i have lost a lot through Saxenda btw.

I don't think it is selfish.

However a year ago I was in a similar position to you, 8st overweight, worried about blood pressure, diabetes etc.

I had never dieted, ever.

I too went to see a private GP. He suggested keto diet - v low carbs, high protein and veg.
8 months in I have lost 4.5st, and I don't feel hungry. The protein keeps me feeling full.

Thank you 🥰 and good luck x

Seeing the private GP keeps me motivated. Well worth the money. Probably only costing what I am saving on chocolates, biscuits, desserts in pubs etc anyway!

I’m very sorry about your partner OP. Yes do it, you will around longer for your kids with the weight off, you’ll be more functional and you’ll able to engage with life more fully.

You do need to think about what coming off the jabs would look like so you do need to consider strategies afterwards.

Thank you for all your replies. They have given me some things to think over. I know ultimately I need to find a better way of dealing with my emotions and lack of dopamine and that therapy is probably needed. The psychologist I saw last year said I need to deal with one thing at a time and at the moment I think that needs to be getting some of this weight off because that is the biggest noise in my head and has been for many years.

I have tried low carbing and it does work but I can't seem to stick to any diet/healthy eating plan for more than a few weeks. I know everything that I should be doing, I just can't make myself do it...the adhd doesn't help with that either!!

I've managed to get an nhs doctors appointment for Friday morning so I'm going to see if I can get some blood tests done and see if I can be referred to tier 3 weight management services (probably be a no but I can only ask). I still might sign up with the private gp but I'm going to give myself some time to think it over and not act on impulse. Thanks again for all your comments x

Save money and get active, walking is the best thing and it’s free. Get a Fitbit type watch and monitor your heart rate and step count. It will boost your dopamine and endorphins. Alter your diet if eating unhealthy. I’m trying to lose 5 stone and this is what I’m doing, I can’t afford injections etc, currently at 13,000 steps per day and weight coming off. Feel great mentally, don’t want to be unfit and uncomfortable in my body anymore! You can do it.

Have you looked at Slimpod? It's not a diet but works to help reset your mind to make healthy choices?

I tried it in February. I used it for about a week then something happened so I missed a couple of days then never got the momentum to start again. I'm very cynical so I don't think my mind was open enough for it to be useful. Very good customer care though and I got my money back within a few days of cancelling x

I am trying to lose over 2st via Mounjaro. I am only on the low dose but it has definitely helped. I am busy with a FT job and going through a lot with my son who has complex needs. I could not focus on diets before, but it is much easier on the jabs. I am using it as an opportunity to train myself to eat better too.

I expect to gain a little when I stop, but at least it's not gaining on the weight I already have now, which is what would have happened.

The injections aren't forever and lots of people don't have any side effects.

I've lost 2 stone since the end of December OP and have no food noise.

I get them online and they called first and send helpful things over by email. You don't need to pay for a private GP on top.

Lots of us are on the weight loss boards, come and join us

I'm sorry for your loss

You can save your money and do keto OP, same results and you actually learn new healthier eating habits. I lost 5 stone last year over 7 months, doing this at 50.

I also found that exercising really helped mentally. Good luck.

It is your money to do with as you wish. I cannot think of anything better than to spend it on your health.

Everyone's asking what happens when the injections stop, but let's not forget everyone who loses weight successfully has to transition to a new way of living or they will regain.

I think you need help and Monjuro really helps a lot of people to lose weight with all the associated health benefits that will come with that. Whilst doing it you will have space from food noise to set up the healthy eating habits so you can carry on. I think you deserve to get the help you need so your children have a healthier mum. Don’t feel guilty, some people just don’t know what it’s like to be hungry all the time. It’s hard to lose weight this is just a bit of help. It could prevent your health issues becoming worse.

I'm very pro- any intervention that can help, so don't take this as my being against the injections, but I too used to be constantly hungry when I was over 15 stone.

It stopped completely when a blood test showed I was pre-diabetic and I eliminated all added sugar (I retained a little naturally-occuring sugar from fruit etc.).

Added sugar, milk chocolate, syrups, sweets etc. create this endless cycle of up and down and hunger and crash that makes you a slave to it. You are constantly in its grip, your body craves the next hit and won't be satisfied until it arrives, almost like a recreational drug. Sugar is the enemy. In most cases, if you can eliminate sugar without even taking any other steps you will see enormous improvement in your weight and wellbeing.

We have similar circumstances, @DDisnotnormal, I’m sorry about your bereavement which complicates mood.

i lost some weight on the stimulants and was able to think more clearly. Maybe a stone or so. I started the injections 5 weeks ago and I am down a dress size but the significant thing is that I am not thinking about food all the time. I hadn’t even realsied that I was!

you have a lot of weight to lose (I’ve got 6 stones to shift now) and there is nothing wrong in prioritising your health and using the time to make better habits. If you had money to spend on GP I’d spend it on counselling as others have suggested

injections are not a solution but they are a tool.

i can’t afford it but I am making it work for my health. Nothing else has worked and I don’t think surgery would either.