Lost weight - people asking me if it’s weight loss injections

[Slimmster]

Ok, I don’t know why this is bothering me, but it is.

I’ve recently lost a stone and a half. It took 3 months and I did it by limiting calories and I trained for a half marathon and weight trained. I ran 30 k a week for 3 months. It dropped off me.

3 people in the past week have commented to me that I must’ve been taking weight loss injections. When I said I haven’t they responded “ yeah right”.

I’m not against Weight Loss injections and I think they are good for people with weight related issues, but these comments to me have pissed me off.

My DH said, who cares, why does it matter, and I don’t know why it does.

I feel like I’ve worked really hard and OK I’m going to say it, people think I’ve taken the easy way out. When I say that I don’t think people with serious weight problems have taken the easy way out, they haven’t. I know they’ve work to do on the medication. I’ve read the threads. However for someone like me, fit, a couple of dress sizes above what I’d like, and a stone and a half overweight, WL injections are an easy way out, a cheat.

I’m a bit of a health freak and TBH I’ve seen loads of people with inflammation related nasty side effects from the Covid jab so sticking injections in myself would really be a last resort.

I don’t expect any recognition for losing weight. However these comments have really pissed me off and i found myself explaining my process to them and defending myself.

What do you mean, what extra resources does someone on wli need? I certainly don’t need additional assistantance or resources, and I earn my own money and pay for the injections myself.

Doesn't make sense
The WLI work by supporting users to eat a healthy diet
With or without WLI, you lose weight via calorie restriction diet
They don't work otherwise
Maybe read up on it

limited NHS resources?

You get that most people are spending their own money on the WLI, right?

Though I believe they should absolutely be prescribed on NHS

They aren't the easy way out.
People still have to eat well and exercise
They just have the added bonus of feeling nauseous, stomach ache, low mood etc
My friends on it are not having an easy time. I'm not having an easy time doing it without the injections as I have to control cravings.

There's no shame in them. The people who think it's cheating sound like the same ones who think vaginal birth is more worthy and sections are cheating.
We need to stop beating on each other as women.

You do know why it’s bothering you. You think people think you’ve taken the ‘easy way out’. I’m on the injections and it’s not easy, but gold star for you.

I wish people worked on their inner selves as much as they worked on their outer appearance, the world would be a much better place.

Looking at the research and general information around wli and weight loss without them, i doubt there is very little difference in the success rate long term. The same issues surround both methods, and that is that without permanent lifestyle changes both groups will increase their weight once off the dieting regime.

I'm not sure for me, that I could tolerate being on medication for life as it doesn't fit in with my health ethos. Others I'm sure have different views.

Basically it's difficult for both groups.

And with your BMI of 30, yes you'd have met criteria be prescribed them

This is treatment for a medical condition, obesity. It's not about 'looking slim and youthful'

It's also nothing to do with societal expectations for women

It's medical treatment for a medical condition common to both men and women. And you would have met criteria for it if you wished to get it

No one is forced to have this medical treatment

I sort of understand your feeling behind this OP.

I am 2 stone overweight and have been for more than 10 years. I find it enormously difficult to shed even a few pounds. However, I will not countenance weight loss injections 1) because I enjoy food (but do not have disordered or gross eating habits) 2) I can't stand the feeling of nausea 3) I don't see my weight problem as serious enough. I'm probably deluded about the last point, tbh.

I think because the use of weight loss medication is suddenly everywhere and so commonplace now, people asking you have made a reasonable guess. Try not to take it personally - it doesn't really matter that much does it? Just put them right on go on with the renewed spring in your step! You've done really well.

I can understand you feeling a bit annoyed OP. Your friends shouldn't imply you're lying.

For those saying that to be obese, you'd have to have lLots more to lose - I'm 5'2" which is shorter than average but not tiny. I am 'healthy' at almost 9 and a half stone but obese at just a lb or two over 11stone. This is the 'overweight' range for my height.... It's quite easy to be BMI 30 but also not have many stones to lose.

The weight loss injections are a resource that the NHS can fund…?

No, at 5ft 2, you’re a healthy weight at 9st 10, and obese at 11 stone ten. So two stone difference, and I think it was clear if the op is very short then yes it could be accurate. However she’d still qualify for the jabs at a bmi of 30, as irrelevant of height that’s obese.

Ah sorry I thought the NHS was allowing eligible candidates to be prescribed WLI. My mistake if it’s private only

Well yes they do, if they go via tier 3 weight loss management clinics, have a bmi over 40 and have significant other health problems. I don’t think that applies in this context.

you can’t just pop alone to the docs and get them. Gp’s are not allowed to prescribe. The clinics had a 8 month waiting list before these drugs were available and they will make you try everything else first after you’ve been referred and then waited about a year to join.

these drugs are overwhelmingly private funded.

It’s a strange feeling if someone tells you to your face that they think you’re lying whatever the topic is. It’s difficult to know what to do when someone does that, and that makes you feel uncomfortable.
You could try saying ‘the injections don’t make you able to run a half-marathon last I heard’.
But otherwise just go with ‘what a strange thing to say’.

I did 3st in 3 months on slimming world (and no, I wasn't enormous either) so she easily could have lost that not on the injections...

That’s terrible that the waiting list was that long though! I feel like it kind of supports my point about the positives of freeing up resources.

General point not aimed at you: And I’d like to reiterate that my original posts PRAISED weight loss with WLI. Weight loss resources can cost money (like clinics or WLI), and so having to spend less money to achieve a goal is favourable. Not best, just favourable.

Yes the dentist is just upselling. It’s not personal!

You qualify for injections with a BMI of 30 or above. I believe it's a minimum BMI of 27 if you have certain co-morbidities. So you wouldn't have had to lie to get them if you'd wanted a private prescription if your BMI was 30.

I think you need to ask yourself why this bothers you. And then maybe work on that.

Wow you are well judgemental, so you think becoming disabled, doing physio to be able to walk again but taking injections is a easy way out. I don't have a ramp at my front door as council have refused. Must be nice to step in the world and blame other peoples problems on themselves.

Yes I agrees some people use these injections for small weight loss but if people such as yourself didn't stereotype they as easy people wouldn't get them.

I can't wait to get off then or reduce the amount as the GI side effects are not easy at all.

Exactly. And this type of thread just continues the prejudice, judgement and misinformation

with a BMI of 30 you were obese and would have qualified.

and you still need to diet and exercise with injections. It doesn’t make the weight evaporate

That makes no sense. I’m sorry but it doesn’t. The people in the weight management clinics are overwhelmingly not on these drugs. So anyone stopping them isn’t freeing up any resources. We are buying privately,

@Dietingfool Totally 18 months wait for weight loss clinic after becoming disabled, offered no help apart from surgery. Had a BMI of 52 and borderline diabetes as couldn't exercise. Now 6 months later paying private taken 10 points off my BMI, liver levels normal, cholesterol went from 4.9 to 4.5. Sugar 48 to 40. My total income per year including disability and council take support is 16k. Buying this drug every month creates other problems so far from easy route.