I have about 9 stone to lose and I need to make some changes now!!

[ReallyNeedToLoseWeightNow]

According to the NHS BMI calculator I am in the obese category and need to lose just over 9 stone to be at the top end of the healthy weight category 😬 Losing that much weight will be extremely difficult and will take years…
Having a quick look on Google it looks like it is realistic to lose 2 stone in 14-28 weeks so I am going to say that I will be happy if I have lost a stone by the end of August and 2 stone by December!! Obviously I will still have a long way to go even if I do achieve these goals but I think it is import to set realistic goals so that I can stay motivated and stick to it 🤞

I am going to start with 2-3 weeks of slimfast and then try to plan snacks and meals that match the slimfast calories once I am used to eating less. I am also going to try and start exercising and aim to start with half an hour 2-3 times a week and build it up as I get used to it.

I am so unhappy with now much weight I have gained, how I look and how I feel and I need to make some changes now!!

Sounds like a plan although I have no experience of slimfast but it does appear to work.
Do you currently eat ready meals / processed foods? Drink fizzy drinks? Eat biscuits and cakes? These are the first things to get away from.

Honestly I went on Mounjaro and would 100% recommend if you can afford it.

I've stayed on 5mg and lost 3 stone in 4 months. Another 2 to go to - but it feels achievable.

But it doesn't magically burn calories, so you need to change your diet and exercise. People who don't are in serious danger of putting all the weight back on as they haven't changed the bad habits that got them there in the first place.

Look into fasting / one meal a day. I spent over a decade “making little changes” and wasting my time and efforts.

Copying a school mum I got talking to who was visibly losing weight, I fasted for 48 hours and then ate one big delicious meal a day. Anything I fancied. I shrank easily - every day I looked better - the 5 stone I needed to lose was off by the end of the year - and it changed my eating habits forever.

I've got about the same as you - I've lost just over 2 stone since February.
I'll be honest and say that I had loss of appetite/nausea for the first few weeks after starting a new medication but I used this to my advantage as it was easier to break binging habits when I didn't have my usual appetite.

I've continued with what I feel are sustainable, enjoyable and healthy changes though, and it's working without the usual mental battle to avoid food. It sounds like maybe Slim Fast might give you the same head start?

I walk between 1 to 3 miles a day (not always in one go) and if I don't manage it, I don't beat myself up. I have nothing to eat until around 10.30am when I'll have a piece of fruit l, a handful if nuts and coffee with almond or oat milk. Lunch is salad with loads of veg and usually cheese/avocado/coleslaw/egg or a wholemeal bagel with goats cheese/low fat philli.

Dinner is whatever I fancy within reason (I'm not eating takeaways or big portions) - I tend to keep my calories low during the day and then I can stress less about what I eat at night time and I can generally have what everyone else is having with some minor adjustments.

I have changed cow's milk for oat milk then switched again to sugar free almond milk which is very low calories and seems to work fine in cooking as well.

If I fancy chocolate I've been buying dark as I find a couple of squares of that is plenty and I don't crave more.

The biggest change for me is that I've stopped eating meat. I find I don't tend to overeat the same way I did if I was piling big portions of bolognese or chicken curry on to my plate.

I've avoided processed food as much as possible, with the exception of the odd plant kitchen sausage when hot dogs are on the menu. They're actually nicer than the meat ones.

I've finally accepted that this weight wont come off quickly and I feel different this time. If you want a buddy, it would be nice to have someone going through the same to share tips with!

Another Mounjaro fan here - you need to restrict your eating and the side effects are variable but it has really shut off the food noise for me which I usually have when dieting- whenever I went on a diet previously my interest in food went to warp overdrive and I found I was obsessing about food all the time which was so tedious and I ended up falling off diets

While you are on Slimfast start writing a two week menu rota. Get rid of everything that's unhealthy now so you have no temptation.

Also as PP said try fasting. If you don't think you can, try to skip breakfast. The calories from the night before will easily keep you going and your gut will benefit so much.

Good luck and if you fall off the wagon, don't despair, just jump back on!

This is definitely the problem I have!! I eat far too many takeaways/fast food, snacks, cake, crisps and drink fizzy pop pretty much every day 😬 I know it needs to stop/be heavily reduced!! I think I need to initially limit fast food/takeaways to once or twice a month, unhealthy snacks/cake/crisps/desserts 2-3 times a week and swap most fizzy drinks to dilute juice and water (thinking of getting an Airup bottle!!) and maybe have 1-2 a week. I know that it really needs to be limited to less than that really but I’m trying to be realistic 🙈

@Nowthereistwo @spinningisthebest I don’t think I could inject myself!! 😬

How do you do this? Do you just not eat anything all day until tea time? Do you really then just eat whatever you want? How many calories do you have for your one meal? 🤔

I have done almost 30 injections and only felt it once. It’s honestly nothing. You really don’t feel it. It has taken away the bad things about food for me and given me so much more. I have lost 5 stone and still happily on the way down with another few stone to lose. Don’t discount it as a viable option. Being able to eat proper healthy meals will be far more successful than replacing food with slim fast.

It's barely an injection. It's a microscopic needle. I don't feel it. Even needle phobics have managed. Honestly, it will very likely make the whole thing much more doable. I hate to think of people bare knuckling through on slimfast now.

Wow!! That’s amazing, well done!!

A big part of my issue is definitely the sweet stuff!! I don’t like dark chocolate unfortunately :( I do like those chocolate mousse pots that are less than 100 calories so maybe I could use them in the same way!!

What kinds of things do you eat? We do eat a lot of processed foods and things like bolognese, pasta bakes and curries as they’re quick and easy to make 🤔

Yeah, having a buddy to go through this journey with would be great!! I don’t think I’ll be doing as well as you have by the sounds of it though!! Losing 2 stone in 3 months would be a miracle for me I think!!

Definitely don’t dismiss mounjaro! I’m needle phobic and currently on jab 39! You barely feel the needle go in and I think I’ve only bruised maybe 3 times since I started. 5 stone down so far and would like to lose the same again plus a bit more. It’s honestly changed my life. When you have a lot of weight to lose it’s a game changer and has actually been the only way I’ve ever managed to stick to a weight loss plan in my entire life.

That’s a good idea, thank you!! I will have to speak to my partner and see what meals he would like included but he tends to be healthier than me so it shouldn’t be too hard to agree 😂

I think I could easily skip breakfast!! Would I then have a low calorie lunch?

I think this is a big challenge for me!! If something goes wrong then I often lose motivation and give up 🤦‍♀️

Honestly I don’t think you’re in the right mindset. Working out how many times a week you can eat sweets and crisps and puddings and replacing meals with processed milkshake things is not going to give you the long term changes you need. Diets don’t work
I found it helpful to be reminded that it is OK to be hungry! Just ignore it. It comes and goes. If you can manage a few days with zero carbs it should really help with the blood sugar crashes that make you feel so hungry and crave sugar. Three days? You can do it.

Apart from that the injections sound like an absolute no brainer. It’s a fantastic medication. It’s pricy but if you eat take away and junk food you can virtually pay for it from savings there.

How about the family? Are they supportive?

I’m not trying to work out how many times a week I can have them I was just saying that I need to limit them and it doesn’t seem realistic to say non at all 🤷‍♀️ The slimfast shakes are just so I can get used to not snacking all the time/eating loads of rubbish 🤔

I think I would have to talk to a doctor first as it seems scary to just decide to inject myself with something that may or may not work and could cause side effects 🤔

Yeah, my partners is supportive but he obviously can’t stop me from eating 🤷‍♀️

I think I would have to talk to a doctor first as it seems scary to just decide to inject myself with something that may or may not work and could cause side effects 🤔

I also don't think you really, seriously want to do this. Anyone serious would have researched the hell out of Mounjaro by now.

This is a useful summary:

"Mounjaro works by mimicking natural incretin hormones, GIP and GLP-1, to regulate appetite and blood sugar. It helps reduce hunger, slow digestion, and improve insulin sensitivity, leading to weight loss and improved blood sugar control.

Here's a more detailed explanation:

• Mimicking Natural Hormones:
Mounjaro contains tirzepatide, which is a dual-agonist, meaning it activates both GIP and GLP-1 receptors. These receptors are naturally involved in regulating appetite and blood sugar. 


• Reducing Hunger and Slowing Digestion:
By activating these receptors, Mounjaro helps to reduce hunger, slow down the emptying of the stomach, and increase feelings of fullness, leading to reduced calorie intake. 

• Improving Insulin Sensitivity:
Mounjaro can also improve insulin sensitivity, helping the body use glucose more effectively and leading to better blood sugar control. 

• Potential for Weight Loss:
The combined effects of reduced hunger, slowed digestion, and improved insulin sensitivity can lead to significant weight loss. 

• Individual Results Vary:
While Mounjaro can be effective, individual responses can vary, and it's essential to combine it with healthy lifestyle choices for optimal results."

Not your GP. They have nothing to do with it. They shouldn’t have anything to do with medication prescribed privately. Some people have said their GP did discuss it but ultimately if you need support you should seek that from whoever is going to prescribe you the medication. You can do a lot of research yourself regarding the meds itself and there are plenty of videos available re injections.

Absolutely don't do slim fast. Assuming you're around 19 stone you should not be eating a 1200 calorie meal replacement plan that lacks essential nutrients and protein. Please reconsider Mounjaro. You'll afford it by stopping takeaways alone.

I don't think I'd have lost it quite as quickly if I hadn't felt so yucky from the meds - definitely wouldn't be realistic if I was fighting my usual cravings. I've done well, but it's not all from willpower!

I quite like a kit kat or one of the skinny whip bars (B&M sell lots of flavours). They're only 99kcals if you want something with actual chocolate. I don't find yoghurts and mousses hit the same spot.

Dinner wise I would have similar to what you say - pasta/rice dishes are easy to prepare but I would have half a portion of wholegrain pasta and balance the other half of the portion with extra green veg (broccoli, spinach, green beans). Instead of beef I would use mushrooms and lentils for bolognese, I have fajitas with halloumi and avocado in place of chicken and instead of putting them on a wrap I would have lots of veg and a handful of baby potatoes done in the air fryer with the skin on.
I love baked potato or sweet potato - topped with whatever you like - I don't like beans so I usually have goats cheese with some leeks and mushrooms.

I find that making sure I'm having generous portions but using low calorie veg to bulk things out rather than extra pasta/bread it keeps me full and I'm less likely to crave a snack. During the day at work i make sure I'm well prepared and take lunch and snacks with me so I'm not tempted by prepacked sandwiches, canteen crap or the vendig machine!

I love crisps and discovered pom bears are only 66 kcals which is lower than the "healthy" ones like Walkers Baked etc. But I have tried to stick to nuts which are more nutritious and filling.

If I want a fizzy drink, I have a fizzy drink - not every day but if I'm really in the mood for a full sugar coke or whatever, I have it. You're not going to go your whole life without allowing yourself things you enjoy and I find that having what I want when I want it satisfies me enough that I don't go overboard by "giving in" later and then binging.

I know lots of people on mounjaro too and it has made such a difference to their weight loss - definitely consider it. I can't afford it but I would be on it if I could. Losing weight is a tough battle, especially when you're in it for the long haul, so the easier you can make it for yourself, the better! Good luck!

Another Mounjaro convert.

Unlike what the media would have us believe, you can't just jab and mainline chocolate, you do have to work at it by being in a calorie deficit and eating nutritionally dense foods, but that bit comes easy as the drug eliminates a lot of the food noise / obsessing about food / desire to binge on crap.

I was worried about injecting myself to start but it is just like pressing a ballpoint pen to your tummy and I barely feel it.

I have been on it a few days shy of a year and have lost 7 stone with minimal side effects / effort.

I so wish that this medicine had been around 30 years ago as it would have saved me decades of misery and piling up health problems for my future.

I was put on it as a type 2 diabetic and I agree it’s been life changing. I lost almost 5 stone in 4 months down to my ideal weight. My bmi is now at the low end of healthy and my blood sugar, bp and cholesterol are all back to normal.

You need to re-train you taste/appetite away from sugary, salty, fatty foods that are takeaways and processed foods. A lot of the salt and sugar are hidden and taste wise cancel each other out but your body still craves them. Try to eat bitter/sour food such as salad leaves, pickles, greek yogurt, sauerkraut, plain veg such as broccoli. It will take time but you will adapt to the new tastes. You will not then want the takeaway/UPF and sugary foods. If you want sugar have an apple or banana. Dark chocolate can be a treat! It will work. Weigh yourself daily but don't worry if weight goes up by a pound or two, stick with it. Fluctuating weight is normal. Drinks lot's of water or black tea and coffee to avoid hunger pangs.

I appreciate you are trying to be realistic but that seems a very slow rate of loss for someone who is 9stone overweight.

I am also an advocate of Mounjaro. I was prescribed by my GP because I’m type 2 diabetic and lost all the weight I needed, almost 5 stone, in just over 4 months.

Like others have said it’s not a magic bullet but it is the only thing I’ve ever tried that makes losing weight soooooo much easier. The longing for food disappeared overnight, I felt full after a small plate of food and stay full for ages longer than I would. In fact I’d have to say for the first time in my life I know what full is.

You will have breathing space to learn how to live like a ‘normal’ person (I actually commented to my children after the first week that this is what it must be like to be normal).

what ever you decide I really wish you the best of luck ❤️

Personally I feel weighing yourself every day is the road to hell. I weighed once a month or if I noticed my clothes getting particularly loose. The first time you see a gain on the scales, even safe in the knowledge that fluctuations are normal, your self destruct will start planting seeds of doubt.

if she is aiming for a pound a week then weighing daily really makes no sense at all.