Calorie deficit vs weight loss meds

[Laura19881]

Hey all. I have pcos and am overweight by a lot. I suffer from mobility issues that have helped me gain more weight. I hate how I look. Before gaining weight I was a healthy weight and looked amazing.

After having kids and then a pcos diagnosis I have battled with my weight up and down. Lost 2.5 stone and put it back on again. When I had lost the 2.5 stone I only had another 3 to go, I am annoyed at myself for regaining the weight. Now I would like to lose 6 stone. Part of me wants to try weight loss meds but I’m scared of the side effects. I am also shit scared of keeping on failing and not losing anything at all. Or what if I lose weight with the weight loss meds then regain it after stopping them. I would not want to be on them forever.

This post is a bit all over the place, but I hope it’s legible. Has anyone been in my situation and what did you do to turn it around?

Your title is odd because weight loss meds work by enabling you being in a calorie deficit, consistently and long term and without feeling food noise/like you're deprived. They also improve things metabolically, reduce inflammation and might help with the PCOS but the main mechanism by which you lose weight on them is calorie deficit. It's not an either/or situation.

I lost 6.5 stone in just over a year on mounjaro. Side effects were minimal and all in the early days. I've been maintaining now for 4 months while reducing my dose. My plan is to come off. I'm in my mid 50s and like you I was slim until my late 20s-early 30s then slowly but steadily gained weight.

If you firmly establish healthy eating habits and include strength training to minimise muscle loss, you'll reduce the risk of regain when you come off.

I think this is personal choice. I didn't want to use wli because I was concerned I'd put the weight back on.
I lost 5 stone via calorie deficit alone (I cant exercise as limited mobility and am often bed bound). I've kept it off by continuing to log my calories.

That’s amazing well done! Yes sorry meant cal deficit on its own without the meds

That is amazing well done! That’s my concern, I don’t want to have to lose it all twice if I regained it after the meds. How long did it take you if you don’t mind me asking?

About 18 months at a slow and steady pace but kept off for 3 years now. I calorie count over a week to help so if i have a bad day I just adjust the next few days and I dont feel I failed.

Thats such a good idea. Whereas I’ve been thinking when I mess up one day that’s the week messed up. I know that’s a big area I am going wrong on. As that gives me the f it all mindset and start again on Monday. That’s amazing you’ve kept it off for 3 years!

Weight loss meds only work because they help you be in a calorie deficit.

So it's the same thing. Just one is more expensive but will make the process less painful. If you can call reducing calories painful. I know being very hungry can feel like that. Apparently the meds stop your hunger.

So you'll probably lose weight quicker with the meds.

I go to slimming world and a lot of that talks about the fuck it I’ve messed up the whole week thing so that might help you.

So some misinformation here, very relevant since you say you have PCOS. WlI do not simply make it easier for you to eat in a calorie deficit. It is only 1 part of what they do. They treat insulin resistance which theres a very high chance you have due to the aforementioned PCOS. They also affect the pleasure centres in the brain and a whole lot more. I would advise doing a bit of digging, and reading up on exactly what each of the different WLI do abd then deciding.

WLI have allowed me to lose weight, sustain it so far and I at no point have felt that I was punishing myself like I have done in the past. It allows me to make positive choices that historically I could not make. I now choose salad and enjoy it. Previously it was decoration only...😂. I actually prefer protein based foods to carry foods now where previously id have said I was a carb junkie. I do still have carbs and don't see them as the enemy.