Disgusted with what I look like.

[Keepingtimer]

I've just seen a video of myself and just honestly can't believe how awful I look.
Im four stones overweight with high cholesterol, high blood sugar , pre diabetes . I've had years and years of stress and it shows in my face and body.
I've had a underactive thyroid for over thirty years.

Im about to go on a low calorie shake diet through the NHS at the end of the month.

im just so upset and horrified by what I look like. I look like I'm dying.

if this shake diet doesn't work I don't know where there is to go. I can't seem to stick to a diet for more than about three weeks myself . I'm scared to take weight loss drugs.

I walk three or four miles several times a week and eat a healthy diet. It's just crept up on me over years.

Has anyone felt this desperate and turned it around?

the WL drugs don’t work for everyone and not everyone can take them

The main issue I have with MJ is that it works through appetite suppression . I don't have 'food noise'. i don't crave sugary treats or crisps, that isn't the issue. I fear that if i lose weight that way when I stop I'll be starving all the time and just binge.

That’s a weird response from the GP. WLI are are either suitable for you or not. To say they have no comment is odd, are they not quantifying this with any reasons?

Maybe try to see a different GP. Failing that you need to advocate for yourself instead, do some research (from reputable sources), look up the NICE guidelines around WLI and then go
back to the GP and ask them yes or no - are they appropriate for you, if not then why not.

OP there are far more risks to your health from being 4 stone overweight than there will be from the injections.

Your son doesn't know what he's talking about.

@Keepingtimer - you can do this! Honestly you have no where to go but up! You are unhealthy at this weight.

it’s the easiest thing to take the job - not possible to do it wrong. This time in 6-10 months you could be at a healthy weight and not putting immense strain on your body. Think how fab that will be.

Shakes isn’t a solution sadly. Otherwise everyone would have lost weight on them.

By scientists and the medical community. Do you not follow the news? Clearly the evidence thus far shows that for most people, the benefits very much outweigh the risks. But that doesn’t mean you should just assume it’s going to be safe for you.

Plenty of people have lost weight through diet shakes. Again, I’m not saying the OP shouldn’t take WLI nor that she should use shakes. I’m just saying it’s not a universal truth that one works, the other doesn’t, and that she’d be stupid not to follow your advice.

Sorry I should add not mounjaro specifically but GLP-1 class of drugs have been around for 20 years.

Why are you overweight then

You can get wegovy tablets now you dont have to do injections. There are tutorials for all of these things on youtube.

A lot of side effects of WLIs are also side effects (and to a greater degree) of obesity, we just don’t get handed a list of those when we move up a BMI level!

The shake diets are good for losing a chunk of weight quickly for surgery or something but almost useless for long-term weight loss. Most people will lose a few pounds quickly, be excited that it works, but then it’s not a sustainable way to live and the weight just goes back on. It can kick start but you need to have a plan for what goes next. Long-term calorie restriction without help works for very few people as it’s gruelling and relentless.

I would listen to some podcasts and read some books about nutrition, not necessarily weight loss, because I think when you get interested and excited about eating ‘well’, it’s easier to weave in the eating ‘less’ part. I am a normal BMI but fluctuate a bit up and down that range and my weight is the most stable when I’ve been consuming a lot of content around good nutrition etc and feel enthusiastic about it. You might not lost weight from it alone but it will give you a better grounding for whatever method you do choose. If you can add in some gentle exercise - walk instead of taking the car whenever you are - you are making positive changes for your body, regardless of what the scales say.

Then you need to address the reason you are overweight if it's not food noise or cravings, else you'll never be successful in maintaining when you do lose.

I feel very similar about myself @Keepingtimer hate the way my giant belly looks in a mirror. It is super difficult to find the mindset to makes what feels like a huge change.

I’m on my third serious go at losing a significant amount of weight in 20 years. The first time I did slimming world but no real changes to exercise, had a very young baby got obsessed with their weird counting system. Lost quite a lot, down to my lowest adult weight but didn’t “feel like myself” at that weight. It crept back on, and more, over the next five years maybe.

Two years pre COVID I started eating lower carb, once gyms reopened I started weight training. Lost about 20kg this time, still heavier than ideal but felt a better weight for me. Sadly emotional eating got the better of me and 15kg back on brings me to now.

My motivation for losing weight is mostly about the health aspects, type 2 runs in the family as does vascular disease. My current approach? I am rereading an excellent book LIFE WITHOUT DIABETES written by a medical professor who devised the Newcastle shake based diet you are going to be doing. It is not too long and very well written aimed at those with no medical knowledge.

I eating to lower carb/higher protein, back to the gym to build muscle and strengthen bones. I am going to supplement with mounjaro too but try and stay at a low dose, took my first injection last week. I didn’t think I had “food noise” but clearly I do as I just haven’t been bothered about food this week. It took me ages to come around to trying it but do know lots of people who are using successfully. One friend would start taking about lunch before finishing her breakfast, that’s what I thought food noise was. By the way she has reversed her diabetes with mounjaro over about a year and a half.

Sorry this turned into an essay. But a very long winded way of saying good luck with the shakes I’m sure it will get you off to a good start.

Why would you stop? If you were prescribed medication for life to control your blood pressure/cholesterol/epilepsy/angina etc you would just accept it. GLP medication is just the same.

I lost 5 and a half stone, over 40% of my body weight after a year on Mounjaro. I have been taking a maintenance dose for about eight months. I’m going to be taking it long term and am not remotely worried about it.

Why don’t you try it for a month and see how you get on?

Most of us understand about losing weight slowly on Mounjaro rather than trying to lose a stone a month! When you lose the weight gradually whilst incorporating lifestyle changes, everything improves including your face!

I’ve lost 5 stones and people who haven’t seen me for over a year are astonished by my metamorphosis and say I look 10-20 years younger! I’m in my 60’s and as I’m lifting weights and doing cardio, I’m fitter than I was in my 30’s.

You are on a special diet through supervision by your Dr on the NHS. Is it the one where you are allowed zero solid food for a few weeks?

I know someone who did this, I volunteer with her, she was actually a chef before she retired and loves food. We work in a kitchen together cooking meals for people who are on a low income or lonely or both.

It worked for her, she lost a lot of weight, she is now eating food again but the weight has been off for over a year. This isn’t a self directed shake go at dieting it’s under strict supervision isn’t it. Take up the offer.

Or look into tablets? I’ve been on wegovy tablets since 10 July and lost 10kg.

You are on a special diet through supervision by your Dr on the NHS. Is it the one where you are allowed zero solid food for a few weeks?

My work colleague is on this. It's worked well for her but mentally she's really struggled as she missed actual chewing food. Even when she was allowed to introduce a meal and had shakes the rest of the time, she's found it really hard going, but the results are there.

OP do you know your last thyroid blood test results? Aside from high cholesterol do you have other symptoms of hypothyroidism (oedema, constipation, fatigue, thinning hair, dry skin etc) and if so have they got worse since your dose was decreased?

I’d be surprised if you’re on an adequate dose of thyroxine or maybe you’re not converting it. Sometimes GPs have odd ideas like keeping your TSH mid-range or whatever.

When I finally got on the right meds I went down a dress size within a few days just shedding fluid. I’m not saying it’s a weight loss strategy but if you’re undertreated you’re fighting an uphill battle in so many ways.

Stay fat then. By not making a decision, you’re making a decision to stay fat. And the shakes will fail but you’re prepared to give them a go?

Ask yourself how you will ACTUALLY feel if you lose the weight? That can be quite scary. For example, “if I lose the weight then I’ll be more attractive and then I might feel pressured to find a new partner but then they might reject me.” The mind does weird shit.

@Keepingtimerreading how you speak about yourself makes me so sad. I was there 18 months ago. Mounjaro changed my life - I lost over 4 stone as well as inflammation, aches and pains that I had put down to age.

its not suitable for everyone but since you’ve already applied, filled in all the detailed questionnaires and been approved then it’s very likely suitable for you. The needle is barely there and there are loads of videos online to walk you through it as well as an incredibly supportive WLI board on here. Your GP is probably not allowed to discuss it due to policy as they were overwhelmed with people asking and they can’t prescribe in 99% of cases. You take meds for other conditions, this is just another condition stop thinking of it as a personal failing. Mounjaro isn’t just for ‘food noise’ it’s incredibly effective at portion control. You can eat and enjoy what your body needs and it makes you want to eat wholesome tasty food, just less of it. Your mention of growing up on carbs is me, my diet was mainly bread, pasta, cheese and now it’s transformed.

given that it’s in your fridge what have you got to lose? I knew within the first couple of weeks that this was going to work and it was just a matter of watching the weight gradually slip off over months.

and sorry to disappoint some on here- but my face looks so much better now that it’s not all puffy and moon faced. I have my cheekbones and jawline back, people I meet now tend to think I’m early 40s rather than late. I don’t care if I get more wrinkles - I can walk for miles and up a hill without getting out of breath.

There is a reason that these threads feel a bit like lots of us pushing WLI. But we aren’t gaining anything from it (please ignore anyone who PMs you a code as they are) it’s just sad and frustrating to know people like you are still suffering and in pain when there actually IS an answer now - just still so many media scare stories and ongoing prejudice against obesity being the person’s own fault - they haven’t tried hard enough. This is the way out, and it’s in your fridge- you can change your life starting today.

These sort of medications have been used by people with diabetes for a long time.

Until you stop making excuses for why you can't lose weight, you won't lose it and will continue to put it on. You have to change your mindset. Sadly, no one can do that for you.

I understand where you are coming from. I’d be afraid of the weight loss jabs/tablets and worry about the side effects. I know there’s lots of info against that but I’d still worry! But it’s worth seeking guidance to see if those worries can be overcome, it certainly sounds like there are lots people who’ve had positive experiences.
The thyroid stuff is also worth exploring further.
One thing that jumped out at me is how you are describing yourself as ‘disgusting’. You may not look how you’d like to but you are absolutely not disgusting.
Wishing you all the best x

Underactive thyroid, not easy to get weight off that's for sure. Be kinder to yourself OP, I bet you don't look as bad as you think.

If want to try the jabs, perhaps talk to a friendly pharmacist? Maybe they could show you how to inject yourself. Or youtube videos if there are some?

Go get your hair done, nails, a facial, whatever you like. Start making yourself feel pampered while on the weight loss journey, anything to lift your spirits and feel better about yourself and keep plodding on. Look forward to the new outfit shopping for a new you too.

Its perfectly possible to lose weight without weight loss drugs if you don't want to take them. And its always preferable to achieve a goal without medication if you can.

I completely reset my behaviour around food. That was my goal and I lost weight as a by product. It took a year to do this but it worked and I am about 25 years on from that now, and the weight has stayed off as I naturally eat in balance with body and activity levels now. Don't even need to think about it.