Slinky 2025

[AliGal]

I am the opposite of slinky these days. Fat, and in pain. Lipoedema and joint pains. I've regained but not as fat as I was when I had a full time job travelling the world. But I am ill at ease in my body and find it difficult going upstairs due to pain. I'm not out of breath. I have done everything - WW, SW, shakes, calorie counting, exercise programmes. I found a shakes with treatment programme worked for me but I failed to maintain. So I am using mounjaro to help me with food compulsion and expect to take 18 months to shed 10 stone to lose. I know I maybe on mj or successor drugs for life, due to my repeated failures to sustain healthy weights. There are risks but being so fat is also a risk so this is my decision.

I've just completed week one. Within 24 hours the food compulsion dropped. I've eaten much less without effort. Mostly I eat protein - meat and eggs, and sometimes veg and dairy. I've used gaviscon which the chemist sent me when I felt the start of indigestion. I had loose bowels one day - but apart from that have gone daily in the am as usual.

The other side effects have been positive. A drop in pain and ease in movement days 2-6, and less arthritic pain in my hands. I wasn't expecting that. I also feel I am breathing easier. I wasn't aware of breathing issues before. I think that's due to a reduction in inflammation via water weight. I did my second injection yesterday. I have to get a grip to do the injections - it's a tiny needle so no pain.

I'm eating 2-3 times a day. My break fast is when I feel hungry - that's been after 1 or 2pm except day 7 when I breakfasted at 11am. I've been eating mostly mince and eggs. Yesterday, we ate an afternoon breakfast with black pudding, egg, ham and mushrooms. Mostly I eat something different from Mr Ali as he likes his starch - pasta, potatoes, rice and I'm mostly carnivore BUT this past two weeks, I have been sharing a cake break with Mr A. Yup. Now on mj, it's just a slither of Xmas cake while he has a good sized slice. A slither because I don't want a big slice. It's really strange - I just want a taste. Odd that a small injection can make such a change in me so soon. I'm eating so much less overall that I've still been shedding weight.

Weight loss on the first 8 days - 7lbs. And yes - I am back daily weighing!

 

[jules1981]

Good luck so.glad you are feeling less symptoms that's fab. Being in pain is exhausting. Glad it's a tiny needle, and dosent hurt. Looking forward to following your journey. My friend described the jabs as less food noise. I am seeing a GP at end of Feb. As when I've looked online due to other diagnosis I can't get them. But think I may ask them. Got nothing to loose. I know I need to self fund. Like you I believe I woukd have to be on them for life but I'd take it over this constant pain xxxx

 

[AliGal]

GPs often don't know much about the contraindications. Almost everyone goes direct to providers. I've seen on the mounjaro uk reddit that different pharnacies prescribe for different conditions. It's worth searching it to see what info on yr diagnosis. Here's a list of providers https://monj.co.uk/mounjaro-price-comparison-by-monj/ I think it omits SheMed.

I'm using SheMed. The mounjaro uk redditors hate it as it's an annual contract. I can't be bothered with seeking the lowest price provider each month, and like the low price. SheMeds does the Zoe model, saying it's doing research and tying in the repeat business.

There are risks - including worse mental health for some. The gut is a really important system in the body, and relates to our minds (having a gut feeling) When I was thinking about it, I have offset the risks with the benefits of being much lighter.

I am really pleased to be into the twos - 299.6lbs this morning (Day 12) so 10.2lbs down, and my fat trousers are loose. I was feeling the arthritis again yesterday, and today so I'm looking forward to that maybe improving as my dose increases.

 

[jules1981]

Thanks hunny, unfortunately I have tried but as someone who has what is classed as unfortunately having 'multiple active eating disorders' and been told by Asda, Boots Med Exspress ( one my friend uses) I need proof from my GP to say it's OK. I know I will have to self fund. That's fine. But I need the ok to do that. But I can't get an appointment any sooner than the 20th Feb.


Ahh but thank you IF (when fingers crossed) I may look into shemed then or the Med Exspress my friend uses as hers is a fixed price, for a year I think. I'd prefer that. So I can budget.

I think there are risks with anything, but I think the fact I could potentially loose weight outweigh the risks.

Wooohoooo to being in the 200s THATS FANTASTIC well done 10.2 in 12 days is great. You will soon have lost your first stone hun.

Sorry the arthritis has flared up. I hope upping the dosage helps xxxx

 

[Halley]

@AliGal It’s really good to see you back. I too went down the injection route and have been on Ozempic for 8 months now. I think the harsh reality for someone like me is that I simply can’t maintain when I loose weight so I need a GLP-1 inhibitor to help me. My start weight 8 months ago was exactly 20st and my current weight is 17st 5lbs. I haven’t been particularly good with food and due to a very painful plantar fasciitis have done virtually no exercise but the Ozempic just makes me eat less and the food noise has thankfully diminished.

 

[AliGal]

Thank you, @Halley & @jules1981. I love yur comparison photos in yr profile pix, H.

I had no idea that one could live without compulsion to eat. I'm like most on mounjaro - few side effects. I've had a day in the past 3 weeks with looser bowels, and some days of slight indigestion , which the gaviscon my pharmacy sent me sorting that out. I take electrolytes. I'm eating much less and some people report headaches and other symptons that I had when on a vlcd. So the electrolytes are precautionary.

I'm lucky - I'm getting losses with the first pen. I note the appetite suppression effect is less towards the end of the week so will go to 5mg in 10 day's time.

This is so different from doing a vlcd. I don't have to think abt what I can and can't eat or drink as the thoughts don't pop into my head. I'm having the bizarre experience of going to Lidl and not walking out with donuts and/or 2 or 3 packs of chocolate, biscuits or something else sweet. There's no mind tussle. I'm just disinterested.

I'm eating 2 or 3 times a day - no compulsion for a little something in between. I'm probably eating higher fat than most on mounjaro - as I have been eating carnivoreish for a while so my body is used it. No peaks and troughs of fat eating. I had to post daily to maintain doing a vlcd regime. So this is a blessed relief. I think I'll be on mounjaro or similar for life if I can't maintain. Being 10 stone overweight is unhealthy. I have become more restricted due to arthritis and weight this past several years. I wasn't any heavier than previously - but it was definitely imacting me much more than when I was younger.

My lipoedma hasn't improved yet - still painful. My fat trews are looser but I am not down a size yet. I bought a bundle of new no tags land's end singlets from Vinted as my old tops are past it. So it's nice having good quality tops to wear each day. They fit well right now - so I'll be able to wear them for a stone or two down as they get looser.

My previous jeans strategy was to buy jeans from Asda. I no longer go near an Asda so I've bought high waisted Simplybe Kim jeans in size 24. I'll buy more in 22 and 20 when I see them on Vinted.

I went up a tick on my offical weigh in day (Tuesday to 300lbs) but an ticking down - 298.2lbs daily weighing this am. So I hope I'll be 2lbs or more down this week.

 

[AliGal]

I miss the busy Minimins - but am glad this is still here. I am on W6 and took my 6th monjaro shot -5mg - yesterday.

In 5 weeks I have shed just over a stone and am now 21stone 1lb. I’m not sure why I went up 0.9lb one week. I daily weigh and the scales sometimes go up as well as down. I’m pretty consistent in eating protein rich meals twice a day, sometimes with a meaty snack as I eat carnivoreish. I’m just not interested in breaking my fast until after midday.

The side effects have been manageable and doing the jab has become routine. I have been a bit cold - especially in my hands. Strange as that normally doesn’t happen to me until I’ve lost 3 or 4 stones. I’ve had 2 days with very loose bowels, and often need some gaviscon. I have sometimes wanted some digestive biscuits as I’ve felt acid but not hungry. I do notice less suppression on days 6 & 7 of the week - feeling a glimmer of compulsive eating. I must avoid supermarket shops on those days as on other days I don't even think about putting sweet stuff in my basket. It's a rare strange feeling that I'm consistently not interested in chocolate, biscuits, donuts, cakes and/or ice cream.

My size 26 jeans are getting baggy. I’ve managed to get into my 24s today - so that’s good progress. I want to be size 14/16 at goal. I’ve ordered some clothes from Vinted - which I hope will fit by the end of the month. I’m off on a long weekend to London for the first time post Covid, and will be catching up with friends, so don’t want to slop around in my rural clothes of fleece, jeans & a t shirt.

I’m really pleased with my results. The difference between doing mounjaro and the vlcd shakes diet is that I am not constantly thinking about when can I have the next shake. The difference with Slimming World/WeightWatchers is that I am not hoarding points for sweet treats nor eating too many SW bars.In other words, my eating isn’t disordered and compulsive.

I’m looking at the thin people I know and wondering at their life experience. How much easier to stay slim if you don’t have food noise and compulsion every day all day.

I know that I will feel so much better and be so much more mobile when I am 5 stone or more lighter - and by the next summer, I'll be at goal. I'm not sure what goal is as I have lipoedema. I know I felt good last time I was 14 stone. The top of a healthy BMI (24.9) for a 5ft 6 woman is 10 stone 8lbs. I was 12 stone when I was 18 so I doubt I'll get there! There's also the issue of loose skin. I'm in my mid 60s so don't think my skin will retract as well.

So it’s glorious spring here. I am grateful I started mounjaro and can afford it. I couldn't a year ago. I'm using SheMed as it was the lowest cost. It also saves time shopping around each month. I'm saving money when I shop - but I pay those bills with DH's card, so it doesn't cover my mounjaro bill! I haven't told him as he was ill when I started. So I'm now waiting to see when he'll notice. Being so fat, it usually take 3 or 4 stone before anyone comments.

I want to start swimming but am not yet strong enough to manage the pool ladders. I hope I will be when I shed another stone or too. I have arthritis so swimming is a good exercise that I enoy,

The weekly SheMed check in is fine - a bit of a hassle but it means I'll always remember to take my shot on the right day. I am feeling hopeful that I can sustain 10-14lbs a month through the summer and am generally more optimistic.

 

[Torn_Tranquility]

What a lovely positive post! It's great to read. The spring sunshine is definitely framing everything better for me at the moment.

Something that stuck with my from the early SlimPod coaching videos was about eating like a slim person. They're not constantly worrying about what to eat and when. Food is something to be enjoyed, not stressed about. And I think you've hit the nail on the head about disordered eating.

Swimming is a great goal to have. Is there somewhere local to you with a therapy pool? Just thinking, they sometimes have the pools with sloped access, rather than using a ladder? Although of course, it's another cost!