Weight Loss

Well losing, 10lb a great achievement and I know how much hardwork it takes.
I know it feels hard without the jab, but please don’t lose hope. You can still do this with small steps like using the plate method (½ veggies, ¼ protein, ¼ carbs), keeping meals simple, and adding short walks. Routines and simple go-to meals can help take the stress out of food choices. Slow and steady changes really do add up.

Disclaimer: this is not medical advice.

I had never heard of this drug so I researched it on the internet and found that it promotes weight loss by stabilising blood sugar, slowing gastric emptying and promoting a feeling of fullness.

I was considerably overweight in my early 40s and got to my goal weight by changing my diet and experimenting a bit to find what worked for me. Diet & nutrition also became my special interest for a while and I researched it extensively.

I believe that a diet which does what Mounjaro does will exclude processed food & starchy carbs (to keep blood sugar low and stable), and include sufficient fibre and protein (to slow gastric emptying and promote a feeling of fullness) That was the sort of diet I used to lose weight.

At the start, allowed foods were meat, fish, eggs, nuts, cheese, yogurt, vegetarian meat alternatives, all vegetables, one portion of high fibre cereal per day, salad with a low sugar dressing such as vinaigrette, and most fruits (but not banana, pineapple, grapes or dried fruit, which are higher in sugars). Banned foods were: potatoes, rice, pasta, beans, all baked goods (like bread, crackers, cakes, biscuits) jam,, table sugar, (I used a natural sweetener in hot drinks/cereal) all processed foods such as pizza, ready meals, etc. I did not measure or weigh anything, just kept portions small. I would have bran cereal for breakfast, tuna/ham/cheese salad for lunch, two snacks of nuts / cheese chunks with cherry tomatoes or chopped fruit during the day, and dinner was meat, fish or an omelette with veg and a low sugar yogurt with fruit for dessert.

After the first few weeks I started to add back in occasional small portions of some of the foods I had stopped eating, such as beans or potato, but did a weekly weigh in to ensure that I was still gradually losing weight. After the first 2 weeks it's better to have a weight loss goal of 1-2lbs a week, as a slower weight loss is believed to be more successful in keeping weight off longer term. I don't have a problem with my weight now I'm in my sixties, but I still keep portions of high carb/processed foods small and I also eat little and often to keep my blood sugar stable.

This is just my story of what worked for me and there is no guarantee it will work for everyone, but you did ask how others lost weight. If you wanted to try what I did I would recommend you speak to your doctor first (which is what I did).

Hello. 

Sorry to hear how hard you have been working on your weight management journey.

There used to be 4 Tiers of weight management services 

From your description, I think you will have already experienced what are known as NHS "Tier 2" Weight Management programmes.

I suspect a conversation with your GP would be necessary; to enable them to consider: whether or not your personal medical circumstances meet the criteria for their onward referral of you - to the Tier 3 NHS Weight Management services available in your area.

Confusingly, what was previously known as "Tier 3" is now referred to as Specialised Weight Management Services (SWMS).

The GP conversation would be necessary as; although Tier 1 & Tier 2 weight management services involve local authorities in the delivery of the services, SWMS (Tier 3 & Tier 4, as it was previously named) involve the Clinical Commissioning Groups within the NHS.

We on the community forum here cannot diagnose, or give medical advice - so it does sound to me as though you consulting your GP about the likelihood / appropriateness of reaching the criteria for referral by the GP to the Specialised Weight Management Services (SWMS) - is the likely next step.

SWMS: "empower, inform, and support patients, in a non-judgemental environment, to achieve sustainable weight loss, through a clinically lead multi-disciplinary service."

Hi

I know you say you've already tried coaching but there seems to be increasing evidence than strength training is beneficial for women especially those of us who are 40+. When I was at my thinnest and strongest I had a high muscle mass and it burns off so many calories at rest. I too am rubbish at sticking to diets and I'm also restricted by allergies so have to eat what I can. I'm not disciplined enough to weigh my portions to properly track them but basic tracking started leading to an ED when I used My fitness pal to try and track everything in my late 20s so I don't really track anymore. I also get very bored at the gym and doing repetitive exercises and have absolutely zero interest in going out for runs. I build up my strength by doing aerial fitness classes and ballet, both of which I find fun and also have to leave the house to do. I can't motivate myself to keep plodding away on a treadmill or doing a load of  squats/lunges/push ups/sit ups/planks etc, especially at home with lots of other things to do.