Last reviewed: 21 March 2026
Six months ago, I started semaglutide. I’ve lost 14kg. And I need to be honest with you about the parts that aren’t in the clinical trial summaries.
This isn’t a sponsored post. I’m not a doctor. I’m just someone who spent months researching GLP-1 medications, tried several UK providers, and wants to share what actually happened — the good, the bad, and the surprisingly weird.
Month 1 — The Nausea Was Real
Starting at 0.25mg, I thought I’d read enough to be prepared. I hadn’t. The nausea hit hardest in week two, almost always after eating something fatty or rich. A takeaway curry on day ten was a mistake I won’t repeat. It wasn’t violent sickness — more like a constant low-grade queasiness that sat behind my sternum for hours.
What helped: smaller meals, eating slowly, avoiding fried food entirely. I started keeping a plain cracker on my bedside table for mornings. The mental adjustment was just as significant as the physical — you have to relearn your relationship with food almost from scratch. I found myself staring at meals I’d loved for years and feeling nothing. That was unsettling at first.
Month 2-3 — When Things Started Clicking
By week six, something shifted. The nausea became manageable — predictable, almost. And then the thing everyone talks about happened: the food noise went quiet.
If you haven’t experienced food noise, it’s the constant background hum of thinking about food — what you’ll eat next, whether there’s something in the fridge, whether you deserve a snack. On semaglutide, that chatter just… stopped. I’d look at the clock and realise I’d forgotten to eat lunch entirely. That had never happened to me in my adult life.
By the end of month three, I was 5kg down. My energy was better — not in a wired, caffeinated way, but steadily, reliably better. I was sleeping more deeply too.
Month 4-5 — The Plateau Nobody Warns You About
This is the part no one puts in their Instagram before-and-after posts. Around week sixteen, the weight loss stalled. Completely. Three weeks, no movement on the scale despite doing everything the same.
I was frustrated. More than frustrated — I was genuinely disheartened. I spoke to my prescriber, who explained that plateaus are common and that adding structured exercise and increasing protein intake often breaks them. I started doing 30-minute walks daily and bumping my protein to around 120g per day.
We also discussed a dose increase to 0.5mg, which I moved to at week eighteen. Within two weeks, the scale started moving again. I wish someone had told me upfront: the plateau isn’t failure. It’s just the medication working differently in different phases.
Month 6 — Where I Am Now
Fourteen kilograms down. My blood pressure has dropped to a normal range for the first time in four years. My resting heart rate is lower. I’ve dropped two clothing sizes, which still surprises me when I get dressed in the morning.
But the most significant change is harder to measure: my relationship with food is fundamentally different. I eat because I’m hungry, stop when I’m full, and don’t spend the intervening hours thinking about the next meal. For someone who’s been an emotional eater since their twenties, that’s not a small thing.
The 3 UK Providers I Used Along the Way
I tried three different UK services over the six months. Here’s my honest take on each.
Started with Boots — Solid and Reliable
Boots was my first port of call, mainly because I trusted the brand and liked the idea of being able to pop into a physical pharmacy with questions. The eligibility check was thorough — they wanted a BMI over 30 (or 27 with a weight-related health condition), and the initial consultation was genuinely clinical rather than just a box-ticking exercise.
The medication arrived promptly, the app worked fine, and the monthly check-ins felt real rather than automated. My main issue was price — it’s not the cheapest option — and the app itself was functional rather than slick. But as a starting point, Boots gave me confidence. If reliability matters more to you than cost, they’re worth considering.
Switched to Manual.co — Better App, Same Medication
I switched to Manual around month three, primarily because the app experience was significantly better. The interface is cleaner, the progress tracking is more intuitive, and the educational content is genuinely good — I found myself actually reading it, which I hadn’t done with Boots.
The medication is the same (semaglutide is semaglutide), and the clinical oversight felt equally robust. The price point is also slightly more competitive. If you’re someone who wants a digital-first experience and actually engages with apps, Manual is a strong choice. I’d particularly recommend it for people who like having everything in one place.
Also Tried Numan — Best for Ongoing Monitoring
I used Numan for a month when I was dealing with my plateau, specifically because their monitoring and support felt more responsive than either of the other two services. The access to prescribers felt quicker — I got a response to a question about my dose increase within a few hours rather than a day or two.
They also have solid resources around lifestyle, exercise and nutrition that integrate with the weight loss medication in a way that felt holistic rather than transactional. If you’re going through a difficult patch — a plateau, side effects, uncertainty — Numan’s support structure is excellent. For me, personally, it was slightly more expensive than Manual for comparable medication, but the access to clinical support justified the cost at that point.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before Starting
- Eat protein first at every meal. It helps with satiety and reduces nausea.
- Stay seriously hydrated. Semaglutide can dehydrate you faster than you’d expect, especially in the early weeks.
- The constipation is real. No one warned me. Add fibre, drink more water, and consider a gentle supplement if needed.
- Don’t rush the dose escalation. I know it’s tempting to push to a higher dose quickly, but the side effects get worse if you do. Trust the process.
- Take photos and measurements, not just weight. The scale lies during plateaus. Measurements often still show progress.
- Tell someone you trust. Having a person who knows what you’re doing and why makes the difficult weeks considerably more manageable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much weight did you lose on semaglutide?
I lost 14kg over six months, though progress wasn’t linear. The first three months were the fastest; months four and five included a frustrating plateau before things picked up again after a dose increase.
Did the side effects get better?
Yes. The nausea was worst in weeks two to four and became much more manageable by week six. By month three, I rarely experienced it unless I made a poor food choice (hello, leftover pizza at midnight). The constipation persisted but was controllable with diet adjustments.
Would you recommend semaglutide?
For the right person, yes. Semaglutide isn’t a shortcut — it’s a tool, and it works best when you also adjust your diet and move your body. If you’re eligible and you’ve struggled with your weight despite genuine effort, it may well be the thing that changes the game for you. I’d recommend speaking to your GP first or using a reputable UK provider like the ones mentioned above. You can also read the NHS guidance on semaglutide to understand what the clinical evidence actually says.
Final Thoughts
Six months in, I don’t regret starting. The first month was hard. The plateau was demoralising. But the person I am now — lighter, more energetic, with a genuinely different relationship with food — is worth the difficult bits.
If you’re considering semaglutide and want a deeper look at the clinical evidence behind it, our Semaglutide Basics guide breaks down the STEP trials and what the research actually shows. Go in with your eyes open, find a provider you trust, and be patient with yourself. It takes time — but for many people, it works.