To ask this Mounjaro question

[Yope]

I really need to get something clear in my head about Mounjaro.
For those that have used it: Does it help you lose weight simply because it reduces your appetite therefore you eat less, and that's it? Or does it help you lose weight in other ways in addition to this?
What I'm trying to say is, is it only the same as doing a calorie controlled diet, i.e. reduced calorie intake, with the bonus of switching off or reducing your hunger? Or is there more to it?
I'm 50. My BMI is 33. I'm tired. My obesity is making me ill on all different levels both physically and mentally. It's now affecting my ability to look after my young kids.
Please don't talk to me about CICO because I've been doing this for 12 years, always hitting a calorie deficit, following WW or SW or nutracheck to the absolute letter for over a decade and all that's happening is I'm gaining more and more weight with each passing year.
There is something wrong with my metabolism. I don't know what. But I am an intelligent, educated woman and I know I have been in calorie deficit for years yet am gaining rather than losing.
I am not a high earners because I only work part time due to childcare reasons, so Mounjaro would be an enormous financial expense for me.
But my weight is killing my joy for life and I am desperate. I never used to be overweight, I had a healthy BMI up until I hit late 30s.
Will it work in a way that's more than just reducing appetite to ensure a reduced calorie intake? Or is that all it really boils down to?
Thank you.xx

It stops you thinking about food completely. The food noise disappears. You have to force yourself to eat a little bit of something just to get something into you. A much smaller portion will make you full. You won't want to pick at bad stuff. Your tastes will completely change. Go for it OP. Nothing to lose. Apart from the weight of course.

Medexpess is generally the cheapest though not the quickest. You will usually be able to find a discount code online for 10% off making it around £130 odd.

Poppyseed has nailed it.

There is an ongoing Mounjaro thread where there’s now an FAQ. We are on thread four, but you can read everyone’s experiences.

I'm in week 4, at first I didn't feel any hunger, now I sometimes think oh I fancy a cake or whatever but then I forget it about it. Whereas before I wouldn't stop until I had a cake. I often plate up big meals thinking I am hungry and eat a quarter of it. But I am going up a dose today so maybe I'll be back to not wanting to eat at all. Good luck.

I didn't know there was a big thread going on! I'll have to have a look 😊

My BMI is 33. I'm tired

Being tired can also be a sign of your blood sugar control being problematic. Have you had a look at the low carb way to maintain stable blood sugar.

It's a bit hard core but Mumsnet's own low carb bootcamp has been transformational for me, once I knew that my blood sugar control wasn't working well on a more conventional way of eating.

I’m on week 6 and I can honestly say mounjaro is amazing, I eat a couple of small things a day as it makes you feel full for longer and reduces appetite, I make sure I only eat small amounts and have lost over 2kg so far

2kg in 6 weeks?
That seems hardly anything for 6 weeks....I thought it was more effective than that.

Guesstimate really, weight loss is steady, my partner found at the 4th week mark weight loss stopped, but it’s started up again, I think this week could be my week to not lose much if any. I will say though the acid reflux gets bad at times since taking mounjaro, I’ve suffered with acid reflux for years though and it’s a known side effect from these jabs.

i will say though I am so happy I started these injections, I’m 40 years old, no willpower to diet and this has helped me lose some weight

I have just gone upto 5mg (been on it 4 weeks). I lost a huge amount of water weight in the first week - almost 7lbs. It has been steady since then, about 12lb overall, .5 to 2lb a week after the water loss. I got appetite suppression but it doesn't go in a straight line and fluctuates. It is impossible to eat the massive meals I was eating. I'm not so keen on bad snacks now, but do like a nice home cooked meal still.

I find I lose a lb and seem to stick at a weight for a while and it doesn't budge, then it drops suddenly. My weight loss is slow this week, but I'm due on too.

You do get side effects, it can speed up or slow digestion and bowel movements and i get heartburn now. I do feel tired, but I think its this shitty weather more than anything! I usually get a spring bounce mood and energy-wise and it hasn't come!

Thanks for your replies.
I appreciate the honesty here about weight loss achieved on Mounjaro. Judging by these few replies, it's not the rapid weight loss I keep hearing about! Which is interesting.
The weight loss described in these replies is really good, and well done everyone. But I'd been hearing about much more dramatic weight loss results and I was wondering if this was true, or just hype around the product.

I think it depends where you start from. I was borderline obese but short, so I guess I would lose slower but move quicker down in BMI. As you need to eat 500 cals less a day to lose a pound a week, if you weigh 20 stone and eat 1,200 calories you will lose more than a 11st person eating the same calories as the deficit will be greater in the 20 stone person.

1-2lbs a week is sustainable weight loss.

Have you had everything checked out by a doctor, if you’re not losing weight in calorie deficit? Hypothyroidism can cause exactly what you describe, for instance, and other illnesses can affect metabolism. I’d investigate that first, before reaching for a weight loss drug - apart from anything else, if there’s an underlying cause for your gain, that will start up again as soon as you come off the stuff.

I'm the one who commented at the start OP. I'm down a stone in just over 6 weeks. I couldn't have done it by myself. That's with no exercise and minimal effort. Just smaller portions really. You can have a look on the various Facebook groups, there are many success stories and some not so successful. You won't know if it will work for you unless you give it a go really. It's not for everyone but for many it's a game changer.

I’ve been a major yo yo dieter for over 30 years and was 21st 6 weeks ago and now 19st 2.
This is the easy weight loss I have ever had.
The main change is no desire to overeat. The food noise is gone. I’m full after a small portion.
This must be how slim people feel…they can take or leave food. I always took.
It is obvious that obesity is a chemical thing. MJ takes away the desire to overeat.
I would thoroughly recommend and I have had no real side effects. Magic stuff.

Hello @Yope we're going to move your thread over to the Weight loss injections/treatments board where there are lots of MNers who will be able to answer your questions.

@Yope im nearly the same age and bmi as you I started mj this week and it’s been eye opening. My appetite has disappeared and my food noise hugely down, it’s definitely impacting my glucose levels. I’ve lost 7lbs in week one but I’ve stuck to 1200c (I’m short) plus fasted 14-16hrs and exercise daily. If I did this without MJ I’d be lucky to lose 0.5lb then I’d probably regain it as that’s what’s been happening over and over for years. I actually have Hope for the first time in years I can lose some weight and my hip pain has already reduced. The chocolate in my fridge is untouched as i just don’t fancy it instead I’ve had an apple and found it sweet!

I see this is a relatively old thread, but will answer anyway incase you still are undecided!

I think people signing up to Mounjaro shouldn't go into it expecting huge losses, as it doesn't happen for everyone like that.

However, like most people find, weight loss happens! It might not be instantaneous, but overtime it does go down! Which is something most of us haven't been able to achieve by dieting.

As well as appetite suppression, feeling fuller quicker etc, I do think mounjaro helps you lose weight. Maybe by reducing insulin resistance which means you can actually lose weight on a calorie deficit. Which we all have tried before Mounjaro but it just never happened.

I can tell you now, that as long as I am in a calorie deficit I am losing weight. I can eat carbs, I can have an occasional treat, I can have a drink and I still lose weight. So it is a miracle drug, as you don't even feel like you are on a diet.

10.5 weeks and 23kg off

one patient — a lot of hard dedication and sport

If you want to know how it works, watch this on youtube:

How GLP-1 Drugs Work: Ben Bikman Breaks Down Ozempic and Wegovy

Best of luck!