Continuing Mounjaro...part 5

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro can only be taken if your BMI is above 30.

Pointers for newbies:

1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1! The instructions say prime each time you take a dose, but actually Eli Lilly have confirmed you only need to prime for the first ever use of a pen. (The video posted says every use, but this isn't true!)

2 - When injecting, hold down the button until the number goes back to 0. Once at 0, keep holding down the button and count to 5 with the needle still in so no medication is lost!

3 - Your first dose may not have an immediate effect. For some people the effects build slowly. It could take 3 or 4 days to notice anything, it could take a few weeks. Some people don't feel the meds working until they get to 5mg. See titration chart which shows how the medication builds up in your system.

4 - 2.5mg isn't a therapeutic dose, meaning you aren’t meant to lose on 2.5mg. You need to start on 2.5mg to get your body used to the drug and gradually introduce it into your system and get used to any side effects.

5 - Not everyone loses a lot in the first few weeks. Don't feel discouraged if you don't lose a lot initially. Again, you might need a higher dose to start losing. Also, inches can be lost without anything showing on the scales. Start your journey by taking measurements and check them as you go along.

6 - If you do lose a lot in the first few weeks, please don't assume you will continue losing at this rate. The first few weeks it is usually water weight that is lost, after than a good weight loss is about 2lbs a week. Some weeks you might not lose anything, but this is ok too…again, taking measurements might show inches lost instead.

7 - Constipation, coldness, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may be be other side effects also. Read info here :
www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.14201.pdf

8 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

9 - Don't reuse any needles as this could risk infection. If you damage a needle or one isn't working, you can buy a pack of about 100 spares. Ask for suggestions of sites /types to buy.

10 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day. There are protein supplements you can take. Myprotein have a good range. Ask for a referral code if you want to buy some.

11 - Some natural sources of protein:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

12 - You can use supplements, some that people use are magnesium(for sleep and constipation), protein(to reduce muscle wastage), collagen (skin elasticity), aloe vera(for constipation), electrolytes.

13 - Drink lota of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

14 - Don't be afraid to feel hungry. It is entirely normal and healthy to feel hungry. Just eat something. Treat it as an opportunity to start good habits around hunger. Eat a nice balanced snack or a meal if it's a meal time. It's ok.

15 - Does it makes any difference where you inject? yes it does! Drugs get absorbed at different rates depending on injection site

In order of fastest absorption, it goes:
• Tummy
• Arms
• Thighs
further reading about injection sites and the effects: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

16 - Abdominal side-effects are much easier to control with smaller meals. For example, having 4 small meals in the day vs 2 big meals can have an improvement in nausea and burps.

17 - You can track your calories / protein on apps such as My fitnessPal, Carb Manager or Nutracheck. Nutracheck is quite useful and easy to find foods /build recipes.

18 - Some of the places you can order from are:

• MedExpress - £149.99 - Sometimes there are codes that can be used for a discount. Ask for a code on here or do a Google search to try and find one.
• Voy - £114.99 for first month then £229 after. Need a referral code (ask on here for one if needed)
• The Family Chemist -£149
• Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 for 5mg
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. Or starter pack with 2.5mg and 5mg pen £319
• Asda £184
• Boots £219
• Chemist4U £179
• Pharmacy2u
• Superdrug

There other other sellers, we don't have them all listed

19 - If you want to switch suppliers, make sure you have pics of your Mounjaro box with your name and dose. This will come in useful when other suppliers ask for evidence.

1st thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continu
ing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

Good luck everyone!

Letsgoogogo
NCA24
WannabeHealthier

hello I am in my first week too. No longer have acid reflex, headaches have gone and appetite has certainly decreased. But today craving sweet food and gave in. Maybe I need to up my protein

SW: 15st 5lbs
GE: 10st

Just done my first jab this evening! Thank you all for so much info on the starter post and over the past few threads, really helped me understand what to expect and to finally commit to my order 😁

SW: 14st 7lbs / 203lbs
Height: 5”7
GW: somewhere around the 11st weight hopefully!!

I took MySimba tablets last year for 3/4 months and lost a stone but had to stop taking them due to the side effects (constipation being one of them - got my aloe Vera tablets already ordered for this time, thanks for the tip!), really hoping this works better for me

@JanetSnakeholeMacklin undecided at the moment but I do have a lot to lose too so I’m veering towards moving up. Just nervous of the side effects really…

@PissedOffNeighbour22 argh nothing more annoying than a bad takeaway. I’ve gone off takeaways a lot recently (even before MJ) because I can’t handle the disappointment when they are rubbish. Having said that, we relocated last year and one thing we do have are quite a lot of “healthier” takeaways which I do quite enjoy (but my bank balance does not).

Me too! Except no spotting. I am so so thirsty it is insane.

I think I have had the ‘woah’ effect of drinking more. The weight dropped off today.

@Rainbowl a bad takeaway is so infuriating. Sadly we don't have anything vaguely healthy near us.

I have to work away quite often for the next couple of months and I have no idea how I'm going to stay within my calorie allowance.

What kind of away? I’m wondering if you can grab sushi packs from a mini market or even ramen packets which you can bulk up with fresh veggies (sugar snaps, cherry toms etc chopped up and added for crunch). Also soups - fresh ones. Will you have cooking facilities or will it be hotel food?

If it's hotel food you'll just have to pick the healthiest option.

As far as takeaways go, Chinese can be not bad if you avoid the sugary sauces and have something like chicken and green pepper in black bean sauce or prawns with ginger and spring onion and have it with a bit of boiled rice rather than fried rice or noodles. Thai food usually has some good options.

If it's Indian then tandoori chicken and salad is good, could have a poppadom too, they are fried but not actually high in calories. None of those should cause too much digestive issues either. You can usually buy a salad and some cooked chicken etc., even rotisserie chicken if you want something hot.

Nandos! So many low calorie, low fat options

Yes! Good one, Nandos is great, lot's of healthy, low-cal meals.

Thanks! Trying not to get frustrated as when I was on a calorie controlled diet last year with no drugs, the weight definitely went off quicker. I kicked into peri menopause just after though and maybe that's the difference this year. Stupid body keeping hold of those lbs!

Congratulations to all on the school places, that's great news

@AgathaMystery just within the UK, will be hotels with no cooking facilities. Mostly just 2-3 days at a time.
I usually don't get chance to stop for lunch so will just be an evening meal as I don't often eat breakfast.

The meal allowance from work doesn't cover much but as I'm eating less I will at least be able to choose one nice course rather than trying to squeeze 3 courses in like I would before MJ. We work in pairs so if I'm out with a bloke it's likely they'll want stodgy pub food.

Sometimes we have to stay in the middle of nowhere so that makes it much harder to find something decent to eat. I'm a really picky eater which makes it even harder. I do like Nando's though (as long as it's completely plain 😄) so that's an option.

I also have a 4 day trip next month which will really mess with my routine. I was hoping for another stone off before my holiday at spring bank so I'm wary of ruining my chances with all the work trips.

Thanks @lurkylurk. I don't think I'm too bad with takeaways as I don't like sauces so avoid all the extra calories there. It's the actual amount I eat that's the problem as I don't feel full on MJ, so I'm eating the same portion size as before.

We wanted Indian food tonight but they were closed. The Chinese food just wasn't worth the calories and we've agreed we just won't have another anytime soon.

I'll be really annoyed with myself when I don't lose any weight this week. My period arrived 4 days early so I was feeling sorry for myself and gave into the need for easy, calorific food.

I have been following you all for the last couple of threads. I'm so happy mj is working well for so many of us. I'm on my 4th dose of 2.5mg and losing 3 to 4 lb a week so far.
I'm worried about not eating enough though? I'm a picky eater and find myself thinking, nah I won't eat that, rather than eating something healthy. I really don't want to waste this opportunity to train myself to eat more healthily but I feel in floundering a bit. Any tips please?

Official weigh in day for me. 4 weeks, 11.7lbs/5.3kg. I've lost faster on Keto and Fast 800 in the past, but this has been easier (or at least, taken up less brain space) and I'd have been a lot lighter if I didn't have an indulgent weekend. I was lighter on Friday.
Need to increase my water and exercise. I'd been quite energetic the first few weeks but unfortunately that wore off, though I've also had a viral thing that's made me feel rubbish.

Well done @RagzRebooted

I have found I'm losing more since being on 5mg. Around 2-4lbs a week. When I did keto a good week was 2lb loss. So it might even out once you get to 5mg.

@wonderingwhatsnext could you try some cook books for inspiration?

Or maybe the meal prep boxes like hello fresh?

If you feel you aren't eating enough, maybe get an app to track what you eat? Also look into getting protein shakes to try and increase your protein.

First week weigh in, though actually 6 days as I'm bringing my jab day forward.

SW 14st 4.8lbs
W1 13st 13.3lbs

So -5.5lbs, very pleased! I wasn't on any type of diet before just gaining, seeing a new stone bracket also feels great!

I'm trying to stay positive about my very very slow progress.

So far I have:

1. Doing something is better than doing nothing. At least weight isn't going on.

1. My diet is so much healthier. No sugar is a very good thing.

1. If I'd been on a normal diet I'd be close to giving up but with Mounjaro I can keep plodding along and those tiny losses will start adding up.

1. There's still hope that higher doses will help kick start things further.

1. The lack of 'noise' means I can develop sensible long term eating habits.

@Femeia you mention peri menopause. I think I'm starting that journey too which may explain the slower progress.

Oddly enough, since taking Mounjaro I feel so much calmer, I'd been suffering with bouts of anxiety before (likely peri menopause related). Maybe it's the improved diet?

I batch cook but then don't always fancy what I have cooked! So it'd be great to share some ideas of what can be made easily.

The one thing I found recently is some flavoured chicken drumsticks in farm foods. I bought a 1kg bag and they take about 40 mins in the Air Fryer and I serve with Sweet Potato fries/steam bag veg for a lazy meal. Its got me thinking I need to have a good nosy in freezer shops again as I got in the habit of buying and cooking fresh which ultimately meant we ate loads more takeaways when we didn't want to cook as not much in freezer, silly!

I like to low carb and find it frustrating most ready meals include rice etc. Again would be great to know what stores may offer frozen meat dishes to add own sides too.

Week 3 weigh in today I'm down to 196.9 which is 1.1lbs down this week.
Bringing the total lost in 3 weeks to 6.8lbs not the fastest loser here but it's consistent and I feel like I've broken the stall I've been struggling with since Christmas.

I'm going to be using the cheeky 5th dose on Friday so I'm hoping it ends up being somewhere between 2.5mg and 5mg to bridge the doses. And then next week I will apply for my next pen (I already have a 5mg in the fridge but would like to stay ahead in ordering as I'm having to be very careful about cost and currently have the money available).

I’m plateauing this week which is annoying but it’s week 3 and I did expect it as I often plateau around this time of a diet.

I’ve not lost anything in the last six days and tomorrow is official weigh day. I am feeling a bit constipated now, hardly ate while away the last two nights and did loads of exercise. So I know it’s not just stubborn body fat. Still annoying though!

You know what you like to eat so plan a smaller portion of that in with a little side salad (if you like salad) that can be as simple as lettuce, tomato and cucumber. Your plate doesn’t look half as empty with salad on it. Planning is key to this - factor in some small treats so you don’t feel as though you’re depriving yourself.

What other diet plans did you try before this? Are there any healthier things you could adapt from that?

@MeAndMounjaro I'm struggling to find things I can cook from frozen when we need to find something quickly. We tend to freeze a lot of meat and then forget to defrost it in time.
We'd been doing really well but in the last few weeks it's slid back into how we used to eat (too many takeaways).

@PissedOffNeighbour22

Pub food can be tricky (was in one last night for daughters birthday!) I couldn't find anything healthy that was something other than a salad so just relied on being full quickly to keep it in check but I get that that's not working for you.

If you're eating in pubs then a steak or half roasted chicken with an extra side of veg could be an option? If you want a carby side you could ask for a baked potato instead of chips if they do them, or mash if not, that lot should fill you up without as much grease or calories.

I hate to be the person asking for information that has already been posted - but someone posted a really helpful table on here of doses.

I believe about 0.6ml is a 2.5mg dose of a 2.5mg strength pen. Does that sound right? I am trying to calculate dosage from
a 5mg pen as frankly, the 5mg is a bit much for me.

does anyone know the table I mean? I’ve searched the thread and also can’t find it online.