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!

That's correct yes 🙂

I had the same issue but by shear luck ended up 1.1lb down like magic on weight in.

I was in Sainsburys this morning, noticed that they have a clear whey protein drink on offer for Nectar customers at the moment (£15 normally, £12 with Nectar).
I didn't buy it, as I'm trying to get enough protein from food rather than supplements, but will keep it in mind if I feel I need it when I go up to 5mg.

But if anyone else is interested:

Myprotein Clear Whey Isolate Peach Tea Flavour 244g | Sainsbury's (sainsburys.co.uk)

I'm not sure about a table (or I just haven't seen it), but yes, all doses be it 2.5 or 5mg come in a carrier fluid of 0.6ml.

5mg pen

1mg. 0 12ml. 12 clicks
2mg. 0.24ml. 24 clicks
3mg. 0.36ml. 36 clicks
4mg. 0.48ml. 48 clicks
5mg. 0.60ml. 60 clicks

This has reminded me that Two Chubby Cubs recommend frozen chicken kebabs (I think) from Iceland as an easy low cal high protein source food...lots of flavours. I keep meaning to pop in. Might be worth having easy freezer foods for no cooking days.

I have the mojito flavour of this and it’s surprisingly nice, especially with some fresh lime and mint leaves added.

I think 2.5mg would be 30 clicks @AgathaMystery

I really like the chicken skewers in Iceland!

I got some chicken skewers in Aldi the other day. They are frozen but pre-cooked, so you can either cook from frozen to defrost and heat them up simultaneously or you can defrost them in the fridge to eat cold. Haven't tried them yet but will report back. I got a chilli flavour but they also had teriyaki.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 if it helps - I also freeze a lot of meat but I find if I just freeze it in its packet I am much less likely to make good use of it. I freeze chicken thighs, pork steaks etc in a marinade, so although I still have to remember to take it out of the freezer, once it's defrosted I can stick it straight in a pan or the air fryer.

Do you have a microwave? I quite often defrost frozen meat in mine.

The frozen chicken skewers look like a good option, I have a Farm Foods down the road and pop in every now and then as they have some Thai chicken meatballs my daughter likes, have eyed up the skewers but not tried them.

Having some frozen spag bol or chilli is always a good one, I also cook up beef mince with burrito seasoning and then can quickly make burrito bowls with rice (can also be frozen or use precooked pouches), the frozen burrito mince, can of taco beans, shredded lettuce, coriander, spring onion, chop some fresh salsa (tomato, onion, coriander, lime juice, salt), bit of shredded cheese, light sour cream, guacamole or avocado slices, yum!

I also like those slow cooked meals that have a long date on them, like Tesco chicken legs in white wine sauce or Asda Extra Special Beef Bourguignon (I don't normally shop there but for some reason Asda have hands down the best beef bourguignon, only in bigger stores), bit of mash and broccoli or green beans and it's a quick easy meal and they often have dates weeks in advance.

A stir fry is a quick easy option too but does require having some fresh meat on hand or remembering to defrost in time (thank you for this topic as you've all reminded me to take some chicken thigh fillets out of the freezer to defrost for a Thai noodle stir fry later!)

If you're looking at a ready meal, another quick option I really like is the Aldi Specially Selected Cottage Pie. I'm not even a big cottage pie fan, never mind ready meal versions but that one is REALLY nice. I get the one for two people, give my husband two-thirds (he's a builder), me one-third with lots of veg. Not as high in protein as I would like but 30 mins in oven and dinners done.

It’s easy to do veggie meals quickly. If you’ve got tinned beans and pulses you can knock up a mixed bean chilli very easily. Or a lentil bolognese. Black beans are great to make quesadillas with. Paneer keeps for ages in the fridge and makes a nice curry or I’ve had it in stir fries recently.

Oh and frozen prawns are good to have in the freezer for stir fries, you can often cook them from frozen or they don’t take long to defrost.

Quorn mince cooks from frozen too.

I can't weigh in this week as I am away on holiday!

Not sure how I am doing. There's so much carby temptation around (Scotland) and normally I'd have half a stone on easily, so staying the same will be a result. I'll have to wait until Monday to see how things are panning out.

I have a few of these in the cupboard - orange mango, bitter lemon, cranberry and raspberry and vimto! My fave is the orange mango and bitter lemon. From the my protein site they're £20 for 20 drinks worth, but there's usually lots of discount codes for the myprotein site.

@Rainbowl I'm not v pleased with how my weight is going this week either. I feel a bit bloated but I've been drinking loads and I'm about a lb heavier than I was a week ago! Am just keeping my head down and trusting the process.

Yes, frozen prawns are great! I always have a bag in the freezer.

Also a hot rotisserie chicken and veg or salad. When it's too hot to cook in the summer I often get a hot or cold one, some nice salad and maybe a bit of crusty bread (that bit not so good when trying to lose weight!).

When it was really hot a couple of summers ago I think we had that 3 days in a row! First day with bang bang sauce and asian slaw and salad, next day with sliced tomatoes and caesar salad, third day with greek salad and tzatziki.

This is my go-to as well. I’m always in the mood for hot roast chicken and salad! Often have wraps or home made air fryer chips if we want some carbs with.

I recommend this grain & edamame mix from M&S for fast meals too. It's nice hot or cold, I add a bit to salads for lunch or use it in a stir fry instead of noodles. It has 11g of protein in a half pack.

Just jumping on.

Began thinking about Wegovy at the weekend, after I had a bit of a shock. I knew I'd put on some weight over the last few months, stood on the scales on Saturday and saw 13 stone 1, which then rose to 13 stone 3, an hour later, even though I hadn't eaten anything.

I'm 5 foot 5, (always thought I was 5'4, but DH measured me and made it 5'5) so that puts me in the obese category with a BMI of 30.

I've never been so big in all my life (yes I know compared to some it seems minor) and I've been eating compulsively, mainly grazing, partly thanks to cold weather, partly thanks to stress and probably what's known as food noise. If something nice is in, then I have to eat it.

Anyway, did my research, wound up here, my package arrived this morning, just stabbed myself in the thigh, it's slightly sore, worried I've done it wrong and am now quite nervous.

I weighed myself this morning and was down to 12 stone, 12 as I spent the last few days on Nutracheck counting calories.

Wishing everyone luck and thanks for the inspiration and support.

I'm about to start my 5mg pen. I'm hoping I continue to have few side effects as I've been great on 2.5mg.
These are my losses so far, I'm very content with the results!

Today's weigh in number 5 for me. I'm annoyed as a pound has appeared back on this morning but hoping it'll be part of a little whoosh in the next couple of days.

SW: 12 stone
W1: 11.12
W2: 11.10
W3: 11.8
W4: 11.4
W5: 11.3 (but was 11.2 yesterday and Monday, huff!)

Week 5 has been the week that suddenly I look smaller. 3 different people have commented, which has been really lovely.

Mine is waiting for me in my fridge. I’m going to take first one Thursday evening. I really want to start now but also want to wait till I’m at home.

In the meantime I’m practicing healthy eating. I did not have a pastry during breakfast or coffee break even though there was a mountain to choose from.

For lunch I chose Spanish chicken thinking it would be healthy, and I’m glad I hadn’t started yet as was so oily (puddles of oil on my plate!), I think it would have given me big problems this afternoon!

Which leads me to another question as I’ve read that fatty food can trigger stomach issues in some.
I was wondering if that included healthy fats like avocado, nuts or even a splash of olive oil on salad. (I really hope these are safe).
Or does it mean deep fried foods (like fish and chips), or pasties, or chocolate?