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!

It's day 3 for my since my bonus dose (I extracted approx 3.5 from the pen if I recall correctly) and I'm absolutely exhausted. I know there are some others who were dealing with that as a side effect and I'm interested to know when that went away? I had no side effects at all on 2.5.

I'm going up to 5 next week so I'm bracing myself for more of the same 😬

I'm not tracking calories as such. I do log my food on some days to keep track of my protein intake and just to get an idea of the rough ball park I'm in so I have an idea of how my current diet will hold up post injections. I'm not perfect about doing it every day though and it's about monitoring rather than trying to hit targets.

@Letsgoogogo I'm not tracking calories. Just trying to be more sensible, more protein less carbs and eat mindfully.

I'm not tracking calories, it just makes me think about food more than I want to. I'm loving that I am just eating smaller meals and not snacking at all, and it's so easy. This, for me, is sustainable.

I track calories to make sure I don't undereat, and keep an eye on protein intake.

I’m not looking at calories either. I might if I really wasn’t seeing any loss and I had no idea why not but I’m eating ‘healthily’ in small portions and I don’t want to get hung up on calories if I can help it.

I’m now on 5mg. Side effects are far more than 2.5mg and I had to miss a work meeting earlier this week which wasn’t great. But the weight has started to come off.

A week on Saturday I’ve got a big posh meal out for DH’s birthday - tasting menu so lots of small things that add up. I’m thinking I’ll take my second dose two days early on Friday, and then the next one the following Sunday, to make the jab at its least effective that night. I really want to make it to the end as the food will be delicious.

Healthy fats are completely fine. 😊

I was tracking calories just to get a handle on how often I was eating. I work from home and am constantly grazing.

Now I've started the first jab, I just want to be sure that I am having enough protein.

I have been really exhausted and feeling a bit miserable with it. I've not really lost any weight in the last week and keep flitting around the same lb. I've been on my period though. I'm pretty sure I have PMDD so I can get a rough time of it. I feel better now on day 4 of period, but still haven't got that usual happy feeling I get I the spring or after period. I did go for a run last night which helps my mood a bit, but I still feel rather flat.

I am probably a bit burnt out by life anyway, but its a shame as the first few weeks of the jab I was quite cheerful even with a stinking cold!

I'm on day 1 of 2nd 5mg and though I have eaten low cal meals, I don't feel a huge amount of suppression. My cal intake is still low, but I have injected into my tummy and am not getting the strong full feelings I was expecting. I was going to order a 2nd 5mg pen, but I think I will wait.

I track calories on most days, but didn't this weekend as I was really busy. I find it helps me plan and as I'm so forgetful it helps me remember what I have had. I also add exercise too, but I hear exercise doesn't really burn off fat and not to count it in the deficit, so I've largely ignored that. I will exercise or go for a walk if I am going over my deficit a bit or am unsure though.

I find that because I'm cooking family meals it can be quite hard to count calories of sauces though, so I give myself a bit of leeway there too, but make sure I just have a small portion.

I'm short and started from a BMI of 30, so my actual baseline cals are really low. I'm on 1200 a day and would never be able to eat such a small number of calories without these meds. I have even hoped to get a bad bout of food poisoning at one point as I could not see how else I'd do it. 😂

@Shortpoet I've eaten avocado and been fine. I've also eaten a tiny sausage roll and suffered terribly! So I think healthy fats are okay.

Two things today, firstly, anyone got to the end of their 5mg yet? Is there another weeks dose inside? I don't know what to do about going up yet but if I have 2 full doses left rather than one, I don't have to worry yet even though 5 still isn't quite strong enough for me.

Secondly the DREAMS! I've always had a lot of dreams (not nightmares) but this is another level. It feels constant all night and so aware of them when I first wake. I've seen a few of you mention dreaming on MJ so I'm glad it's not just me.

I didn't want to track my calories, but then I started tracking them sometimes so I have a rough idea how much I'm eating. But this turned into tracking meticulously and weighing everything!! 😬
I might try and go back to eating intuitively because this is what I'm trying to learn how to do.

Glad avocado is ok. But eek that tiny sausage roll can cause problems!
Someone up thread had samosa regret. Maybe pastry is an issue?

@Shortpoet my fourth 2.5mg jab is tomorrow and so far I can eat any foods without any consequence. Everyone seems to be different. Good fats should be absolutely fine. Bad fats in moderation could also be absolutely fine for you.

@Letsgoogogo I’m another one who is not calorie counting. I’m just trying to eat like a person of a healthy weight does. So far, so good.

@Soukmyfalafel i completely understand the flitting round a pound and period. It is hard as the water retention, pain and cravings are all there. (Cravings less so, but it didn’t stop them completely).

My weight loss is definitely slowing down either way. I’ve loss just shy of 2 stone now in ten weeks. If I’d kept up that rate I’d be worried about loose skin and health.

Equally, I like seeing the visible results. It keeps me paying.

Like any diet, MJ is still a complete head fuck.

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight i have injection 10 on Friday and it will be the bonus dose. I will extract it, so I will show you how much I had left in the pen and then syringe. It was definitely over a dose when I took the bonus from my 2.5.

I did my first 2.5mg dose yesterday just under 24 hours ago. Feel good except my upper half of my body is feeling so sore! Like I’ve overdone it at the gym. Did anyone else have this?

My first pen finally arrived and I’d read the instructions and injected within 15 minutes. It was so easy and I couldn’t feel the injection for anyone that’s worried the needle is tiny

On the food idea topic, I do this as a lovely brunch that's high in protein, i wasnt setting oit to make a high protein dish, it just happened! I don't calorie count or log food at the moment but looked at protein for curiosity -

2x pork patties (Aldi) 23g
2x cheese singles 6g
1x low carb wrap (Seriously Low Carb) 13.6g

Total - 42g protein! It's not even too filling either but you could have it in two portions if needed and the patties are taste like the McDonalds sausages used in breakfasts.

You could an egg or two for another 6 - 12g of protein.

@Shortpoet I've not had any issues eating fatty foods.

I didn't track calories or log anything for my first 3 weeks @Letsgoogogo but only lost 2lb and that was week 1. I was still eating normal meals Inc McDonald's and takeaway etc, but getting full sooner so natural calorie reduction but not really healthy food. I started tracking really to keep an eye on protein. I've learned I just can't get enough! I'm broadly sticking to under 1200 cals but the only real impact it's had on consumption is to limit my alcohol. I used to drink a bottle of wine a night so tracking calories stops me doing that! My weight loss has really kicked in the last couple of weeks.
I'm trying to track to learn how I need to eat when I'm slim to maintain. It's easy to make the right choices now because I'm not very hungry but m suspect I'll have to track for life because I'm a binge eater and comfort eater and so this mindlessly when stressed.

@Soukmyfalafel pretty sure I have PMDD too, was having noticeable symptoms from ovulation until my period, though my thyroid was also out of whack which doesn't help (meds have been increased).
I started a new combined contraceptive pill which helped a lot, but it also really increased my appetite and meant I could not manage Intermittent Fasting, which I was doing. Would just be absolutely starving. But it stopped me thinking I hated my husband and wanted to quit my job for half the month!
I'm tired, despite feeling more energetic for the first few weeks on MJ, but again the thyroid thing doesn't help with that. I'm due repeat bloods in 8 weeks after slightly increasing my dose. Hopefully the weight loss will help too (I think the reason my dose wasn't enough any more is because of weight gain).

Calories - some days I track, some days I don't. Depends what I'm cooking for dinner and whether I can be bothered to work it out! I like to keep a bit of an eye on protein so mostly use it for that. I can generally guess roughly what a meal is calorie wise, after years of tracking on and off, but protein I haven't a clue.

I got an annual subscription to Nutracheck for that reason. I figure that even if I just track my breakfasts, lunches and any booze I have (although I usually just drink a bottle of wine a week, which is 600 cals) I can give myself an idea of how bigger dinner I can have and whether to go easy on the carbs or not.

I think my 2nd 5mg which I took last night is starting to kick in now as I feel a bit queasy.

@MeAndMounjaro that sounds like a lovely weekend treat brunch! I reckon I could use the Warburton's protein bagel thins I got and make a breakfast muffin dupe. Mmmmm.