Continuing Mounjaro...part 6

[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/product/15481/pil#about-medicine

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. https://www.chemist-4-u.com/carepoint-pen-needles-31g-4mm-pack-of-100?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51rLZBVFQxuvS7mDJooegtK8BMiyT0PwREMRHhH_1atfQIo8TEbsmkaAkA0EALw_wcB

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:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://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
furthet reading about injection sites and the effects: https://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

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-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/5057475-mounjaro-and-wegovy-newbies-april-2024

Asda definitely send them as mine are there. It's an identical one to the letter you can download from your Asda account

Hope you’re home soon @MelissaLouRocks!

End of week two here

SW 14.7
CW 13.10

weight loss has slowed this week, that’s fine! Still very happy with how it’s going, and learning more each day about what works - thanks to these threads. I had complete appetite loss in week one and didn’t eat enough food. I went for a run and realised I had absolutely no energy. Now I’m starting to make healthier choices and becoming more attuned to what my body needs.

So far I haven’t had too much trouble with side effects, nausea first thing in the morning sometimes, and a bit of constipation.

This is my issue with the supermarket protein stuff. It’s all sweet (from what I can see). Is there any savoury protein snacks anyone would recommend?

I wonder how people are getting 100g of protein a day? I’m only getting to about 60g but then my calorie needs are quite low

Purition shakes are finely chopped from whole foods, no artificial sweeteners and really tasty.

https://www.purition.co.uk/

I don't know about snacks, but you can buy bone marrow broth that's chock full of protein. You can drink on it's own, or add to sauces, gravy etc.

That's rubbish, I'm sorry. Is it really awful where you are? Hope you're able to get some sleep and the food isn't too dire.
Edit - just seen your post re the food. Curry in hospital? At least you've got kitchen privileges.

MFP has set my goal to 70g protein based on my stats. I'm hitting it most days but only because I'm having protein yoghurts / shakes and bars. I'd really struggle otherwise.

Warburton's protein bread and bagels are nice. Babybel have some protein in and are quite a good low calorie snack.
I add a spoonful of collagen powder to my coffee and that's 9g per tablespoon I think.

Thanks, I’ll look at these options. I also need to start logging my macros to really know what sort of shortfall there is. I’m currently going on broad estimates of the weight of the obvious protein I’m having which isn’t going to help! My understanding too is that it really does need to be animal rather than plant protein to do the most good and I often sneakily count lentils.

MFP has mine set at 57g so I’m just going to work to this. Having a shake but I’m going to start having tuna and sardines more as they have a lot in.

The hospital's in Derby. I only started getting the kitchen privileges after I kicked off as they had nothing I could eat other than sandwiches for 10 days! They're used to me now, and we rub along OK most of the time. I have to go in at least every couple of months so I don't want to fall out with anyone really!

I don’t know if I am hitting protein goals but I’ve started using cottage cheese which i think is high in protein. So i don’t eat bread every day but if i do i eat sandwich thins which are 100cals and 4g protein each and add turkey slices and cottage cheese.

boiled eggs for breakfast.

I got four! Although I did order a packet of needles from Amazon to have some spare at home x

Today has taught me a few things…

It’s DH’s birthday and he wanted sausage and egg rolls for breakfast. I had 1.5 sausages (high pork, lean) and an egg, with half a slice of toast.

Lunch was a protein bar and I had a small piece of birthday cake.

By dinner time this evening I was ravenous as we got in later than planned. His birthday meal of choice was Dominos. I had three slices of pizza and felt sick all evening!

So, not a good day food wise at all. No fruit or veg, lots of processed food. But, I’m fine with it. Before MJ I would have eaten at least twice as much. We hadn’t had a Dominos since last year so this isn’t something we do often, at all. Plus, I have a 4.5 year old who loves pizza. If I didn’t have any, she’d have been constantly asking why, especially because it was her Dad’s birthday.

Whilst I don’t want to model obesity, I also don’t want to be a Mum who is constantly seen to be dieting. There has to be balance.

Tomorrow will be healthier (overnight oats are ready in the fridge).

Hope you are all having a lovely weekend.

Good for you, genuinely.

Something I have learned from my many attempts at losing weight is that if you completely deprive yourself then you're pretty much doomed to fail as it's just not sustainable.

I try to live by the 80/20 method at the minute. 80 percent good food and 20 percent whatever I fancy! 🙂

I took berberine, though only for a short time, not so much (although was hoping!) for weight loss reasons but for menopausal reasons. The main thing I found with it was that it made me feel very awake, mostly in a good way but I would therefore only take it first thing in the morning, not at night!

If it lowers blood sugars probably best not to mix it with Mounjaro which can do the same but, as stated above, may be helpful for maintenance, and for those menopausal, or perimenopausal.

Try the My protein Clear Whey Peach Tea flavour. It has some sweetness but not too much (I really don't like things too sweet!) and is quite tangy as well which counteracts sweetness.

Yet another thing we have in common 😂

I must admit though, that although my red wine intake has most definitely decreased a good deal, it's still too high!

I'm hoping that moving up to the next dosage will help curtail that and I can get into healthier habits that I can then maintain, once I've got into a new habit that then does tend to stick more!

Morning all! Hope everyone is feeling well today especially @MelissaLouRocks and you escape hospital

I have had an unexpected whoosh! Good thing as only losing 1lb in 2 weeks was depressing. I did feel it coming - I needed to see A LOT yesterday, much more than my water intake would suggest.

Anyway I'll update my stats:

SW Jan 2023 249lbs
SW MJ Feb 2024 212lbs
CW 8 weeks and 1 day after starting MJ 194.6lbs
Lost on MJ 17.4lbs
Lost to date 54.4lbs

Now into the 13's in stones and well into the 100's in lbs! A good start to Sunday

*wee not see!

Well done Femia. I had exactly the same yesterday, including peeing out several litres! Midweek, I put on 3lbs from one morning to the next, this morning I'm 3lbs lighter than yesterday. I know the scales aren't everything, but it did feel good seeing the fall.

Yay @Femeia ! I've had to pee a lot more the past couple of days too after a couple of weeks of not a lot of weight lost. This morning on the scale it actually said my body water increased, and my muscle mass increased, but my fat decreased and my overall weight decreased too!

Well done @Femeia ☺️ how much did you lose?