Mounjaro / Wegovy with > 5st / 30kg to lose

[VelociraptorsVelociRapping]

I know, yet another Mounjaro / Wegovy thread, but I wondered if anyone else with a lot to lose would be interested in a safe space to chat. The other threads (both the long-runner and the newbies) are great but I can’t believe how relatively little some people have to lose. I know it’s all relative, and two stone can be a lot of extra weight on a small frame, and it’s great that they are doing something for their health before they end up in the same position as me… but in my more ungenerous moments I think about what a dream it would be to be ‘only’ two stone overweight, and wonder how many posters I will see come and go while I plod along.

So, if any of that resonates and you don’t think I’m an utter cow for having these thoughts, come and chat! I will start. I don’t feel comfortable sharing my current weight but am happy to say that my starting BMI is over 40 and I have 7.5 stone / 47 kg to lose. I’m very tall but there’s no kidding myself that my current situation isn't very unhealthy indeed.

I’m halfway through my second week on 2.5mg Mounjaro and so far I have lost 8lb. I have not really had many side effects apart from occasional loose stools, but I am also not experiencing the significant appetite suppression that others describe. Right now I am finding MJ a useful tool to take the edge off while I count calories and keep an eye on my macros to keep my protein intake up. A very welcome effect is that it has completely removed any desire to drink alcohol, which is helpful as a fondness for wine is part of how I got so fat in the first place. Nevertheless I am looking forward to moving up to 5mg and hopefully experiencing more appetite suppression.

Anyone else?

Thanks all, that's a good way of looking at it. @KeepingUndercover I am on wegovy. I could probably up my protein as well and see if that helps

I'm a fairly strong responder, I'm now down 20lbs in 8.5 weeks on Mounjaro and haven't gone above 3.75mg yet, but as mentioned by PP I am also experiencing a lot of nausea and this last week have added upset stomach/diarrhoea as well. Spent most of Sunday feeling awful and not great today. Initially thought I'd had some bad chicken (same HelloFresh batch Wednesday and Saturday and symptoms Thursday and Sunday), but everyone else who ate it seemed fine. Though I do wonder if the delayed gastric emptying makes you more susceptible to dodgy food?

Upside of this is I've dropped under 16 stone and my work tunic fitted when I tried it on this morning (been hiding in scrubs for ages). I'm not quite ready to wear it yet, but maybe next week!

I'm starving today 😫
Not sure what has happened, I struggled to eat over the weekend, maybe it's catching up with me?
I am due my 4th dose of 2.5 on Wednesday, is this the result of the effects wearing off? I have just ordered a 5mg pen.

I'm on day 3 now (not counting injection day) and so far only side effect seems to be mild cramp/constipation. I'm tracking my food on fitbit and am sticking mainly to high protein low fat, and so far have not been hungry at all. I've got a lunch with a friend this weekend and hoping I don't blow it all on chips and burger buns!

@WoolyMammoth55 Yes it was obvious from the first few days back in spring -23 that I responded very well, perhaps a sign I had started to develop insulin resistance (just guessing here). Still not on the max dose of wegovy and looking to come off soon (BMI is 21 which feels ... surreal). I spoke to QuickMeds early on who advised me to stay on a lower dose as long as it worked for me and only go up when I felt the effect go off. Was happy to do so as it's saved me some £££. So I've been counting clicks and sometimes using other brand needles, but I find novo nordisk ones more comfortable. I did have side effects; diarrhea a handful of times and more persistently constipation, as well as some fatigue but I put that down to under fueling. @Menora sadly had a much worse time of it.

It's been really noticeable over the week after injecting when the effect "wears off" so that's when I've taken the opportunity to re-fuel on some good hearty food (and treats, I've had treats throughout withing my allowance but too much sugary food/sweets or alcohol make me feel absolutely crap, not that I've fancied it much). Day 2-3 after injecting is peak low appetite for me.

You are all doing so well! I don't care what anyone says, this is a miracle drug in my opinion, it changes lives. I'm never going to post before and after pics here, but if I did you would say I was lying. I can hardly believe this myself. x

P.S: Trust me on the water & protein.

@RagzRebooted this for me was probably a side effect of constipation. Suddenly I would be unwell for a day or 2 when my body was having a huge emptying session having had enough of storing it all up! 🤭

That's really good to hear @DialEmforMurder

@RMNofTikTok i know it’s taken ages, but it sounds like you now get a pretty thorough service, fingers crossed it works well for you!

I should have taken my first dose of 5mg MJ today, but I felt so rubbish. Had a migraine all day then nausea tonight. Couldn’t face it. Will take it tomorrow night, then I have two days working from home to get past any immediate side effects.

I am definitely not a super responder! Haven’t felt any change on 2.5, so hoping 5 starts to kick in!

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 can't say how much I appreciate you and @Menora sharing your hard-gained wisdom for us newbies! Thank you both so much

I'm feeling fluey and crap today BUT suspect an actual virus not MJ, since my kids have been coughing and snotting for the past 2 days... I did think it might breeze past me but sadly not! Keeping my fluids up and took the day off work to rest up.

I'm definitely at the super-responder end of things: appetite suppression was literally instant for me, an hour after the first dose... And so far I'm not finding side effects too bad but obviously only on dose 2!! Really sorry to hear of those who have had a tougher time.

My plan for now is to get the 5mg pen from Voy next month, but maintain the 2.5 dose, or possibly go up to 3.75 if the suppression starts to wear off... I have loads to lose and am looking to go far, not necessarily to go fast! Marathon not sprint is my mantra!

I thought the headlines this morning about benefits to heart outcomes that weren't related to weight loss is super interesting! I do feel better in my body since starting MJ - more energy, clearer head, less aversion to movement.

I am also interested to hear if anyone has thoughts and/or info from the US about whether this is being explored for treating children? One of my kids is naturally skinny (like DH) and the other is a little chubber like me! We feed them the same meals (though the chubby one always wants second helpings while his skinny brother leaves food on his plate) - it clearly seems to me that the issue is genetic/ to do with low insulin response? He's not ashamed now but I know as he gets older (from my own experience) that kids will start to shame him... The thought of (in the future) being able to give him a tiny dose of this miracle drug and changing his food response is blowing my mind! I hope it will happen.

Oh weird name change fail and got confused over which post I was already on! Sorry all!

Today I feel weirdly tired but at the same time more energised to actually do stuff, which doesnt really make sense

I've been reading with interest but not had anything to contribute but today my first Mounjaro pen arrived and I took my first dose within 30 minutes of it being handed over by the postman. I was quite anxious when doing it but I didn't even feel the needle! Felt the liquid going in, but it wasn't painful as such. I've got a bruise now where the injection was, is that anything anyone else has experienced? Feeling fine so far, but it was only about 3 hours ago I took the medicine. I'm so impatient, I want to be on my journey as quickly as possible.

Day six (so next dose tomorrow evening) and I still feel like it's having a positive effect even if not as strong as earlier. I've lost 5.5lbs so far this week which is amazing!

I often lose 3-4lbs in the first week of a diet, but I end the week feeling like I've really been torturing myself to get there. Whereas this week has been relatively easy and I don't feel deprived.

@SelectStar I've bruised occasionally, but not every time. I'm not entirely sure what I did when I bruised so don't have good suggestions to avoid it I'm afraid.

@ClonedSquare well done on that loss!

I hoping to join you all soon.

May I ask what information I need to have ready when I order my first pen?

I know that if I'm not prepared, I'll see what I need to do and put off ordering it 🤣

Very excited to get going, I just need to bite the bullet and order it!

I don't think I needed any info apart from my height/weight when I ordered from ASDA. They then messaged me an hour or two later asking for a full length body photo and one of my feet standing on the scales so the weight could be read.

As well as photos and weight/height to confirm over BMI 30, there is a health screening questionnaire. The key thing to decide if you want Mounjaro or Wegovy and which ‘supplier’~ some provide more support than others (but if you have no appetite do you need it?) and others provide initial discounts. I looked at overall costs and thought Asda was a reputable supplier and their prices for the higher (therapeutic) doses were cheaper.

@SelectStar occasional small bruises yes. Have tried all the injection sites, started with thigh since I was a bit used to it having taken blood thinner jabs for a short while some years back after c sections and felt OK with that because they didn't hurt at all.
But it got a bit uncomfortable after I lost a lot of chub, then I did upper arm which wasn't the easiest. Now I do belly, I prefer it. Also read on a reddit that some scientific evidence suggests belly is the most effective site to inject, a study was done on one of the semaglutide jabs but I can't remember which one.

So I'm 3 weeks in and 11lb down. Just done my final 2.5 dose, plus a bit that was left in the pen, and have 5mg lined up in the fridge for next week.

I have to say these last couple of days have been tough, I have been starving but trying to stick to small portions. I feel like the effects have worn off sooner this week than in the first couple. Is that normal? Definitely ready to start 5mg I think.
Hopefully the bit extra I did will boost the effects this week.

I would love to hit the 1 stone mark by the end of 4 weeks 🤞

@Eminybob we are in the same place!
I was due to take my 4th 2.5mg jab today... but took it a day early as felt it had worn off earlier than the others. I didnt think to take any extra and am hoping to get another 2.5 dose out for next week, even if i take it a bit early . I,ve got the 5mg pen ready , but I think Im going to maybe try a mid point dose of it 3.75 first as the 2.5 to 5 seems a big jump and I dont want to be floored.

Be interested how you get on with the extra bit this week.

I hope we both get that first stone off by next week. I've had a stall this week but only 1 lb to go . Good luck!

That is something I considered actually, I've added some psyllium husk today, now it's all settled down. Typically I haven't needed to go for a few days since all that! I also have some senna tablets which I might have before bed for a few nights.b

Update on progress. 8 weeks and a total of 9 doses (moved my day a few times).
SW 110.8kg/244lbs/17 stone 6lbs
CW 101.5kg/224lbs/16 stone (or a fraction under)
Technically I'm 15.98 stone!
GW is around 76kg/just under 12 stone. Possibly less, depending on body shape/fitness at that stage. So still got 4 stone to go and feels like I'll be at this forever... But the time will pass anyway, just have to hope the side effects subside!
I haven't gone over 3.75mg yet, I may try 5mg this weekend if I'm feeling brave.

@RagzRebooted well done! I know the target seems a long way away but you are well on your way.

I did my first 5mg jab last night. I can't face any food at all this morning. I'm forcing myself to have a protein yoghurt pouch so that I have enough energy to function but it's taken me nearly three hours to eat half of it. It's hard to know how much is the jab and how much is emotional stress - DH and I are in a very rocky patch at the moment.

Sorry to hear things are tough @VelociraptorsVelociRapping , hope you’ve managed to eat a bit now. I found 5mg really tough going for a few weeks, I’m on my second pen of it now and I think this is first week I’ve felt properly well on it.

Sorry to hear that @VelociraptorsVelociRapping
You are doing the right thing by having some protein. Is there anything else you fancy?
It's horrible to feel like that, please be kind to yourself and off load here if you need to.

I am second 5mg jab tonight. Going to wait till dd is at the gym in case she catches me injecting!
I weigh on a Saturday which is not my jab day. I always did a Saturday so I could stuff my face for the rest of the weekend!