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?

Sorry to hear you were in pain. Might need to keep an eye on that because isn’t the gallbladder on the right up near the rib cage?

This could be gallbladder related perhaps

After losing 16lb in the first 2 weeks, so far half way through week 3 I've lost nothing.

I knew the weight loss would plateau and obviously it wouldn't have been healthy to continue with such rapid loss but it's still a tiny bit disheartening which is made as 16lb in two weeks or even three is brilliant. I am hoping I'll lose another lb or two before this week is over but even if not it's still good. I know I am not eating enough and that maybe eating more would actually help but I am struggling. I've been very tired this week which I didn't have in the first two weeks.

@Sunshineandrainbow keep an eye on the pain this was my gallbladder and I had 2 episodes that lasted many many hours which is why I stopped ozempic eventually

@catgirl1976 I had a plateau on week three but a small whoosh on week four. And I was super tired during that time but that has gotten better now.

I just bought some clear protein to drink from My Protein as someone on the other thread mentioned they are having a 55% off sale today with the code IMPACT. I got the raspberry and lemon & lime ones.

Might help if you are finding it hard to eat? I think they are just like drinking flavoured water.

😅😅😅
I am the same, i am very distrustful if the medication.
Every tiny twinge or pain in any part of my torso and my brain starts screaming "its your gall bladder! Gallll bladdder!!!!! Panic stations everyone!!!!!"

In terms of cals
I am going to try 1400-1600 cals for 5 days and then 2 days per week at 800-100 for 2 weeks and see what happens.

Thank you @Alicewondersalot that is reassuring. I'll have a look at those protein drinks as I am finding it much easier to drink shakes or soup and things than actually eat

Fingers crossed for a week 4 woosh!

I like these too. The lime mojito one is nice and it's a good way of getting in some protein when I really can't face proper food, especially meat.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping this is the first time I’ve tried them, so I hope I like them 😋 I am a veggie so fingers crossed they will be an good addition.

@catgirl1976 Good luck! I also find the Huel shakes are pretty good because they have a lot of vitamins and minerals and no nasties.

Took the plunge on Monday night and did my first injection. I definitely felt different yesterday, I ate around my usual calories (I’m calorie counting with noom), and I was hungry but the chatter was less, I knew I was hungry but didn’t fancy anything at dinner time, I settled on a bacon sandwich as I knew that’d be tasty, then I craved something sweet but one biscuit settled it which is not me!
I was so tired I had a nap and an early night and feel sluggish this morning, not keen on this side effect at all and hoping it’s short lived - I’d seen others mention it but wondered if it was the calorie reduction, definitely not that for me at this point.
I’m also running a little warm but paracetamol helped, I was expecting cold not warm - shows we are all different!
I did get on the scales, as I do every day and was pleasantly surprised by a small dip, but I’m sure that’s natural day to day fluctuations, but nice to move down.

Ordered my next pen, 7.5mg with Medexpress. I’m on week 6, I think I put 5 in my original post. So jab 7 this Friday. I get confused!

Not sure if I will be ready for it as I am titrating slowly on the 5mg pen but I worked out if I only need 5mg from the 7.5mg pen then I get 8 weeks out of it so it makes it more cost effective.

I wanted to ask everyone about loose skin and what ideas/strategies you might have? I imagine when I lose 9 stone I’m going to have some and I wondered if I started now it might help.

I do take a collagen supplement but it is in capsule form and I plan on strength training - have a few weights at home that I use at the moment and will eventually rejoin the gym. Any other tips?

Does anyone know of a good retinol body cream or tightening cream? My apron stomach is in need of some help!

@Stuckinarut79 congrats on your first injection! 🙌

Hi ladies
i am at the end of week 8 and the last 3 weeks have been very disappointing. I have only lost 2 lbs despite sticking to low fat low carb and high protein. I am hoping moving to 7.5 at the weekend will make a difference. Has anyone else been in this position? Also this last week I have been permanently cold ( unusual for me. I wear T-shirts in winter) and have struggled to get out of bed in the morning despite sleeping well. Is it just me ??? Lost 1 stone 3 lbs in total. Hoped for more. Is this unrealistic??

@Grandmalyn you're still averaging over 2lb a week in total, if I calculated that correctly, it may well speed up when you go up a dose. If you look a the trial data, average loss was actually a lot slower over the time measured, especially at lower doses. I'm sure it will pick up for you.
Are you tracking calories? Drinking enough?

I've been cold and tired as well, I've started B12 supplements as meant to help with the fatigue (sublingual is as effective as injections for most people) and I need to get back to tracking protein as I don't think I've had enough the last few weeks.

9 weeks in and I'm down 22lbs, which I'm really happy with. BMI is now 31.8.

@Grandmalyn yes I think you are being overly hard on yourself. Losing over a stone in 8 weeks is very good. You have a long journey you will struggle if you look at every single week in isolation of a success or failure. It’s best to try to change your mindset to see it as a journey and look at your average progress. As you get closer to your goal it gets harder, so this is something you need to learn to take in its stride. You will have fluctuations we are humans not machines. Also the drug does make you feel quite grotty this is a side effect you have to weight up whether it’s worth it to you or not.

thanks for the replies ladies. It’s just a bit depressing when people post about big losses. I will try to adopt a more positive attitude and hope an increased dose helps

It’s not a race and weight loss is usually more sustainable done slowly to be honest. Rapid weight loss is linked to rapid regain and also gall bladder issues. Those who lose fast can often feel pretty revolting on this drug. Like me, I was throwing up felt constantly sick. It’s not something to be envious of. You need to get a perspective. This is really common at the start of weight loss as your motivation wavers you get demoralised so try to look BACK on your progress do not mourn progress you haven’t even met yet

your initial loss was mostly water - the hard bit is now losing the fat. That is slower

@Alicewondersalot My attitude was: Loose skin is unavoidable but it's not dangerous whereas being obese is. I have lost 5st in 13 months on Ozempic, then Wegovy, BMI 21-22 and a size 10 now, was a size 20. The "melted look" was more extreme around 8 months in for me, but I swear it's slowly sorting itself out. I'm 51 and had carried the weight for around 9 years. It's not as bad as I feared but there's definitely a turkey neck, bum feels a bit deflated and boobs and stomach will never be the same, apron not helped by two c sections. My waist has popped back nicely though! And I was never a model so who cares. In clothes and maybe some shapewear I think I look quite lovely!
I think it depends on a number of factors, I never got stretch marks when pregnant but not religious about moisturizing. Retinol is a tricky one because it makes skin so sensitive to the sun. I have been very good at taking omega 3, collagen and eating salmon though, no idea if it's helped.

On fatigue and cold, yes, welcome to under fueling. I'm in fingerless gloves, thick tights and down gilet at the end of May!

@Grandmalyn That is a fantastic loss, a result of nearly 7000 calorie deficit PER WEEK! That is a 1000 calorie deficit PER DAY, do you even realize what a feat that is? Now I'm slim my TDEE (total daily calory expenditure) is around 1400 to MAINTAIN (I'm a short arse).
Sorry, I'm shouting, but you need to realize you are doing this exactly right, and it's not easy I know, but trust me; mid process the days are long, but the months are short.

Trust me on the water, drink loads, the body really needs it during weight loss to shift and flush fat cells out (there's a more scientific explanation but that's essentially it).
And trust me on upping protein, it's so sating and the thermic effect is real. I aim for 60g a day withing my calorie allowance, happy to get to 50.

Someone said, and this struck a chord with me:
Being obese is hard.
Losing weight is hard.
Choose your hard.

(Being in maintenance is also pretty hard, I can report, but I am committed to calorie counting for life because I am never going back to the way things were, I have my life back.)

You are all doing so well! You can not even begin to imagine what Christmas and next year will be like for you. x

@Grandmalyn I’ve been taking it about 12 weeks now and lost 18lbs so I’m a slow mover too. Please don’t get too disheartened.
Just gone up to 7.5mg dose (MJ) and can feel a difference - feeling full on even very small amounts. Also retrying to keep to the 16-8 principles, only eating between 12noon and 8pm. I’ll be happy losing 1-2lbs pw if it means it stays off. it’s not a race it’s a lifetime marathon! You’ll get there in your own time.

It’s here ! It’s hidden in the fridge I’m going to try and do it tonight. I was so afraid I would miss the post lady this morning !

Good luck! 🤞

@VanellopeVonSchweetz99 you’re right, saggy skin is better than being obese. Just wanted to see if there was anything I could do to support it in a small way. Your experience has given me hope that my skin might find a way back with time.

Given up on the retinol idea, forgot about the sun sensitivity. I did find a bottle of castor oil in my cupboard so might try that to help support my skin on its shrinking journey!

Going through a divorce a couple of years ago has made me worried about how I will look as I try and start dating again. I’ve never felt very body confident having been heavy for 20+ years, however, I look forward to all the benefits of being in a lighter body, like better sleep, more energy and less health problems as I age. 🙌

I hope it's ok to post here, but I've started a thread for slow losers if anyone wants to check it out.

@Alicewondersalot there are plenty of lovely men who don't have 'perfect bodies' either. And the health boost is huge and so, so positive. Health is wealth!

Hi all

SW 19st 4.2lb (02/05/2024)
CW 18st 9.4lb

Just done my 4th injection a day early as I'm going on holiday Friday and don't want to feel sick driving to the coast!

I'm so please that I'm down 8.8lb in 3 weeks! I'm a wheelchair user so do not exercise at all, I must be a hyper responder.

BUT

God I feel miserable. I just want to eat, and I can't. Today I had huel ready to drink for breakfast, some olives and 2 cheese strings. I cannot face anymore and this was all before my injection!

Weight management want me to keep titrating up monthly until they can take over despite having a great start. I feel torn. Weight loss is great, but I have adhd and I'm struggling without the dopamine from food 😬

Weighted in for week 2 and I'm down another 3.5lbs (9 in total for the two weeks).

To be honest, I've not been amazing at my diet this week so I'm not surprised I lost less than the first week. A few times I ate snacks or treats out of habit rather than really craving them. Going to try and be really good this week and see if it helps!