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?

Evening folks, I'm also in the 30kg+ club am 15 weeks in with MJ and have lost 9kg so far.
I tried saxenda last year, lost 4kg in 12weeks but it took a lot of willpower and I couldn't maintain it when I got moved to Wegovy last year due to supply issues. Wegovy did nothing no suppression or side effects even on top dose, just a waste of money. I had all but given up the idea of the jabs but decided to give MJ a try after reading it had a better success rate.
SW: 98kg (BMI 35.1)
CW: 89 5kg (BMI 32.1)
GW: 65kg (BMI 23.3 )

I have started seeing signs of saggy skin, at the tops of my thighs, neck, side boob and bingo wings ( and belly but I've had 3 babies including a 10lb chunk and complete muscle separation so I don't count my ugly tummy). Side effects at the beginning were dodgy tummy, being tired and very cold. The tiredness has reduced a little, I dont have gastric issues most of the time now will see what u.5mg does to me.
Next mini goal is 83kg (overweight BMI category) , feels a long way off at the moment.

Hi all!

It's been a couple of weeks since I checked in! I'm 5 weeks + 5 days into wegovy, was really struggling the first couple of weeks with nausea but it settled and I managed to step up to 0.5mg. Had a bit of a plateau but I've started losing again!

SW 19st 4.2lb
CW 18st 8lb
GW somewhere under 12 stone

I normally take the injection every Thursday and I'm going on a Butlins adult weekend next Friday. There will be a lot of alcohol involved so need to ensure I can eat. I'm assuming because the half life is 7 days I can have my week 7 injection a few days late and change my injection day. Let's hope I don't gain too much weight back!

I lost a stone in my first month, and agree that it's frustrating being bigger and not visibly seeing the results. I'm noticing small things like my underwear feeling a bit looser though, which is nice.

Most of my clothes are so old that they're likely stretched and not the size they originally were. So I have an even longer journey before I actually move down a size! Rather than going from a correctly fitted 24 to a 22, I'll be in my stretched 20 for about six months 😂

@ClonedSquare I've lost 11lb to date and I'm not longer falling out of my bras so I'm guessing some of the 11lb has come off my waist lol

Just before I started this I got some leggings and peplum tops that I can pin the chest up on, and I'll be living in them until they are ridiculously too big! Not sure how I'm going to take it after that 😂

I'm now 6 weeks in and exactly 8kg down.
I was really hoping to be 10kg down by now as that would be 10% off my starting weight. I really want to knock that 2kg off in this next week 🤞
I've just taken my 3rd 5mg and so hoping that my symptoms are less this week, the last 2 weeks the day after the injection I have been terribly ill, what are your top tips for avoiding this please?

@ClonedSquare I can soo relate to the stretched clothes. I am in my stretched 16s which realistically should be 18 or 20 even, maybe. It's also definitely easier to disguise a slow weight gain with leggings and non-fitted work clothes.
Week 3 of MJ for me, not weighing until Friday (my jab day) because I feel I might be disappointed. Permanently hungry as ever despite of high protein foods (eggs, cottage cheese, tinned mackerel, peanut butter, that sort of thing).

@Eminybob 8kg in 6 weeks is an amazing achievement!

I’ve got a lovely pair of new size 20 work pants that I’ll be so chuffed to fit into! I’m still a 22 although my jeans are feeling a bit looser. I will be over the moon dropping down to an 18!

Thanks, although I feel it should be more though, I have been hardly eating! Although I have not lost my propensity to drinking wine so that probably hasn't helped!

As a symptom of my all things MJ obsession, I wandered onto Reddit last night and found a really interesting and inspiring thread on MJ maintenance. Mostly US posters who are obvs a long way head of us in terms of time on MJ and many of whom seem to have access to MJ, often via insurance, for life. What really struck me though was the high level of knowledge posters had about their health and the amazing level of access to specialists. For example, they talk about their primary doctors (who seem to be available 24/7), but also dieticians, endocrinologists, obstetricians, gynaecologists, psychological therapists, etc. They have regular blood panel tests, yearly or more, and are able to ask for various additional tests, such as vitamin levels, if they feel they need them. I know we look at the US and think 'thank God for the NHS' but really struck me how well supported these people seem to be (obvs providing they have insurance). Me...age 57, can't get a Dr appt for 3 weeks, have never been tested for T2D, or cholesterol levels, struggled through menopause, unable to tolerate HRT, without ever being referred to a specialist or have hormone levels tested, with a semi-paralysed arm due to an effectively untreated frozen shoulder, and now having to buy a life changing, possibly life saving medication privately and only till I reach healthy bmi. It felt like they were in charge, as patients, in partnership with their health providers, rather than having to fight for everything and being fat shamed at every turn. Very interesting and rather sad. I often think my dog gets better health care than I do.

@KrankyKumquat

I would much rather not have to pay the portion of my tax that goes to the NHS and have private health insurance!

I have found my people!
I have no idea how much I have to lose as a chart I looked at recently suggested a healthy weight for a woman of my height was about 9 stone - I haven't weighted that for over 40 years! In fact, before I got married, at the age of 22 I gave up WW as I had got down to 9st 10, was a size 10 and they were telling me I still had about a stone to lose!

I am on week 4 of MJ and am feeling hungry on day 5 of 2.5mg but daren't jump to 5 yet as I have a holiday looming and don't want to risk squits, wind, etc when travelling. I'm about half a stone down over the last 4 weeks though so can't complain

I've always been a massive supporter of the NHS politically but my experience over the last few years (including trying to care for 2, now deceased, elderly parents) has really started me questioning if this is the best model for provision. In January, I found a disabled, elderly man injured in the street after crashing his mobility scooter..was told by 999 it would be 6-8 hrs for an ambulance. In the end, the police came and took him to A&E in the back of their van. No wonder I can't get a prescription for MJ if this is the state we're in.

I think it’s important to remember that what you saw there was a self-selecting group of people who clearly have top-tier health insurance. Most Americans don’t have anything like that coverage, and those people would lose it in a few months if they lost their jobs.

Welcome and congrats on your loss so far!

I’ve titrated up to 5mg slowly which has kept side effects to a minimum. 3.33mg x 2 and then 4mg and now 5mg.

I tend to feel hunger from around day 5 too but I try and stick to my normal deficit and usually find even though I’m hungry I can’t eat a huge meal. I have been trying not to be afraid of feeling hungry, which is easier said than done. I know for me that it’s been difficult to control urges to overeat in the past so I have some anxiety around feeling hungry but I am doing my best to make friends with it!

I also use those days to re-feed if I know I have not eaten many calories over the first 4 days because of suppression.

No reason for you not to have blood tests as part of your annual check ups- can’t remember if >50 or 55. Mine picked up high cholesterol and pre-diabetic- hence the kick up the pants needed to lose weight.

ditto frozen shoulder- referral to physio at most is a few weeks wait. Some surgeries you can self refer without a GP appointment. My current surgery employs a physio so can make appointment direct. My experience of NHS physio over many physical ills is it is the most accessible NHS service/ treatment.

I have employer private cover- not sure it’s been that great. Surgeon refused to operate whilst NHS said ‘let’s give it a go’. Suspect private was risk adverse.

Sounds good but never been offered an 'annual check up' by my GP. Had physio for shoulder (agree it was quite quick) but consultant (paid privately) said this was a waste of time for frozen shoulder and surgery only option now as it hasn't resolved itself (on waiting list over 2 years now). I will, however, chase GP for an MOT for other things- maybe I've just been unlucky🤕

There are only 'annual checkups' for people with long term conditions that require monitoring (hypertension, COPD etc). GPs don't have to (so probably won't) offer an annual check to anyone else, or a well-woman check or anything like that. They don't have the capacity and aren't funded for it.
Though if you've never had one, you can get an NHS health check which is for 40+ and includes cholesterol and HbA1C checks (if you're overweight) as well as weight and BP. Still very basic. Not annual either, I think you can have another one after 10 years (or maybe 5).

If you're obese and haven't ever had bloods to check for diabetes, you should be able to ask for that (I asked for HbA1C to be added to my thyroid blood test this year as I'm obese and they did).
Source: work in a GP surgery.

You know it's interesting that you talk about the private healthcare and insurance. I live overseas and have really good private medical insurance through my work - thank god. It was an endocrinologist who prescribed me the ozempic this week. My insurance didn't cover it but it wasn't so expensive. I think it was around £220 for 3 months worth. He did run loads of blood tests etc first.

What does SW, CW, GW stand for?

@QueenOfHiraeth that's how I feel too. I googled the recommended weight for my height and was blown away!

SW - starting weight
CW - current weight
GW - goal weight

Does anyone else associate the feeling of fullness with guilt?
Just realised, after eating a tiny portion of pasta, that because I'm so full I'm feeling guilty and thinking I must have ruined my diet.
It's so ingrained from so many years of binging and dieting 😪

Yes! Anxious when I’m hungry because I’m not sure how much I can control it or satisfy myself without overeating and then when I’ve eaten a good normal sized meal and feel full I feel guilty like I should have eaten less or I am not allowed to feel satisfied/content.

I think for me it’s definitely psychological. Something about difficulty meeting my own needs. Good job I’m in therapy! 😅

A really satisfying NSV today. I had a meeting today in a location I haven’t been to in a while, and which I usually dread as the meeting-room chairs have arms and used to be uncomfortably tight for me (it would always remind me of the PG Wodehouse quote about the aunt sitting in the armchair “as if it had been built round her by someone who knew they were wearing arm-chairs tight about the hips that season”). Today was the first time I have been comfortable in that room and I didn’t have to find a discreet way to push myself out of the chair in case I stood up and took it with me.