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?

I was also going to suggest going down a bit. I hope you do start feeling better though. It isn't going to be the right treatment for everyone though, sadly.

I have thought about going back down to 2.5mg, maybe I should try that. 🤔 I feel so horrible with it, I kind of just want it out my system altogether if that makes sense. Plus I'm going on holiday next week and whilst I don't plan on eating everything I see it would be nice to be able to enjoy some food. Perhaps I should skip my next dose, not take then pen away with me as planned and then start again on 2.5mg when I get back? Gah, I don't know what to do for the best. Like most of us I suspect, I've got so much invested in this emotionally I can't bare the thought of it being another 'diet' failure.

If you're going on holiday I would definitely skip the next one, it would be miserable to feel that ill while away. Gives you a bit of space to consider stuff too.

I understand the failure feeling, but it really isn't a diet failure, it's a medication not being right for you. There's no failing in a medication making you sick, just bad luck.

@GreyFinch mine was caused by my love of takeaways, fast food and my DP's obsession with puddings. I was eating far more chocolate and crisps than I thought I was too.

I don't feel any healthier (I haven't overhauled my diet like I'd hoped to as life is still the same struggles - 2 very young children, a stressful, busy job and a DP who works shifts), and I'm still taken in by the offers from places like McDonald's having cheap deals. I do have far less of them though so it's kind of a win 😕.

I have almost zero desire for pudding though and that means by default my DP tends not to have one - he's got a bmi of 25 which never moves, no matter what he eats. He's found he isn't that bothered about pudding now and no longer buys cakes. I'm hoping I have the same reaction once I come off MJ permanently.

No suggestions for the evenings, I don't usually get chance to eat before 9pm so mine are taken up with cooking or sorting out nursery bags, trying to convince the kids to actually sleep etc.
Crocheting sounds fine though, not old at all 😄.

Definitely agree with this.

My friend isn't having a great time on it either. No weight loss for over a month and feeling crap for half the week. I feel awful for suggesting she try it.

Thanks all. Being able to chat about it has let me 'give' myself permission to stop for a while. I'm going to skip the next few doses and start again on 2.5mg when I get back. Shame I have the 7.5mg pen in the fridge ready! I'll take my doses out of that and risk it being use for longer than 30 days.

I responded so well initially, it's so frustrating! I hope your friend feels better on it soon.

@Psiren I'm sorry you're having a rotten time. I think a break is a good idea.
Obviously you will want to do your own due diligence on this but the guidance for users in the US seems to be that the pen is good for 42 days (ie 6 weeks) after opening if refrigerated.

I did my first proper 7.5mg last night from a new pen after a franken-dose last week comprising the bonus doses from my 2.5mg and 5mg pens. I don't know if it was related, or perhaps psychosomatic, but I didn't have much suppression last week. I am pleased to have woken up today with a familiar sense of high suppression.

@GreyFinch There is a part of me which cannot believe I am saying this but have you tried exercise, especially outdoors (now the weather seems to be finally improving!) for a dopamine hit? I have to say I am really enjoying going to bed at 9pm as poor sleep has been a big part of my weight gain. I'm struggling a bit at the moment as I agreed months ago to take on a big project which involves being chained to my desk and working late into the evenings, so I am currently really sedentary and sleep-deprived! I have one week left and I am counting down the days.

I would take a smaller dose next time, have a re-feed on holiday and that will likely kickstart the losses again. Sometimes if you've been barely eating due to side effects, your body holds on to weight.

Hope to join you all soon! I have placed my order for a starter pack from Zava at the weekend - 1 month 2.5mg and 1 month 5mg.

Currently have around 6st to lose to get me out of obese and into the top of the overweight BMI category!

I am at the stage of being hopeful this medication will help me, terrified thinking about "injecting" myself, worried about the impact of my weight on my health, and a bit overwhelmed by the thousands of MN posts on the topic and how do I get up to speed before I start!

Apologies if I ask questions that have been answered a hundred times before!

Hi all, I love reading how everyone's doing and not to feel on my own in this thing.
So I worked out I probably had around 3.0-3.3 dose of MJ last Friday ("bonus" + 1.0 from the 5.0 pen), and increase from 2.5 but not quite 5.0. I still don't feel much difference and feel hungry often, but I don't understand anymore whether my hunger is "mental" rather than physical, because if you'd allow me to eat all I want now, I wouldn't know what is it I would want to. Actually I know, I would love a nice buttery croissant which is in a forbidden territory. At least I haven't had the "fuck it" moment and haven't give up yet. Life feels somewhat sad with the constant food and drink monitoring. I miss my cocktails. I love a good cocktail, and I am good at making them too. I love sitting out in my garden in the sun (nice weather here - finally) and have a cocktail, and water or tea just doesn't cut it. Is this going to be my whole new life? Feeling a little down today, hopefully all the sacrifice will get me a nice figure at least.

@oreo2024 Croissants don’t have to be forbidden. Banning things just creates forbidden fruit. You can have a croissant, just not every day and not if you are also having a lovely roast dinner and half a bottle of wine later (for example).

It depends what kind of cocktails you are into but I am a big believer in making a soft drink feel like an event. If I have slimline tonic or fizzy water I will have it in a balloon glass with ice, lime and fresh mint leaves. Bitters or Campari with tonic or soda are both low-alcohol but feel grown-up and like a ‘proper’ drink.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping Thank you. You are right. I need to shift my mindset. I will also have to learn low alcohol / low calorie drink alternatives.

The only reason not to ever have a buttery croissant is if it makes you feel ill with the medication. I know some people struggle with high fat stuff. But otherwise go for it.

I say it a lot as well, but it's ok to feel hungry. It's normal to feel hungry. If you feel hungry 24 hours a day, that's one thing. But if it's approaching lunchtime and you're hungry that isn't anything to worry about. On the highest suppression days where I didn't really get hungry I felt miserable.

I've been really enjoying CBD drinks as my evening tipple. Alcohol free, low calories but feel special and a couple of them do actually make me feel slightly relaxed. I've totally gone off alcohol, but these are something I can have in the evening, especially at weekends when DH is drinking so I don't feel like I'm missing out.

I've weighed in today and I'm 2kg down this week. Currently a touch over 101kg, I really want to get below 100, couple more weeks should do it. I usually lose 1kg a week or so, not sure why I had a big drop this week.

@RagzRebooted never heard of CBD drinks! Where do you get it?

@KeepingUndercover oh that's fantastic loss! I am not far behind at 103kg so I totally get that milestone of 2 digits we want to hit. You will be there in no time.

Dr wants me to go on statins. Will this affect my weight losses or cause any problems with my MJ? They left me with higher cholesterol for about two years and suddenly I need to go on meds.... But they wouldn't give me any weight help.

I’ve only just spotted this thread so would like to join in if ok. I have been on injections for about 18months (Ozempic, now Mounjaro). I’ve lost 23kg in that time, but still have another 20kg at least to lose. I’ve been bobbling about at the same weight for ages but that has coincided with holiday and swapping to Mounjaro at the start dose. I’ve just had my first 7.5mg today so hoping that kick starts the losses again, and my mind set is back following too much good food and wine in the last few weeks.

I’ve loved the effect these injections have had, it really is transforming.

@GreyFinch Yes! I have found I have lots of spare time and going to bed early too. I am going to join the gym soon and build a good sustainable routine to support maintenance.

@PissedOffNeighbour22 I had a major takeaway problem in the past - Papa John’s was my downfall 🤭 - but at the moment I am watching money because I am in the middle of four year training for a new profession and so I’ve told myself if I have any cravings for a takeaway I have to save money by buying whatever it is I want from the supermarket instead. It usually does the trick of putting me off 😄 Can you find something else to help celebrate the milestones? Like a new haircut or a massage, nails done or even trips out and experiences. I booked some cheap theatre tickets recently for October which I am looking forward to.

Tesco, Waitrose, I think most supermarkets do them now. They were on offer at Tesco last time I looked, the Goodrays ones with 30mg CBD 4 for £6.

I ordered a case of Trip ones from their website with a good first order discount, though they don't have as much CBD. Their 'calm down' one has 25mg CBD though it does have apple cider vinegar in so doesn't taste quite as nice as the other flavours. I think they do a mixed case you can try them all.

@Alicewondersalot problem is I'm incredibly tight with money so just couldn't justify spending money on myself. Beauty treatments are my idea of hell, even a haircut 😄. I do sometimes treat myself to a cheap theatre ticket if I'm away with work though. DP pays for the takeaways so they don't cost me anything. If he suddenly stopped paying for them I'd probably finally stop eating them 😂.

I eat a lot of junk food when I'm away with work though as the meal allowances don't cover nice meals and I don't like paying extra towards. Lately I've not been entitled to many evening meals so that's saved me calories!

Just so everyone can make an informed decision, the jury is still out around the long term safety of these drinks and the FDA has reduced the recommended daily CDB consumption limit to below what many of these drink contain.

https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/news/food-standards-agency-and-food-standards-scotland-update-consumer-advice-for-cbd