Continuing Mounjaro...part 8

[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. Also below you can plot the effect of your doses.
https://glp1plotter.com/

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

Also there is a 5th dose in each pen. To extract it you can either try a hard twist or use an insulin needle.
https://medbasic.co.uk/bd-micro-fine-30g-1ml-syringes-needles

10 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day.

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 2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169. Use code STARTNOW. Ask for other codes if that doesn't work.
• The Family Chemist 2.5mg and 5mg -£149. 7.5mg £169.
• Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 5mg
• Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189
• Asda 2.5mg and 5mg £184. 7.5mg £189
• Boots £219 +
• Chemist4U £179 +
• Superdrugs

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

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

I was feeling quite positive at the beginning of the week as I'd got down to 13st which is close to a 3st loss. Got on the scales this morning and had a 2.5lb gain.

I've been working away for a couple of days but didn't think I'd done too badly. I'm really dreading next week as I'm away with work all week and have no chance of doing any exercise plus won't be able to diet properly.

I have zero chance of hitting my second goal weight of 12.5st for may bank holiday week and my 40th. It's not the end of the world but it's pretty annoying.

@Vamozz I would stick to weekly. The doses are meant to gradually build in your body, if you delay injecting that isn't going to work the way it was meant to.

Medexpress have asked for another round of photos before I can change over to them, i was worried because i have lost 11lb in two weeks and thought it might tip me over into not looking fat enough. So if anyone wants tips on taking super unflattering photos of yourself!!!

Take photo from a low angle
Wear light or shiny, tight clothing.
hair up (to show off your jowls)
relax your gut
don't stand up straight
look down at the camera slightly to accentuate the double chin
don't pull up your leggings so they can't hide your love handles
harsh artificial lighting from in front of you
look a bit miserable

Haha, if it wasn't outing i would show you the before/after photos it was weird trying to NOT do all the things I usually do to make myself look better. I have been holding my gut in for years!! very hard not to do.

@KeepingUndercover congratulations!

@Vamozz my appetite suppression almost never goes away, from day one of injecting. So I’ve been injecting on full suppression every time. It’s fine I think!

I ate three times yesterday for the first time in ages. Had quite an appetite (for me!) after days of feeling nausea. I was fully expecting to regain the last few days’ losses, and comfortable with that, but another pound has gone, which was lovely.

SW 13.4
CW 11.11.8
TW 10.7

Morning all and weight day.

Week 12. I think 😂

SW 14.1
CW 11.10

Period week. What happens and I can see this definitively now is I waver all over with water retention and tend to whoosh after. It’s a shame period lasts 8 days. I also have a 23 day cycle.

Slow and steady wins the race. Except there is no race as there’s no end point. I need to teach my head that each month I don’t go eff it when off Mounjaro as this happens each time.

Thanks to all for the replies ☺️
I'll stick to the plan.

It's finally arrived!
10 days after ordering from MedExpress, it's arrived this morning.
I'm feeling nervous about taking it because I'm really scared of it not working for me and then I'll feel like a failure all over again like I have done every time I've been to SW and WW groups with the leaders telling me they can't understand why I'm not losing weight months in to following their programme 100% correctly.
I've spent years thinking my body has some sort of unknown disorder that steadily gains weight year upon year despite never eating more calories than I need (I log my intake daily and never exceed my calorie limit) and I have a body that just doesn't respond to well known weight loss programmes.
I've felt trapped in this heavy body for so many years.
So I've got a brain block this morning that's preventing me from injecting, and a horrible feeling that I'll fail at this too!!!
I'm absolutely certain I've got some sort of metabolic disorder.

Thats great!

Just go for it. You won't know if it will work for you until you try it. I think its important to remember that it only there as a tool to help, you still need to do the work.

I made the mistake with Ozempic that it would instantly banish cravings and i spent a week binging. I stopped in the end just because of the behaviour that it was causing was so dangerous.

With MJ I am approaching it as any other diet, discipline, sensible choices, patience and maybe this will help me not fall off the wagon like I always do in the past. I've always been an ALMOST successful dieter. I'm a good cook, i like healthy food, I have successfully lost weight in the past. I just need that extra omph.

I've spend a lot of money on it so I don't want to waste the opportunity too!

I also had a mini goal to get down to the 13s by my holiday in a few weeks. So like 13st 13lbs! I don't think I'll hit my goal either!

It's silly as I dont want to lost too fast anyway, but still want to lose to get to that mini goal! Lol

Is this a stay the same week?

It's catch 22 as you don't want to lose too fast and get cut off your meds, but also you want to lose that weight!

That is a long time of the month too and a short non period window. Must be frustrating!

@thehousewiththesagegreensofa well done for losing. 2.5mg is getting body used to it dose so any loss is a bonus.
@KeepingUndercover thats a great boost to be in next bracket

I’ve been away for a few days and while I’ve eaten very carefully I’ve had more than usual and a small bc amount of alcohol so I know I’ll be a gain. It should come off quickly once back to normal.

Well done for the losses today

Good luck @GloriaBunniford . It sounds like MJ will work for you. Fingers crossed it works for you.

Go for it! Mine is due to be delivered today and I’m anxious, excited and worried it’s going to make me feel really ill. I’m going to take mine today so if I am going to be sick hopefully it will be at the weekend. I really don’t want to be dashing to the loo or feeling nauseous at work. Maybe I’m overthinking.

I email Med Express yesterday as I want to ove to them. How long do they normally take to respond? I’ve got a dose left plus bonus dose of it works so I’m ok for at least a week.

@GloriaBunniford if you do have a metabolic disorder (which is not remotely unlikely) then Mounjaro will help that. Have you read up on how it works? Try googling it and metabolic disorder - I think you’ll find it interesting if you haven’t already.

A friend of mine who has been diagnosed with seriously wonky hormones has been prescribed Rybelsus by her specialist, which is Ozempic’s pill form, although she is not hugely overweight. The reason Ozempic and Mounjaro are prescribed for Type II are not to help people lose weight, but to regulate their food response.

Good luck. This is a new start! We’re with you.

My first pen is in the fridge 😬 but I'm too scared to do it. Worried about side effects. I hate feeding sick. And i tend to over think and then make myself feel iffy.

Having a bit of a low day today. Took my bonus from my 2.5 pen on Tuesday and have had no symptoms or suppression at all. I feel how I did before MJ - constantly hungry and all the food aversions I had are also gone so I find myself reaching for sweet things more regularly. I clearly haven’t got out of that habit yet even after a month on MJ.

also made the mistake of weighing myself this morning after eating a ridiculous amount yesterday and I’ve gained 1lb from where I was on Monday

don’t know why I’m posting really, just feeling rubbish and thought it might help to type it out.

I have my 5mg pen ready to go but even if I take it early, it wouldn’t be til the weekend and who knows what damage I can do in that time!

Ergh my weight loss is slower than a snails pace. I reduced my calories this week from 1500 to approximately 12-1300 saw some movement yesterday which has gone back on again today. It's official weigh day tomorrow so fingers crossed I go back down again. I've literally lost about 9lbs in 5 weeks. So am very jealous of people losing that in the first week.

Re photos I sent in wearing just underwear, they probably had a quick glance and went yes just prescribe her so we don't have to look again

Oh and the wool packaging I had put some out for the birds and just saw a blue tit taking some.

Here is a newbie thread that might be useful too! We are all quite used to the side effects now I think. Very very good luck x

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5066634-starting-mounjaro-may-2024

I'm sorry you're feeling low today - can you get any more out of your pen? I got 2 bonus doses out of mine - you could do a little more to titrate up to 3.75mg maybe and it will get you through the next few days.

I weigh daily as I find it takes the pressure off... and keeps me accountable. Also remember, you are not on a theraputic dose yet.

Any weight loss or suppression you have experienced thus far is purely a bonus. xx

Just be patient with yourself.

72hrs after injecting you will have the full effects - and if, on 2.5mg, the effects are zero, this is normal.

It will be 4 or 5 weeks from starting that you begin to get into theraputic range - 7.5mg is the theraputic dose, so you will need to be very kind to yourself and patient with yourself.

We are all rooting for one another on this thread x

I'm moving over to them too. They have been responding to me usually by the following day and sometimes same day although they say within 3 days.

Thank you to everyone who has responded, thank you for being so encouraging and supporting and positive! And thanks for the advice you've all given.
No I haven't heard or read about the effect of MJ on metabolic problems @Wonkypictureframe I will do that tonight!