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've had them a lot, but only on day 2/3 (i dont get a lot of suppresion in the first 24 hours), so I put up with them. The worst thing is the paranoia about your breath, so I got myself some mints.

I did try injecting in my thigh instead of my stomach and although I didn't get them injecting there, I didn't get much suppression either.

End of week 2 weigh in day today and I've stayed the same this week. I have to say I'm disappointed as I have been on track with calories other than Friday evening and consciously ate less this weekend to compensate and I've done as much exercise as I can fit in.
I know it's only titration amounts at the moment but, with the week I had, I would have hoped to lose even if I hadn't been on MJ.
I know there was some chat earlier on the thread about weight loss and dress sizes. A few years ago when I lost the baby weight, I went down a dress size whilst only losing 2lbs. I'd started Couch 2 5k and 30 day shred and was eating really healthily. It was a real reminder that your body can change shape without the scales changing. Unfortunately for me, I've had no changes to my body shape or the scales this week!
What angle do you hold the needle at when injecting? Week 1, I did it at a sort of 45 degree angle and had no bruise but then I thought I should have do it at 90 degrees so did that last week and still have the bruise!
Fingers crossed for all of those weighing in today!

I've always injected into my thigh. Have had plenty of burps but this is the first time getting the freshly boiled egg flavour burps. 🤮
The only thing I did different was eat mostly carbs, and not nearly enough calories.
Today I'll have to try much harder to eat better.

Has anyone heard from @rainbowl ?

Thank you to those of you who replied to my 'down in the dumps' post yesterday, it is much appreciated and I'm feeling a lot less deflated about the past week now. Most journeys will have ups and downs, right?

Yes it is both weigh in day and injection day here today so I'll update with any loss or gain later on. It's also food shop day so I'm going to stock up on protein protein protein 🙂

Handhold for others who are feeling a bit demotivated this week or haven't had much of a loss, as PP said, the general trend will still be downwards and we've got this!

So last night I took my 5mg two days early. The food noise over Friday and Saturday was unbelievable and I binged! Plus I had wine and it didn't affect me at all! Normally if I've tried a glass I have to throw it after a few sips but nope, I managed three glasses!!!

The jab plus my utrogestan progesterone HRT has made me very dopey and tired though! I just want to sleep!

I just use a syringe.
Push the needle into the end of the pen and extract the solution.

Then inject at a 45° angle into my stomach

Yes I agree- some people feel it is rude to compliment weight loss due to body positivity (ie pointing out there was something wrong before when you were larger).

I'm with you on that, the psychological aspect is definitely the hardest. I've just weighed myself and I'm 11.13 stone so exactly the same as last week. I'm ok with that as I was worried about gaining so I'm going to write off the past week as a break of sorts and reset from today.

Twice weekly weigh in is a good idea, as another poster mentioned before it takes some of the power away from the scales. Working hard all week and seeing no change can be a real kicker.

It's a new week so let's make it a good one 🤞🏼

Oh I have really felt the difference in what I can eat moving up to 5mg
2.5 worked pretty well for me, I lost 11 pounds although stalled a bit week 4 and 5. But although I was eating low calories I still ate a variety of things.
Moved up up 5mg on Thursday, was up in the night feeling awful after some wine and tapas with friends friday and currently not feeling confident being far from a loo after having some crisps last night.
Though it's
not pleasant I do feel it's good that I need to think about what I eat and not just overall calories, a lesson I need to learn.
On the bonus side that's nearly a stone off in just over 5 weeks, which was my goal before my hols in 2 weeks from now.

Asda said they have a short supply of 5mg and if you want 5mg to order sooner rather than later. Didn’t affect me as I went for 7.5mg

Did my second 2.5 jab last night, and my first weigh in this morning. Just over a 5lb loss, I’m thrilled with that as knew I had a lot of water weight to lose.

SW: 14st 13.9lbs
CW: 14st 8.5lb

i'm a type 2 diabetic. once I found out and stopped eating as many carbs (bread, chips, spuds, rice pasta beans, sugars, fruit) and ate high protein high veg diet (90g of protein and at least 200g of veg - i like cabbage, broccoli and mushrooms) I had no ibs or any constipation. I had lifelong reflux and IBS and it's all gone. I eat class 1 protein, (eggs, meat, fish), green leafy and other veg, blueberries and berries, for fruit, and full fat dairy. I have less than 50g of carbs a day (beige food). Good luck with this! i may try it too as bmi has crept up.

Greetings thread eight!

Yay!!!!

First injection last night, feeling very positive and empowered! Wacky dreams all night, but I don't know whether that was connected. Woke up this morning feeling no different to usual. Until it kicks in, my plan is to focus forward on a future maintenance eating pattern, having half portions of normal lowish carb, lowish fat food (we always have home-cooked anyway), so had a boiled egg and carrot sticks for breakfast (normally I'd have 2). And drink lots of water, which I often forget to do. Off I go!

Week 10 weigh in and lost 2lb this week, despite being on holiday.

Total of 26lb so far on Mounjaro.

It was self catering and I have a 2 and 4 year old so didn’t sit down much!

Started my 7.5mg today, so hoping the side effects aren’t too bad!

Well done @April88, especially being on holiday.

Week 9 here and I've lost 0.8kg, my BMI is now exactly 40 so hopefully next week I'll slip below it. That's a big milestone for me!

Last night I was very snacky and ate some biscuits and things pretty mindlessly around 9pm. It's very rare for me to eat after dinner at all these days. I'm not letting it get to me too much though. I ended up making myself a peppermint tea to put a stop to it, I should have done that first!

I know a few people are a bit down that people aren't noticing their losses.

I don't know if this helps or not but when I used to lose a lot of weight (ED in my younger years) people would comment on my weight loss and tell me how great I looked etc (it was the height of 90s heroin chic obsession). Then when then weight went back on and I was a normal healthy weight I'd remember all the comments and obsess over them and feel utterly worthless.

There's definitely been a big push over recent years to raise awareness of the psychological impact of commenting on weight loss. Maybe people are being mindful of that?

If I've noticed that a friend has lost weight I tend to comment on how good an outfit looks.

@BlackFriYay I’m glad you weighed and faced the scales. And a stick is great. This is the main reason I do stick to weighing daily. And at night. I’m not hiding that.

I don’t mind seeing the up and down now after just shy of three months. It helps me remember our body isn’t a machine. Up and down and the overall trend is always down. My stall was hard but I would rather a stall and working out do I need to actually eat more, walk more. Poop more! 🫣

@KeepingUndercover it's great that you're recognising the mindless eating and working out how to deal with it.

I feel as though being on the MJ journey is helping us all to take a step back from things and recognise unhealthy patterns and giving us the time to adjust.

Long term habits are bound to raise their heads as and it's helpful that they do as we get to practice dealing with them. Or at least that's what I'm telling myself!

Keep plodding on. You'll hit your milestone soon.

@FlappyFish poop more made me laugh!

@MountKilimounjaro Great post and I echo every word. My partner and family and friends have seen my weight go to over 18 stone with alcoholism nine years ago. They also know about my Bulimia, albeit that was 20 plus years ago. Now I’ve lost two stone you can’t miss my weight loss but the main thing everyone mentions is “are you healthy?are you eating ok?”

They all know I’m on MJ now.

It’s a strange thing with weight loss. I think we want that external validation, but we also don’t want it. Especially if we’re not saying what we are using.

Seems like a few of us are having a bumpy journey at the moment. Just finished my first week on 7.5 and apart from day 1/2 I haven't lots of suppression. Very surprising. I'm going to try a different injection area next time to see if it makes a difference.
My aim this week is to try and hit 10000 steps a day - I really don't move enough at the moment.