Continuing Mounjaro...part 9

[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.
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. 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.
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:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
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: 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:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

6th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

7th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5062935-continuing-mounjaropart-7?page=1

8th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5068850-continuing-mounjaropart-8?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

@R4ch402 switching up your injection site definitely gives you a boost. If you're eating in a calorie deficit and still plateauing then the advice is to change where you're injecting to help bioavailability.

It worked really well for me. I moved from thighs to stomach and suddenly started losing.

So this morning I tried to take the 5th dose of my 5mg pen and it just didn't work. I managed to force the plunger down but it was then not pushing any medicine. So I ended up throwing it in the bin and starting a new pen. A bit miffed but it's one of those things.
I'm 10st 10 this morning. Super chuffed with it. Officially one more stone to go!

Have a lovely holiday @ObsidianTree - you should go and see the baby elephant orphanage if you can. It's one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. I bottle fed a baby elephant and it was an incredible experience. Mind you, it was 20 years ago so I don't even know if it still exists!

Thanks @CiderJabs. I did that the last time I visited Sri Lanka 😊

Have a great holiday, @ObsidianTree

That must feel amazing @CiderJabs

@WannabeHealthier ha, I always used to wear stretchy black trousers. It’s slimming, right? 🤦🏻‍♀️

Exactly! I’ve been on holidays to places that were warm/hot but overcast when we were there and to be honest it’s a boon for me with my pale Irish skin! Maybe not the case for you but it’ll still be lovely.

And the delicious food, I have smaller portions now but still really appreciate the tastes of different foods.

Even on the beach I’m usually under a brolly anyway but like the warmth and swimming in warm waters.

Yes exactly! I can't stand being in the direct sunlight anyway. So would probably be better if it's cloudy! Would be nice not having to chase my kids around applying sunscreen every 5 mins 🤣

Will be away on holiday for my Wed weigh in, but wanted to report in as I have finally hit the two-stone off mark 😁 It's taken three months. That is apparently the weight of an average two-year-old, so it's no wonder I am feeling much more lively without a 'toddler' to carry about everywhere.

I am still four pounds into the 30+ BMI category, but I feel so much happier and more confident than I did back in Feb. I am meeting some very good friends abroad whom I haven't seen for seven years, so it has given me a great boost.

I know that when I get back there will be more weightloss to come while in the past I would starve myself to get to a milestone event and then pile the weight back on pretty quickly.

Have an amazing holiday @ObsidianTree I hope the weather is perfect for you.

@Thebaldprimadonna wooop well done!

Well done on the 2st!

I've decided I need to up my exercise. I used to be very active not life got in the way and I slowly reduced it to almost nothing.
So this morning I did body pump and now I can't move (and my bum hurts!). I'm hoping that will help me tone up. Trying to think of what else I can do at the gym without making a fool out of myself!

@Thebaldprimadonna congrats on the 2st 🎉🎉

My DP pointed out to me last night I'd lost more than the weight of our child and I was pretty shocked as I'd not thought of it like that. I have a 4yr old and a 2yr old who both weigh just over 2st each and they are bloody heavy to pick up. It's a bit mind blowing to think we were carrying that amount of extra weight around with us (I needed to lose 6st when I started so that's 3 toddlers 🤯).

DP used to weigh plates to show me how much I'd lost but now we'll move to weighing in toddlers 😂.

So I dug out bags of too small stuff that now fits......indeed, some of it is too big. I found lovely shorts that I had never been able to get on and floated about in them during this lovely weekend. I now have loads of T shirts as opposed to one! Looking forward to summer now!

The comments on the weight loss are coming in thick and fast now, FINALLY!
Although I did get. "Wow, you have lost so much. You don't want to look scrawny"🙄. So straight from obese to scrawny FFS. You can't win!
I have 3lb to go to hit BMI 25, so hardly scrawny!

But I am coming to the end ( although I have a smallish stockpile) and will be really sad to stop.
Other than the weightloss, the inflammation in my sore joints has vanished. My horrible allergy to watch straps ( my fit bit had me in raw flesh at times) has vanished. My blood pressure which was high normal, not needing medicated but was I was keeping an eye on it, has dropped into a very healthy zone. And I just generally feel well within myself. I bet my glucose metabolism is lovely and steady now too .

I never had any side effects so my MJ experience has been nothing but positive. I am actually dreading not having my weekly Jag and losing all these lovely side benefits 😳 .
Roll on the day of MJ being a routine NHS prescription!

Love it!

Congratulations @montysma1 - what was your weight when you started and what's your weight now? It must feel amazing to be so close to 25. Are you planning to stop completely or reduce gradually?

I know I should’nt but I chuckled out loud at this. I have the equivalent of 2x of my 5 year old DS to lose. He’s so heavy now, can barely lift him. Insane I’ve been lugging around 2x small children in extra weight! Really puts it into perspective.

Saw my aunt yesterday for first time in several weeks - she was waxing lyrical about the two stone my cousin had lost on his new diet (not her son) and how great he looks. No acknowledgement of my weight loss and we’re pretty close so she would definitely say. So it’s obviously not noticeable which is just insane to me. I can’t understand it, but I still have my big boobs, so maybe that’s what people notice. Weird though!

Well done to everyone for your losses and hope those of you lucky enough to be jetting off on holiday have a great time- especially our dedicated thread leader @ObsidianTree - thank you for all you do here to support everyone ❤️

Well done @montysma1 I’m so pleased to hear we have our first graduate soon! None of us had probably heard of Mounjaro at the beginning of 2024 and less than 6 months later it’s already changing lives. So inspiring! What a revelation in healthcare to celebrate!

@CiderJabs
I've lost 71 lbs since April 22!
The first 11 I lost myself.

Then lost 30lb on Ozempic last year, then couldn't get any more!
Managed to maintain for 6 months then started MJ on 15th Mar this year and have lost another 30lb since then.

Target wt is 150lbs, sitting on 153lb today, so......won't be long.

I dont know if I can afford maintainance😳.
I have a 10mg pen spare and might buy one more.

I aim to get to 139 lb , which would get me to about Bmi 23. That would be a nice buffer zone. Should be doable on the pens I have left.

Think I’m on week 7 as of today. Down to 12st 12 from 14st 3. Nice and steady weight loss which I’m happy with.
Clothes are all to big but I refuse to buy any at the moment till I’m at my goal weight of 11st 7.
I should hit that target the day I go on holiday in July.
On another note, I’m no longer obese. Just overweight according to my BMI 😂

@montysma1 that is amazing!!! Well done. You should be proud!

I can't afford maintenance either but I'm also worried about how I'll manage to maintain. I'm sort of thinking I'll buy a 5mg pen and use half a dose a week for my last one.

I get the buffer idea. I want one too. But the last few lbs are bastard ones!

Congrats all on your losses and NSV. I did dose 3 of 2.5mg last night and I’m exhausted today. Ridiculously ‘meh’, just want hot bath and bed. Thinking about it I did the same last week, I was in bed at 7pm last Monday. The kids were very perplexed.

5lbs off though to date so I’m happy with this. Excited to see it become 10lb, etc!

@WannabeHealthier it could well be the boobs as that is what I'm getting the comments on. One of my colleagues said to me the other week 'I don't want you to think I stare at your tits, but omg where have they gone?' 😂. Other comments have mainly been boob related too.

I was really bulky round the chest and it made my arms look bigger too as there was a lot of boob at the sides. I've only dropped a back size, but they've lost their fullness so they're far less noticeable. Getting rid of some of the chins above them has probably helped too haha.

That actually makes a lot of sense, I tend to look at my belly and hips when scrutinising my body but I do notice a lot of people looking at my boobs- not in a pervy way but I think the eye is drawn to them!

Back again after another busy weekend - I'm skim-read to catch up, well done on the losses and NSVs, keep on going for the stallers and stayers.
Think I've stayed this week - there was quite a lot of beer this weekend. But a LOT of exercise too. I've cycled a lot, think we did around 25-30 miles yesterday on Raleigh Choppers - hard work, so I earned the Chinese takeaway we had last night.
I went for a beef and broccoli dish, rather than my usual sweet and sour pork balls with S&S sauce, special fried rice and prawn crackers. I didn't eat much of it, but topped it up with some wine.... wine is definitely my downfall, although not as much as it used to be.
I've got my next 5mg pen, going to stay on that dose for a while as it's working for me at the moment. Holiday coming up next week, will take my pen with me to dose as usual I think.
This week is take measurements week - I'm measuring every 4 weeks so it will be interesting to see how this month has gone. Will update on Thursday when I've wielded the tape measure.

Please anyone have a discount code for Medexpress

Consult-bloom still seems to work.