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

@AgathaMystery I’ve had two tasting menus since I started (both birthday celebrations) and am thoroughly relieved there are no more planned any time soon. I dreaded them but they were OK. Both times I injected a day early so by the time they came round I was on day 8 with the least suppression possible, but still had no appetite. I found the small plates thing far easier to deal with as there is a bit of time for each thing to go down. I only had a tiny amount of bread (both meals featured a ‘bread course’ so couldn’t entirely opt out without looking weird) and kept alcohol to a minimum. The first time I was struggling a bit by the end but luckily was just with DH so handed him some of it to finish. The second time was better but it was towards the end of my time on 5mg so side effects were lessened, and the portions were smaller too, with fewer courses. I decided that tasting menus are all about taste so I was prepared to just try some of the courses if they felt daunting.

This is of course the very epitome of First World Problem!

BMI is such a nonsense in my opinion @GloriaBunniford- this thread currently running on AIBU proves it https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5079048-to-ask-you-if-youre-a-size-12-or-14-and-5ft9-or-5ft10-what-do-you-weigh?page=4&reply=135413222

Re. the shaming people using these drugs, I think what’s not understood is that eat less, move more (which should perhaps be eat the right things and move more) is fine as advice to not gain in the first place but is of little use when you’ve already gained a lot for whatever reason as you’re then literally fighting biology. Our bodies evolved to put weight on when they can and to then fight losing it.

Anyone can lose half a stone to ten pounds easily enough but past that point you’re fighting evolution and very few people win that fight!

The best advice of course is to not put on weight in the first place as it’s much easier to maintain a normal weight than to lose weight and I think from my experience it’s also much easier to maintain a normal weight than to maintain an overweight or obese weight without gaining further due to the hormonal issues weight gain creates.

Its also much easier to do all of that while not eating processed food, plenty of fibre, protein and veg. We’re all going to have to figure all that out while also dealing with whatever hormonal issues we each have. Of course some of us have put on weight due to health issues, pregnancies menopause etc., some of us have just eaten and drank too much of the wrong things, for some of us (me!) it’s a combination!

But all the moralising when we’ve finally found a way to trick evolution and start over is just daft and those people just don’t understand biology.

Pay no attention, it makes a change from complaing about barking dogs or gaslighting partners/work colleagues/parents/children.

Writing about DRUGS? Oooh I bet there is some misinformed fake news that they are in the grip of 😂😂

Just saw this on a fitness guy I follow on Instagram 🙌🏻

@imnottoofussed

Very sensibly put I think!

Those in glass houses…
move not read it because I don’t want their negativity but weight gain can certainly happen to anyone!
so let’s all hope when we are all at our best they gain all the weight and we shall see if it changes their minds!

I was always very slim at a size 6 until I had my son then I stayed at a size 8 through until I had a full hysterectomy and multiple sclerosis doesn’t allow me to sustain my own weight or walk far now, if at all! so should I put extra pressure on myself and body which impacts my every day life or should I try and lose it to make life a tad easier and save the nhs a bundle of money?!

why must they throw everyone in the same bucket and launch it to the sharks?
they should go back to blaming celebrities…. Honestly it’s very boring that they come here to attack so I shall continue to ignore them 😂🤣

i wish everyone taking this step the very best wishes as it is hard enough, so I’ll only ever encourage and be glad to be on this journey with all the lovely people I’ve met!
in other words F them! xx

I've read some of that thread, but it's just frustrating and the fear mongering is not helpful.

It's my official weigh in day today (I weigh daily) for 9 full weeks (started on March 20th).
22.5lbs/10.2kg lost so far and almost 2lbs down on last week. BMI is 31.8, down from 35.
Very happy with this.

Well done @RagzRebooted ! We're following very similar journeys :)

People see being overweight as a moral failing. It’s obviously wrong, but it’s sadly how a lot of people think. That’s where this kind of attitude comes from.

I'd just ignore threads like that. People are always going to have their opinions the same as people who are for/against the flu jab or covid vaccine.
I don't think anyone on this thread took the decision to start Mounjaro lightly and are taking it seriously so just tune out the other noise. This is your journey.

That JosiePosey one on that thread I reckon is clearly jealous so to make herself feel good has to rubbish what other people are doing. It’s a bit sad really

Asda have started using DPD. I ordered yesterday morning and it arrived this morning. Happy days.

@FlappyFish we also got dpd yesterday but the box wasn't very cold at all- even the ice bags were melted. I wasn't too impressed! Was yours as cold as normal?

Also - only got 4 needles this time. They are obviously cutting costs!

Thank you!! That’s so reassuring.

Friday is my injection day so tomorrow night will be lowest suppression. I’m not going to touch the excellent bread and I’m not doing the wine flight. I cannot tolerate booze on this drug!

NSV - two people I don’t see often have commented that I’ve lost weight. I think this is actually working.

Can i ask is anyone on Rituximab and taking weight loss medication?

Hello everyone, and welcome and good luck to the new comers.
I just weighed before taking my 3rd 5mg dose and have finally moved down another 2lbs. I had seemed to stall at an 11lbs weight loss, which mainly happened by weeks 3-4 so I was thrilled to see a bit of movement. I am so hoping to have lost my first stone by next week!
I was interested to find out if those who have experienced vomiting are injecting into their stomach? I have been too scared to inject in my stomach yet as I have a really phobia of being sick. I was going to do this weeks shot in my stomach as I saw that mixing up injection sites can kick start a plateau, but then when I saw I'd lost 2lbs the needle went straight into my thigh again! The thigh seems to be working well in terms of a slow build up to full appetite suppression by day 3,which I quite like but maybe that's just me.
Anyway, for those of you who have lovely meals and holidays coming up, enjoy!x

Until today (5th dose) i have done all my doses in my belly fat. Other then some bad wind and a headache i haven't had any negative symptoms. I suspect that location doesn't really make much difference other then the previous discussion about changing location to get a more effective dose. If you want to do that why not change leg or something instead? or do the arm? I have been gradually transitioning between doses to avoid a big spike in side effects.

Looking at the thread people are discussing, I think some people genuinely think it melts calories away and we are all gorging on burgers still. They don't understand that it supports reducing the calories you consume and makes eating unhealthy food less appealing. Of course we will want to eat again more normally when we stop, but for many of us the fear of going back is going to stop us gaining too much. Having something change my habits has been an education on eating better, which I hope to continue. I always though exercise and eating your standard sort of meals was enough, but it isn't. I understand calories a lot better and realise exercise isn't really a big factor in weight loss as you age.

Many of us were slim up to a certain menopausal age, but they just assume we've had a lifetime of eating burgers and sitting on our arses. I do just get the impression that some people just want other people to remain fat. I suppose if being thin and acting sanctimonious about it is your identity, I guess it feels like an attack on your confidence and your status if everyone around you starts to lose weight. I had concerns about side effects, but I really felt I was in a situation where my health was getting worse for being overweight, so have decided it was worth the risk.

Stomach has been OK for me. Stronger suppression, but terrible sulphur burps on day 2 to 4. I get achey on day 2 too.

I have always injected into my belly (it’s also where I store my fat so a bit worried about doing my thigh as I think it would hurt more and have more chance of going too deep although that is probably silly). I have been sick this week but hardly any side effects before.

Tasting menu I’d just have a bite…
Cruise, on the line I’ve been on they had a lighter menu my fussy teen ordered from this so grilled chicken or steak with broccoli. One good thing about a cruise is it’s all suits you. I’d tell server you are on a low fat diet for health reasons and ask for sauces on side and sub fried stuff. Breakfast buffets usually have nice fruit.

I definitely notice a difference when I inject into my belly. I get stronger suppression than the times I’ve done it in my thigh. I also chose thigh this time as I’m titrating up and I’m hoping I won’t have a repeat of my vomiting episode. Once I get up to 5 without issue I’ll go back to tummy (if I’m brave enough!)

Also had a read of that other thread and it’s just so frustrating. The people who are against it just don’t want to listen and keep repeating the same nonsense even after someone has proven them to be wrong or offered an argument the other way. There’s no reasoning with people like that. I wish it genuinely was as easy as eat less move more. We’d all be spending this money on something more fun!!

I inject into a fat roll on my stomach. I tried thigh once but didn’t like it as much.
Just has 2nd 7.5mg. Bit of a headache today but that’s it.
Just eaten my first meal of day.
@Soukmyfalafel it really is ignorance that weight is just falling off whilst we eat crap and we’ll all look gaunt.
I’m losing because I’m eating 1000-1200 cals a day mostly protein and veg. I’m just over a stone down since mid March so it’s not dropping off me.
I’d been cc at 1600 a day (my cals to lose according to online and my pt were 1600/1700 a day with me lightly active) That was supposed to put me in cal deficit but was maintaining.
I know I couldn’t have sustained sub 1200 cals a day long term without mj. I used to eat 3 protein based meals, I’m now ok on 2. I used to eat a snack of protein yogurt to keep me going mid afternoon so I’ve cut that as I don’t need to snack on mj.
I wasn’t eating crap.
I was healthy bmi 4 or 5 years ago. Crept up to bmi 26. Had a couple of years of dieting but result was I maintained. As soon as I wasn’t actively dieting I gained just shy of 2 stone in 6 months. And no I wasn’t eating deep fried mars bars.
I spoke to my gp, had blood tests. No explanation.
My own theory is I’ve got insulin resistance/peri menopause/autoimmune going on.