Slow losers club! (Ozempic, wegovy, mountjaro etc)

[LeafUsAlone]

There are so many weight loss injection threads, but I thought I'd start this for anyone feeling a bit deflated by their slower than average loses. It can be disheartening to see others losing multiple lbs per week when it is a slower process for some.

Hi all - just wanted to say to not feel too frustrated when you're averaging 1lb per week. There are plenty of us here not losing that much even!

You’re right. I’ve made an informed decision to stop after my last dose of 5mg next week. I’ve been on it since July and barely lost a thing. Up and down with the same 2lbs. I can lose 1lb a week through diet alone if I set my mind to it!

This! Haha! I have been teetering on the edge of my next pound for five days now!

The only thing I would say is that you haven’t been on it a long time, and 2.5mg and 5mg are low doses. You’re not expected to lose a lot of weight on those doses, it isn’t intended to be a therapeutic dose. So it’s your prerogative but talk it through with your pharmacy, as maybe trying a higher dose might work.

I have lost 20lbs in 26 weeks. It's a bit better than I thought actually, but it averages out as 0.7lbs per week!

I agree with this.
Obviously it's your decision @NavigatingMounjaro but I didnt lose much until I was on a higher dose (Im on Ozempic). However, completely understand if it isn't for you - I questioned it too for a long time at one point

I do wonder, how much I could be losing on my oen in the same calorie deficit.

But without mounjaro I would have the incessant urge to raid the crisps to eat my feelings, any feelings. I'd feel like I ruined my diet and use it as an excuse to eat more and more.
I don't seem to have that normal fullness that most people have when eating, stop when full - I continue even when full because I am never satisfied.
So I rationalise, I could lose 1 or 2lb per week without mounjaro if and its a big if I could continue with my calorie deficit but 39 years of knowing myself tell me I will absolutely mess it up eventually 😕

@NavigatingMounjaro What @Pinkyp22 said is me too. Earlier posts here show my despair as I crawled through the 5mg doses with no side effects and very slow losses - less than a pound a week. Now I’m getting side effects (aside, none so far since injecting yesterday but let’s see what I have fondly christened Slurry Saturday brings) and I’m hoping that the weight loss will follow. But like Pinky, I would have binged more than once by now if I weren’t on Mj and hand on heart I wouldn’t have lost the 11lb in 12 weeks that I have lost. I probably wouldn’t have lost anything, just a pound on, two pounds off, stay the same, three pounds on because I got frustrated, etc etc.

Only a couple of weeks ago the only thing - honestly the ONLY thing - which kept me on Mj was knowing that if I stopped, I’d always wonder if a higher dose would have worked. And during all those emotional crises, envy of others and rage, my body has quietly gone about its business, dropping the thick end of a stone and moving out of an obese BMI for the first time in eight years.

Remembering what I’ve posted in the past, I’m aware of the irony of my sitting here typing a “don’t give up” message. Everyone is different. But I’m glad I carried on. I think Mj brings a lot of emotions with it. Whatever you decide, I wish you well.

I've had good, consistent results, sometimes a kilo a week, sometimes a little less, someone's a little more but usually with an uptick a few days later. I'm going on holiday in two weeks and I'm so worried that I'll undo this progress but I don't want to not enjoy myself. We're going to an Ikos resorts so it's all inclusive but lots of delicious a la carte restaurants to enjoy. Ive been quite restrictive at home so I suppose I just have what I want and let the appetite suppression do it's thing? Has any one else navigated a holiday yet? The bonus is I've not had to shop for much as I now fit into clothes from 4 years ago!

@Ifyounevergiveup what a great update to read. So glad to hear that you broke through the tough times.

I've definitely had to take the 'just keep plodding on' approach. Time is going to march on regardless, those tiny loses do eventually add up, the most important thing is to stay consistent.

Like you I'd definitely have given in to binges and cravings without Mounjaro. It gives me staying power and that staying power allows for the incremental gains to add up.

Right now I'm in a month+ long stall and it's frustrating but I have to trust the process. I started in March and am 3 and a half stone down, I still have the same again to go. I have to remind myself this is a long road....it's tough at times though!

@Ifyounevergiveup Thank you so much for such an insightful message. Again, you’ve just summed up exactly how I feel. There’s a part of me wondering if going up to 7.5mg will be the sweet spot for me to start losing a bit more effectively than I have been to date, or whether it’ll just be another month+ of frustration. I have loved not having the food noise and just being able to get on with my life without food being the focus, but I want the weight loss as well! Makes me sound impatient, I know! 🤣 I’m injecting my last dose of 5mg tonight and I’ll have a good think today about the best way forward from here. I am tempted to go for 7.5mg just to see… I am grateful for your considered and positive outlook on this topic, and I too wish you well on your journey x

I am on the 5mg now and honestly no side effects and feel the same as on 2.5mg. Weight loss showing the same pattern of sticking at the same for 5, 6, 7 days and then dropping a bit but a bit like @Ifyounevergiveup I am trying to accept that I've lost over a stone in 5 weeks and that is incredible, especially as my overall goal was to lose about 32lbs and I've lost 16lb of it already. I am just being impatient and I need to see progress frequently or I lose motivation.

@Bs0u416d I went on holiday on week 2 and 3 of starting MJ and lost weight. I felt so differently about food. We were in self catering but in November we are going all inclusive again but I am not worried. On my past holidays pre MJ, I would have thought, 'I deserve to treat myself,' but on MJ, I felt so different... why would I sabotage myself and pay money for MJ then put on weight? I tracked my eating, too. You can still have nice food and eat healthy on holiday. My BIG struggle was feeling deprived not drinking alcohol whereas at home, I am happy not to drink at all on MJ. Out of 14 days, I drank on 4 days. The last day I had 3 Aperol Spritz and they gave me indigestion and I felt a bit sick...not sure if I will drink on my next holiday but if I do I will stick to spirits and low cal mixer. Everyone is different, though, and if it's going to spoil your holiday, just eat and drink what you fancy, but maybe in smaller quantities, as you will probably be used to smaller portions. Hope that's helpful. Enjoy your holiday!

Thank you. What you described is how I'm hoping I feel, enjoying food in moderation but not 'treating' myself just because. I'll certainly be enjoying a few glasses of wine, I have been drinking at weekends at home and it doesn't seem to have caused my much of an issue in terms of weight loss.

I'm a bit stressed because I have a week of work travel so out of control of what I am eating to a certain extent and lots of 'drinks' and meals out with colleagues and customers. Also won't be able to weigh myself which is bothering me as that keeps me on track. Just going to have to roll with it. Doing my second MJ jab the night before I go so fingers crossed no side effects appear while I am away.

I've found that having a starter and then another starter instead of a main, has taken a lot of a headache of stressing about calories/feeling guilty/feeling pressured to eat more food so I don't look fussy or rude.

Hi, I'm back on semaglutide after being switched to tirzepatide for a few months. Thinking about my whole journey with injectable weight loss medication I wonder what I should realistically be aiming for. I know some people lose really huge amounts and others find these medications aren't right for them. I think I'm in between, lucky it works well but not losing half my bodyweight.

I took semaglutide for a bit over a year then had about a year where supply issues meant I was prescribed different things at times then switched to tirzepatide.

From the start semaglutide was a relief and made me feel 'normal ' in a way I hadn't for years. At my highest dose I sometimes had unpleasant side effects but they were manageable.

My prescriber had high hopes that tirzepatide would kick-start further weight loss after a bumpy patch but unfortunately it didn't suit me.

My BMI has gone from the high 30s to the low 30s which feels like a big improvement. In a perfect world getting to a healthy weight would be my goal. 15% from my starting weight wouldn't get me under 30 BMI though. I'm a few pounds up (since medication changes stop start etc) but gently reducing again now back on semaglutide and working my way up the doses.

Thank you for reading this screed, any thoughts or another perspective would be very welcome.

@SnacklessWonder
16lbs in 5 weeks is amazing, I had only lost 8lbs in that time 🙄 well actually I lost 10lbs then put 2lbs on and kept them for a further 3 weeks 😭
I really do believe for some, me included it will be a long process!

@Ifyounevergiveup hope your side effect free this weekend

5.5 weeks in and I have lost 12lbs despite being about 4 stone overweight when I started. I am on 5mgs and the suppression is fine at the moment - I feel that I am eating very little and have gone right off alcohol. Is there any point in going up to 7.5mg - I really don't know how I could eat less. Tea only for breakfast. 2-3 coffee with semi-skinned and/or tea up to lunch. Bowl of homemade soup for lunch and something like hummus and veg sticks or smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for dinner. Edited to add I do have hypothroidism.

Hi @nationaltreasureDA if that's a typical day of your food then I would stay on 5. If 7.5mg suppresses your appetite more you won't be getting enough protein and nutrients.

You already seem to be on a low calories per day and not too heavy on protein. Do you feel ok energy wise? I find I occasionally I have to eat a bit of carbohydrate if I get too tired.

I am struggling with protein as I have also gone off meat since starting MJ. I am eating eggs, hummus and Greek yogurt. Energy wise I am tired but I have spent the last 20 years feeling tired so I don't know if much has changed. I will look at alternative sources of carbs (previously I ate a lot of beige carbs)

@nationaltreasureDA can you eat fish or shellfish? I’ve only just recently remembered how high in protein they are but fewer calories (by a long way in the case of cod, for example) than meat. A more delicate flavour too if you’re finding meat off putting.

@nationaltreasureDA Ive seen some people drinking electrolytes to help reduce their tiredness, I wonder if this would help

So hungry today. 5mg is definitely not suppressing as much as 2.5mg was. Hope dose 2 is more effective!

Can anyone tell me about electrolytes please? I haven't a clue. Do you buy them ready Madrid or can you make them yourself? Feeling very tired and sleeping badly. Thanks in advance x