Continuing Mounjaro Thread 10

[FlappyFish]

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

9th thread
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5074054-continuing-mounjaropart-9

Thread for newbies just starting out:

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

Courtesy of Flappy, deputising for the wonderful Obsidian.

8lb is good going don’t be disappointed. Lots of people need to move up to get suppressed appetite it may not mean increased symptoms.

@FlappyFish at least you're self aware and engaging with these feelings. 6 or 7 years ago I lost 50lbs+ doing keto, but I didn't really engage with it. I hit a healthy weight, had no plan for maintenance and didn't really know what to do with myself and it didn't actually change anything about me apart from my dress size... so I ate it all back on. I think, like you, I expected to be magically happy once I was slim. Unfortunately, it doesn't work like that. I had a lot of other things going on and went straight back to using food as a reward and a crutch after nearly a year of depriving myself.
Therapy sounds like a great idea.

Klaxon sound please...
The scales were kind to me after a weekend camping (which usually makes me constantly hungry) and I have finally hit my first goal of under 100kgs.
I weigh 99.9kg today!
I was aiming for before the end of May and wasn't sure I'd make it, but it's there.

Well, I’m slowly coming back from the dead!

I don’t feel nauseous anymore and the headache is gone, thank goodness! But God, that 2.5 injection kicked my butt yesterday!

I managed to eat breakfast today (protein bagel, fat free cottage cheese and turkey slice)! Hopefully I can continue, because yesterday was rough. I had a protein shake the entire day, as I couldn’t stomach anything else, and it got me a little spooked if that’s what it will be for me, but I’m happy things are looking up for me appetite wise!

I was going to wait and weigh myself on Sat morning at the 1 week mark, but I decided to weigh myself today(day 4) and I’m 2.5 kg / 5.5 lbs down.

Fabulous work @RagzRebooted 🎉

Congratulations @RagzRebooted , brilliant milestone.

@RagzRebooted congrats!! Breaking that scale and also psychological barrier is always amazing.

@CormorantStrikesBack A loss is a loss and going downwards always is positive.

Stood in a queue so will reply more re: what next.

Sorry bit late to this,

But got an email back offering £5 discount! Using the same code that wasn't working for everyone... The consult bloom one. Looks like I will have to move to family chemist then!

The code isn't working for me either!

I tried it but it doesn't work

It seems they might well be removing the codes.

When I need a pen I'll switch to family chemist I think.

If a lot of us move away from MedExpress then they will have to start offering codes again I think.

Does MedExpress actually need to stop the codes in order to make any money? Surely its better to sell something slightly cheaper if it means you are getting double or triple the amount of customers. What a shame.

I may email MedExpress and see what I get offered. I wonder if it makes a difference how long you’ve been ordering from them? I’ve only bought my 5mg and 7.5mg from them.

Congrats, @RagzRebooted ! And all losers against the odds.

@flappyFish wise words from others. Personally my inner anxiety is that, because I have quite a small frame and uneven weight distribution, even at BMI 25 I still don’t look particularly ‘slim’. I want to do this for health and to be able to feel more confident but I’m not going to look like Slimmer of the Year. So I suspect some flatness if I do hit it.

Three days into my second 7.5mg jab. Appetite suppression is huge. I only managed about 600 calories yesterday despite trying for more. I have lost a pound in the last two days.

Pharmacy2U has a code for 2.5mg which gives you £40 off - VLS6HH
Then another that gives you 10% off all other doses - TYBXQQ

I was supposed to start my 5mg pen last night but got my period so decided to wait 24 hours. I'd already been planning on not jumping straight up to the full dose but I definitely don't want to now as I always have a few gastric issues when I'm on. Can someone confirm it's 40 clicks for 3.75mg?
@RagzRebooted that's an amazing achievement. Well done! What a milestone.
@FlappyFish I don't think your post is a self pity post but a really important one. I've lost weight twice before. Once at Uni when I was ill and lost 3/4 of a stone in just few weeks, went down to a BMI of about 21 and suddenly had a lot of interest from dozens of male students who previously hadn't looked at me. I enjoyed the attention at the time as I was lucky and it was in a nice way, a novelty and, as soon as I recovered and was able to eat again, I bounced back up to my normal weight. Then I lost over a stone but, due to exercise, two dress sizes a decade ago. That was more sustained as it lasted 5 plus years before gradually creeping on over a couple of years and then bouncing back up plus more in the last two years. What did I gain/lose in that decade. The main thing I remember about being thinner and fitter is how much easier it made life physically. I was just more comfortable. My thighs didn't rub. My arms hung down by my sides. I was able to run up & down the stairs more. Some of that was the fitness but some of it was that I didn't have the weight to lug around. And that was just the external differences. I felt smug knowing that my internal organs were all able to work more effectively without the weight and junk. I also got more pleasure from wearing clothes and my appearance. I am never going to be pretty and my arse will always be disproportionately large compared to the rest of my body but clothes just hung better. If it was hot, I could take off my jumper and not worry as I knew whatever thinner top I had on underneath wouldn't be stretched and straining. I also had more confidence. We live in an affluent area so, even though my BMI only just nudged above 30 when I started this and, last time I lost weight wasn't more than 28.5, I am often the biggest woman in the room at any social event, the gym etc. I don't think any of them are judging me but it makes me self conscious and uncomfortable. I lost that feeling. I did also notice the women who had previously ignored me and suddenly decided to chat to me which was interesting but I didn't really engage with them as it was a bit too blatant! So, it could have improved my social life but it didn't
What it won't change is my relationship with my parents, DH, the DC or my friends so the various issues that I have with them (most of which are, thankfully, minor) will remain. Nor will it change the mystery plumbing issue in our house or solve my dilemma of whether to leave my job or not. Those are the things which have a greater impact on my life and happiness. I'll just be dealing with those issues and not being distracted from time to time by how uncomfortable the waistband of my jeans is!

I asked what the deal is with the codes stopping and this was the reply I got. Hopefully they will elaborate soon.

@FlappyFish I should have graduated today, target 150lb, been stuck on 152 all week. This was week 10 weigh in and I am 150.2lb. RAGING!
When I do finally hit 150 I am going to set a 140 target but not be quite so obsessed by hitting it.

Do you work out? It's good to help sustain, good for you and in a way is a good obsession to replace chasing the weight target obsession.
I was always into fitness even when fat......I was the world's fittest fatty, seriously! But I do think it's a good route to go and exercise helps low mood as well .

They probably have decided they have enough customers now so dont need to offer codes anymore!

We probably shouldn't have prompted on here 🤣

Well, if people start going to cheaper places, they may need to offer codes

Indeed!

As an aside, a little NSV for me.. I noticed that I no longer have bulging roll of back fat when my arms are by my sides.

I really hated that, so I'm totally chuffed 😊

Morning everyone
I've been AWOL from here but still plodding on.
Busy out of work and busy at work has not given me much time at all.

I'm on my 10th week and I'm 21lb down (still a long way to go)
But 19lb of that was the first 6 weeks. The month on 5mg just hasn't been the one for me at all. 2lb in 4 weeks. Not felt particularly great, had loads more energy on 2.5.
Felt bloated but hungry. Nearly threw the towel in on a few occasions, especially when looking at how the scales were moving.

But I decided I was being ridiculous so have just injected my first 7.5 to see if my body likes that a little more.

Some fab losses on here still. Well done everyone. Going to spend this morning catching up.

Hi @FlappyFish thanks for being real! I'm only on week 4 and have an absolute ton of weight to lose, but wanted to share something that I was thinking about last night...

One of my oldest friends is my physical opposite - she's teeny tiny, 5ft nothing, trim and petite and naturally sporty - in fact was an actual gymnast!

She's a gem and we've always got on brilliantly BUT other people watching us hang out would always make cracks about "there goes little and extra large", "twig legs and tree trunk legs"... It was weird that in our little bubble of just getting on great we weren't bothered but obviously the visual difference in our size was pointed for others.

30 years later and she's still one of my besties (although now we live far away so the IRL hanging out is less). She recently ran a marathon and got - rightly! - a ton of praise on her socials for that achievement.

But there was also a lot of "you look amazing" and "how awesome you are the same size as at school" and a tiny part of me felt riled by those comments.

We get on so well because we are REALLY similar people - same exam results, same top Uni, both creative, both married with 2 kids, same nerdy sense of humour, both of us are kind, and good mums, and trying our best to show up for all the people who need us.

Through whatever difference of genetics/ nurture/ insulin resistance, whatever, she is small and I am huge. But she is perceived as SO MUCH more valuable than me, because she's little and super fit and looks great in running shorts... My weight makes me "a failure".

But in my heart I know I'm not a failure. I'm doing great! I have built a lovely life for my kids despite some really tough stuff when I was younger. I am proud of me. And I'm proud of me right now for taking MJ and hopefully sticking with this and hopefully losing weight, but that's not going to be the defining "success" of my life... (I'm waffling but trying to make a point...!)

I think part of the "what now?" answer might be to just love yourself anyway. Realise none of this BS was ever actually our problem..? The whole world is just those mean school kids teasing me for my tree trunk legs... And much like those kids, it can fuck right off and do one! 😅 Not sure if any of this is at all useful, forgive me. You've done great AND also you are much more than your AMAZING healthy BMI score.

Day 2 for me and I did have some reflux last night, it is something I suffer from anyway since having my gallbladder out last year but I think it was because I ate some feta dip too late, I didn't even want it but it was going to expire and I felt bad about wasting it. I do have issues with food being wasted.

Today though I had Fruit and Skyr yogurt for breakfast and normally by now I would be wanting a mug of tea and a buttered crumpet but I still feel full. I also have a packet of Hotel Chocolat Raspberry and Pistachio sitting in the drawer right next to me that I was gifted at the weekend, normally I'd be struggling to resist them but even though I still think they look nice I have no problem with letting them sit there until a time when I can enjoy one with a cup of tea and my book.

I long to be someone who can enjoy just one or two high quality chocolates at a time as opposed to someone who inhales three Cadbury's caramel bars in one sitting. There is also a can of full sugar cola in the fridge, my other vice and usually I'd be jonesing for it by now but nothing!

I am not even sure excess hunger is my issue I seem to be a sugar addict or have some kind of blood sugar issue where I was just always craving carbs and sweets.

Hello! Took 3rd dose on Sunday on 2.5mg and 10lbs down in 2 weeks, hardly eating at all and not really bothered tbh, I seem to be coping quite well on the 2.5 and reluctant to go to 5mg looking at some of the stories on here, can I stay on 2.5 indefinitely? Have a big holiday coming up end of September and wondering if that would be a good time to take a break and if so how do I do that just stop completely or is that bad?

@ClonedSquare I much prefer Lidl high protein puddings to the high protein yogurts. The ones I have tried (Aldi, Tesco) have this thick, unpleasant texture & they use an artificial sweetener that I really don’t like. The puddings are smoother & lighter & are pleasantly sweet, not obviously artificial. I like vanilla.

On the general mood front, it is unsettling when food is removed as a source of pleasure/uplift/dopamine hit. Far too many times when I was out and about, I would “need” to buy a snack, coffee, etc. This need is now gone. Today I bought a newspaper instead, so filling my brain with useful(?) pre-election facts!

@Mrsmounjaro what a bitch there's no need for comments like that 😞. Enjoy your loss and hope the comments don't bring you down.

I have a B belly which essentially is an apron and a bit more 😒 I'm hoping it will help me lose weight but I'll still have the belly I've made peace with that as it were.

Typical med express taking codes away now I ordered my first one. Rude! 😑