Continuing Mounjaro...part 13

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30 until you get to a healthy BMI of 23 to BMI 25

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 that 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, vomiting, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may 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.

Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

11 - 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), psylum husks(fibre for constipation), electrolytes.

12 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

13 - 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.

14 - 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

15 - 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.

16 - 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.

17 - Some of the places you can order from are:

MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. Coupon codes no longer working!

The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169

Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189, 12mg £204. Zava offer refer a friend discount of 15% off. Ask for a code on here.

Simple online pharmacy:
£149 2.5mg, £149 5mg, £169 7.5mg £189 10mg

Bolt pharmacy:
2.5mg £125, 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199

Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204

There are others not listed.

18 - 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

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

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

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

8th thread:
https://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?page=1

10th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5080755-continuing-mounjaro-thread-10?page=1

11th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5085436-continuing-mounjaro-thread-11?page=1

12th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5090788-continuing-mounjaro-thread-12?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in June:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5082791-mounjaro-june-24-starters

Video on how to inject:

@Everdecreasingcircumferences @ihatecoffee @Eyesofmistyblue and anyone else in a stall (myself included) it really is disheartening when the losses aren't consistent and you're stuck with no movement.

I find the stalls so hard and I have to try really hard not to fall into serious negative thinking.

Your body needs time to adjust. Everything you're doing now will have an impact down the line, it can take our bodies time to catch up. In the past this is where motivation would wane and diets would fail, MJ is keeping you going through that barrier and out the other side. Another month will pass and those small losses will add up. Consistency is what gets results.

Sorry you're struggling to titrate up further @Eyesofmistyblue hopefully you'll adjust soon. Might be worth trying a different injection site? Apologies if you've already tried this. It's something I bang on about a lot but I've found it makes a difference, and an area that did or didn't work well before can suddenly make a difference.

Not sure if helpful or not but here are some things I'm doing to help try and readjust my mindset around the weight on the scales and help stay positive during a stall:

I weigh daily (and only record the loses), I've stopped thinking about an official weigh day as I realised it was adding way too much pressure to an arbitrary week day.

Instead of thinking I weigh X stone and X pounds and obsessing about the number I think of it in chunks, and I say to myself 'I'm hovering around the low 16s' or 'I'm in the mid 16s'. And if I'm at the higher end of a stone bracket I go for 'I'm under 17' or 'I've broken into the 16s'. It sounds daft I know but it's stopped me stressing when I keep losing and gaining the same 2lbs.

Mini goals are also very useful, I have a have a dauntingly long way to go so this keeps it feeling manageable.

Another thing I'm trying (and failing) to do is to stop giving deadlines like 'I want to weigh X by X' as invariably I'll disappoint myself.

If anyone else has any good ideas on how to adjust mindset I'd love to hear.

This morning my scales played tricks on me, they briefly flashed up a much lower number before showing the exact same figure I've been seeing for weeks!!!

Me too! What's that all about?!

My neck is starting to look a bit crinkly 😩 I’m going to start smothering it in moisturiser!!

No loss for me this week :( infact a slight gain. It’s my period in 5 or so days so I’m hoping it’s that which has impacted this week. I’m 2.4lbs off a stone since starting 31st May, which is slow but I’m staying motivated and have now started to go to the gym/walk more so it all helps.

Im on my last 5mg today. I’ve ordered the 7.5 and a bit scared of side effects.

Hope everyone is doing good today. Looks sunny outside 🎉

Week 12 weigh in for me today.

SW: 12.6.6
CW: 10.11.0
IGW: 10.0.0

I'm going to change my goal weight in a while, for now, my interim goal weight is 10 st.

Measurement day too (once a month)

Started at: Waist 36" Hip 42.5", Bust 41", Thigh 24"
Now: Waist 31.5", Hip 39", Bust 39", Thigh 22"

If I add those up, I started at 143.5", and am now 131.5" - somehow I've lost a foot as well as 23 lbs.

Starting BMI 31, currently 26.75

For someone who is a slow loser, mostly a pound or so a week with the occasional whoosh, it's all adding up.

My first dosages are here. I’m too scared to inject until weekend in case I have reaction at work!
it’s only the 2.5 but did anyone lose anything those first few low dosage weeks?

@OnInstagramAsMounjaroJourneyUK

That's SO true!
We were away with friends at the weekend, and they posted some pictures, actually thought 'I look ok for once'
But then zoomed in on my thighs, why do we do it to ourselves!! Ridiculous

I've broken a small milestone. After getting to my heaviest ever by several stone this year, I'm now lighter than my highest 2016 weight. 3lbs ish to go until I'm lighter than my highest 2017 weight, which was when I did keto and lost 40lbs. For some reason these are a real psychological barrier.

After struggling with nausea and almost total suppression on 5mg and thinking I should downgrade this week, turns out my appetite is back with medium suppression and nausea is gone over the last 3 days!

I've managed to eat and had energy to work out, how odd!
I will try another 5mg dose this week and keep an eye out for side effects but maybe my body finalllyyy got used to it?

Yes i lost 20 lbs on 2.5mg . Spent 10 weeks on that dose

Ok so I'm going to double check later today in the same lighting and exact position but neck is looking much better this morning 😅 I used my Dermatica Tretinoin as saw that is good for neck texture, then lathered on Hylauronic Acid and a greasy night cream (Revolution).

I've never noticed anything like this after weightloss in the past but it's been 10 years so have to factor in age. But with a good moisture boost all may not be lost for us. It's certainly give me a kick up the backside for preventative action on places other than my face! My Prai cream arrives today and if that's not keeping it at bay after the pot has gone I'll try others!

So sensible. I do the same. I just cannot do the once a week weigh in. It’s too stressful for me and I see how much my weight fluctuates in a week this way. No wonder SW & WW days were so stressful.

I did 2.5mg for 5 weeks and lost 6kg (almost a stone). But many people don't lose much as it is only an introduction dose.

I no longer do a weekly weigh in either. I hop on the scales every few days or so which is much less daunting! I weighed this morning and I'm 10 stone 9lbs exactly, just 1lb away from a loss of 3 stone 🙂

Sorry to read that you're back in hospital again MelissaLou 😔 Sending you good wishes and hope you're back at home soon!

@MountKilimounjaro i like your thinking and am going to try it! Thanks for the tips.

Morning!

congrats to all the losses and NSVs and for those stalling - keep going, you got this!!!

It’s a full-time job trying to catch up with this thread, especially after a week away on holiday. We came home last night, after a week in the sunshine. Needless to say, there were some indulgences like gelato, snacks, pizza, etc. but I felt like I didn’t really need much to feel satisfied, and we did lots of walking and swimming. Very chuffed to see I came back 1.2 kg (2.6 lbs) down!
And I’ve hit my first mini-milestone - I’m officially in the 90s!

SW: 107.2 kg (May 25)
CW: 99.1 kg (June 20)

Just done my 5th jab - staying on 2.5 as I still feel all the benefits.

Next mini-milestone: 89 kg!

I now weigh the same as I did 10 years ago- just before I got pregnant for the first time. Feels good

Sorry to hear that you are back in hospital @MelissaLouRocks

Wow that is an impressive loss @3wDavid given all those food temptations! I’m guessing you were in Italy? I’m heading there later in the summer and need to strategise my food plan!

@runningmom I’ve also just lost half a stone after my first week on 2.5.mg (starting BMI of 31.7).

@WannabeHealthier thanks lovely!

Yes, we were! It was kinda funny how it worked out because basically we were all inclusive and that was so disappointing. Lots of greasy and fried food, which just put me off. It wasn’t like an effort not to eat, I just genuinely struggled to find what to eat there. I think this definitely helped, and outweighed the indulgences elsewhere. Oh, I also didn’t drink. It was so hot, I just found myself I didn’t want to. I think had the food actually been nicer, I wouldn’t have lost as much (if any).
I was fully prepared to come back with a gain, although my goal was to just if possible come back the same weight I left. But I rationalized that I am on holiday, and so I will eat and drink what I fancy. And now that we’re back, I’ve just slipped back into the little routine I had gotten into before.

My advice to you - enjoy your holiday fully. If you feel like it - eat the nice food, drink the nice drinks. Don’t deprive yourself. I think you’ll find you’re satisfied with a lot less as the rich foods just fill you different. And then once back, just get right back into the swing of things.

Oh no @MelissaLouRocks hope you escape soon!

I also weigh daily. I've gone up and down the same 2lbs for almost a month. Then this Monday I went up to 7.5. I've felt very thirsty and have a bit of an upset tummy but other than that I feel ok.

This morning I weigh 10st 0.8lbs!!!! I've finally gone below bmi 25 and seem to have broken the stall!!!!!!

Let's see if this continues but for today I'm happy!

Yay @CiderJabs I know it’s been a long time coming but it feels so bloody good when you get through that stall.

I’m similar now. Due on. Again 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m 10.12 and BMI of 23.9

I lost track weeks ago of what week and loss it is.

@3wDavid very safe advice!

Well done 😊

I am also nearing my lowest weight I got to by doing keto in 2020-21. I think in July 2021 I got to my lowest 13st 3lbs. I am about 6lbs off that weight at the moment! I did actually feel like I was doing well and felt slimmer when I got that low. Can't wait to get beyond that!

When I did keto in 2020 I started on the same weight as I weighed in Jan 17st 6lbs. It took me nearly a year to get to 13st 3lbs. Started August 2020. I started MJ in Feb and it's now June and I am nearly at my keto lowest within 4 months ish! 5 months if we are counting from Jan when I was 17st 6lbs and started on keto. Crazy how quick MJ can be!

Well done for all the losses today 😊