Mounjaro, end of the journey

[Justkeeprollingalong]

I've had a very successful weight loss with Mounjaro - in 10 weeks I've lost 22lb. I've 6lb more to go with 2 x 7.5ml doses left in my current pen.
I'm thinking one more pen. I will probably go for the 10ml.
Has anyone come off Mounjaro?
Did you use the last pen to gradually reduce the dose or did you go 'cold turkey'?
If you reduced, how did it actually work with the pen?
Also how quickly did the appetite suppression wear off?
Thanks

I also think there is a lot of new research emerging. Although some of stats on gain are off putting from what I saw I don’t think those trials put much emphasis on lifestyle/diet overhaul which many of us have done. I thought this study earlier this year was v interesting- it’s on Wegovy but showed tapering more effective in reducing weight gain. It also found tailoring to lowest effective dose helped - on average participants were on 1/3 of the standard dose. I’ve stayed on 7.5mg Mounjaro for the last couple of months with that in mind and might try to stick with it for the last 10lbs. (Tho my losses have got quite slow) www.healthline.com/health-news/slowly-coming-off-ozempic-wegovy-may-prevent-rebound-weight-gain

I’m not sure it’s blind optimism. The way I see it is that there’s no reason I can’t be one of the 5-10% who keep the weight off, if im willing to put the work in. I don’t want to just give in and assume I’ll put the weight back on, that would make the whole thing pointless.

What have you done to overhaul your eating @Justkeeprollingalong? I'm also on MJ, and have changed my attitude to exercise and am in the process of sorting out my eating habits. Admittedly I still have a long way to go as I have over 30 kgs left, but I'm happy with my progress thus far. I'm hoping that by the time I reach where I would like to be, my new habits will be sufficient. I'm interested to hear your experiences, you might be our 'guinea pig'. I am rooting for you. 💪

Thanks for the support @unsync
We've always eaten healthily, don't eat UPFs or cakes and stuff like that. My biggest problem has always been portion control, my husband does the cooking and is an amazing cook. Also if I'm honest, too much wine!

So for the last 11 weeks that I've been on MJ my new regime has been; fast from 8 pm until 12 noon, when I have some protein and salad for lunch. In the evening I eat whatever my husband has cooked but the portion is less than half of what I would normally have. I may have a gin and tonic in the evening if it's sunny in the garden, but no wine during the week. At the weekend I will have one or maybe two glasses of wine in the evening, where as before we would share at least a bottle, often more. I've also upped my exercise and I'm drinking between 2 and 3L of water a day. No snacks at all except a banana or an apple.

I think it's sustainable for me, the feeling of being thinner and healthier far outweighs the feeling of having a big meal and several glasses of wine!
What is that suffering is going out to friend's for a meal or going to a restaurant. Friends can get quite annoyed if I only want a very small portion and at a restaurant I'll probably have a starter but end up paying my share of the bill when everyone else has had a three course meal!

@Justkeeprollingalong Interesting, thanks for sharing. The friend thing is weird isn't it? You would think they want you to be happy and healthy. It's not the first time I've come across that sort of reaction, it's almost like they don't like the boatbeing rocked and I've also had the bill sharing thing.

Portion size seems to be a common theme too. I have to keep telling myself that there will always be more another time, that I don't have to eat it all now, although it does help that with MJ I don't really have much desire for food anymore. That's the bit that I hope I can keep to once I stop.

I'd like to join if that's OK? I'm nearly at goal and plan to start reducing doses over time.

I am nervous about maintaining. I've seen mixed articles about maintaining. Some promising and some not. The way I look at it is I'd rather be down to 9st and gain the weight back, then still be at 11st and gaining still. If I have to take MJ again so be it.

It's hard to tell how I will feel off the meds. I plan to track calories when I can and avoid carbs as much as possible. So breakfast and lunch are veg and protein, with some carbs in the hardest meal to avoid them. I'm a bit of a feeder and love cooking and it's very hard to avoid traditional dinners as I'm in a house of boys. I have got in the habit of eating off a smaller plate though and I am off the sweet stuff and hope I can continue that.

I do exercise, but am an exhausted time poor working mum and its hard to fit it in. I just try and do what I can and am active when I'm not working. I'm going to get a decent set of weights for home though so if it's raining I can still do something.

I think just being generally exhausted all the time makes it really hard, so I am going to have to put a lot of effort in, but do think I have some strategies now. Would be interested in what strategies other people have.

@Soukmyfalafel welcome! I have changed my eating habits and put in lots of good things but
I'm trusting in the fact that I really love this feeling of not being overweight and I hope that's going to stop me over again.

Sorry, didn't proofread, stop me over eating again.

I imagine I will need to stay on a low dose long term. I have quite a bit to lose though.

Me too.
I’m also taking comfort in the fact that I maintained a healthy weight until my mid 30s, and it was only the period following a severe childbirth injury meaning I was basically bed bound for months, followed by caring for a disabled child, and resulting mental health issues meaning I was taking some heavy duty medications with the side effect of weight gain that caused the weight to go on. Prior to that period of my life I was able to maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise, and I have to believe I can do it again.

I'm in a similar position with having a disabled child with complex needs (ASD, LD and ADHD and sleep disorder). Fighting for basic support, working and some days having very little sleep means it can be hard to plan exercise and meals. I think that has contributed to weight gain. Just life not permitting a consistent schedule and time.

I am definitely more aware of the evils of sugar now. I figure protein is more nutritious than empty calories, I'm going to try and avoid them and replace with that.

I worked out that on top of maintenance cals. I would need to eat around 280 calories a day for a year. Sounds like a lot, but easily done! I think my maintenace calories are about 1,750/1800 with planned exercise and 1,600 with more gentler exercise in the week.

I have tried IF before, but I can't fast without MJ. I would only manage about 14 hours probably.

I still have belly fat which is a shame. I'm not sure I can get rid of it. Just think it's being a woman in 40s for you!

Hi all. I have already started titrating down. A bit earlier than planned as I forgot to order one last pen. I was 10.6 when I started lowering my dose from 13 stone starting point. My target was 10.3.
I did 5 weeks at 2.5mg, 10 weeks at 5mg and now 2 weeks at 3.75 and will then do 2 at 2.5.
I will also add a day on each time so the first was 7 days then 8, 9, and finally 10 and then no more!
The 2 weeks on 3.75 have been fine. I've maintained easily and felt the hunger but it wasn't crazy. There has been a bit of incidental picking today as I was baking for the school fair. Such is life though. I very rarely snack now.
I'm hoping to eat normally, keep snacking low and continue the exercise (which I actually struggled with the last few weeks on 5mg as I was so tired.
To be honest I'd be happy to maintain although I would like to do the last few lb alone but that will have to wait as it's the end of term and crazy busy as I'm a teacher.

Hello, I’m almost at the weight that I would like to be at, have just got down below BMI 25 but was aiming for BMI 23, which is about another 4kg. I’ve been getting my MJ from Pharmacy2U but this month for the first time they have asked for a photo with the warning they will only prescribe for those with a BMI of 27 or greater. Has anyone got any suggestions? I’m a bit disappointed to have got so close to target only to hit a bit of a brick wall. Do I just send on the photo of the new healthier me and ask for it anyway? I had only planned on getting one more pen.

@Carveitup can you take a really unflattering side view with your tummy sticking out. Also explain to them what you've said here. 🤞🤞

It's weigh day today and I've lost 24lbs (1st 10) 🎉
I started at 11st 10 and my target is 10st 7 to be at the very top of the NHS Healthy BMI range.
That's due to Mounjaro 2.5ml x4, 5ml x4 and 2 doses of 7ml.
I'm undecided about whether to go up to 10ml for the next pen.
I'm worried whether it'll be harder to come off of the higher dose. Or maybe get 2 10ml pens and use the last one to have smaller doses with gradually increasing gaps in between.
Any advice?

That’s a similar loss to mine, though I think mine has taken slightly longer (3 months).
I’m staying on 7.5mg for the next month - and maybe the one after. I’ve about half a stone to lose but it’s the half stone that I never manage to lose so I’ve convinced myself that slow and steady is my best chance. I was very struck by this study- can’t find original now but this summary looks all right. It’s of Wegovy but it showed weight most likely to stay off if people tapered but also their doses were tailored to stay as low as worked while still effective. On average 1/3 the normal dose. I never want to ever diet again so I’m trying to deploy similar principles and hoping it gives my body a better chance to adjust to a few lower weight. I’d like to then drop down to 5mg and try that fortnightly for a couple of months endure before I come off.

www.healthline.com/health-news/slowly-coming-off-ozempic-wegovy-may-prevent-rebound-weight-gain

@Secretslimmer sounds like a good plan.
My best loss was the month on 2.5 but may be that was because I had the most to lose them.
I've been very lucky with minimal side effects; just occasional low level nausea and one weekend of sulphur burps!

I'm definitely going to taper off once I've reached my goal.
I believe you can just turn the dosage knob fewer clicks without going as far as the 1.
I believe there's a chart somewhere.

Yeah my best month by far for weight loss was the first month on 2.5mg. And also have not had much in way of side effects apart from getting a bit cold when I went up to 7.mg and maybe a bit more tired in first days after the jab.

I think the main mounjaro thread has quite a few charts on those dosages and doing fewer clicks. I’ve not quite got my head round that - and not sure if I’d want to keep a pen going for too long, tho suspect would be okay- but I’m not there yet so will see nearer the time!

Can’t remember where the charts were but somewhere on this:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15

This was the reply from Medexpress re coming of Mounjaro

Lucia E Freitas(MedExpress)
7 Jul 2024, 10:43 BST

Thank you for your email.

It is safe to stop Mounjaro at any time once you have reached your target weight. There is no need to "wean" yourself off the medication.

We will stop prescribing Mounjaro once you reach a BMI of between 23-25.

If you require any further assistance, please don't hesitate to reach out to us.

Kind Regards,

Lucia
Customer Care Advisor
Please see the MedExpress Help Centre (ME) to answer any questions you may have about your prescription or our service:

I understand it's 'safe' to just stop taking but for me it's managing those feelings of hunger returning slowly. I've been weaning and it's been helpful. It's helped me apply those habits and changes that I have made it make adaptions one step at a time. For example most of the time I've been on MJ I've not eaten breakfast and just had a protein shake. Now I need breakfast most days. I need to plan in a healthy but filling breakfast. Then I started to be a bit hungrier at 3pm (my usual downfall time). It's just helped me feel a bit more in control as I'm sure we're all worried about the cravings and insatiable hunger returning and nosediving the crisps.

Yes - their advice about it being safe to come off is beyond nonsense, there wasn’t a worry about that. I’m a couple of months off maintenance but it’s how to manage it that’s the thing. I look forward to your updates but I’m also assuming that not eating till early afternoon won’t be an option once I’m in a post MJ world.

I found a therapist that spexlises in food issues. Without thenfood noise I was able to focus on understanding why I binged in the first place. I can honestly say I don't think I'd binge again.

I have a stone to go until target weight, after that I will taper off.

@Pigriver
I also want to taper off, I think it will be too much just to stop abruptly. How are you actually managing it? Areyou slowly going down the pens the same way we went up?

After taking 5mg I went down to 3.75 and then 2.5. I have about 2 weeks worth left.