Continuing Mounjaro...part 17

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro will only be be prescribed initially if your BMI is above 30. If you have additional health conditions you can get the medication with a BMI 27. (Prediabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart problems)

Pointers for newbies:
1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1! Make sure the needle is twisted on tightly. Priming will help confirm if the needle is on securely and not faulty.
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.
https://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 - Some people find that they don't need to go up a pen dose each month if the current pen dosage is working well for them. If you are unsure when to go up, speak to your prescriber.
8 - If you are having bad side effects after titrating up or you are struggling to eat your calories each day, your dose may be too high so should consider lowering your dose. Speak to your prescriber if unsure.
9 - 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
10 - Taking Mounjaro can stop birth control from being effective. If you are on birth control, consider extra protection if you aren't planning on conceiving anytime soon!
11 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.
12 - 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
13 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss.
Some natural sources of protein:
https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods
14 - 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.
15 - Drink lots of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Try and drink at least 2ltrs a day.
16 - 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.
17 - 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
further reading about injection sites and the effects: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618
18 - 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.
19 - 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.
20 - Some of the places you can order from are:

MedExpress:
2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169.99, 10mg £189.99. 12.5mg £209.99. 15mg £209.99 Coupon codes no longer working!
The Family Chemist:
2.5mg and 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £169, 12.5mg £194, 15mg £199
Zava medical:
2.5mg £139, 5mg £139, 7.5mg £169, 10mg £189. 12.5mg £204. 15mg £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 £149, 5mg £149. 7.5mg £169, 10mg £179, 12.5mg £199, 15mg £199
Asda:
2.5mg and 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189, 10mg £189, 12.5mg £204 15mg £204
There are others not listed.
21- You will still be prescribed Mounjaro when your BMI falls below 30. However, it may be harder to move suppliers once you BMI is below 30 if you wanted to move.
22 - Worried about your supply being cut off when you get to a healthy BMI? Below is some info on some places maintenance plans.
The Family chemist :Would consult you as approached healthy BMI to discuss maintenance under close supervision(if you started with family chemist)
Curate: up to 2 years
Cloud: up to 2 years
Boots: Cut off at BMI 23
Asda: Cut off at a healthy BMI
Pharmacy2u: Will supply for maintenance
Bolt:Individual assessment once BMI 22 and does offer maintenance
Zava:Once healthy BMI will stop prescribing this treatment
Med Express: BMI 25 and cut off.
23 - 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
13th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5096704-continuing-mounjaropart-13?page=1
14th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5102149-continuing-mounjaropart-14?page=1
15th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5107426-continuing-mounjaropart-15?page=1
16th thread:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5115015-continuing-mounjaropart-16?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out in July:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight-loss-injections/5101435-mounjaro-july-2024
Video on how to inject:

4 weeks today.

Total loss 18lb.

18weeks versus decades of struggling with disordered eating and food noise. Unbelievable.

Congratulations @GordanoBenito on reaching a healthy BMI. This medication is amazing on how it can change our bodies and make what has been a long difficult struggle, relatively straightforward to fix.

Stage 2 is to take what we learned during the weight loss phase and find our way to live with maintenance but I feel like I'll have the energy for that as I haven't been worn down by what would have been a year long effort of losing the 40+ lbs I needed to drop.

Morning all, well done for the losses today and over the last many many days /weeks!😊

Finally I have broken my stall! Last Saturday I was up a lb on previous week. Most of this week I looked like I was going to be 13st exactly again which was my weight 2 weeks ago, but today I broke into the 12s! So 12st 13lbs today! Woop! So 2lbs loss if counting the lb gain, or 1lb if not counting it!

I would say the stalls have been because of two back to back heavy weekends where I had parties to go to where I ate a lot and drank which I usually wouldn't do. Luckily I have no plans for most of the summer so will be going without drinking for a while. Probably untill a mini European break towards the end of August.

I have to admit, up until now, losses were easy enough to get without much effort from myself, so feel I now actually have to try a bit harder which I will be doing! Making sure I have more protein, drinking enough water etc. Also going to join a gym on payday and start adding gym into my routine. Also, I switched my MJ day to Sunday so I could eat on my weekends... This worked too well and realise while I want to lose weight, not a good idea! As these recently parties I was able to enjoy a bit too much as I was say 6 so not as much suppression as day 2/3! So going back to Saturday jab today and possible Friday next week! I will probably move back to Sunday once in maintenance... But until then.... I want to lose weight 🤣

Week 23 Mounjaro
Start weight Jan(keto) - 17st.6lbs
Start weight Feb(MJ) - 16st 3lbs
Current weight - 12st 13lbs
BMI 27.5
Total loss MJ - 3st 4lbs - 46lbs
Total loss - 4st 7lbs - 63lbs

It's 17 weeks for me today and I'm 20lbs down (starting weight 14st13, currently 13st7). I'm 1lb away from having lost 10% of my body weight and half way to no longer being obese!
After no one commenting at all on my weight loss, 3 separate people noticed last week.
I should be on my last (bonus) dose of 7.5 this week, but think I'll use my 10 pen to give me 7.5 for a few more weeks as I'm away a lot over the next four weeks so don't want to risk side effects.

Wonderful news. Congratulations!

16 weeks and I'm 26.9lb down

Seems to have sped up a bit since I moved on to 7.5 I've just taken 3rd jab so will see if that continues

Amazing, well done!

Congratulations on reaching a healthy BMI GordanoBenito I bet you're over the moon and rightly so 😊

I'm BMI 25.3 so not too far off myself and I'm so excited to hit that milestone.

Well done on reaching a healthy BMI @GordanoBenito 😊

Wow! Some amazing losses - we'll done everyone. And congrats on breaking the stall and reaching the 12s @ObsidianTree

Gosh BMI 25 seems so far away for me. Can't wait to get close! BMI 27.5 now which is showing as obese still on NHS BMI calculator! But ethnic background etc.. However, I started at BMI 37, so actually lost nearly 10 points BMI so far... So definitely made a big dent!

Thank you 😊

Morning everyone. Well done for some fab losses this week and congrats to those who’ve reached targets 🏅

First week of 5mg has been good. Near on total suppression which has been manageable but zero food noise towards the end of the week. 4lb off this week which makes my weight start with a 12! I took my 16th dose this week

SW - 14.12
CW - 12.12.1/2 (for the sake of 200g, I’m taking this as 2 stone 😂)
Next target 11.13

Quite by chance, earlier this week I was wearing the same clothes as in the pic I sent to MedExpress in April so I took some more pics and the absolute biggest difference is from my boobs to hips. Please remember to take progress pics because they’ll definitely help when you’re having a wobble 😊

@guestusername you are right about the progress photos, I did the same with my start photo and oh wow the difference! It’s a nicer reminder of the journey.

Wow there's some great results on here this morning. Congrats everyone ☺️🎉

I'll add my own - I've hit my target this morning of losing the combined weight of my kids. They weigh 4st 8lb together and I'd have no chance whatsoever of picking them both up at once.

DP suggested a while back that 'neck fat mounjaro' would be super popular if they could make it for specific areas. I've just been sent the photos from a christening I was godparent at a couple of weeks ago and omg how can I still have so much neck fat and extra chins? 😣
I did look so much slimmer in my dress though, but the close ups of my face weren't great.

It's nice to look like a normal couple on photos with my DP. I was huge compared to him when I started MJ and now we look much more in proportion. There's a good chance we're almost the same weight now so will make him get weighed later to find out.

I'm down 18lb in four weeks.

For those of us with insulin resistance and/or pcos, I found this interesting. And depressing! Makes me think I never want to be off mounjaro ever.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGeWm2PKq/

Glad you’ve broken your stall!
I was just wondering if having Sunday as MJ day is contributing to mine.
It seemed to be working so nicely in that I could enjoy myself more over weekend- but that may indeed be the problem!
Also mulling on reducing the gap to 6 days but I did quite like the pattern as it was. Might try one more week on Sunday and if it’s still stubborn I’ll look to shift things up

I have done my injection today so will report back if the losses are better!

But Sunday is definitely a good day to inject once in maintenance I think!

I agree @ObsidianTree that a Sunday injection would be a good strategy for maintenance. When I was 21 I worked with Christine who was probably around 50. She was slim and I think she enjoyed playing golf with her husband at weekends.

At lunchtimes I would go to the canteen and have a hot meal sometimes with dessert afterwards. If there were cakes or biscuits in the office I would get stuck in. Christine would eat some crackers with ham and cheese and crudités for lunch. For a snack she would have a yoghurt. She might have one biscuit if they were offered to her but not every time. She really watched what she ate Mon to Fri but on Friday evening she was straight home for a G&T with her husband and a nice dinner. They would socialise with friends over barbecues or at the golf club. Then on Monday she would be back to the crackers and yoghurt. I have no idea what she ate midweek at home but she said she tried to 'be good' during the week.

It's the 80/20 rule - we can enjoy some treats as long as we are eating healthy and well most of the time. Everything in moderation.

@Choux This is probably going to be how I will do things when in maintenance. It will certainly be easier to do this when at goal weight!

Wow there's a lot of losers today, congratulations everyone, and well done for breaking that stall @ObsidianTree 🎉
Welcome all newbies!

I have good and not so good news.

The Good
I'm out of that bloody hospital at last! (Though may be going back in, see below);
I've lost just over 3 stone since 1st April, which means I'm now under 70kg, and in the 10's;
I've sailed past my first goal, and am now only 6lbs from my second;
I'm now in a HEALTHY BMI at 24.7! 🌞
still about 20lbs to go, but I'm so totally chuffed to little mint balls, can't stop smiling. 😁

The Bad
I may now be needing more surgery in an attempt to control this infection. I'm resistant to many antib's, and it's becoming ever more stubborn. I had vaginal mesh in 2003, and needed two major surgeries to remove it, during which I almost bled to death. Once it's inside the body, it hardens and cracks and splinters, so it's like trying to remove shards of glass. Unfortunately, if they missed any bits, the infection will still be present there and the only way to get rid of that is try again to see if they can successfully remove any more. The thought scares me shitless, but marginally better than dying I guess. 😕

Zava might be back on track, I ordered on 24th and it was delivered to me today, still cold.

@MJqueen great news about zava. I feel like medexpress have taken back some of the heat from the people who flocked there from ME in the first instance 😂

This is also a secret goal of mine, to finally weigh less than DH!