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:

Feeling a little disheartened too today- only lost 0.3kg this week- been really good all week too. Knew to expect a stall at some point, but still doesn't feel great.

Had my first NSV today! Managed to get into a pair of shorts that I've had for a few years but were always too tight! Well happy! Somehow managed to put almost a kg on since yesterday, crazy how much our weight fluctuates day to day

I've had my second 5mg dose and really not feeling much suppression.

Would it be wrong to go up to 7.5 on my next jab this soon?

I wonder why it seems to be quite common that suppression wanes on 5 and sometimes 7.5? Surely more drug = more suppression?!

I'm a bit disheartened - only lost just less that 9 pounds in 5 weeks. It's more than I was doing alone, but nothing like so many of the losses on here. Some weeks I've lost nothing, which I don't really understand when I'm clearly in a calorie deficit.

I have had to make a couple of contraceptive changes eg swapping the pill for a coil, so I suppose some could be hormonal. But one 'bad' meal - still within calories deficit - has me gaining several pounds that takes days to go. The maths just doesn't seem right, and I think my brain finds that really haed to understand.

And I'm big - BMI 38 - so I've got plenty to lose! Any words of motivation, please?

Wow, 4 and a half stone!

Well done, that's very inspirational 🙂

Weigh day for me! Lost 3lb

I am literally one ounce off 4 stone loss, took my clothes off and lost the bit I needed but decided that was cheating, but I’ll count it as four stone in my head :)

Praise the lord (and those who recommended psyllium husk capsules) for I have pooped. Fully expecting to be half a stone lighter for my weigh in tomorrow 😂

Weigh day for me, just starting week 21

SW 16 stone 9lb
CW 13 stone 8lb

Total loss = 43lbs - just over 3 stone 🙌
BMI is 27.3 down from 33.4

For all those disheartened with slower weight loss, just keep the faith. I’ve taken about 6 weeks to lose 5lbs, but it’s off now and I’m determined it’s never going back on again!

Play the long game and you’ll see success. Don’t be tempted to undereat and try to get there quicker.

I have chosen to go down to 5mg due to (mild) anxiety effects. But this week I’ve had the worst diarrhoea- it’s definitely the Mounjaro as I haven’t eaten anything unwise. The only new food is chorizo which I added to Spanish chicken I cooked- it could have been that I guess. Just goes to show how side effects can crop up later even for us Mounjaro veterans!

@Forevafatty I completely understand how demotivating it can be when you read some of the amazing losses on here but:

1. 9lbs is still a great loss - just under 2lbs a week is the ideal sustainable loss with fewer risks of loose skin, hair loss etc.
2. Weight loss is never linear and affected by all sorts of factors other than CICO
3. You are still in the early days and lots if people don't lose significantly until they move up through the doses
4. Even if you continue at the current rate, you will still get there
5. Use the journey to try and make permanent changes to how you eat (not just calorie deficit but healthier choices too)
6. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water and include resistance training and sufficient protein to maintain muscle mass
7. Good luck!

@Forevafatty I’ve lost 43 lbs so far, would you say that’s an impressive loss? Personally I think it is for 5 months.

Well based on your rate of loss, if it stays constant, when you get to my stage (21 weeks) you could be looking at 38lbs or even more as your body is likely to experience at least one whoosh based on others experiences. So not too shabby!

Can I join in please? On week 2. On saxenda previously.

Week 4 wi - small gain from 103.3 to 104

Not stressing as wasnt the best week, I had a horrendous cold for the first few days, I've not drunk enough, I've had way more white carbs than usual too even though I'm within my daily cals.

I was going to go up to 5mg but I'm going to stick with 2.5mg see how it goes this week, if I have little suppression then in 4 days I'll take another 2.5 then delay my next jab by a day and start 5mg.

I've set up reminders for drinking on mfp to help too.

please dont be discouraged!!! i have to say the scale didnt move for me for an entire 15 days! (i was checking daily) then suddenly whoosh 5kg down - honestly feel like the fat is clumped together and is all or nothing haha. hope you get a whoosh soon! xx

I personally wouldn't risk moving up after just 2 weeks. You may get really bad side effects, I still get nausea on and off so scared that a higher dose too soon would have me vomiting. My losses have been slow too, after my first two weeks on 2.5 the appetite suppression more or less disappeared and hasn't come back, even on 5 and 7.5mg, but I'm slowly plodding along and hoping that by the time I reach 10mg my body will start cooperating again.

Resonating a lot with those of you who are saying you’re struggling to notice any difference even though the numbers on the scale don’t lie.

I’m on week 14 now and have hit the 4 stone milestone this morning (22.2st to 18.2st) which I still can’t believe! I know logically that I am slimmer but my mind isn’t catching up to my body. I’ve lost most of my weight around my face, belly and thighs and I’m finding myself zooming in as close as possible on my progress photos to play spot the difference. So I’m struggling with the body dysmorphia a bit which is something to be mindful of moving forward as I still want to lose around 6.5st more. But someone at work noticed yesterday and usually I’m uncomfortable with anyone commenting on my body it was a bit of a relief that it’s probably just in my head that I feel like I look no different. I’ve been so overweight for so many years it just doesn’t seem possible!

One NSV though is that my brain and general mental sluggishness that I thought was always just part of my personality has completely disappeared and to say I am smashing life at the moment is an understatement. I’m convinced this isn’t just a weightloss related benefit but is the MJ having an effect which is like magic! I’m more productive than I’ve ever been in every area of my life, and I’ve managed to bag myself a great promotion, I don’t think I could have done this before I started MJ! I’ve seen a few people on the threads mention this so I wanted to add to the voices saying it’s completely changed their life. Genuinely a miracle drug for me.

Oh my goodness, aren’t y’all a chatty bunch? 😄 I’ve been away for the thread for a few days and we’re already making a dent on number 17!!!!

Will go back and catch up on everyone’s posts, but in the meantime:

Did my 3rd 3.75 dose on Wednesday! Feeling pretty good / suppression is good too! This time next week I’ll be on MJ for 2 full months!! Crazy how time goes!

My stats:
SW: 107.2 kg (May 25)
CW: 93.5 kg (Jul 19)
GW1: 90 kg

NSV: A leather jacket that I’ve had and have been unable to wear because it was super tight on my arms (I couldn’t bend them) - fits perfectly, and there is some room too!!!

I love these threads - thank you so much for your supportive comments everyone! @WannabeHealthier I certainly do think your weight loss is impressive, and that's.a great change in perspective about how it all adds up.

I definitely need to drink more water, and today I started on the psyllium husk so hopefully they will help a bit too! I'm just going to keep on and trust the process. Happy weekend everyone.

@Batlady78 I wouldn't increase the dose early, it accumulates in the blood week on week anyway and the manufacturers will have set four weekly increases after extensive testing.

For those of you saying to measure yourself too, can I just tell you I am disproving all the laws of science. I weigh and measure myself once a week, first thing in the morning.
My weight is going down slowly, about 1 and a 1/2 stone over 12 weeks but my measurements haven't changed. How???? I feel a bit thinner in myself but there is no appreciable change in how things fit me. If the laws of physics apply, I appear to be becoming less dense

Agree. Don’t respond to messages, say they’ve sent stuff and they haven’t and don’t answer the phone either! Hopeless!

Morning all. Well done on the amazing losses.

I'm just about to go off on holiday for a week and am a bit disheartened that I have gained a pound this week. I can probably blame the heat but it is still annoying. Hopefully there won't be too much damage done by what I eat on holiday but I'm definitely going back to low carb once I'm home.

I just let slip to a relative that I'm doing this and they were quite judgy. Really wish I hadn't now.

@Slimstar13 Snap! It’s nice to see other posters with similar stats, huge well done on your progress so far! I never thought it be able to lose weight so seeing a 4st loss is mind blowing for me.

I definitely think being bigger means being overlooked for sure! Also I’m so with you, I don’t like compliments either so I’m dreading it a bit if they get more frequent 😅 my boyfriend is amazed by my weightloss (he’s in recovery for alcoholism and is desperate to try MJ now to help with it 🤣) and comments all the time on how much difference he sees, I don’t really mind it from him though as that’s a bit different. I see my mum next week though and she loves a little comment (or 50) on my weight and my body, I haven’t seen her for about a month so I think she will have lots to say which I am preparing myself for! She knows I’m on MJ and is delighted so I shouldn’t complain really as it will be complimentary, but it does make me so uncomfortable.