Mid July Mounjaro starters #2

[ToriMJ]

New thread ready for when our first thread is full.

My weight gain is down to menopause plus a year
On anti depressants when my daughter was unwell. Then I had an injury so Couldn't exercise for 7 weeks. By then I was at the heaviest I'd ever been.

Plus Gradual creep from having kids

Frustration at not being able to lose weight like when I was younger. So I cave.

But Totally agree the reasons are many and different for everyone.

Can we please talk about calorie deficit?

I know it sounds a bit thick of me, but if I was any good at this stuff, I’d not be fat 🤣

so if we eat 1000 calories in a day, but exercise and burn 200 calories, that’s 800 calories for the day, right?

we’re supposed to be on like 1600-2000 for a woman between 51-60 (I’m 56)

so even consuming 1400 calories per day for example, burning up 500 calories etc, I’ll be on about 900 calories for the day and in deficit right?

im on 5mg, second of the pen doses today, have lost 1kg in a week. I’ve felt less of the appetite suppression this week, but I’ve also struggled to get through the 3l water, so maybe I’m thirsty but think I’m hungry.

hoping to be more me tomorrow, last week I was suffering a bit with the first 5mg dose.

I think this highlights how complicated it all is @MzHz and that calories are not the whole story. There are lots of hormones controlling what happens to the energy you eat and the energy stores you have, your rate of metabolism etc etc. Everyone is different too in terms of their physiology and biochemistry. I think all you can do is eat well, lots of nutritionally dense foods, plenty of protein to minimise muscle loss and a sensible amount of calories. Then do some exercise and keep your fingers crossed! You will still be treating your body well and getting healthier even if the scales are not changing at the moment.

@MzHz I am a similar age to you and currently weigh 159lbs after several months on Mounjaro. I have scales that tell me my base metabolic rate ie what I burn from living each day is currently 1,370 calories. As you age you generally lose muscle so your base rate falls.

So if I burn 500 cals from exercise my body needs 1,870 a day. If I eat a 500 cal deficit I can eat 1,370 a day and the 500 deficit each day will result in a 1lb weight loss for the week.

I would say I generally don't burn 500 cals on exercise so I try to eat a bit less than 1,370 - about 1,200. My weight loss is slow and I still look and feel flabby despite losing 2st so I am now introducing weight training to try and up my base metabolic rate.

I think a lot of sources overestimate the calories burned during exercise and it will be highly individual, apart from anything else. I went for a 4 mile walk yesterday and the app I use told me I had burned 658 calories, I can't believe that's true.

@MzHz I just reread your post. Are you saying you were hoping to have lost more than 1kg in a week? I don't know your weight but 1kg is a great loss per week.

To lose a pound of fat in a week you need to burn 3,500 calories more than you consume. To burn a kilo which is 2.2lbs that's a 7,700 calorie deficit you need - over 1,000 calories a day. If you are consistently managing that, that is amazing. Make sure you are eating high nutrient food and focusing on protein to avoid muscle loss.

Higher doses don't mean higher losses. You are aiming to get to a dose that allows you to eat well but in a deficit with energy to live your life and lose the weight slowly and steadily.

Oh thanks so much all! That’s so helpful - I’m reassured

@Choux im frustratingly like 400g off my second milestone and a total off loss of 7kg. It’s been 6weeks as of tomorrow.

was 101kg, now 94.4

ill keep being sensible, feeling less stuffed is a godsend but there’s a gap in the MJ armour for a snack to get in.

I suppose when I get more active again next month it’ll help. I’m contemplating having a sneaky start to couch to 5k on the morning dog walk. That and psyching myself up to go to a boxercise class at local boxing gym. The trainer there made an utter machine out of my son and I trust him. Just have to JFDI.

@gimmemounjaro im sure you’re right, I looked up my 4kg walk and if you do that in an hour then its about 200cal. So if you look at the time/distance = speed etc it should help you see what you are burning

im a swimmer, when training I’m swimming hard for 90mins and it’s usually registering at about 700-800 cals - probably about right

no training in Aug tho, so am swimming in an endless pool that I can’t track - so estimating by dividing what I do in 25m pool for the 30 min bursts I do, and adding it in.

I've been working hard all week but yesterday and today have felt weak and feeble. Bit dizzy and just exhausted. I plan to up exercise but today have functioned like someone 10 yrs older.

That's how I was constantly. I am due next injection (need to order new pen) very picky with food today and also so much more energy

On week 4 of Mounjaro. I'm due to take the first dose of 5mg on Tuesday but have ordered needles and if they come before then I'll try for the 5th dose out of the 2.5mg pen so there's a bit of a gradual increase rather than going straight for the 5mg. Last weigh in I had lost 9lbs in 3 weeks and was feeling really good then I had a binge on Thursday and Friday and feel like shit now! It's my birthday tomorrow and we're away for a few days so I've been using that as an excuse to eat rubbish (although definitely not to the extent I would have pre Mounjaro). Luckily I've not really had any side effects, dizziness the day after injecting and headaches. I've been on the contraceptive pill cerazette for 15ish years and could count on one hand the number of periods I've had since then yet I've been on for at least the last week which is extremely unusual however I will take if it means I lose weight!

@sortmyselfoutagain and everyone: did you all read the patient information leaflet about not relying on the contraceptive pill when you start Mounjaro? The medication slows your digestive system down so can affect the absorption the pill.

It can also impact your cycle if you aren't on the pill:
www.formhealth.co/faqs-can-mounjaro-affect-your-period#

@Choux yeah I read that but thanks for pointing it out. I don't think that info is displayed well enough. I'll definitely be taking extra care a wee accident is the last thing I need on this weight loss journey!

On the first or second thread there was someone who had to stop taking Mounjaro as she had an unexpected pregnancy.

I can't remember if that was due to the pill failing or she thought she was sub fertile and then found out she wasn't. Fortunately she was happy about the pregnancy.

First weigh-in for 2.5 weeks due to holiday. I am 0.5kg down in the pre-holiday weight. I’m happy with that - as the first holiday that I haven’t gained half a stone 🥳

The only problem now is that Voy dispatched my 5mg pen last week despite me calling and making arrangements for it to be sent after my return. It’s bounced around a couple of attempted deliveries by the post Office but it’ll be no good now. It was supposed to be posted on Friday and this is confirmed in my app, but it was sent on Tuesday.

I hope I can sort it today. I’m not sure whether I’ll have to stay on 2.5 mg as there will be a few days delay until I get it.

Is there a guideline on any gap between pens. Does anyone know?

Also, does anyone who uses Voy have any experience to share of how responsive they will be getting me a new one sent out?

thanks!

Back from my weekend away and only put on 0.4
Of a kilo. Very happy with
That as ate a lot
More and was drinking 3/4 alcoholic drinks a night.

Was still trying to track calories but it was hard to track Japanese and Thai

Lol
New 2.5 pen today 4 kilos to go.

Also had some
Piccies taken and wasn't repulsed By Them 👍

Just back from 2 weeks hols in the States when I usually put on a stone at least, and I'm so so so pleased that I've stayed the same weight as I was when I left!! I was drinking most nights and not tracking at all so I was expecting at least a little gain. Now back home and ready to get cracking again on healthy eating (and drinking!)

So after a month on 2.5mg I've lost 4kg, all in the first 2 weeks and then flat for the second 2 weeks (but usually those two weeks every year I balloon in weight).

I've got my 5mg pen arriving at some point in the next few days, but I thought that I might just try to get the bonus dose out first as a bridging dose, and delay 5mg till the following week. I haven't had any negative side effects at all on 2.5mg, but it feels wasteful not to use the rest of the medication in the pen given how expensive this stuff is.

Also a question about the contraception thing @Choux or anyone else - I read about the pill not being absorbed as well, but does anyone know about if the Mirena coil's effectiveness would be impacted by Mounjaro?

The Patient Information Leaflet in the box and here says that it's only oral contraceptives that may have a reduced effectiveness. This makes sense as Mounjaro acts on your digestive system which is how the pill is absorbed.

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil#about-medicine

@CLEO42 it should still be ok, as long as its not 30C, it can be unrefrigerated for 30 days, the cool bag will have kept temps down for a long time. check with your prescriber

God help me i have signed up for a boxFit class this week. i know the guy who runs it, he turned my boy into a machine (boxing training though)

Apparently, my son lost his dinner once in one of the boxing sessions, left the gym, did what he had to do, went back and carried on. He gets his warrior genes from me :D

How i feel about bouncing about at 9am is still unclear. perhaps I should take my own bucket with me.

Good grief - the eggy burps! i have heard of these and they have just made an appearance! WTAF! hideous

I've yet to enjoy an eggy burp 🤢

2nd jab of 5mg today. 1.4kg loss last week. My trousers are falling down now. I'm not buying new clothes until I've come off MJ and kept the weight off

My hunger suppression not been as good today Injected at 10ish.

Stick to 1000 Cals but it's been hard today.

My hunger suppression has also not been 100%

I could have eaten tea and toast starting at 6am

I got my 5mg pen but split the difference between 2.5mg and 5mg and went for 3.75mg. I started a new job this week and didn’t want to be floored by side effects. BUT, the 3.75mg seems to be giving me less appetite suppression than 2.5mg did. Weird. Might sneak the dose up to 4.5mg next week then 5mg the week after.