Mounjaro September Support (3)

[doodleschnoodle]

Another gathering of losers! 💪

Previous thread here: Mounjaro September Support (2) www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight-loss-injections/5170252-mounjaro-september-support-2

Feeling very dejected today again. Lost 0.4lbs this week. In the last 4 weeks I have lost about 4lbs, it just seems so slow. I'm tired and a bit fed up with MJ, I'm still really quite hungry on 4.5mg, even though I have had a few bad side effects. The food noise is still there.
I will go up to 5mg but my doctor has said that I would have to remain on 5mg as this is the dose they use for diabetes.
But if I'm still getting food noise and feeling hungry a lot of the time on 4.5mg, then I can't see 5mg being much different, will probably just bring more side effects.
Here I am being negative again, but being a carer and not working, I have a lot of time at home, just thinking about food.

@alwaysscared that does doing tough - I've lost 1.7kg in 6 weeks so I know how you feel but at least it's coming off right?

The thing I worry about is that I'm not eating especially "better" just " less" so I'm going to try to focus on nutrition this week.

What are you eating? Can we help you with some tweaks?

Week 11, lovely NSV's for me this week. I danced all night at a party and felt great, got lots of compliments from people I have known for years and years. I had a few drinks but didn't feel a need to get smashed to have a good time (I'd normally never boogie without a good few drinks in me). On the plane I didn't need a seatbelt extender!!!

30/08/2024 - 122.5kg
03/09/2024 - 120.9kg, first dose 2.5 of MJ
10/09/2024 - 118.3kg, second dose 2.5 of MJ
17/09/2024 - 116.2kg, third dose 2.5 of MJ
24/09/2024 - 112.4kg, fourth dose 2.5 of MJ
01/10/2024 - 112.4kg, fifth dose 2.5 of MJ
08/10/2024 - 111.0kg, sixth dose 2.5 of MJ
15/10/2024 - 109.8kg, seventh dose 2.5 of MJ
22/10/2024 - 108.5kg, eighth dose 3.75 of MJ
29/10/2024 - 105.9kg, ninth dose 3 of MJ
05/11/2024 - 107.3kg, tenth dose 3 of MJ
12/11/2024 - 105.9, 11th dose 3.75 of MJ

Loss - 17.3kg … a cinder block 🧱 and a rack of ribs 🍖
Goal - to be in the healthy BMI range (70.3kg)

@SpottyBumPony I'll tell you exactly what I'm eating because I have the same every day (OCD, find it easier etc)
Breakfast - apple
Lunch - 100g oats, no sugar alpro yog, 6 grapes, 6 blueberries, 6 raspberries with cinnamon and chopped hazelnuts
Tea - 2 slices of whole meal toast with half an avocado and a boiled egg split between them
Snack - frozen grapes, blueberries and raspberries, carrot sticks, cucumber sticks and celery. Will also have another apple later on.
All that adds up to around 1300 kcal. I thought it was much less than that.
Then I can't help myself and I eat anything up to 15 jelly babies ( this is where the problem lies I think), but it's just 15 bloody jelly babies, argh!!

@alwaysscared your meal plan doesn't look like it has much protein in it at all. It's something I'm struggling with as well. I know it's hard because of the OCD, but would you be able to cut down on some of the carby bits and replace with protein instead? You could have less oats/only one slice of wholemeal toast and add a protein component to those meals instead. Like a sliced chicken breast, or low fat cheese or even a protein shake to drink alongside if that would be easier?

@HippoPortlyMouse yeah, I struggle with protein. The yogurt I have is high in protein, and the avocado and egg, but that's about it.
I have tried lowering the oats, and the toast but I'm just so hungry and nothing else appeals. I don't really eat meat.
I'm burning 400cals 3 to 4 times a week with exercise, so I should be in a calorie deficit. It just all seems like such hard work

Problem is that if you're at 1300 calories and then eat 15 jelly babies, that's an additional 300 calories, which puts you at 1600, which may not be a million miles off your maintenance calories. So you may not be in as much deficit as you think. Unfortunately exercise doesn't make as much difference as it feels it should! I walk 10k steps most days but it doesn't seem to correlate with weight loss particularly. It's more for fitness/muscle mass.

But if you're not getting suppression and are still hungry all the time then it's really hard. Some people just don't respond until higher dosages, same as some people seem really sensitive to it. I get suppression from 3 hours after a jab and I've gone down in dose because 5 is too strong, so it clearly can affect people so differently.

The protein tweaks suggested are good, but you may have to properly track for a week or so to see what's going on calorie wise. Remember to include drinks etc too!

I'm having one of the Huel black shakes for brunch which keeps me full most of the day and has 35g protein in it, would something like that helps perhaps?

jelly babies probably not the best in terms of sugar either, maybe could swap for some sugar free sweets if a sweetness is needed?

Are you ok with sweeteners? I hate them but if you don't mind, one of the light protein drinks daily might be a good call. These ones for example are low calorie (about 90 cals each - that's 4.5 jelly babies) and 19g protein.

www.myprotein.com/p/sports-nutrition/clear-protein-variety-pack-10-servings/14915129/

Obviously it's an extra cost - there may be cheaper ones around too, so worth shopping around if you think it's a worthwhile idea.

Avocados aren't really high protein - 3g per avocado and 240 cals for that. Could you have half the avocado, and replace the other half with cottage cheese - 10g per 100g and less cals than the avocado?

Another suggestion for you @alwaysscared, do you like peanut butter? I often have an apple with peanut butter for breakfast and find it fills me up much more than the apple itself. Or hummus with your celery/cucumber, etc. might help to up the protein and make you feel fuller to avoid the jelly babies!

But also, I’m sure if you keep going the weight loss will come. When I’m feeling a bit fed up I sometimes read some of the main thread, or some of the earlier monthly threads. Quite often you see someone struggling through a stall then finally start getting some good results after 4 or 5 weeks, or someone feeling despondent about small weekly losses only to realise that over time each 1lb adds up to significant progress. It’s good reminder to trust the process.

I also try to remind myself of the alternative. I spent years trying and failing to lose weight, so even slow and steady weight loss is better than slow and steady weight gain!

Thanks all for responding. Some good ideas here.
I only have half an avocado anyway, across 2 slices of bread.
I think I need an overhaul, I'm stuck in a rut.

@alwaysscared my advice is to have a small amount of protein with every meal or snack. Like suggested by others, hummus, peanut butter, yoghurt dip, cheese or meat or plant based protein.

I make a plate at lunchtime. I try to prioritise veggies and have a little fruit. Always have a few cubes of cheese and other protein.

Do you have support with your diabetes such as a nurse? They might be able to help you with diet, I think they often recommend a low carb diet for diabetes?

This sounds like a good plan, protein can also help you feel less hungry too.

@SecondDesk thanks, I'll try and do that
@Orangesandlemons77 yes, I have spoken to the nurse and doc, they are both just happy because my diabetes is under control now

Almond butter is my treat food.

When I feel like I need chocolate I go to the almond butter jar and scoop about half a teaspoon and just eat it like that. It's gooey and crunchy, coats my mouth, is tasty and most importantly it doesn't affect my sugar levels.

Help! Is anyone having hair loss? I had lunch with a family member who asked me I was going bald (nicely) and recommended their trichologist. Gaaah!!!!

Have you noticed it thinning? Does the relative have a history of saying crappy things?

But I have actually got hair back. If you are worried I can share what I do. But have put a lot of effort into my hair when I started MJ. I do eat plenty of protein. Collagen in my coffee first thing. Also a pumpkin seed oil capsule and a Vit D3 & k2 supplement. I took the D3/K2 and collagen before MJ. I started the pumpkin seed oil when I started MJ, but I think that helps because I have PCOS.

I oil my scalp with the hair syrup rapunzel oil twice a week. I had noticed my hair is drier. But that could because it’s winter. So I have an elvive leave in that you put in at night and it disappears by morning (even on my fine hair) and a herbal essence moisturising mask once a week.

I brush it with a massaging paddle brush every night and use a shampoo with caffeine in. The massage and caffeine shampoo helps blood flow to the scalp.

I also wear a silk bonnet for bed and have a silk pillow case, in case the bonnet falls off. My hair feels loads softer on a morning. And I am a side sleeper so I am not getting breakage around my temples and sides.

I also make sure I get at least 7 fruits and veg and try and vary the colour of the veg as much as I can to get as many vitamins and minerals as possible in.

You could also try minoxidil. Or tretinoin then minoxidil. I think the 5% minoxidil is recommended but I haven’t done that, though I did look into it. But am getting results from what I am doing so far.

@alwaysscared could you switch the proportions of your lunch and have 1 slice of toast with two eggs plus the avocado?

We're all different so it might not be the same for you but for me, if I ate this I would not be able to lose weight due to the high carbs. Almost all the foods you list are high carb esp the oats and fruit. These high carbs then make me crave food because my insulin crashes after them. Could you switch the oats for Greek yoghurt (don't worry too much about the fat, just measure it) as this will fill you up and has lots of protein. Could you add some more eggs into your day if you like them as more protein? Could you add in lots more dark green veg? Going as low carb as you can will help to maintain your weight loss when you come off MJ so useful to practice now. I know what you mean about only fancying certain things though. I survived off yoghurt for about 4 days one week when I couldn't face anything else. I hope this week has gone better for you?

Anyone else hungry in the evening?

On my current dose I get hardly any food noise but do get hungry before meals - this feels like the right level. However, at breakfast & lunch I'm satisfied with a small portion whereas after dinner - arguably my biggest meal as we're eating as a family - I'm super hungry an hour later. So far have resisted evening snacking. I don't understand why it feels like I didn't even have dinner!

@mimosa1 I have given hair and was worried about hair loss. I had loads of hair loss problems when I stated menopause. I haven't had any problems when taking MJ.

I have a silk pillowcase and eat a lot more protein that I normally would. I take collagen powder in coffee. I also take supplements, including multivitamin with collagen, magnesium, pro-biotics, electrolytes.

I feel food is not being digested. It moves very, very slowly. Water, psyllium husk capsules and probiotics seem to be helping a little.

I'm definitely more peckish in the evening. I could easily go right the way through to dinner time without eating at all and be fine but mid evening after I've had a full meal I start feeling the urge to raid the fridge.

Have been having a hot drink when the urge first hits to see if that's enough and often it is. If it isn't I have a kind of hierarchy of snacks I go through until I feel satisfied.

• beef jerky/boiled egg - filling, substantial and high protein so usually does the trick
• Longley farms cottage cheese/sainsburys finest Greek yoghurt/small teaspoon nut butter - creamy and rich, feels more like a dessert
• Skinny brand pretend chocolate bar/Options hot chocolate - only about 70 calories and i can pretend it's real chocolate and I'm cheating.

I am taking the Perfectil hair and nail vitamins and trying to eat enough protein to prevent hair loss, seems to be working so far.