Weaning off MJ

[netmum123MJ]

Hi is anyone trying to taper off Mounjaro? I have used for a few months lost 20lbs however everytime I try to stop I am back to square one with food noise and over eating. Will I be on this forever?

I am hoping that by the time I get near to actually needing it, maintenance plan requirements will have become clearer and more available.

What is the difference between "fixing new habits" vs not?

For example, on MJ I am eating less, eating more healthily, getting more exercise. The eating part feels easy. I'm just not interested in food anymore, whereas before I always thought about food, especially high calorie junk food, particularly when bored, stressed, tired etc.

But is eating better on MJ enough to create a new habit? I don't think my issue is insulin etc. In the past I lost weight through diet and exercise, it was just bloody hard work. And eventually the weight crept back on as I "slipped up", and became less rigid with the diet, and food noise took over. So I was never one to say "I'm eating exactly the same pre and post MJ, but now I'm losing weight on MJ". I'm definitely eating a lot less.

I essentially see myself as a food addict, and now I've taken a medication that has interrupted the addiction cycle.

So I worry "will power" (or whatever you want to call it) will be a thing for me if I stop MJ. MJ isn't helping my will power, I have just lost interest.

But I also hope I can keep up a maintenance dose and not stop ever. It feels like this is what I will need.

This is what worries me too @ChatChapeau . I am eating really healthily on MJ, because I don't snack and I'm never craving anything, so I eat very sensible, protein filled food. But is that a habit? Will I still be able to do that when I'm not on MJ, or will the food chatter overwhelm me again?! Impossible to know I guess.

I really get the food addict thing. Food is my 'substance' of choice. I think if obesity was understood better as a form of addiction to junk food, we would have much more productive conversations about it. It would also allow people to continue using MJ even at a reduced level.

Yes, exactly this!

I guess there are a few people in the same camp. I have a way to go yet before I reach my goal weight, but I'm still keeping a keen eye on these threads.

100%! Maybe sharing experiences on MJ is enough to change the conversation... I don't know, but I hope so.

It's also good business sense to let people who need to maintain on MJ do so.

All this talk of 'food noise'. Don't forget the simple concepts of hunger and satiety. Most of us feel next to no proper, over whelming hunger on MJ, and that's why it's so easy to reduce what we eat. And what we do eat, fills us up much more quickly and for longer. Hunger is an incredibly powerful sensation, which can drown out all good sense and intentions. You can't just create a new habit which quells the actions of hormones and reduces the feelings of hunger. You might be able to do some new things which distract you for a while or eat some foods which fill you up better but, at the end of the day, hunger is going to be the main battle post MJ.

I'm almost never hungry. I have ADHD and have poor awareness of hunger and thirst (low interoception). I can literally go all day without eating OR eat mountains of junk food even when I'm full. I eat out of boredom or stress or as a reward or because someone reminds me to because it's meal time. It's really complex. So I think 'food noise' will likely be my biggest challenge. It's too early to know since today was my first jab 😁

We all like different things. Sometimes, I want snacks to be a treat. I like crisps, so I don't deprive myself of anything—that's important with any diet or lifestyle change. Stop eating the things you like, and you're going to crash and burn. Nothing should be off limits, so I keep those low-calorie snack options around for when I want something quick and easy.

And saying "no wonder you're fat". Do you know how weight loss works?

Food as a reward will be my biggest challenge.

I'm okay with hunger, I feel like we've grown afraid to feel hunger when it's a normal sensation. So when I come off MJ I'm not worried about feeling hungry because I can see that off quite easily, by having a pint of weak fruit squash (I can't bear water on it's own) and during the day I am so busy with work I don't have time to be distracted by it.

But food as a 'treat' when I've had a long day - that's where I will slip up if I am not extremely careful, but I intend to carrying on calorie-counting forever.

Yes, not the kindest of responses to your post,@SnacklessWonder ! I may not always share your point of view, but am always interested in what you have to say and it's good to have a space where different experiences are shared. I too like pepperami (and baby bel and chilli roasted peanuts). 😋

@KrankyKumquat I appreciate that some people feel really, really hungry and that is what drives them to eat.

I can honestly say that I so rarely felt hungry in my life before MJ. That is not what motivates me to eat. It is a compulsion, a really shouty, noisy compulsion that goes on and on and on relentlessly and permeates everything. That has disappeared. I should be hungry sometimes now, as I will forget to eat, but I'm not as I have strong appetite suppression even after 9 weeks on the lowest dose you can take of MJ.

Clearly my triggers are different to others, but I am curious to see whether all that compulsion just comes straight back when I stop MJ.

Thanks @KrankyKumquat Different opinions are what keeps life interesting! 😊

But I'm not going to be snack-shamed 😅 a little bit of what you fancy does you good in my opinion. Your 'diet' doesn't have to be all kale and oats.

Now I want salt and vinegar peanuts 🙄😁

Clearly my triggers are different to others, but I am curious to see whether all that compulsion just comes straight back when I stop MJ.

@MargoLivebetter I think the fact we all have different triggers make it's quite interesting to see what happens. Because no two people are the same.

I just said on another thread, I am RAVENOUS this week. So so so hungry, but I am coping with it and not too bothered about it because I know this is going to be reality every day. But hunger isn't my trigger. Rewarding myself with food and wine is my trigger!

Well, at 4st down and counting (and I can't remember your stats but I expect they're equally impressive), I think we're doin ok😇

I spend a lot of time worrying about life post-MJ - if I get to that point - and don't assume for a moment it will be easy. I've lost weight lots of times and put it back on, so I guess I think first off that it can't be any worse than that. (I suppose it could theoretically if a hunger rebound feels more overwhelming.) Then, while I take the point that data shows weight gain is likely when you stop MJ, I've seen studies that suggest a slightly improved picture for people who lost weight on MJ compared to others. So I hope I'll be one of those!

I've also generally lost weight previously, but in recent years not quite as much as I needed to to reach a healthy BMI, I've still been a bit overweight. If I manage to reach a healthy BM this time, I'm hoping that will be a bigger incentive to keep my resolve and better habits.

I do feel I have developed insulin/metabolic issues, so whilst I totally get that stopping MJ will mean they're no longer medicated, I also hope that having been months with a more stable blood sugar will help, as will being less overweight, so I hope the metabolic issues won't automatically just go back to where they were pre-MJ.

Mainly, I am so bloody old and tired of this dance. When I finally gave up smoking, after years of heavy smoking and knowing completely how bad it was for me, it was mainly that I just couldn't face being a smoker and having the need to give up again hanging over me.

Mainly, I am so bloody old and tired of this dance. When I finally gave up smoking, after years of heavy smoking and knowing completely how bad it was for me, it was mainly that I just couldn't face being a smoker and having the need to give up again hanging over me.

@weaseleyes That's what I am focusing on. How shitty I felt at my biggest weight and how I really don't want to go through this again. So it will be hard but I will not keep going through this.

I am also focusing on the why I need to be a healthy weight. For me that is to reduce blood pressure and keep cholesterol down as I have heart issues, and am high risk for stroke and dementia. If those aren't reason enough, I don't know what is!

Thanks for this interesting thread. I really agree with @SnacklessWonder that the ‘treat myself’ instinct is a bigger issue for me than hunger.

I’m working quite hard while on MJ on ‘microhabits’. Around treats, and also around learning that the world doesn’t end if I don’t clear my plate, then the kids plates, and then just take the dishes to the kitchen and tidy up the bit of dinner we had left in the pan. (And then open the fridge and eat a bit of cheese for literally no reason at all). So starting just by eating the healthiest bit of the meal first, and leaving a bit of the food on my plate.

I have a probably unrealistic hope that
how nice a healthy weight feels will motivate me to stay that way (or at least not very overweight). I have never been a healthy weight except when miserably depressed, so have no positive associations with slimness…

Likely

zoe.com/learn/podcast-can-ozempic-semaglutide-solve-weight-loss

On the 'treats' I am planning in things like a hot bath with candles and bubble bath, and the radio after dinner instead of 'pudding' etc, I have also heard a nice idea which is to save money on alcohol (when stopping drinking) to buy something nice and that could be used for something I guess.

Thank you @qotsa and @ObsidianTree and @Orangesandlemons77 i haven’t heard of those pharmacies. I will have a look to see if I can get some wegovy for Maintenence from there.

this thread is so interesting to read, I truly believe I am addicted to food. The infection totally changed that and made it so easy to lose weight and just not think about food. I often wonder if this is how people without weight issues go through life.. it must be amazing to feel that way naturally.

I think working on the micro habits is so important. I feel like I did a bit of this but also because it was so easy to be unbothered by food, I didn’t put as much effort into changing habits as I should have done.

once you get to your goal weight it does feel amazing, especially buying clothes in sizes you thought you’d never ever see. It is definitely motivating :-)

It's been really interesting reading this thread.

I don't know if it'll be possible to maintain a lower weight off the MJ. I know the longer you maintain your lower body weight the better chance you have of resetting your "set point".

I guess like @ItsAlrightDarling I have to have some level of optimism that it will be possible without medication. That's why I'm doing all the reading about managing blood sugars, insulin levels, etc. But I'm also realistic enough to know I need to put something in place for a backup (probs going to switch to Oushk and do one of their maintenance plans).

Some evidence coming out that micro doses of GLP meds over the long term are safe and helpful for a number of health issues. Perhaps that will be the maintenance route to come?

Oushk have a Facebook page. Have a look on there for info. It's mainly about mounjaro, but I think they sell Wegovy too.

If you wanted to get a consultation about a maintenance plan it's £5 to talk to someone and discuss if it's possible for you. Hira the owner is very understanding and will most probably try to help you. Usually they would want proof that you have ordered Wegovy before etc.

@ObsidianTree ive just had a look on their website and it looks like they would be able to help me. I’m going to do a consultation with them tomorrow. I think if I can do another 3-6 months or so on a low dose to help get my body used to its new set weight hopefully that would help. Also i would really try harder to make better habits I think, as long term I really can’t afford to be on it forever at it’s current cost 😬
Thank you so much, I didn’t think to check a different pharmacy.