Continuing Mounjaro... Part 23

[Jimmyneutronsforehead]

Pointers for newbies:
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)
Mumsnet does not allow promo codes. Please do not post any. If you want one, ask and someone will PM you a code or there are now threads on the promo page that have codes for Mounjaro link below:
Promo codes :
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/promo-codes-bargains

For all threads so far, pointers for newbies, weightloss tracker, links to discount codes, tips and tricks and high protein recipes.
Site with all the info :
https://wattnext.notion.site/e880d9342b7a4bab94c244b34e0e5841?v=cc1edc3f1c2b41dab3011c8d9063df0a

Miss Mounjaro UK has the most up to date price comparison charts: https://www.missmounjarouk.com/

I will be back in the morning to add all of the information I had spent an hour on earlier on the original thread 23 that sort of went bust but I've just not found time this evening.

I'll cover UTIs again, as well as add the images from Miss Mounjaro, and the list of possible side effects.

Not quite the start to thread 23 that I had planned for, but I do think it's very important that everyone who had successful losses in thread 22 gets a huge congratulations and well done.

Happy thread 23 everybody!

If I get to a size where it will look nice and it feels nice to wear I think I'll be having one in every colour.

I've got my eye on a dress, too.

This means I'll have to get some tights, though.

Can anyone link some black tights, woolly and comfy?

I threw all mine out last year, because my legs were so fat, I couldn't bear to wear them. But they're slowly getting thinner YAY!

Hey everyone, I'm sorry I haven't been on in several weeks. I was trying to be a little less obsessed with MJ.

My GW was 12 Stone 12lbs as this is the weight I was happy at until the start of last year when I started to pile weight back on (history of obesity and losing siginificant amounts of weight twice over the years).

I am usually a heavy exerciser but that faded away from August due to lethargy. I know I've lost some serious muscle since then.

I feel more 'flabby' now than when I was this weight before.

I decided to change my GW to 12 stone 7. I'm now 12 stone 5lbs. My BMI is 26 for context, I don't care about BMI at all. I honestly can't tell if I look a healthy weight.

Another target was to fit in size 12 River Island jeans, which I now can. I'm a 10-12 in other shops.

I'm finding it hard to stop, the injection makes this so easy, I could easily lose a lot more. But I know from my history that I will struggle to maintain any lighter.

The right thing to do is to crank up the exercise and the food intake to try and get my muscle and strength back. But it's easier said than done!

Some of you might remember that I struggled to increase my dose. I had to take 3.75mg for ages then gradually added a few more clicks each week, tomorrow will be 21st injection but only my 3rd of 5mg.

My suppression is strong.

I have such a fear of gaining weight that I don't really want to reduce my dose but if I don't, I will keep losing. I'm really struggling to flick the switch from weightloss to maintenance.

Sorry for the long post, just wanted to write it all out, I understand if no one manages to read all that!

Hi @NewLifter firstly, well done on reaching your goal weight and I hope that you decide to stay around the 12’5 weight. Perhaps give yourself a ‘weight window’ of between 12’4 and 12’9 giving you a 5lb range and if you see yourself falling below that or above that, then you can work on eating a little more or cutting back.

You mention that you don’t know if you look a healthy weight. Have you asked other people if they think you now look like a healthy weight? If you are fitting into a size 10/12, then people you trust should be able to give you some honest opinions in confidence.

I completely understand the fear of putting any weight back on. I’m only 2lb off my goal weight and am still uncertain about my maintenance. I’m also scared about putting weight back on if I stop MJ but I don’t like the way it makes me feel, especially the fatigue and lethargy (stopping me going to the gym as much as I’d like)

How about reducing the dose back down to 3.75mg for a few weeks, then down to 2.5mg, especially if you are still losing?

I’m sorry I can’t be of more help but I completely relate with how you’re feeling 🙂

26 is a good BMI if you have a history of obesity.

You say you were a heavy exerciser but then suffered from lethargy.

I agree you need to do more exercise but you also need to be realistic about what is sustainable for you. We should all try and maintain or increase our muscle mass because it gives us so many health benefits overall. You will probably need to eat more calories and adjust your macros to meet your dietary needs for doing this, so in order to adjust your macros you might want to consider titrating down on the mounjaro while you find the right balance for you.

Make sure you're enlisting professionals if this is out of your area of knowledge like a personal trainer who can help you understand the nutrition you need, and also a therapist that specialises in food if you feel like there might be a psychological element to titrating down or stopping mounjaro. Perhaps if you have the help of people who specialises in these areas you might feel more empowered that you can maintain this weight loss without delaying maintenance.

Back when I started taking ozempic over a year ago before mounjaro, the clinic I was with offered pastoral care that focused on sleep, stress, diet and exercise and although I didn't get much from the ozempic or really think that the team understood why they were focusing on those 4 areas, I have done my own research into how these 4 areas disrupt hunger hormones, and if you give the right attention to these areas then you have got a much better chance of long term success.

Hi @NewLifter . You sound a bit fed up and anxious about the future which I can definitely relate to. What are your plans for maintenance - on or off MJ?
If you're staying on for a while at least, maybe now would be a good time to talk to your prescriber about next steps?

I had my maintenance consultation with Ouskh today and it really put my mind at rest. I shouldn't lose much more due to my BMI but was anxious about Christmas and reducing dose now (MJ has really helped me get to grips with my alcohol use and I'm as worried about re-starting drinking as much as re-gaining weight). We've come up with a plan to get me into the New Year, then we can tackle reducing my dose down to level where I can maintain a healthy weight and not lose more.

I want to stay on long term for a range of health reasons so really need to get the balance right but feel more confident about being ok during a period of test and see, when we can fiddle with doses and calories.

Well done on your loses so far and I hope you can figure out a plan that works for you.

Well done! I love it when doctors are supportive. I've got at least 40kg left to lose so it's really inspiring when others have already gotten there.

Sadly saw a tiktok doctor say its the lazy man's way out and I wanted to reach through my phone, grab him by his collar and give him the ol' 1 2 unbuckle your shoe.

It still makes me mad thinking about how he spoke about it but sadly think he's in a private practice so there'd not be much recourse for expressing dissatisfaction at him expressing his opinion.

I have seen a lot of GPs give very balanced accounts though since the death of Susan McGowan which I've really appreciated.

Yes! @Slimstar13 . That was such a good post to read!

Morning gang. Mini update from me. I’ve had a slow few weeks but still gently heading in the right direction and have a pile of goals and NSV all tumble in in the last week or so.
I’m 40lbs down. Under 9st 7. Comfortably size 10 top and 12 bottom (I will always be a pear). Waist under 70cm (just). Can deadlift 45kg. Can bench press 25kg. Ran for the first time in a couple of years and it was fun.
I have a healthy BMI
None of these are the end goal and can see it may take a couple more months to get to where I’d like to settle but the progress is making me so pleased.

Ahhh that's so wonderful! I'm so happy for you! And you've done it before 2024 is over. How amazing is it that you can say 2024 is the year you got back to a healthy BMI. That's such an achievement. If nobody else tells you they're proud of you (though I'm sure they are, and hopefully they will express it) I am so proud of you. Well bloody done.

Well done @Slimstar13 you are an inspiration, especially as we are both tall girls!

Weigh Day for me, 1.4lbs down

SW: 22st 11.8lbs
CW: 18st 3.8lbs
GW: 14st 10lbs (for now)

The 17’s are in sight! 👀 I also had an NSV this week, I dared to buy a pair of (admittedly stretchy!) trousers in a size 18 and they fit! Is anybody else wondering whether to stock up before January? I suddenly realised that the pharmacies will probably be inundated in January so wondered if I ought to buy two pens next time, but would have to work out what I think I’ll need. Probably either 2 x 10mg or 1 x 7.5 and 1 x 10 depending on if I stick in 7.5mg or not.

I had the same thought but not sure. I'm only 5 weeks in and had very good initial suppression on 2.5 that wained by the end of the month. So while the 5 is working great now I'm concerned if I buy another and then decide actually need a bugger dose I'll be annoyed

Thank you! Only my husband, who is very proud of me, and very recently my best friend, who could not have been more supportive on me (I knew she would be hence why best friend) know about Mounjaro. Except for you lot!
It all feels a bit unreal. I was a healthy weight for about four months in my early 20s but that’s it. Otherwise I’ve been fat for my whole adult life.
I’m keeping on with losing, and hopeful that by Feb some time I should be at the weight I want to maintain. And then, then, 2025 is the year of maintenance. Something I have never, ever done. The biggest challenge I expect.

Congratulations @VioletsHeart! Amazing achievements.

Some great updates ☺️ And fantastic achievements.

I have lost almost 40lbs since my lstart date of 38 June. I know I was last this weight in 2015 (thanks to my tracking my weight in MFP). Started with a BMI of 29, now 23.

My next pen will probably be my last, but I will be properly slim at Christmas for the first time in years and, even better, able to wear bikinis in the Caribbean in Feb.

I met someone who I haven't seen for a while and she told me I'd lost a lot of weight!

Yay me!

I need to give my head a wobble.

I have come down 3stone and know my weight loss is becoming noticeable now but I've noticed I am almost hiding it. I am avoiding clothes which are noticeably loose but am living in the smaller end of my normal clothes and avoiding things that are closer fitting or more flattering which would show the loss off. I think it may be because there is so much publicity about MJ now I'm dreading being put on the spot if somebody asks me if I'm using it (I have a couple of friends who might just do that and know some in our group would be judgemental so I need a strategy)

Well, my friends today just said "you've done really well!" and there was no mention of MJ.
😂

The best lie is as close to the truth as possible @QueenOfHiraeth
You’ve lost weight!?
Yes! I’ve put a lot of effort into diet and exercise this year. Pause. Thank you for noticing.
Can I ask for specifics?
Why yes dear nosy friend. I’ve been doing x y and z exercise. I love it. Prioritising protein. Eating smaller meals. pause. Redirect. How are you? people love to talk about themselves.

And please, please don’t let the fear of judgy people not allow you to enjoy your full achievement. Wear the smaller clothes, buy something new (to you from Vinted) and enjoy what you’ve done for yourself. 3 stone is a huge accomplishment, well done!

@TheShellBeach hurrah for lovely friends noticing and complementing

@GetrudeCoppard fabulously well done. Enjoy Christmas and Caribbean bikini wearing. I genuinely have never in my life worn a bikini. I worn black one pieces (slimming, ha) until I was forty when I decided enough was enough and to put some colour in my swimming life. Still no bikini. Maybe next year is the year.

I have lost about the same as you @QueenOfHiraeth. Initially I too was slightly reluctant to dress for my new size. I have fended off the question of what I have been doing to lose the weight with a truthful description of the diet plan I have followed. Also when seeing one or two friends who I have not seen for a while, when asked how I am I say that I am feeling great having lost some weight/had a new hair cut etc. so I take a bit more control of the conversation. No one has asked me straight out about using weight loss medication as yet🤔

Well I’ve only gone and reached my goal weight!!!

16/5/24 15’11 BMI 33.6
15/11/24 11’10 BMI 24.9

I’m 54 years old and 5’8 with a large frame.

I’ve lost 57 pounds in exactly 6 months = 26% body weight!

Regarding my maintenance plan, I’ve got 2 unopened pens in the fridge so I’m going to use these to gradually reduce my dose over the next couple of months and then see how I’m doing in the New Year.

Congratulations to all of us amazing losers 🤩 we are absolutely fabulous!

Congratulations! Well done tnat must feel fab!