Mounjaro - Are you hungry or do you just think you are hungry?

[Ed31]

I’m curious as to various threads I’ve read & YouTube videos of people on Mounjaro who talk of feeling hungry or wanting to eat.

I’m 6weeks in & currently on 5mg & can honestly say not once have I felt hungry or had the desire to eat anymore than I am, if anything it’s still a struggle for me to eat lightly without feeling stuffed.

I’m currently away in Germany for the Christmas holidays & I’m absolutely astounded by the amount of food people are getting into them, it’s no wonder so many people are overweight.

Even before Mounjaro I was a smallish eater mostly fasting & only eating one meal a day for many years, so feels unfair that I have struggled with my weight, not helped having had thyroid radiation treatment which has left me with a non functioning thyroid, not handled greatly by my GP’s regimental thyroxine dosage.

My Mounjaro journey has certainly made me really aware of the constant foraging, treating & over eating of people around me which I wasn’t quite aware of previously.

I’m grateful that I am unable to eat & the Mounjaro for me is doing an excellent job of suppressing my desire to eat… I therefore genuinely wonder getting back to my topic title wether those who say they feel hungry are “actually hungry” or if it’s their emotional attachment to being so used to reaching for food for comfort?

I hope everyone has a lovely Christmas & an Happy New Year anyway.

I had good suppression up until week 4 of 2.5mg, and then again even better suppression on 5mg until after 7 weeks (last week) it does wear off after a while when your body tolerates it. Everyone is different heights and weights and some have conditions such as insulin resistance, pre-diabetes or diabetes which will need a higher dose of MJ before they get suppression because their insulin doesn't work as well naturally. MJ activates the insulin receptors so this works differently in those with insulin issues compared to standard people. I'm pre-diabetic and compared to my friend who isn't, it has really helped for me with weight loss off my abdomen, yet it wears off quicker so I need a higher dose and yes I do get hungry, she said she doesn't. I've always had issues with being hangry and unstable blood sugar if didn't eat regular I'd get shaky and would feel like I'm about to faint, I don't get that now as it has stabilised my blood sugar, she never had this and she is bigger than me.

I've always been more of an apple shape and she is a pear shape, bigger hips. My mum used to tell me I looked 3 months pregnant when I was 18! Doctors never looked into it. I think I've always had issues, I've just turned 43 last week.

It only “wears off” as you’re not at the correct dose. Once you hit the correct dose for you, it doesn’t ’wear Off” you’re simply under medicated.

so 5mg isn’t correct for you and you’d have been better following the guidelines, and moving up to 7,5 , 3 weeks ago, and then moving to 10. Which may be your optimal dose.

the titration up is to get you there. To whatever that dose is. The issue is if you stay on the wrong dose too long, and don’t move up as per guidelines, you may struggle as your body will react when you do.

id urge you to move up. As I have similar issues you’ve mentioned, and moving up for me means it’s never “worn off”

Erm I stayed on it for 7 weeks because I had full suppression 24/7 for 7 weeks so obviously I wasn't going to go up when I was barely managing to eat at all and working a 12 hr day, i wouldnt have been able to get out of bed and prescribers have said it is fine to stay on a dose until it stops working for you. It does wear off over time with tolerance at which point i do move up, so thanks for all the assumptions "queen"! You can't urge me to do anything as it's my life and I wasn't asking for your medical advice unless you're a pharmacist. FYI I'm a 20 year experienced registered health professional 😊

I've found that apart from a day or two post-jab, yes I do get hungry - but I get full much much earlier and it's manageable and actually targeted at food and not just wanting to eat junk for the sake of eating.

It is fine, the point I was making is that working optimally it doesn’t wear off. Not sure why you’re upset by that.

I’m taking a break during Christmas week not because I plan to “stuff my face” but my first 2 weeks on 5mg have all been nauseous and dizziness so i wanted a break to enjoy Christmas. I should have had my jab today, I don’t feel at all hungry, I am still suppressed and not eating much at all and certainly not drinking (wasn’t a big drinker anyway) just glad the nausea has gone tbh. I had messages with my clinical team and was advised to drink ginger and work through it, they think that for now I should stay on 5mg. But I know what you mean about those that eat less mindfully out there, I’m the similar to you and have a thyroid issue and am not a big eater, I’ve always wondered what makes someone eat so much- I really just think it’s mindless eating.

I’ve just come back from a Christmas holiday in Germany, stayed in a hotel & the food was all provided with breakfast, lunch & evening dinner. Happy to say I was really strict, not a single mince pie, chocolate or treat passed my lips, my meals were very small as I served myself, only had breakfast & evening meal as I just wasn’t hungry, also added in a ton of walking with some of my best step counts I’ve ever recorded so was gutted to see I had maintained my weight…

This holiday away was a shock for me studying how other people actually eat. I have never seen so much eating & consumption of alcohol in my life simply because it was free for the taking, every day in the included excursions mince pies & wine, brandy, baileys, chocolates were being dished out to everyone which I declined every time… I watched people having 3 big meals a day & scoffing constantly throughout the day, 2 hours after breakfast some of the party were eating massive filled baguettes knowing they would be having lunch again just a short while later.

Being on Mounjaro has really made me aware of just how greedy people are, it actually made me feel nauseous watching them. Have to say though how good I was & how I deprived myself of everything so did expect a loss if if only a small one, having said this I did eat more than I would have at home but it really was minimal, ensured my choices were healthy also, minimal carbs & mostly protein, it is what it is I guess.