Shemed January Starters - Thread 3

[FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden]

Wow thread 3! I just went to post on the other thread and realised we'd got to the end. I hope everyone finds us - I wasn't able to post a link!

This thread is a support thread aimed at those who started with the Shemed 1 year plan in January (or there abouts).

How is everyone?

I am not nauseous today and seeing light at the end of the tunnel- but so glad I have stuck on 5mg for the next one. I am definitely eating less too - I'm hoping that lasts!
@OneAzureMaker - ah we can be second 5mg pens together! I really want to do some exercise but similarly will have to wait until I have some energy. @tinyemmy Yay hope you are still going okay too - will be a few of us on our second 5 pens!

@Reginaphalangeeeee

Wow - fantastic results! And great the side effects have remained calm. I've had side effects each weekend of the 3 5mg jabs I've taken but they've decreased. This weekend was much more manageable for me. I think the suppression is more constant now too. I will stay on this dose if it carries on like this for a while.

@JBJ Yay for more loss - and good luck with 5mg

@BruhWhy Is the nausea easing?

@Needtomust96 I think some people in the facebook group have - you can use the section at the end of the form to request it and do say why. From reading randomly online it does seem some people need the higher doses to respond although a 1kg a week is what I'm aiming for. You might find that 5mg does it for you in a way 2.5 doesn't.

@Monmonss I did my questionnaire early Friday morning and the pen is supposed to be arriving Tuesday (tomorrow) . I think they issued it Sunday. Hope it settles for you - have you tried taking anything and all that?

@YouWillFindMeUnderCats I was the same - 13lbs and not quite the stone! I am now though - slow and steady does keep adding up. Hope the 5mg goes okay for you.

@Mazd323 How has today been? I think I'm eating less on 5mg but it still wears off towards the end of the week

@Lostatsea10 and @MrsMidgeMaisel and @Follydear I am sorry you are both still struggling. :( It's a hard thing to weigh up isn't it. It does seem Shemed do let people out of the contract if they're struggling or give them the option of Wegovy, and definitely seem to let them stay at 2.5 for longer if needed. Good luck whatever you both decide.

@Humptyandhambel Yay for a steady weight loss and hope 5mg is treating you okay.

Tagging people as I couldn't put a link onto the other page - hope that's okay and please do tag anyone I've missed out (probably quite a few!)
@afromom @kittykarate @floweryjones @Earthgirl3971 @Bananaramram @ForPeachSake @SnowieBear @bluesmartie83 @bertieallsort @Brighton2019 @TLMoo @Newshoesnewname @Bigknickers56

Thanks for that info. Interesting 2kg mentioned.
at time of filling questionnaires I had lost 1.7KG on my last pen. But if they take it as ‘over last 4 weeks I had lost 2.7KG.

Also wondering what you mean by extra clicks? Do you mean do whole 60 clicks, inject then click extra and reinject?
if so, a different injection site?

@Bear2014have you got needles to extract extra doses?
It’s the last dose of this 5mg pen this weekend. Wondering if I can top up a bit Extra with what is left in pen?
Maybe this is a silly idea as don’t know how much to add or if I do injection in same place.

I know my hormones are playing a part but really want to keep scales moving.Its been a much slower month & working hard to resist treats.

Has anyone seen other groups here from Shemed further along about them keeping 5mg longer than people want/feel they need to go up? Is there an automatic point they put you up to 7.5mg or is it based on your weight and how much you actually have left to loose?Guess I am scared after this next 5mg pen I will be at the half way point of the SheMed journey. I am scared I can’t loose all I need to & that the medication will stop working for me.

This is so weird, me too. 0.5 last week and this week I've lost 3lbs exactly. I also think I was being more mindful about my eating this week because I was feeling a bit deflated about the slowing losses!

So I found this click chart which is really handy. It looks like 10 clicks is 0.8333mg. So next month I might do an extra 10 clicks per dose, do another little injection with the same needle next to the first one, then for the 4th dose just extract 0.7ml with the syringe. I am looking at these.

https://monj.co.uk/monj-mounjaro-click-chart/

https://medbasic.co.uk/bd-micro-fine-29g-1ml-syringes-needles/

I am fairly blase on the whole needle, syringe injection thing and it doesn't bother me because I did loads of IVF!

Thank you @Bear2014thats helpful to know. I did adjust clicks when first moving up to 5mg as had a lot of side effects and wanted to titrate up a bit slower. This however felt simpler as knew anything between 30 & 60 click was more than 2.5 but less than 5. I know SheMed are not ok with this adaption but it’s difficult to know what to do when the regime doesn’t seem to suit.
I will look into this info though, thanks 🙏

I’m on W13, 3rd 5mg pen and, after a few weeks of crazy high appetite suppression, I’ve been starving this week. It’s like odd doses just don’t do much! I haven’t got a huge amount of food noise though, and not craving sweet stuff, but can definitely eat larger portions than I have been wanting. Fingers crossed my weight loss still stays on track as I really want to see that 18 at the beginning on the scales!

Hello!

I've been away for ages -I've just realised I didn't "check-in" last Friday and now its my next jab day! I've had a funny week or so. After 3 weeks of pretty much staying the same I had a period then a huge woosh of about 2kg. My 7.5 has arrived and I'm not 100% sure what to do tomorrow as I don't really want to go up unnecessarily.

Also - I've had a week of huge suppression and not wanting to eat. I t was making me feel tired and run down and depressed. I'm not sure if it was ill or MJ but it was weird. I ended up buying Huel just to eat something and forcing bits in. I am nervous of more of this as this isn't healthy or sustainable. Last couple of days though I've managed a bit of Gk yoghurt at breakfast, a few nuts at lunch or Huel and a small dinner so I am less worried. I don't like Huel as I want UPF free but I got to the point I needed something!

Weight loss - I'm 17 shots in (tomorrow) and lost 17.2 kg which is amazing. Someone today told me they could see I'd lost weight which was also great even though I'm still 19st 1.... Long way to go but its feeling possible. I'm just nervous that this is perfect weight loss and don't want to prematurely go up but I'd argued for it as I thought I'd stalled!!

So - just going to read up on everyones news :)

I guess as we're all Jan starters getting to Shemeds potenitally moving up to 7.5 stage. Love to hear what everyone's asking/asked for!

@bluesmartie83 Wahooo for couch to 5k! SO impressed! ANnd 2 stone 6 is amazing!!
@Simi90 So sorry it's not working. Have you spoken to Shemed at all? From reading old threads some people talk of "finding the dose that works for them" - I hope 10 has worked this week for you.

@OneAzureMaker Wahooo you've made it to 3 stone!!! You're just ahead of me- that's great. Until now I was eating super UPF free and small but healthy meals each meal and really loving it but then supression hit me too so no idea going forwards...! I've not been so bad the last couple of days so aiming to have GK yog am, maybe nuts lunchtime and a piece of fruit (I think my other drugs mean I don't want to eat lunch time) and proper meal evening.

@Earthgirl3971 - periods stalled it for me too - hope this week you got a woosh! Sounds like apart from that you're losing well :)

@JBJ Wahooo fantastic! Very similar loss to me - and I'm hoping to see an 18 soon too! Maybe next week for me.
@Reginaphalangeeeee Wow. I think you might be our official "biggest loser" at 3 stone/20kg loss (with a few of us trailing behind you!) And under BMI 40 too that's fantastic well done
@tinyemmy Wahoooo! Still so excited for you and your success :)

Really great to read how everyone's getting on. I am very tempted to dose less than 7.5 tomorrow as so worried about getting to the top with nowhere to go with such a huge weight loss. And also aware of cost of continuing past the year increases with each dose. But not sure really as I'm quite rule driven (and I argued for 7.5 when it looked liked I'd stalled!!)

@FatsiaJaponicaInTheGardenI was at 19st 1/2lb on my last weigh in so praying that I’ve managed to drop under that by Monday.

I’m finding it weird how one week I’m hungry and the next I can barely eat! It doesn’t seem to following any kind of pattern at all.

Fingers crossed 7.5 is ok for you. The first month into 5mg, I was desperate to be moved up, but now I’m glad they haven’t yet.

Yes it's so strange how it changes each week isn't it. It's a strange beast.

Hope you've made it to the 18!!

I’m almost at the end of week 2 of couch to 5k. I am finding it a really good start to increase my running distance gently. I live in a hilly Yorkshire village so finding a fairly flat route is difficult but I’m sure the hills I’m jogging up is helping with my fitness journey! Well worth a try if anyone wants to get started with a structured program that is achievable. I was prescribed 7.5mg for my next pen. Not sure how I’m feeling but trying to trust the process and that there is a method to how they process everyone’s individual journey. I’ve been very lucky with only minor side effects (touched wood) so hoping this continues with the next dose up! I’m going on a girly holiday at the end of June with my daughter who will have just finished her GCSEs. I would love to be able to wear a bikini of some sort and feel comfortable - we shall see!

So impressed with the couch to 5k! My eldest is doing gcses too - busy time! Hope all goes well with her and in sure you'll be sorted for summer 😊.

Good to see you back @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden hope things settle for you after what sounds like a hard week or two.

Received a new prescription overnight & have also been given 7.5mg. Wasn’t expecting this, as I’d had two good losses despite previous poor loss / plateau & felt things were back on track. I didn’t ask for it either.

Maybe my total loss is at a lower level than they’d expect at this point? Will just keep trusting their process & try not to overthink.

Jab 15 // 5mg dose // 10.2kg loss so far

How are you feeling about it? I do think their standard seems to be 2.5 then 3 x 5 then 7.5. (unless side effects or excessive loss I guess).

Looking purely at the trial reports they were grouped into with 5, 10 or 15 conditions so there wasn't flexibility but 10 did better than 5 and not much different between 10 and 15. Also the average loss was the same pretty much up to 16 weeks.

So it looks like they're taking what's worked statistically and applying it as a model.

However we do know within any averages there's people at extremes and all the way along so they are trying to prescribe based on individuals too. I'm quite fascinated by it all.

Having said all that I did 6 today and know it's against their prescribing guidelines and their study but I'm losing okay already . I'm happy to go up to 7.5 but will do 6 for a few weeks...

I’ve got one more dose of 5mg next week. Will see what the scales say & decide at that point. If it’s another good loss then I’ll think about counting clicks to stay at 5mg.

First 7.5mg taken this morning and strangely 1.7kg off this week!!!

Anyway 20.4kg lost in total since the 10th January.

Hoping and praying that the side effects won't be too awful as they're often not great!

For all those going up to 7.5mg I hope all goes well for you too.

I've weighed in and that's so bizarre @OneAzureMaker I'm 1.7 down this week too!! I wonder our body adjusts to it somehow.

Wow over 20 for you too as well as @Reginaphalangeeeee . You are both our "biggest losers"!!! (Although I'm also aware of starting points. For someone with less to lose 1lb a week may well be ideal etc...)

Well done and I hope for little side effects for you. How have the last couple of weeks been? I know you had a hugely rocky start with it all.

I'm feeling so positive about it all today and just reflecting how far we've all come. ❤️.

It's interesting to see all your updates. I'm feeling pretty good from taking 2.5mg in Wednesday. I'm still able to keep to a light lunch and stop eating when I'm full. I hope this continues. Although I know I have more than 2.5 in my system so the real test will be in a few weeks time... Only 4.2lbs until my goal and just a little shy of 3 weeks to achieve it ahead of my holiday 🤞

So glad the lowering dose is okay so far. You are so acing it. Amazing to be so close to goal!!

I meant to say I'm 19stone exactly today - so hoping to see 18 next week and am truly believing the lower numbers will come 😊.

Side effects haven't been too bad recently, occasional eggy burps, occasional diarrhoea, but nothing unmanageable. I've also found that I've lost 2 inches off my waist the past couple of weeks, its as though whilst the scales were going down, by body is now catching up!

I'm 110.1kg today and really keen to be below 110, and obviously 100kg!

Congratulations on your loss this week, we shall get there I'm sure.

I needed new trousers, all my size 20s and size 18s are now baggy. Thought I'd have a look in asda because I had to grab dinner anyway, and got two pairs of linen trousers, one pair of 18 and one 16. Thought, "16 definitely won't fit yet but who knows maybe I'll get into them by the end of summer"

They fit!

Probably vanity sizing but I'm absolutely taking this NSV 🥳

Also, someone told me I'm looking skinny today. Had to check they weren't talking to someone behind me. My ears haven't heard that sentence in 20 years.

Ah thanks @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden
This is my NSV!

This also helps me keep in perspective the slowing of weight loss. I would have liked to been prescribed 7.5mg for this month. But, I will just have to wait and hope they prescribe it next month (ah that will be my 6th pen🫣). I have ordered some needles and will try extracting a little extra from the last dose of this pen to help knock cravings then if that works will carry on with a little extra extracted from my next 5mg pen.
Also hoping that when my period finally arrives it will be easier & maybe I won’t need to.

weigh in Sunday, not hoping for much as still waiting for my period 🙄

That’s really interesting, and yet if it truely were a set regime, why are some (like me) not put up to 7.5 this month?
I think I may email and ask.

@OneAzureMaker Yay for relatively less bad side effects! And seeing a number closer to that magic 100 😊.
@BruhWhy Thats so exciting! Yay to seeing real life results.
@Reginaphalangeeeee Youre doing amazing. Let us know how you get on with the needle method! My period caused havoc the last month.

With the trial - I meant the Original MJ trials when people went on them they had to go up to either 5, 10 or 15 and then stick to them. There was no flexibility as it was to compare the effects on the different groups.

SheMed clearly has flexibility as although they have this general plan they are trying not rush people up the doses if losing well (I read somewhere (not SheMed) that it's considered good practice to have "lowest effective dose") and will keep people lower if side effects.

But when I was looking on fb it doesn't seem they are applying the same rules consistently. I guess it will depend a bit how much people have to lose too (don't want to go up too quick if need a long time on it maybe so not stuck at the top with nowhere to go?)

When I contacted them I had to redo my form to make my final comment clearer so they are taking that into account too.

I'm fascinated by it all but I suspect it's down to the individual clinician at the end of the day. Definitely email and ask. In your case I'd imagine it's due to what they call "optimal weight loss". Did they write anything in your prescription report?

Ah yes, just had a read of my report which does say “due to optimal amount of weight loss”. It doesn’t stipulate if that is in the last month or over all weight loss but links to guidance which I have just read again (posted below).

i think you posted this @FatsiaJaponicaInTheGarden but the calculation obviously didn’t calculate & register in my brain as what it says is ‘a minimum of 1% of starting weight loss a month’. I think I read it as a week before.

So, I started at 136kg
so 1% is 1.36kg a month! That’s just 3lbs!
gosh I have so much to loose I can not tolerate weight loss this slow!
Its making me consider heavy shoes or weights in my pocket for weigh in day 😬
I’m currently 15% body weight down.

I know I have a long way to go still but expected higher doses you stay on longer. Only have 7 more pens to come 😬