Mounjaro/Wegovy with > 5st/30kg to lose: Thread 7

[MooBaggage]

Thread SEVEN of this lovely community. Anyone using weight-loss injections to lose more than 5 stone or 30kg is very welcome to join us, no matter what stage of the process you are on. Share your losses, your non-scale victories (NSV), your frustrations and your love of Longley Farm cottage cheese and kiwi fruit here!

Nothing is off limits to discuss - from protein sources to B bellies; Hammocks to smart scales; feeling chilly to easier bum wiping 😃

Please don’t post discount codes on this thread as your post will be deleted. These need to go in the dedicated thread on this board

Thank you all so much for the encouragement, it's brilliant following along with all your successes.
Interesting to hear about the anxious feeling @WoolerOwl ... I have struggled with health anxiety for years so trying not to google side effects and imagine the worst since the whole reason for this is to get healthier and feel more present in my life.

Hopefully this will all just become automatic as time goes on:)

I think I've read other people saying that they feel the same. No idea why MJ should cause this. HRT and evening primrose oil have helped me when I've felt a bit like this pre MJ, but nothing seems to help now on the first night or two after the jab, so it's very clearly related. I wonder if it will get worse as I move up doses. Anyone else experiencing this?

Goddamnit I want collarbones! 😄

My face is changing though and my cheekbones are re-emerging, which is satisfying. And my back fat has definitely reduced - I was scratching an itch on my back earlier today and was really surprised to feel bones 😮😃

InfoSecInTheCity - WOW!!! You look incredible, and so much more relaxed and happy in the 'now' picture than in the before - congratulations for achieving that.

I bloody love collar bones too - and am sitting reading Mumsnet doing exactly that - mindlessly stroking my newly emerging right collar bone!

So, I’ve spoken to a health and fitness influencer and they have told me that I should be eating between 1800 and 1900 calories!! That seems way too much.
I have told them about the exercise that I do, and my weight, height etc and they have said that my BMR is 1592 and my TDEE is 2189. I’ve been completely honest about my sedentary lifestyle. I’m scared to eat that much because I feel like if I’m not losing on 1400 - 1500, I definitely won’t lose on 1800 - 1900!

Thank you all for your encouraging words today. I really appreciate the community feel. Some of your words have really rung true and hard with me. I know I have to stay strong and new Easter would be hard. I am coming to terms not only with just how big I was, but how big I am still and how much I have to loose oh and ofcourse not forgetting the heartbreak going back home with my dad no longer there. It’s been a harder weekend than I thought it would be and not surprised I slipped into old ways (a binge). Doing nothing about my weight is not a choice. I want to stay on this weight loss journey even though it is a long one.

This group is a big comfort. Thank you! its all cheekbones and collarbones here today and I am very jealous and desperate for mine to appear one day. @InfoSecInTheCityyou look truely wonderful, well done! A total body transformation! Also amazing you have no turkey neck/loose skin around your face. Mine is a bit wobbly but hopefully just part of the process. Your collagen must be working for you!
I have ancient and brave but wondering if I should try another brand instead?

Following a sad binge today 😢 I am vowing to put things right again tomorrow.
I took the kids to the cinema, ate a burger and then an Easter egg 🙄😕😭.
It was not through hunger, nor craving and this is very strange for me. It was because I was sad, I felt low in energy and emotion and slightly ‘given up’. Part of me wanted to block everything out and just eat the way I used. But the guilt was worse and tummy ache since, I can’t do it. Thoughts a little more logical now. I am not going to let this be the end like my normal diet attempts. I have 5 days ahead of me before my next jab to eat well. I have to believe I can undo this silly binge and get into a good mindset again.
I hope it is a good week for you all x

Congratulations @InfoSecInTheCity You look amazing. You really are an inspiration to us all and I often get such a lot of advice from your very helpful posts. I particularly like your welcoming words to @SeasonalKitsch Such sensible guidance.

@Reginaphalangeeeee You must go easy on yourself. You are doing great. I could have written your post - it felt overwhelming at first and I found this thread and knuckled down, having found my people! Saying that, I'll admit to sometimes feeling a bit of an imposter - as I am so much slower than others, don't get the suppression that everyone refers to, but nevertheless I have learned a lot from the suggestions, tips and the over-riding success of so many who are nearing their goals and even reaching what they set out to do.

I have to say, having got to the 4 stone mark on Thursday (56 lbs), I (for the first time) realised I wanted, and can likely achieve, another 4. Believe me when I say 4 stone sounds a whole lot better than 8 stone! Everyone is noticing (I seem to have lost the weight mainly from the top half of my body - so face, neck, shoulders/frame and yes, the collarbones are beginning to make an appearance and I am a lot more of an hourglass figure. But, belly very much there and chucky thighs|).

Each step is a step in the right direction, and while it is perfectly natural to feel overwhelmed, the steps mount up and losses get very significant indeed.

Just go at the pace that is right for you. It is very easy to compare, but just follow your path - your journey is your own. You are doing so well, and others would have caved with the overwhelming grief you are enduring, and you are an inspiration for carrying on your weightless journey having lost your lovely Dad. Take a pound at a time and I guarantee, in a little while, you'll realise how far you have come.

@InfoSecInTheCity thanks for sharing your progress photos, such a great side by side comparison!

@alwaysscared I agree that those numbers don’t sound right. Does this person have any qualifications as a dietician at all? Did they explain how they arrived at those numbers?

@Reginaphalangeeeee - don't beat yourself up. A burger and an easter egg is not so bad. Sorry you feel lousy though, but it will pass. Tomorrow is another day.

@Reginaphalangeeeee you really are doing brilliantly. I understand the emotional dips associated with a bereavement, I’ve lost both my parents now and while I’m generally fine, sometimes it will just hit with no warning and fell me for a few days. I have found as the years have passed that when I do have a sudden flash of them it’s more often because of happy memories that make me smile, than in a way that makes me cry.

Can I ask you something? Before you started Mounjaro, would a burger on a day out and a single Easter egg have been a binge? Or would it have just been a normal lunch and a pretty conservative chocolate day? Because if I’m honest with myself I’d have eaten a burger while out and about and still had Beeakfast, Lunch and Dinner in addition, it would have been a snack, and I could easily have 3 full size chocolate bars over a day, I definitely had at least 1 every day. So did you really binge today, or did you just eat?

I have a little bit of a turkey neck, it’s more that I have some stretch marks which I don’t think will go away but it isn’t massively noticeable so I’m choosing to not focus on it. With regard collagen, I cannot stand the powder that you drink, I have a real problem with certain textures and it just sets me off, so I have whatever pill form they have on offer in Holland & Barrett or the supermarket when I remember I need to buy more that is at least 1000mg per tablet. It’s a very scientific choosing method!

@SilenceInside I don’t know about qualifications etc. She seems to know what she is talking about. She was recommended to me on here.

I've probably got in the region of 10 stone myself to lose (around 60kg) to get into a healthy BMI however I'm just planning to go with it and see what happens. It's definitely a long game here. As for threads, I couldn't keep 2 threads going- I have enough problems remembering my username for this one which is different to my MN username. Side effects wise, can't really say I have had many. The main one is that I am constantly absolutely freeeeeeeeezing. This is partly because of autoimmune neuro issues but the MJ has turbocharged it. Yeah, I'll be that person at the beach in July in my wheelchair with a blanket over my knees!

@WoolerOwl I'm now on 12.5 and I haven't really noticed any difference in side effects with the increase in dosage. I've had struggles with anxiety on and off for a while- it mainly centres around my youngest and his needs (he's complex SEND and I've literally spent years battling an inherently unfit for purpose and entirely broken system to get his needs met and in the right school). I'm not medicated at the moment but I have been previously- I am genuinely sorry to hear that you have your own struggles. Hopefully in time MJ will do its thing and you'll be in a better place

@InfoSecInTheCity (sorry wasnt sure if you were asking in a general sense or not) pre MJ I would have eaten the entire Easter egg in one go, and then all sorts of food during the day, and a family size bag of crisps in the evening. Now, food just doesn't really appeal to me- I did do the weekly dose earlier though so this might explain my absolute indifference. I'm with you too, the thought of drinking collagen just doesn't appeal. I'd rather take the wibbly skin, thanks!

@alwaysscared It's not possible for anyone to say if that is too high or low without knowing your weight, height, activity, etc.

I know I mentioned a trainer who has a big following on TikTok and seems to talk a lot of sense in her lives but I haven't had mine calculated by her. Does it match with the TDEE calculators online? If it does, maybe you have just been undereating. I know Team RH often seem to allow more calories than expected but they still seem to get results, a relative of mine follows their programme and I am surprised at her daily allowance

@alwaysscared I suppose you could always try it for a couple of weeks and see what happens.

@QueenOfHiraeth it doesn’t match mine but I have put sedentary, even though I work out 3 to 4 days a week, which I told her about.
I’m trying to do 1600 a day, see if I get anywhere with that amount.
I’m still thinking about buying 7.5mg privately, but I’m not sure that will help as I will still be eating the same amount of calories. I certainly shouldn’t be eating less than I am now. For most of my journey I have been eating 1200 - 1400, and I think that’s just not enough.

Forgot to add- a few people have noticed now. However the people I spend the most time with are the people who are least likely to say anything to me, especially if my son is in earshot (talking about anything medical/personal infront of him is a big no). I'm not sure how I would feel tbh if someone passed comment. In other areas of my life I definitely am not comfortable about people commenting or asking me questions about my health/medical needs. Unless I know someone very, very well then they generally get told it's my private medical information I am not comfortable with sharing.

Besides, it really the done thing to comment of someone has lost weight? I am not sure I would feel confident enough unless I knew them very well and even then I would probably do it in private. What do others think about this?

Random weigh in for me (something to do whilst not sleeping 🙄) and I've lost 2lbs:

Jan 13th SW 20 stone 3lbs. BMI 43
April 22nd CW 17 stone 9lbs. BMI 37.6

So that's 36lbs off, with 55lbs to go until my initial goal weight. About 70lbs to go to get me into a healthy BMI figure!

My average weight loss is getting smaller over time, but is still currently 2.5lbs a week which I'm very happy with. I'd mapped out targets based on a weight loss of 1.5lbs a week, which I'd still be really chuffed with and I imagine it'll reduce to maybe around that (or less) as the weeks and months go on.

Next few mini targets are to get under 17.5 stone, then get my BMI under 35, then get in the 16s! 😊

@InfoSecInTheCity you look incredible. Such a difference in the look in your eyes, too. Do you feel different, emotionally, having got to where you have?

@AdotHam well done for doing your first jab. I was so nervous to do mine. I did my second on Sunday and that was much easier! We have a similar goal, i’m currently a bit heavier than you at 235lbs.

Thank you, you well placed question has helped me reframe my ‘binge’.
You are right, it was a meal (a poor choice but convenient one while out). Then an Easter egg at the cinema. This did not feel like a normal ‘binge’ and was also not in secret as my normal binges would be. This would have been a perfectly normal meal out (and had chips too) and cinema treat and I would have likely eaten another few in secret too as my actual binges.
These were just bad choices yesterday while feeling sad. I have paid the price with a sore tummy and bad feelings about what I have eaten so now just have to move on. Feeling the need for a bit of fasting to let my body recover a little still but will have a healthy lunch.

Thank you for kindly questioning me. It helped.
Also, very sorry to hear about both of your parents. You are so amazingly strong for getting on this weight loss journey and keeping going! You inspire the whole community here. Thank you!

PS I don’t mind collagen in tea and need it. I too have some stretch marks under my chin now, not that noticeable and don’t think anything I can do about them. At least white and much smaller than ones in my tummy.

Just catching up with the new thread. Got on the scales this morning after a long weekend away in Portugal, and was pleasantly surprised that I'd only put on 0.3kg. I suspect some of this is water retention from the flight. I definitely ate more sensibly than I used to while I was on holiday, although I could have been stricter. I did lots of walking, which was great, and I found I wasn't as tired as I would have been in the past.
Great to hear about all of your progress on this thread.

@InfoSecInTheCity you look amazing! Are you planning to stay on MJ to maintain or what are you thinking?

@Reginaphalangeeeee It's really hard to look at food as just food rather than some kind of measure of moral worth. But it is just food. You ate, you sustained your body. No need to punish yourself with harmful words, thoughts or deeds. No need to fast or restrict in order to put it right, because you didn't do anything wrong.

My NSV - my bath towel goes around me and doesn't gape around my tummy anymore! Goals!

I also feel like MJ is helping to regulate my adhd. I'm so much calmer and have consistent energy and motivation for things. There's just this space now for me to consider what I do - it used to feel like I wasn't completely in control of myself. In binge eating recovery, people always talk about finding that gap between the urge to binge and the binge, where you can use a strategy or break a pattern. I never had any gaps! But now I do. Not sure if that makes any sense but that's where I'm at and it's great!

On the calories thing... it's a bit like BMI, I think. A rough guide but not that helpful to everyone. Not all calories are equal in terms of their effects on us - 1000 calories of protein is better than 500 calories of sugar, for example. Also you need to consider how much actual nutrition your body is getting. I expect almost everyone here has some degree of insulin resistance so reversing that is essential in order that your body can actually use the energy you supply it with. Focus on getting enough protein and fat and fibre, but don't 100% cut out treats and junk unless you genuinely dislike them, as most of us do enjoy food for fun, comfort, and sociability at times and that is completely normal! We have to look at what sustains us long term.

That's how I see it, anyway.

I have weighed myself this morning and I am 15stone 13lbs so finally into the next stone bracket! Started at 18stone 4lbs at the end of Jan/beginning of Feb (can’t remember the exact date). Took my 5mg yesterday, I can’t see myself going up to 7.5mg anytime soon, the side effects are still brutal for me, a lot of nausea and aside reflux 🤢

Hi. I’ve been mostly lurking on here since I started in January. I enjoying reading about everyone’s successes and always find the comments really helpful, and very sensible!

Can I ask some advice on how much I should be aiming to eat as I’m getting myself into a tangle…

I use nutracheck to estimate my goal calories and track my food which I’m finding really easy to use and helpful. Since starting, I’ve massively upped my activity levels (from a starting point of very little!) to resistance training 4-5 times a week and 10,000 plus steps a day. All good and am feeling amazing - good losses and actually gaining muscle mass in absolute terms (as advised by my fancy scales).

However, I find that my goal calories are less than my BMR and the gap is getting bigger (as my weight decreases the goal calories but my BMR has been increasing), but the added calories from exercise (automatically synced to my watch) seem overly generous.

I’ve been muddling along eating somewhere between my BMR and what nutracheck estimates I should eat after exercise - normally leaving a deficit of around 400 - 700 (I think above the deficit already built in to my goal calories). I’ve (tried to) attached a screen shot to show what I mean.

I’ve had a couple of larger than 1kg weekly losses, and wondering if I should be eating more? But to eat all my exercise calories seems too much.

I hope this makes sense, and grateful for any thoughts?

Thank you @taylorswift1989I am feeling a bit more positive about food today but still struggling with sadness in general.
I’m sorry if it read that my fasting was a punishment for eating silly foods, didn’t mean that to come across as that. What I meant was that fasting seems to reset me and also calm digestional discomfort. I was still burping and tasting my burger last night and this morning 🤢
Thankful with lots of fluid and fasting this has passed. Ate a vegetable and meat strong lunch!

I’m with you on not counting calories, it would confuse me, occupy and stress me too much. I have to remember that in general, despite my slip ups I am loosing just fine, it’s just it’s a lot to loose and it will continue to take time.

Anyone else follow a fasting approach?
I am not really a breakfast person & energy levels and digestion seem better by a shorter eating window.