Advice for someone whose (Mounjaro) losses are a bit slow?

[feedmefudge]

Hi there. I’ve lost 6lbs in 3 weeks. I mean, it’s not bad, just slower than I’d like … especially with summer coming up! When on a VLCD, I can shift more weight than that in one week alone, though I understand that it’s not particularly sustainable.
For me it’s still worth it though, as I’m eating well and the food noise in my head is vastly reduced. I’ll move to my first 5mg pen next week, as I could do with the extra appetite suppression. I have been so, so good though 🙂

So I’m 51 years old, 5’4” and currently 17st 5lb. I am limiting myself to 1200 calories a day.
As I said, it’s all good. But it’s slightly frustrating to have losses on a par with Slimming World, when I’m paying much more than a SW membership would be.
Any tips for me? Not sure if I should up my calories a bit or decrease them further. I’m probably not drinking as much as I should but am trying.
Thanks.

My friend had a similarly disappointing start to her Mounjaro use, comparing it to her SW losses, too, but for her, it took off a lot better at 5mg. She started at 14st 7, seven weeks ago; she spoke to me a few days ago to say she was averaging 3lb a week loss which I reminded her resulted in 20 odd lbs in that 7 weeks! How many years ago was she last 13 stone?

I agree, VLCD aren’t really sustainable, and I think your 1200 is good - did you calculate your TDEE? - so many Mounjaro users are struggling to eat 700cals a day- sure, they’re seeing big losses but I do not believe that weight will stay off. I think drinking the vast amount they suggest is important, too.

Remember, SW didn’t work for you, otherwise you wouldn’t be using MJ!

Stick at it!

Your loss is a perfect amount. Remember you need to file and nourish your body. Do increase your water but for your kidneys rather than any other reason.

I say this often - do not go into this with any expectations or compare your loss to anyone else's! MJ is not a crash diet for the summer but a medication for the long term treatment of obesity.

Stick with what you are doing and you will soon see the results.

Thank you both very much indeed.

I’ll definitely stick with it. I’m pretty sure MFP suggested a daily calorie intake of 1400, but I wanted to reduce it for a speedier loss.
On reflection, it probably doesn’t make a difference.

To me that seems like a decent start? It's about where I am, albeit not aiming to lose as much. But I thought losing slow and steady but keeping up a reasonable amount of calories was more sustainable and less likely to lead to side effects. I'm guessing on 1200 calories a day you're able to get a good quantity of protein and fibre down you.

As a pp said, this is about the long term treatment of your obesity. You have more important and lasting goals than what you look like on a beach this summer.

My losses are slow compared to some. I've lost on average 1.5lbs per week. Overall I've lost 50lbs as of this week - so those small amounts do add up.
I'd never have stuck on a diet this long without the MJ.

I had a HUGE loss in my first week, but falling ill with covid the same day, a week in bed with a high fever and no food might have caused that so I don't recommend it!

Since then losses have been anything from 0lbs to 3lbs a week - averaging around the 2.5lb mark in the early days. I totally get stepping on the scales each week wanting it to be more and quicker, but at the same time knowing 2lb is already rapid weight loss - it messes with your head!

I am on week 44 now and my average loss is now around 1.5lbs a week. I am over 90lbs down! (scales used to start with 21st, now start with 14st).

As @IReallyNeedThisToWork says it is not a summer diet, expect to be on this for much longer, but what MJ does (for me anyway) is make it easier to stick to the changes you have to make longer term.

Maybe ok to see it as a diet for next summer!

@feedmefudge - you have been losing 2lb a week which is a healthy and sustainable weight loss. Apparently the massive losses in first weeks some people get are water weight/ inflammation. I lost a lot in the first few weeks due to this but it’s settled down. The slower it comes off the more sustainable the weight loss is - the goal is to keep it off

Wow! That really is life changing- I dropped that amount 10 years ago to qualify for fertility treatment - it made a huge difference to my mobility and quality of life. I’ve lost 2 stone so far from 19.5 stone to 17.5 stone - it’s already a huge difference

I'm nearly 12 months along and have lost 56lbs. Slow and steady.
I Only recently went up to 10mg and have eeked out every last drop!
I'm hoping to cross the obese / overweight barrier next week and expect to hit my target weight at Xmas and then titrate back down.
My friend had lost a stone in 3 weeks - annoying as it is, we're all different.
In 12 months I'd have given up and restarted every other diet.
I weighed the same on New Year's Day as I did before Christmas, lost weight in Italy.
It's felt like a slog compared to others but I'm over the moon with my progress.