Mounjaro- do you need to take it for life?!

helpamumout · 2025-04-25T21:01:10+00:00

Been reading countless threads on MJ and struggling to find an answer to my question! once you hit your goal weight are you able to come off MJ and maintain a healthy lifestyle or will the weight just pile back on regardless?

SilenceInside · 25/04/2025 22:07

There is no single answer that’s the same for everyone. Some people may be able to stop taking it and maintain their weight loss. Some might prefer to continue to take a maintenance dose to maintain their weight.

The weight isn’t going to magically go back on somehow if you maintain a healthy lifestyle and aren’t over eating. But of course it’s a challenge to maintain the healthy lifestyle and calorie controlled diet. That’s the same regardless of how you lose the weight.

Tohaveandtohold · 25/04/2025 22:08

It’s just like every weight loss method. Some people will regain and some won’t.
I’ve been off MJ since Feb and I’ve not regained anything, I’ve lost more since then because I’ve not ‘returned to the old ways’. I’ve continued to exercise 5 days a week and mindful of my eating.
There are lots of people on social media I follow, mostly Americans who have come off for over a year now and not regained, some have regained so there’s no one answer.

Original poster

helpamumout · 25/04/2025 22:11

@SilenceInside thanks for the response!

It’s a shame. I want to start MJ but I cannot see it being affordable for years and years to take a maintenance dose :(

OP posts:

SilenceInside · 25/04/2025 22:13

I wouldn’t let worries about long term maintenance stop you from losing the weight in the first place. Better to get to that point and see how you get on rather than stay obese, surely?

wite · 25/04/2025 22:17

No, I came off it in Feb and have maintained my weight by keeping up the good habits I learned.

HaloDolly · 25/04/2025 22:19

I stopped for surgery and my appetite has come back - I’ve gained weight. I think it will be a long term thing for me.

Fatmumslim01 · 25/04/2025 22:33

I'm only 5 weeks in but already dreading having to come off it. Apart from the weight loss benefits (10 pounds in 5 weeks) my head is so much less cluttered, I feel calmer, no food noise etc, I'm hoping to be able to stay on it permanently (on a maintenance dose when I'm at goal)

wonderingwhatsnext · 25/04/2025 22:43

I stopped taking it at the end of August after a 4 stone loss. I have maintained that, just 1lb above my lowest weight, current BMI 22.5. I was very worried that I'd never manage without it but I'd really tried to build good food and exercise habits while taking it and so far I've managed to stick with it.

QueenOfHiraeth · 25/04/2025 23:05

One of my friends is at goal weight, off medication and maintaining.
Her provider told her some people come off it and maintain without, some reduce their dose but need to stay on lower dose while some need to continue on higher dose. Some who come off it may need to have a short course every now and again if they start to regain.
In short, there's lots of options, different bodies react differently to MJ, and none of us know how we will do on it and what we will need long term

PenguinChops · 25/04/2025 23:19

The thing is, I don’t need to ‘learn’ healthy habits. I don’t need to educate myself on going to the gym and eating in a calorie deficit etc etc. I know it all inside out.i know the up to date advice on what a decent diet looks like and all about strength training etc

but knowing all this hasn’t stopped me stacking weight past on in the past when I’ve lost it so I’m as certain as I can be that if I stop MJ any time soon, I know I’ll be back to stuffing my face

I’ve been at my goal weight for almost 5 months now and have come down from a bmi of 36 to a bmi of 22. I just don’t have it in me to do the whole weight gain / loss cycle again so for now, I’m taking a maintenance dose which varies between 5mg and 7.5mg. I’m hoping to eventually come back down to 2:5.

I don’t actually want to stay on it for life at all. I’ve told myself I’ll take this year to try and get stronger and leaner and then see how I’m doing but right now, I’ll stay on it

Radionowhere · 26/04/2025 00:08

It's like everything else, you need to make lifestyle changes in the longer term

Original poster

helpamumout · 26/04/2025 00:12

Thank you al for your comments and for sharing your experiences. It’s been so helpful thank you

OP posts:

Bitezbabe · 27/04/2025 12:21

PenguinChops · 25/04/2025 23:19

The thing is, I don’t need to ‘learn’ healthy habits. I don’t need to educate myself on going to the gym and eating in a calorie deficit etc etc. I know it all inside out.i know the up to date advice on what a decent diet looks like and all about strength training etc

but knowing all this hasn’t stopped me stacking weight past on in the past when I’ve lost it so I’m as certain as I can be that if I stop MJ any time soon, I know I’ll be back to stuffing my face

I’ve been at my goal weight for almost 5 months now and have come down from a bmi of 36 to a bmi of 22. I just don’t have it in me to do the whole weight gain / loss cycle again so for now, I’m taking a maintenance dose which varies between 5mg and 7.5mg. I’m hoping to eventually come back down to 2:5.

I don’t actually want to stay on it for life at all. I’ve told myself I’ll take this year to try and get stronger and leaner and then see how I’m doing but right now, I’ll stay on it

Edited

I could have written this post. I’m now having 5 mg and planning on dropping to 5 doses of 4mg next month. Pretty sure if I stop my appetite will come back with a vengeance and the weight will start to creep back on. Love not thinking about food and just having my healthy meals.
Hoping I can maintain on 2.5 mg and will just continue for as long as I can.

HaloDolly · 28/04/2025 15:05

Penguinchops me too.