Really struggling to eat

[Melon2312]

Is anyone else just really struggling to eat on 2.5mg? I took my fourth dose on Sunday and the last few days the suppression has been so strong I’ve really struggled to eat anything at all. I’ve had quite strong suppression since day 1, it does tend to wear off a bit towards the end of the week so I try and get a bit more food in then, but I’m starting to worry that I’m just going to end up with no energy and drop weight too fast. I’ve lost 9lbs so far in 3 weeks (my starting weight was on the lower side as only just over the 30 BMI threshold.)

I’ve already decided to stick with 2.5mg for my second pen rather than increasing.

grateful if anyone else has had a similar experience and can offer any advice please?

Bumping this for you. I’ve rarely had this problem on MJ, but I’m sure others have.
What might help is calculating your Tdee and then tracking your calories so you can have a good idea as to how much you ‘should’ be eating. If it’s volume of food you’re struggling with you could switch to nutrient dense high calorie foods like nuts and other high fat foods like avocado, smoked salmon. Or you could try protein shakes. Very important to stay hydrated too to avoid any kidney issues.

I sometimes have strong suppression in the morning but I’ll persevere with a small breakfast as it’s an opportunity for protein.

Sounds like staying on the lowest dose is a good idea.

I injected yesterday, 2.5 as well and today is my biggest suppression day but I do find actual eating helps. Had yoghurt, a sprinkle granola and fruit for breakfast and was working away and at 1pm I just didn't fancy anything but had a egg with a sandwich thin and felt better after.

So maybe try something and see how you feel as we should be eating to our calorie deficit.

Thanks for your replies, sorry for taking so long to come back!

I haven’t calculated my TDEE as I really want to try and do this without tracking if possible, I find it becomes too much of a chore otherwise and I also don’t want to be obsessing about calories and berating myself if I either have too many or too little.

I’m pretty good at being consistent with breakfast which is usually a couple of spoons of Greek yoghurt with a handful of protein boosted granola. Lunch is harder, today I’ve had 3 oat cakes with a thin slice of cheese on each and a raw carrot. And for dinners I’m managing to eat the protein but struggling with any carbs.

might look into protein shakes to supplement but it’s such a minefield as so many out there, can anyone recommend a good one?

I’ll be honest, your weight loss in the first three weeks was fine and what you say you have eaten today also sounds fine.

I don’t really eat ‘traditional’ carbs (pasta, bread, potatoes etc) as I simply get too full for too little nutritional reward!! Instead I eat veg, nuts, seeds, beans, chickpeas and something like quinoa occasionally to keep my fibre up.

I honestly don’t think you really have a problem at the moment. If you do start to feel like you have no energy, have a rethink and aim to include more calorie dense protein and healthy fats but at the moment, you sound fine.

Ok that’s an interesting perspective, maybe I just feel like I’m eating nothing because it’s so far removed from what I used to eat! 😂

It's not really ALLOWED to recommend this, but I take a lower dose (half of 2.5) to avoid losing weight too fast and to avoid side effects. I'm also quite low BMi to start (30). I don't know if that might work, but I really don't want side effects from losing weight too fast (hair loss/risking gallstones or pancreatitis)

I found getting in a protein shake really helped me in the early weeks as I ate plainly and very low calorie as I couldn't manage much. I figured I was so overweight a few weeks very low calorie wouldn't harm me, and it didn't. Good advice to work out TDEE (I minus 500 cals to lose weight) so at least you know what to aim for even if you fall short in these early weeks. Make sure you are drinking lots of fluid.

I have just lost 2 stone and struggled to eat whilst on any dose. I have stopped now, as I just couldn't continue, but was happy with my loss. I hope to keep it off but I am not so sure that I will.

I did struggle to eat for a few weeks in a few doses it does come in waves! Often the thought of eating is worse than actually eating.

I did have protein shakes (from
Aldi( on the worst days and also smoothie for breakfast and these are so calorie laden I NEVER would have eaten them pre MJ! They were definitely avoid foods.

I now love half a glass of smoothie for breakfast and don’t really have protein shakes anymore but they are still good. I’m 3 stone down since Jan 6th and 2 more to go

just watch protein and water intake. Lots of Greek yoghurt and eggs.

I would drop the protein in your breakfast as that will contribute to you feeling fuller. Protein supplements will also work against you and make it harder for you to eat. I understand not having an appetite but you should really be tracking what you are eating to ensure you get enough. In the early days I just ate 3 proper meals a day regardless of how I felt as I knew my body needed the fuel. It will thank you more for proper veg etc over supplements in the longer term. It will also make your loss sustainable if you are eating proper healthy meals rather then shakes etc

Please, please don’t drop any protein. You should be prioritising it!

Not at the expense of actual food you shouldn’t.

Eat a proper balanced diet that contains protein, don’t take added protein breakfast if it means you can’t eat lunch. Don’t start taking shakes because you can’t eat lunch. Work back and you will see the issue. Too much protein for breakfast is preventing normal food intake over the rest of the day.

Interesting to hear the different perspectives on protein, I could try loading the protein later on in the day instead of in the morning and see if that works maybe.

I only had suppression for a few days dose one and two on 2.5 but have very strong suppression still on dose 5 of 5mg . For me it’s strong day 1-3 where I barely eat and eat more day 4-7 . I have reduced my carbs to almost 0 and prioritise protein over anything and my main meal is lunch (I have protein shake for breakfast and limited dinner on day 1-3)
I incorporated protein shake in the morning after I had a dizzy spell around lunch time.
I also drink a lot of water to ensure I am hydrated

a lot of people are splitting or reducing doses even as pp said it’s not recommended if you cannot eat at all perhaps consider splitting or reducing