Piling the weight back on when stopping MJ

[Richtea67]

Hi all....I'm so disappointed. I lost 3 and a half stone, have been off injections for a month and regained nearly 7lbs 😩. I was a slow loser (1-2lb per week) and focused on changing habits and reducing portion size rather than diets/calorie counting (this has led to binging previously). I have kept up with a lot of the habits (smoothie for breakfast, cutting out alcohol and healthy high protein snacks). But portion sizes have definitely gone up as I'm hungrier! And I've been more tempted by the biscuits at work and the kids treats! Any advice?? I'm considering re starting if I put too much weight on, but financially this would be a struggle, which is part of the reason I came off them. My starting weight was 14.5 stones, weight when stopping injections 11 stones and at present nearly half a stone back on!! Help!

@BlueLimes I am honest and say I’ve used it and now not using it but am stilllosingcweight ok - but we are all individual - there are many people for whom it’s working who have been like saints with their diet but were struggling to use weight so chances are gave some kind of insulin resistance or hormonal reason , but also there are plenty of people who are big because they’ve eaten far too much fattening stuff over the years or drank like fishes and have never actually been in a position before where they struggle to eat 1100 calories a day or they never drank loads of water and of course they are now losing weight - not everyone is starting from the same diet position/mindset - I do worry a bit about some people’s diets though when you look at the ‘what I’ve eaten’ posts - some it really is minute and I think that will be very hard to maintain long term without staying on the drug and a bit like lighter life I wonder if the minute they up calories somewhat their body will hang onto it for grim death.

GertieBlue Surely everyone has a different metabolism though? I am overweight, but eat much smaller portions than DH does! I read somewhere that our bodies have a set point that they are happy with.Too much loss and it doesnt like it .I think MJ and WLI have a place for obese people but shouldnt be rolled out as a panacea for everyone.

I agree - most people have already tried many diets before trying WLI (including me).

Most of us know how to lose weight/stay slim. It's having the willpower to do it that is the problem once the normal appetite returns.

Isn't the research on fasting sort of iffy when it comes to women / concerning women in particular? I tried it and my cycle went completely erratic even though I wasn't undereating...
I absolutely agree with your point about protein. Fibre is also incredibly important when it comes to satiety.

@Openthisdoor this is why I am a little against the constant threads about maximising suppression and needing to keep getting more and more of it to sustain it - I’m not sure long term only being able to eat very tiny amounts by being medicated and eating quite a restrictive diet in many cases is a great thing - I do think the psychological aspects are vital too and personally actually being moderately hungry but then picking wise choices and in smaller portions because you feel full much quicker should be in the mix , it is for many but some seem to be more attached to the doses and full suppression than what habits they are changing for the better. I do think a few are getting a dopamine rush from actually being able to physically eat very little at all and big weekly losses - might be good for weight , but are not brilliant for overall health . - and I am not remotely anti MJ having used it myself to kick start me but do feel it needs to be used as an aid - not as a total crutch to simply not eating enough at all -

@Twiglets1 I partly agree but partly don’t - some people it seems see WLI now as their first port of call the minute they get even a bit chunky

Name change for this as I don't want it attached to my other posts.

I successfully kept the weight off after stopping Mounjaro

BUT

I am now receiving treatment for an eating disorder. Using Mounjaro made me restrict my diet so much that I lost over 40kg, my body became malnourished and it affected my liver function. I've not put the weight back on, but it has left me with an awfully big mess to clear up, including some very unhealthy weight-related habits. I nearly ended up in hospital and now attend eating disorder day care.

There are clearly some great things that these drugs do, but I would urge anyone and everyone on them to be super careful and mindful of stories like mine, and if you're considering using it and have a history of restricting and/or binging then steer well clear.

Would I do it again? Yes. But then again... I'm still in the throes of an eating disorder...

I think part of it as well is people really dislike their before photo and get praised so much for their after photo.

Everything on mounjaro is about losing weight as fast as possible. Personally I'm happy just losing 1-2lb a week and getting to BMI 25 and staying there forever.

I've heard concentrating on weight training is quite healing for eating disorders. Concentrate on getting fit instead of getting thin.

They, presumably, are getting it on prescription? Even free of charge, depending upon the medication?

We're getting this on prescription.

They are prescription only meds. What is your point?

Why are people like you always mention SUVs, do people that you look down on not drive an old banger or a mid-sized car?

I work up a sweat 5 days a week at the gym and then drive home in my SUV with its cooling seats.

I have been ill, and you know what not lost any weight, people put on weight for various reasons that from an outsiders point of view would not understand.

I bet you are really good fun at a party.

I'm sorry to hear that but this is an unusual consequence. I have treated hundreds of patients with GLP1 drugs and this is unusual.
Unfortunately a lot of issues like this/poor nutrition/dysmorphia/disordered eating are because they should not have been prescribed to this group. Without adequate assessment or education

I believe that it really should be used with caution in people with BMI between 30-35.

@ed2025 hence my previous post - I’m a bit wary of the constant push for maximum suppression or getting a buzz from eating very little instead of previous buzzes of treats etc . I think the 1 and 2lb a week mantra is good and if you are losing that on 2.5 or 5 and still get a few days you feel a bit more hungry that’s no bad thing -

I think also conflicting advice plays a big role along with unrealistic expectations and that impacts your ability to use willpower. For example calorie trackers seem to default to 1200 calories for weight loss and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for that. Most people can eat more than 1200 calories and still have a sustainable loss.

I've just looked up BMI 25 for me ,and that's 12 stone 4 ..
I can't get my weight that low ,I will be bone and loose skin.
I had no idea BMI was that restrictive.
I was planning on stopping at 15 stone which is a size 16 for me .
Dare I even check what BMI 15 stone is for me
The last time I was 15 stone I had people telling me not to loose any more weight .the nurse at the doctor's said go careful,you've lost plenty now .
I'm never going to be a normal BMI 😩

It's bizarre isn't it? Do people seriously think we are buying these out of the boot of someone's car or some other equally dodgy place?

Fair enough - that is just my opinion but I expect it's also true that some people don't even try traditional ways of losing weight first now WLIs are talked about so much in the media.

Neither am I. But I would like to be in the overweight range not the obese range.

@BurnoutGP do you think it should be used by people under 28 BMI if not diabetic or a similar medical condition that hugely benefits out of interest? Because there are an awful lot of posts with mumsnetters now at 24 or 25 posting tips on where to get it - I’m not keen on it being used for maintenance as I’ve said unless there are good medical reasons - but I know others think otherwise, so hey ho , it’s just my personal opinion - but interested in what you think .

Many many medications are used by people who don't need them/should not have them/have not been prescribed them. Sometimes it works out fine, sometimes not. That doesn't mean we demonise that medication and the people who do need it or benefit from it.

I've just been glad of any loss ,and not thinking about the finish,or maintenance.
Maintenance is never going to happen for me ,they won't put me on maintenance at 15 stone ,and I don't think I was 12 stone as an adult ever ,
I bet a size 16 is obese,and there's me thinking a size 16 was just a bit overweight..wow ..

I'm pear shaped and I was quite muscley at 12 stone. I would've had to lose muscle to lose weight. I don't understand people at my height who want to be 10 stone, but that's just me.

Until people address their emotional issues for overeating and learn and stick to eating within their calorie maintenance range then this will always be an issue. The injections just mask the underlying problem. So unless you’re going to be on injections forever and that isn’t feasible for all for whatever reason people need to do the work. I’m not talking about those with medical issues which affect weight I’m talking about the mental health issues which make it difficult to stick to healthy and moderate eating. I’m saying this as someone overweight who knows what I need to do to lose weight but I can’t seem to do it. I need to just do it and not rely on medication as I need to change the way I look at food. I have an unhealthy relationship with food and I know it. That is what needs fixing and I know this injections wont help me long term and I can’t afford them.