Mounjaro/Wegovy with > 5 stone/30kg to lose. Thread 8!

[MooBaggage]

Thread EIGHT - blimey we talk a lot! 😄 Anyone using weight loss injections to lose more than 5st/30lbs is very welcome, no matter what stage of the process you are no.

We're high on protein, low on carbs, upping the water and getting the fibre in any which way we can!

Please don't post discount codes as your post will be deleted - these need to go on the discount codes thread.

@Joyt35 Welcome. This is a lovely friendly group who give great hints, tips and wisdom.

I do keto, which is unusual with MJ (I think), but there are lots of low carber's here and tonnes of suggestions about keeping your protein up and your carbs and sugar low.

I don't get suppression (but I didn't have food noise), so keto keep me on track and it offers a way of eating that reduces all cravings and, by default, has me eating a time-restricted-eating kind of set up/intermittent fasting.

I love to cook and cook everything from scratch. Anyway, as I say, not for everybody, but if it did interest you, i could send you some pointers and info.

I feel the healthiest I have ever felt (I'm 54).

Another 1 pound off, so I am bang on 14 stone. I am desperate to see a 13 on the scales and just 3 pounds off 5 stone. I will report back when I get there.

Interesting chat about the waist measurements, etc. I agree that it must be a visceral fat/health thing. I have a distinct waist, but it is certainly not at 31.5 inches. Not sure if I will ever get to those heady heights, but your guys will be the first to hear about it if I did!

Best of luck lovely losers. Sounds like you are having a relaxing time @MooBaggage Sleep is so restorative and you'll feel so well rested and refreshed not having the stress of work.

@NewbieMJ also keto is one of the big tools used for reversing diabetes and pre diabetes and insulin resistance - I’m not exactly keto but am definitely doing under 80g a day of carb - ( most of it berries and bananas) cauliflower rice is my saviour with many an evening meal!!

ooo @Crikeyalmighty 80g is still low and a lot of folk can stay in ketosis at around 50/60g+. I don't count veggies, but keep the rest of my carbs very low. It has become easy and a way of life. Even my husband is low carb now and I never thought I'd see the day!

Cauli rice is my saviour too. I bought a cauliflower yesterday and am going to experiment with my blender to see if I can actually make it, as the Full Green stuff is superb, but pricey, and always running out at my supermarkets, so if I can make it, then it will be a whole lot easier. (the frozen stuff is pricey too and not as good).

I follow Dr Jason Fung and Dr Eric Berg. Dr Fung is a brilliant and his reversal of diabetes is life-changing for so many. Love his take on everything. My issue is stubborn insulin resistance and the reason I ended up at 18 stone 11 and all my (thankfully in the past) health issues.. I love that MJ has kept me on track and motivated.

I keep checking to see if there is a thread on keto and WLI but the only one I saw didn't develop into anything. It would be great to share recipes, etc with others. Saying that, this thread is my go-to, as we all have a lot in common and totally get how it is to have 5+ stone to lose and it is positive and supportive.

@NewbieMJ I am doing it all now without MJ too - but sticking to the principles - I am actually a decent cook , good will power and not really into sweet stuff either - which all helps - I used to love M&S courgette spaghetti but they don’t do it anymore and I’ve found it fiddly to make and very mixed results!! Yes my H is losing a few pounds too and low carbing -definitely easier if not faffing making 2 meals- he eats a lot of ramens and loves James white vegetable juice and Longley farm cottage cheese on rice cakes. He doesn’t like eggs though, so that limits some obvious choices

I'm very annoyed that the boyf is now losing 1lb a week too, just by eating slightly differently when he's around me (he still has waaay more carbs, sugar stuff than me!) 🙄😁

In January I weighed 4 stone more than him and had got within 11lbs - but now have just over a stone to go before I catch up with him! We're exactly the same height, so both 'obese' and he has type 2 diabetes, so I'm obvs glad it's doing us both good!

I still intend to be a couple of stone lighter than him in the end...! 😀

A bit of competition can be very motivating @MooBaggage 😂

I have just been pestering DH to tell me his parkrun PB from a few years ago as I’m going to try it next week. But he has ‘forgotten’ 🐓🐓

Oh are you really? That is very interesting. I (thankfully) don't have a sweet tooth either, so it made it easier to get off the sugar, but keto/low carb stops your sugar cravings anyway, as you know.

Are you in maintenance? or still actively/purposely losing? My plan is to stick to keto for life (I can't imagine eating any other way), but have another 3+ stone to lose. My weight loss is averaging 7/8 pounds a month which seems to be quite slow according to others losses, but it is completely fine for me and I am finding it easy now. I haven't managed to get a sustained proper weight-loss doing keto before, hence why I am on MJ. Very interested to hear how you are doing and the role MJ has played, if you don't mind sharing?

I’ve still got 3 stone to lose , but losing at exactly same rate as MJ - like you around 8lbs a month. I’m 2 and a half months in . I only did 5 weeks on MJ - couldn’t hack the heartburn and feeling like I had a hangover combined with morning sickness 3 days a week and thought to myself, really if it’s just an appetite suppressant - that’s not really my issue as I don’t snack and I eat well - so switched to low carb , 16-8 IF and a lot more protein than I had pre MJ , more salad, more water and banged in a couple of dance excercise classes a week - I was prepared to go back on MJ if necessary and I didn’t lose but I have- I also have used Berberin GLP1 supplements before main meal ( mild GLP1 effect on insulin) but also act as mild appetite suppressants and make me feel full quicker and at £39 a month feels more sustainable for me.

it’s a really individual thing I feel but for me works just as well after telling myself nothing worked - it did , but I was never consistent enough over a long enough period -

@Joyt35 do you like fish? I see you included tuna in your list. I am eating quite a bit of seafood - prawns, sea bass, smoked mackerel, salmon etc which I have with salad or green veg. I am also eating quite a lot of eggs, especially variations of shakshuka.

Just popping in for a wee bit of a moan 😂 I've lost 35lbs since January and feeling so much better for it BUT just trying on holiday clothes and oh my Christ I still look horrendous 🤦‍♀️

I don't think I've even dropped a dress size still very much a size 18 and pear shaped with a big arse and heavy thighs. Now have a B belly to add to the mix where the top is bigger than the bottom

I'm a catch I tell ya 🤪

This is the last year you’ll feel like this though! You’re on your way, just keep going..

I finally switched suppliers this week as I’m at BMI24.4, MedExpress will only prescribe to 23.5 and I’d like to be 22-23. I am now with Simple Online Pharmacy who will keep prescribing as long as you remain in the healthy BMI bracket, no time limit. You can also try stopping with the option to go back on MJ as long as it’s within 3 months, which is really useful I think. Ideally I will manage maintenance on my own but having the option is a good safety net. You restart at 2.5mg if it’s been more than 4 weeks. If you leave it more than 3 months you would have to meet the original prescribing criteria of BMI30 etc.

Very easy process, just a form and photos. I had emailed them asking about maintenance plans so had a call with a pharmacist this morning but they had already sent the pen by then so I don’t think it’s required.

Annoyingly I have spare pens, a stockpile just from ordering as soon as I get the reminder and from taking 5 doses. I asked whether I could order at 6 week intervals to use them up but they said it would flag up in their system and I’d have to justify it each time which is a pain. So they suggested just order monthly from now on and keep the other ones in reserve because they might well get used eventually.

35lb is great @Carolwithane !!

Many of us on this thread can sympathise - if you have a lot to lose then you need to lose quite a bit before you can start to see & feel the change.
Most important is to keep going, because you WILL see & feel that change I promise.
Holiday clothes shopping can be grim - as @gimmemounjaro says for next years shop you will be in a very different postion.

Are you exercising regularly?

I hope you find clothes that you enjoy wearing & remember whatever your size you are gorgeous & you deserve to have a wonderful holiday.

I've just treated myself to a new Manners London dress for summer - its bright yellow and looks amazing on (yes I ignore my wobbly upper arms). Not sure where I will wear it (I've had my holiday this year already) but it feels amazing to wear especially as no bra is needed. This dress is size M and my previous Manners tops/dresses were L or XL.
https://www.mannersldn.com/collections/color-mango/products/u-front-dress-midi-regular-a-line-sleevelles-in-mango

My waist size is now 38"/97cm - that is a great reduction for me. I think I started out at around 114cm/45".

My fat has always been rather evenly dispursed, but by post meno body has more belly fat now and I'm holding a lot less fat on back/hips/thighs/bum.

Edit: loose (FFS) to lose 😁

🥝🥝

Oh that dress is sensational @RobinEllacotStrike☀️

Thanks @gimmemounjaro - while I don't look quite as fabulous as the model in it, they are amazing dresses to wear - very supportive in the bust. I'm GG/F ish cup (need to be refitted) and I wear them without a bra. And the skirt skims over all the bumpy bits. They are more expensive than I would usually spend, but the fabric is incredible quality, and I've got so many wears out of my Manners dresses that they work out quite good value for me. I usually wear them all summer long.

@NewbieMJ If you are looking for low-carb inspiration look in the "Bootcamp" section of the Big, Thin, Whatever section of MN (the diet-y bit). BIWI runs a lowcarb diet group 2 or 3 times a year, there's helpful advice and recipe threads within that section
Also the Diet Doctor website is good.

I have a couple of old books that are useful "Saving Dinner the low carb way" by Leanne Ely. It's part of the Flylady stuff and is very American but is weekly meal plans, shopping lists, etc and all quick to prepare. Also "Nerys and India's Idiot Proof Diet Cookbook" is good. You might be able to find stuff from both online.

@RobinEllacotStrike That dress is stunning!
I put a Seasalt dress on today that I bought years ago and was never able to wear until now. I look like my Nana in it!

@NervyWegovy You range of eateries could be worse. I live near the seaside so lots of cafes but for proper meals, anything other than fish & chips, Maccies or KFC is exciting for us!

"I look like my Nana in it!"

LOL! Its funny how taste can change dramatically isn't it?
I have some pieces I held onto that I can now fit into and they are just so irrelevant now. Off to the charity shop they go.

Part of this process I guess is rediscovering what we like to wear. I've spent so long often choosing clothing merely because they fit and don't look too hideious. Now I can wear much more "off the rack" the choice is a bit overwhelming. Plus I am relearning what do I like to wear? What do I want to wear?

Add in meno, plus weight loss, plus being fitter/stronger etc this really is an adventure of personal rediscovery.

Thanks very much @QueenOfHiraeth - will take a look at all those suggestions.

That is very interesting @Crikeyalmighty and you've definitely inspired me post MJ and given me hope for a sustainable journey.

@gimmemounjaro - Thanks, that is very helpful information. I am with MedExpress, so looks like I will be jumping ship later on when I get near my target. Simple online pharmacy sounds like an ideal route to take .

@NewbieMJ @gimmemounjaro I too have had to switch provider, not because I am close to a healthy BMI (still in the high 20s) but because so many have been out of stock of 12.5 and 15
I went with Swift Doctor this time after an online recommendation, not quite as cheap as Medicines Marketplace, but still reasonable, they offer maintenance (they expect you to switch to maintenance by BMI 21), have lots of ways to contact and delivery next day after approval. So far, so good!
My only complaint/comment which is very minor is that my previous supplier used next day delivery before 1pm and this is just next day delivery which, somehow, makes me more anxious that it might not appear

I'm posting this because I hope it gives hope to those of us who have lots to lose! I've lost 50lbs and am about halfway there to my ultimate goal.

I had a huge NSV moment yesterday - my boyf took a photo of me with my Mum and brother and I genuinely was so shocked at how different I look - even with 50 - 60lb still to lose. I have a shape - a waist..!

I've posted the photo, along with my first MJ photo taken in Jan 2025. Obviously they are different shots and different clothes, but I am so shocked/pleased at the difference - even though I still have loads to go.

It's a long journey - will be 18 months in total for me, assuming all goes well. Then a lifetime of not piling it back on - but photos like yesterday's are giving me hope. I was in tears, embarrassingly - it's one of the first photos in my adult life I actually like of me...

#whenwilltheboobsgothough?! 😬

You look fab! Well done on all your hard work

You look great @MooBaggage, you certainly don’t look as though you still have 50lbs to go. And you don’t look like you used to be 50lbs heavier either, your arm looks very toned 💪

Inspired by Moo’s fab pics:

Black inside out underwear picture was about a month after starting. I was on holiday & Dd & I were laughing about my traffic light tan. underwear no longer fits.

Yellow dress is 34kilos lighter.

I should have taken proper pics. you cant see how many double chins I have lost.

Ah well ….

Ooh the dress!! Looks absolutely gorgeous on you and wow you are transformed!

@MooBaggage and @RobinEllacotStrike you both look amazing, the loss is very evident, you must be soo pleased. Also @RobinEllacotStrike you have a chalkboard wall!! I’ve been trying to convince my husband for years and he just can’t see how great it would be, I’m jealous!

Im a huge advocate of progress pics, you don’t need to share them but I really recommend everyone keep your photos that you’re submitting to prescribers, lock them in a hidden folder in your phone so you don’t have to look at them if you want, but you will find that one day you’ll do a side by side comparison and not believe your eyes, the photos show what your brain and the mirror struggle to process. You get used to yourself day by day and so when you look in the mirror you can’t see the full extent of the changes.

My BMI was 41 in before pics & 30.5 in the yellow dress.