The differences between 2.5mg and 5mg. Will it help??

[threeeggsontoast]

I’m due to go up to 5mg this week and I’m wondering how other people responded in terms of weight loss?

I know 2.5mg is just a starter dose and I’ve been doing everything ‘right’ with a calorie deficit and lots of water but so far it looks like a 6lb loss in my first month. I’m not complaining because without MJ, I wouldn’t have even done that. However I’d really like to feel like I’m making good progress (especially with 4 stone to lose) and I wonder if 5mg made a difference for others in this regard?

I’ve had minimal side effects so far although on my 4th dose, I had more nausea and more suppression but yet, the scales are resolutely sticking. I’m hoping 5mg might give me a bit of a boost.

I've been on 5mg for 2 weeks and my weight loss has actually been slower, just 0.5lb this week. Due my third tomorrow. I've had more suppression than I did in the last couple of weeks of 2.5 and experienced some nausea and it's generally just felt a bit more unpleasant. I never had any side effects at all on 2.5.
I think it's really hard to predict how it will affect you, there are so many different experiences reported.

I can't answer your question as I'm still on 2.5 but I've read others say that it's not the level that makes you lose weight but it's what you do alongside it. So the 5 won't make you lose more but it may help you be in a calorie deficit more comfortably than you would be without it.

I spent so long trying to decide whether to go up after my first pen that I missed the deadline to order and my second pen was late! I stuck with 2.5mg as I'd had great weight loss (30lbs in 5 weeks) and very few side effects so didn't want to tempt fate.

I think a pp is right, the effects of the MJ (suppression reduced food noise slower digestion etc) are likely to be increased as you go through the doses so may help you manage you calorie deficit better, but wont make the weight come off on its own.

Have you been tracking calories? I'm a bit extreme, but I literally track every mouthful, its the only way I can stay in control. I've also drunk a minimum of 3l of water a day, i do have insane thirst now.

That’s really helpful, thanks. And yes, I’ve been tracking calories religiously (every bite) in the WW app, never exceeding 1300 a day but usually closer to 1200. With my TDEE, that gives me a deficit of about 500 cals a day. I manage 2ls of water but maybe I need to up that to 3ls.

When I’m tempted to feel disheartened, I keep reminding myself that if I’d not started MJ, I definitely would not have lost 6lbs and would have been the same depressing weight as before. My peri stage of life probably isn’t helping either.

I definitely think about food more than I would like to so think I’ll go up to 5mg and see how I get on. I’ve had a few side effects on 2.5mg, mostly a bit of nausea and constipation but both have been manageable.

I guess now I’ve started, I wanted to see visible results and start getting comfortably into my summer clothes but it’s not possible at the moment. Perhaps 5mg will help me reduce calorie intake to 1100-1200 (don’t want to go any lower than that).

You're averaging 1.5 pounds a week which is actually above what a 500 calorie daily deficit should be giving you. It's also slap bang in the middle of the health amount to aim to lose per week.
Is it possible you had unrealistic expectations about the amount you'd lose? It's easy to do when you hear about the people losing a stone in a week, but your progress really sounds great so far.

Hi, if unsure, you could try 3.5 from 5mg pen, 45 clicks, instead of the full 60. I have been doing 3.5mg for 5 weeks, average 1-2kgs per week. Mainly doing as I have been lucky with no real side effects, so may continue for another couple of weeks before trying to go up. Good luck with whatever you decide is right for you. X