Mounjaro October starters - Thread 8!

[HansHolbein]

Carry on losers!

So sorry to hear that @recklessgran I hope it is something that you can come back from ok!

@recklessgran Oh Gran, I’m so sorry to read that. We all love you very much. Your lovely family will be there to support you. Here for you whenever you need. Wishing you the very best.

Sorry to hear that @recklessgran, look after yourself

@recklessgran take care and hope things improve

@recklessgran I really hope you feel better soon.
@HansHolbein I really need to do squats too, my butt has vanished. I need to start some exercise so then I can start tapering down. 15mg is really strong for me too, I struggle to eat first few days too.

Today my hospital workplace sent round a staff email which highlighted low bmi and the risks and signs to look out for. It basically said 15-19 was medium risk and 19-22 was low risk. Thought it was odd how they mentioned low bmi but not high! I've been updating my work with my goals and they all know I'm on the jabs but I might keep it quiet from now on! I've already had 2 of the consultants saying I'm too slim and to stop losing now..I'm bmi 24.7!! My manager said I may have body dysmorphia after I said I'm just under 10st now but got plenty fat left on me, I don't think people understand what it's like to put in the effort and not want to throw it away so you go lower for a buffer.

@recklessgran I’m so sorry to hear this. It sounds like you’re in good hands though. Please keep us updated as to how things are going as we’d all really like to hear from you.
Please accept an unmumsnetty hug from me.

Sending love @recklessgran and very best wishes for the future 💐

That's interesting about low bmi. I've already decided that I'm tapering down..I went up as far as 10. I've factored in going down as part of getting to target. Rather than hitting target before going down. I was worried about carrying on losing as I know I will start looking unhealthy....for me. Apart from the resistant belly, I'm happy with where I'm at. Approx 4 stone down and at the top end of healthy BMI...just! Im hopeful the belly will eventually give in to my efforts 😂

I've been losing quite slowly for a while now, so I've tried to look at MJ as a tool for establishing good eating habits. Habits which should now be embedded. (Including weighing myself regularly rather than burying my head in the sand!!!) I'll start running again in September..it's been too hot to run with my dog at the times I'm able to get out for ages this year. I know that trail running will help me get and then maintain a strong(er) looking body and with weight maintenance....☝

So sorry to hear that @recklessgran please do keep in touch and let us know how you’re doing x

This is where I am at the moment. Scales bot moving, supression doesn’t seem to be suppressing. This has happened before around Xmas/jan, so I think I need to trust the process and think of this as a - what was it we were calling it at the time? A set weight change? Where your body re-sets its natural weight? It does worry me that back in January I was able to keep increasing doses, but now I’m at the maximum dose so I’ve got to get on with it. I’m trying to make some tweaks myself: thinking about hydrating more, I’ve sort of started running again (cautiously). Running, though, has probably increased my appetite, making the supression even less suppressy.

Weighed in today, i’ve maintained for the last 3 weeks.
I’m on 12.5mg, going to reorder one pen of 15mg and then start to titrate down I think. Got my maintenance booked but it’s not until the end of August.
over the last 3 months I’ve lost half a stone, so going to give it one last hurrah to shift another few lbs then hopefully just find a dose that enables me to maintain - for as long as they will let me! I really need very little food to maintain my weight which is galling as I’m pretty active but hey ho; we are all designed slight differently I suppose!
SW: 16st 1lb
CW: 10st 9lb
SBMI: 35
CBMI: 23

I’ve always been quite active, though the types have varied over the years. I’m currently going to the gym quite a bit, because everywhere I go people are telling me that at my age (perimenopause) I need to do strength training to prevent loss of muscle mass and increase bone density. I walk a lot for mental health benefits, and do some cardio in a class with friends.

Although exercise is obviously really beneficial to weight loss, going to the gym twice a week isn’t going to burn enough calories to significantly tip any calorie balance. Especially if you’re struggling to find the time to ‘do exercise’ around work, it might be better to think outside the box and think about your NEAT instead. I believe it’s in the compounding of daily habits that we really tip the balance, so maybe look at some ways of introducing more movement in your daily life. Stopping taking lifts and escalators, stop using the car to go to local shop, standing more etc. I don’t know what your job is, but what about one of those walking pads at your desk? Or making sure you take lunch and go out for a walk. A couple of things I recently changed were that I started to take a particular daily call I had on my headphones and walked outside for the duration of the call. I also stopped using my car to get to work and walk instead (work is only a mile or so away, but it means a few miles a day that I was previously driving). I also started to make family time a bit more active - instead of the cinema, going for a walk. My kids are of the age where that’s possible, and they quite like it (after a bit of an initial moan).

Oh I’m sorry to read this @recklessgran. if you come back to read and see this message, best of luck to you with whatever treatment plan you have going forward. My thoughts are with you. Please come back and let us know how you’re getting on if you feel you can. I totally agree, this is a lovely corner of Mumsnet, with some incredibly lovely and supportive women here. I don’t think we actually need to be on MJ anymore to be a part of this gang, so do pop by and catch us up with your news. Lots of love to you x

@DeltaAlphaDelta79 @HansHolbein @Mincepieinthesky @Evenstar @Histoscientist@Letshavetea1 @TheChosenTwo @lapuf @lickycat
[apologies if I've missed anyone x]
OMG you lot! From the bottom of my heart thank you for your lovely supportive messages - I realty am a bit teary now [but in a nice way] and so deeply touched that you care enough to have taken the time out of your busy lives to post such lovely things. I promise I 'll keep in touch and let you know what happens. I feel a bit of a fraud in all honesty as apart from feeling a bit tired I am absolutely fine. I'm quite swollen up as carrying a lot of extra fluid and my kidney function has fallen off a cliff [85 down to 42] in a matter of weeks but no cause has been found so far - I've had numerous blood tests, 24 hour urine tests and scans but no obvious cause found so far. So, for now a kidney friendly diet and a referral to a nephrologist. Meanwhile fortnightly blood tests to check eGFR - the concern actually seems to be the massive drop rather than the actual figures. Don't you worry though I'm cracking on as normal living in a house full of love and laughter I'm terrified I'm going to start piling the weight back on now though as I'm having to stick to a low protein, low dairy, low phosphorus diet which excludes a lot of my fav salad and veg items so trying to navigate that and keep calories low is a bit of a challenge.
P.S @HansHolbein love the pics. Bravo you look truly stunning I still look a bit like your before pic - but your "after" reminds me of the Princess of Wales - beautiful you must be so proud of yourself! Really love this it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

Thanks for the tips..I drive 41 miles to work each way so it can take 1.5-2hrs each way leaving me little time to do much else, leave at 7-7.15am and get back 6.15-6.30 sometime 7pm if there is a crash. I work on the ground floor so no stairs involved, I do get an hour lunch so I will start going for a walk after I've eaten. My job is in the nhs but office based, I share an office with 2 other managers so can't really do any form of activity in there as it would be interrupting their work too.
I also live alone and don't have kids or a partner, so going for a walk is unsafe and my local supermarket is miles away, I don't pop to a local shop as I buy everything in one place!
I am 43 and sure I'm perimenopausal and my scales say my bone mass is low at 2.5kg. I'm also at risk of arthritis genetically so I do need to do something about it.

That sounds very full on and does not sound easy at all to get exercise in. The reason I suggested NEAT is because working such long hours (I’m not always doing long hours like you, but happens cyclically in my job - sometimes 5 hours a day, sometimes 12 hour days - I don’t have the commute though), it doesn’t leave a lot of time to fit exercise in. And at the end of a knackering day, it’s the last thing I want to do. I was thinking maybe there were things that you could fit into your work day instead. It’s really difficult.

So glad you’re going to keep checking in! And your most recent message seems a lot more positive. If you’re feeling generally well, is that a sign your kidney issues have been spotted early? Because poorly kidneys can make you feel very poorly so fingers crossed it’s early days and you can get it treated. You’ll get your head around the new kidney friendly diet soon enough, but there are more important things for you to focus on right now. Fingers crossed for you they find the cause really quickly so you can get it sorted. Take care.

You're right, it will be the easiest way to get some movement in during the week day and then weekend usually clean house, gardening, meeting friends and family, DIY, shopping etc.
I work Mon to Fri, can't do flexible hours unfortunately. This is why people leave the nhs, it's exhausting!
This is also why I was extreme with my calories as I had to do it all via diet, at least I could with Mounjaro. It when I taper down that it will be difficult.

Oh my goodness @recklessgran im so sorry to hear this and wish you a full recovery. I know little about the implications of your diagnosis but I’m sure you must be feeling worried and Im sending huge support. please just pop on today say hello and let us know how you’re getting on. You’ve been such a wonderful support and companion on this journey. Take care 🩷

Sorry to hear about your kidney condition@recklessgran , and glad that you feel fine. Definitely keep in touch, I have loved reading your posts. You are one of the reasons it is such a lovely community on here. 💕

What a transformation @HansHolbein . You now look like one of those women who when I see assume have always been elegant and slim.

@Histoscientist I agree with you, I feel much better with a bit of a buffer. When I have had comments I just tell them I am maintaining now at a healthy BMI as can’t be bothered trying to justify myself. What did your work say the low risk was of a BMI under 22 was? I am assuming osteoporosis?

Week 20 of maintenance
SW 12st 2lb
GW 9st 7lb (happy with 9st 2lb - 9st 7lb)
CW 9st 5lb. Hhhmm. Put 2lb on which I am hoping is muscle related but probably not as had a few meals/ drinks out. I have gone back up to 3mg from 2.5mg this week as have had evening craving for chocolate. Will try and reduce again in next week or so. Have been planning a new kitchen and I am terrible for getting obsessed with things, need to get back in my zone.

Strength training twice per week and walking dog 3-4 miles per day.
Maintaining at 2,200 calories per day and 130g protein each day.
Taking creatine, L tyrosine, magnesium, Vit D3 and Vit B.

I listen to a health/ fitness podcast/YT channel called MindPumpMedia which is hosted by three personal trainers. They advise that 2 strength sessions a week and a couple of short walks ever are enough to grow muscle and achieve good health. They recommend we aim for at least 8k steps a day and movement in general if sat down a lot. They say even 5 minute sesssions are good interspersed throughout the day.

I think for those who don’t like gyms there are plenty of strength training exercises you can do at home. I bought cheap resistance bands off Amazon and can get a good workout at home with them. I think because I am nearly 60 I know I have to maintain my muscle.

Apologies I need to stop writing War and Peace when I post……

Please don't stop writing your thoughts, I love reading what people think and always feel like I can learn from others experience and opinions.
Will find out more about the email about the low bmi and what it all means. I was busy so just glanced and forgotten all about it!
It's great that your maintenance calories are quite high with your activity. What is your bmi?
Mine is 1200 currently but I don't exercise at all, currently shopping for a kettlebell!

@Letshavetea1 Wowee, Italy sounds fun... and hot! I am so shit in hot weather. Thank you so much for your advice. Lots to think about and act on. Did my last 15mg on Saturday. I have a 12.5 ready to go in the fridge and will order 10mg at the end of the week. Very happy to be going down the doses now. How are the new dresses? My husband would love to ban me from Vinted. I told him he should be grateful that ordering from M&S has been such a pain in the arse, it's saved us lots of money!

@TheChosenTwo Disbelief is the right word. Can you actually believe this is us now?! We deserve it all, we really do. I'm so happy for all of us. Sounds like a good plan. I also need bugger all food - wonder if it's a PCOS thing? Amazing stats.

@WildOneWalker Thank you so much. Great info about pilates. I still haven't done it. That's my goal this week, to find a beginner class on YouTube. I hear so many people raving about Renpho scales - I'm tempted. Great muscle mass and amazing about the metabolic health, love it!

@Histoscientist Completely agree with you. If someone has never been overweight/obese I just don't think they can understand how it feels. I must admit, I have been guilty of lowering my goal now and then because of the buffer situation. I've had lots of comments in the past week or so saying that I am too thin yada yada. Well, yes, I am rather slim but my BMI is 19, which is the healthy range - plus I'm an apple shape. Everything is concentrated on my stomach so my limbs probably do look very slim. I am of course terrified of going 'back to that place'. The prison. I think people also take a long time to adjust to the new new and it probably looks quite scary to them. There is a group of people I haven't seen since October last year, who I will see again in October and I am slightly dreading it. I look like a different person and it's going to shock them. I also have the fear that one day MJ might be taken away from me and then I am back to the prison. Another thing, losing weight is one thing, but maintaining is another. It's all so new. I've been so focused on the losing part, and to be honest I have found it easy, that the new maintenance part is throwing me off a bit. What do I do now? Lots of things swirling around in my head. Sorry for the word salad. Re kettlebells, we have a few from Asda, don't think they were expensive... worth a shot?

@HappyNewt Totally with you on the regular weighing. I never used to weigh myself. I could pretend it doesn't exist if I didn't weigh. That's one thing I will never let slip again.

@lickycat Argh - all sounds frustrating. 15mg has been a weird one for some of us. I saw on one of the Reddit subs that others have struggled with 15mg. Some of them have dropped down to 12.5/10mg then gone back up and that has helped to rejig it. Yes, the set point. I don't know too much about it, but I have had a couple of times where it hasn't moved for a while... but it eventually does. It's frustrating though, if you are doing all the 'right' things and it's still not bloody moving. Feels like the hard work is for nothing. Thank you so much for your brilliant exercise info!

@Bluenose1966 Lovely update from you. Week 20 - marvellous. I hope you enjoyed those meals/drinks out. New kitchen sounds exciting! Thank you for the MindPumpMedia recommendation - another one to add to the list. What they recommend sounds much more achievable. I get overwhelmed quite quickly if I feel like there is a lot to do. Please continue, I love an essay!

Nothing of substance from me. House full of medical issues again. My daughter had tonsillitis, then my husband and now my son. He was given penicillin yesterday and came out in a huge rash this morning. Back to the GP this afternoon for different antibiotics. He felt better this afternoon so begged me to take him to McDonald's. Well, he's just puked it all back up - onions and everything. How I haven't caught it yet, I don't know. I have annual leave booked in a couple of weeks time, really looking forward to it. Haven't had any since Feb. Planning on taking the kids to the beach for a few days, with my mother. My parents might be moving house in August now long story so she might not be able to come now - which I would rather! I love my mum but I don't really like her... another very long story.

I must get back to nurse duty. Love to all x

Morning all

W40 for me, weighing and jabbing a day late as I was away for a long weekend.

SW 17'10
CW 13'10

It seems I have plateau'd at 13'10 for the last 3 weeks. This 15 pen is just not having the suppression of the previous pens. I have 2 doses left of this pen, then another 15, then a relative is giving me their unusued 10mg, as they had to stop for health reasons.

That said, while away I did drink a bottle of spiced rum and god knows how many coke zeros. plus snacks and bits and piece so I think staying the same as previous weeks is a result.

I am out walking every day, probably only 3-4 miles but as I wfh at a desk 4 days a week, I am trying to get back to some activity before signing up for the gym classes.

Good luck everyone!

Who was it who got the heads up about the medicine marketplace delivery of 15mg pens? I can’t get one ordered, despite email alert and a couple of emails back saying they were in stock, only to go online and find they weren’t in stock.

@HansHolbein that’s an interesting thought about going down a pen to go back up. I’ve spent July losing 1lb. It’s not too different from January when I stalled, but of course I could go up a pen back then.

My plan is to double down on all the stuff that helps - increase water and protein and exercise. I’ve still got quite a way to go so I’m trying to trust the process.

Hope everyone is well, Iv been super busy for the last couple of weeks so haven't managed to check in properly, just catching up now.

@recklessgran I am so sorry to hear your news. I wish you all the best and please do keep checking in and giving us updates!.

@HansHolbein Gutted I missed your pictures! I would have liked to seen!

@lickycat I order from MM place and need to order a pen within in next 2 weeks ideally as I dont want to be cut off. I have alerts but I haven't had any emails to say they have come in stock.

So iv had the last couple of weeks 'off' being a 100% on the diet, I haven't been going mad, just eating normal with treats added in but not really tracking either as we have been away to St Ives, Disneyland Paris, a wedding among other things. I was very pleased when I stepped on the scales this morning and Iv actually lost a lb!
I'm back on it now as I have a couple of weeks with the kids but that doesn't need to include food!..

Still want to shift a stone and a half, I feel like its taking forever.