4 weeks on Mounjaro with PCOS and barely any progress

[Hangingthread]

I am feeling so completely hopeless and frustrated.

Been a yoyo dieter my entire life. If I'm not on an extreme diet with lots of exercise I'm gaining weight because of this PCOS Insulin resistance. Late 40's now so struggling with weight loss and the usual plans don't seem as effective so I turned to the Mounjaro for a boost but not seen one. I probably need to loose around 5 stone.

4 weeks of Mounjaro. First week I lost half a stone but I know it was all water weight as pretty standard for me in week 1 on any plan. Next 3 weeks nothing and I have been a very good girl. Counting calories and seeing a deficit every day. High protein, low carbs and low sugar (to fight the insulin resistance). Drinking my own body weight in water (or it feels like it) and can never fight the dry mouth and thirst. I feel that the suppression is there but I also feel like I have a committed mindset. Usually when I do a low GI diet for 4 weeks I would have lost a couple of pounds a week and so I'm at a loss why I'm not seeing any results. Night of jab and next day I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I have no energy, not sleeping well so exercise plan has fallen by the wayside. Feeling quite unsure whether to continue when I'm not seeing any positives - all negatives! Is this the PCOS effect? Anyone have a similar story with PCOS?

What deficit are you eating upto? I had prediabetes when starting mounjaro and my deficit was 1300 then now its 1200. If you aren't losing then you may need to drop your calories. I was usually eating 850-1100. Do you eat little and often? Also if you are stressed or sleeping poorly this can increase cortisol, along with fasting which can lead to weight gain. Have you had your thyroid checked and checked for health conditions?

2.5mg is only meant to get you used to the medication. It’s not out of ordinary to not have a loss in the first month. Have you got your next pen? Is it a 5mg?

I'm eating around 1300 but I'm over 17 stone so when I did a calculation it said below 1875 which I'm nowhere near! Yes I eat often although pretty stressed at the moment with life (kids, work, etc) and poor sleep. My next pen is a 2.5ml as well as I'm struggling with the dehydration and nausea so wasn't keen to jump up just yet when the suppression is adequate - would increasing result in a better loss or just effect the suppression (as that's OK)?

Thanks for replying.

You need to eat and drink more - seems crazy but your body is holding on to what you’re trying to loose because it’s gone into shock.

You need to be patient. 4 weeks and half a stone is good going regardless of when in the four weeks you lost it. it is normal for weight to fluctuate depending on if you have had salty food, time of month and hormones, what you have eaten and whether you have been to the loo etc. It will bob up and down but a downwards trend over time is what you need. Don't give up now. Think of it as a long term plan. If you are 17 stone you will definitely be in a deficet and it will be impossible for you not to lose weight if you are consistent with that over time.

I have PCOS and 2 large ovarian cysts I’m waiting on surgery for 🤦‍♀️ started in September at 23st 7lbs I’m now 18st. It took a while to get going in the beginning but I stuck with it and went up the doses each month. Now on 15mg and have no side effects, the dry mouth stopped after 7.5mg. I’ve also exercised at least 3 times a week, mainly swimming so it was kind on my joints and folk couldn’t see me sweaty. Summer is here and I feel like a new woman. I eat pretty much the same things, loads of protein, fruit & veg. I still drink alcohol but I try and make sure I’ve excercised that day to compensate. Please stick with it, it will work. Also note I had a gastric band 2009 - lost 5 stone, converted to sleeve 2013 lost the same 5 stone then put it all back on plus 3.5 stone 🤦‍♀️ nothing stops the food noise but MJ I’m hoping for another 4 stone loss

Thank you! I was wondering whether the PCOS was causing this delay and you have just given me the confidence to stick with it. It's too hard a diet and commitment to not see any change on the scales week after week. But I feel reassured that perhaps with the PCOS element it just takes a while to kick in. Well done you and hope your surgery is smooth with a quick recovery!

It's so hard knowing what to do - some say eat more some say less! I think possibly I do need to eat more so will experiment with it. I've slightly lost motivation to eat chicken salads anyway! :)

@Hangingthread I can’t recommend it highly enough. My BMI has a horrifying 59.6 in September 24, it’s now 45.4. I’ve gone private for the ovarian cyst removal through AXA with work. They’ve delayed it 3 months so my weight comes down a bit more and they can hopefully do it keyhole. I’ve already lost 7lbs but this has given me the motivation to knuckle down a bit 👍 I was doing weight watchers in the beginning to track my protein etc but I’ve just gone back to My Fitness Pal to focus a bit. My aim is another 4 stone off and I’ll be happy there. I’ve added a couple of photos just to show progress it’s crazy! Good luck I hope you get the results you want 🤞

It's not.. it's a myth, it just doesn't happen