April 2025 Mounjaro Starters - Thread 5!

[Uninvitedleaf]

Hope I’ve done this right, I’ve never started a thread before.

@qs90 hope you don’t mind me starting a new one for us but thread 4 was full and I don’t want to lose my crew!

Hi all. Reading the threads but haven't posted in a while. To those who are 'stuck' I basically stayed the same for nearly 4 weeks, and moved up to 7.5...it took until week 3 of the pen for the scales to start shifting again. Suppression has always been good and struggling to eat, but who knows what way our bodies are working. I've just had my scan after my period returning (55 and 14mths since last one in April when I went to the GP). Yes, it takes that long for a scan in Northern Ireland.... Gynae consultant is baffled!! Everything looks good and has taken a biopsy, but he has no idea if Mounjaro is the cause. I know there were a few others on here who had bleeding after menopause.... Can I ask what your Dr said?

I have been on this loop. US scan + hysteroscopy + biopsy. I have a thicken endo but biopsy was clear. Suggestions are that the prog is not being absorbed orally due to slow digestion on MJ - which means the oestrogen is 'unapposed' so womb shedding. My first one was after 3-4 weeks - now they are every other week. Options are double the oral prog dose (have been doing that for 2 months now), have a coil fitted or insert normal prog dose vaginally. I would say this week (Wk 18?) it has settled more than in the past and the bleed was minimal.

However the gynae thought that the large weight loss (where oestrogen is stored in fat cells) would upset the hormone balance - but I have lost this amount of weight in similar time frame before and not had an issue - also I am worried that if the prog isnt getting absorbed - what about my BP, thyroid, cholesterol and AD medication not getting aborbed either? But this doesnt seem to be the case as all my recent bloods have come back better than ever and now looking to possibly come off some meds.

Thanks @Musermum it’s really helpful to hear your experience. I really love having you lot to check in with, it means I’m not at all disheartened with losses having stalled a bit as it looks like this is pretty common with a few of us at the same point. I think I will move up to 7.5mg but I’ll also know not to worry if it takes another week or two for things to start moving again!

Sorry don’t have much to add on the post-meno bleeding. I’ve had this in the past (twice!) before starting MJ so been through the scan/hysteroscopy as well but fortunately it was all fine, needed some polyps removed but no concerns. I’m shocked it’s taken so long to get your scan though - both times for me my feet have barely touched the ground as I was straight on to the two week pathway as soon as I mentioned it. I’m really glad yours is clear.

@knackredd Thanks for replying. Dr laughed and said he's not used to having coil/pill conversations with 55 year old 😂. My period seems to come every 4 weeks as usual again (🤦) and I'm not on HRT. GP had mentioned the loss of fat thing and anytime I've lost this much before I was alot younger and still having cycles. It's all so confusing. Anyway, he's calling me back in 6mths to do another check up and will let me know the biopsy results.

@Uninvitedleaf The NHS in Northern Ireland is is completely broken (I worked in it for 18 years). Brilliant staff doing a thankless job...we have the longest waiting lists in the UK I think. Hopefully the biopsy is fine.... But feeling a bit bleugh today.

I had bleeding for 19 days and had a biopsy (was all ok). I wasn’t in full menopause but had become more erratic. Have now had the coil fitted with some continued bleeding but I’m told that’s not unusual. I ended up anaemic and that’s been solved with heavy duty iron.

seems to be a v v common side effect in Peri or menopausal women 🤷‍♀️

No loss for me this week. The last few weeks I seem to only lose every other week so this seems to be my new normal. Only 4.5lbs to my goal weight now though. Still on 5mg pen..

SW 13st 1lb BMI 31
CW 10st 11.5lb (week 16) BMI 25.2 (so close!)
GW 10st 7lb

I found you!!! 🤗

The last thread got filled up and despite searching the group name, it wasn't coming up. But I've found you. Right I'm going to read to catch up - hope you're all doing ok xx

Been on holiday at my parents - haven't bothered weighing because of the difference a change in scales / change in floor would make. Will be interested to weigh Monday and see where I'm at.

Definitely less suppression though - presumably because I've been eating carbs and having a few glasses of wine, which always makes me hungrier, regardless of whatever else is going on.

Checking in. Dose 3.75mg.

SW 94kg BMI 33.4
CW 74.3kg BMI 26.4
TW 70kg

Getting there. Losing a kilo max a week. Which is fine. I don’t want to increase dose.

SW 16st 8.2lb BMI 42.7
CW 14 st 1.4lb BMI 36.3
Total Loss 2st 6.8lb
Avg loss p/wk 1.9lb

0.8lb loss last week, 2.6lb today, all averaging out nicely to overall 1.9lb average loss, and still only on 3mg. Same as a lot of you, my sweet cravings made a return but managing to satisfy them without having an all out binge.

I decided to fess up to DH, only person I've told so far - I admire those of you who don't give a sh*t about others' opinions but I absolutely hate my weight being under scrutiny. Getting comments at work now and finding myself deliberately wearing my fat clothes to disguise the weight loss 🙄

DH had been nagging me to 'stop lazing around' on my side effect day, when the fatigue hits and I just can't get motivated, hence decided better to tell him. Also, now I know it's working I felt more comfortable that I wasn't wasting our money, he can also be a judgy sod at times! Amazingly though, he's actually being brilliant about it all, very supportive. Never ever told him my weight, but now really happy to keep yapping about it, going to bore him senseless I think 😁. Only problem is he thinks I'm going to waste away before his eyes and said not to go lower than 12stone, which laughably is still BMI 31 for me. All to be reviewed nearer the time, genuinely no idea what to aim for.

Have a great weekend everyone, you're all doing so well. Don't worry about the plateaus, all part of this journey. I'm trying to get my head around the Happy Scale app for when I hit my own plateau, seems a good tool to look at the big picture.

Forgot to post on Thursday when I weighed in.
-2.2lbs for this week.
Takes me to just over 3stone lost. If I manage to lose 200g this week I will officially be in the healthy weight range.

I still need to properly think about what weight I want to get to. My wedding rings still don’t fit 😢. And a lot of my wardrobe still doesn’t fit.

Wow everyone's doing so amazing!!! Even those who feels the losses are slower like me, we're doing it guys 💪🏻

I'm currently on W17 D1 and on 7.5mg.
In 16 weeks on MJ I've lost 25lb 👍🏻 I'm absolutely thrilled to now be in the 14st bracket and the lightest weight I've been in over 5yrs!

Start weight- 16st 9lb (105.9kg)
BMI - 37.6
Clothes size -20/ occ 22

End of week 16
Weight - 14st 12.5lb / 94.6kg
BMI - 33.5
Clothes size - 16/18

Some thoughts on the dose changes with the weight plateaus. Ive done alot of research into this and if you're still having suppression and reduced food noise then it suggests you don't need to go up a dose HOWEVER your weight is now lower so you may need to mix it up to boost your metabolism / adjust your energy balance to promote losses again. From what Ive read the key isnt to cut the calories further but to focus on protein more, upping your activity and start strength exercises. These build up muscle and the muscle helps keep our metabolism going so will help us burn more fat. I don't fully know the science but when I was reading about it all it all made alot of sense.

Top tips to help keep things moving/getting past a plateau

1. Don't skip meals
2. Aim for 400-500cals per meal rather than lower calorie meals
3. If struggling to get volume of food in focus on energy and nutrition dense foods... Avocado, nuts, nut butter, oily fish etc
4. Protein - it's more than you think but helps prevent muscle loss and increases metabolism for fat loss 0.8-1g protein per lb of you ideal/goal weight (likely to be over 100g a day)
5. Increase activity - walk 8-10k steps a day and strength exercise 2-3 times a week

I decided to move up to 7.5mg because I was getting SOOO much food noise on 5mg and I just didn't have the headspace to work with it. I will eventually have to address it and do the work to overcome the challenges around it but it wasn't the right time for me. I'm on 7.5mg now and all good noise has gone and suppression is up again so hopefully will see some good results in the next few weeks

I'm currently averaging -1lb a week but I'd like it to be a bit more as I've given myself a limit of losing as much as I can in 6 pens so that I can stop them and be off them a few months before we start TTC #2 in the new year 🙈 I've just finished pen 4.

Anyway enough from me... For now 🤭🤣

Can we have app recommendations for a really simple graph type thing? I'll be starting it now having been v unscientific and imprecise up to now but I think a visual would help. I don't want to pay for anything or track my macros or calories, literally just my weight week to week. Might help me ride out the plateaus. I'm v v skint at the moment and starting to wonder if I can justify the cost of MJ. I've lost 20lb since April which is a bit shit compared to some but more than I've lost without MJ in decades. I'm reluctant to stop but the cost is a real issue (sp to two teens). I feel like the £125 I'm spending every month could be a thing for them .. especially with summer hols.

Hi all... hope everyone is well....just took my extra dose & I don't think I stuck the insulin needle in far enough 😬not sure if I was pushing into a stretchmark but it wasn't as easy to push in as last time, didn't leak but I had a bump where I'd injected, anyone else as stupid as me? and do you think it/I will be ok? really
hoping its worked.
SW 14st8
CW 12st6
TW 11st0

I know the cost is a lot. But it’s ok to invest in yourself. You are investing in your future. Your health. Your happiness.

Yes you could spend it on your teens. I’m sure they don’t go without though.

Keep at it. It’s working for you and that’s important.

Thank you @SquishyGloopyBum . It's hard when they each have hobbies which are massively good for them that total about £300 pm and new kit and uniforms and shoes and travel costs to college. I do feel so much better even with just 20lb down and I've been sea swimming and walking more.

But this is good for you too! It’s ok to prioritise yourself. It really is. ☺️

@RhaenysRocks Have you tried the Shotsy app? Out of all the apps I have I prefer this one simply 'cos the graph is the most dramatic - the others just show a bit more of a gentle decrease! I think the free one shows it.

@SunnySpellsAhead I'll check it out, thank you

You are doing really well on such a low dose 😊

@RhaenysRocks
I use happy scale which is free, but I also weigh every day so that I can see the fluctuations and it does give you the trend (downwards and upwards!) for that week.

I also use the free version of the Shotsy app, which is also good, I only put my weight in when I do my dose. And my scales monitor body fat and composition, so I do my body fat, muscle etc weekly - usually on shot day.

Thanks for the recommendation. I installed Shotsy, used the calendar to go back and put in all my jabs so far, starting weight and current and got a really brilliant summary page reminding me I've lost 25lb not 20 and 12.5% of my starting weight. A lovely downward graph showing an average of 1.5lb a week. It's really cheered me up 😁 . It is slower than many but I have to keep reminding myself it's more progress than I've had in a decade. And it is so different. I was out for a smart afternoon tea yesterday. I had a couple of the four tiny sandwiches, one of the two small scones and one of three little cakes. I didn't feel deprived or really fighting for the willpower. I had what I wanted. It got hoovered up by others so no waste. I also drank lots of water which has been a challenge. Onward!!!

Wow I've just tired the shotsy app too and I love the visual. Thanks to whoever recommended it 🥰

@SausageRoll90thanks a million for your post, that’s really made me think about how much I am expecting the jab to do the work for me rather than trying to change some of my bad habits around lack of exercise.

I’ve been telling myself I’ll sort out a simple strength training regime for weeks and haven’t done it. I’ve got some small weights and I’ve even got a programme to do but I have just been avoiding it. Reflecting on what you’ve said I really need to do this rather than defaulting to an increased dose so I am going to stick with 5mg and use it as motivation to sort that out!

It helps that I am down about 1.5lb this week after a couple of weeks with no losses!