Mournjaro July Starters 2nd thread

[MeridaBrave]

New thread.

First post re: lifting heavy.
I mentioned on the other thread about lifting heavy for 6-8 reps and I was told it was bad advice. Clearly it’s not my advice made up by me - it’s from world leading female health doctor expert Stacey Sims. There is plenty online from her (loads of podcasts) so have a listen. I’ve been lifting this way for 3 years since the outset of menopause symptoms, on her advice and I have significantly increased muscle size and strength. She also has written a couple of books which are excellent.

Clearly this can only be done with good form or it will lead to injury. Either use a PT (as suggested on the last thread) or use the resistance machines in the gym which basically lock you into the correct position.

I think that's fair if it's worked for you @MeridaBrave personally I'm not looking to increase muscle size but definitely strength. I prefer yoga type exercises to strengthen and lengthen as I'm quite short and stocky. Hopefully with weight loss I'll look less bulky but unfortunately the first dose of Mounjaro doesn't seem to have had any effect?

To increase strength you have to lift heavy. Lifting lighter weights (for more reps) will help with maintaining muscle mass and muscular endurance, both very important as well. I do a mix - Pilates as well as heavy weight lifting. My take is that the heavier weights are more important as you get closer to target (as then there is less fat to loss so bigger risk of muscle mass loss).

It’s worth listening to Stacey Sims as she is the expert in all female related muscle things.

Making my place on new thread. Going up to 5mg this week as food noise is huge again and minimal suppression. I used my last 2.5mg yesterday which was a day early then did another 2.5mg today with the ‘golden dose’ using small insulin needle. My pen would not twist anymore to force it out and I was worried about breaking it. Was so easy to do and so pleased I didn’t just waste it. Will weigh in the morning to see if I’ve lost anything this week. It’s third weigh in for me, I’ve been weighing the morning after I take my dose rather than on the day as it’s just the way it’s worked out

I love lifting heavy. I did it for a while a few years ago. Then had an accident and had to stop (not lifting related!). I might start again when I've lost a stone.

Checking in. Feeling a bit disheartened today - it's the last day of week 2 and I still don't feel I have this constipation side effects under control. I actually put on weight so net, have only lost one 1lb in the first 2 weeks.

Dulcolax has things moving and it's not hard and blocked, just slow transit so I don't feel I've cleared the last 2 weeks worth if food. I am aiming to drink 3 litres of water today and see what happens.

Hope it works. I've felt amazing otherwise and really don't want to quit. The lack of food noise is a hard one to give up. It can't be good for my intestines though.

I think I see a difference in my face/neck though.

Similar here with constipation 😭 I'm finding drinking loads of water, taking electrolytes, and a heaped spoon of flaxseed on my breakfast oats are all starting to help.

Flaxseed and oats are a good call, Spleen. I'll go back to natural management once today is done. Dulcolax is the gift that keeps on giving, but I did up my 2nd lot to two tablets.

Jab day tomorrow - going ahead with positive thoughts and lots of water.

Someone on the previous thread W1 was asking about appetite suppression wearing off.
I’m W1D5 and definitely have a bit of let up on the suppression. Not back to my gluttonous ways- but want more than I did.
Really looking forward to job day, more than I ever thought I would.

I've not had any suppression since I had my first jab on Monday night, I'm really disappointed. It took a lot for me to summon up the courage to order the stuff and do the injection not to mention justifying the expense at a time when there's so little money to spare - if it's not going to work I'll be crushed ☹️

@zerofeeling that's annoying 😑 but you might feel it a bit after the 2nd jab. If not only two weeks to go until you can go up to the next strength.

Checking in for thread 2!

I’m feeling a bit nauseous this evening. I did my first 5mg pen about 12 hours ago. I did eat a fairly big dinner, more than I usually eat (I was hungry and ate quickly so didn’t realise I was full until I was too full oops). I have found that if I force myself to eat more, I feel sick after.

Re: constipation I really recommend glycerin suppositories. I use one each morning and it’s solved the problem. I do eat quite a lot of fibre though

W1 D4 (wegovy) and suppression definitely wearing off, but still OK. I've eaten about 1000/1100 calories I think. Was absolutely starving driving home. Feel good though!

How long do they take to work? I'm nervous to take laxatives in case they suddenly kick in when I'm with a patient.

I have found prunes are great for constipation. Although last Wednesday ate too many and suffered for it on Thursday

For me the glycerin suppositories takes 2-3 mins. And I cut them in half, only need to use half. But the first time try at home when you have several hours just in case.

That's how mounjaro works though, it slows down the transit of food through your gut so you feel fuller for longer. So what you're thinking is a side effects is actually your mounjaro doing what it's supposed to do.

I have an underactive thyroid, so losing weight is always very hard, but even so it's not going well for me. End of week 3 on 2.5 and I've only lost a total of 6lbs. 1000-1100 cals per day and intermittent fasting, plus at least 2 litres of water. Side effects have been pretty bad - headaches, nausea, heartburn, constipation, and had to have 3 days off work last week because of dreadful projectile diarrhoea. All that for just 6lbs, not to mention the expense. I could have done that on my own.

So now I have a quandary. If I'm going to continue I need to order my next pen. Obviously 2.5 isn't strong enough so, do I spend another 130-odd quid and go up a dose, with the risk of the side-effects being even worse and no guarantee I'll lose any more weight? Or do I give up on this and save my money?
Sorry to moan this early in the morning, I just need some support, encouragement or a kick up the arse or something.....

@Bunnie22 Not sure about encouragement but I'm happy to moan with you! I only started this week but I've had no suppression - might even have put weight on due to emotional eating. All I've got to show for the money so far is terrible headaches for two afternoons in a row

I can understand your dilemma, your side effects sound horrendous (projectile diarrhea??! 😱).

Just to add @Bunnie22 I think your diet plan sounds very healthy, some people are going to extremes to get their weight loss because they don't feel hungry but it might not be healthy or sustainable.

@Bunnie22 2lb a week is considered to be good and sustainable in terms of weight loss. That's almost half a stone - it's great progress!
Your side effects sound absolutely awful though - have you spoken to your prescriber?

just done my second jab, but only a half. I had the worst runs I have had in my life ever and i do mean ever, for 3 days. I had to take 2 days off work, and that really isn't a sustainable thing for me. I couldn't bring myself to take a whole dose today and hope it didn't happen again so I'm going to hopefully do two half doses over the next couple of days. If I'm still as bad i might not do anymore jabs. but hopefully it will settle down with the smaller more regular dosing. I'm doing slimming world and i had lost just over a stone, but was struggling a bit with it, hence the decision to try MJ as well. I thought because I had already lost a bit ,my weight loss wouldn't be water weight - if that makes sense? but after what came out of me this last week, i must have been dehydrated. my loss for the week though was 6lb. I suppose it will be this time next week if I know it that was "real" or dehydration.😁

When I had the 3 days of bad diarrhoea I lost nothing!

Yes, you're right. The do say 2lbs a week's is good sustainable weight loss. But I can do that without spending all that money....

I suppose I'm disheartened seeing everyone else losing loads more than that, not that I begrudge them - I'm pleased for them, it's great, it's just giving me the right hump that I'm not losing that much as well.

If you can do it without - that's fantastic. I couldn't, which is why I'm on MJ.

I am expecting 1-2lb a week average. I know there are a lot of 'big' drops early on but I don't think many people are losing significantly more on a regular basis.

What kind of drop where you expecting?