Mounjaro/Wegovy with >5 stone/30kg to lose - thread 10!

[MooBaggage]

New thread for anyone with more than 5 stone/30kg to lose. All welcome, whichever part of the journey you are on.

We have newbies and those who have got to their targets and lots of us in between at various stages, all supporting each other along the way.

Kiwis and milled flaxseed are still the order of the day, along with water, posh scales, weight loss charts (thank you Infosec!), Vinted and even more water...

We're coping with the Mounjaro palavers and hoping that somehow, we will all still be able to carry on with this amazing journey which is working so well for most of us.

No discount codes please - there is a separate thread for that.

@peachesarenom welcome! You have been given great advice already and I agree with it all.

Just two points from me, Im not sure about Wegovy doses, but if it is relevant, stay on the lowest dose you can for as long as possible. Dont chase suppression (I have never really had it). You need to eat, if you dont you can make side effects such as nausea worse.
Also be aware of side effects, again Im not sure about Wegovy, but I suffered terribly with low mood, not depression.
If you start to feel like Eeyore instead of Tigger, and you feel like the joy has been sucked from every aspect of your life, it could well be a side effect, and I would suggest lowering your dose. I am in the minority of users who experience this, so hopefully you this wont effect you. I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you do as it can be a bit scary, so better to be prewarned just in case.

In a years time you will look back with the biggest smile at how far you have come, how much your body has changed and how fabulous you feel!

Good luck!

My tips? Its a marathon not a race. In time you'll find your mojo. Drink lots of fluids. More than you think you need to. I've been doing this coming up to a year now and have lost 37ish kg. In the beginning I had a BMI of 45 and a very stiff (and justified tbh) warning from a consultant to do something or I wouldnt be here to see my kids 18th birthdays. A year on I have gone down 5 clothes sizes and now have a BMI of 32.6. My arse has shrunk 6 inches across.

If youre allergic to salicylic acid (i.e. aspirin) then dont take pepto bismol as it contains salicylates. Ask me how I found out about this........

My youngest used to be allergic to kiwi. Grown out of it now but unless its my stupidly overpriced gold ones he doesn't really like kiwi. Bananas/papaya/latex are all commonly known to be cross reactive with kiwi allergy.

Hello @peachesarenom and welcome 😊

I would echo everyone else's top tips - I stole most of them when I joined this group!

I've been on MJ for just over 8 months and what's worked for me is:

I've had protein shakes when I've felt nauseous - my favourite is a chocolate flavour one from Tesco, but there are obviously tons on the market. The nausea decreased after the first few weeks for me, but I still have protein shakes a few times a week as they're filling and gets protein in me.

Don't rush to move up doses - my biggest regret so far is that I increased my dose (as instructed) after 4 weeks, when I really didn't need to, as the 2.5mg was working really well, but I thought I should. Once I'd read up more, I realised I could stay on whatever dose was working, so am still only on 7.5mg 8 months in and it's still the right dose for me (so far!).

I've found I am enjoying different/new foods that I would never have bought before - my obsession is fresh spinach - I now eat bags of it each week 🙄 and I love having blobs of cranberry sauce with things - my tastebuds like tasty/tangy things more now. Boiled eggs are ace at lunchtime - filling and good protein.

My top top tip would be to buy handweights asap and get in a habit of doing 5 - 10 mins most evenings if you can. My arm and leg strength has improved dramatically since using handweights - I started with 3kgs and now use 5kgs, so they don't have to be really heavy!

Good luck and keep posting with how you're doing 😊

I bloody love this thread - full of so much insightful and knowledgeable advice, given gladly, which makes it all the more welcome. @RobinEllacotStrike your posts resonate so much with me and I feel emotional reading them most of the time (in a good way!) @gimmemounjaro - you are doing great and I am avidly learning from you what maintenance may look like. My theory (I am no expert, but have done loads of research on set points and insulin resistance) is that these occasional indulgencies are, in fact, dealt with better by a body that is healthy and several kgs down, and that the "hit" in relation to insulin spiking will be nowhere near as severe as it once was. In effect, your body deals so much more effectively with insulin spikes; being less resistant. I hope that makes sense, but that is my thinking. It would also explain why naturally slim people (and relatively healthy) can have these occasional treats and eating out-with their norm (holidays, occasions, nights out, celebrations, etc) without gaining masses of weight on the scales. Or maybe they gain a pound or 2, but it comes straight back off in a few days when they resume their normal eating patterns. There may well be other things at play with MJ, but there is surely an improved physiological response to how our bodies react.

Welcome @peachesarenom , and other newbies. I've been here a year, despite my user name which I really must change! @InfoSecInTheCity has brilliant advice and is a real trail blazer on this thread and gives us lots of insights into how it is done. We all have our own ways too, and this thread is enriched with a variety of ways of eating and unique and diverse weight loss journeys, but what we all have in common is a genuine level of empathy, having all been there and a championing each other on with huge amounts of understanding and wonderful support, hints, tips, nudges and always have helpful advice when someone is needing it.

My number one advice is, don't chase suppression. It may get you quick easy losses, but it'll not help you in the long run. Instead, use the journey to eat nutritionally dense food to nourish your body and find movement you genuinely love. That way, your weight loss is more likely to have long term success, and whether MJ/Wegovy plays a part in that or not later on, you are setting the best foundation you can.

My BMI is 30 today. I am very nearly just your average overweight person, and let me tell you, I cannot wait to get there! I am exactly 13 stone, so on I plod to get that number 12 on the scales and I am 3 pounds off 6 stone lost. Eek.

I still have my bum AND my belly. FFS. From the front, I have a lovely shape - my natural hourglass figure has remerged...then I turns sideways and have a reality check😂The remaining 31 pounds to target had better shift off my belly and bum!

Sold loads of stuff, and set it all aside in a separate account, which is just as well, as I have discovered Hobbs, but like others, I very much look forward to having a slimmed down wardrobe of everything fitting and chosen for it's style rather than it's fit.

Onwards we go lovely losers.

That’s a very interesting theory @NewbieMJ and rings true for me. Funnily enough the 1.8lbs I gained across my bingey week went after a single day of normal, sensible eating. I just pinged straight back down to where I was before. It’s quite amazing in comparison to pre MJ, when I would have gained a lot more and then wouldn’t have been able to stop, it would have kicked off some kind of physiological reaction that was impossible to get a hold of for several weeks. It will be interesting to find out how much of that improved response is new me and how much is the MJ that I am still taking, although at a lower dose. Cautiously optimistic that even if I can’t manage off it completely, a low dose would be enough to keep me steady🤞 Which is great because I assumed having been obese and a yo-yo dieter for decades, that any kind of long-term or permanent recovery would be difficult if not impossible.

Looking back at those times when I fell off the wagon with subsequent weeks of eating crap that I couldn’t control, it seems obvious now that it was caused by biology and I wasn’t supposed to be able to control it. But at the time of course I blamed myself for my lack of willpower and strength. One of the big benefits of these drugs is opening up that discussion of the physiology of weight gain and the increasing acknowledgement of obesity as a complex disease rather than a moral failing. (Obviously there are plenty of people on these boards still to be convinced of that, but it’s a start!)

Jab day today and I can FINALLY report I have hit the 5 stone weight loss mark!! Have lost 2lbs this week, making it 71lbs in total 😀

13.1.25 SW 20st 3lbs BMI 43
22.9.25 CW 15st 2lbs BMI 32.2

I've lost just over 25% of my body weight and have 20lb to go until the target I originally set - this will take me to overweight and at the time, I couldn't think beyond that - but obvs have a new end target of a couple of stone less than that now - but we'll cross that bridge when we get there!

The pic is my Shotsy record - posting for any newbies, as I find Shotsy really helpful in recording which side of my stomach I should be injecting on - and I like the graph. The loss has slowed down over the past few months, but it's still consistent and steady and the graph reminds me of this when I'm despairing!

Great to hear things are moving again @MooBaggage 💪

Well done @MooBaggage thats similar to me. 5 stone off and 23lb to go. I just keep chipping away and fingers crossed will get there eventually. I am currently on 10mg and considering moving up to 12.5mg to help with a push.

Good morning, no loss for me this week (not that I’ve weighed, I can tell), messed up my eating this weekend with a low protein day (just by accident really) followed by a day of HUNGER - which lead to a few bad choices.

My fave protein tips for the newcomers are Babybel Lights, protein powder in a latte, and Barebell Protein bars - the banana ones are incredible!

Still 17lbs to go to a normal BMI

@HumBumBum Yes - I'm noticing that if I have a heavier 'carb' day (usually at weekends when I'm with others/out of routine), I'm actually more hungry the next day - it's so weird..! When I tell people I've cut out most carbs, they ask me if I'm hungry all the time, but it's the opposite - and then I just want to eat all the time. But if I go very low carb and up the protein, I'm much more full.

Old me would not have believed this and just eaten more pasta/rice, but I'm learning..!

(Thanks Slimming World for telling us that we can have unlimited amounts of pasta/rice - great advice.... 🙄)

Yeah I still love a carb though, feel like I’m missing out if I can’t have a little bit, could never do Keto even with MJ!

no shit?

🤣🤣

sorry - I'll get my coat

Good moring losers - its a shiny new week!!

I addressed my wardrobe situation yesterday as it was getting ridiculous with all the multi sized clothing, change of season etc. So I've been though everything apart from my tshirt drawer.

Now everything in my closet is in season & currently fits (ish) and is wearable. I have 2 pairs of jeans that are wearable but both are getting a little bit big.

I have lots of leopard print - now clearly evident post cull. I do not need to buy any leopard print shirts (I have 2) or dresses (I have 3). I do not need to buy anything else black either.

After years of wearing dresses, I am switching things up and this winter my go to's will be jeans, or skirt & tights, thermal top with a jumper, thick socks, boots. Slips for the skirt days.

I need new thermals and jeans that fit.

I am picking up merino &/or cashmere jumpers from vinted in variety of colours.

Thankfully my very warm jumper collection I've built up this last few years - vintage Norwegian knits & Arran knits, work really well oversized/largeish with jeans so they can stay.

My lovely wool/cashmere long black coat (£10 from charity shop a couple of winters ago) I fear looks a bit too oversized to wear so I may need a new coat. The shoulders are way too wide now.

My long Seasalt raincoat is too big but works well on my bike etc and now I can wear it over layers. So it is too big but it looks OK & is wearable.

I have put all my summer stuff aside - most I hope I will be able to wear next summer - some I may need to take in, others are looser fit so and as I have broad shoulders I find they are better across body size changes - as long as they fit in the shoulders they work.

I really like a lot of my clothes and I feel a bit sad that I might not be wearing some again especially my fab summer dresses .

I have 3 skirts to take in at the waist and will wear them again once they are adjusted.

Also I can't get rid of everything as I am hugely fearful I will get rid of nice clothes and then put weight on again and not have them. So I'd rather keep/store at least favourites.

Older/damaged/unloved items have all gone to recycling.

T shirts still to be addressed. I have about 40 long/short sleeve tshirts which is a bit of a mystery why as I rarely wear shortsleeve tshirts. I find this drawer perplexing so I'm ignoring for now. Ditto underwear. Maybe next weekend.

It was a really worthwhile afternoon & I'm feeling like I have loads of new outfits already just having tried everything on & only having wearable clothes out.

It was also a lovely reminder that I am a fairly gregacious introvert and this is reflected in my clothes. Lots of black & leopard print, but also lots of colour, bodysuits, and fun combos. While my "to buy" list consits of thermals and warm stuff to layer, I am also looking forward to developing my style through clothing more. Sure I WFH, but that doesn't mean I can't dress up to do so. 5 years of WFH in jogging bottoms has not done me any favours.

The cold feeling returned last night. Think I will need an electric throw for my side of the bed 😂

I've at last reached actually 5 stone off (31.9 kg), rather than just nearly 5 stone! Never thought I'd get this far. The last stone has been very slow since about June.

Yesterday I had my lowest weigh in at 71.7kg, which at 172cm puts me at BMI 24.2, a smallish size 14 with about 26.5% body fat. Feeling pretty damn good.

I set a stretch target of 71.6 but I think I'll make it 70.6, since even the last kilo has made a difference to my appearance and fitness.

That's incredible @ShrankLastWinter - you must be feeling very different this winter compared to last winter!! Great job!

You wont be disappointed. There's nothing better than fluffy loveliness made better by the fact that said blanket is also lightly toasting me.

Wool duvets, fluffy blankets, thick socks and a cat are also essential ways of staying warm in bed.

I have had a bit of a surprise loss this week, I think hormone linked and lost 1.7lb so now 9st 11.5 lb.

I have had a 1.2lb gain this week. No reason for it, but interestlingly I had to take tramadol on Fri, Sat and Sun, which means I dont sleep very well (I am weird like that, they always keep me awake for the first couple of days), so I am guessing it is to do with that. Hopefully it will right itself by next week.

I too have carried on sorting through old bags of clothes, and stuff in the wardrobe that I took out of storage last winter, thinking it would fit me this winter, and of course its too blinking big now!

I havent taken the Vinted plunge yet, I have never sold anything online and the thought of working out postage costs and dealing with returns etc is still putting me off, so for now, it looks like I am about to move house with boxes of clothes stacked in the spare bedroom.

I was thinking about clothes sizes and most of the size guides say I am a size 20, but 20s literally skim over my skin, only stay up if I stand still and dont move and can be pulled on and off without undoing them.
When I measure myself for my weight loss record, I dont pull the tape tight, and if I go by that measurement on a size guide I am a size 20.
But if I measure myself so the tape hugs me as I want my clothes waistband to hug me, then I am between a 16 and 18 and this holds true with the clothes I am currently wearing.
Oh and being all soft and squishy is just adding to my sizing frustrations!🙄

@MooBaggage dont forget if you cook, cool or freeze, then reheat your carbs, this increases the amount of resistant starch in them so you dont absorb as much of the quick carb content (not the correct term lol). It applies to all of the usual suspects, potatoes, rice, pasta and bread.😊

My pet peev with Vinted (well clothing in general) is I am shocked that a SZ 12 is considered a LARGE and a SZ 14 is an XL.

This just all seems/feels so wrong.

I know its not important really, but I'm thinking a lot at the moment about food / clothing / media / messages re food & womens bodies etc, and so "it's a little bit annoying" as DD1 would say. If SZ 16 is the UK average for womens clothing sizes then how is a 14 an XL?

Those sizing bands are outrageous @RobinEllacotStrike who makes these decisions!😠

The Universal Committee of Women Hate & Despair is in charge I believe.

@MooBaggage Well done on the 5st! Huge milestone! You are absolutely smashing it!

That annoys me about Vinted too - I always have to ask, is this a large or is it a 12, because in my mind they are not the same thing at all.

Apart from that @MabelSpan Vinted is very easy - they work out the postage, it’s added on to the cost of the item and the buyer pays it, and returns are quite rare, there has to be a good reason, like something is damaged or quite significantly not as described. You can’t return things because you don’t like them, or because they don’t fit, for example. So as long as you’re up front about the condition of items and provide clear photos and info, you’ll be fine. There are various carriers available for delivery, eg Inpost, Yodel, Evri, Royal Mail. The buyer chooses which one they want but if any of them are difficult you can remove it from the available options. Some sellers only use one.

What’s nice is selling a few things and leaving the money sitting there, then when you see something you fancy, you pay for it out of your Vinted account and it feels like it’s free 😂