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Weight loss injections/treatments

Discuss weight-loss injections and treatments, including personal experiences. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any treatments.

Original poster

Christmas and Mounjaro

29 replies

bluepaperwaspofbxl · 12/10/2025 18:57

Has anyone managed to take a break for a couple of weeks, then pick up after Christmas or other times in the year ? I know the medication stays in our system for about a month, but that doesn’t stop appetite returning a lot sooner.
I was considering, if I’ve lost enough by December, taking a couple off weeks between injections and wondered if anyone else has experience of doing similar.

OP posts:
FaceBothered · 12/10/2025 19:01

I don't understand the point of this?

I thought weightloss drugs just enabled you to eat in the same way as those who don't need them do?

Therefore, you'd just eat a bit of what you fancy when you fancy it, rather than going OTT?

Original poster
bluepaperwaspofbxl · 12/10/2025 19:05

FaceBothered · 12/10/2025 19:01

I don't understand the point of this?

I thought weightloss drugs just enabled you to eat in the same way as those who don't need them do?

Therefore, you'd just eat a bit of what you fancy when you fancy it, rather than going OTT?

Unfortunately, I can’t eat anything I want without adverse effects. I have had to cut sugar out as it makes me feel sick in small amounts.

OP posts:
FaceBothered · 12/10/2025 19:07

bluepaperwaspofbxl · 12/10/2025 19:05

Unfortunately, I can’t eat anything I want without adverse effects. I have had to cut sugar out as it makes me feel sick in small amounts.

Show quote history

Best to keep off of it then, which the drugs will surely help you do?

12purplepencils · 12/10/2025 19:09

I can eat and enjoy food and drink towards the end of the week after injecting; so last Christmas I think I just delayed by a day so that Christmas Day itself wasn't falling on the first few days after injecting. It worked fine, I didn't want to eat and drink as much as usual but still had a good time.

I'm basically maintaining now and do sometimes go 8/9 days between injecting so will just do the same for Christmas Day and work Xmas meal.

SilenceInside · 12/10/2025 19:09

I just had a small amount of everything, didn’t want sugary things at all, and it was fine. I lost weight over last Christmas which was fantastic.

You could take a 2 week break if you want to of course, but you might not want to go straight back onto the same dose level, particularly if it’s a higher dose.

PurpleChrayn · 12/10/2025 19:12

I don’t understand why you’d want to?

Surely the point is to adjust your eating so you’re not overindulging.

Original poster
bluepaperwaspofbxl · 12/10/2025 19:16

@12purplepencils I think that would work for me, as I find suppression wearing off 2 days before injecting and I don’t want to go OTT, but would like to be able to have something sweet without feeling sick.
@SilenceInside Yeah I might be overthinking this, especially as I’m still on a low dose.

OP posts:
12purplepencils · 12/10/2025 19:18

I think the thing is not to think of it as a 2-3 week period of over indulgence and merriment, but the odd day and stretching a dose by a day or two will be fine

WeAllHaveWings · 12/10/2025 19:25

Last year I injected as usual over Christmas. I didn't have suppression (I haven't had it for a long time), I did have reduced food noise/cravings, so it didn't stop me enjoying Christmas food.

Christmas was a real eye opener for me last year as what started as the odd small Christmas treat started turning the food noise volume right back up and bad habits and obsessive cravings, increasing nightly treats and crisps quickly returned, even taking Mounjaro. It took most of January and getting back into routine with a lot of will power to banish them again. I never increased dose, but told myself I would if it continued beyond end of January.

This year, I haven't thought about it much yet, but I will be injecting as normal.

Christmas dinner itself will be fine as I will serve up mine focusing on protein as usual and I will enjoy that, and the odd dessert - a lighter trifle instead of heavy christmas pud - or just smaller portions, but I need to be mindful to enjoy the occasional treat in a way that doesn't bring back those cravings as strong again, while still enjoying Christmas, and so it doesn't write off the whole of January. I believe all will be possible with some compromise for longer term benefits, just need to work it out still.

It starts by not buying mountains of treats/sweets!

L4ura171986 · 12/10/2025 19:41

I’m planning on injecting as normal. I am looking forward to not overindulging this year. I’d normally polish off a couple of boxes of chocolates on Xmas day and huge brekkie and dinner. Mounjaro has also completely stopped me wanting any wine. Currently not having great suppression and a bit of food noise so hopefully will be settled or I’ll be up a dose by then.

PurpleCoo · 12/10/2025 23:25

I have been taking MJ since February, during which time I have been on 4 holidays between 9-16 nights, plus a couple of long weekends. I haven't adjusted my dose, nor skipped a dose once and it's been absolutely fine. I don't plan on changing my dose over Christmas and will just carry on as usual (hopefully I will be titrating down on maintenance by then). I think it defeats the object to have breaks so you can overindulge in holidays or over Christmas. Of course, you do you, we each need to do what works for us, but for me, part of the MJ experience has been learning that enjoying holidays doesn't have to include eating to excess. The food is just part of the experience, not what makes the experience. However, that being said, I take a low enough dose to just eat 'normally', i.e. content with healthy meals, and just fruit and nuts for snacks. I am 8 months in and still on 6.25mg, so never chased high suppression. If I am at the seaside I do like to eat fish and chips, and enjoyed a small portion on each trip.

I wonder if it's worth reflecting on the reasons why you want to have a break for two weeks, just because it's Christmas. Is it because family is staying and you want to keep it private? Is it because you think you can't have a good Christmas unless you over indulge? I have found being on MJ a really good opportunity for me to reflect on how I see food as treats, and being on holiday, or it being Christmas as 'time off' from good habits, which I thought I needed to do to enjoy the holiday. Turns out I didn't need that time off, and I still enjoyed the holidays as much as before

GlassofRosePorfavor · 13/10/2025 08:23

I've been on it over a year and lost the weight I wanted and am now maintaining. Ti am away on holiday and will have missed two jabs and I'm really glad I decided to - it's been great to realise the actual effects of the drug which I think you come to think of as normal. It's not! I have t eaten as much as pre mj however I have enjoyed myself and am looking forward to getting back to the real world when I get home. Funnily enough- just like I always do over Christmas or holidays. I have put on 4lb if anyone cares 😂

PearlsPearl · 13/10/2025 08:35

Well for me I am looking forward to NOT overindulging over Christmas and will definitely be continuing with the jags. I’ve had what… 20 adult years of stuffing my face and I’m done. I don’t want to anymore. I want that feeling I get when I step on the scales and see a loss more than I want the Christmas junk.

But if it’s what you’re choosing, I wouldn’t miss more than 2 weeks without going back to 2.5.

Ihateslugs · 13/10/2025 09:13

FaceBothered · 12/10/2025 19:01

I don't understand the point of this?

I thought weightloss drugs just enabled you to eat in the same way as those who don't need them do?

Therefore, you'd just eat a bit of what you fancy when you fancy it, rather than going OTT?

In reality, you have to change the way you eat which the drugs help you with. If you ate the same, you would gain weight, you have to be in a calorie deficit like any other diet. The meds just help you lose interest in food and not feel hungry so you can reduce your calorie intake.

addictedtotheflats · 13/10/2025 09:29

I just took 10 days off for an all inclusive holiday, like you i get really supressed and I can't really drink on MJ without getting a raging hangover. I wanted to enjoy my all inclusive! It was fine, I still didn't eat as much as I would of previously but definitely indulged! Also my weight loss had stalled from being in a deficit for so long so a diet break was needed. I gained 2lbs in 10days :)

Original poster
bluepaperwaspofbxl · 13/10/2025 20:58

@PurpleCoo Thanks for sharing your experience. I don’t plan to overindulge at all. I would however quite like to have a few of the treats I usually have at that time of the year and unfortunately, MJ has created an aversion to them, as I feel nauseous if I have even a little something sweet.

OP posts:
Original poster
bluepaperwaspofbxl · 13/10/2025 21:00

@addictedtotheflats Cheers. This answers my question. I don’t want to go mad and stuff my face, I’d just like to be able to face one of the many treats I will be making for everyone else, as I always cook and host the whole family, without feeling sick.

OP posts:
FlowersFawb · 13/10/2025 21:03

I went on holiday for 3 weeks in September and took a break. I gained 12lbs. I picked the jabs up again when I got back and have lost the 12lbs in 2 weeks (probably a lot was water) and just weighed in at my lowest weight so far this year x

teees · 13/10/2025 21:15

I didn’t last year and won’t be again this year. For me the MJ was life changing in the most incredible way and a long term commitment not something to pick up if and when. I will be able to eat much more this year though, last year my appetite was suppressed quite a bit whereas now it’s not really suppressed at all.

museumum · 13/10/2025 21:19

I missed one jab on holiday as no fridge and hot climate. I didn’t really feel it wore off any more by day 14 than it usually has by day 5.
I would say maybe adjust your timings so you don’t have the strongest side effects on Xmas day but personally I wouldn’t skip a week or more.

museumum · 13/10/2025 21:22

I normally jab on a Thursday which is Xmas day this year. I think I’ll delay a day because I have zero appetite on jab day and couldn’t even manage a small Xmas dinner but I’ll take it on Boxing Day.

Marylou2 · 13/10/2025 21:28

I'm in maintenance but still wouldn't miss my jab. I'll plan a small treat each day. I don't know what dose you're on OP but would you be able to reduce it in Christmas week rather than stop entirely? Might allow you to eat a little more without side effects.

Charlenedickens · 13/10/2025 21:48

That seems a very strong reaction to the drugs, especially on a low dose.mid reduce rather than stop;

I stayed on last year, I was able to have a little of what I fancied, on the day, and didn’t gain any weight, in fact I lost, for me this is a whole lifetime change, so my old habits had to stop. I’m now on a low maintenance dose and will be on holiday this year for Xmas and will also stay on. I couldn’t face the idea of gaining last year what I’d spent the weeks before trying to lose. What a waste.

I know lots of people did take a break last year, but I don’t beleive it bodes well if you intend to come off.

Zempy · 19/10/2025 07:59

I wouldn’t bother to be honest.

If you feel an aversion to sweet treats, you won’t be missing out at all. You won’t fancy them.

I plan to stay on it over Christmas, although I am at maintenance stage now.

TheBlueHotel · 19/10/2025 08:07

Last year I did take a week off so that I went 2 weeks between injections. This isn't because I wanted to stuff my face for Christmas but because I didn't want anyone in my extended family to notice my reduced appetite. It worked fine, I didn't overeat and didn't gain any weight and got back on it the following week.