Does MJ give you more energy?

[TipsyCoralPeer]

A friend of mine is about half way through their MJ journey, has lost 30+kg and has seen their energy absolutely soar over the past couple of months. They’re getting up and going for 2hr runs at 5am! I’m so thrilled for them.

Their weight-loss has been steady, but not the fastest as they have still been eating calorie dense foods, just less of them. (No judgement here, I’m just trying to explain that I think they are still on approximately a medium total calorific daily intake, including alcohol, carbs etc. Not just cabbage soup and celery!)

I’m considering starting as I am into the obese category with my BMI, but the thing that has always put me off is the risk of being more tired than I already am. So I’d love to hear what others experiences have been.

All personal experiences welcome! Has being on MJ increased or decreased your energy levels? Have you been on the lowest possible daily calorific intake or medium or high?

Oh yes much more energy but that’ll be because I’ve lost 5st and overhauled my diet! I ate a calories deficit (TDEE minus 500 calories) now I eat at my TDEE to maintain.

Definitely more energy here but as pp says that's partly indirect, in the sense of everything being so much easier when my joints don't hurt when I walk, when I'm not lugging 60+lbs of extra me around. I actively look forward to getting out and about and doing things. Not sure I'll ever be a 5am runner though. 😂

Another reason, I think, is around stable blood sugar levels. I barely eat sugary things any more and when/if I do the MJ improves how your body deals with it, so none of the sugar highs/lows energy crashes. I"m also eating less carby things in general. Mostly I'm prioritising protein and good fats with lots of veg. Like pp, I aim to eat a maximum of roughly 500cals below my TDEE (but I don't count, I ballpark).

Loads of energy during day, move so much more.

but knackered by early evening for me as my calories are low

I'm exhausted and have been almost every day since starting october 2nd 2024. I think its the low calories, low carbs and dopamine disruption and notice it's worse on a higher dose as im tapering down and its better but it was jab day yesterday evening and im very tired right now. I have just done my 6th work shift this week and was awake from 4.30am having gone to bed around 11pm so that hasn't helped.

That sounds so good, I’m so pleased for you both. Yes the blood sugar balancing effects may be a crucial factor in helping improve energy levels.

I was prediabetic before starting, lost almost 4 stones down to bmi 23.3 no longer prediabetic but still exhausted daily. My sleep is worse too on it.

Also another one with way more energy. I also think it's the blood sugar stabilising effect, I don't get the crashes and the urge to fuel with lots of sugar as a result. My sleep is also massively improved, the weight loss has meant I don't snore anywhere near as much and much much more quietly. I think I may have had undiagnosed sleep apnoea before, whereas now I definitely don't.

And because I have lost so much weight, it's now just so much easier to run around and get stuff done.

Nope. Some days I feel pretty drained and sick with it. However, shifting 20 kilos has meant I spend less energy moving my carcase about.

I lost 38 kg from March 24 to April 25. It was unbelievably easy on MJ. I have always eaten a healthy diet and also always cooked from scratch. My problem was that I would eat way too much and ALSO eat crap between meals.. I was so fat (15st 4lb) that I had absolutely no energy at all. Now I am like a spring chicken. I intentionally park up the far end of the supermarket car park, just because I can. Previously, parking next to the supermarket door was a pretty exhausting walk on knees full of osteoarthritis. I was very lazy because activity was painful.. now I ride 3 x a week. Can get back in my Kayak after 12 years of medication induced obesity. I walk given any opportunity.
So the short answer is yes. MJ gives you energy. Not because it has any miraculous energy giving ingredients but because losing a substantial amount of weight off one’s body makes moving around a pleasure not a pain.

I have way more energy, I feel like a different person (well I kind of am a different person- I’ve lost 11.5 stone)! I can no longer slob on the sofa all day, I get too restless and have to do some form of exercise. I go out running or walking every day, do yoga, Pilates and swimming, my sleep has improved massively as well, I get 7-8 hours a night with no waking and just feel so much better overall. I have completely overhauled my diet, no longer eat any junk, don’t snack, eat lots of protein and veg and drink litres and litres of water which definitely helps.

I’ve got more energy because I weigh less but yes, there are also times when I’m extremely tired

Thanks for all the replies so far. Seems mixed responses but could be worth it for me to try and see how I get on.

For me no, I become more and more lethargic on it and eventually very unwell. I see a lot of people talk about how tired they feel on the medication which makes sense as it essentially slows your system right down and makes everything feel sluggish.

Not sure about more energy but even on circa 1,200 calories I had no problem with 2 hour gym sessions and 10km runs.

I’ve lost about 5stone on it and recently really notice how much more energy I’ve had. I started couch25k when I started it and it was such a slog to get used to it. I’ve continued running three times a week and recently have also started 2-3 proper weights sessions a week too. I seem to exercise every day and it’s not a huge effort to do so, I’ve become one of those people who enjoy it. Before I’d think I was great if I exercised once or twice a month. This morning I got up and did a brisk 5k walk before my kids got up. Felt brilliant and not remotely tired out today. And I’m still in a calorie deficit trying to lose the last few kg. Like previous posters I think it’s to do with lugging less weight around (at least 30kg less for me) but also creating new habits. Worth a shot OP

LOADS more energy! Have had all the way through and now I’m 8 1/2 stone down and at goal, I’m practically bouncing off the walls most days!

Bit of both for me …. But generally as times gone by I find I have more energy overall.

part of that is the 80lb weight loss of course.

sleep is mixed, often I was a rubbish sleeper, I am a bit better now as I don’t often snore now , which means I don’t wake myself up as much .

I was at a national trust place this morning, and I was chasing the dog around a field. A family was running around (dad and two toddlers ) near us and we were all chasing the dog and smiling, then they stopped to wave to mum who was sat on the bench watching us . She was a really large lady , and it really hit me how that was me last year , sat on the bench at the side , watching but not really able to join in. I was always looking for the first place to sit down .

the jab has slowly giving me my life back

Honestly - it’s been a rollercoaster. I did initially feel a bit rough, nausea and low energy, then I started to feel prettt great on MJ. More energy and just generally good! I think eating really cleanly and no alcohol for 8 weeks felt wonderful and since being on it I’ve not experienced a single episode of bloating and I was always bloated before and in some kind of discomfort.

I have found, however, that it massively disrupts my sleep so for five days in seven, I’d wake between 3-5am. That started to wear me down! Plus as time has gone on I’ve experienced increasingly low moods. Worth it though. Just coming off it altogether now after 4 months as I’m at goal. Worth it completely.

Waves and a roller coaster. 2.5 not much energy felt like 1st trimester of pregnancy, 5 massive wave of energy . 7.5 lack of energy, 10 massive bout of energy , 12.5 first half lack of energy , second half loads of energy .
i now have low bp and what I feel like low sugar at times (meaning low energy due to kcal but high energy due to movement/weight) 4 and bit st down 7 months in
stopping almost abruptly due to personal circumstances hoping the waves of energy continues at a bmi of 28 (down from 37)

I’ve been on it for a year and I’ve been absolutely exhausted for a year. I’m now at (the high end) of a healthy weight and still completely fatigued. It’s annoying as I thought I’d have tons of energy after shedding 6 stone!

Yes op, in trials they prove that, well not more energy, but you don’t get the energy slump you normally get when dieting.

they first spotted it in mice, so early trials. The mice on the drug, continued their usual activity levels, and the mice not on the drugs,but in the same calorie deficit, had the slump, as normally expected when you’re in a defecit, and it was replicated in human trials, effectively it is as your fat is used to fuel you .

so it’s not more energy as such, it’s you don’t have the slump associated with reducing cals into a defecit. Plus also as the drugs do other things, like reduce inflammation, and resolve liver, heart issues, and also once you lose weight, your body operates more efficiently and mentally you feel better, this can result in much more energy.

This is so helpful, thank you for explaining this. Really interesting research.

God I'm like a changed person! Up early, excercising a lot! Constantly on the go whereas before I was always knackered, never wanted to do anything etc. I worked out my calories on the TDEE calculator and have stuck to it.

I've got SO much more energy and have had right from the start. I sleep better too. Now nearly 6 stones down the line I can physically do so much more and sleep better overnight.

@Flipthrfhxsd that hit me, I was always the mum on the bench too. Never again

I’ve been on MJ for about 5 weeks and have lost 6kg but no my energy isn’t higher. I only eat about 1000 calories a day though…