October '25 Starter - Thread 2

[jaelato1]

@cheekysausage123I have created another thread (hope you dont mind) as first thread has been closed.

Weighing today but decided not to as its time of the month and I feel very bloated.

Bless you, that sounds rough.

Think you’re right re. Me although typically have ordered a bloody 7.5mg which is on its way. 🫣

Oh have ordered a 5mg too! Thinking I’ll just keep it in the fridge and do smaller doses 🙄

@jaelato1and @narcASD - it’s good to hear how you are reducing/coming off mj. I’m still very unsure about that.

I am now 14 weeks in, have lost 2 stone 4lb in total, and have lost with every jab. I’m getting ever closer to goal now and thinking ahead about maintenance - I don’t know if I’ll stay on forever, but I do intend to stay on jabs for the time being until I feel confident I’m able to manage food and exercise and maintain at or around goal.

I'm finding suppression fairly strong, especially when tired, so have already dropped back to 5.5 mg on a five day cycle to try to keep levels more even and side effects are now minimal again.

I’m thinking to take a 6 day cycle now and again to drop levels slightly and reduce dose every 4 jabs by 0.25 mg to gradually reduce and see how it affects suppression.

I should get to goal by mid March if these changes don’t slow losses too much, and I also need to shake up exercise - currently I do some strength training at home and I know I would benefit from a gym…. I need to bite the bullet and get a plan to follow but I don’t really want a monthly paid membership as we’re retiring and doing a lot of travelling so I won’t be home to use it for 50% of the time, so the £50 ish per month at our local gyms on top of staying on mj is a big cost.

@narcASD Honestly It's been a game changer for me because my body has adpated to the new routine before I decided to stop and my stomach seem to have shrunk too as I am still only able to consume same quantity (even less some days) of food as I did while on MJ. For some people belly fat is last set of fat to burn, I still have my CS pouch and it can be annoying but my overall belly is more flat than it used to be.

@StrongLikeMamma I am 3.3lb away from 3 stone loss so I'll have to re-calculate my tdee again too, also because I have started strength training at gym 3 times a week and cardio 3 times a week so my calories will likely increase but dont think I can physically eat more.

@cheekysausage123 Amazing, well done gal! You can either remain or maybe increase to 6mg to test the waters.

@putthehamsterbackinitscage First off, it is amazing that you didnt stall at all for the past 14 weeks. I wish I can stay on MJ for longer but my main reason in finding an alternative is because MJ has messed with my sleep, I rarely have deep sleep since I have been on MJ, which then increases my cortisol and that is not good for weight loss. IF gives me all same benefit as MJ with better sleep, only difference is it's more of a willpower until your body adapts to the new routine. £50/month for gym is a bit steep, I only pay £25/month as i dont need PT - I know my way around the gym and I have a plan I follow.

@jaelato1 I agree it is steep - the council leisure centre membership with gym, classes etc is £47 without adding in any pt so I need to join then just do payg I think - there are a few smaller gyms but haven’t checked prices yet.

i will need a thorough induction and plan as I have never been to a gym before, and have back issues including a surgery in 2024 so I am thinking a few pt sessions would be useful but that will add £30+ per session as well. I also saw a recommendation that I’ll need trainers suited to gym rather than my running shoes so will have to add that in.

At least running only gets expensive when it’s time for new shoes 😬.

But I’m still making progress to target - jab day again today- reduced to 5.25 this time as still losing well provided I stay active - 6lbs to target as of last night 😃.

@StrongLikeMammaand @cheekysausage123 with the pen increases, you can always buy extra needles to take smaller doses as long as you’re happy to go over 30 days.

I’m doing that at present 5.25 from 7.5 but because I jab after 5or 6 days, I still tend to use it up in around 30 days so it hasn’t been an issue yet.

i found trying to go up above 6.25 just caused side effects like stomach cramps etc so not worth it. I can cope with a bit of fatigue and bring cold but stomach / diarrhoea is a step too far for me.

Slow progress for me - 80.8kg this week, which is 12lb11ish. I’ve jabbed again last night, edged it up to 4mg, just a few more clicks. I’m definitely not getting as much suppression but it’s a good help. Slow and steady, right?

I’m expecting to stay on the drug for maintenance for a couple of years. I might be able to get off sooner, but I think our bodies need a long time to adjust to a new “set point”. Almost considering some new clothes now; although enjoying the bagginess! 😁

Well done @putthehamsterbackinitscage - you are getting close now!

You are quite inspiring @narcASD - I think IF is meant to be really good for you anyway? I’ve read about benefits!

After going up to 6.25mg about 2.5weeks ago, the nausea is back off and on and food repeating on me. It’s definitely from moving up a dose as I had it on 5mg at the start then it stabilised the longer I stayed on the dose. Hoping my weight loss will pick up as the last month it’s been staying the same and then I managed half a pound off last week. I did go back to the gym last week and again yesterday but yet again my back has flared up and also pain in my arm so gym workouts are out for a least a week, I can’t win. When I was doing home workouts from home during lockdown I didn’t suffer with any back problems which is annoying as I do prefer the gym to home. Just baffled what to do now x

I’ve gone back down to 3.75 this week and feeling better.
I’m getting dizzy spells at the gym - so clearly need to be eating more.
I’m also very happy to lose a bit more slowly and avoid muscle loss.
It’s a balancing act!

It’s strange… that 4mg dose has really hit me on day 2! Hopefully I will lose a bit more as a consequence though.

The shotsy graph of levels in your body goes up for a couple of days initially - so that makes sense.

Here’s what AI said @Clumsykitten

When you inject a GLP-1 medication (like semaglutide, tirzepatide, liraglutide, etc.), the rise you see in “GLP-1 levels” over the following days isn’t your body suddenly making more hormone on its own—it’s mostly about how the drug is designed to behave in your body.

Here’s what’s going on:

1. The shot is made to release slowly

Most GLP-1 meds are formulated as slow-release molecules. After the jab:

• The drug sits in the fatty tissue under your skin
• It leaks into your bloodstream gradually Blood levels climb over hours to days*, not minutes

That’s why peak levels don’t happen right away.

2. Long half-life = accumulation

Many GLP-1 drugs are engineered to stick around for a long time:

• They’re resistant to breakdown by DPP-4 (the enzyme that normally destroys GLP-1)
• Some bind to albumin or have fatty side chains that slow clearance

With weekly injections especially, levels build up over several days, then eventually reach a steady state after a few weeks.

3. It’s not just “GLP-1” — it’s a GLP-1–like signal

Blood tests and effects reflect:

The drug itself* (which acts like GLP-1 but isn’t identical)

• Ongoing receptor activation even as levels slowly rise

So functionally, your body is experiencing more GLP-1 activity, even if your gut isn’t producing extra native GLP-1.

4. Secondary effects can reinforce the signal

GLP-1 drugs also:

• Slow stomach emptying
• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Reduce glucose spikes

Those changes can alter normal gut hormone signaling, which may slightly change endogenous GLP-1 secretion—but that’s a minor contributor compared to the drug’s pharmacology.

Big picture

Your GLP-1 “levels” go up after the jab because:

The medication is absorbed slowly*
It’s designed to last*
Its effects accumulate over days*, not instantly

If you want, I can explain why side effects often peak a day or two later, or why weekly doses feel stronger over time.

Hi all, that's interesting @StrongLikeMamma

I took my 4th shot of 10mg yesterday and was sick as a dog this morning, also really bad headache and tummy, forced myself to eat some chicken & rice this evening but feel really sick still, also exhausted.

going to start filtering down now as hate feeling like this, I've been lucky so far I'm not having much side effects but it really hit me today!

im 12st 4lbs now so will hopefully hit my target to be in the 11's by end of Feb.

think ill try going to 5mg next week, so I just count clicks I guess?

It’s normally day 2-3 it’s at its peak most it think. This is so interesting and what I found when I was on 5mg that as the weeks went past the supression built stronger. Now I’m on 6.25mg just did my 3rd jab yesterday I can feel the supression this morning already kicking in as I think the 6.25mg is building up in my body if that makes sense x

What about dosing down to 7.5mg for a few weeks then 6.25mg, then 5mg etc.. so it’s not a big jump from 10mg? I think that’s what I would do myself, Hope you feel better soon xx

So, NSV this week… last spring my hba1c was 29. I didn’t get a test before starting Mounjaro but it will likely have been higher due to increasing bad habits and weight gain.

This week I got an invite for an Nhs health check with blood tests etc and it has dropped to 21) near the bottom of the target range), and other than cholesterol remaining high, everything else was mid range.

now looking forward to the review appointment - nothing to fear!

@Elliebearbluesyes I think your plan sounds more sensible so I've ordered a 7.5 pen (Lloyd's pharmacy are doing £70 off first orders at the moment). Then will work my way down.

@putthehamsterbackinitscage yay that's fantastic, weight is just one thing, health is the priority and you've done great. Celebrate those wins as they are important!

My NSV is that I can now cross my legs and can also put my laptop on my lap when I'm out visiting during my job. Before I had no space to lie my laptop due to my huge stomach!

In the shower I suddenly noticed how much weight was gone from my legs. Quite a shock really! They are still chunky but sort of look “normal” rather than slightly unpleasant (to me). I popped on a suit bought in 2015 - my “fat” size from then - and it was very spacious/comfortable. I really think I need will need some more clothes soon. Maybe a lovely pair of jeans.

@narcASD @Clumsykitten isn’t it great when you can see physical changes ….

I’m in the process of going through my wardrobe, working out what no longer fits, what now does fit again etc and having a clear out.

The only downside is the cost of replacing stuff - new bras, new jeans, new shorts etc for upcoming holidays … but it’s great knowing it’s because my current stuff is so big it looks ridiculous.

@putthehamsterbackinitscage indeed! It is a fantastic feeling trying on clothes that no longer fit, like shedding the old me. I took my girls swimming yesterday and tried on an old costume I wore last year, it was huge! Scary that I used to fill it

it's also so much less stress sorting what to wear, before it was a case of what fits and now I've got a collection of nice clothes to choose from, I'm just buying from cheaper stores at the moment such as Matalan or primark as not planning on staying this size. Brought a size 12 shirt today. Size 12!!!! I user to struggle in a size 20!

That’s fab progress @narcASDand what you need to remember on dark days when it feels slow…. Size 20 to size 12 is awesome….

Amazing feeling when you start noticing the changes in your body. I officially need new dresses as all of current ones are now too big for me...good problem to have but expensive to change your wardrobe like @putthehamsterbackinitscage mentioned esp when you are not at goal weight yet, I have already had to order new jeans and trousers.

@narcASD I can also cross my legs for hours without feeling uncomfortable lol

I completed my C25K program today, so I am officially a runner 💃

Well done @jaelato1 and @narcASD 🙌👏

I’ve just ordered my 5th pen and going back down to 2.5.
The vomiting freaked me out a bit the other week.
I’m also thinking it would actually be quite good not to feel total suppression for last stone. I can start trying to figure out maintenance eating!

Scale victory for me this morning - have finally seen the elevens! 🎉

SW 14st 4lbs
CW 11st 13lbs
TW 11st

Well done @jaelato1 you are most definitely a runner! Especially completing it during wet and cold winter months….

@StrongLikeMamma - congratulations on making it down to 11s… You‘ve got that 11st target in sight now….