December 25 starters thread?

[cobblers00]

Is there one yet? If not, should this be it? I’m starting tonight, so officially November, but hey! Am so nervous, woke up early this morning with anxiety. Would love tips from anyone who has started before on what / how to eat on first few days..I’m really concerned about debilitating side effects- should you just listen to your body or force yourself to eat chicken?! I keep seeing all these insta posts about eating protein!!

This is my graph from Shotsy of the medication estimated in my system. Started on 2.5mg on 1st Nov, started 3.75mg 4th December. You can see how it increases each time.

@cobblers00 Thanks for checking in! I was feeling fine, but have had an awful upset stomach today. Not sure if it's the Mounjaro or a stomach bug. I felt really ill (like, stayed in bed and slept all morning), so am thinking probably a bug but the worry that it's the Mounjaro is high. Not ideal.

I'm going to be so pissed off if I do react badly every week and can't take it long-term. When it's good it's so very good!

I wish I understood more about the science behind it stopping you wanting unhealthy food. I did a supermarket shop last night and most of the food on the shelves looked vaguely repulsive, like it wasn't really food. It's so weird.

Really useful, thank you!

Migraines ☹️ if the graph is accurate does that mean I am doomed for the next month?

Are you getting migraines regularly?

I’ve had three since my second dose on Monday 😕

I started a December starters thread when I intending to start 1/12. However, for various reasons I decided to defer until 1 Jan. However, having been confronted with the reality of my body in a dressing room mirror yesterday, I started last night! First injection went well though, from reading some posts here, I think I was supposed to hold/squeeze the injection site (my upper thigh). Why is this.
I’m in NZ and the only WLI available is Wegovy.
Like everyone else here I have tried everything over the years and now, at 69 I feel if I don’t get my weight/health sorted I am going to have a terrible old age. I have osteoporosis and cannot do much exercise at this weight as I have an artificial hip, knee and ankle. I just want to improve my mobility and enjoyment of life with my very health-conscious and partner.
My most successful weight loss came after I had a gastric bypass in December 2007. That took me from 139 to about 90 where I hovered until making much more of an effort years later going to my lightest adult weight of 77kg. Since then I have yo-yoed up and down to now when I am 90.7kg (14s 4lb). I am 155cm (5ft 1in).
I was a teacher for 35 years and on my feet most of the day but now that I WFH full-time (my choice; I love my government role in education) my sedentary lifestyle has seen me stack on the flab and my eating is out of control. The irony is that the bypass left me with a very small capacity. I throw up if I eat a normal sized meal or two halves of a sandwich, though grazing almost all bloody day isn’t much of a problem!
To the point. When I asked my (new) doctor for a WLI script he was supportive and very well informed about it. He thought my (initial) goal of losing 15kg within six months was realistic.
But here’s the plot twist. I mentioned that I had read many reviews (MN!) where people didn’t feel their appetite was supressed and that this was my major problem anyway. “In that case, I’m going to (also) prescribe you Metformin which apparently has suppression qualities.” News to me; I took Metformin when I had T2 diabetes before WLS. I don’t remember it reducing appetite. Unless I have a poor reaction – including having over-suppression of appetite - I’ll give it a go. I can always cut back to Wegovy alone since I don’t really need the Metformin.
I will post my progress here and look forward to following other December starters.
Anyway, I have felt fine to day, no side effects (yet?) but no appetite suppression either.

Apologies for all the errors in my post; should have take the chance to review before I posted.

Right, first update from me. First jab Wed 3rd, second on 10th. I weigh on Fridays so am not quite aligned, but it’ll do.

Since the Friday prior to starting mj, I have lost 6lbs. That’ll do.

Absolutely no adverse side effects whatsoever. The hunger suppression has been excellent so far, not even fading towards the next jab. Perhaps that won’t last but I am happy for now.

Welcome @SueblueNZ and @MrsTigerface and good luck! @SueblueNZ the work from home slump is real! Can you take a walking “commute” each morning to get steps in? Tricky with sore knees though, I know.

I will weigh in tomorrow. Work has been manic the past few weeks, and while I haven’t been snacking or eating anything unhealthy, I haven’t planned meals to maximise nutrition. I am not yet at 2kg down in two weeks - I was hoping things would move faster! - but as long as it’s coming off, I suppose.

Welcome all new starters!
Reporting back on my night out… so, 1 cocktail hit harder than usual, felt quite light headed so didn’t have another until the end of the meal- so 2 alcoholic drinks all night; food - a small smoked salmon starter & then Turkish mixed grill where I ate about 3 chunks of lamb & 2 chicken, none of the carbs. I felt inclined to eat more than I would at home but not through temptation, rather the people I was with don’t know I’m on the jabs & I didn’t want it too look suspicious that I’d barely touched my food.. & I think it was for that reason I found myself throwing up in the night!!!! I just felt there was too much food stuck in my system. I rarely eat out but this really does suck the joy out of it. And I’ve barely had any appetite all day today either. It’s meant to be jab day but I am
seriously considering a week off. Im
in no rush to lose the weight & I’m just not sure I can face a weekend of intense suppression & nausea. So confused!!!

Is it madness to start on Monday, just before 🎄?
I was on MJ last year and lost 14kg, unfortunately I’ve put about 6kg back on. I need to get my eating back under control so I decided today to order wegovy. MJ is too expensive now. So my wegovy is coming on Monday. I’m nervous about changing to wegovy from MJ but here’s hoping I can shift a few lbs before I see family on Christmas Day, and that if I start now, I won’t pile on the weight over the festive season.

Oh no @cobblers00 ! Sounds rough. Considering myself duly warned for my work party next week 🫣

@cobblers00it’s difficult to strike the right balance. I went out the weekend after my 3rd jab (pre booked meal with friends at a Michelin star restaurant. I didn’t eat all day in the lead up but ran out of steam and couldn’t eat dessert at all. I was bloated to say the least but luckily not sick.

with hindsight, there are limits on what you manage to eat and unlike normal diets etc you just cannot skip meals to compensate for a larger meal. Now, when planning meals out, I’m skipping starters, choosing my main carefully and drinking g&t rather than wine, cider etc.

why don’t you count clicks and take a smaller dose for a week or so to see you through Christmas?

From the limited experience I have I would probably wait til after but depends if you’ll spiral into a ‘cram it in while I can’ mindset which will then mean even more to lose! I’m not worried about Xmas itself as eating at home is manageable. But just in case if side effects & for the sake of a couple of weeks, I’d probably wait.

@putthehamsterbackinitscageyes & I find you don’t realise you’ve overeaten or something disagrees with it, until it’s too late. It literally seems to take on extra bite!
I think I can maintain control with a week off, I exercise a lot & the suppression is so intense I probably actually need to eat a bit more. It’ll be a good mini test. The pharmacy I go through have also said it’s fine to miss a week so that’s reassured me. Then I’ll look forward to going straight back on & knuckling down over Xmas & into new year.

Honestly think the food caused the sickness more than the booze. Im
never good eating late at the best of times.

Sounds like you have a good plan - remember you do you - don’t worry about everyone else.

@putthehamsterbackinitscagehow does counting clicks work anyway? I could probably do half a dose ‘ still manage ongoing for a bit at least.

When you set up your pen, turn it very slowly and you will hear/feel every click. The full dose is 60 clicks so if you want say half the dose, turn it 30 clicks then stop.

my DH has done this to split dose every 3-4 days to smooth out the highs and lows.

That is such a good idea @putthehamsterbackinitscage- might be a game changer! Thank you

It’s worth trying a few things to see what works. I was fine on 2.5 - generally I took jabs a day early as I felt it was wearing off. I’ve persevered with 5 despite fatigue - as I work ftom home, I’ve had a cheeky afternoon nap. But otherwise I might well have dropped to a lower dose.

im planning to take golden dose and see how I feel before moving up again as I have 7.5 in the fridge. If the fatigue is really bad I’ll start on 5 - 6 from that pen and build up.

I’m trying to share what works etc and what doesn’t so if there is anything you want to ask, I’ll tell you my experience.

I e decided to change my jab day from a Sunday to a Friday so that it’s at its strongest over the weekend.
Im going to order a food shop for next week that’s more filling but still within my calorie goal.
I’ve worked a 13 hour shift yesterday and today and although I’m not hungry I feel drained! Busiest time of year for me work wise so once Christmas is over I’m going to start throwing some exercise into the mix.

Day 6 since my first jab and the food noise has come back today so I succumbed to some chocolate. Been eating around 1500-1800 calories a day which I know I can lose weight on. I wouldn’t have enough energy if I went too low on the calories and happy for it to come off more slowly as I don’t have loads to lose. My only side effect so far is constipation.