February 2026 starters

[Crossfitgirl]

Hi all, I have my first pen on the way and as far as I can see there is no starter thread for Feb, so I hope it's ok to make one.
All welcome whether recently started or looking to start this month - I think by the time mine arrives it will probably be February!
Hoping for support, experiences, recommendations, more support and the rest!

I am nearly 40, 2 young kids and full time job, starting on wegovy, with the goal of lowering my cholesterol (and reducing my huge belly).

Week 4 jab due tomorrow and I am feeling hungry! It started last night, and again this afternoon.

I've been sticking to between 1500 to 1600 calories, focusing on protein. And I'm on track to lose 1kg a week, which feels sustainable. However now I'm worried I should've gone up for my second pen, if I'm already feeling hungry by day 6.

Feeling hungry by day 6 is normal, I've been feeling that way since I startes 5 weeks ago, it doesn't mean you need to increase the dose

Hard agree with @Castlebark , 1kg a week is a HUGE loss, and it's normal for some hunger to come back the day before your next jab is due.
My hunger levels fluctuate quite a bit, I'm on week 5 on the lowest dose and I've felt super hungry this week - but despite that, I've still managed to control what I've eaten and haven't been able to eat much in the way of sweet things, so although I'm hungriER, I wouldn't say it's worn off. I'm also due on my period, which also massively affects my appetite.

Remember, in general 1-2lbs a week is a good, steady and healthy rate to lose. 1kg is about 2lbs I think, and side effects can be unpleasant so if it's working and your appetite is suppressed right up to the day before, you've no need to go up a dose.

I've had stomach upsets nearly every day this week (bit of wind-like stomach pain, before a bout of diarrhoea) but I've been fine after the loo each time and it's not been more than once a day.

I do feel like I've been more hungry this week, but I'm managing to not snack and I actually am starting to enjoy using a bit of will power and taking control, as historically I have ALWAYS just had to have something sweet, or have a snack.
I'm a bit hungry now, but I'm going to have some water and an early night. Who am I??

I really badly want this to be a long term change and so I will be staying on the lower dose for as long as I'm still losing.

In other news, I signed up for nutracheck. It's great, but eurgh how annoying is calorie counting. It takes bloody ages doing any meals! Adding up each individual thing etc, then dividing by portions. Any tips for making it quicker or easier? Any hacks?

No 6 done. It’s already starting to feel very normal after my drama and angst a few weeks ago. I seem to be settling at a 1.5lb a week loss which I know is ‘sensible’ albeit boring! I get hungry for meals and I feel I’m fuelling reasonably well for workouts. My meals feel a bit samey, simply because I’ve found a few meals that I can eat without any side effects and also meet my protein goals so I keep doing them on repeat. Makes logging and tracking easier too, but I’d like to add a bit more variety into the rotation.

3rd jab done, 7lb lost. Was hoping a bit more tbf after seeing others but will take what I can get. Still no side effects, need to decide wether to move up or remain on 2.5mg? Can definitely feel food noise now which I couldnt for the first week

I've gone up to 5mg and no major side effects but am feeling fuller after eating.
Still struggling with what foods to eat as don't feel hungry enough for a meal so then end up grabbing a snacky type of food and not enough protein.
Weight loss seems to have plateaued but think that's because I'm not eating the right balance.
Trying to eat at meal times and ensure I'm eating more fruit.
Would be really helpful if people could share what meals they've been having.

I’m currently with Bolt but find their communication rubbish. Repeat emails - assumption that second pen is my first dose etc plus v little support. Am thinking of changing for the third pen in a month’s time when I’ll probably go up to 5mg. I’d like to find a supportive provider with good communication- recommendations? Just taken final jab of first pen yesterday.

@NotellinganyoneI find Voy very supportive and informative. PM me if you’d like a link for £50 off your first order 🙂

Looking at Dose Diary, I'm at peak concentration for Week4, but I'm still not experiencing any real effects. I might be very slightly less inclined to snack, and my bowels have slowed down a little, but both could be my normal variations.
I'm so puzzled, as I've been told by more than one doctor that I'm sensitive to most medications, so I expected to have lots of side effects and some benefit.

I have lost a bit of weight, by careful meal planning, but I feel quite disheartened when so many of you are having good progress on the lowest dose. I lost more in the ten days before my first jab than I have since.

I bought my first two pens as a package deal, so I will continue, but it seems a very expensive way to achieve very little.

My good meals recently have included:

Tuna and sweetcorn filling in a wholemeal wrap

Scrambled eggs on 1 crumpet or 1 slice of toast, with guacamole (I use holy moly shop bought and it's soooo nice and no preservatives so is dead easy)

Chicken, broccoli and pea pasta in a creamy sauce (creme Fraiche and chicken stock and garlic)

Chicken stir fry with random veg and noodles

Small portion of lasagna, with a big side of salad

Greek yoghurt with oats, flaxseed, chia seeds, fruit, and a bit of honey (breakfast)

Small jacket potato with tuna sweetcorn filling and salad

Cooked chicken breast with 1/2 packet golden vegetable rice and some added fresh leftover mangetout

Snacks:
Boiled eggs
Prosciutto and cheese roll ups (bought from Tesco I think, they looked nice!)
Protein bars (though they are usually quite high calorie for the protein, so I've limited these)
Babybels

I've tried to stick with similar meals to previously, but just tweaked to increase protein, or reduce the carbs so smaller portions and pad out with veg.

@pelagra feeling similar to be honest I am on dose 4 tomorrow lost 4.5lbs which is good but and do feel some suppression which is reducing my snacking but not sure I can justify the full price for the results I’m getting. Will see how next month goes then decide. Tends to be after month 1 my weight loss slows a lot

I will but I’ve got 4 doses to get through first!

@pelagra which company are you with and how did you go about buying 2 pens? I presumed you’d only be allowed to get 1 at a time as they’d want know if you’d like to stay on the same dose of go up after the 4th injection?

I'm using Pharmacy Planet. They offer two or three month packs, either graded up or all one dose.

They were very thorough about my physical and mental health before I started, but don't offer any ongoing support beyond a series or articles.

I thought it was worth buying the .25 and .5mg pens together as I was bound to want to go up at some point.

That's good to know, I'm considering switching from Voy when the price rises, although I do really like the comfort blanket of support and I've got an offer through for the next few pens.
I've done jab 6 last night, tried for the first time in my thigh and it stung like a bitch! Think I'll continue in my tummy again from now on 😂

I'm pleased this week as I've lost nearly another KG after a couple of weeks of not much loss, and I have been eating decent portions just really focused on protein.

I've managed to work out twice a week, all strength training. I'm really enjoying that. I've only done exercises I like, so no cardio - and I've stuck to it. Will add in different types of exercise when I'm a bit stronger.

I took my kids to McDonalds yesterday after a very long day, and I was SO good and got a grilled chicken salad! So proud of myself. I would never usually go for that. I'd usually get a quarter pounder, even if on a diet I'd never be able to resist just having what I wanted before. It was actually quite nice! I did have some fries with it, but I'd not had any lunch so I was ok with the calories and felt I needed some carbs anyway.

I had a miserable night, exactly 36 hours after jab, which is what happened last week too. Woke up with crampy pains, in and out of loo for two hours and this morning thumping headache and probably dehydrated. Thankful yet again that I didn’t go up a dose. Seem to spend most Sundays saying I’ve taken my last one, then a bit like childbirth seem to have forgotten how bad I felt by the time jab day comes round again. I think the worse bit is I’m panicking in the moment that it’s serious but given it just goes away I’m guessing it’s actually not. The rest of the week is fine.

I've just done my 5th jab. Have moved up to 5mg. Feel a bit ...eep!
Got weighed this morning too and have gained half a pound which is a bit of a bummer but I've been to two birthdays this week snd had cake and a few drinks so..🤷
The food noise definitely came back yesterday...a lot of thinking about cake!
Wondering how different the 5mg will be- I've had very little in the way of side effects- just bloating and the odd bout of tummy trouble in the early days. Fingers crossed this won't be too bad.
I definitely feel better, my jeans are feeling looser already. And I feel much calmer. I've been very perimenopausal recently...a lot of mood swings and that has all calmed right down. Feel more sane!

Hey all,

Been lurking in the background this week reading everyones posts. Hope those not having the best time see those side effects lessen very soon. Well done to everyone on their success.

Little check in from me after my temporary gain last Saturday (beers!). I went from 12st 6lb to 12st 11lb I think it was. Literally overnight. I have been upping the protein this week and had my second 0.5 dose of Wegovy on Thursday (6th jab overall).

Happy to report I am down to 12st 4lb this morning. So that is 7lb off this week but including the temp gain from the beers! Or 2lb 'real' loss.

Since starting Wegovy 6 weeks ago, that puts me at a 13lb loss. So close to a stone. Am really happy with my progress and will definitely go up to the 1mg pen in 2 weeks.

I have that holiday booked in May and now feeling really optimistic about how I will look and feel if my losses continue at the same pace. The more it comes off, the more motivated I feel. I've been making changes to my diet and portion sizes too, and for the first time last night I left food when I began to feel full. Before I would always finish what I have in front me regardless. I intend to pay close attention to the cues and try 'train' myself to stop eating.

FYI - when I was looking at buying holiday insurance, I happened to read on MSE that you have to declare WLI on your travel insurance. I did and it just asked my height and weight, didn't change the price at all. Just a heads-up.

Good morning! I’ve just done my 4th dose and I’m down 12.2lbs. Planning to do the golden dose next. Going to try doing it through the pen but if it doesn’t work will buy some needles. I was thinking of going up to 5 but then I have had really good losses this month and both my partner and mum asked me if I had lost weight! I’m definitely struggling by Saturday/Sunday but seem to have less of an appetite the rest of the week. I was thinking of changing my jab day to a Friday as I find it easier to be good in the week but would mean jabbing a few days earlier.

First stone off! the number on the scale is already starting to look less scary and BMI is now 29. At the same time my muscle mass has increased and I had liver function tests back from GP this morning (not related to MJ use) and reassuringly they were also completely normal.

I also feeling more like myself today. Still had to run to the loo first thing but nothing since and I’m certainly feeling a lot better.

Congratulations on your first stone @RedApplePie! Also fantastic to hear everything is improving for you overall.

I took my 2nd 2.5mg dose on Friday gone. I've lost 9lb since starting less than two weeks ago. I never thought I'd say this about weight loss, but I just had a mild panic that it's coming off too quickly.

I'm short though, 5ft. I'm now eating 1000 cals less per day than I was pre-mounjaro. I'm averaging 1300-1500 cals per day.

I am reasonably active. I'm on my feet all day at work, I have dogs and I swim - although I have been doing shorter swims because I've been a bit lower in energy.

The appetite suppression happened instantly. I have been hungry at times, but I'm full very quickly. Struggle to eat more than 300-400 calories at a time now. Little and often is working for me.

I'm trying to prioritise protein and fibre and trying to drink 2l fluids per day (water and tea mostly).

Thank you. Glad to read that you are also seeing results again.

I’ve continued to improve all day today and round about 4pm had my weekly switch over from ‘I’m never taking this again’ to ‘isn’t this the best thing ever, I feel so chilled yet full of beans. Etc etc’. The pattern seem to be - take it on Friday lunchtime, feel fine for 36 hours, wake up in the middle of Saturday night feeling dreadful, have a horrific Sunday, be delicate but improving on Monday, then late afternoon - B-ding! Duracell bunny mode activated for another 5 days.

Well done @RedApplePiemust feel great losing a stone and dropping under 30+ BMI! I’m still in the “active labour” stage and getting really fed up with these horrid side effects. Anyone know how long they’re supposed to last for? Days 1-4 are a write-off for me despite proper hydration and protein load and I’m struggling at work. I’m not planning on going to a higher dose but may need to go down to 1.25 mg of this doesn’t get any better….🙄

@RedApplePie well done dropping your first stone. The scales are firmly on 12lbs for me and won’t shift.

@aredrosegrewupI felt just like you, I lost 8lb in the first week and was a bit shaken by it. I’m on dose 6 now and I’ve had a few weeks of small or no losses so things will even out eventually.

@TheEgg2 what are the side effects you are suffering with?