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).

I had humous, oatcakes and some raw veggies. I’m in by myself and couldn’t face faffing around with anything more exciting.

it’s really early days yet, I was watching an insta-Doctor earlier who said it is often well into the second month before real results start. It’s hard to keep the faith though.

Hi all,

I took my first Mounjaro dose on Monday (2.5mg). I was petrified tbh.

I haven’t had any side effects so far but I believe that they might still appear. My appetite and food noise has definitely improved which is great.

I’ve been trying to hit enough protein but not quite getting there

Are people calorie counting as alongside using WLI? I have been and so far have made a positive start. I’m not sure how many calories to aim for though

Hi all,

@wlinewbie26, I am counting calories alongside Wegovy. I'm using the Nutracheck app, which has a setting for those using WLI - you put in your stats and it will give you calorie and protein goals. You can log everything you eat and it really works at hitting your goals and keeping you on track.

P.S. for anyone wanting to try it, I think I can refer people for free 30 days of full access. Think I paid less than £30 for 12 months and it is worth every penny!

Good luck 🙂

@DanaScullysLegoHairI used to use Nutracheck but it recently expired! Would you mind sharing your code or link please?

Also, where do you add in that you are on WLI - I can’t find it?

thank you 🙏🏻

I'd also love a referral for nutracheck please.
Is it better than myfitnesspal? I don't find that very user friendly and it's very "busy" to look at so would be interesting in trying nutracheck.

@wlinewbie26 I am not calorie counting at the moment, but I did log my meals for a week or two before I started wegovy just to see what my actual intake was, and to get an idea of what portions of my usual foods I should aim for. It's great for awareness but I could never stick to calorie counting for more than a couple of weeks, and won't be once I'm at TW so I'm going to try and learn how to eat more balanced without counting if possible.

Now I'm not really snacking I'm sure I've probably halved my calories anyway 😂 I was always a serial snacker. Now all of a sudden I'm not. It's so odd! I kind of understand now about food noise - I sort of feel like it's gone "quiet".

PM sent to you both, @Crossfitgirl and @wlinewbie26.

I haven't used MFP, so can't compare it to Nutracheck. I love Nutracheck for the barcode scanning which makes logging food easier. Like anything, you just need to get the hang of logging stuff. It gets easier and you can create and save meals for ease.

They do have a little forum that seems active and everyone seems friendly. They also have a magazine (possibly monthly?) that you can read in the app. I believe you can also contact people within the app for advice on your diet etc. I've never used it myself.

Hi all. I'm a February re-starter. I had a lot to lose, bmi started with a 5, lost exactly 100lbs in a calendar year, and have had a 5/6 month break were I took a reduced dose for a while and nothing for the last 3 months. I needed my head to catch up with my body. I've put about 30lbs back on, but not too concerned as I know it's a wonder-drug, I've been ill & immobile for several weeks, and I'm really looking forward to not having a rumbling stomach 45 minutes after eating a meal.

My advice to new starters would be to ditch calorie counting and just eat a lot more good quality protein - actual food, not processed powders/products. Protein needs to be the first thing to think about for a meal or a snack, then add some veg & a bit of fruit if there's space, or cake and chocolate if you feel like some. Other foodstuffs are available.

In addition, providing that you're confident in your maths skills, don't be afraid of increasing your dose in smaller increments than the pen, and don't go up a level until you really need to.

Looking forward to doing this weightloss thing with you 😁

eta - and drink the water, all of it

Thanks for the advice 🙏🏻

@DanaScullysLegoHairI’ve managed to add the GLP-1 option - thank you! I tried your link - I don’t think it will work as I had a memberhsip
previously. Thanks for sharing it tho.

Hi everyone, please can I join you? I had appointment today at hospital with metabolic consultant. Multiple chronic health issues, 20 years of steroids (I'm 38 now), part time wheelchair user due to rheumatoid arthritis, and I'm now morbidly obese. So I tick all the NHS boxes. I'm picking up my first pen on Friday but thinking I'll inject every week on Wednesday. If I have any issues, I can still get hold of the team mid week rather than injecting on a Friday when no one is around at the weekend.

Does anyone have any top tips they've learnt from starting so far? I've read I need to drink lots of water and make sure I have lots of fibre as well as protein. Can you tell I'm super nervous about starting?

Jab day again for me so appear to have already started my weekly angst and worry about taking it. (Not the jab itself, that’s nothing, just being on it at all) FFS. Anyway.

I’m down to 13.12 from 14.6 and while I haven’t lost much this week I do feel I’ve consolidated my first week losses. My abdomen is definitely feeling a little softer and flatter (relatively speaking!)

I'm struggling a bit with getting enough protein - the pharmacist said to aim for 1.5 gms per kg of target weight which would mean 105gms but im struggling to get above about 85-90. I really don’t want to start having shakes or anything so I'm going to have to make more effort there. I’m also working out 3-4 times a week which isn’t a new thing for me, but I do need to stay fed enough to fuel it - not anything I’ve had to give much thought to in the past.

Overall it’s going ok I think. As mentioned, still very anxious about being on it at all but it seems to be doing what it says on the tin. Still getting the odd wave of nausea and still a bit headachy at times. Occasional fast run to the loo which I really hate. However, apart from jab day stress it is definitely calming my background anxiety down a lot and I do feel I’m becoming less achey also.

Good luck with it all. What have you been prescribed? I’m on MJ and tbf have experienced nothing but fairly minor side effects. I do feel sick if I don’t stay hydrated and I’ve become like a 20 something influencer toting a Stanley cup everywhere! I keep my diet as simple and straightforward as possible for now. Hoping to be able to branch out a bit when I feel more relaxed but I’ve eaten a lot of chicken, tinned tuna and eggs with various veggies and salads for the last two weeks. I haven’t had a constipation issue at all but I’d say to keep on top of it if you do.

@BloomBySummer - about 12 years ago pre- menopause I got down to about 9.10 doing WW and felt great. At that weight my bottom half was a size 10 - I have big boobs and I looked healthy. That’s still at the top end of BMI for me but I’m 59 and suspect I’ll start looking scraggy at much less than that. So similar to you. Bolt have messaged me to say pen is arriving this morning- eek. I’m going to take tomorrow as I’m a teacher and want to have weekends to deal with any effects.

If it's any help, I'd take it as early as you feel comfortable with tomorrow. Side effects peak at 48 hours, I haven't had any really until day 2 after taking it. I take on a Saturday bedtime, and my side effects have mostly been Monday daytime so far!

I'm actually debating moving my dose to Friday this week as we go away on Monday, and I don't want to risk needing the toilet urgently in the car! That being said, I have only had minimal side effects like 1 or 2 bouts of diarrhoea each jab, so I'm hoping I maybe don't get any side effects this time!

Welcome @StatisticalStitches I was also nervous - even about how to do the injection itself as I am quite clumsy. All was fine and minimal side effects here just noticing am feeling very cold when I get into bed at night. I did my first injection on Monday and today is the first day I haven't woken up hungry so perhaps suppression is kicking in. @Notellinganyone good luck with it all sounds sensible to start tomorrow!

One thing I am promising myself right now is never to stop weighing myself daily after this. It has happened to mw twice now - in total denial of the reality - did not weigh myself for over 18 months because I was frightened of seeing it go up. When I finally did I have put on nearly 3 stone! I had done the same a few years ago and lost it via SW so you would think I would not make the same mistake again! Prior to this last 5 years of yo yoing I had spent many years post pregnancies and pre menopause at a healthy BMI and I used to weigh myself more or less daily so I could see the fluctuations and it didn't worry me - could also catch myself if I went over a certain weight. Hey ho. Feel good about being on this path and I have a target event in late June to work towards to keep me motivated. Happy to have this thread for support. Well done on your great weight loss so far @RedApplePie .

@Crossfitgirl - that’s really helpful- thank you. I’m on half- term now but teach 6 hours with no break on Fridays and have a pan hour’s commute either end so was trying to avoid feeling crap on Friday but sounds as though Thursday might be a better shout. I wish I’d done it last summer as we get 8 weeks holiday but had other health issues at that point.

Hi all, I’m a week in and actually managed to put someone weight on, only a lb but found it hilarious, my body is fighting back!
I’ve got a question about providers. I’m with Boots as got a discount and allegedly £15 advantage points per order. They’ve not materialised and the app doesn’t seem to work. I just get asked daily what my hours of sleep are, how many glasses of water I’ve had, etc. It’s fixed my weight in day as a Monday as that’s when I picked up the pen and my weight as 6 lbs heavier than I actually am. They insisted on weighing me in my dog walking clothes 10 days ago and 1 was 14st 10.5 but was dressed up like a blinking yeti as it was snowing and they wouldn’t even let me take my hiking boots off. So I was actually 14.4.5 when I started (first morning weigh in with no clothes as I normally weigh) and down to 13.13.5 a week later. I can’t log this and can’t ask any questions, absolute pants. So any recommendations, I don’t want any coaching as I’m using SW recipes and exercise a lot already. I have high BP and cholesterol and on anti-depressants and HRT so probably tick a lot of boxes + my BMI will still be easily in the 30’s in another 3 weeks. Happy for you to message me directly. Thanks, Sally

Is it MJ? I do Thursday evening and usually seem to have a rubbish Sunday but nothing before then.

First WG injection this morning. Then went off to the gym and came back for a bowl of porridge and banana. Am off work now for over a week so keeping fingers crossed for a good week. Jumped on the scales, and just 3 weeks of sensible eating before starting has seen me lose a few pounds.

Has anyone ever changed injection day? I took my first dose Tuesday and have felt rough at work the past 2 days so I was thinking of changing it too a Friday? I don't know if its safe to do that

Hi and welcome to any newbies 👋🏻

Jab 3 for me today and a total loss of 6lb so far 😃
Week 1 = -2.5lb
Week 2 = -3.5lb

Happy with that 👍🏻

Getting to the point now where I have to decide whether I’m going to stay on 2.5mg or move up to 5mg. Anyone else pondering on that yet?

I also need to decide whether I’m going to be brave enough to extract the golden dose. Seen so many mixed opinions about it.

@Wambamaloomaawambamboo i just asked Voy’s AI coach “Joy” and it’s states that moving by 1 or 2 days is fine but any more than that is not recommended. I think it just impacts the amount that’s building up in your system. Maybe your provider can clarify for you?

What's the golden dose @InstantRegret ?

@StatisticalStitches I think it’s perfectly natural to be nervous but once you’ve got the first jab out of the way it gets easier.
My top tips would be to take your time with the jab and breathe. Familiarise yourself with the process before you inject. It doesn’t hurt at all.
I also stocked up on all the medicines! For every side effect I could think of which helped me feel more prepared. So far I’ve only had to use painkillers for a headache in week 1.
That could all change when I move up to 5mg though but at least I’m stocked up for all eventualities!
Keep hydrated, stock up on protein and fibre rich foods and have a back up stock of protein shakes in case you don’t really feel like eating.
Good luck with your first jab 🙂

@RedApplePie we’re jab day twins 😆 well done on your journey so far 👍🏻

@wonderfullife123 the “golden dose” is what’s left in the MJ pen after you’ve administered the 4 official doses. Some people extract the excess medication for a fifth dose but is frowned upon by medical professionals as it is deemed unsafe to do.

Hi everyone,

I started last Saturday with my first MJ pen from my local pharmacist. I actually do SW, and have lost 3st with that but now stagnant for a year so hoping this will start things moving. No side effects so far and still thinking about food, so feel it's willpower at the moment after spending that money! I have checked the scales and lost around 4lb since Saturday which would have taken me weeks as a slow loser on SW, so it's obviously doing something!
Anyway, hi to you all.

It is, Are you generally ok by Monday?