BMI under 27 - Off Label/less to lose

[ritala]

I am mid 40’s and just can’t lose the weight like I used to. I’m fed up of losing and gaming the same two pounds. I’m about a stone and a half more than my happy weight (where I would be approx bmi 23).

I have tried to find a thread for people who have been approved ‘off label’ Wegovy or Mounjaro with less to lose but couldn’t find one, so thought I’d start here. I have a BMI higher than 25 but less than 27 with a couple extra health conditions. Hoping to start after Easter. I’d like to stay with a very low dose if possible. Half a pound a week loss would be good for me. I really want to avoided side effects.

Anyone who is in a similar boat and wants to share experiences or ask questions, please join! X

Yeah - this is kind of where I have got to too. I’ll get the weight loss sorted then focus on fitness once I’m not restricting my calorie intake. I’ve done a bit of running since I started MJ a couple of weeks ago but I feel pretty low on energy.

End of week 2 and I've lost just shy of 1kg this week, happy with that. More importantly to me is that the bodyfat % on my scale is going down too, I know they're not that accurate overall but I think as a comparison is ok, started 30% now reading 28.3%. Still on starter dose of wegovy.

Good morning ladies.

I am STARVING. Don't know what's going on, started about lunch time yesterday and I feel like I haven't eaten for weeks. Craving bread and biscuits, still mainly managing to eat healthily but a lot more, stomach is rumbling and I feel so empty.

Jab not due til Monday. I could do it early but this doesn't bode well for staying on a lower dose.

How far into this are you @NinthBestOption?
Though well done on still eating healthily!

I’m thinking this too. The guru that was the amazing Michael Mosely did a podcast on how effective exercise is for maintaining weight as opposed to losing it so I’m focusing on the weight loss first.

Honestly my experience has not been linear at all. Some jabs I get SE some I don’t, sometimes the suppression is super high, sometimes I barely notice it. It’s hard to find a pattern, I wonder if it’s hormones.

Cardio is good for maintenance. Strength training is good before, during or after weight loss. During weight loss it's good for maintaining muscle, which is important not just for how you look but because the more muscle you have the more calories your body burns at rest. Which is important when thinking about what your maintenance calories will be at the end.
Obviously while on WLI you can't go too hard on the strength training but it can really help.

I've somewhat plateaued too and am hungrier, I am going to step up a bit next time. Not sure whether to go to 0.5 straight away or do a 3/4 dose..

@Proteinpudding 6 jabs in, never had great suppression but enough to stick to the diet.

@kljdhs877 you could be right, period due in a few days. I don't remember how I felt last month.

I've done a hell of a lot of walking over the last few days, trying to support a friend training, all friends are on a rota to keep her company. I do walk a lot but not like that so might be it.

Have had weight loss since upping to 0.5mg. Was stuck at 67.5kg for 3 weeks, did jab, ate same amount and 1kg down 3 days later. Wierd magic meds!

Eta that weightloss was before the walking, gone up a bit now.

Thank you. Good advice.

It’s probably the walking and your period. I think you should listen to your body and eat if you are hungry but try to focus on protein over carbs.

on a separate note… I also saw someone on FB (I think it was Sally Gunnell) say that when it’s very hot it’s common to put on 1kg due to the body retaining as much fluid as possible.

@Beachforeveragreed on the heat thing. The scale is coming down again for me now it’s still cooler.

Today I’m wearing shorts I haven’t fitted since before I was pregnant with my son. And what’s even better is I don’t feel awful about myself wearing shorts, I feel like I’ll happily put them on rather than reluctantly in only the hottest weather 😊

@Proteinpudding I know this is all true, and in the ideal world I’d focus on strength alongside weight loss but I feel like I’ve only got enough mental capacity and energy for one major goal at a time right now!

I’m going to try to get along to one strength class a week and run 2-3x but decided not to beat myself up if I don’t manage it all.

@SandwichesAndGingerBeer sorry I didn't mean to guilt trip anyone! Just wanted to highlight that it isn't something to purposely avoid, albeit you can't push yourself too hard on a deficit. Though genuinely, one full body session a week would make a big impact, even once a fortnight would help. It's a thing I like about strength training is that I feel more of an impact for less effort than cardio!

It's a nice feeling when you can fit back into certain clothes as well. I'm not far enough in to see that difference yet but I'm looking forward to it!

@SandwichesAndGingerBeer I’ve been the same. Because I didn’t have a huge amount to lose I got to target within 3 months. I’ve always done some Pilates and play a sport so my fitness isn’t bad, but know I need to properly look at strength training, which I will do now I’m not obsessing over the scales. I will start by treating myself to some new gym clothes 😂

Thanks for kind msges everyone. Nausea has gone today although I have been quite hungry so not sure it's working! Been at gym and strength trained, maybe that's related. Definitely not without an appetite but my energy has improved...doesn't seem to be linear this jab! Will wait and see...

what sort of strength training does everyone find easiest whilst jabbing?

I’m a runner and tbh whilst I’ve been on mounjaro which is 6 weeks I’ve not run much as been really lacking energy.

I usually try to do 1 home session of strength work per week but haven’t managed well recently and wondering if once I get to maintenance a gym or class might work better?

I do a short, full body workout with free weights, so dumbbell or barbell, with lots of time to rest in between sets. I would avoid circuit style classes as they're more about stamina/endurance and I think would be very difficult on low calories.

Have upped to 0.375 Wegovy today from 0.25, having plateaued for the last couple of weeks. At least I think I have? ☺️ Have gone by the click charts I've found which say there are 148 clicks in a 0.5mg pen, but Google Gemini seems to think there are double that (I think it is wrong though....)

i did my first jab on Friday 15th -

SW - 66.1kg
CW - 62.3kg
GW 58-60 ish, not sure yet.

Ive felt ok the last couple of weeks, just a bit low on energy. So far so good. Wonder if I might get away without ordering another pen 🤔.

7th jab today. I’m sticking with 0.25 Wegovy for my next pen.

I’ve lost 3.7kg. My starting BMI was 25.4. My current BMI is 24.

There’s no way I could have stayed as consistent as I’ve been without the jab. I’m honestly thrilled with how easy it’s felt. Even with a bit of a plateau, which is shifting now.

@hellobaby24 I do 3 strength classes per week. I do a class as it keeps me consistent and forces me to push myself. It also makes sure I have correct form.

I have missed the past couple of weeks as I’ve been too busy for the classes, but back on it this week. Also making sure I get my 10k steps in per day.

Exercising helps to make me eat and drink more as on MJ I think I could happily not eat for days which obviously isn’t good!

I’m on my 7th MJ jab and initially had a steady 1kg loss per week. But then put a kilo back on and seemed to have plateaued. Do most people plateau at some stage? Is it worth persevering at my current 2.5mg or consider upping it to 5mg? Definitely still eating in calorie deficit and have completely gone off carbs.
I started at 72.4kg went down to 66kg but currently at 67kg and aiming to lose another 6-7kg by mid July in time for my daughter’s wedding.

@Therulerofmyhouse I think it needs to be 3 weeks of no weight loss for it to be considered a plateau, you could count click to 3.75mg if you want a more incremental climb, the jump from 2.5 to 5mg is quite big.

@Therulerofmyhousewe're at the same stage (7th jab) and I’m just coming off a plateau.

For me I think it was a combination of the hot weather, my menstrual cycle and maybe my body needing to recalibrate a bit. I was definitely still eating at the same deficit but the scales didn’t reflect this.

It’s shifted now and I’m losing again, so hopefully you’ll be seeing the same soon.