Is my MJ working?

[Greenfingers37]

Hello, I started on 2.5mg of Mounjaro on 13th May, so 3 weeks ago today.
The first week, I lost 3.5lbs, the second week, I lost 2.5lbs but this week I’ve actually gained a pound.
The appetite suppression has been really high from the start-I’m aiming for 1250-1350 calories a day and sometimes not even managing that. Prioritising protein, fibre and water and being fairly active although not managing a huge amount of exercise due to being so busy with work and feeling knackered!
I’m gutted to see that I’ve gained already and the only thing that I’ve done differently this week is drink a bit more alcohol last weekend due to 3 different social events 3 days running but not going over my daily calorie allowance as I’ve logged everything, food and alcohol!
So my net loss is only 5lbs in 3 weeks. I’m disappointed by this as I was hoping for a bit more so early on.
For context, my SW was 12 stone 9lbs and my target weight is 10 stone 7lbs.
Can anyone offer me any reassurance or advice please? 🙏🏻

Yes it's working. Losing 5lbs in 3 weeks is at the top end of the expected rate of loss of 1 to 2 pounds a week.

"Gaining" a pound at one weigh-in is not necessarily a real gain, especially as you have been drinking alcohol which can interfere with the weight loss process and potentially cause some water weight fluctuation. Weight loss is not linear and you will see that the trend is still downwards as you move forwards.

Large losses in the first week or so tends to be more relevant for people with significantly higher starting weights than you.

I hardly lost anything until 7.5mg

but you’ve lost 5lbs - that’s brilliant 🤩

Sounds about right for steady progress on WLI as you’re not necessarily going to lose some weight on a constant linear basis and fluctuations up and down are entirely normal.

Also, besides calorie counting, are you prioritising high protein and fibre over carb heavy meals and fatty foods? The alcohol won’t be helping either.

You also need to drink a lot more water than you might normally do to help digest the food as WLI considerably slows down your digestion.

That’s very reassuring, thank you.

Yes, really trying to get at least 100g of protein in a day (it’s a struggle though!) and 30g of fibre. Haven’t had any fatty food at all really and much fewer carbs than before. Also trying to drink at least 2 litres of water a day too.
I reckon it’s the alcohol that scuppered me (no shit Sherlock! 😳🤣). Thanks so much for your advice.

Are you due on your period? That can also increase water retention, it’s quite common not to lose around the time of your period.

That ship has sailed!!! I’m 57! 🤣 But yes, I can see how that would affect things.

Haha can be all manner of things. I remember going to the cinema and sharing a salted popcorn. And when I say sharing, I had maybe a quarter of a medium size. Gained 4lbs the next day, I was raging.

I’d be raging too!!! 🤣

I'm not on it so only going off what I've read, but apparently you should only have certain foods, like good protein with lots of leafy veg and quality fibre (I would check with the doctor who has prescribed it) and use weights, so if you can't go to the gym with work, maybe get some at home and use in the morning/when you get back at night, it only needs to be short sets. But some people apparently respond better than others, according to articles Prue Leith didn't lose anything on jabs-it really isn't true for absolutely everyone that eating very little makes the weight drop off.

Well I think it’s definitely working-had my 4th jab on Thursday and I’m now 9.5lbs down in less than 4 weeks. Thrilled.

So a week’s lag and then 3.5Ibs off - sounds like very good progress

Ah well done! You WILL find it’s not linear, as annoying as that is. Excluding the first month or two, mine would follow two patterns, and not always at the same time! One was barely losing during the week and then a decent drop on the weekend, and also I’d tend to have two good weeks of loss and then two weeks of maintaining, or a small fluctuation (like 0.2lbs loss or 1lb gain, something like that).

i started focusing on the average weekly loss (shotsy does this for you as part of its stats) and as long as it’s something I’m happy with, I try not to get too bothered about that weeks result.
55 weeks in, my average weekly loss is 1.4lbs, and that accounts for a WHOPPING 13lb gain after a weeks holiday (I know mostly water/salt/alcohol/carbs but still!) so I’m still doing alright!

I’ve been there too 😊 On Mounjaro through the programme, I had a week where I thought I was doing everything right but the scale didn’t move much. It can be really frustrating, but it often balances out over time. I try not to stress over one week now 👍

I like threads like this 😊 I’m on Mounjaro through the programme and it’s helped me just take things day by day. Nothing extreme, just smaller meals and my daily walks. Makes it feel more manageable 👍