Changing food habits/ comfort eating

[SwimmingThroughJune]

Please tell me how you have done this. I’m reducing doses having lost 3 stones but old habits are creeping back in.
I’m desperate not to undue good work. I’m so disappointed with myself. I’ve reduced to 10mg. Lots of gym etc good meals with protein and fibre - it’s the sweet stuff that’s the problem. Resign myself to needing higher dose always?id rather not really.

Yes I've dropped from 15 to 5mg and seen a big increase in my carb and sugar cravings returning. Luckily I track my food so have stayed within my calories and not gained but its not easy. I'd rather not increase my dose as I get anehdonia. I'm finding when I increase my protein it really helps with satiety.

@Mysticmaiden I’m tracking but doesn’t seem to stop me 😞

@SwimmingThroughJune how long have you been taking Mounjaro? I think if you have embedded habits of snacking on sweet things then it will take a long time of not doing that to undo those old habits and form long lasting new habits that will stick even when not supported by Mounjaro. I think that's especially true if you have been obese for a long time.

I have been overweight or obese for pretty much all of my life, from around aged 12 to now, so 3 decades and more. That's a long time for habits to be entrenched and I don't think I'm going to permanently get rid of them any time soon. I expect to continue taking Mounjaro for at least the medium term whilst my weight stabilises and I spend a decent length of time at a healthy weight. It is annoying that it is expensive and not likely to get any cheaper any time soon. I do hope that over time I can reduce my dose and keep my weight stable but it's going to have to be a very gradual process for me I think.

@SilenceInside thank you for your post. I’ve been 1-3 stone overweight for about 30+ years.
it’s so connected to emotions - one of my first memories is being given chocolate for comfort.

It’s so complex isn’t it? I’ve decades of feeling a good day is not eating much.

I can afford it but I’m so disappointed with myself. I’ve been taking for about 17 months. I’ve been about 9 stone for a year but that’s while taking 15mg, just started to reduce as although have a little more to lose, I was struggling with last bit- decided to go down then increase again for last 7lbs.

I’ve never had much suppression - required the higher doses - but lost 3 stone in just under 8 months, maintained since then while on 15mg.

I would try and think of it as a period of adjustment, as you've dropped down to 10mg. This is an adjustment period, you have discovered that dropping down has changed your behaviour around food. Try not to think of it as a personal failure, it's a change due to changing your medication. There's no real support or good quality research around what to do when you get to goal/thereabouts and want to maintain. We are all going through a trial and error process to find what works for us as an individual.

In your position, you could either go back up to 12.5mg then 15 if necessary, until you feel that you are back on top of things. Then consider reducing again but maybe more slowly and focussing on noticing small changes in your behaviour around food, working on ways to mitigate them.

Or, you could stay on 10mg and focus on intercepting the urges around sweet things and avoiding the triggers and so on. For me, I know that once I start with sweet things it triggers the urges even more and then it's harder to pull back from that. It takes several days of not having anything sweet/processed carby before it calms down again.

It's all hard work unfortunately! Losing the weight I think is actually easier than figuring out a way to maintain that weight loss long term. I wish that there was more research into the best ways to do that.

Agree with all of the above! I am on 5mg (went to 12.5) and its been really hard. Lots of recent birthdays and celebrations mean i develop the worst sweet tooth, but i dont plan to avoid treats as i know its not sustainable.
I gained a few pounds but chose not to increase my dose and have increased fibre instead. Seems to be helping at the moment; i am feeling more full so its a little easier to manage cravings.
I want to take the lowest possible dose, and even try coming off the jabs eventually. I found the weight loss part quite easy so this for me is the hardest part. I feel your pain!

@MrsMiagi @SilenceInside @Mysticmaiden thank you for your advice and support, I really appreciate it.

I think I’ll stay on 10mg next 2 weeks and meal plan carefully (apart from I’m out next 2 nights !!). I’ve 8 weeks until my holiday so that will give me some motivation but I really need to work on a long term plan.
Maybe it’s ok for me to stay on a higher dose longer than I thought I would.

There is no right and wrong when it comes to maintenance. If you need to stay on a higher dose for a while them you should. No need to make it any harder than it needs to be!
Maybe wait until after your holiday and try to taper then?