How can I best support my partner starting Mounjaro?

[ElleBelleLou]

Hello all!

Brand new to WLI world. My partner just took his first 2.5mg dose of mounjaro last night. Currently he's 18.6 stone, BMI 37.3, prescribed privately as far as I am aware.

I think DP is a bit embarrassed about being on the injections / needing to lose weight and doesn't open up to me about it much. I know he wants to lose weight and hasn't had any luck with diet or exercise previously, but I don't know how best to support him.

Firstly, he took his first dose at 9pm yesterday, and hasn't had any appetite today. He's eaten a sausage roll for lunch, and I made homemade chicken wraps for tea, of which he only ate 1. This is a TINY amount of food compared to what he normally eats. Could the mounjaro be affecting his appetite so soon?
He has been up for work since 3am so I'm wondering that maybe he's just too tired to eat as well - it's just not like him to eat so little (but I guess that's how the WLI helps?)

What can I do best to support him during this time? What does your partner do for you, or what would help you on your journey? I've read he needs to keep protein up and stay hydrated, so I'll amend our teatimes to meet those goals! What else can I do? What can I expect over these coming weeks?

Thank you so much in advance for any answers and help.

@HelenDenver so far it's only sweetcorn he eats, but knowing his tastes might change I'll encourage him to try some others. I'm not holding out hope cause he's a very stubborn man but worth a try :) He does like baked beans! I can access fibre and all sorts of supplements through work which I am debating getting him some sorted to make up for where he won't eat fibre.

That's so interesting, how are you finding any side effects so far?

Definitely look at supplements if that’s the only option! But sweetcorn and baked beans will both help. Shaken Udder (and probably others) do a high fibre milkshake that might help too.

I haven’t had bad side effects - some burps (lovely) the day after injecting and a headache shortly after injecting. I do work on keeping fibre and protein up though and also drink 2-3l water, which I track too. I think those would help with any constipation I might otherwise get.

I have never liked fruit or vegetables but i make an effort and always eat vegetables with meals since I had my dc. On mj I actually enjoyed veg more, and I found that when eating out I tend to fancy proper dishes, like trout, veg and mash for example rather than fish and chips. As pp said protein is really important, and not having crisps, biscuits and general junk in the house is what helped me the most. If its not there, I can't eat it. I stocked up on low fat high protein yogurts, mini baby bels and cashew nuts instead, A daily magnesium tablet sorted out my constipation, something I have always suffered from. Some days he might be able to eat very little, but it won't be like that every day, oh and have antacids handy, I needed rennies every day for the first few months.

@HelenDenver Thank you so much :) He did say yesterday so the day after injecting, all he felt so far was a lot of burps and just full quicker at teatime. I've told him he needs to be aiming for about 2.5L of water a day, that's something I am happy to be on his back about - easier to get him to drink water than to consider eating broccoli lol.

@Deadringer he actually takes magnesium already, so that's good to know! I'll get some high protein (but still healthy) snacky food in when we do the shop this weekend. We've always got plenty of rennies cause I suffer terribly with indigestion and heartburn, so I'll make sure we keep the rennie tub stocked up lol.

I say this with kindness, because I've been there.

Stop mothering him!

He's an adult. He can buy his own remedies and sort out his own stuff. Really.

@LividSun I don't see it as mothering, I see it as being supportive whilst he tries a potentially life-changing new medication which can have unpleasant side effects. He'd do exactly the same for me.

He works exceptionally long days (leaves for work at 3am, not back until 8pm many days!) so if I can make it a little easier for him by picking up some supplements and meds, I 100% will.

If I was mothering him, I'd be force-feeding the veg, fruit, fibre and protein he refuses to eat - which you won't catch me doing. Just supporting over here!

💯

I think it’s lovely you’re being so supportive. Not mothering, just caring.

Having the right food in the house and on offer for meals will make a big difference. Babybels, ready to eat chicken etc and protein yogurts.

this video from Zoe is very helpful for people starting GLP-1 drugs who want to keep their bone and muscle strength while losing weight.

That’s a fine amount to eat on the jabs and normal. That’s how he will lose weight.

He needs to drink lots of water, eat good protein (not processed shite like sausage rolls) and healthy fats and vegetables. He needs lots of fibre or he may get constipated.

He should also do weight bearing exercise.

@ElleBelleLou The main thing is to stick to 3 regular meals and he should not want or need snacks. Prep meals in advance or buy salads he can have with protein - eg oven cooked chicken, a small steak, fish cake etc. We have found we eat far less and chicken and rice isn’t necessary. Just half of normal meals and once a month we share one portion of fish and chips! You just start to think differently and plan meals differently.

You may well find his tastes change - magically veg and fruit and good stuff is absolutely what you crave on MJ, I couldn’t possibly manage fried crap on it. It made me feel sick!
I lost 10 stone on it over 8 months. Been off it 6 months now. Put a bit on (1.5 stone) but losing it again. It’s wonderful.

I agree. How often do we see on here people initially wary of telling their partners they're on WLI because of assorted reasons? It's lovely that he trusted you from the start and that you want to support him. It can be embarrassing admitting that you need to do this, even to the closest person in your life

I would say, though, that just like the decision to start WLI, it's important that any decision to change his diet (ie fruit and veg) in a significant way comes from his own realisation. You seem lovely so I don't think you would, but if he feels pressure to change a lifetime of stubbornness it might make him dig his heels in just because humans are daft like that.

I'm not like your partner about healthier food but I've loathed diet culture my whole life, (I'm 54) and only bought a set of scales on the same day I got my first pen. I've now lost 6.5 stone and am at goal. I still hate obsessive "dieting". I ballpark calories but I'll never be someone who weighs everything I eat. If I felt pressure to do that, I would push back.

DH, who has always been slim, supported me by showing an interest in how it felt for me, asking me what kind of portions I felt like, telling me how much he noticed a difference even early on. MJ killed my desire to drink much and he went with that and drank less himself.

Hopefully the MJ will do its thing and make him want the healthier options. It's a long journey and there's plenty of time for that to happen. He's done the right thing and he's lucky that you have his back.

Could you cook/prep meals together? So he gets a healthier range, and you get to benefit and have a we're doing this together attitude. Doing some exercise together, whether that's walking the dog/going to a gym class/cycling would be good too. Praise him for taking care of his health-some (not all!) men are very bad at communication.

When making a home made meal why not add some veg very finely so it’s hidden. For example adding tiny pieces of carrots to a bolognaise or the head of a broccoli or finely greater cabbage to mash maybe a small start to introducing veg

Cook high protein low fat lower carbs unprocessed food for him? Encourage him to take up weight lifting to preserve muscle mass.

@ElleBelleLou there really are so many different options when it comes to salads that there must be something he will like. Try googling “bbc food salad” and you will see lots of amazing options. There are a few based around sweetcorn and spice too.
He really should try to limit the four carbs of rice, pasta, bread and potato to avoid glucose spikes.

A bit of spice is ok, if he likes curry its amazing how much vegetables you can hide in the sauce without kids or 36 year old men knowing! Also bolognese

Thank god someone said it! This is such a depressing thread. Let the big man baby worry for himself about how little veg he eats and how much water he drinks.