August 2026 starters

[chocolatecoveredpretzels]

Hello everyone, I'm due to start on MJ in the next few days, and I'm feeling nervous!

I've been above size 20 since I was about 14/15 years old. The highest weight I've ever logged was 134kg, about 14 years ago. I'm currently 117kg. I also have issues with my heart caused by Cushing's, type 2 diabetes and PMOS.

In the past few years, I'm yo-yo'd between 125kg and 110kg three times. I know how to lose weight and can do it... but as soon as work gets busy or stressful, I fail and give up. I also have an issue with binge and secret eating.

I went for my annual diabetic review yesterday and the nurse basically used the whole time telling me about going on MJ, because my BMI is over 40 (well, as of yesterday's weigh in, I'm 39. something) and because of my other health conditions. I didn't have to fight for it, or request it.. they're just giving it to me.

Now I'm doing as much reading/ video watching as I can to clue myself up.

On my on-track days, I eat:

Breakfast: 2 scrambled eggs with some flavouring- chilli flakes or marmite or 15g cheddar.

Lunch: Chicken thigh fillet in some kind of seasoning mix, salad made of lettuce, pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, sugarsnaps, carrot. Sometimes 3 cream crackers and a laughing cow triangle as well.

Dinner: Varies- roast chicken dinner/ 5% fat mince spaghetti bolognese with wholewheat pasta/ beef burger without the bun with cheese, salad on half the plate, usually without chips, noodles with chicken and stirfry veg.

Snacks: Usually a portion of berries/ a nectarine/ cherries/ 25g peanuts at 4pm.

How does that sound?

I have a treadmill and run/walk at 6.5/6km/hr pace for 30 mins three times a week. The nurse said I should do some weights for my arms too.

Any recommendations for which day I should inject?

End of the 2nd week for me, I’ve only lost 2.5lbs this week, so 5lbs overall. Which even though I know is a healthy speed to lose weight, I still can’t help but feel disappointed. Especially in consideration to how much others have lost.

I’m managing to keep to the protein target of 75g a day and under 1500 calories but need to do more strength training and probably move more.

had no real side effects apart from tiredness - no headache or nausea. A little bit of constipation but nothing the odd sachet of movicol won’t sort.

so 3rd jab tonight, will need to start thinking about getting next dose. Due to no gallbladder I was advised to stay on the lowest dose possible for the longest time possible. So it’ll be another 2.5mg but will have to be another provider as mine are mega expensive with no offer

SW 11 stone 9
CW 11 stone 3.9
GW 9 stone 6

Thanks everyone for the fibre recommendations. I had some weetabix yesterday which has helped a little but I know it has sugar in it so I don't want to make it too much of a habit. I'm alternating breakfasts between scrambled eggs and yoghurt, oats, berries and chia seeds so I'll see about adding more chia seeds too and maybe try them on the eggs like you say!

For kiwis - are you guys eating the skin as well as the flesh?

@PrimalScreaming thanks for the gummy recommendation. I'll have a look at those if I keep having problems.

@MiaN thanks very much for sharing the insights from your book. Good to know!

@MabelMoo23 don't be disheartened! I know it's frustrating. I feel like even though I had a pretty good healthy varied diet before, I'm probably eating about a third of the calories I used to and trying really really hard (although the meds make it so much easier), so my 1 lb loss was a real disappointment. But 5lbs over 2 weeks is great! Also, you have a lower starting weight so it may come off more gradually. I'm just telling myself to just keep my head down and carry on and week by week those seemingly tiny wins will add up and the difference come Halloween will be noticeable and then by Christmas I'll feel loads better. It'll come around quicker than we think! :)

It's so great to have this thread to support each other. Thanks ladies!

@MabelMoo23 i am similar weight to you and have also lost just over 5lbs in 2 weeks. I think it’s a case of chipping away and trying to look at the spread over a number of months.

did you take measurements when you started? I found I’ve lost an inch off each of my chest, thighs and arm which helps with the frustration at the number on the scales. X

@miaN

That’s interesting about the characteristics of people who can successfully discontinue use of WLI.

On the metabolic side I am basically buggered - obese all my life, long-standing type 2 diabetes. But on the lifestyle side, I’m good - have made the transition to a fairly low carb and mostly real food style of eating, virtually sugar-free and intermittent (and occasionally longer) fasting. I don’t snack and seldom eat more than 2 meals a day.

I have dealt with my food demons - or, rather, I have done a lot of work and had a change of mindset around them, and am continuing to work on them, primarily through the 12 steps of OA. I have also incorporated exercise, including strength training as a regular part of my life. I enjoy it, as well. I was a very active kid and teenager and played loads of sport, but it was stolen from me by severe obesity. Now I’ve got it back.

It’s now 48 hours since my first jab. The first meal I had after that was pretty normal for me in terms of type and quantity, but it was only an hour or so after the jab. The other meals I’ve had have had as much protein as I would normally have, if not more, but smaller overall. And I have had no desire to snack or nibble between. I mean, I usually don’t snack or nibble between anyway, that is one of the transitions I’ve made. But that sometimes requires effort, and yesterday and today it required none at all.

Joining as of tonight.
Took my first jab and I’m hoping for the success I keep hearing about!
BMI is 40 so I’d like to lose a lot.
I’m worried about side effects as any medication I take seems to give me awful side effects so I’m hoping I’ll manage this!

Any advice is greatly welcomed!

Welcome! Hopefully you will have no side effects at all.

My advice is pretty dull - drink plenty of water and if you aren’t hungry eat your protein source first. Also watch out for any sign of constipation and get onto it asap.

Look forward to hearing of your progress!

Weigh in tomorrow for me, and it’ll be my fourth jab too. I’ve decided to stay on 2.5 for another month rather than galloping straight up to 5.

I’ve drunk loads of water which might have contributed but I’m pleased I’ve not had many side effects at all so far. I bought Pepto Bismol on the advice of my doctor but I haven’t had any gastric side effects so far.

Thank you. I’ve already drunk a lot of water in the hope it’ll prevent me with side effects.

I did have a look on some of the what I ate threads but some of them listed things I thought you weren’t supposed to have like sausages, pizza etc or is it all very personal to what upsets your stomach?
I’ve lost a lot on keto previously but then had an op and didn’t keep keto up so I’m mostly planning to cut the carbs and do lots of protein.
I don’t usually eat breakfast but might get in some coconut yogurt (I limit dairy due to migraines).

How is your journey going?
any food/meal tips?

Yesterday was my first 2.5mg shot - I had two weeks of 1.25mg prior to that. About 4 pounds down but that was on the very small dose. I switched over after having a long break from Wegovy and the dr wanted me to start small due to some other health things.

In speaking to others, it does seem quite a personal journey - fatty foods do seem to upset many - so maybe go slow on those. If you fancy something that you think may be an issue ( pizza, sausages etc) maybe try a small amount first? I have so far had most foods in moderation, but very early days for me.

Its really nice to see the scale gowing down quickly first week but that's not how is going to be long term. It is showing 2.5kg its my 6th day only, most definitely neither true loss or predictive of week 4 or 5 or 47 will be! I will be happy with 3kg a month, or 0.75 average each week. I think up to 1% of body weight is what they recommend so someone who is 70 kg and someone staying from 140kg that's different in lbs so it is best not to compare.

The friend that inspired me to try lost 1.5kg average per month for year and looks fantastic. I also visit some of the older active groups here to keep my head level headed.

Whats good and helps me do far -

Magnesium before bed and pint of water before my coffee in the morning = 💩.

5 minutes strength and long bit gentle walk every morning.

My calories are running average at1500 (with 1850 set up as goal but I view it as upper value) and protein average 120g of day.

What I find hard was that getting hungry at unpredictable times and while I was out and not in my house and there weren't good for me options available.

I hope the positive continues as I am feeling very good

Weigh in day and lost 3lbs.
So far a loss of 7lbs.

SW 14st
CW 13st 7lbs
GW 12 st

As I mentioned before I started dieting before Mounjaro and have now lost a total of 1 st 2lbs. Mounjaro definitely makes it easier.

NSV this week - I was able to spend more time gardening before my I had pains in my back.

Well yesterday was my worst day & night by far and I was on day 3 of my third jab! So bloated and uncomfortable and with indigestion. It was 3am before I could sleep for it!
A bit better this morning but still some indigestion. I'm wondering if it was because I had a wholewheat cereal for breakfast yesterday. I've had the same cereal several times before while on MJ, but not so close to jab day. That's all I can put it down to! That or the 3 week build-up thing! Who knows, but it was miserable!

Oh no, @PrimalScreaming that sounds horrible for you! Is it like reflux? Have you got something like gaviscon to help?

I haven’t heard of wholewheat cereal causing indigestion before. I hope you have a better day today. ❤️

That’s similar to me and I wasn’t sure what triggered mine. I think it could have been the mixed veg the evening before and then eggs at lunch time the next day. Saturday was terrible and then Sunday I only ate if I was hungry. Feel better today but still not hungry. It was 11am before I had breakfast.

@chocolatecoveredpretzels Yes reflux in the day then bloating and pain from trapped wind in the night. Yes, I have been taking Gaviscon but I am already on Omeprazole which should be doing something! I think the thing with the wholewheat cereal is it's a lot of fibre at once. Today I have been sticking to more easily digestible foods like Greek yoghurt and bananas.

@purplepie1 I feel your pain! I had reflux in the day but it did get a whole lot worse after dinner.. I had mixed stir fry veg (including onions) in a wrap with halloumi... could have been that I suppose. Are you also on week 3?

Why did you change from Wegovy?

After first injection yesterday I haven’t felt ill or anything so that’s a good start. I also haven’t felt hungry but I think that might just be willpower starting out.
I’ve just made myself have some prawns, salad and strawberries and my stomach is feeling something but I can’t tell if it’s full or hungry!

I’m hoping to stick to clean eating and not be fussed about junk food 🤞 that would be the dream anyway!
I’d just read lots about fatty, greasy food making you sick so I was surprised people were still managing it.

What does SW CW & GW mean please? I’m new to this! Also unsure what NSV is? 😵‍💫

Hello! Had 2nd jab this morning, lost 5lbs so far which feels good. I had a very small bit of nausea and slight headache the first day or two last week and a little again today. Both side effects seem to be cleared by drinking plenty of water.

Interesting to hear people having worse side effects in week 3 - I’ll brace myself!

Not sure what NSV is but the others are Goal Weight, Current Weight and Starting Weight (at least that’s what I’ve assumed!)

NSV - non scale victory✌️

@MiaN

Thank you!

I was on it for quite a few months and plateaued with weigh loss. I had awful side effects when I tried to go up a dose so a stopped a few months ago. GP suggested I now try Mounjaro - but take it slow hence my initial tiny doses. First week on 2.5 - all good so far.

Oh no @PrimalScreaming that sounds awful. I feel like that if I am constipated and then up fibre quickly - maybe it was the cereal??

I hope you feel better today

I really hope it works for you then and skip the side effects.

I almost went on Wegovy first as reading up it says it can be better if you’re neurodivergent but I was too tempted by the better weight loss on Mj so hopefully I’ll be ok.

How often is everyone weighing?
I’m going to find it hard not to do daily at this stage!

@BraOffPjsOn gp recommended weekly weighing but I do tend to do one on a weds morning too (jab Fridays)