Weight-loss injections when you’re already stretched — how much effort is involved?

[calishire]

I've been thinking about trying weight-loss injections and would really appreciate hearing from people who’ve used them.

I've been overweight for most of my adult life, but since having my second baby in my early 40s a couple of years ago, I've really struggled to shift the extra weight. My BMI is currently 30.5. Around 28 has been fairly normal for me, and I've only managed to get below 25 once or twice.

Losing a stone would take me back to my usual adult weight, but ideally I'd love to lose 2–3 stone. I lost a lot during Covid doing Fast 800 and kept it off for around 18–24 months.

I'm very short — under 5ft — and I suspect portion sizes are a big part of the problem. I don't think my diet is particularly unhealthy, but I probably eat more than I need for my size.

Life is quite full at the moment. I've recently gone self-employed and am taking on work that's new to me, alongside having a toddler and a nine-year-old. We're also hoping to move house, so there's all the decluttering and organising that comes with that.

I understand that the injections still involve paying attention to food, exercise and hydration. I'm willing to make changes, but I'm wondering how much day-to-day planning and mental energy they require. I know I haven't got it in me to follow something as strict as Fast 800 again, and weighing food and counting every calorie feels beyond me at the moment.

For those who've used them, have you been able to lose weight by eating broadly balanced meals and smaller portions, without tracking everything? Does the reduced appetite make it easier to manage, or have you still needed to put a lot of effort into planning and monitoring what you eat?

I'm trying to work out whether this could help when I'm already stretched, or whether I'd be spending a lot of money on something I'm not currently in the right headspace for.

Also, I really don't like needles! If you felt the same, how did you get over the idea of injecting yourself, and what does it actually feel like?

For those who've used them, have you been able to lose weight by eating broadly balanced meals and smaller portions, without tracking everything? Does the reduced appetite make it easier to manage,

Yes, for me, 100 % There are lots of people who track religiously on them but I'm not one of them. I hate it and it bores me to death. I ballparked my calories throughout ie just made sure I had a general awareness both of my TDEE and vaguely the calories in stuff. You do have to do some thinking if you want to establish good habits long term. I focused on nutrition - eg getting enough protein and fibre, so type of food was more important than obsessing over calorie counting. But the twin effects of MJ (reduced appetite and increased satiety after meals) absolutely meant that it felt instinctive rather than a daily struggle. It creates the headspace. That's kind of the magic of it.

I lost 6.5 stone in just over a year and I'm mid 50s. I've been maintaining since late May.

I almost never feel the injections. The needle is honestly TINY. A few timesn(in 18 months) if I caught a capillary or went in at a bit of an angle there might bit a little sting and a bruise but 98% of the time if you weren't doing it yourself, and closed your eyes, you would feel nothing and not even know it was happening.

I have tracked food and calories but that's because I find it interesting. I know lots of people don't. MJ has radically changed my eating because I don't have the appetite I had before and I've stopped wandering through the kitchen, or a shop, and picking up stuff to graze, so automatically I'm consuming far fewer calories. It's also shown me just how much more than I needed I was eating.

I feel like it has freed me up and given me energy.

As for the needles - so many people say they hate needles. I don't think anyone feels positive about jabbing, but as @GiveMeWordGames said it is such a tiny needle you barely notice it. I have had to look closely to make sure it is in because you really don't feel it. And it takes a few seconds then you're done.

I didn’t want to have to spend a lot of time thinking about diet and managing all of that. That’s pretty much why I was never long term successful at dieting in the past. I have limited spare mental capacity and eventually I would run out of steam and give up. Mounjaro has made it possible for me to lose weight without tracking calories and becoming diet obsessed. I have not calorie counted or spent much mental energy on dieting. The reduced appetite, the feeling fuller quicker and the lack of interest in food has been a game changer.

I have also found the whole process freeing and energising.

I have been severely needle phobic in the past. Having two babies got me over quite a lot of that but I am still not totally comfortable with them. However, the Mounjaro (or Wegovy) pen is nothing like a normal syringe, and the pen needles are nothing like other needles. They are tiny and you really don’t feel it at all. I have to visually check that the needle is actually in me, as I just can’t feel a thing. So I’ve not had any problems with the self injecting.

The issue is that without the resistance training you’ll lose muscle. I didn’t need to track beyond consciously eating protein at each meal.

@MeridaBraveI actually work at a gym 🫣I’ve always been pretty active but it’s really gone downhill the last couple of years. I’ve come up with a plan to increase my activity and that includes some resistance training so I think I can put more effort into that. It’s the constant weighing, measuring and tracking of food I just don’t think I can do. I already have to think way too hard about meal planning things the rest of my family will actually eat.

It’s easier, I do have to plan my meals which I’ve never really done before. I find if I don’t have something planned then I don’t know what to eat and make less healthy choices like only eating a couple of crackers or a bowl of popcorn.
I liken it to feeling nauseous when pregnant, I’d feel hungry but didn’t fancy eating anything. On mounjaro I don’t feel nauseous but I have the feeling of wanting to eat but don’t know what to eat and just open the fridge and cupboards repeatedly.
If I have something planned then I’ll just eat that and not think about it.
I don’t calorie count meticulously but I am more mindful of calories and check calories on extra foods I might want to eat. For meals at home I’ve just been using much smaller plates and bowls and roughly have 1/2 a plate of vegetables and slightly more protein and slightly fewer carbs on the other half.

I’m not bothered by the needle, I got over my fear of needles through having to inject twice daily in all four pregnancies. That jab was an auto one which hurt going in and then stung afterwards. Mounjaro is like a tickle in comparison! I do find often the skin is slightly raised and itchy the day after though.

I'm trying to work out whether this could help when I'm already stretched, or whether I'd be spending a lot of money on something I'm not currently in the right headspace for.

Honestly? - The great thing about the injections is that you don't really need to be in any kind of headspace to start them. They will just reduce your appetite and help you get started.

Obviously, the balance with healthy eating, exercise etc. needs to be a priority as well, but they can really give you a kick start. I've found that losing a little really helps with motivation for all the rest.

I track noting, plan nothing, and it takes me about 2 mins a week to do the injection.

I’ve lost over 5 stone and reversed high blood pressure and sciatica. My BMI has gone from 37 to 26.

I have a fear of needles and couldn’t inject myself during 3 rounds of IVF. I did it once because DH was away, and fainted.

The MJ needle is so tiny it doesn’t bother me at all. I can barely see it or feel it when I do the jab. The first time I injected, I had it pressed against my stomach while I built up to doing it. All I had to do was breathe out and it just slipped in.

Ive lost 5 stone on them. I haven't tracked calories at all. I eat slightly healthier because sweet stuff and junk is less appealing but I still eat similar things to what I always have..just less as I can't eat big portions anymore. I still eat chocolate every day...just a square or a tiny bar rather than devouring huge amounts though. I have found it easy

I have lost my appetite completely so I have to remember to eat. I’ve found I don’t want to eat anything ‘off plan’ (I’ve followed low carb for a long time) and that is hard to shake.

I eat almost the same things every day. So it’s easy because tracked once and I know it’s fine.

I love the raspberry kwarg protein yoghurt and have one for breakfast and one as a snack.

I have grilled chicken breast salad with a tiny amount of mayo for dinner every day.

I’ve recently added in egg muffins with a sprinkle of cheese and a salad with mayo for lunch.

I cook a batch of chicken / eggs muffins and they last a few days. I just reheat as needed.

I eat two kiwis with skin on every day for fibre.

I also take a collagen supplement for a bit of extra protein.

I’m always in a calorie deficit and that’s without counting my exercise calories. It’s genuinely easy.

I’m quite badly needle-phobic, so much so I’m probably under-vaccinated (my last tetanus shot was when I was 16, and I grew up on a farm). I also fainted with one of my covid jabs. I have now injected myself with MJ five times and the experience has been so painless it’s probably helping me to overcome my historic needle-phobia.

I don’t track calories, but I do prepare my own food to (usually) one of mum’s recipes. MJ just means I eat AND DRINK less, and don’t feel like going back for more. I have lost a stone (6.3 kg) in that time. I have half-a-stone to go. Bloody miracle drug.