August 2026 starters (Thread 2!)

[chocolatecoveredpretzels]

Hi everyone and thanks for the bestowed honour of starting the new thread, Puzzled!

It’s so lovely to have all of you along for the ride on here. Thanks for keeping me company! I love reading how things are going for you and being able to ask questions or share things.

Yesterday, I tried on a fleece top I bought last year. It fit me so snugly last year, I looked like a burst sausage in its casing. Now it’s actually loose. My rings are starting to feel a bit loose too- I wear my mum’s engagement and eternity rings and on the cold mornings, they’re starting to slip down my fingers.

I’m down 1.9kg this week and, although I’m still feeling hungry, it’s not an all-consuming hunger that leads to binging. I’ve actually needed to add more food as what I’ve eaten today and yesterday ended up being 1300 calories and 1100 calories. Given that my watch is still estimating approx 3000 calories burned on a typical day at school, I know I need at least 1600 to have enough oomph. Is anyone else finding the same?

I’ll link this thread in the old one so everyone can find their way here.

Nice new thread!
Those small wins are nice, aren't they - I've noticed this week that my watch is much looser on my wrist. That might be partly down to the cooler weather, but not entirely I think 🙂

I'm not counting calories/steps or any other metric aside from kg to be honest. I have no interest in smart watches and constant monitoring, I know it would just stress me out and/or be a continual distraction. I'm just going for smaller portions, more exercise, and much less snacking - so far so good.

My 10yo called me a "PE With Joe Workout Winner" this morning. Funny but also rather lovely 😂🥰 (related note: we really need to take all the covid-era posters and home learning stuff down from the walls 🙈)

New thread, new dose for me. 3.75 using some of the extra dose from my pen as stepping to the full 5. It leaves me another 3.75 to finish it

I was walking up hungry in the middle of the night few nights in row. I never ate in the middle of the night - I won't start now, I had mug of herbal tea and decided that I am ready to up my dose. I can stick to lower calories but it feels it's a lot of willpower and it's not necessary to withhold more medication if that's what I need. I have enough for one more dose like this in current pen - basically 1.5 dose. I didn't go to bed hungry by the way.

I got a lot of side effects when I moved to the second dose on Ozempic so I am nervous. I hope going up to 3.75 for 2 weeks will help me mentally and physically to prepare for 5. Plus it's different medication.

Has anyone had any dramatic side effects thing up to 5?

Thanks for the new thread @chocolatecoveredpretzels I'm impressed with us needing a second after two months! I appreciate the chat and support too. @MiaN I've just moved up to 5 from 2.5 and had a few days feels gassy and nauseous but it's settled now. That was how I felt starting too, on August 1st, so you might find you have similar side effects ( or no side effects) according to your previous experience as well?

@MiaN I went straight from 2.5 to 5 on Mounjaro. Like @WombatCowgirl, I was quite gassy for a few days, but nothing terrible for side effects. The suppression, however, is a huge improvement for me. I’m able to be hungry and eat, but not be controlled by the food noise. I hope it goes well for you!

I'm a Wegovy user, so I'm a little jealous and confused about this extra dose in pens 🫣 but I think I'm 90% sure I'm sticking with 0.5mg for my next pen in 2 weeks time. Although I still have zero appetite suppression and I'm not losing any weight, I'm terrified of getting side effects by going up a dose just before my holiday. And having ruined two holidays this year with accidents and broken bones .... I can't risk ruining this one by being unable to leave the toilet!

So I'll keep plodding on, despairing at the scales not moving and go up in November

Well done, @chocolatecoveredpretzels!

@Belladog1 the “Golden dose” as it was called has now been removed from most MJ pens, it’s just a few older ones lingering around which still have it.

I don’t count calories, or macros, or anything really on the food front. I go by general guidance and try to be honest with myself about those urges to reach for something additional. My aim is to finish each delicious meal nicely satisfied but not stuffed, and then wait until the meal.

I do however track weight. I weigh daily, and the data goes automatically to a website called trendweight which graphs my moving average and gives various other statistics. It’s the only way I can cope with my inner craziness around the weight. I also measure my waist from time to time, notice the fit of clothes, and use the Boditrax scanner at the gym. That gives me a measure for visceral fat. Ideally I would like that to be my guide as to when I’ve arrived.

I also look in the mirror! I am definitely looking smaller, but nowhere remotely near skinny. So I am comfortable keeping going.

@MiaN I went straight from 2.5mg to 5mg without an issue. I had one morning of diarrhoea, but I'm certain that's more to do with erratic eating the day before and that my body tends towards tummy trouble when I'm either stressed or suddenly relieved/de-stress!

I’ve been in the September starters thread for the last month, but as my first MJ jab was on August 29th, I’d like to follow this one as well. I’ve been lurking, I admit.

I am a six footer (183 cm) and very sporty—had never put weight on in my life until perimenopause. Then I responded very oddly (in ways I don’t fully understand yet) to lockdown, and gained five stone (70 lb; 31 kg) in the period March 2020-June 2022, topping out at 110.5 kg and a BMI of 33.

I finally got a grip on myself in October 2022, starting with “Sober October” and committing to three resistance training sessions a week.

I eventually busted through the five stone loss, finishing up with an average weight of approx 69-71 kg (151.8 lb; 10.8 stone) until about January 2026. When I’m at 70 kg/154 lb or less, I’ve lost six stone.

Then, the weight began to creep back on. I did not change anything. I continued to train three times a week at the gym, plus regular cycling & hiking. First, very slowly, it went up to about 75 kg (165 lb; 11.8) by early April, & hovered there for a bit.

Then, my partner & I went on a driving holiday to France & Belgium for three weeks, and I did no exercise. I came back home to 85 kg (187 lb; 13.4 stone) and proceeded to try to simply repeat what I’d done in 2022/2023 for the next two months. I also panicked and managed to get an under 27 bmi prescription from Voy (I was probably still about 85 kg at this point, BMI roughly 25.4).

I lost slowly, which I didn’t mind. I was, however, going bonkers with being on such a restrictive diet & having to calorie count (which I’d never done before). Meanwhile, because I am needle-phobic, the 2.5 Mounjaro pen was just sitting in the fridge. Finally, after not being able to get below 79.5 kg no matter how I thrashed myself with exercise, I accepted that I’m perimenopausal/menopausal and my days of just being able to exercise weight off were over, despite being on HRT that agrees with me.

My first jab was on August 29th (I coped with only a minor lip wobble, mainly because partner is T1 diabetic & knows all about pens & clicks). I am now 72.1 kg. I have injected myself only five times (my 2.5 pen had a golden/bonus done in it, I think because it was older). This stuff is miraculous. I am going to be able to go to a major work conference in the US next Wednesday at something close to my ideal weight, able to fit into all my favourite clothes, including a bespoke evening dress. I have to pinch myself to believe it’s true sometimes.

Sorry for long post, I’ll go back to lurking now.

Back from holiday....
10 days since last jab....(2nd 5mg)
Only held back by keeping to no snacking and a little on portions, but I haven't eaten anywhere near how carefully I have in the previous 7 weeks, plenty of white carbs which I hardly ever eat...
Lots of walking but no weights or running.
Weighed with a certain amount of trepidation....
Stayed the same, so counting that as a big win!
Back and on it, and full effort through to Christmas...thinking that is about 12 weeks away....eek

@AxisofEvelKnievel You don't need to lurk, we love reading and hearing about everyone's stories. And enjoy your work conference and evening dress. I'm sure you'll look gorgeous 😍

Thanks for the new thread!

Not my weigh day until Monday but I was interested to see if I'd been holding onto an water after all the booze at the weekend and absolutely shocked to see 96.9 on the scales this morning compared to 98.1 on Monday! I'll weigh in officially Monday but I'd love to be mid 97s and actually have got something off after two weeks.

I have four more doses in this pen and then I'm moving to 5mg. I won't hit my Halloween goal I don't think but may still hit the end of November one if I'm lucky and a bit of help from the higher dose!

Thanks for the new thread.

Am just checking in. Going for the 5mg today. I struggle with nausea on the jabs at times, so glad to hear it isn't too bad.

I am only a pound away from being 2 stone down. But that pound has been stuck for the last few days after pretty consistent weight loss. I'll probably go out and celebrate when it finally shifts!

@HappyNewt - that is great news. To maintain on holiday is no mean feat! Hope you had a great time.

I have been trying to be a bit more consistent with being active. I can never stick to the gym regularly, so went for a cycle this morning when DD was in nursery. Usually would have gone for a coffee + some delicious bakery item. But actually I actually had a lot of fun.

Has anyone made a start on trying to build healthier habits? I would love to hear some ideas!

Someone on Thread 1 suggested wall sits as a good strength exercise. I have been adding a few when I remember, but I have horribly shaky legs. Anyone know what I am doing wrong?

@DeedlessIndeed youre not necessarily doing anything wrong - it probably just means you are working at the edge of your muscles’ ability. Which is exactly what you need todo to improve.

Ate you getting your thighs parallel to the floor with 90 degree angles at hip and knee? That is the target. If that causes knee pain, back off a little and hold it as long as is comfortable. You will be able to go deeper in time. No need to go below parallel.

Get into the right posture and hold it as long as you can. The last few seconds should be tough. Just keep at it and build towards a total of 2 minutes per day, however many goes it takes you to do that. Eventually you may be able to do 2 minutes without a break. I barely managed 15s when I first tried it.

@Belladog1 TYVM for that reassurance :) it was a long post & I can now see the typos.

@PuzzledObserver - thanks for the advice.

I am quite tall, 36" inseam, so even getting my thighs close to horizontal feels really deep.

I will keep building it up slowly!

Hi all thank you new thread @chocolatecoveredpretzels ! Been quiet here as on trip and no scales either for weighing food or myself, however on return no gains and exactly the same weight. On Wegovy 0.5 pen for next 2 weeks, and still fairly high appetite surpression. Total loss since mid august just about 8lb which I’m happy with given my trip. BMI now in the 28s

Thanks for the new thread @chocolatecoveredpretzels

Anyone else just desperate for the weekend? My mentality has definitely switched into counting down to the half term now.

@Blushingviolets omg, yes! This last week has been absolutely crazy at work! Three weeks and one day!

Three weeks to go, Blushing Violets! I'm looking forward to having proper breakfasts like eggs and chia/ oats again, rather than eating an apple in the car!

@chocolatecoveredpretzels @WombatCowgirl solidarity! We can do this.

I am also looking forward to nicer breakfasts and walking for enjoyment rather than because it’s the school run and then my commute!

Oh my god yes. Mostly because it's been a very samey and boring couple of weeks at work though. I just get antsy and can't concentrate when all the things are equally tedious - weirdly it's better once the children are home from school, maybe because I know I've got another hour of good concentration in me, and then off I go.

Thread 2 already!!

I have been sick with a cold all week and all I have wanted to eat is toast - with lashings of butter and honey! I hate to think what the scales will look like.

next jab moving up to 3.75 and will stay for a couple of weeks at least. The 2.5 is not really cutting it (see toast comment!). Will check in in a couple of days

I am so tried today! 2.5 was not doing it for me on week 8 either. I too went up to 3.75 - suppression is back.

Some weird lower abdominal pain, that could be pulled muscle or pms but I was frantically googling pancreatic last night. Not that type luckily!

I am going to motivate myself to do my strength and I will be walking up the office about 20 minutes each way but skipping my morning walk. I will see how I am in the evening

My small goal is to hit the 10% (since starting the jabs) goal, hopefully this week. I like finding little milestones to keep me happy and focused