Continuing Mounjaro...part 9

[ObsidianTree]

Please note: Mounjaro can only be taken if your BMI is above 30.

Pointers for newbies:

1 - For taking your first dose you need to twist the pen a lot to get to 1! The instructions say prime each time you take a dose, but actually Eli Lilly have confirmed you only need to prime for the first ever use of a pen. (The video posted says every use, but this isn't true!)

2 - When injecting, hold down the button until the number goes back to 0. Once at 0, keep holding down the button and count to 5 with the needle still in so no medication is lost!

3 - Your first dose may not have an immediate effect. For some people the effects build slowly. It could take 3 or 4 days to notice anything, it could take a few weeks. Some people don't feel the meds working until they get to 5mg. See titration chart which shows how the medication builds up in your system. Also below you can plot the effect of your doses.
glp1plotter.com/

4 - 2.5mg isn't a therapeutic dose, meaning you aren’t meant to lose on 2.5mg. You need to start on 2.5mg to get your body used to the drug and gradually introduce it into your system and get used to any side effects.

5 - Not everyone loses a lot in the first few weeks. Don't feel discouraged if you don't lose a lot initially. Again, you might need a higher dose to start losing. Also, inches can be lost without anything showing on the scales. Start your journey by taking measurements and check them as you go along.

6 - If you do lose a lot in the first few weeks, please don't assume you will continue losing at this rate. The first few weeks it is usually water weight that is lost, after than a good weight loss is about 2lbs a week. Some weeks you might not lose anything, but this is ok too…again, taking measurements might show inches lost instead.

7 - Constipation, coldness, nausea, diarrhea, headaches, aches, are side effects. There may be be other side effects also. Read info here :

www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/15481/pil#about-medicine

8 - Once you take your first dose you can choose to keep your pen in the fridge or somewhere else. It's up to you.

9 - Don't reuse any needles as this could risk infection. If you damage a needle or one isn't working, you can buy a pack of about 100 spares. www.chemist-4-u.com/carepoint-pen-needles-31g-4mm-pack-of-100?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiYOxBhC5ARIsAIvdH51rLZBVFQxuvS7mDJooegtK8BMiyT0PwREMRHhH_1atfQIo8TEbsmkaAkA0EALw_wcB

Also there is a 5th dose in each pen. To extract it you can either try a hard twist or use an insulin needle.
medbasic.co.uk/bd-micro-fine-30g-1ml-syringes-needles

10 - Protein is important as eating less protein can cause muscle wastage and hair loss. Try to have at least 100g a day.

11 - Some natural sources of protein:
www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/best-sources-protein
www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321522#high-protein-foods

12 - You can use supplements, some that people use are magnesium(for sleep and constipation), protein(to reduce muscle wastage), collagen (skin elasticity), aloe vera(for constipation), electrolytes.

13 - Drink lota of water. Water helps with the weight loss. Drink at least 2ltrs a day. Preferably 3ltrs.

14 - Don't be afraid to feel hungry. It is entirely normal and healthy to feel hungry. Just eat something. Treat it as an opportunity to start good habits around hunger. Eat a nice balanced snack or a meal if it's a meal time. It's ok.

15 - Does it makes any difference where you inject? yes it does! Drugs get absorbed at different rates depending on injection site

In order of fastest absorption, it goes:
• Tummy
• Arms
• Thighs
furthet reading about injection sites and the effects: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/316618

16 - Abdominal side-effects are much easier to control with smaller meals. For example, having 4 small meals in the day vs 2 big meals can have an improvement in nausea and burps.

17 - You can track your calories / protein on apps such as My fitnessPal, Carb Manager or Nutracheck. Nutracheck is quite useful and easy to find foods /build recipes.

18 - Some of the places you can order from are:

MedExpress 2.5mg and 5mg. £149.99. 7.5mg £169. Use code STARTNOW. Ask for other codes if that doesn't work.
The Family Chemist 2.5mg and 5mg -£149. 7.5mg £169.
Simple online pharmacy - £159 2.5mg £179 5mg
Bolt pharmacy 2.5mg £125, 5mg £179. 7.5mg £189
Asda 2.5mg and 5mg £184. 7.5mg £189
Boots £219 +
Chemist4U £179 +
Superdrugs

19 - If you want to switch suppliers, make sure you have pics of your Mounjaro box with your name and dose. This will come in useful when other suppliers ask for evidence.

1st thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5007744-mourjano-starting-soon?page=1

2nd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5028495-continuing-murnjaropart-2?page=1

3rd thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5037623-continuing-mounjaropart-3?page=1

4th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5044316-continuing-mounjaropart-4?page=1

5th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5048290-continuing-mounjaropart-5?page=1

6th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5057916-continuing-mounjaropart-6?page=1

7th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5062935-continuing-mounjaropart-7?page=1

8th thread:
www.mumsnet.com/talk/weight_loss_chat/5068850-continuing-mounjaropart-8?page=1

Thread for newbies just starting out:

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_ch
at/5057475-mounjaro-and-wegovy-newbies-april-2024

First post. Thanks as ever, @ObsidianTree for setting the thread up.

My summer goal is just to feel great when we go on holiday in mid-August. If I can lose a second stone (first has take about two months to go) then I’d be the slimmest I’ve been in a decade.

@gingerlemontea I think people who lose quickly when first starting often then stall quite quickly for a bit. I think keep on and move up and see what happens. I stalled for quite a while on 2.5 and had only lost a little despite very little appetite.

does anyone have any thoughts about what I posted on the last thread please? I am in a real quandary.

Ah WWYD if you were me. My last 2.5 mg dose is this week so first 5 mg should be 23 May. Was fine with that as will be off work for a long weekend but now got a few things planned as it’s my birthday so wondering whether to take a couple of 2.5 ml out of the 5 mg pen and then moving to 5 mg after that? If I do this how many clicks will I need on the 5 mg pen for a half dose?

this would also resolve my worry on what to do for my holiday as I’ll be mid pen.

Or should I pull up my large pants and get on with it?

My goal is to be 2 stone down for my holiday in July. I was 23 stone start weight so it won’t make any difference to my looks but hopefully will mean I am more mobile.

23 stone that looks so gross written down. I’m so embarrassed

Anybody suffering from extra sensitive skin ? Not on your face, but your arms and hands? Mine are very tingly, can barely touch them…..

I agree. It seems a lot with big losses in the first week or two seem to have a few weeks of stall.

Weird how that happens

Thanks for the new thread @ObsidianTree. Thread 9 🤣

Welcome @DownWithThisKindOfThing! Please don't feel bad writing your weight, we're all here for the same reason and you're amongst supportive company.

I believe a full dose is 60 clicks, so for a half dose you'd want 30. If I were you I'd do the half dose but do a second half (or even quarter) 3-4 days later. Then you'd hopefully avoid any potential side effects on your birthday but you've not held yourself back from moving up by a full week. Just an idea?

Please don't be embarrassed, you're doing really well and pretty soon you'll never see 23 on the scales again.

Id play safe and take 30 clicks (2.5mg) just incase the side effects are strong

There is NO embarrassment about weight on these threads. We are all here to help each other. No one is judging anyone on what they weigh. @DownWithThisKindOfThing you are changing your life like the rest of us.

5.9 kg in 4 weeks. Overall I’m happy although felt pretty low halfway through week 3 as I gained weight despite eating less than 1,000 calories a day.
I have realised (thanks Nutracheck!) I ate some very caloric foods that in fact I do not like that much so feels hopeful re maintenance.
Took the bonus dose this weekend, fine atm. Starting 5mg next week.

@DownWithThisKindOfThing

For any pen 60 clicks is the full dose so 30 is always a half dose, hope that helps.

Yes, I’ve had that a couple of times on arms and legs, tingly to touch and not bad but a little uncomfortable, like a slight neurological pain, I get the same thing when I have a fever.

I posted at the end of the last thread about how that happens if anyone wants to have a look, it’s a real thing and quite common with rapid weight loss on the onset of a diet.

May be the one of the reasons a lot of people give up which is a shame as they’re actually starting to lose fat while stalling but because of the water weight weirdnesses can’t see it on the scales yet.

Yes. And the meds aren't meant to start working until like 7.5mg/10mg for weight loss. So it is meant to be a slow build I guess. Then best losses at 7.5mg and 10mg maybe. I got my first 5lb loss on 7.5mg. So it seems to work differently to usual diets! Slow losses at the start then possibly bigger losses once the meds have built up.

I think we should also remember that this isn't like a normal diet. We are taking a medication and don't really know how it's working to help us lose, we just need to trust the process that we will lose eventually!

Thank you. I think I have almost talked myself into it for at least the first 2 weeks of my 5 mg pen. I am still not craving food or binging but I feel the appetite suppression at 2.5 mg wearing off a little. Ultimately though while I know this is a long term lifestyle plan I still want to enjoy my birthday!

Does anyone have any recs for spare needles?

These are the finest and shortest ones (same as I had with first pen, subsequent different ones gave me bruises!)

https://www.pharmacy2u.co.uk/shop/products/glucorx-carepoint-pen-needles-32g-4mm-0150489

Thank you, I think those look like the same ones Boots send which are good.

There’s a woman Mishi on TikTok who has lost over 80 lb all at 5 mg

Lost another 3lb today. On my 2nd 5mg. Lost about 16lbs on MJ in 7 weeks. (Think that’s about right lol)
2lb off the 12’s now which I haven’t seen in about 5-6 years.
Got a holiday to the in laws abroad in August and hoping to get to my goal of 11st 7. That would be a 4 stone lost since January.
Im a slow loser which I prefer as it helps with the maintenance once I come off MJ.

Hi All,

My stall continues, but whilst the graphs for the past week / past month show the stall, the graphs for the past quarter shows a happier downward trend 😊 and this is what I need to focus on.

Have spent 2 days working incredibly hard in the garden for my exercise, really hoping to break the stall this week.

Thank you, I think I’ll do 2.5 and then maybe 2 x 3.75 (45 clicks) and then onto 5, that sounds a good plan.

26lb down in 9 weeks.

I went to 7.5mg using the bonus dose from my 5mg pen last week. Didnt really notice much difference.

Also had my first stall which I couldn't understand as I being very strict and training like mad. Then realised that the only difference was that I was using Lactulose as I thought it would be a more gentle laxitive than senna etc.

Stopped it and right away the weight started dropping again. Went down a Google rabbit hole and found some obscure studies where Lactulose inhibits lipolysis ( fat blasting😁) so it might well be the cause .
So yeah, think twice about Lactulose as your poop unlocker of choice!

First week of the new, long expiry 7.5mg pen. I really have no apetite ( took it Fri morning). I know some worry about zero apetite but at the moment I am embracing it! It's the strongest suppression I have felt on this journey. So I do think that the "new batches" are defo stronger than the old stock we have had in the UK up to now.

First side effects in the form of very slight sulphur burps, now gone.
And strangely tired. I am combining this with an insane exercise regime as that how I used to roll when I was thin! This is the first week I have felt I have no petrol in the tank. Maybe completely glycogen depleted....

And finally , just 7lb to go to normal body weight BMI 25.
If I get there, that means that in 2 years, ( not constant diet), using 3 Ozempic pens last year and currently 3 MJ pens, I will have lost 74lb😳. It can be done folks!

Will keep going to a stone below that as that was my normal weight before I got heavy.

Placemarking , thanks for the new thread