healingindoses.co.uk

From pain to power, in gentle doses.

recent posts

about

  • Mounjaro weeks 11 and 12: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Mounjaro weeks 11 and 12: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Weekly Progress and Insights

    I have been feeling a bit deflated. This is due to several different frustrations and sad anniversaries. I am frustrated that the loss so far is not visible. I’m not sure what I had expected, and I know I have a long way to go to reach my final goal.

    Walking along the beach, reflecting the journey toward weight loss and self-improvement.

    If I take a step back and look at it objectively, I am progressing well. I started with a total of about 10 stone to lose. So far I have had 12 injections, and apart from one week initially, I have had a steady loss. And this loss has been without really trying. How can that be disappointing?

    I guess in part it is that I haven’t really started on the exercise element. On top of this, I am having to fully face up to what I did to myself. What I allowed to happen. In my head I saw myself as I was, but a bit bigger. But I am way passed that. So I am more disappointed with myself than the loss.

    I know there has been a change as the clothes I had been wearing are now loose and baggy. They are starting to look bad. At my current size and shape I think everything looks bad in me. I have managed to get back into a smaller pair of jeggings (I wear jeggings as I like the look of jeans, but they are more comfortable). That is a huge positive.

    This is also a good example of how Mounjaro is helping me. Usually the feelings of disappointment would lead me to giving up and overeating. Mounjaro is giving the space to feel the emotions. It is allowing me to work my way through them, instead of eating my way through. Even in the moments of frustration, of disappointment, of the length of the journey ahead, I am not losing focus on the goal.

    The next step is to think about exercise. Walking is probably the best start point for me. The only difficulty with that is feeling unsafe when I go outside. That has limited me greatly. My house and garden are not really big enough to be able to walk. I have been thinking about getting a walking pad for a few weeks. I kept talking myself out of it as I hate to spend money. I am already investing in myself with the injections, to not focus on adding fitness in, I would be wasting my money.

    So I have ordered a walking pad from Amazon. After reading lots of reviews and lists of “the top 5” walking pads, I opted for the MERACH Under Desk Walking Pad Treadmill. I found it it when it was on offer at £140 including delivery. Now I have to make myself use it.

    About ten years ago I had a Fitbit. I know I live a very sedentary lifestyle, and I also know how easy it is for me to lie to myself. So I decided to invest in a smart watch to keep me on track. Again, I did some research on the different smart watches available and eventually opted for the Fitbit Charge 6.

    Dose and injection site

    Week 11 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower right stomach.

    Week 12 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    No side effects noticed. I feel like I have been really lucky so far. Having said that, I have noticed an increase in the amount f hair I lose on a daily basis. I am lucky in that I have very fine hair, but lots of it, but is something I will need to monitor.

    A busy city street filled with commuters.

    Week 11 I had to go to the London office for a meeting. This made taking food with me very difficult as I try not to carry too much. This meant I had to buy food out. As I would have done pre Mounjaro, I opted for a chicken ceaser wrap. As I didn’t want crisps (this was the only option for a side), and I already had water, I didn’t get it as a meal deal. I am not sure if it was a coincidence, but a few hours later I had a really bad flare up of my IBS. It was so severe it took me by surprise and I spend most of the evening running to the toilet. Even after going to bed, I kept waking up having to run to the toilet.

    Whilst I know this may just have been an odd coincidence, it left me feeling anxious. When I had to go to London the following week I took some fruit and some nuts to snack on through the day. This meant I could avoid having to buy anything, or carry too much. The food suppression is still strong, so it is more about making sure I eat rather than feeling the urge to eat.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    I seem to have got into a routine with eating the same foods. This is something I need to focus on, to widen the options.

    Weight check

    Week 11 – Another 2 pound loss this week, I am now 17 stone 6 pounds. I have been weighing myself every morning (I have become a little obsessed). My weight has been bouncing up and down. I need to try to only do a weigh in once a week.

    Week 12 – My weight keeps dropping in exact pounds. This week I am another 2 pounds down, I am now 17 stone 4 pounds.

    This brings my total loss to 2 stone and 1 pounds, in 12 weeks.

  • Mounjaro weeks 9 and 10: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Mounjaro weeks 9 and 10: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Weekly Progress and Insights

    Mounjaro 5 mg injection pen and packaging, used for weekly weight loss management.

    I started my third pen in week 9. I read a review from someone that said their new pen from Click2Pharmacy didn’t work. This caused me a bit of anxiety that I would have problems with this. But it was a needless worry, the pen worked fine. It was a helpful reminded that I need to be careful how much I read online.

    The change on the scales is going well, but visually I don’t see a huge difference. I am not sure what I expected if I am honest. I think so far the weight loss has been even across my body. This is good, and I hope it continues this way.

    My clothes are feeling looser. I need to go through them at some point, as I have clothes that were too tight. It would be good to see if that has changed. It may also be nice to have some non scale victories to help fuel my enthusiasm.

    I am using my vibration plate more often. I am not only using it in the usual “standing” position, I am using it when I am sat working. My role is desk based, and sometimes I sit for long periods of time. I find using it on my legs whilst I work helps get the blood flowing. Not sure how effective it is, but it feels invigorating, which I guess is enough of a benefit.

    A disgusting finding I have encountered is that after using it for 15 minutes, I have to go to the toilet. For anyone experiencing constipation as a side effect of one these weight loss pens, I recommend trying this as a potential remedy. Please note, I am not a medical professional, vibration plates are not be suitable for everyone. You should always speak to your doctor about your individual situation before starting any diet or exercise program.

    Dose and injection site

    Week 9 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper right stomach.

    Week 10 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    None noticed.

    For some reason every time I start a new pen, or get to the end of a pen I have anxiety that this will be the time side effects will appear. For now, I remain grateful that I seem to have been unaffected in negative ways.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    A breakfast bowl featuring a mix of fresh berries, pomegranate seeds, and sunflower and pumpkin seeds.

    My breakfast go to breakfast is a high protein. plain yogurt, with a mix of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. I am also adding some sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. I tried cutting the cost by using frozen berries, but they seem to go mushy when I defrost them. If anyone has any tips on how to overcome this would be great to share. For now I will go back to fresh berries as being inedible is not a saving.

    I am also trying to change up the fruit occasionally, to add in different options like pomegranate seeds.

    For lunch I have been having soup. I tried tinned soups to reduce the cost, but found the taste poor and the texture made me feel queasy. It is no good saving money if I am put off eating the food.

    I decided to try some cheese on toast. It was something I used to eat a lot of before. Two slices was never enough. This time, I only managed a slice and a half (because I pushed myself to eat past feeling full, not good). I enjoyed the taste, as I love a strong cheddar. Sadly, a few hours later, I felt very unwell. My IBS flared up massively. I get the same reaction when I have milk. I hadn’t eaten any cheese in more than two months, then had a large amount. I need to try some cheese again another day, but a smaller amount and when my symptoms are settled.

    A healthy dinner plate featuring roasted chicken, steamed broccoli, green beans, and mashed potatoes, emphasizing a balanced diet.

    Dinners have still mostly been pork chops or chicken with lots of different veg options and some form of potato. I try to mix in some stir fry’s and the occasional pasta bolognaise. It may seem boring, but I am enjoying the taste. It is also helping me to focus on the levels of protein, carbohydrates, healthy fats and fibre. I also know exactly what I am eating.

    This process is about building healthy habits after all.

    My intake averages between 1000 and 1200 calories a day. Lower than it should be, but I feel full, and can’t eat any more.

    Weight check

    Another 3.4 pounds of fat happy to have escaped.

    Week 9 – Another 2 pound loss this week, I am now 17 stone 9.4 pounds. I have been weighing myself every morning (I have become a little obsessed). My weight has been bouncing up and down. I need to try to only do a weigh in once a week.

    Week 10 -Slightly smaller drop this week of 1.4 pounds which puts me on exactly 17 stone 8 pounds. A little disappointing, but a loss is a loss, and the numbers continue in the right direction.

    This brings my total to 1 stone and 12 pounds, in 10 weeks. I am close to that 2 stone marker.

  • Mounjaro weeks 7 and 8: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Mounjaro weeks 7 and 8: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Weekly Progress and Insights

    My emotions seem to be constantly switching between hope, excitement and frustration. I want to have more shock weigh ins with big losses. I keep reminding myself it’s not a race. But there is an annoying part of me that is disappointed at weigh ins.

    On a HUGE positive though, in the past something like this would cause me to crumble. Give in, Binge on the wrong foods. Let myself down. But not this time. The medication is still preventing food noise, and I still have no interest in food. The thought of my former favourites, fast foods, chocolates, chips, make me either feel nothing, or sometimes even make me feel nauseous just at the thought.

    This is a massive change. While I sometimes feel frustrated, I don’t feel defeated. This is where Mounjaro is helping me take control.

    I have ordered some resistance bands to help with my increased activity levels.

    I have also set up my vibration plate. I found this really helpful when I used it before. One key benefit I had noticed was that when i used it, I had less pains in my knees and ankles. I try to use it for short bursts.

    As these weeks were my last two on my second pen, I needed to have another think about doses. As it is working well still, there is not really much to consider. However, I did start to think about price.

    It is important for me to keep safety at the centre, but this is a long term commitment, and expensive. I know that lots of the YouTubers I was watching used different provider’s, so I started to search. I found a thread on Reddit that linked to a website called Monj. It provides a list of UK prices and discount codes. I found I could save at least £50 by changing to another provider.

    I contacted Pharmacy2U to see if they would offer a price match. It would be easier for me to stay with them. Sadly, they said no.

    So I decided to try going through the process of changing pharmacy. I did a quick google search of a few cheaper providers and their feedback scores, and decided to try Click2Pharmacy. Not only were they cheaper for the pen, but the postage costs were also lower.

    The process to re-order from them was fairly simple. I had to take a new photo, this is still uncomfortable for me. I also completed the initial review questions to make sure it was safe to prescribe the medication to me. They checked and processed it within an hour, and two days later, my new pen had arrived. It was far less stressful than I had imagined, and saved me money too.

    The packaging was not as good as Pharmacy2U. My first two pens were sent within an ice wrap which had been wrapped in wool. This meant when they arrived the ice packs were still frozen. The package from Click2Pharmacy arrived with a single ice pack that was defrosted but still cold. My concern is that in hot weather, or if there was a delay in arriving, the pen would not arrive cold enough. You can store the pens at room temperature as long as they are used within 28 days. You need to order pens earlier to allow processing time. This could risk a pen not remaining safe for the 4 weeks.

    Dose and injection site

    Week 7 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower right stomach.

    Week 8 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    No side effects noticed.

    I am worried I am drinking too much, so have bought some electrolyte tablets to have occasionally. This is just to minimise any issues and I only plan to have these once or twice a week. I am also tracking my water intake to make sure it doesn’t get excessive.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    I often forget to have breakfast. It gets to about 10:30 and I think I should have something before it gets too late. My breakfast choice is a high protein. plain yogurt, with a mix of strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries. I am also adding some sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.

    For lunch I have been having soup. If you have told me a few months ago that I would find soup filling, I would have laughed in your face. But that is how it is now. My favourite so far has been a pea and ham soup. I love peas at the best of times, but this takes them to another level. Delicious.

    Dinners have mostly been pork chops or chicken with lots of different veg options and some form of potato. Some might find this boring, but I I am really enjoying the flavours.

    Weight check

    Week 7 – At the end of this week I came in at 17 stone 13.8 pounds. I had finally made it below 18 stone.

    Week 8 – This week was another loss, down to 17 stone 11.4 pounds.

    This brings my total to 1 stone and 7 pounds, in 8 weeks.

  • Mounjaro weeks 5 and 6: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Mounjaro weeks 5 and 6: Weekly Progress and Insights

    Weekly Progress and Insights

    With 2.5mg not being classed as a medicated dose, I decided not to stay on it after the first 4 weeks. I know some people reported 2.5mg working well for them longer term. Whilst it had been working for me from that first injection, I decided to move up. If I am honest, I worried that part way through a second 2.5mg pen it would stop being as effective.

    I had concerns that the change of dose might change the impact, or bring side effects. From reading around, I found some people finding the first few days after increasing the dose they had effects. I have been feeling exhausted. I am not sure if this is Mounjaro, or is related to work.

    Impact of work

    After my experience of domestic abuse, and being failed my the justice system, I wanted to find a way to make a change. You can’t change a system if you don’t know what the barriers are. So I got a job working as part of the justice system. I thought if I could make one victims experience of justice a little less stressful, it would be worth it. It has been a few years, and I have done some different roles to see things from different angles. Sadly, I am even further from knowing how it can be changed.

    The truth is, every part of the system lacks the funding needed to provide the bare bones. When they say the system is broken, it refers to every part of it, the police, courts, prisons, probation, barristers. Everything is reliant on the people working in it to try to fill the gaps. There are some wonderful people that work extra hours (unpaid) to try to make it work. I wish people could see this part of it. I think this would offer some hope.

    It has also meant at times that I have been triggered by work. It is not usually hearing about cases, it is often just a specific word or phrase. I sometimes think maybe it was wrong for me to work here. Food was a way of suppressing these feelings.

    Making Progress

    The injections are getting easier. I have a routine with them now. I still don’t see the needle going in, but the thought doesn’t bother me as much any more. This is progress. I wonder how I will be when I have to have injections at the doctors in future.

    I have introduced some light exercise. More about weights and being more active, moving about. I am trying not to rush this though. It has been a long time since I was active, and after having been so unwell, I am also fearful of triggering my asthma.

    Dose and injection site

    Week 5 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper right stomach.

    Week 6 – 5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    Possible fatigue, but it may be more to do with work, or even not eating enough.

    I noticed that for the first three nights after an injection I feel like I am having to fight to sleep. My sleep is bad anyway, but this is worse than usual. It also is having an impact on how tired I feel.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    I have been tracking my food each day. I used to use My Fitness Pal in the past. However, when I downloaded it, most of the functionality on the free version was limited. I didn’t want to pay out even more, so I searched for alternate apps. I found an app called Cronometer. It seemed to offer a good level of functions on the free version. I have downloaded it and so far, it is helping me track calories and protein.

    The free version also shows some key elements like fibre and vitamins. This part seems a little unreliable, but you can edit the entries if you know stats are missing or incorrect. So far it is working well to track my food. It also helps me to increase my intake if it is too low on a particular day, or adjust my protein, fats and carbs if they are not even.

    Weight check

    Week 5 – After the disappointment of last week, there was a big change. This week it was 18 stone 4 pounds. That was a 7 pound drop. Though I have changed my routine.

    I was weighing myself in the evening, before bed. I have been told it is better to take your weight in the morning, after going to the toilet, but before eating or drinking anything. Being consistent in how you weigh yourself is the most important part though. But this change may also explain the big drop.

    Week 6 – This week I noticed issues with my scales. I was trying to take my weight, but had different readings every time. My scales were old, and hadn’t been used in a long time. So I bought a new set as I had already put a new battery in them.

    I chose a set of scales that would also link to my phone. The Renpho Smart scales. I paid £25 at Argos for the new set, and though I was scared to see data on body composition, in the long run it will be good to see the progress.

    This week my weight came in at 18 stone 2.8 pounds, another loss. Since starting that gave a total loss of 1 stone and 2 pounds. And that was without exercising.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

  • Week 3 and 4 – Weekly Insights on Injection and Weight Loss Journey

    Week 3 and 4 – Weekly Insights on Injection and Weight Loss Journey

    Weekly Progress and Insights

    As I had my birthday coming up, I decided to change my injection day from a Tuesday to a Monday. Whilst the injections are causing me less anxiety, I didn’t relish the idea of doing it on my birthday. A day earlier seemed to make more sense than a day later.

    It is best to stick to a regular routine of injections, you can adjust the day. As long as it has been at least 3 days since your last injection, you can inject earlier. You would then continue weekly on that new day. I was only moving my day forward by one day, so I knew it would be fine. As the medication is so expensive, I wouldn’t want to move it any earlier, it would feel like a waste.

    The leaflet says you can take a missed dose if it is within 4 days of the due date. If it has been more than 4 days you should miss that dose. Either way, you would then continue on your usual day. As the injection is quite a big thing (for me at least), I am not sure how anyone would forget. Plus, surely losing the benefits, lack of food noise and hunger, would remind you pretty quickly.

    Ordering pen number 2

    This was my last two weeks on 2.5. I had a decision to make. It was time to order my next pen.

    2.5mg had been working well for me. I was losing weight, had no side effects (or so minimal I didn’t notice them). I could stay on 2.5.

    Having read up on it, I found it is best to stay on the lowest dose possible. However, 2.5mg was only the starting dose to minimise side effects. The product leaflet says after 4 weeks your dose will increase to 5mg. After that you “can” increase in 2.5 increments. Based on that, I decided to go up to 5mg.

    Re-ordering was easy. As i was going back through Pharmacy2U I just had to provide an updated weight. Simple as that.

    Dose and injection site

    Week 3 – 2.5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower right stomach.

    Week 4 – 2.5mg Mounjaro – Injected into lower left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    No side effects, other than not being able to finish a slice of birthday cake.

    I noticed a couple of times that I felt hungry. But on each occasion it passed quickly after having some water. The food noise is still absent. It makes it easier to think about what I should eat, and not what I crave.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    My focus has been on drinking plenty of water and eating as cleanly as I can to improve my health. I am hoping that will also also bring positive benefits for my skin and hair. I have been focusing on trying to keep meals balanced between protein, carbs and healthy fats, and increasing fibre. The lack of food noise means I can focus on what I should eat and not just cravings.

    I have also been trying to implement some supplements. I don’t eat fish, so I know I am missing a lot of nutrients already. With my limited appetite and reduced calories, I want to make sure I have everything I need. I brought the following to try

    • cod liver oil to add missing nutrients from not eating fish
    • magnesium as this is meant to help with sleep problems
    • B12 to boost energy
    • multi vitamins as a catch all

    I don’t take them every day, to be honest I keep forgetting. I will review them once I have tried them for a while and if I notice any benefits.

    Weight check

    Week 3 – Felt like an idiot this week. I weighed in at 18 stone 11. All week I was kicking myself that I had only lost a pound. It wasn’t until the end of the week I realised it was actually a 3 pound loss (there are 14 pounds in a stone, silly me).

    Week 4 – this was a disappointing week as I was the same as before, 18 stone 11 pounds. Usually, this would be enough to throw me off, and my diet would fail in that moment. But this time it is different. This was disappointing, but it didn’t knock my confidence. I realised that it was most likely due to not having eaten enough. I need to track my calories and see how I am doing.

  • My Second Week on Mounjaro: Progress and Insights

    My Second Week on Mounjaro: Progress and Insights

    My second week on 2.5mg of Mounjaro has been positive. I have been feeling mentally lighter with the continued absence of food noise.

    The lead up to my second injection gave me less anxiety. I wasn’t looking forward to it, I’m not sure I ever will, but I didn’t fear it. Having said that, I did still deploy delay tactics. After I finished work I went to the cinema. By the time I got home I was so tired I wasn’t really thinking about it.

    I also realised a mistake from week one was not letting the pen get up to room temperature first. Once a pen has been used for the first time, it can be keep at room temperature, and used within 30 days. I am keeping mine in the fridge and will take it out half an hour before I use it.

    As it was so late, I didn’t have time to warm it up. Whilst it didn’t hurt, it did feel slightly uncomfortable. Afterwards it stung, but that is my fault for being out so late.

    Food noise

    I keep mentally prodding my thoughts on food. I drove past McDonald’s and KFC and felt no interest. I looked at the popcorn and ice creams at the cinema, and felt nothing.

    In the middle of the week I found a penguin (a type of chocolate biscuit for those outside of the UK). I was light on calories that day, so I decided to eat it. It took me more than half an hour. Pre Mounjaro, I would have eaten about 3 in a minute without a second thought.

    I am still not feeling hungry, so am focusing on eating three meals a day.

    Dose and injection site

    Diagram of my rotation schedule for Mounjaro injection sites in the stomach.

    Week 2 – 2.5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper left stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I am following a 4 week rotation plan. (Week 1 right side upper. Week 2 left side upper. Week 3 right side lower. Week 4 left side lower.). That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation. You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    I still don’t have any noticeable side effects. I have had a few nights where my sleep has been worse than usual, and some aches and pains,. I am still not sure that is the medication, I think it is the change in diet.

    I had a moment where I had very mild nausea. I heard my stomach rumble, so realised I must be hungry (even if I don’t feel like it). I had something to eat, and the nausea went.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    Sauteed kale salad, with peppers, and chicken.

    I am still feeling really thirsty and drinking more water. I am having to monitor how much I am drinking, and trying to sip throughout the day.

    I’m still not feeling hungry. If I do notice hunger creeping up, as soon as I have had a drink it goes again. Despite the lack of hunger, I am making sure I eat at least three times a day. Whilst I want to lose weight, and would love to achieve my goals faster, I know that isn’t the aim. Rushing now will only cause more problems later. And it is not a race, it is a re-education. I need to be working on long term change, and improving my relationship with food.

    As part of this change, I need to start planning meals, and reaching the right protein targets. In fact, I need to work out the right protein target for me.

    Weight check

    At the end of week 2, my weight was eighteen stone eleven pounds. That meant a drop of another 3 pounds from last week. That is another great result.

    How did you do

    How did you find your second week?

    What changes did you make?

    Do, or did you have food noise?

    Did you have any side effects and how did you manage them?

    Drop a comment below, or send me a message. I would love to hear from you.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

  • First Week on Mounjaro: A Personal Journey

    First Week on Mounjaro: A Personal Journey

    How has it been

    My first week on 2.5mg of Mounjaro has not been how I feared.

    The morning after my first injection, I woke up with a clear headedness that I had not known before. The voice in my head that was permanently focused on food was missing. Instead of thinking about food, I found I was thinking about whether I was thinking about food.

    I tested my thoughts by thinking about my usual vices. I was a sucker for a burger, fried chicken, and most of all French fries. Once the thought of them was in my head, I would fixate until I had eaten them. But I found thinking about them now gave no reaction at all. My desire for them was no longer there.

    Battling food noise

    The struggle with food noise.

    What I hadn’t realised before was how much food noise I’d been living with. I realised that part of what I had been battling, was actually this endless voice. I had been thinking about food constantly.

    It even continued while I was eating. I would be in the middle of eating something, but thinking about what I was going to eat next. This would make me rush through the food just to get to the next thing. It was an endless cycle.

    This voice also convinced me that I hadn’t had too much. That I deserved to have what I wanted. It pretended to be my friend.

    I don’t remember this voice being there when I was younger, and slimmer. It is something that has crept up on me. Gradually turning the volume up until it had my full attention. Now it was gone, my head felt quiet, I felt relaxed, I had space to think.

    So far, it seems that I am one of the lucky ones that respond well to the medication. The positive benefits of not feeling hungry, and having reduced food noise kicked in straight away. I was surprised by this, as I know I can sometimes be resistant to medications.

    The downside of success

    Ironically, one thing that has been playing on my mind is the worry of having rapid success. Losing weight too quickly could leave me with stretched, saggy skin. Some people seem to have shrunk down more evenly than others. From what I have seen, the best ways to avoid this are to:

    • Avoid rapid weight loss
    • Eat more protein
    • Focus on weight training to build more muscle

    Dose and injection site

    Diagram of my rotation schedule for Mounjaro injection sites in the stomach.

    Week 1 – 2.5mg Mounjaro – Injected into upper right stomach.

    You need to change the location of your injection site each week. I have decided that I want to inject into my stomach. So, to make it easier to remember, I have come up with a 4 week rotation.

    Week 1 will be right side upper, week 2 left side upper, week 3 right side lower, and week 4 left side lower. That way I will always know which location I am using, and reduce the risk of swelling or irritation.

    You can change between stomach, thigh and back of the arm as well. I am only planning to inject into my stomach.

    Side effects experienced

    I am not sure if I have had any side effects from the medication. The aches and pains I have experienced feel the same as ones I have had pre injection. I have had a headache for a few days. This might be more a result of the change in diet. I haven’t eaten any chocolate all week. I had been having a daily bar. Two if the first one had been earlier in the day.

    My IBS has also rumbled a bit. Again, that is more likely as a result of the change in diet. I had been eating a large amount of fatty foods. I will monitor it, and see how things go. But so far, so good.

    What have I been eating and drinking

    I have increased the amount of water I am drinking. I have been feeling thirsty, a sensation I am not used to. I am a bit worried that I may be drinking too much. One day I had to stop as I was onto my 5th litre, and feared I might drown.

    A colourful and healthy salad featuring chicken , cherry tomatoes, avocado, and fresh sprouts.

    So far I haven’t really felt hungry. I am making sure I eat regular meals though, regardless of whether I feel hungry. I am eating more slowly, and chewing a lot more.

    The taste of my food seems to have increases. I wonder if that is because my focus isn’t on thinking about what next. I have also noticed that I get a feeling of fullness quite quickly. I have even been throwing food away, something I had not done in years. I am trying to remember to cook less.

    I have been snacking on things like nuts in the weeks leading up to starting Mounjaro. I had been grabbing a handful at a time, and would get through them quickly. But this week I kept forgetting that I had them next to me. I kept finding some of them were still there the next day.

    With the possible flare up of my IBS, I cut the nuts out in case they were a trigger for some of the pains I had. It is difficult to say what is a side effect of the medication, or just the result of years of poor diet and damage.

    Weight check

    At the end of week 1, my weight was Nineteen stone. That meant a drop of 5 pounds from my consultation weight. That was great, a motivating start.

    I know the first losses are usually bigger, but I was really happy.

    Key takeaways from this week

    Loosing the food noise has left space for more useful thoughts.

    Just because food is there, doesn’t mean you have to eat it.

    How did you do

    How did you find your first week?

    What changes did you make?

    Do, or did, you experience food noise?

    Did you have any side effects and how did you manage them?

    What are your thoughts about taking a weight loss jab?

    Drop a comment below, or send me a message. I would love to hear from you.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

  • My First Mounjaro Injection Experience

    My First Mounjaro Injection Experience

    There are stories in the news every day about fake skinny jabs being sold. I am sure we have all seen horror stories of the devastating impact these fakes can have. I get it, these jabs are expensive. Most of us are feeling the impact of the current cost of living.

    It makes sense to try to shop around, to buy the cheapest option. But when it comes to injecting chemicals into your body, can you afford to cut costs?

    Where did I buy

    I have used Pharmacy2U for several years for my prescriptions. As a registered pharmacy, I trusted them to be a safe provider. I also trusted they would have a thorough process to check the medication would be safe for me to take. I decided to order Mounjaro through them.

    Ordering the first prescription

    My starting point.

    The online consultation was easy enough. I was taken through some checks on my medical history, any diagnosed conditions, and my regular medications. Then they asked about my weight. This was the the moment I had feared most. This was the time was was going to have to face reality, and step onto the scales.

    I felt sick as I looked at the readout. I knew I’d put on weight, but didn’t think it was this bad. I was Nineteen stone and 5 pounds. That is 271 pounds. It meant I had a BMI (body mass index) of 43.7.

    That wasn’t the worst part of it. As the final step of the assessment, I had to take two full body pictures. One face on and one side on for them to check my stats matched the visuals.

    I feel utterly ashamed to share this, but this is me. This is what I did to myself. This feels brutal.

    So much worse than confronting the amount of weight I have gained, was seeing how deeply unhappy I looked.

    The long wait

    Once I had completed all of the stages of the consultation, I had to wait for the decision. I was scared that something in my medical history would make me ineligible. Or maybe they would say I was too big. This really felt like my only hope to turn my life around. Especially now I was no longer hiding from the truth.

    I kept refreshing the screen in my account. I didn’t need to, as I received updates via email and text ahead of my account page updating. I was accepted. I was going to start my Mounjaro journey.

    Researching more while I waited

    Whilst waiting for the medication to be dispatched, I turned to YouTube. There is a wealth of people at different stages, sharing their experiences and advice.

    Being Needle phobic, my thoughts kept turning to how I would cope with the injections. I noticed there is a difference between the UK and the USA pens. The UK pen looked more frightening to me as the needle was out on show. The American pen seems to have a plunger. This would prevent you seeing it pierce the skin (the bit I am phobic of).

    I found a really useful video from another online pharmacy that showed the whole process. The video from Simple Online Pharmacy gave a step by step guide to the whole process.

    I also found a lady called Stephanie Rhodes who is a few weeks ahead of me on her journey. In her videos she shows her weekly injection process which I found reassuring to watch, like this day 1 video.

    I was excited to start my journey. I had a sense of renewed hope.

    How long it took – from order to arrival

    I completed the online consultation in the evening on Saturday 15th February. My order was packed and dispatched on Monday 17th February, and arrived the next day.

    I was impressed with how well packaged it was. Inside the box, the medication was sealed in a plastic bag, then wrapped in an ice pack. This was to keep it cool during transportation.

    Inside the box was the KwikPen and an information leaflet. But no needles. I kept checking. I even checked in the sharps box that came with the pen. Don’t ask me how I thought I would get the needles out of a one way box. I started to ring the pharmacy to ask. As I waited in a queue, I rechecked the delivery box and found the box of needles and wipes. I nearly threw these away, so make sure you check the box.

    I was in an online meeting when it arrived. It was a good distraction, for about half an hour at least.

    Having the box there made me shake. It was suddenly very real. All I could think about was that I was going to have to inject myself.

    Side effects and risks

    Part of me was scared about the risks and side effects of the medication. Part of me was excited at the possibilities. Part of me was scared of what will happen if I don’t. Once the medication is in your system you can’t just take it back out. I have an overactive imagination at the best of times. I fear pretty much everything.

    The leaflet that comes with the pen has a concerningly large list of reported side effects. They are broken down into “Serious” and “Other”. There is also a helpful breakdown that shows the likelihood of someone experiencing these.

    Uncommon and rare serious side effects of Mounjaro

    The most common side affects are:

    • feeling sick (nausea)
    • being sick (vomiting)
    • constipation.
    • diarrhoea.
    • stomach discomfort.
    • heartburn.
    • burping.
    • excess wind.

    As someone with IBS (irritable Bowel Syndrome) and a poor diet, the only side effects that worried me where the first two.

    The rare side effects are:

    If you have been honest about your medical history, and the prescription process is thorough, the risk is reduced. It can be tempting to cut corners, but you really can’t afford to.

    Coping with anxiety in the build up

    One way I manage my anxiety about big things, is to reduce my focus down to the individual steps. I knew I needed to inject myself that day. I had decided to do it before bed so I would sleep though any side effects.

    Anxiety.

    When I finished work I focused on trying to relax and unwind from the day. My next focus was on a eating a healthy dinner, and making sure I’d had plenty of water to drink.

    And then it was time to face it.

    I made an almost fatal mistake though. I decided to watch one last video. I accidentally watched an account of someone with an underlying condition, they died after taking the jab. This terrified me, and in that moment I almost threw the medication in the bin.

    But then I remembered, I was already sleepwalking my way to an early grave. The risk of continuing on my current path was greater than the risk of the injection. I thought about the life I want to have. A happier, healthier life where I face my fears. I needed to be brave and not allow my overactive imagination to hold me back.

    The first injection

    Mounjaro KwikPen and sharps disposal box prepared for the first injection.

    I disinfected the kitchen worktop, then thoroughly washed my hands, and followed with alcohol gel. I took the box out of the fridge. My hand were shaking as I wiped the end of the pen and attached the needle. The needle is actually tiny. Without my glasses on I could barely see it.

    My hands trembled as I prepared the pen. As I went to inject myself in my stomach, I realised that I couldn’t easily see where I was injecting.

    I worried I might miss, and get myself in the hand. Though my stomach is a far bigger target, so that would be very unlucky, and unlikely. And anyway, I can’t look at the needle, so maybe that is helpful.

    I found the first injection a little bit painful, it stung. Afterwards I felt really warm.

    Whilst no one saw me do this, I am planning on being completely honest here. When I was putting the needle into the sharps box, I accidentally stabbed my finger. I didn’t realise the needle came out the other side. So, a top tip, take case pushing the used needles into the sharps bin. This was a much needed lighter moment though, it made me laugh at myself.

    Now I just have to wait and see how it goes.

    How did you find it

    I know everyone’s experiences are different. I would love to hear how it was for you.

    Were you worried or anxious about taking Mounjaro?

    How was your first injection?

    Did you have any side effects?

    What tips would you share with someone taking a weight loss jab?

    Add a comment, or send me a message.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

  • Overcoming Struggles: Starting My Weight Loss Story with Mounjaro

    Overcoming Struggles: Starting My Weight Loss Story with Mounjaro

    For the last few years I have been hiding from the world, and hiding from myself too. My daily routine consisted of continuous eating of whatever I wanted. Endless cravings that I allowed myself to indulge in. Have you ever had an intrusive thought about a food that just doesn’t stop until you have eaten it?

    After years domestic abuse, of being denied a choice, I allowed myself total freedom. The result of this freedom was something I chose to ignore. I wasn’t being kind to myself. I was slowly killing my body under the illusion of self love and choice.

    The moment I chose change

    Then, last Christmas, I caught a bug that left me feeling unwell for weeks. Christmas is not a time of year I enjoy. My mental health always takes a dip. I pretend to the outside world that I enjoy the peace, but I feel such an intense sadness and loss. It builds up as the day draws closer, then lifts as it moves on to New Year.

    Being unwell meant I couldn’t distract myself. Just as I recovered from this, I caught another bug that quickly became a chest infection. That chest infection in turn triggered my asthma. I was seriously unwell, and also totally alone. It was a scary time as I struggled just to breathe. Some days I was using my asthma inhalers on repeat, and even then, my breathing was not improving.

    This was the point where I had to finally admit that my inactivity, my overeating, my indulgence , had consequences. Serious consequences.

    Feeling weak and helpless made me realise how at risk I was. Whilst I don’t necessarily enjoy my life, I was not willing to give up.

    I knew I needed to make a change, and it needed to be big. It wasn’t just about the scale, it was also about feeling safe, feeling in control of my life.

    Not my first attempt to loose weight

    For the last ten years of my marriage I was on a rollercoaster of weight loss and weight gain. My then husband encouraged me to diet and exercise, but any success was met with accusations of cheating. This led me to revert to regaining the weight which was met with disgust.

    All I wanted was to make him happy, but no matter what I did, I failed.

    About 5 years ago, after I had escaped, I tried again to lose weight. Back then I weighed a lot less than I do today. I decided to try intermittent fasting. Fasting meant I could only eat between set times. For me this was not before midday and not after 8pm.

    Chia pudding, with homemade cashew milk, topped with fresh banana slices.

    Having an 8-hour eating window made me more conscious about snacking. It also made me focus on eating earlier. It was important to count calories to make sure I didn’t just cram food in during the eating window though.

    It was going well. I started to see flashes in the mirror of the girl I had lost sight of 15 years before.

    My confidence started to grow, I enjoyed the regular compliments at work about how healthy I was looking. Life felt like it was improving. The food I was eating was colourful, interesting, and tasted amazing.

    Keto Salad
    My go to chicken salad featuring kale, spinach, tomatoes, cucumber, beetroot, and a homemade keto mayonnaise.

    The downside was that I started to notice male attention when I went out.

    Trigger warning – the following paragraphs share an experience of sexual assault

    One day I was travelling back from London on a train. Due to an incident on the track, all trains were cancelled. Everyone on the packed commuter train I was on all had to get off the train at my stop. I found myself being swept up in the crowd.

    I can’t cope with anyone touching me, I felt the panic rising as we moved slowly through the station. I tried to keep a bubble of space around me.

    As we inched closer to the stairway to exit the platform, the crowd were pushed closer together. That was when I felt a man start to press himself against my back. I tried to move ahead, but I was running out of space. Each time I moved he simply moved closer still, until I could feel the imprint of him in my back.

    In that moment I froze, all of these people around, but I couldn’t speak, or move. Then he was gone, disappeared into the crowd, and I was left with a renewed sense of shame.

    This ended my effort to regain myself. The fear overwhelmed me again, I didn’t feel safe anywhere.

    Over the years that followed I slowly gained weight. I added 4 stone, and 3 dress sizes, (as long as I only bought clothes with lots of Lycra).

    Why now, and why Mounjaro

    This time has to be different, not just in losing the weight, but also in gaining emotional and physical strength. I need to work on becoming physically strong, and also being brave. I can’t keep hiding just in case. I need to take back my power, take back my health, and take back my life.

    Eighteen months ago I met a woman at work who was using Wegovy. She mentioned it had reduced her appetite. She had little interest in foods like cake and chocolate. This change was significant for her.

    When I got home I initially looked it up, but thought it was out of my reach financially.

    Over the next year I heard a lot on the news about these so-called skinny jabs. I contacted my doctor’s surgery to ask about weight loss help. All they sent me was a link to sign up for a referral to a weight loss service. They warned me there was a 2-year waiting list to be seen.

    It all seemed pretty hopeless.

    Not just a step, but a giant leap

    After my bout of sickness at the start of the year, I realised I simply had to find the money. The amount I was spending on takeaway food alone would more than cover the cost. If I was already outspending my income, surely it was better to be overspending and getting healthier. I was risking reaching a point where my chances of turning things around would have vanished.

    So I went to my online pharmacy and completed the online assessment. To some that would be a small act, to me it was a monumental change. I was finally admitting I had a problem, and taking action to change.

    What do you think?

    What are you thoughts about Mounjaro or other weight loss jabs? Have you considered trying them? Are you already taking them? Do you think they are the wrong choice?

    I would love to hear your thoughts, views, hopes and fears.

    Please drop a comment below, or send me a message via the contact form.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

  • My Journey: Healing from Abuse Whilst Losing Weight with Mounjaro

    My Journey: Healing from Abuse Whilst Losing Weight with Mounjaro

    Hello and welcome to Healing In Doses. Everyone has experienced challenges in life, elements of loss, difficulties or hardship. What seems insignificant to one person can be a huge mountain for another. I am here to share my story, but I would also love to hear from you.

    Growth and healing are a part of all of our worlds, to varying degrees. I hope my experiences and feelings can reach someone when they need to hear it. And I know there will be things you may tell me that I need to hear.

    Who Am I

    My name is Rose and I am a survivor of domestic abuse. I am in my late 40’s, and live in the South of England.

    Whilst I have been living in relative freedom for more than five years, I am not really free. I still live in fear. My ex-husband remains a risk to my safety after two decades of emotional abuse, financial abuse and sexual violence. This is why I am only using a first name.

    As a result of my abuse, I hid, living a life in the shadows. Emotional eating has been my way of coping with Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety. I have also over eaten as a way of making myself as unattractive as I can to another man. If anyone paid me a compliment, I instantly reached for the nearest fast-food to increase the weight gain. At times I have eaten until I am in so much pain I can’t move.

    Chilli con carne and rice, featuring red drop peppers, cheese, guacamole, and sour cream, served in a crispy tortilla bowl.

    I lost myself in my marriage, and now, instead of finding myself, I have lost myself further.

    The woman the other side of the mirror is a stranger.

    Why I Started Healing in Doses

    In February 2025 I finally decided to start Mounjaro as a way of losing weight. I have been following the experiences of several YouTubers taking Mounjaro. Due to safety risks, this is not a way I can use to share my experience. So, I decided to start this blog to track my journey to losing weight, and continued recovery from the abuse I experienced. Posting online will keep me focused and accountable. It’s not a diary that only I will see, that only I will know my progress or lack of progress.

    Sadly, I am not alone in having experienced abuse. The second reason I decided to share my journey is in the hope it helps someone else feel less alone.

    This will not be a perfect journey, but it will be a personal one as I discuss my experiences of:

    • Losing weight with Mounjaro
    • Healing after domestic abuse
    • Living with anxiety and PTSD

    I’m not a medical professional, I am simply someone trying to rebuild a life worth living, piece by piece. A survivor. A work in progress. Healing doesn’t happen all at once, neither does losing weight. Both happen in doses. Sometimes it is in a Kwik pen. Sometimes it is in finding courage to ask for help. Sometimes it is just giving yourself permission to stay in bed.

    If you have found your way here, I would love to hear about your experiences. Whether that is with weight loss, domestic abuse, PTSD, anxiety or building a life you love. I would love to build this into a small community of support.

    Support for Domestic Abuse in the UK

    If you are currently experiencing domestic abuse, or if you have concerns about someone you love, you don’t have to face it alone. Please know there is support available to help you to get to a place of safety. I have included some resources for those in the UK below.

    Being in an abusive relationship is frightening, disorienting, and lonely. It can be hard to admit to yourself, and you may think no one will believe you. I see you. I believe you. I want you to know you deserve to be loved, respected and free.

    Links to UK based services
    • Refuge – Advice, information and support for victims, survivors and those supporting them to get to safety.
    • Victim Support – Information about the forms of abuse, where to get help, how to support victims/survivors.
    • Women’s Aid – Information on the types of abuse and a survivors community.
    • The Freedom Programme – Understanding domestic abuse including in person or online courses.
    • National Centre for Domestic Violence – Advice for victims, including help to apply for an emergency court injunction, or signposting to alternate support.
    • Surviving Economic Abuse – Support, advice and campaigning against financial abuse.
    • Rape Crisis – Support and advice for anyone affected by sexual assault and rape.
    • The Life Centre – Support and therapy after sexual violence.

    I would like to make this a useful resource, so would love to hear your suggestions on other services, as well as services outside of Britain. What support did you find helpful?

    Please add details of support services in the comments section below. Or, if you would like to stay anonymous, you can send me a message via the contact us firm below.

    I will add new resources, and together we could build a list that might just save someone’s life.

    Go back

    Your message has been sent

    Leave a comment