Sub-Q_Sammy
Well-known member
It was exactly 730 days ago when I gave myself that inaugural 2.5mg dose of Mounjaro. Thinking back, it's a flood of memories. The needle anxiety was real. The fear of adverse reactions, way beyond just tummy troubles, haunted me – blame it on past medical experiences. But the biggest fear? That this would be yet another failed attempt.
Within hours, I was parched. It was evening, and my mind felt…strangely calm. A quiet I hadn't noticed before. I probably chalked it up to anxiety masking hunger (my emotions usually amplified it).
The next morning: BAM! Headache. Was it an aneurysm? Ha! Just a typical initial side effect. A little acetaminophen took care of it.
And then it hit me. The silence. It wasn't just about hunger or not. It was the absence of the constant mental noise. The never-ending loop of 'Eat! Eat! Eat! Don't eat, you'll get bigger!'. Eating a full meal en route from work, then having dinner AGAIN. Secret eating. Dishonest eating. Restricting food around others to seem like I was 'trying,' then binging later.
Quiet. Day two: Even quieter. Definitely some nausea. Day three: Will I ever have a bowel movement again? Have I even consumed enough to…you know? Suddenly, I'm obsessing more about that than food!
Days six and seven: Still a sense of calm, but fading a bit. But still feeling in control. Bizarre. Time to eat more, as the doc suggested. We planned out weekly calories. Less early in the week, more later. A weekly equilibrium.
By the end of week two, I knew it was a game-changer. I could feel it deep down. The pounds melted off. I committed fully. I was fortunate to have a provider who gave me the right advice. No shortcuts. Make significant changes while the medication is potent, so habits shift. Make it a new way of life. No skipping doses for special occasions. No cheat days. Not during this transformation. If I wanted to be someone I'd never been, I had to do things differently. Cheesy, but so true! ALL IN. No excuses. No shame. Just a fresh approach, one day at a time.
Twelve months later, I had dropped 130 pounds. I navigated every emotion, every reaction. Every judgment, every encouragement. People become envious. People become kind. Strangers seem to like the slimmer you better. That last one stings. Sometimes, people who loved you before seem to love you less after reaching your goal. That one hurts.
I know it's never that black and white. But sometimes… it kind of is.
Over the following months, I shed another 30 pounds. Then I intentionally added back a few. I saw a number on the scale in the 120s. I don't need to revisit that. My mind needed to see it. I needed to recalibrate. And I have.
I've been in maintenance for about half a year now. And no, it's not particularly difficult. Yes, I still take a weekly injection. Yes, I ramped up dosages quickly and have been on the maximum dose of 15mg. And yes, I'm happy I did. Have I regained some dietary flexibility? Absolutely. That was always the objective. But let me clarify: I didn't *earn* the freedom to eat junk food. That's a slippery slope. I earned the *health* that allows me that flexibility. The reward isn't the food itself. It's a healthy body that can handle it. Mind. Blown.
So here I am. This journey has been my own. My battle to truly live. My decision to experience a Celebration of Life… while I'm still here.
I'm happier and healthier than ever. It's been worth every moment. I've never dedicated myself so fully to something. And I thank God daily for this medicine. My doctor. The scientists. My family and friends. My LIFE. I couldn't care less what the judgmental naysayers think. They'll never understand the privilege of judging something they'll never understand. You'll have to pry my Zepbound/Mounjaro from my cold, dead hands.
If you've made it this far, thanks for joining my Celebration of Life. It's been quite a ride. If you're just beginning: YOU CAN DO THIS. THIS TIME, IT WILL WORK. If you're in the thick of it… don't even think about giving up. If you're at the finish line with me… let's keep rocking this thing. We're all so incredibly brave.
Starting weight: 299
Current weight: 135 (ish)
Sizes down from 20/22/2X to 4/6/S/XS
44 years old, 5'7.5"
Within hours, I was parched. It was evening, and my mind felt…strangely calm. A quiet I hadn't noticed before. I probably chalked it up to anxiety masking hunger (my emotions usually amplified it).
The next morning: BAM! Headache. Was it an aneurysm? Ha! Just a typical initial side effect. A little acetaminophen took care of it.
And then it hit me. The silence. It wasn't just about hunger or not. It was the absence of the constant mental noise. The never-ending loop of 'Eat! Eat! Eat! Don't eat, you'll get bigger!'. Eating a full meal en route from work, then having dinner AGAIN. Secret eating. Dishonest eating. Restricting food around others to seem like I was 'trying,' then binging later.
Quiet. Day two: Even quieter. Definitely some nausea. Day three: Will I ever have a bowel movement again? Have I even consumed enough to…you know? Suddenly, I'm obsessing more about that than food!
Days six and seven: Still a sense of calm, but fading a bit. But still feeling in control. Bizarre. Time to eat more, as the doc suggested. We planned out weekly calories. Less early in the week, more later. A weekly equilibrium.
By the end of week two, I knew it was a game-changer. I could feel it deep down. The pounds melted off. I committed fully. I was fortunate to have a provider who gave me the right advice. No shortcuts. Make significant changes while the medication is potent, so habits shift. Make it a new way of life. No skipping doses for special occasions. No cheat days. Not during this transformation. If I wanted to be someone I'd never been, I had to do things differently. Cheesy, but so true! ALL IN. No excuses. No shame. Just a fresh approach, one day at a time.
Twelve months later, I had dropped 130 pounds. I navigated every emotion, every reaction. Every judgment, every encouragement. People become envious. People become kind. Strangers seem to like the slimmer you better. That last one stings. Sometimes, people who loved you before seem to love you less after reaching your goal. That one hurts.
I know it's never that black and white. But sometimes… it kind of is.
Over the following months, I shed another 30 pounds. Then I intentionally added back a few. I saw a number on the scale in the 120s. I don't need to revisit that. My mind needed to see it. I needed to recalibrate. And I have.
I've been in maintenance for about half a year now. And no, it's not particularly difficult. Yes, I still take a weekly injection. Yes, I ramped up dosages quickly and have been on the maximum dose of 15mg. And yes, I'm happy I did. Have I regained some dietary flexibility? Absolutely. That was always the objective. But let me clarify: I didn't *earn* the freedom to eat junk food. That's a slippery slope. I earned the *health* that allows me that flexibility. The reward isn't the food itself. It's a healthy body that can handle it. Mind. Blown.
So here I am. This journey has been my own. My battle to truly live. My decision to experience a Celebration of Life… while I'm still here.
I'm happier and healthier than ever. It's been worth every moment. I've never dedicated myself so fully to something. And I thank God daily for this medicine. My doctor. The scientists. My family and friends. My LIFE. I couldn't care less what the judgmental naysayers think. They'll never understand the privilege of judging something they'll never understand. You'll have to pry my Zepbound/Mounjaro from my cold, dead hands.
If you've made it this far, thanks for joining my Celebration of Life. It's been quite a ride. If you're just beginning: YOU CAN DO THIS. THIS TIME, IT WILL WORK. If you're in the thick of it… don't even think about giving up. If you're at the finish line with me… let's keep rocking this thing. We're all so incredibly brave.
Starting weight: 299
Current weight: 135 (ish)
Sizes down from 20/22/2X to 4/6/S/XS
44 years old, 5'7.5"
Did you follow a specific diet? How did you handle holidays or vacations? I'm curious about managing those situations.
Any advice or thoughts would be great! Thanks!
