My Mounjaro Journey Week 22 - Nevermind

Hello

I'm now the lightest I've been in about 15 years and I feel fantastic.  I can walk without getting severe backache, I can do up my shoelaces comfortably and I don't spend all day fantasising about what I can eat next.  

I read this week that GLP-1 medications can actually improve your moods too.  There have been several studies into the benefits of weight loss jabs and one found that it can increase levels of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, which play a role in mood regulation. 

When people talk about Mounjaro, the conversation usually revolves around numbers—pounds lost, inches trimmed, or blood sugar levels stabilised. But there’s another set of numbers that deserve just as much attention: hours of sleep reclaimed, anxiety levels decreased, and moments of self-confidence restored; because for many people, the benefits of Mounjaro go beyond the waistline and deep into the realm of mental wellbeing.

And let’s be honest: when you’ve struggled with weight for years, and tried more diets than you’ve had hot dinners, “wellbeing” can feel like a patronising buzzword but, I really believe Mounjaro is helping lift my moods.  There's no denying that when you can see the effects of weight loss it makes you feel good and increases self-esteem. 

Weight loss often requires strict self-control, but when your body and brain are fighting you every step of the way, it can feel like an unwinnable war. Mounjaro shifts that dynamic. By reducing the biological drive to overeat, it removes a major mental friction point. Suddenly, the energy you used to spend arguing with yourself about biscuits is freed up for other things—like joy, hobbies, or even just resting your mind.

That can translate into fewer feelings of failure, guilt, and exhaustion. And when you start hitting goals consistently, even modest ones, your brain gets its own rewards in the form of dopamine—our internal high-five chemical. Small wins compound, and with them comes growing confidence in your ability to make sustainable change.

There’s also the fact that chronic stress is a major contributor to weight gain as it affects your sleep, appetite and mood.  It becomes s a vicious circle: weight gain can then lead to shame, anxiety, and isolation, which increases stress and so on.  Mounjaro seems to recalibrate the entire system and, with its effects on insulin resistance and hunger hormones, it potentially reduces the physical stress signals that feed the emotional cycle. Less stress can mean better sleep, fewer depressive symptoms, and a greater ability to face life’s curveballs.

People underestimate how much mental energy it takes to constantly think about your weight—calories, carb counts, what to eat, what not to eat, how to explain your choices to others. It’s an ongoing internal narrative that can be loud and punishing. Mounjaro doesn’t silence those thoughts entirely, but it can turn down the volume.

Using Mounjaro could result in there being room in your brain for other things that bring pleasure or purpose. You might find yourself more open to socialising, more engaged at work, or more capable of planning your day around events that don't involve food and eating. 

Despite the good news, some people have reported anxiety around food restriction, fear of dependency, or distress over side effects but, for many, the psychological impact of taking Mounjaro is extremely positive.  It’s not just about looking better or weighing less; it’s about silencing a lifetime of food noise. And sometimes, that peace is worth more than any number on a scale.

I've had my new prescription this week and I'm staying on 7.5mg, which I'm glad about.  I don't think I need to go on a higher dose yet as I'm losing steadily and still have decent suppression.  There's still 30 weeks of the clinical study to go so I don't want to get to 15mg too soon, if at all.  

Time for the stats:

Weight  - 13st 5lbs
Mounjaro dose - 7.5mg
BMI - 35.3
Total loss - 2 stone 10lbs
Miles walked - 55

By the time we catch up next week I'll have completed my 60 mile sponsored walk. I'm not going to do another for a while as my friends and family are getting sponsor fatigue.  There's only so many times you can ask people for money.  The trouble is, being sponsored has really helped with my motivation and has ensured that I'm walking every day.  I'll need to think of something that will keep me motivated going forward.  If you've got any suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Ta ta x

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