This is some background of what lead up to Mounjaro. Some of this post is irrelevant to the topic, but this post is cross posted to another blog.
While I did a LOT of exercise last year in 2024 and I mean a lot, I did not really know what I was doing exactly. I was mainly at the time trying to outrun my emotions. Last year, the person that I considered to be one of my besties decided to end our friendship on my birthday via text message, over a misunderstanding. I believe it could have been worked out if she would have only communicated. But that is neither here nor there other than to provide some background info. Prior to that I was already riding a recumbent bike. But after all that pain I needed something more. So I started taking my actual real bike to a local greenway and riding there once a week and I joined Planet Fitness. I met with a trainer and learned how to start with strength training. At one point, I was riding my bike (combination of miles between recumbent and real bike) between thirty and forty miles per week, and doing strength training at least twice a week. At first it was to dull the pain. I mean prior to that I had been casually riding my recumbent. It worked to dull the pain for while. Then I got to where I just liked doing it. It made me feel good. So I kept it up.
I'm actually kind of bored with all that now. I'm trying to switch things up a bit. I'm tired of the 30 minute circuit at Planet Fitness. Don't get me wrong, it is my go-to. But I've been looking into some of the other areas and after my usual workout, I've been trying out some of the other things there as well. I have a goal to be able to do one unassisted pull-up by the end of 2025. I have started using the assisted pull-up machine. I have researched which muscle groups I need to strengthen in order to be able to do a pull-up. Looking into increasing some work on the core as well as the lats and back. Funnily enough the Lat Pull Down machine is my favorite. I despise leg day lol.
I had some serious health issues late last year. So much so that it meant leaving work early via ambulance and being hospitalized for three days. It was serious enough to ALMOST be put into the step down ICU, but I improved enough while waiting for a room that I was able to go to a regular room instead. Since then, my body has been turned into a pin cushion. I wear a continuous glucose monitor in my arm; I give myself insulin shots twice a day in my belly; and I give myself a weekly GLP-1 injection in my thigh once a week. See what I mean about being a human pin cushion?
I was prescribed Mounjaro for its intended purpose for treating T2D. Any weight loss derived from it will be a bonus. I started Mounjaro at the beginning of November. 2.5mg. It was then interrupted due to issues with insurance. It was restarted recently, although based on issues I am having with other medications, I will not be surprised if the insurance issue arises again. I will move up to 5mg on MLK weekend. I am very nervous about the increase. It has so far not done a thing for me as far as losing weight. I've actually gained a few pounds. Moving in the wrong direction! Even though my diet has drastically changed the scale has not really moved down. I have noticed though that some of my clothes fit better. So there is that. I've been hitting the gym hard when I am able to go.
Generally speaking though. There is a stigma around GLP-1 agonist medications. People seem to view it as taking the easy way out. NOTHING ABOUT TAKING THIS MEDICATION IS EASY!!!!!!! It severely limits what you can and cannot eat (I am speaking of my own personal experience as well as stuff I have read). It makes you nauseous and gives you the bubble guts at times, as well as backs you up. I get nauseated just smelling certain food smells. I have to mostly force myself to eat. It makes things you used to like to eat, make you sick. For example, one of my favorite holiday treats is Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes. The medication changed the taste, and after eating just one as a treat I felt like I was going to puke my brains up. Christmas Day while eating dinner, I took one bite of garlic bread and felt sick. The smell of garlic bread lingering in the air after dinner made me so nauseated, that I spent quite a bit of time sitting outside to avoid throwing up. It takes away cravings/food noise. It takes away the dopamine reaction of eating. For me, it increased my anxiety and depression drastically. I went from the occasional panic attack to having them every single day without having my usual triggers. I have since obtained medication for that. Mounjaro makes me tired all the time. I feel like I'm living in a fog. Words are hard most of the time. Annnnnd..... one of the things a GLP-1 does as well, is depletes your muscle mass. So gym time is imperative.
So right now the Pros:
Ability to lower A1C and increase insulin sensitivity. (I do not have bloodwork until March so I will see if this happened or not)
Prevents the liver from glucose dumping for lack of a better word
Side effect of losing weight - I have not experienced this yet, but I have a co-worker on it that has. The more you have to lose the faster you lose it starting off.
Stops food noise
Stops food cravings
Forces you to eat smaller portions
Cons:
Nausea
Acid reflux
Vomiting
Bubble Guts/Hershey Squirts
Constipation
Gas
Abdominal Pain
Potential to cause Pancreatitis or kidney failure
Muscle atrophy
Fatigue
Headaches
Increased sensitivity to smell
Slower gastric emptying
Potential of becoming severely dehydrated
While the cons list outweighs the positives, most of the cons are for the most part tolerable albeit uncomfortable. There have been several articles stating they are are finding other off label uses of these medications.
The above information is NOT medical advice in any way shape or form. It is based on my own personal experience and research.
I will be vlogging my journey on my YouTube channel which I will share eventually. I'm not very tech savvy. The only reason I'm considering doing that is because I have seen others' videos/vlogs and they were very inspiring and motivating. So maybe my vlog will be a motivation/inspiration to someone else.
This is cross posted.
