Eight Stone Down on Mounjaro! Your Questions, My Answers, and a Few Things I've Learned Along the Way 😂💕

Well, here we are.

Almost two years after taking my first Mounjaro injection, I'm more than EIGHT STONE lighter.

Eight stone!

That's approximately 40% of my original body weight, which is a rather extraordinary amount of Helen to have misplaced. 😂

And yet, despite having spent almost two years doing this, I still occasionally find myself looking at my weight-loss graph and wondering quite how it happened.

When I started in October 2024, weighing 19 stone 13.8 pounds, I genuinely didn't know what to expect.

Would Mounjaro work for me? Would I have dreadful side effects? Would I be able to afford to continue? And, perhaps most importantly, would I finally manage to lose weight and actually keep it off?

I had rather a lot of questions.

And now, nearly two years later, people have started asking me questions too!

Some are about the practical things, like what I eat, whether I count calories and how I track my progress. Others are about the medication itself, what doses I've taken and how much I've spent.

So I thought it might be nice to gather some of the questions together and answer them properly.

Grab yourself a cup of tea. ☕ I've got eight questions to get through, and knowing me, we'll probably take a few little detours along the way.

1. How do you track your weight loss and measurements? ⚖️📱

This is probably one of the questions I get asked most often, particularly when I share screenshots of my weight-loss progress.

And the answer is surprisingly inexpensive.

I use Renpho body-composition scales, which cost me somewhere around £20–£25 when I bought them.

They connect to a free app on my phone, and every time I weigh myself, the information is automatically recorded.

No complicated spreadsheets. No writing measurements in a notebook. And, rather wonderfully, no additional subscription.

I do love a gadget that doesn't insist on charging me every month. 😂

The app tracks my weight and other body-composition estimates over time, so I can look back and see how things have changed.

I particularly like being able to see the overall trend.

Because, as anybody who has tried to lose weight will know, the scales don't always behave themselves.

Some weeks they go down.

Some weeks they stay exactly where they are.

And occasionally they go UP, despite you being absolutely convinced you've done everything right.

RUDE. 🙄

But when I look at the longer-term graph, those little fluctuations become far less important.

And seeing the difference between October 2024 and today?

Well, that's rather lovely. ❤️

I should mention that the additional body-composition figures from smart scales are estimates, rather than precise medical measurements. But I've found the weight-tracking history enormously useful.

2. Do I weigh my food and count calories? 🍝

Yes, I do count calories, and I use an app called Nutracheck.

But before anybody imagines me standing in the kitchen meticulously weighing individual peas, I promise it's not quite that bad.

Although I do own kitchen scales.

Actually, I own rather clever kitchen scales.

They're also made by Renpho, cost me about £13, and can send the weight of food directly to the app.

I can put a plate on the scales, reset them to zero, add some food and record the weight.

Very clever.

And yes, I know. I'm getting excited about kitchen scales now.

Apparently, this is what happens in your 50s. 😂

When I first started losing weight, weighing food was incredibly useful because it helped me understand what a sensible portion actually looked like.

And I discovered that my previous understanding of a portion of pasta was, shall we say, rather generous.

These days, I don't weigh everything.

If I'm having roast chicken, vegetables and a few new potatoes, I can usually judge the portions reasonably well.

I'm certainly not going to start weighing broccoli.

Life's too short.

But pasta?

Oh, I still weigh pasta.

Because apparently my eyes haven't quite accepted that I'm feeding a much smaller Helen these days. 🙈

Nutracheck also helps me keep an eye on protein, fibre, fat and calories, rather than focusing exclusively on the number of calories I've eaten.

For me, it's about being informed.

Not making every meal feel like a science experiment.

3. What diet do I follow? 🥔🥦

Ah, now this is where I suspect some people might be disappointed.

Because I don't follow keto.

I don't fast.

I haven't cut out carbohydrates.

And I certainly haven't sworn off bread or potatoes for the rest of my life.

GOODNESS NO.

Imagine never having another roast potato.

Absolutely not. 😂

What I follow is a fairly traditional, balanced, lower-calorie way of eating.

I try to prioritise protein, make sure I'm getting enough fibre and generally make sensible choices.

Nothing particularly revolutionary.

And that's rather the point.

I wanted to find a way of eating that I could imagine continuing for the rest of my life.

Not something I could tolerate for three months before becoming thoroughly miserable and dreaming about toast.

Mounjaro has made managing my appetite enormously easier, but I still have to decide what to eat.

We still have ordinary family meals.

Homemade meatballs with tomato sauce and pasta.

Roast dinners.

Bread.

Potatoes.

All perfectly normal food.

I just eat considerably smaller portions than I used to.

And I've become much more aware of how much I'm actually eating.

It's not particularly glamorous, is it?

Eight stone lost, and my big secret is eating sensible portions and making better choices.

With a little pharmaceutical assistance, obviously. 😂💕

4. What dose of Mounjaro am I taking? 💉

This is another question I get asked quite frequently.

And I think it's an interesting one, because my attitude towards dosing has changed considerably since I started.

I began on 2.5mg, the introductory dose, and stayed there for one pen.

Then I moved to 5mg, where I stayed for three pens.

That took me through Christmas and New Year, and I was perfectly happy.

My appetite was well controlled, I was losing weight and I wasn't experiencing any particularly unpleasant side effects.

So why rush?

I then moved to 7.5mg and stayed there for another three pens.

Again, I had holidays to think about, and I really didn't fancy increasing my medication immediately before travelling and potentially discovering a whole new collection of side effects.

Nothing says relaxing holiday quite like spending the entire week feeling dreadful. 🙈

I subsequently spent a substantial part of my journey on 10mg.

Later, I took an eight-week break for personal reasons.

When I restarted, I went right back to 2.5mg, followed by 5mg.

And that's where I am now.

Five milligrams.

Interestingly, the appetite suppression isn't as strong as it was when I was taking 10mg.

But I'm actually quite comfortable with that.

I've lost eight stone. I've spent almost two years learning about portions, food choices and recognising when I'm full.

I don't necessarily want to feel as though I can barely eat anything.

I'm happy losing half a pound or a pound a week if that's what my body wants to do now.

I think earlier in my journey I felt that moving up through the doses was simply what you did.

But I've come to see things rather differently.

For me, the goal isn't to reach the highest dose.

It's to find an appropriate treatment, agreed with my prescriber, that helps me maintain the progress I've made.

And if that means staying on a lower dose while it's working?

I'm absolutely fine with that.

Of course, medication changes need to be discussed with your own prescriber. I'm sharing my experience, not suggesting that anybody else should follow my dosing history.

5. How much has Mounjaro actually cost me? 💷😳

Right.

Let's talk about the elephant in the room.

Because losing eight stone has been wonderful, but paying privately for Mounjaro has certainly not been cheap.

When I started in October 2024, I weighed almost 20 stone, had lymphoedema, struggled with painful legs and had significant mobility problems.

Despite all that, I didn't qualify for NHS treatment at the time.

So I made the decision to pay privately.

I've used Simple Online Pharmacy throughout my journey, and I've been happy with the service.

I particularly like having continuity with a provider that knows my treatment history, rather than moving around constantly.

When I first started, my pen cost around £133.

And for quite a long time, with various offers and discounts, the cost remained relatively manageable.

Even when I was taking 10mg, I was sometimes paying around £139.

Then came the UK price increases.

OUCH.

Suddenly, that same 10mg pen was costing me £289.98.

Nearly £290!

I did have a rather serious conversation with myself about that one.

Because although Mounjaro has been life-changing for me, there's no getting away from the fact that it's a substantial monthly expense.

I looked at my options and thought carefully about whether I wanted to continue.

Ultimately, I decided to stay with Mounjaro.

It's worked extraordinarily well for me, I've experienced relatively few side effects, and I value having a provider that understands my history.

But I am very conscious that I'm fortunate to have been able to make that choice.

For many people, private treatment simply isn't financially possible.

And I don't think that should be overlooked when we talk about weight-loss medication.

One practical note: these are examples of what I personally paid, not current pharmacy prices. Offers and prices change, so it's always worth checking directly.

6. What side effects have I experienced? 🤢

Now, I feel slightly guilty answering this question because I know some people have had a really difficult time with Mounjaro.

I've been incredibly fortunate.

I've never experienced vomiting or the persistent nausea that some people describe.

But that doesn't mean I've had absolutely no side effects.

And I did learn one particularly memorable lesson approximately 48 hours after my first injection.

It was Halloween 2024. 🎃

We were sitting with a huge bowl of sweets for the trick-or-treaters.

My husband was eating crisps and chocolate, and I decided to join in.

Two little fun-size chocolate bars.

And a packet of crisps.

Nothing particularly outrageous, you might think.

Except after eating one crisp, I suddenly felt completely full.

My body was quite clearly telling me that it didn't want anything else.

So naturally, I ignored it.

Because I didn't want to waste the crisps.

Oh, Helen. 🤦‍♀️

I carried on eating and subsequently developed what felt like extremely painful indigestion, with heavy pressure in my chest.

It lasted for hours.

At the time, I assumed it was related to eating when I was already full, although chest pain or pressure should never simply be dismissed as indigestion. Sudden or persistent chest pain can need urgent medical attention.

But the experience certainly changed how I approached eating.

I learned to pay attention when my body told me it was full.

Not to keep eating because something was left on the plate.

And not to treat finishing a packet of crisps as some sort of personal responsibility. 😂

I've also experienced constipation, which has generally been mild but definitely noticeable.

Psyllium husk, alongside plenty of water, has helped me personally. I discovered just how much when I ran out for a couple of weeks and the constipation returned.

I also had some dreadful headaches early in my journey.

They improved after I started drinking more water, although I can't say for certain what caused them.

These days, I'm much more conscious of staying hydrated.

So overall, I've been extremely lucky.

A few challenges, some adjustments and one rather unfortunate Halloween.

But compared with how much my health and mobility have improved, I'm enormously grateful that my experience has been relatively straightforward. ❤️

7. Are there foods I can't eat anymore? 🍗🍫

Not really.

There's no particular food I've declared permanently off limits.

But my tastes have changed, sometimes quite dramatically.

We eat far fewer takeaways now, and when we do order one, the quantity is completely different.

Gone are the days of ordering enough food to feed a small village.

We order what we're actually likely to eat.

Revolutionary concept, apparently. 😂

I've also noticed that some foods I previously loved don't appeal to me in quite the same way.

I remember standing on the high street waiting for my husband to collect me, near a KFC.

Now, I used to really enjoy KFC.

But suddenly the smell of fried chicken seemed incredibly greasy and made me feel rather queasy.

I was genuinely surprised.

I'd never reacted like that before.

And I haven't particularly fancied one since.

My eating habits have changed in other little ways too.

Take a roast dinner, for example.

I used to eat the potatoes and vegetables first and leave the meat until last.

These days, I tend to eat the protein and vegetables first.

And by the time I get around to the roast potatoes, I might only want one or two.

I KNOW.

Who even am I? 🙈🥔

But here's the reassuring bit.

I still enjoy food.

I still enjoy chocolate.

And I still enjoy a glass of wine.

I haven't suddenly become somebody who lives exclusively on lettuce and grilled chicken.

Thank goodness.

The difference is that I generally want less, and I'm more conscious of how different foods make me feel.

Which is something I hope I can carry forward long after I've finished actively losing weight.

8. Do I have a target weight? 🎯

This is probably the question I've found hardest to answer.

Because when I started at almost 20 stone, I genuinely had no idea what was possible.

I didn't know whether Mounjaro would work for me.

I didn't know whether I'd tolerate it.

And I certainly didn't imagine I'd eventually lose more than eight stone.

If somebody had told me back in October 2024 that I'd be sitting here nearly two years later, more than 40% lighter, I probably wouldn't have believed them.

And yet, here we are.

I've gone from struggling to get off the sofa to walking 10 kilometres.

I've gone from worrying about my mobility to actually looking forward to getting out and doing things.

And I've gone from wearing a size 28 to being able to buy clothes in sizes I hadn't worn for years.

Which still feels slightly surreal.

I'd still like to lose a little more weight.

And yes, reaching a healthy BMI would be a wonderful milestone.

Particularly after spending so many years dreading being weighed at the doctor's surgery.

But I'm also beginning to think about something that once seemed completely unimaginable.

Maintaining my weight.

Not constantly trying to lose another stone.

Not always chasing a lower number.

Just finding a healthy, comfortable weight that I can realistically maintain.

Because I'm 52 years old.

I'm not going to suddenly develop a six-pack and a Love Island beach body.

And frankly, I have absolutely no desire to spend the rest of my life trying. 😂

What I want is to stay healthy.

To keep walking.

To keep swimming.

To continue enjoying the freedom I've regained.

And to get older feeling capable and confident, rather than frightened about what my health might become.

If I can do that, I think I'll be pretty happy.

Whatever the scales say. ❤️

So, what have I actually learned after losing eight stone? 💕

I think the biggest surprise has been how much my approach has changed.

At the beginning, I was simply desperate to lose weight.

I wanted to see the scales move, feel healthier and find out whether Mounjaro might finally help me achieve something I'd struggled with for years.

Now, almost two years later, I find myself thinking much more about the future.

How do I maintain the progress I've made?

What habits do I want to keep?

What does a healthy, sustainable life look like for me?

And perhaps most importantly, how do I make sure I don't spend the next 20 years worrying about food and my weight?

I don't have all the answers yet.

I'm still learning.

There are still weeks when I make less-than-perfect choices, days when I don't move as much as I'd like and moments when the scales make me want to throw them out of the bathroom window.

But I'm a very different person from the woman who took that first injection in October 2024.

Not just because there's considerably less of me.

Although EIGHT STONE is still quite astonishing. 🎉

But because I have a completely different relationship with food, movement and what I think my body is capable of doing.

And if there's one thing I've learned, it's that this journey isn't simply about getting smaller.

It's about working out how to live differently.

Preferably while still enjoying roast potatoes and the occasional chocolate.

Because some things are simply non-negotiable. 😂❤️

Over to you! 💬

If you're taking Mounjaro, thinking about starting or simply curious about the experience, I'd love to know what questions you have.

I'm planning to talk more about the personal side of my journey too, including telling people about taking Mounjaro, dealing with other people's opinions and what the future might look like.

And if you've already been on this journey for a while, I'd love to hear what has surprised you most.

Has it been the weight loss, the changes to your appetite, the cost, or something completely unexpected?

Renpho kitchen scales:
https://link.amazon/B071QXTvO

Nutracheck:
For my referral link offering a 30-day free trial, send me a message through my website and mention Nutracheck:
https://helencraddock.com/contact

Renpho body composition scales:
https://link.amazon/B027n766i

Psyllium husk—the product I mention in my side-effects answer
https://link.amazon/B0h6Dqrv5

Simple Online Pharmacy—the provider I discuss in this video:
https://care.simpleonlinepharmacy.co.uk/
My referral code: REF7MUJ28

PRODUCTS & REFERRALS
Disclosure: The Amazon links below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission from qualifying purchases. I also receive a benefit from Nutracheck and Simple Online Pharmacy referrals.

As always, I'm sharing my personal experience rather than giving medical advice. Mounjaro is a prescription medication, and decisions about treatment, doses, side effects or stopping and restarting should be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.