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Almost three years ago, I was 134kg and everything felt like effort. Walking, taking stairs, getting out of bed, going on holiday, being in photos, even just existing in public felt heavier than it should have.

Today I’m 85kg.

I know Mounjaro gets discussed a lot, sometimes positively and sometimes with judgment. But for me, it wasn’t a shortcut or an “easy way out.” It was the first thing that made weight loss feel possible after years of feeling like I was fighting my own body every day.

I wanted to share my experience honestly, especially for anyone who is considering it but feels unsure, embarrassed, or worried about what people might think.

My starting weight was 134kg. At that point, everything felt exhausting. Even simple things like going for a short walk, taking the stairs, or getting out of bed in the morning felt harder than they should. Physically, it was tiring, but mentally it was just as difficult. I was constantly thinking about my weight, my appearance, how uncomfortable I felt, and how much my body affected everyday life.

One moment that really pushed me was being on holiday with someone who was very active and fit. I remember thinking, “Why does everything have to be so difficult for me?” That was when I knew I needed to seriously do something.

I first heard about Mounjaro through my doctor. At the time, it was expensive and I had to pay for it myself, but my doctor strongly encouraged me to try it because she had seen great results with other patients.

I started around June 2023. At the beginning, Mounjaro was not as easily available where I was, so I started on 5mg and stayed on that dose for a long time. It worked really well for me, so I didn’t feel the need to increase quickly. Eventually, I moved up to 7.5mg, then 10mg, and the highest I ever used was 12.5mg. I never went up to 15mg because I didn’t feel I needed to, even during plateaus.

In the beginning, the appetite suppression was honestly unbelievable. The hunger and cravings were basically gone. I could sit in the office all day and not have the urge to snack or constantly think about food, which was completely new for me.

I had read quite a bit about how to eat while taking Mounjaro, so I was careful with my portion sizes and tried to avoid fried foods or heavy meals that would sit in my stomach for too long. That helped me reduce side effects.

The weight came off quite quickly at first. At times I was losing around 1kg per week. Eventually, it slowed down, but I made huge progress in the first year. Over the almost three years, I went from 134kg to 85kg, so around 49kg lost.

The appetite suppression is not as strong now as it was in the beginning, but Mounjaro still helps me get full quickly and stay full for longer. I still enjoy food, especially good food, but my relationship with eating has changed a lot.

Side effects were manageable for me. I had nausea occasionally, but not very often. Sometimes constipation, which I managed by being more careful with fiber and drinking enough water. I also sometimes had headaches the next day, but nothing major. My doctor prescribed something for nausea, similar to motion sickness medication, although I’m not sure how much it helped. Overall, the side effects were very much worth it for me.

I also changed my diet. I now naturally go for smaller portions, healthier meals, more salads, and more protein like fish or chicken instead of heavier options. I try to be more conscious of the quality of what I eat.

Exercise came later for me. I didn’t really start properly during the first year and a half, but once the weight loss plateaued a bit, I started swimming and walking more regularly. Even going for an hour-long walk now feels doable, which would have felt very different before.

The biggest changes outside the scale have been huge. I’ve had to buy a lot of new clothes. I feel much more energetic. I wake up more easily in the morning and don’t need to snooze endlessly. I feel more confident being out in public. And getting comments from people who notice the weight loss is incredibly motivating. Looking back at old pictures is honestly mind-blowing. Additionally, blood pressure has come down to normal levels.

The harder parts were mostly social situations and plateaus. When you go out with friends and order much less food, people do comment. Sometimes you’re sitting there with a small salad while everyone else has a full meal, and people ask questions. I learned to just eat slower so I still had something in front of me and didn’t make it awkward.

Loose skin is also something that comes with major weight loss. It’s not perfect, but exercise has helped, and overall it’s a trade-off I’m completely okay with.

My mindset has changed a lot. I don’t think there is any shame in using medication if it helps you improve your health. Yes, technically eating fewer calories than your body burns will lead to weight loss, but for some people that is incredibly hard to do consistently. If medical help is available, safe for you, and you can afford it, I don’t see why you shouldn’t use it after speaking with a doctor.

People take medication for headaches, blood pressure, diabetes, and many other things. Weight loss medication should not be seen as some moral failure.

I’m still taking Mounjaro now, but at a lower dose, and sometimes I skip a week. I’ll continue to speak with my doctor and monitor things now that I’ve reached my goal weight. For now, I expect I’ll continue taking it for the next year or so while figuring out maintenance.

My advice to anyone starting would be:

Eat small portions.
Focus on healthier foods.
Drink enough water.
Get enough fiber.
Don’t ignore side effects, but don’t panic if you have mild ones.
And most importantly, don’t wait forever if you’re seriously considering it.

I honestly wish I had done this sooner. If you’re thinking about doing something good for your health and you’ve discussed it with your doctor, don’t feel ashamed for getting help.