Weight loss injections, such as Mounjaro, are effective tools that help with the journey of weight loss. Mounjaro, in particular, was initially manufactured to help reduce blood sugar levels in Type 2 diabetics, but now is licensed as a weight loss injectable medication. It contains the active ingredient, tirzepatide which slows down digestion and reduces your appetite, allowing you to feel fuller for longer. 

When paired with increased physical exercise and a balanced, healthy diet, Mounjaro can lead to around 21% reduction of weight after 9 months. In this article, we are going to have a closer look into how you can get to your goal weight when taking Mounjaro and how to keep the weight off once you stop taking Mounjaro.

How to Reach Mounjaro’s Maintenance Dose

To see the most effective weight loss results when taking Mounjaro, there are three things to do; take the appropriate dose of Mounjaro, eat a healthy diet and exercise more regularly. 

Firstly, the dose of Mounjaro. Mounjaro is administered via an injectable pen and is available in varying doses from the starting dose of 2.5 mg up to 15 mg. You would start taking Mounjaro at an initial dose of 2.5 mg for 4 weeks. 

Then, after these first 4 weeks, the dose of Mounjaro would be increased in 2.5 mg increments by your doctor every 4 weeks. Your doctor will decide what dose of Mounjaro is right for you. Each Mounjaro pen comes with 4 doses, meaning you will stick to each dose for 4 weekly injections.

This dose is called your maintenance dose. This is the highest dose of Mounjaro that you will take and you will most likely remain on that dose for the rest of your treatment to allow for long-term weight loss.

This slow building of the dose prevents you from experiencing side effects as severly s you might on higher doses. This also means your body can more easily tolerate the medication, meaning it is less likely you will experience severe side effects as you increase your dose. 

The recommended maintenance dose for Mounjaro is either 5 mg, 10 mg or 15 mg, with 15 mg being the most effective. The length of time you take Mounjaro for is ultimately decided by your doctor. However, it is usually stopped once you have reached your target weight.

You can learn more by reading our Mounjaro Dosage Guide.

As mentioned above, incorporating a healthy lifestyle and diet will help to maximise the benefits of Mounjaro. One particularly helpful method for implementing a balanced diet is the concept of mindful eating. Mindful eating allows you to focus on being mentally aware and present whilst eating food. Through engaging your senses and listening to your body, you are more likely to slow down whilst eating and less likely to overeat and therefore, this can help reduce weight.

Increasing your physical activity levels is also recommended alongside taking Mounjaro. The NHS recommends that an adult should aim to do 150 minutes per week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. 

It is important to recognise that if you aren’t already active, you can start slowly and work your way up, increasing your exercises as you go. Keeping your body active and moving will increase the amount of calories you burn and help to replace fat with muscle. This can reduce your weight and, in the long run, also help keep it down.

What to Do Once You’ve Reached Your Goal Weight

When beginning your course of Mounjaro, you will set out your target weight with your doctor. Once you have reached your goal, it is likely that your doctor will recommend you stop taking Mounjaro. So, the question is how do you keep the weight that you have lost whilst taking Mounjaro off?

The answer is continuing the helpful, healthy habits that were built when taking Mounjaro. It is important to stick with a well-balanced, nutritious diet alongside the principles of mindful eating. Also, continuing physical activities and exercise again will be beneficial. Doing both will make sure that you stay at your target weight and prevent further weight gain. 

It has been shown that if you stop Mounjaro, it is likely that you will gain at least some of the weight that you have lost back. However, those who implemented a healthy lifestyle whilst losing weight and those who continue that lifestyle will have better long-term weight loss. 

Regaining some weight is not a sign of failure or the medication not working; for further details on what might happen when you stop Mounjaro, please read here

Extra Support 

Of course it can be difficult to make these lifestyle changes and it can be difficult to stick to them. Here at Simple Online Pharmacy, we have a team of dieticians that can help guide you through Mounjaro and how to maximise its effects through a healthy, balanced diet. 

We focus less on the numbers on the scale, and helping you to build healthier habits that can help you reach your goal weight, whatever that may be.

We also have a detailed blog page which discusses various questions around taking Mounjaro, helping you decide if Mounjaro is the best choice for your weight loss journey .