First time posting, but wanted somewhere to keep track of my progress.
A little about me:
Just turned 44 and a full-time wheelchair user since a nasty crash in 2005. I battle with chronic pain and arthritis in my knees and hips.
I also have an inherited bleeding disorder, needing Factor treatment from 1982 (when literally every dose was tainted with either Hep-C or HIV).
I'm one of the "Lucky Ones" - I dodged the HIV bullet and cleared Hep-C around 1998, but not before the virus did untold damage to my system. I have non-alcoholic fatty liver syndrome and early cirrhosis, despite being tee-total for most of my life. I have severe PTSD and chronic migraines (likely from long-term opiate dependency), which can see me bedridden for days.
After the car crash I had multiple spinal surgeries, physio plans, hydrotherapy & rehab, desperately trying to return to work.
In 2015, my firm decided to call it a day and medically retire me. I haven't been able to work again.
In 2019 I cut all opiates except Tramadol, which I've been gradually reducing since October.
I'd always managed to stay relatively trim, especially as I can burn 8-10,000 calories a day from my chair, but since I turned 40, I've found it harder and harder to keep the weight off.
Last year's family holiday to Mallorca was the first time I'd not taken my wheelchair, but hired a mobility scooter instead. In every single photo I look enormous and genuinely "fat". At my heaviest, I was 115kg at 5'10.
I decided to make some changes to my diet - no more huge bowls of cereal, cut out the pastries/danishes. Smaller portions and only eating during daylight hours.
I lost a couple of kilos, which felt good, but I seriously struggled with hunger, particularly on days when I was more active in my wheelchair. I found it difficult to judge how many calories I needed, but staying within healthy boundaries.
In terms of what I'm able to do for exercise, I can walk very short distances. I try to go swimming, but the cold triggers muscle spasms and arthritis flare-ups.
I have to be really careful how much energy/pain levels I burn through.
Despite best intentions, my weight dropped to 107kg and stayed there.
On 21st January, I started Mounjaro injections, having spent months looking into whether it would fit my health and lifestyle (and clearing it with my specialists).
The immediate effect on my hunger/appetite was impressive.
By week 5, I was under 100kg for the first time in years.
I'm currently using Huel meal replacement shakes for breakfast and eating balanced, homemade meals for dinner (I cook a lot of Thai/Korean food, so Tom Yum soups & Bibimbap noodle bowls, heavy on veg & protein).
If I need to increase my calorie intake for using my chair, I'll grab a banana or a low sugar nut bar.
My second round of Mounjaro starts next week, with the increased dosage. I'm starting to feel more hunger at the end of the weekly dose, so I'm hopeful it'll stay effective.
Currently looking for gym with a heated pool, so I can increase my fitness without overdoing things.