Jump to: What is Mounjaro? | How will Mounjaro impact my eating habits over Christmas? | Tips for managing Christmas on Mounjaro | Take home message
Whether you should start a weight-loss injection like Mounjaro (tirzepatide) before Christmas is a personal choice that depends on your individual circumstances and goals.
While many people wait to make health changes until January, viewing Christmas as a barrier to starting your health journey can reinforce the problematic ‘all-or-nothing’ mindset that can hinder sustainable progress.
The holiday season presents unique opportunities to develop a balanced approach to social eating and celebration while working towards your health goals.
Starting Mounjaro before Christmas could help you navigate the festivities more mindfully, as the medication can help regulate hunger and portion control.
However, it’s important to understand that Mounjaro typically takes 4-8 weeks to reach its full effectiveness, so starting before Christmas means you’ll be in the initial adjustment period during the holidays.
What is Mounjaro?
Mounjaro is a dual-action weight-loss injection. It supports weight loss by mimicking two hormones, GLP-1 and GIP, that communicate with the brain’s appetite control centre, the hypothalamus, to lower hunger and food-seeking behaviour.
The drug in Mounjaro is tirzepatide.
By lowering hunger and our desire to eat, Mounjaro helps us eat fewer calories to achieve a calorie deficit.
A calorie deficit occurs when we consume fewer calories than our body needs to fuel its essential functions, such as digestion, blood flow, and brain function.
By creating a calorie deficit, our bodies will ‘burn’ the excess fat stored for energy, and we’ll lose weight.
Mounjaro also slows down the rate at which we digest food so that our stomach and gut send signals to the brain to signal the feeling of fullness.
So, Mounjaro supports weight loss by making us feel less hungry through two mechanisms:
- Communicating with the brain’s appetite control centre
- Slowing the rate that food is digested
Randomised controlled trials have shown that Mounjaro leads to an average weight loss of around 26% after one year.
How will Mounjaro impact my eating habits over Christmas?
Starting Mounjaro before Christmas will likely influence your eating habits in several ways:
Initial adjustment period
During the first few weeks, you might experience:
- Varying hunger levels as your body adjusts to the medication
- Potential side effects that may need management during social events
- A natural reduction in portion sizes as you adjust the drug’s effects
Relationship with food
The medication may help you:
- Feel more in control around festive foods and social events
- Better recognise genuine hunger versus social eating cues
- Make mindful choices about portions without feeling deprived
Tips for managing Christmas on Mounjaro
Rather than viewing Christmas as an obstacle to your health journey, consider these strategies for navigating the season:
1. Planning your medication schedule
Consider timing your weekly injection to work best with your social calendar. Some people prefer taking their dose:
- Early in the week before major events
- When you have a quieter day to manage any initial side effects
- On the same day to establish a routine
2. Navigating social events
Focus on:
- Choosing foods you genuinely enjoy
- Eating slowly and mindfully to recognise fullness signals better
- Staying well-hydrated, especially if consuming alcohol
- Engaging in activities beyond food and focusing on the other benefits of Christmas
3. Managing side effects
To minimise potential side effects:
- Eat three balanced meals a day rather than grazing on low-calorie snacks that leave you feeling hungrier
- Include a high-quality protein source like meat, fish, or tofu at each meal to maintain lower hunger levels
- Listen to your body’s fullness signals
- Stay hydrated throughout the day
Take home message
Starting Mounjaro before Christmas doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the festivities. Instead, it may provide an opportunity to develop a more balanced approach to holiday eating while working towards your health goals.
Remember that sustainable health changes can begin at any time – there’s no perfect moment to start.
The key is developing consistent habits that work for your lifestyle, regardless of the season.
Second Nature’s medication programmes
Second Nature has two medication-supported programmes: a Wegovy weight-loss programme and a Mounjaro weight-loss programme.
Why should you choose Second Nature over other medication providers if you’ve decided to try Mounjaro or Wegovy (assuming you’re eligible)?
For peace of mind.
Second Nature has worked with the NHS for over 6 years, providing weight-loss programmes across the UK.
While our Wegovy and Mounjaro weight-loss programmes are private and not currently used by the NHS, we’ve built the programmes focusing on scientific evidence, patient safety, and data security.
We hope that our 6+ years of working with the NHS and building a track record of effective weight-loss results will give you peace of mind to give us a try.
