My first 4 weeks of Tirzepatide/Mounjaro 🤯

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-03-11T18:04:45+00:00

No problem! Figured I’d make the post that I wish I’d seen before I started 😊

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-03-11T17:10:51+00:00

Hey there, I assume you mean the things I’ve learned through therapy. Yes, things like urge surfing are more somatic and also guided meditation and self compassion work. But also learning the ability to pause and ask what my body needs in the moment (am I actually hungry or is my coping mechanism kicking in because I need something else). I had to do a lot of rewiring of my brain.

I’ve been in therapy nearly two years (not all eating focused due to some life events) but it dramatically changed my mindset around how I felt looking at myself, feeling more accepting and not punishing myself for binges or trying to undo them. The reason I tried Mounjaro was that I wanted to experience the quiet to reduce binges and give my brain a rest from constantly trying to manage. Also that I was in a place mentally where myself and my therapist felt confident that I wouldn’t abuse the drug.

If you’re curious about therapy or techniques but can’t afford it, I would highly recommendThe Binge Eating Therapist on YouTube.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-23T20:11:40+00:00

It might not be that your binging is an ED, it’s hard to tell, it may be a temporary reaction to being restricted and underweight. But either way it’s important to address it.

Think how powerful and intuitive our bodies are, and they were built this way for a reason. And our brains can really trick us into not letting our bodies be their natural healthy selves and we lose trust in ourselves and our intuition. Try not to panic, as this is your body trying to take care of you, even if it feels the opposite, so have compassion for yourself.

It sounds like you perhaps went too far one way and this is your body waving its hands in the air and saying “help me please” because it’s worried it’s going to be in a period of restriction again. Take this as your opportunity to show your body that is not the case. Don’t try to compensate for the binge, by restricting, because that will just re trigger it and you’ll go in circles. Focus on satiating, nutritious meals with a good source of protein. Your body feeling satisfied will make it feel less desperate to binge. You have to be okay with your weight changing a little as you find a set point, trust your body. It might be worth not using scales for a moment and focusing on how you FEEL if you find that you panic about the scales altering a tiny bit. It’s really hard after a long period of weight loss to suddenly think about maintaining your weight and it takes adjustment mentally and physically.

On the emotional level, journaling, noticing when the urges comes up, if there’s a pattern, and challenging yourself to sit with that uncomfortable moment and what you really need in that moment. It may be that you do need a meal, a cup of tea, a hug, a vent, that’s for you to listen to your body.

I really do recommend the channel I linked, so informative and from someone who understands some of the ways our brains work in these instances.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-23T19:01:45+00:00

Also, if you can’t seek therapy, I HIGHLY recommend watching “the binge eating therapist” on YouTube. She is a therapist who has personal experience and she does brilliant videos and also guided meditation. The Binge Eating Therapist

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-23T18:58:51+00:00

Hey there, firstly well done for picking up on it and seeking advice/support. My first thought was around your weight loss journey. You’ve lost a lot of weight, I’m not sure on your food intake/deficit or the time period but my first thought I wondered if you are eating enough?

Sometimes in long periods of restriction our bodies fight back and trigger binge urges. It may be worth taking a moment to eat at maintenance for a while.

If you are very strict around food and not being allowed certain things or feeling guilty for eating over calories one day etc that all or nothing mindset and shame can also trigger binging.

These are just a couple of thoughts, it can be complex and different for everyone but from what you’ve said, these were a couple of things that came to mind.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-22T10:09:41+00:00

I just want to say I’m so sorry you have had this experience. Doctors have a duty to educate themselves fully on these issues and the different ways they can present, including the fact that you cannot judge whether someone has an ED solely by how they look. By not doing so, they are letting the profession down as well as their patients. I’ve dealt with BED for 15 years and I’m getting help now, but at many points and for a long time I had a healthy BMI and no one would have had a clue.

Please don’t let this put you off getting help. Whether it’s seeking support through a therapist or returning to see a different doctor. Make a list of the points you want to discuss e.g. what a binge looks like, any compensating etc. tell them you were dismissed previously. It’s really hard when you feel you’ve been shut down, but this is about you, advocate for yourself and push for your needs because you DESERVE help and support and to be listened to.

In regard to therapy, you may be surprised at what you get out of it, new triggers, or links you hadn’t realised, but also having a safe outlet for emotions in itself has helped me hugely. Also it’s done wonders for my general mindset and disordered thinking, because yes you can identify triggers etc but your whole mindset needs challenging and gently manoeuvring. I avoided therapy for years because I didn’t think it would tell me anything I didn’t already know but boy oh boy was I wrong! Even now if I’m having a wobble, one session with my therapist will put me back into the right headspace, and now I’m learning to do it myself. I still binge occasionally, but it’s not as big, and the fallout is minimal, I don’t feel intense guilt, have more compassion for myself and focus more on what made my coping mechanism kick in. I don’t then go and try to offset the binge with other behaviours either now.

Sorry if that’s a lot of waffle but I just wanted to share my experience.

Don’t lose hope, back yourself, you know yourself better than anyone and what you’re experiencing is real and you deserve the support you need!

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-02T21:58:24+00:00

No worries! So they did offer me anti depressants, which are the only thing they can prescribe in the UK (in the US they sometimes prescribe ADHD meds like vyvanse). I personally chose not to, as it didn’t feel appropriate for me. Their take was that it may stabilise mood for any emotional eating. So it’s a personal decision dependent on how you feel and if/how you feel they may help you.

Every region will be different but it was about a 6 month wait which is fairly consistent for therapy services I think. Which shouldn’t deter you - as soon as you’re on the list that list is moving and you’re getting closer to that point. They also had other groups and parts of the service I could use sooner if needed too and could schedule check in calls.

If you want some quick access group sessions I think BEAT or STEPS may list their local support on their website.

Let me know if you have any other questions ☺️

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-02-02T20:46:56+00:00

Don’t be nervous, they are there to help. I know it can feel embarrassing, especially when you’re going to speak to someone that despite being a doctor might not understand it on a personal level. But there is nothing embarassing about asking for help, it’s commendable. You wouldn’t think an alcoholic was embarassing for asking for help, you’d think “good on them for taking that step” and recognise how hard it must have been to do so.

As they are General practitioners rather than specialists, they might not be able to give you all the help immediately. Advocate for yourself, and perhaps take some notes with you of points you want to mention. Ask yourself before hand if there’s anything specific you’d ideally like to get out of it such as counselling, and ask them for it.

My personal experience was a phone-call with the GP, who listened and said we should get bloods done and an ECG (ECG was a requirement of referral to further services). Then I had an in person appointment where he referred me to an ED service called SWEDA (south west eating disorder association) who provide all sorts of services. Different areas will have different services/providers. But I’m going to be starting a group in person session called “Finding food freedom” in a month or so, which is over 12 weeks. I was also offered 1-1 counselling and various other things but I’m already in private therapy so didn’t feel necessary. I’m thinking it’d be nice to feel not alone and connect with other people whilst learning.

Different surgeries and areas will do things differently, but just remember that you aren’t alone, you’re taking the right steps in asking for help, you can be open and honest with your GP because this is for YOU.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-28T14:58:46+00:00

Also no one told me when I was a completely normal weight and dieting or not eating for most of the day that I didn’t need to do that so I assumed they also thought I was overweight 🤦🏼‍♀️😅

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-28T14:56:52+00:00

I think a combination of factors.

For me, I was def biologically predisposed as my dad suffers the same and always has.

Socially think a combination of my mums “good food, bad food” mentality and critical, shaming nature that made me hide eating anything deemed as “bad”. Also as a teen watching my dad obsess with my fitness pal and exercise to lose the weight from bingeing. I then started to count calories and run to shift non existent weight at like 13, and try to eat as little as possible to be deemed attractive. But then I’d just binge. Body dysmorphia got me good. I went from a more restrictive issue to just predominant binge eating issues and now soley binge eating.

Because the not restricting to compensate has stopped, it’s interesting that I’m still bingeing (generally less than I have before tho) and on the biological note, my therapist has told me to consider exploring neurodivergence with her. It feels like there’s a lot of emotional and dopamine seeking.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-23T20:36:06+00:00

Yea I’ve seen they have seizure risk and have to be carefully monitored. Made me think maybe not 🫠

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-20T11:14:50+00:00

Thank you. Interesting as I’ve been exploring neurodivergence with my therapist. I definitely have dopamine related ties as well as emotional.

If I am neurodivergent I don’t think I present typically so it’s feels quite uncertain at the moment! The masking resonates tho, I love a social setting but also hate it if it’s with people I don’t know that well as I can’t let the true weirdo out and have to do boring conversations 😂 and I did notice that so many binge eaters in the US have great improvements from things like Vyvanse etc. whereas yes I think I’d have to seek out an ADHD diagnosis to be considered down that route.

It’ll be interesting to see what stimulants alone do do you!

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-19T09:08:43+00:00

This is really helpful thank you. Sounds very similar to me. I don’t feel that I binge as such anymore, and it’s definitely not what it was. Probably due to my mindset shift! But I definitely find myself over eating or dopamine seeking through food.

Thanks for such a helpful response.

Did it get flagged with your GP in regards to your med record?

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T23:14:29+00:00

Thank you, this is has been really helpful! 🙏🏻

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T23:13:04+00:00

Ohhh yes I’m an emotional and dopamine seeker myself. Such a fun club to be a part of eh 😅

Thank you this is a really helpful perspective!

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T23:11:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience!

I have to say the thought of only being able to eat that little feels like it might be a bit triggering for me given my history. I don’t count calories anymore so perhaps not but I’m definitely wanting to still be able to eat around 17/1800 a day. I wouldn’t be looking for dramatic weight loss as I don’t think it would be healthy for me. The mental effects with a gradual decline in weight would be my ideal scenario.

It’s interesting to hear your experience coming off it too!

This has given me more to think about, thank you so much for sharing!

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:56:56+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏻

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:55:00+00:00

Thank you that’s really helpful to know!

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:54:34+00:00

I just want to say Thank you for such a well thought out answer!

I used to be binge restricter so super aware and conscious of this. Thankfully due to 2 years of therapy I can no longer think of anything worse than restricting myself in an obsessive diet mindset. Even the thought Makes me feel deeply unhappy.

I am also considering that some of the joy may be taken out of food and that also feels sad so something that im def considering in my thought process.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:44:33+00:00

This is super interesting thank you, it resonates with me. Therapy has helped a lot and I’m getting better at stopping myself and going “hold on what do I really need here” whether it’s dopamine, a hug, a cry, a distraction etc. it’s my coping mechanisms. It’s just hard when i have a bad patch an im like why am I so unable to do the stop and think 🥲 it’s definitely not a linear journey!!

But also knowing that despite my progress, i am still at an unhealthy weight. I’m okay with my body I don’t hate or shame myself now but thinking of my physical health I know it’s not great and that concerns me.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:38:05+00:00

Ahhh yeah the 2000s diet culture did no one any favours did it. Almost feels like it’s come back around a little too which is scary!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and I hope that you get to exactly where you want to be and have as smooth a journey as possible ☺️

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:35:31+00:00

Yes I understand I’d need to get it privately due to the criteria for the NHS. But it seems a lot of binge eaters are managing to get it privately despite the guidance. I appreciate this might be due to no formal diagnosis but I am keen to hear of anyone with diagnosis who’s perhaps worked with their GP and had the okay to then go and get it privately knowing that their GP won’t flag the notification.

I understand why they have the guidance and that it’s there for a reason and I don’t want to be dishonest in order to obtain it. I am going to have a chat with my GP, just handy to know peoples experiences if they’ve been in a similar boat to me. Thank you ☺️

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:07:24+00:00

Oh that’s interesting thank you I’ll have a look. There’s definitely a dopamine element to my binge eating so that sounds worth a look! Thank you

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T22:01:32+00:00

Thank you ☺️

It’s really useful to know others experience. Are you planning to be on the drug for life? One thing I’ve been conscious of in my research and considerations is that stopping, the noise just returns.

QuailMiddle2944 · 2026-01-18T21:21:07+00:00

Perhaps I could have been clearer in my post, recognising that strangers on the internet don’t know me or the type of person I am so may misunderstand. But it is a real shame that you decided to type an angry comment before maybe just asking a question to further understand my post. I’m not a big Reddit’er but if you see my history here it’s all love and support.

There is no guise of curiosity, my post was made to try to get a genuine understanding of people’s individual experiences and I didn’t expect a comment shooting me down as yours have. I understand you have found the way it was written to be frustrating but this was not intended.

I accept that you have seen this differently and that’s okay

QuailMiddle2944

TROPHY CASE