I’VE spent the majority of my life yo-yoing from diet to diet, and had a wardrobe full to the brim of clothes ranging in size from an 8 to a 22.
So when I started on Mounjaro, and realised how well it was working, I was an immediate convert.
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The weight started falling off, and I was hooked, thanks to the appetite suppression I’d craved for all these years.
It was also the only thing I’ve ever found that successfully kills the “food noise“.
So I thought I’d be on the injections for life – until health problems meant I could no longer continue on my Mounjaro journey.
The idea of coming off the jabs was terrifying, but I didn’t have a choice.
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And now I’m not the only one, as the price hikes that came into play on September 1 mean that Mounjaro is no longer affordable for thousands of UK users.
Luckily, there are some natural alternatives on the market, so I tried out a few to see if anything could mimic the same effects I got from Mounjaro.
Patch it up
Kind Weightless Patches, £12 for a 30 patch pack
Rating: 4/5
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These patches supposedly tap into the signals that travel from the brain to the gut, to help regulate hunger and digestion.
They contain the extracts of berberine, pomegranate and cinnamon, as well as an essential mix of Vitamin B to help boost metabolism and reduce fatigue.
As fatigue was one of the biggest side effects I found from using Mounjaro, I was keen to see how these patches worked for me.
They can be easily applied to the arm, and are fairly small – discreet enough to ward off questions from any inquisitive friends.
One thing I wasn’t keen on with these was the fact I needed to change them daily.
With numerous health conditions, I already have a vast array of tablets I have to take in both the morning and evening.
I also have perimenopause, which I treat with an HRT patch I need to change twice a week.
How to take Mounjaro safely
IF you’re thinking of starting Mounjaro, here’s everything you need to be aware of to ensure you use it safely.
Consult your doctor first
- Discuss your medical history with a GP, especially if you have: thyroid issues, pancreatitis history, gastrointestinal disorders and kidney or liver issues.
Start a low dose and increase slowly
- Starting dose is usually 2.5 mg once weekly, injected under the skin.
- Typical progression: 2.5 mg → 5 mg → 7.5 mg → up to 15 mg weekly (in 2.5 mg increments every four weeks, as tolerated).
Administer it properly
- Inject once a week, same day each week, with or without food.
- Inject subcutaneously in stomach, thigh, or upper arm and rotate injection sites weekly.
Watch for side effects
- Common side effects include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, decreased appetite and fatigue.
- Seek medical help if you experience any of the following serious side effects: signs of pancreatitis (severe stomach pain), allergic reactions and kidney problems (low urine output, swelling).
Luckily, the effects of the patches outweigh the downside of faffing around with them.
For the first few days of wearing the patches, I didn’t notice much of a difference. But by day four, I noticed I wasn’t craving as much food as normal.
When it came to dinner time, I didn’t fancy a huge amount, and was able to cut down my portion size accordingly.
Night time has always been my danger time, when I crave snacks and sweet things, but that started to dissipate the longer I wore the patches.
The only downside is the patches irritated my skin, which is on the sensitive side.
I’m hoping that the more I wear the patches, the more my skin starts to adjust, as I think they could be a game changer for keeping cravings at bay.
Feeling good
Feel Pro Metabolic, £64.94 for 30 sachets
Rating: 3/5
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With a relatively high price point, these sachets may not be people’s first port of call.
You can get 30 sachets of the Pro Metabolic sachets for £64.94, which drops to £49.95 if you sign up for a subscription.
And while it might seem like a lot, it works out at around £1.66 a day with the subscription – while you can expect to pay up to around £10 a day on the new Mounjaro price plan.
Personally, I wanted to try the Feel sachets as they claim to be proven to reduce snacking, which is one of my biggest downfalls.
The sachets contain a combination of ingredients designed to “stimulate the body’s own GLP-1 secretion”.
For the first few days of wearing the patches, I didn’t notice much of a difference. But by day four, I noticed I wasn’t craving as much food as normal
This, in turn, helps manage appetite, keep cravings at bay and boost metabolic health.
Manufacturers say you should start to feel the change in 90 days, so I perhaps didn’t give my review quite long enough to work.
The mixed berry flavour sachets are designed to be mixed with 300 to 400ml of water, and are best consumed before a meal.
I decided to stick to one sachet-a-day and take it before dinner, in the hopes of combating both my biggest meal and nighttime snack cravings.
When mixed with water, the sachet is fairly unoffensive taste wise.
In the first three weeks of my month-long trial, I barely felt any difference.
However, things started to shift in week four, as I found I was having my dinner later because I wasn’t as hungry.
I was also unintentionally reducing my portion sizes for the same reason, and a banana was enough to satiate my evening snack cravings.
I also found these helped with my bloating after eating – a definite bonus.
Would I use these again? Yes, I think so.
They might not be the first thing I reach for, simply because of the cost, but I do think they make a difference.
Soul booster
GuLP-1 Weight Loss+ Formulation, £44.99 for 30 servings
Rating: 5/5
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The ‘Satisfy your Soul’ blend is another powder formulation that you mix with water.
This is the second most expensive option out of the three I tried, costing £1.50 a day.
But it comes with an 100-day money-back guarantee, stating that if you don’t lose weight you’ll be refunded.
I unfortunately didn’t have 100 days to test this out, but gave it a good go with the month I did have.
Unlike the Feel sachets, the GuLP-1 powder is designed to be flavourless – you just mix a scoop with 250ml of water and drink when you want to.
But that’s not to say it’s any easier getting it down you – especially if you have a weak stomach like me, so adding it to chilled water made it more palatable.
Out of the three different products I tested, this is definitely one I’ll be reordering
This fibre blend contains ingredients to help “naturally increase GLP-1 levels”. It also has the added benefits of supporting “blood sugar levels, cholesterol, and gut health”.
The sugar and cholesterol side of things aren’t big concerns for me, but I do struggle with my gut health. I felt this powder really improved my bloating and discomfort after eating, which in turn helped my confidence levels.
It also made me feel a lot more in control of my food choices. No longer was I reaching for the sweets and diet fizzy drinks – instead, I was swapping to nuts and fruit, and squash.
Nighttime cravings were also not an issue, and I chose to use the blend at lunchtime after noticing what a difference it made to my energy levels in the afternoon.
Out of the three different products I tested, this is definitely one I’ll be reordering.
Does it work as well as Mounjaro? No, it doesn’t. But it’s a good alternative if you can’t afford to stay on the injections, or if health reasons mean you can’t continue with them.
And if you’re looking for a natural, budget-friendly Mounjaro alternative, I think this is the best of the bunch.
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