The Truth About Your First Wegovy & Mounjaro Christmas
You’ve shed the pounds, grown in confidence and know that you look amazing in your new, smaller-sized party dress. Compliments are flying in from all directions. And yet…you feel a little bit flat.
This is a strange but common sensation that isn’t discussed enough. You expect your weight loss success to be a magic wand, making life feel fantastic. However, you don’t quite feel your normal self, almost as if something is missing.
The reality is, emotional side effects for people navigating their first holiday season on Wegovy or Mounjaro can come as a real surprise. GLP-1 medication works effectively to reduce the “food noise” and achieve significant weight loss results. But excess is a Christmas tradition, so it can leave a void that many people don’t know how to fill.
This holiday season, the goal is not to overeat until fit to burst. It is about finding new ways to celebrate and find joy, embracing the new you and your connection with loved ones.
1. Dopamine Deficiency
The Christmas dinner spread is usually exciting, especially after all the preparations. But this year, it all feels a bit boring.
There is a scientific explanation for this.
Before your GLP-1 journey, roast potatoes cooked in goose fat, mince pies and eggnog would activate the reward centres of your brain, giving you a rush of the feel-good hormone dopamine. Now, they just don’t do it for you.
It can feel disappointing, because we have been brought up with the association that Christmas = food indulgence. Everyone else around you is still enjoying eating themselves into a food coma, but not you.
Try to turn this on its head. Your GLP-1 medication has freed you, allowing you to focus on what really matters: the people you are celebrating with. Look for joy in the giving and receiving, the conversation, the games and the Christmas TV.
2. New Treats
If chocolates and Christmas pudding no longer give you a “dopamine rush”, look for new ways to treat yourself and feel good. Whether that be a luxurious skincare set, new perfume, facial or manicure, tickets to a West End show or simply a nice long soak in a hot bubble bath, indulge in self-care and find the non-food goodies that make you feel special.
Taking the time to build new mood-boosting strategies will help your brain adjust to the new you, someone who no longer uses sugar as a reward.
3. Constant Commentary
It’s almost funny how nobody comments when you don’t feel at your best. Whether that’s because you disliked being overweight, unhealthy or unfit, you decided to make this journey for your own benefit.
On the other hand, when you lose weight and start to feel great, the comments start pouring in. Relatives or friends you may not have seen for some time pipe up with “You’ve wasted away, you need to stop now”, or “Don’t be getting that Ozempic face!”. It can be well-intentioned, but often tactless and overwhelming.
Have some replies up your sleeve for the backhanded compliments:
Pivot the conversation smoothly:
"Thank you! I feel much healthier now. How is …?
Be firm in your boundaries:
"I’m focusing on my health right now, rather than how I look, and I feel great. Let’s talk about something else.
Deflect with a lighthearted reply:
"Tell me about it! I’ve had to resize my ring before I lose it! Please pass me the parsnips.
Don’t let these comments get you down. Remember, they're usually a reflection of people’s own insecurities rather than being truly aimed at you and your looks.
4. Rejecting the Feeders
We all have at least one “feeder” in the family or amongst friends, someone who expresses their love by filling you up. This is often amplified at Christmas.
Rejecting the second helping of Grandma’s famous trifle can feel (to both of you) akin to rejecting her affection.
Manage these situations tactfully. Pay compliments to the chef, and instead of saying no, offer:
"“This tastes absolutely delicious, and I would love to take a plate home for leftovers tomorrow because I’m just too full to enjoy it right now.”
This way, you can validate their effort, love and kindness without compromising your stomach or feeling guilty.
5. Alcohol Pushers
It’s quite common to find that using Wegovy and Mounjaro impacts your relationship with alcohol. Many find they cannot hold their alcohol as well as before, or that they’ve lost interest in it completely. You might pour yourself a glass of your favourite tipple, have a sip or two and then decide you’ve had enough.
While you may be completely unbothered about no longer drinking, for some reason, it seems to make others uncomfortable! British culture centres heavily around social drinking, especially during the Christmas season.
You’re likely to encounter pressure to “Go on, just have the one” or hear “Don’t be so boring!”. If you don’t wish to drink, then don’t. It is your choice and your choice alone.
Here are some ways to handle the commentary without upsetting the mood:
- Keep a glass of sparkling water with a wedge of lime, or a sparkling grape juice to hand. It can pass off as a gin and tonic or bubbly, and helps to avoid the constant offers of top-ups.
- Volunteer to be the designated driver. This shuts down the conversation immediately.
Much like the backhanded compliments, remember that the pressure usually stems from other people’s defensiveness. Reducing your consumption makes people examine their own relationship with alcohol. Don’t feel the need to give in. Stand your ground; being hangover-free over Christmas can be liberating!
6. The Secret in the Fridge
If you haven’t shared your GLP-1 journey with family, a stay away from home can be nerve-wracking. You may be anxious about disguising your injection pen in the fridge without Mum spotting it when she takes out the cranberry sauce.
This worry can be easily overcome. If your pen is opened, remember it doesn’t necessarily need to be refrigerated, as long as you are not in an environment where the temperature rises above 30°C. Wegovy can be kept at room temperature for up to six weeks, and Mounjaro for a maximum of 30 days (always check the manufacturer’s latest advice).
If you prefer to keep your pen cool, or are celebrating the holidays in a sunny climate (lucky you!), then you can purchase a travel cooler and a few gel packs, keeping these on rotation and replacing them once they are no longer cold.
Otherwise, simply keep it in a small, opaque makeup bag that can be stored in the fridge discreetly. Nobody needs to know what is inside!
7. Dressing for Your New Body
A lovely non-scale victory is opening your wardrobe and finding all your old clothes are suddenly too big! However, if you haven’t yet reached your goal weight, it can cause panic, not least due to the cost of replacing all your baggy outfits.
Don’t let this affect your Christmas confidence. There are lots of ways to dress on a budget during your weight loss transition:
- Firstly, learn how to dress for your new size. Visit your local department store and take advantage of the free “Personal Styling” service. You don’t need to buy the suggested clothes! But it will give you inspiration for your new look.
- If you don’t fancy being dressed by a stranger or feeling under pressure to cave and purchase beyond your means, then try one of the many apps available that provide personalised style recommendations based on your body shape. Simply upload your measurements or a body scan, and enjoy suggestions from the comfort of your own home.
- Think sustainable shopping! You can pick up some as-good-as-new bargains on Vinted, Depop and eBay. The best part is, you can often resell for virtually the same price when you need to size down again.
- For glitzy Christmas events, there are lots of options for renting evening dresses or suits. You can often borrow a pricey designer label outfit for a steal!
If you prefer to buy new, then opt for adjustable waistbands, wrap tops and dresses, or belted outfits that can keep adjusting with you as the weight loss continues.
8. January Anxiety
Finally, it’s important to acknowledge the fear of ruining your progress over the Christmas week and being unable to get back on track in January.
The reality is, one week of relaxed eating will not undo your hard work. You may see a gain on the scales, but this will be water weight and should drop within a matter of days.
Try not to worry. Your GLP-1 medication continues to be a tool in your belt and will help limit any damage.
Avoid short-lived New Year’s Resolutions. Detoxes insinuate that by enjoying Christmas, you’ve done something wrong. Simply focus on slipping back into your routine and continuing to build healthy habits for sustainable, long-lasting weight loss and health.
Conclusion
Don’t compare this Christmas to previous years. Try to view the season differently. You are no longer consumed by food noise, no longer tempted to overindulge, and most importantly, you are healthier and in better shape.
Enjoy your new freedom and embrace the clarity. For the first time, food does not have to be the main character of your Christmas. That role belongs to you.