Living in Greece in the 1990s, my life was as much about food as it was anything else. A young man in my mid-twenties, working as a casino croupier in Halkidiki, I spent my days lolling in the sun, slurping ice cream and enjoying bottles of ice-cold beer while looking out across the Aegean Sea.After finishing a night shift, I’d walk home in the small hours, stopping for a crepe filled with cheese and chilli, and picking up a fresh pastry from the bakery on the way home for good measure.Other nights, I’d eat hot slices of pizza, grab a gyro of shredded lamb, chips and salad, and gorge myself on feta cheese and filo pastry, drizzled with honey.And of course, every meal would end with healthy servings of baklava: sticky, sweet and delicious.You can only imagine what I was like on my holidays later in life, when any notion of discipline or routine went completely out of the window. Just the smell of a local bakery would get me out in the morning, and I’d rush back to our villa or hotel with arms full of pastries, long before coffee was even brewed.Today, some 30 years later, eating like that would probably kill me. And age isn’t the only obstacle. It’s Mounjaro.I’ve been using the jabs since the start of June, and its effects kicked in the day after my very first injection. I felt a lack of appetite almost immediately – and with it the burning sensation of acid reflux and indigestion.But the real challenge came two weeks after starting Mounjaro, when I went on holiday to Greece with my wife, Zoe. Michael Ferguson has been using Mounjaro for nearly three months and says it shrunk his appetite almost instantly, meaning he can’t indulge on holiday the same way he used to Before using weight loss jabs, his trips to Greece involved gorging on gyros, cheesy crepes and sweet pastries such as baklava. Now those foods are out of the question, he saysWe spent ten lovely days in Aegina together – and while I could enjoy the same salty sea breeze and sweeping views as I did during my twenties, my relationship with food and travel has been completely altered.Where I would once indulge on pastries and fresh bread, now I just look wistfully at the rows of croissants at the hotel breakfast. Gyros are out of the question, too, as are baklava and ice cream.And part of the issue with Mounjaro is that it doesn’t only limit foods, it affects portion sizes and enjoyment, too – which can be a problem in Europe, when meals are about the social experience as much as they are the food.When all you can manage is a single octopus leg, dining becomes a very different matter.Even back at home, I feel awkward leaving food in restaurants. At first, I would try to explain: ‘I’m sorry, I’m on the fat jabs, and I can’t eat as much as I’d like to.’ But I’d be met with hard stares and shaking heads from waiters.Yet, however testing my experience combining holidays and Mounjaro has been, it was far worse when Zoe was using Mounjaro and I wasn’t.She started in June last year and suffered from nausea so badly she barely wanted to eat a thing.Holiday mealtimes were atrocious. I would be happily eating my food, slowly enjoying another drink. Meanwhile, Zoe would have finished half an hour earlier, and would be sitting picking at the remainder of her food.One evening we had lamb souvlaki, and Zoe could only manage two pieces, despite knowing how gloriously tasty it was. We were both miserable.So going on holiday this year with the both of us using the jabs, we’ve changed our approach significantly. Michael has reduced his alcohol intake on holiday. Last summer he’d have beers on the beach before lunch, with lunch and afterwards, too. This year he limited it to just one or two a day Even after enjoying his time away with his wife in Greece, Michael was able to stick with his weight loss goals and has lost 15kg on Mounjaro Since his wife, Zoe, is also on the jabs, they have similar appetite levels and share their meals on holiday – enjoying a Mediterranean diet full of high-fibre salads, fish and meatsI’d considered waiting until I got back from holiday but I wanted to start the process, and because of my job off-shore, working four weeks on, four weeks off as a hydrographic surveyor, it was better to start when I did.This time around, we had similar appetite levels, so shared a starter and a side salad for lunch, followed by a main and another side salad for dinner. If the mains looked or sounded too filling, we’d share something instead.And while my love for Greek food once focused on gyros, chips and rich desserts, my appreciation for the cuisine has now extended to grilled meats, fish and salads.In fact, Greek food is actually a good fit for Mounjaro users, as the jabs work best if you stick to high-protein, high-fibre options – of which the Mediterranean diet has plenty.Not eating as much as I normally would or struggling through food known to be difficult on Mounjaro, I managed to enjoy the food I ate.We also worked to be more regimented with our mealtimes. Mounjaro causes your stomach to process food more slowly, so we had to space out our meals or we wouldn’t be hungry for the next one.We’d have a small breakfast at five or six in the morning, lunch around 11am and dinner at 6-7pm. That’s early by Mediterranean standards, but we had to give ourselves a couple of hours between finishing dinner and going to bed – or you’re left with an acid taste as you try and get to sleep.My alcohol intake has also quartered. Last year in Greece I’d have a couple of beers on the beach before lunch, then beers with lunch, and back to the beach for a couple more.In the evening we’d have a bottle of wine and probably order a second. At the end of the meal I’d drink ouzo and I’d be tipsy by the time I went to bed.This year I’d have maybe one beer on the beach, and possibly a second one later. At dinner I’d only have a glass or two of wine, or sometimes I’d drink ouzo instead.When I started this journey, I anticipated being miserable for six months but I’m hoping that once I’ve shifted this weight, I won’t have to worry so much.I’ve lost 15 kilos already, dropping from 110kg to 95kg, and I’m hoping I’ll lose a total of 25 – although at 56, I don’t need to worry about having a beach body.I’m tempted to retire in Greece, and be one of those fat Greek men walking around in a budgie smuggler that no one looks at twice – although having to put my hands in my pocket to keep my shorts up is a pretty incredible feeling. Advice for those travelling when using fat jabs… … from Hazel Shore, SCOPE-Certified Obesity Specialist Dietitian at Phlo Clinic What do you advise patients heading to all-inclusive hotels and resorts, where there is so often the temptation to overeat and drink more than you might usually?All-inclusives get a bad reputation but they can actually be a great opportunity to try new foods without committing to large portions. Most people struggle because they go from a structured routine at home to none at all, and end up grazing all day. So, keep to rough regular mealtimes to give your day some shape.At the buffet, walk the full length first and size up your favourites before you pick up a plate, then use the T plate model to portion up: half vegetables or salad, a quarter protein, a quarter carbohydrates. And remember hotels repeat their meals across the week, so there’s no need to load your plate. The meal will come back.If patients do want to enjoy a drink or two while away, how would you best advise them to approach this?Set a start time, a cut off time and a drinks limit. Having your first drink with a meal is always better than on an empty stomach, especially with a suppressed appetite, where you may be emptier than you realise. Tolerance is usually lower on GLP-1 medications too, so if you overdo it, you’re likely to feel nauseous.Choose lower calorie options and avoid creamy cocktails like pina coladas, which can make you feel worse because of the fat content. And because alcohol increases your risk of dehydration, alternate every alcoholic drink with water.For patients who would ordinarily have spent a lot of time enjoying the food culture of a holiday destination, how would you advise redirecting this energy – or is there a way to still dig into the foodie scene of a new destination while on the jabs?Shifting your mindset to focusing on quality over quantity will really help. Trying lots of things in small portions gives you all the variety and newness you’re craving without the huge intake, and you won’t feel any better eating a large volume of the same food.In practice, this could mean sharing dishes with the people you’re eating with so you can try more. Eat small plate styles like tapas, mezze and street food markets, which suit a smaller appetite perfectly.Are there any side effects patients should look out for while holidaying abroad, particularly in a place with a different climate to the UK?Hydration is number one. Heat, alcohol and side effects like nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea all raise the risk of dehydration, and a suppressed appetite means you may forget to drink as well as eat. Aim for two to three litres of fluid a day, carry a water bottle with you, and limit alcohol and caffeine.Those same symptoms are also typical of foodborne illness, so eat from hygienic places and don’t automatically assume it’s the medication. Eating little and often helps with nausea, and gentle daily walks keep constipation at bay.Should patients consider pausing treatment before/during a trip abroad? And what can happen if they do ‘take a break’?You can take a pause, but there are two things to understand before you do.First, these medications have a long half-life, so even if you skip a dose before you fly, there will still be some in your system for the trip. Your appetite will still be suppressed, and you may still get side effects if you overdo it, so you don’t really get the break you were picturing. Second, your appetite will return. That can happen mid-holiday, which can catch people out.If the reason for pausing is to plan a blow-out while you’re away, it’s worth asking yourself whether you’d still do that when you reach your goal weight. If the answer is no, the holiday is a chance to practise the habits you’re building, not a break from them. <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/travel/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
As told to Samantha Rea