Should I stop now or keep going? Current pics attached

[LilBatFaceGal]

I've shared my journey a few times now and I'm approaching the end now perhaps!

Trouble is, I don't know when to stop!

I'm not particularly focussed on a specific weight or size, for me it was about improving my health as much as I could.

I started at almost 15 stone and I'm now 10 stone 2. I'm just under 5 ft 4 so my BMI is now 24.5 ish so I'm top end of normal weight

Should I go a bit further? I was planning about 9 st 7 but that feels a bit of a slog so now I'm thinking 9 stone 10 ish but again, every pound is a minor battle

What would you do? Keep fighting the good fight or start to wean off now?

@DollyPop100 and to expand, it also works on your blood sugar and various other things. It gave me more 'oomph' so I was able to be more active which in turn led to me feeling better etc etc

Thanks all.

I won't get off the train a stop too early then. I have a big, long haul holiday coming up in November so about 6/7 weeks away. I didn't start this diet to lose weight for that (although can't lie that the thought of not spending 14 hours on a plane weighing 15 stone and instead being a normal weight, didn't cross my mind!) but maybe I'll try for another 5-7 lbs then and try and achieve that by beginning of November

BMI is a very blunt tool, you look very slim to me . Weight and height don't give the full picture about body fat - I'm the same height and weight, but my tummy looks like your before picture 🤷‍♀️

I don't think that anyone would start you on a course of injections at your current weight, so that would answer the question for me.

Your 2nd paragraph is illogical. OP has already started her course of treatment and is now looking for maintenance which is supported.

@CabbagesAndCeilingWax in the interests of total transparency here, I had a tummy tuck back in 2020 so my stomach cost me a lot of money to look pretty flat!

However, I did come perilously close to totally fucking it all up by putting on loads of weight in lockdown!

Oh, I didn't realise that. Do you have to commit to a lifetime of maintenence-level injections, then?

Well, you look great either way!

I agree with this. My weight has stabilised at 2lb into 'overweight'. I would love to get down into healthy BMI but it does get harder the closer you are to a healthy weight.

If you stop now, some will creep back on and you could end up just above where you need to be for health reasons.

I'd aim for toned 9st 10lbs. Then if you gain a bit you are still within healthy BMI.

Makes complete sense thanks have read a lot of your posts and they have helped me, thank you

@CabbagesAndCeilingWax I don't think anyone actually knows for sure tbh!

I always say that the best way to predict the future is to look at what has happened in the past and well, that's a bit depressing as all I've done all my life is put weight back on! So I am very aware that the chances of me keeping this weight off are not good.

But - you can't think like that can you? I don't want to be on MJ in the very long term but nobody really knows how that's going to pan out going forward. MJ has only been available on the UK since earlier in 2024, hence why we are only now seeing people reach their target weights and consider maintenance and what that may look like

My opinion is an observation I've noticed from other boards on reddit: if you're planning on stopping MJ entirely, I'd lose an extra 5-6lbs, because that tends to come back immediately and I suspect it's bit of water weight (the big drop everyone seems to have right at the start coming back, essentially).

Even if it isn't, I'd just think it's worth it to have a buffer in case you struggle with the food noise again.

You look great!

@LilBatFaceGal you look amazing! It's great that you've stayed on the 2.5mg as I can't see myself moving up at all so it's brilliant to see your results. If it was me, I agree that a little bit of wiggle room with 7lbs would be good. Have you had any side effects at all?
The way it controls your brain to tell you okay, you've had enough now is magic! X

No, lifelong treatment isn’t required. You can stop treatment whenever you like.

At the moment, maintenance prescriptions are down to the discretion of the pharmacist. Some physicians have a blanket policy such aa only providing maintenance support for 2 years or only until “x” BMI is reached, others may offer this indefinitely. It’s just down to a consultation to see what’s suitable for you.

I’m not as far on as you - have lost 1.5 stone so far. Just skipped a 7.5mg dose as was on holiday for a week.

I’ve put on 2lb in the 10 days I was away, after walking 10k plus steps most days. Not too bad you might think. But - I genuinely thought I’d not eaten that much more than usual on MJ although I did feel slightly hungrier (less sick 😂)

It’s amazing how very little you need to eat and drink to maintain. Back on it today and hopeful of following your path - was 15+ stone and would very much like to be 11ish.

After my break am thinking quite carefully about maintenance (appreciate it’s a bit soon) but am wondering what it’s going to look like and thinking a maintenance dose might be in my future.

@Chumpfriend that sounds like a fluctuation to me at your stage in the 'journey' and not an actual gain. I have had many fluctuations of +2 lbs or so and I never count them - what matters is the overall trend every 30 days and if that's down, then all is as it should be

If that makes sense

Really wise to think about maintenance now and what that might look like. Never too early. You're doing really well - good luck with it all.

I think you should lose a couple of kg's more so that you are more comfortably in the healthy range and then work on toning your body. I think you could do with some more core work which will also help with posture. At the moment you aren't standing tall and proud (which you should) and I think just being more muscular in general will help that. It also helps with burning more fat in your regular day to day life. So, less cardio, more strength is my tip and keep eating the way you are for a little longer.

@LilBatFaceGal Wanted to join in with everyone that you look great, and keep it up. I think that a slightly lower healthy weight will stand you in good stead for age related illnesses later in life. Since you're a vegan, me too!, can I share my favourite website with you nutritionfacts.org

Oooh. Interesting to hear you stayed at 2.5. I'm 2 weeks in and thinking about doing the same. I'm not losing much weight but thinking it's probably easier to adjust back to nothing from 2.5 than from a much higher dose.

@Neolara definitely try and stay on the lower doses as long as you can! We are all so different aren't we? Some people work all the way up to 15mg and some can stay relatively low