You've reached your goal weight - come chat about maintenance, not regaining, going cold turkey or titrating down

[MargoLivebetter]

Would people who've hit their target weight be interested in a general thread on how they are getting on? You might be titrating your WLI down, you might be going cold turkey, you might be on a maintenance programme or you might have gone back on.

I used MJ for 5 months and I've hit my goal and I'm muddling through with my own version of "maintenance". I'm doing a 1.25 dose weekly to use up what I've got left and cut down gradually, so I don't lose all the benefits of MJ immediately. I was a complete lightweight and did the whole 5 months on just 2.5, as I had savage suppression and loss of appetite. So, I'm just halving my dosage.

I'd be interested to hear how others are getting on, given it all feels a bit new and the long-term aspects of weight maintenance are not yet much talked about.

I got up to 12.5mg but didn’t like the side effects at that level so went back to 10mg for a couple of pens, about to go to 7.5mg.

I’m going to take it slowly while I taper down - possibly a couple of pens on each dose but I’m going to monitor it as I go.

That sounds like a good plan @Kilimounjaro . You just have to see how you go as you drop down. People seem to have different reactions. I don't get massively hungry but I do have a bit more food noise on the half dose of MJ that I'm now on.

I've got one pen of Wegovy 1.0 left. I'm going to do alternate weeks until it runs out so I guess next week will be a test.

Fingers crossed for you @beguilingeyes .

@Kilimounjaro I went cold turkey end of December. I'm hungry again of course but it's not insatiable, not anywhere near, same level as pre-MJ. And I'm finding willpower is a lot easier to come by post--MJ, I don't overeat at all, I eat smaller portions, don't eat loads of crap. So far I'm finding it a breeze and I'm 2.5lbs lighter than when I stopped. Hope that gives you some comfort!

I did have a wobble and was going to re-order but I got a grip of myself and realised I could do it!

Thank you! I'm due to hit my goal this month. I cannot BELIEVE IT. I'm so scared of going cold turkey and stopping as I know the cravings will come back 10x stronger. So any advice will be great

exciting times @lilybit2025 ! Congratulations on getting so close to your goal. What WLI were you on and at what dose?

Following quietly here!
I'm not at goal weight, but have a piss poor relationship with food and very nervous about what might happen after MJ.

@mamabeeboo I too have decades of a piss poor relationship with food. I've titrated down to a tiny half dose of MJ and so far so good. It is two months since I hit my goal weight and I'm still there. I've also worked hard to find other ways to deal with emotions that are not food related. Clearly I'm not yet fully cold turkey, but so far so good. Lots of others on here doing well maintaining too. Don't let the naysayers get in your head!

That's brilliant. I'm not sure that cravings would be stronger if your stomach has shrunk.

Honestly the cravings and hunger are NOT stronger than they were pre-MJ, despite what people want to frighten you with. They just feel strong because you've not felt them for a while.

I feel like my whole attitude has changed towards food. I still have treats, meals out, drink a glass of wine most evenings, takeaways BUT if I have those, I make a sacrifice somewhere else.

Previously I would have easily had two bacon rolls, crisps, a McDonalds for lunch and then a takeaway and a bottle of wine (to myself!) on a Saturday for example. Now I'd rather just focus on my takeaway and glass of wine and stick to minimal calories for the rest of the day, and probably get in a long walk too. I know that I've got my 'treat' later on so I don't mind skipping other stuff. I look back and think WHAT WAS I DOING. I'd have thought nothing of having a pizza the night before and a curry or a roast dinner the next day either. I don't have 'food issues' but I do bloody love food and eating and cooking.

I also find I can't drink as much now, I bloat so easily - hence I've totally given up eating pasta as it's too uncomfortable.

You may be surprised when you come off or go to a lower dose how much your attitude has changed.

This is a really helpful way of thinking of it, thank you @SnacklessWonder
“Honestly the cravings and hunger are NOT stronger than they were pre-MJ, despite what people want to frighten you with. They just feel strong because you've not felt them for a while.”

Makes perfect sense.

Does anyone have any experience with hypoglycaemia? I haven’t had a problem while on MJ until this afternoon when I was out and about and started getting hot, shaky and feeling a bit wobbly. Bought a protein bar snack which helped, now back home sitting down with a glass of cold water. I’m worried about these episodes returning after MJ because that really will throw off my maintenance efforts.

Thank you! I was originally 12st (5ft 1) and I'm now down to 8st 6. Lowest I've ever been. Taken me 6 months to get here as I had just shy of 4 stone to lose. I'm currently on 12.5mg and plan on coming off in a couple of weeks time. So I'm absolutely dreading it and as I'm so short I can't afford to put the weight back on. It feels so weird looking on the mirror and being slim! X

I was also on mounjaro. It's changed my life x

@jellyfishperiwinkle thank you so much. I really hope so. I find I bloat a lot too now, I had salmon, baby potatoes and asparagus for dinner, in a tiny bowl as I can't stomach much and I couldn't even finish it I was so bloated. So I now listen to my body and know when to stop. My issue was before MJ was I used to eat like a gannet - quick and fast and then it would hit me all of a sudden and I used to eat the same size dinner as my partner (whose 6'6!) so I know my relationship with food has definitely changed. I'm just so worried about the food noise coming back x

@lilybit2025 that is a fantastic loss, well done. It is weird looking in the mirror and seeing yourself as a different person.

I realise I'm still on a small dose but I am finding it all manageable. I was really worried about reverting back to all my old habits and eating patterns but so far that hasn't happened. I took MJ for 5 months to lose weight and I think that has given me a chance to create new habits and new patterns of eating. I was in the office yesterday and there was an open pack of chocolate digestives in the kitchen. Before MJ there is no way I would have resisted the temptation, but yesterday I looked at them and inside my head the thought was "I'm not a chocolate digestive person anymore" - it was barely conscious. And I didn't give them another thought!!!!!! I honestly amaze myself because that would never have happened before.

@Kilimounjaro I have low blood pressure and get that lightheaded shaky feeling quite a lot, particularly now I weigh less and my blood pressure is even lower. I find the tube in the morning particularly difficult when I don't get a seat, so I always have a toffee in my bag. Keeping really well hydrated helps too - but it sounds like you're on that. Have you checked your blood pressure recently?

Hiya, joining this thread to pick up some tips and share my experiences. I’ve lost 4 stone on MJ going from 14.4 to 10.4.

I usually post on the May 24 started thread which has great support but I thought I’d copy my latest post from there to explain what my maintenance thoughts are:

Morning ladies, thought I’d update you on my recent order request from Bolt.
I placed my order as usual then got an email saying I had to fill in a further questionnaire and submit a photo as I’d been with them over six months.
Questionnaire was simple - height, weight, goals etc. photo needed to be full length in close fitting clothes with my face visible. All sent off ok and I was approved thank goodness.
I was completely honest and said I was pretty much looking to maintain my current weight. They replied that they were happy to let me stay on a maintenance dose of 5mg as long as my bmi didn’t fall below 22.5 (currently around 23.5).
losing weight has been life changing for me but, more importantly, my joints no longer ache, I’m no longer pre-diabetic, my liver function results are good - probably due to my reduced alcohol consumption - and I feel much healthier so I don’t have any intention of stopping anytime soon.
I think £150 a month is a sound investment for my current and future health.

Welcome @Greentrilby , great loss and health outcomes. Good to hear that Bolt are happy to support maintenance as well. Is the 5 dose the one you've always been on, or is that a reduction for you?

Started on 2.5 in May last year, then went up to 5mg in June and stayed there ever since.

Do you want to lose much more @Greentrilby ? I'm just thinking if it would be worth trying to reduce down to 2.5 if you have reached your weightloss / health goals.

Good point, I’ve only just reached my target weight and would like to lose 3-4lbs more so that I have a weight window of about 7lbs that I want to stay within. I will then think about lowering my dose. Interested to hear how others are doing?

Hi everyone, really thankful that this group exists. I was on MJ for 10 weeks but stopped due to the constant nausea, which was affecting daily life. I’ve had to go cold Turkey and am continuing my journey based on calorie counting and hitting a protein goal.
Want to stay accountable to someone and thought this group perfect for this.

I was counting calories all the way through taking MJ so know what that baseline was so am assuming if I stick to same cals I should still lose weight. Will be interesting to see if this theory works out and whether my will power is strong enough to ignore the hunger which has inevitably come back.

Hello. Joining this thread having reached my goal this week. I’ve done 6 months on mounjaro and have lost 50 lbs. I’m still taking it to maintain to start with and seeing how things go.

I don’t think in all my adult life I have ever consciously maintained a weight. I’ve either been on a diet or eating mindlessly. So I’m kind of terrified but also hopeful that this time really will be different.

I have restarted MJ. I was doing so well on maintenance, titrated down to zero and maintained my weight since October with cal counting. However, over the last month I have been struggling with cravings and worried that I will gain again.

I have decided to join oushk and have gone on their maintenence plan and have restarted 2.5mgs which has really helped