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've just moved down from 1.7 Wegovy to 1.0 . Feeling ravenous this morning. Quite nervous about what the next couple of months will bring.

Welcome @beguilingeyes . How long were you taking the Wegovy? Are you looking to lose still or just stay the same?

I was on it for just over a year. I did Mysimba for a while which worked brilliantly for six months or so. I've gone from almost 16 stone to 11. I want to maintain now.
It's been like witchcraft for me. Miraculous results.

I'm going to do a month on 1.0 and then a month taking it every other week, and then stop. I'm with Numan, who've been very good but don't seem to have a maintenance plan.

That is fantastic loss @beguilingeyes . What is your maintenance plan for yourself - calorie counting or something else?

Intermittent fasting (16:8) and the calorie counting depends on what happens in the next few months.

I think I am going to go back to intermittent fasting too. Not done it in a few years.

I try every day to fast 14hrs as delay breakfast until 9.30-10am min it definitely helps me

@MargoLivebetter my mum still teaches a weekly exercise class she’s 80 and her oldest member is 92 and ex-ballerina so I’m a great believer in use it of lose it, movement in any form os great.

Sorry not sure where the underline came from

This is incredible! Very inspirational.

I’m 40s and my activity levels are abysmal. This is a bit of a wake up call for me.

Think I’m going to make ‘use it or lose it’ my mantra for 2025!

That sounds like a much better idea tbh. I do have a 5mg pen left that I might resort to if I can't keep up the cold Turkey and use that to taper. It's annoying that I'm thinking about what to eat again.

@NewYear0Me agree, we definitely need to use it! 😁

I'm finding OMAD helpful during maintenance (I couldn't do it during weight loss phase as had to eat little and often). I do it 2 or 3 times Mon-Fri, then at the weekend I'm able to eat what I want within reason. It suits me as I'm not hungry in the mornings and find it easier to focus on one really good, healthy meal late afternoon, rather than being tempted to eat a quick, higher carb lunch.

I reckon a 92 year old ex-ballerina still doing classes DESERVES underlining!!

I had to look up OMAD @KrankyKumquat ! I'm impressed that you can do that. Sounds like it works well for you.

I kind of intermittent fast, in that I usually go for 14-15 hours between dinner and breakfast. I sometimes manage 16 hours when I'm WFH. It isn't really done with intent, more that I wait until I'm hungry to eat breakfast and sometimes that can be quite late in the morning. I will have had tea and coffee with milk though, which I think doesn't cut it for the purists.

I have a tea with milk and sweetener in the morning too. Doesn't seem to hurt.

I fell in to IF accidentally. I've never been a breakfast person unless it's a late breakfast. I've found I'm absolutely fine until lunch time or beyond. I tend to have lunch between 12-2.30 then dinner at 6-6.30 with a supper about 8pm as I'm usually wanting something after dinner (tend to have a protein pudding). That's me until lunch the next day. I've gone to 4pm before now without being overly hungry. I hope I can keep that up!
It doesn't matter really what time one eats, but I do find once I start eating for the day, I'm hungry all the rest of the day. I believe not an unusual phenomenon!

I surprised myself today, sounds pathetic really, but I only intermittently run on the treadmill, never outdoors (dislike doing stuff publicly!). I do a sort of c25k kind of programme on it, but I've not really progressed much further than doing 3 min runs. Today, I fell asleep on the couch this afternoon and had to rush to get ready for the school run. I realised I didn't have enough time to walk, and was about to get in the car when I thought, no, I can run this. So I did! In chunky boot heels and my smart coat. I'd have looked a right dickhead, but it was exhilarating 🤣 because I did it! And I didn't feel like death at any point! It was only 5 minutes (half a mile) but I did it and conquered a fear of public running! Yay for being actually fit, which was my goal to begin with! Fit and forty! That's me 🎉.

Had a hard day tired and stressed and turned to carbs and sugary sweets which is worrying me after months of not feeling like this at all it was always my default reaction pre-MJ. I’m two weeks since last jab and my appetite is creeping up sadly.

Loving your impromptu run @ThisMustBeMyDream . I bet you didn't look a dickhead at all! I'd have been driving past envying your fitness and joints in a good enough state to do that.

@NewYear0Me this is what worries me too. I'm an emotional eater. Hadn't realised how much of one until MJ meant I couldn't. I had two months of such severe agitation each time an unpleasant emotion came up as I wanted to eat them away but couldn't. I've found other strategies that help, although whether they are bullet proof, I don't know for sure. What other things could you do to help when you feel tired or stressed instead of eat?

I was 2lb up this morning but went for an hours run pre-work which has helped stress levels. I’m nursing sore throat so suspect yet another virus is hitting. But I’ve been feeling hungry at 11am so eaten a banana for the last 6mths I’ve not had the need for a 11am snack and I’m still feeling hungry so will have a protein focused lunch to see if it helps.

I'm glad the run helped @NewYear0Me . I find exercise so de-stressing. Fingers crossed you don't come down with whatever is tickling your throat.

Decided to try using mfp for a few days to log what I’m eating as I’m having a wobble that I can’t trust my instincts again. Realised I’ve eaten 750 calories in breakfast & 11is my appetite is definitely coming back that feeling of wanting to snack is so so hard to ignore. That vanished on MJ and no idea if I can misdirect or ride it out. My dd is adhd & autistic very similar mind to mine it’s like a constant need for sensory feedback and when I crave crunchy food it’s so hard to avoid. I redirected to eating nuts, or rice cakes occasionally carrot sticks or apple which helps but arrhh it’s hard! I have maintained the same weight for 6-wks though I’ve noticed as i checked back on my app. I also have a snotty cold so that’s not helping.

hows everyone else doing whose cold turkey now?

Hopefully some of your fellow cold turkeys will come on and comment @NewYear0Me . I know for sure that there is nothing about my instincts that can be trusted!

How are the Friday weigh-ins going for those that weigh on Fridays?

I have been off mounjaro for around 5 weeks now. I am missing it!! I have maintained my weight so far which I'm pleased with but am aware it is early days! The food noise is creeping back, I am eating more and snacking but still tracking calories and staying mostly within my calorie allowance. My tastes have changed though and I am eating much more healthily and trying to prioritize protein.
My husband has started mounjaro this week and I feel a bit envious of him! I think being on the whole weight loss journey is exciting and once you are into maintenance it is much more mundane!

@MargoLivebetter
All good here thanks!
Despite my best intentions, I briefly dropped below 10st this week but all good again now, after a dinner last night which included, for the first time in 10months, some mashed potato! I really enjoyed it but blimey, it was filling. Halving my dose from 10mg is certainly still having an impact on my capacity to eat, even at the end of the week.
In other news, I seem to have found a miraculous cure for getting bunged up - a kiwi a day. Works better than any OTC meds I've tried and more vitC than an orange.
@NewYear0Me I'm sorry things are so tough at the moment for you. I wouldn't presume to offer any advice as I'm on MJ for the long term, except to say there's it's not a failure if you decide to go back on a low maintenance dose. It can take a month for all traces of MJ to leave the body so this period may be the hardest and things might settle down a bit yet but if not, there's something available which you know works for you. And it probably won't be for the rest of your life - it may be that our bodies settle at a new set point after a year or so, or another alternative, long term option might come along in time.