Jan 25 Starters Thread 7 😱 Losing, whooshing, turtle pace - we're getting it done.

[Thelittlestranger]

New thread for those who started in January 25. 3 months in and we're still going strong 💪

Afternoon everyone, managed to do some gardening, I’ve had to dash to 🚽 two mornings running, not repeatedly. Not like me as I’ve got a very strong stomach. Anyway who knows if it’s my Friday 💉 or not. I’m going to do one more 2.5 from this pen on day 32 and move onto my next one.

Can someone tell me if you have to use a syringe rather than one of the screw in needles for a fifth dose? I can’t remember what I’ve read. I did a bonus dose on my second pen but that’s five weeks ago now. I’d rather use a screw in needle if I can.

@yomellamoHelly one if my friends had a 2.5, 5 and 7.5mg pen one after the other, lost 3 stone and stopped there. She did give up 🍺 and takeaways at the same time.

Afternoon all. Great to hear all the positive stories!
I'm still feeling a bit low after my 0lb loss last week and only having lost 0.6lbs at my midweek weigh in yesterday. I know i struggle to keep up with diets if I'm not seeing results and really wasn't expecting such a slow down when I still have almost 3.5 stone to lose. 😞
Yesterday I took my son to the zoo and walked and carried him a lot, so much so I've done my back in! Hopefully all the exercise might help, I've not incorporated that yet as I wanted to lose my first 3 stone first (plus I'm busy/lazy and not sure when I can't manage it)

@UnderandOverwhelmed have you spotted any trends in your weight loss? I was looking at mine today and for two months out of 3, I have pretty much lost 3lbs one week, 1lb the next, and stayed the same the next two. Happened both months, and seems to be happening again this month. Perhaps that is just how our bodies do it?

@DGonMJ I hate to think how much my one rep max has gone down for squats and D/L. I needed a break from heavy lifting last year and so stopped my PT and focused on higher reps, lower weights and more mobility. I lost the buzz a little. Now I'm smaller, I'm tempted to go back and try and carve out those bigger muscles again 😁

@MananaPenelope you can use the screw in syringe if you twist and break it for bonus dose. I have never done it - always use the syringes I bought...aso means I know how much is in the bonus dose

Went for a run earlier, and then finished off the gardening (for the weekend anyway!) Wore last year's shorts and they are too big. And I have wobbly top of thighs which I need to do something about.

I’m back from my lovely quiet weekend away which was filled with pottering round ancient sites and quirky shops. The 7.5mg bonus dose has not only suppressed my appetite but also my temptation for charity shops. So it’s been a cheap weekend.

Stood on the scales when I got back so definitely not with an empty stomach and I’ve lost 1.2lbs! Haven’t seen 9st 10.8 for many a year. Still on target for mid 9s for holiday in May and goal by mid June, just before my maintenance appointment. Nobody has noticed still. Perhaps nobody noticed me gaining the weight and still thought of me as my trim self from years ago. 🤣

2 things from today - I have a good friend who is undoubtedly a bit on the heavy side, always been bigger than me, even when i was at my heaviest. She came over and I asked if she wants to root through the bag of my too big clothes, just in case she finds something. Well, she did. Took almost all of them, because they all fit, including jeans. So I guess I only imagined I was the slimmer friend due to my weight blindness.Ooops.

But on the other hand, ordered a pair of jeans and as it was a model I had not tried before, wasn't really sure what size. They came out of the bag, laughably small, teeny tiny, proper slim person's jeans, clearly could not possibly fit me.
They fit. They're tight, but totally wearable.

Oh and yes weights - I've done 4 bodypump classes this week, plus heavy weights at gym this morning. I think my favourite thing really with the fat loss is that my arms look fabulous - I've always had the muscles, but they were hidden under the padding.
I'm really looking forward to warmer weather and sleeveless tops. In fact, for once, I'm really looking forward to summer and wearing all lovely summer clothes and not feeling like Greenpeace is about to show up and roll me back into the sea.

I didn’t lose anything for three weeks but not really suprised as I went away on holiday, then I came back and it was Easter and we entertained family and ate Easter eggs, then I had terrible PMT for almost a week. Period arrived yesterday and I have finally dropped another pound. Hopefully back on a losing streak now as I am going up to 7.5 for my next pen which I will start a week tomorrow.

SW: 12.13
CW: 11:9
GW: 10:7

Overall I feel so much healthier. My Seborrheic Dermatitis has pretty much gone and my skin hasn’t looked this good for years. My plantar fasciitis is also massively improved. However, my periods are getting worse every month. May just be a coincidence though.

@Thelittlestranger I'm not really seeing a pattern, although after two of the four times I lost 3lbs ive then lost nothing the following week. Last time the week after the 0 loss was a 2.6lb loss, doesn't look like that's going to happen this time but it could change by Wednesday. I'm definitely feeling much more temptation to throw in the towel and eat a pizza than I did towards the beginning

Hoping for this too but not there yet. My arms are better but definitely still have a fair bit of bingo wing. Trying to do my Tricep exercises a lot. I was in the gym all last year and definitely building muscle but not losing weight because of food!

W16D3
SW: 99 kg
CW: 89.70

Finally eighty! I am a bit dissatisfied with just 10 kg in 4 months but well, given still low dose, 3.40 mg I guess I should be happy.

@DGonMJ I’m on 7.5mg. Second pen of that. My losses have been very slow. I just don’t understand how my weight went up this week when I was eating less than 1000 cals per day.

Have spent afternoon examining last night’s party photos. I’m still fat. Not as bad as I was in November. But still fat. It’s reminding me that I need to stick at it and keep losing to get into the healthy BMI zone. Allowing myself a bit of Easter egg tonight that I locked away last weekend. 😞

@UnderandOverwhelmed it's a hard slog this isn't it? Try not to throw in the towel - you are losing. Maybe focus on the other habits you are building?

I can see my muscles but I want MORE 😜😂 I'm going to try and focus on that for the next few weeks. A month of feeling good about myself, and working hard on myself as the good weather comes in. Ready for it.

I am starting to think about exercise now that I’ve lost the first few stone (still have another 7ish stone to go)! I’ve gradually increased my walking, and have gone from an average of 6k steps a day up to 12k which I’m happy with. Have also dug out my old exercise bike and am trying to do 1 or 2 sessions a day on that. I am worried about my upper arms, I can’t afford to join a gym, can anyone recommend any exercises I can do at home to help tone them a bit? Any workout videos or recommendations for dumbbells I could order?

Yes certainly @MummyInTheNecropolis
You can start with bodyweight - push-ups (whatever option you need - start with pushups against a wall, then move to elevated surface, then to kneeling). Triceps dips - again many modifications possible.
For workout videos, I like Caroline Girvain stuff, and she has many arm workouts. Dumbbells - depends. You can go heavier for fewer reps, or lighter and do more - as long as you work til failure (meaning you can't lift the weight for another rep) , both options work.

Thank you @HeavyHeidi (you really need a new username now)! That’s all really helpful, I will look up Caroline Girvain.

@Thelittlestranger @UnderandOverwhelmed @HeavyHeidi @MummyInTheNecropolis Thinking about strength training is the next thing to add to my routine. I've signed up with a local instructor who does online classes 3 times a week. So, starting this week!
I am already drinking more water although I do struggle with this so not up to 2 litres a day yet.
Slowly, slowly, my healthier lifestyle will win through! ( I hope 🤣)

I'm not trying to preach at you but you're not being very kind to yourself. You say that you're still fat but not as bad as you were in November. I say: Look at the difference between now and November! What a difference!

It's very easy to say, I know, but talk to yourself like you're your friend - think about how encouraging and thoughtful you'd be when talking to a friend about their weightloss and apply that to yourself.

You will get there - it's a slow and often frustrating journey but it is a journey that you are making great progress on!

Morning losers! Have gained this morning, pesky fluctuations (nothing to do with all the cake I’ve eaten). Might not bother weighing for the rest of the week. Couldn’t finish my breakfast this morning so yesterday’s jab is kicking in, I just need to remember to eat fruit when I’m peckish rather than a slice of banana cake.

Does anyone here take Creatine? Thinking about taking it to help regain muscle - I’ve lost 4-5kg of muscle according to the Renpho scales. Also I know a few of you are ND and wondered if it helps NDs with energy (for DS16).

@DGonMJ yes I've been taking creatine, when I remember. Not sure of course how much it really does anything, but at least %-wise, my muscle mass has been going up according to my scales.

Morning all - it’s great to see we’re still here and continuing to make improvements in our health. @Polkadotdash I agree with @meatyryvita - don’t be hard on yourself. Slower weight loss is still weight loss and celebrate your achievements since November 💐

I’ve been burrowing in the depths of my wardrobe this morning and found something that scared me - one of my training tops back from when I took my swimming far too seriously about 17/18 years ago. It’s still in good enough shape to use but the photo will explain why it won’t be used. Back then it took 10-15 minutes to get into my suits, now I think it would take that long to get it over my thigh. I’m thinking about framing it and using it as a warning about becoming obsessed. It wasn’t weight/diet obsession back then it was all about improving my times but obsession is obsession.

Wise words @Jins I am definitely in danger of becoming obsessed.

I finished the podcast recommended earlier upthread this morning (loved it and shared with some friends) and decided to up my doses to the prescribed 7.5mg dose, rather than less. I've been using less dosage for the past 3 months than prescribed and it occurred to me while listening that this was all becoming quite hard again. Which might explain why I have started obsessing over everything I put in my mouth as I'm not getting the full benefit of the drug. That stopped for a while when I started and I liked it.

Another fan of Caroline Girvan here...

Weigh day today. 3/4lb lost.

@Jins, I was always inclined to lose weight in times of business, stress, etc., etc., until I became unwell in recent times.

I remember taking a two month sabbatical in my early thirties when I weighed 6st 10lb. I'd been travelling internationall a lot, managing two large projects, one in Asia, one in Italy. I was literally running on empty, I stepped off the wheel for two months. It wasn't good for my health and it wasn't a good look at all.

Everything in moderation, that's why I fancy being a size 12-14 at the end of this journey, nothing too slender for me.

I’m absolutely starving today! It’s not even 2 and I have consumed my usual whole days calories!!

I think I need a top up. Has anyone done that mid week? Injected an additional 1ml for example?

So this is the first week I've skipped my injection - I took the kids to Disney Paris and I just wanted to enjoy my meals and was worried I'd overeat and feel nauseous. Really enjoyed the holiday and the food and did so many steps that I think it's balanced out!

Debated taking my jab 3 days late when I got back but just going to wait and do my next Thursday one, as I'm not feeling too bad without it.

I'm at 10st 6 now, so a 2 stone loss and have one dose left in my current pen and two more in my fridge. I'm going to stop after that and start training for a half marathon I've got booked in September, going back to intermittent fasting to hopefully maintain!

Good habits I plan to stick to are having a low calorie lunch (I go for a 200kcal Huel shake, cup a soup or Itsu noodle pot) and not worrying overly about my dinner, just keeping portions manageable. Fingers crossed this works as a maintenance schedule when the time comes. I can see wrinkly stomach forming now too from my pregnancy stretch marks so definitely time for some weight and core training to try and tighten things up as much as I can in that area!