Maintaining at overweight

[FortyElephants]

I've reached 11 stone 9 and stayed put for 2 months. I have been on 15mg since January. My start weight was 14 5, my heaviest ever weight is 15 5. My 'set weight' pre pregnancy was 10.5 stone so always at the top end of BMI 25.

I could lose more weight of course but I would have to make a really big effort to cut calories and I would be hungry. Eating to maintain my current weight on 15mg is easy, but not effortless - I still have to think about my choices and eat a bit less than my inclination would like. I think for happiness and mental wellbeing I am going to accept that this is my weight for now and focus on maintaining it. I can afford to stay on Mj long term.

I am a bit hopeful that a new GLP1 will be released soon and I can try switching to that to see if I respond more to it. But if not, I am happy enough being overweight and not obese. Anyone else experiencing similar?

Have you lost the weight through the jab alone or with the assistance of exercise?

I exercise and have a decent amount of muscle. I've lifted weights for years with a personal trainer. My activity levels are pretty good.

I’m in exactly the same position as you OP. My BMI is now 26, so I’m still ‘overweight’, but the scales aren’t moving any more. They probably would move if I made a huge effort, but I know for me that won’t be sustainable.

So I’m quite happy to stay on 15mg and continue being this weight. I’m older, so being thinner would probably start showing on my face anyway and I need to protect my bones!

Thanks for sharing! I don't know if I am putting other people's values onto myself by thinking that I shouldn't be satisfied to remain at overweight when other people are going down to BMI 21 etc. I've never been on the low end of the BMI scale. I got to 9 stone 11 once, and my face and collarbones looked very slim, but with fat still on my bottom half (pear shaped)
I also like to think I might have more muscle than some other women my weight, and therefore proportionately less fat.

I'm in the overweight zone and after discussing it with my GP I'm happy enough with my weightloss. I'm on a maintenance dose of ozempic and I am not gaining weight at all while still able to eat reasonably.

OP, well done! I would say if you are happy with where you are then that is great. You are in a significantly better position health wise now than you were at the start.

I have been at target (BMI 23.1) for about 3 months now taking a small maintenance dose. I weigh monthly and today stood on the scales and am 2kg down from last month. Nothing has change bar maybe I am eating a little more maybe, had a week all inclusive at the beginning of April too! So you may well start to lose again as I thought I was done. I am now BMI 22.8 and don't intend or need to lose anymore but I am eating my maintenance calories and will allow my body to settle and chose where it wants to sit.

You have done an amazing job!

Thanks! That's amazing, well done. Honestly I feel happy and comfortable at this weight and I look so much better than I did before

My pharmacy were very supportive of me switching to maintenance at basically the same stage (BMI 26). It was healthy for me, the smart BMI calculator was happy, it was enabling me to be very active etc.
But actually after a month of good habits things started moving again without any big change, and I’m now at BMI 24 on a maintenance dose.
so, you should stay wherever you are happy and feeling healthy. how would you get a different drug at that BMI though? Surely you’d be ineligible?

That's a really good point 😆 I didn't actually think of that. Oh well, I guess I'm staying on this one! That's good to hear your experience too.

Are you “overweight” though OP? A good chance that you’re not. BMI is a silly and pointless tool IMO except for simple signalling of more obvious levels of overweight or underweight. Instead of a medic writing “fat” they can write BMI of 45, or whatever, I suppose a bit more polite. BMI doesn’t distinguish between the body of an 18-year-old girl and a 50-year-old woman or make proper allowance for age, genetic build, frame or muscle. Well done for losing 3 stone - great achievement - and maintaining too 👏

Yes I am, I have a big tummy still and at 5'4 I am definitely carrying more fat than I need, but not loads

I could have written this. On wegovy. Down to 11.7 from 14. But no change In Last 2 months.

I’m the same. Lost 3 stone but been stuck at 11st 9 for two months now. On 15mg so nothing else to do now but start thinking about coming off it. Think I’m going to do two more full dose pens and then take half doses for 8 weeks to get me through to summer and see how I’m maintaining.

Fair enough. But I do think it depends on lots of factors, and is also somewhat subjective, is what I am saying.

That's true. I think as my comfortable weight in my teens and twenties was always top of the healthy BMI it's not surprising that my comfortable weight will be higher than that in my 40s.

You sound in good shape. How active are you when you aren't exercising? The power of NEAT shouldn't be underestimated (non exercise activity thermogenesis).
And do you weigh your food and calculate macros and calories?

Thank you. No I don't weigh and calorie count but like most of us I have a very good idea of how many calories I'm eating on a daily basis just from experience! I am focusing on adding more protein and I'm fairly active - 10k steps plus most days.

Good for you and it sound like you have a good plan for maintaining. Personally I think it is worth considering an alternative path to massive speedy weightloss to perfect weight, followed by permanent maintenance there. Why not decent weightloss to a more comfortable healthy place, followed by maintenance, and maybe in 6m, 1/2/3yrs you'll want to have another smallish push to drop another few pounds. Equally, you may not and be happy maintaining where you are indefinitely. As long as someone is out of the more dangerous obese category, I'm sure it is gentler on your body to take a pause from relentless weekly weightloss.

I'm finding as I get older those little 50/100 grams extra here and there or less add up. I don't doubt you know the calorie content of your food but if you aren't calorie and macro counting it'd be an easy place to start.

Also find a good calculator/reference site for a calorie and macro target. Don't guess.

Last not least you just can't tell proper hunger and portion sizes whilst on Mounjaro. Even though I also had a good idea of portions and calories, I'm getting into good habits again now. I don't want to be on Mounjaro for a day longer than I need to.

This is a really good point. I know the science on obesity isn't settled but there seems to be an argument for recovery taking time and if my body can get used to being around 11.5 stone by maintaining it for a while I can then work on losing more and doing the same in future.

I’m dithering about doing the same as you, OP. I’ve got down from BMI 31 to BMI 26.5. I’ve always had a more muscular build with v chunky thighs and I’d like to lose a couple more pounds but I’m not sure going lower than that is necessary for me to be happy with how I look, healthy and physically able.

I’m also conscious that the calories needed to maintain this weight will be higher than those needed to maintain a lower weight, and am reluctant to commit to depriving myself more than necessary long term. I’m hoping lifestyle changes (quitting hated job) will give me the time to work on building strength and fitness, rather than taking the approach of starving myself down to lose fat while chained to my desk… Cutting down the MJ and increasing calories a bit will help with energy and ability/motivation to exercise.

I like @AuntiePushpa‘a observation that pausing here wouldn’t prevent further weight loss in the future, and it does seem intuitive that doing it slowly would be easier on the body.

Interestingly since starting this thread I've had a second wind and lost 3lbs. This drug is a funny thing!

I am feeling in a similar way to you OP.

I’ve lost (only) 20 lbs on MJ, slowly, and stalled at 12 st 10 lbs for over 2 months now 😮 .

Ideally I’d really like to lose another 10 lbs - which will require more effort. But not fussed about losing more after that. I’d still be classed as overweight, but I’m ok with that. I’m in my early 60s and 5 ft 6. I don’t need to look like a young gazelle - plus not always a good look at my age, it depends - and I don’t think it would be possible without a disproportionate struggle.

I would like get to 12 st though and that is going to take discipline and a few more fundamental changes, which isn’t going to be easy …

Very timely for me. Whilst I still have a way to go, the only time I’ve had a BMI of under 25 as an adult was when I had norovirus. From puberty onwards my ‘natural’ bmi seems to be around 26. I am short, hourglass with a tummy and a hearty thigh. I lost 5 stone at 40 after years of fertility treatment and then pregnancy/small child life made me on a chunk and kept it off fairly easily for 6 years until COVID saw my routine ripped apart. I was around bmi 27 for that period and I was fit, a size 12/14, healthy waist measurement and mindful but not obsessive re food.

now in my early 50s, that seems a happy place to get back to - about a stone and a half away. I am looking for a provider who would support this - am on 7.5, probably need to move up to 10 next pen but would like to come back down and ‘settle’ into it.

I feel similarly OP. My BMI is 34 so I’m still obese, but my starting BMI was 46 (I was 5’2 and 18 stone) and I feel and look a lot better. It feels so unattainable to be a ‘healthy’ weight, which would require me probably losing another 3-4 stone, so it is likely I will be maintaining when I get into the overweight category.