March 2025 starters Thread 5

[TheSpoonyNavyReader]

New thread for all of us.
Thank you for allowing me to rant, share our ups and downs. Our group blows my mind of how we are so supportive of each other.

Some of us are now hitting the 12 week mark, some of us are nearly at their goal, some halfway and some still have a way to go, but we are all losing even if it’s half a pound a week. We have all come so far and are making a difference to our health.

@soupforbrains An hour of ice skating a week is pretty good exercise!

@Ballbagisnotmyname I also had an extremely long period in April - but am now 4 days late for my next one. Cycle disruption seems to be really common - which makes sense given how MJ acts. I think that's why they say you should use barrier contraception on MJ as well.

@MJMabel Nothing wrong with having chocolate, I have a small amount when I feel like it. Denial is likely to be less sustainable than just incorporating smaller amounts of "treats". 800 calories a day sounds really low even if you're short though, are you sure that's right? You seem to be losing very fast - I have a feeling you might be eating too few calories for your height, which will definitely contribute to a lower mood.

Hi all - I’ve hit the 2 stone loss! I’m very anxious about maintaining, but I can see that lots of us are. Chatgtp seems to be my BFF currently.

@MJMabel- I’ve really really struggled with low mood too, and understand the problems.

I’m hoping to titrate down from 5 to 3.75 etc in the next six weeks or so - I’ve got a call booked with oushk. I don’t mind keeping on a low regular dose for however long it takes, just need to keep up the healthy habits that it is helping me with.

Is anyone else still on 2.5 as a dose? I’ve taken the golden dose from my second pen last night and have ordered a 5 pen my average loss is 2.9lbs a week but last week was 1.5lbs. I could definitely feel a bit of food noise last week and still have around 3 stone left to lose. I’m thinking of moving up to a 3 or 3.75 next week

Guys, sharing a couple of products that have been lifesavers for me.
First of all the Marks & Spencer cheesy jacket potatoes. These are 232 calories per potato and they are so tasty and filling! I have one of these for tea with some veg or salad at least twice a week if not more.
Next the twix ice cream bars for 121 calories per bar (there are also malteaser ones for 128 calories and then mars and snickers for a little higher- 150-170). These are lovely for a sweet treat to keep the cravings at bay and with them being an ice cream it takes that bit longer to eat them so feel more substantial.
I’ll add photos, they take a little bit to get approved though.
Any other product recommendations?

These are nice @TryingMJ

I’ve read a bit about inflammation recently and mounjaro has definitely improved everything for me (long covid with mini clots, horrible foot pain etc etc).
do you think I’ll need to keep a maintenance dose to keep it from returning, or do you think it’s weight based?

I’m still on 2.5mg at 13st 6lbs and happy to stay on it for as long as possible since I’ve had minimal side effects. I’ve only had suppression for one week when I’d played around with doses to prepare for a holiday and hated feeling that way.

As it is, I’m losing an average of 1.5lbs a week and can see that I’ve got far more loose skin (late 50’s) than I’ve ever had dieting before so I’d not want to lose faster. It would be great to see the results on the scales sooner but it comes at too high a price for me personally.

If you have the 5mg pen then you’ve got options about what amount to use next.

I have realised I’ve not had a period for nearly 8 weeks. I’m 44, and I know I’m peri menopausal, but this is the longest I’ve ever gone without a period. Anyone else experiencing this?

It already sounds like you do a fair amount, but would something like Pilates be feasible? I’ve ongoing back issues (reason I could get MJ with BMI just below 30). I had a PT who did a lot of non-weightbearing pilates based stuff with me to strengthen by back and build up my core. It’s allowed me to go on and do much heavier more traditional weights stuff, but I know it’s the best thing to fall back on whenever I’ve had a break from weights for a bit or when my back plays up. I really should practice what I preach though because I really do need to get back on the Pilates/weights as I’ve been doing too much running and not enough strength work recently!

@TheBossOfMeyes skating is good exercise but unfortunately for me personally it barely scratches the surface. Ive ice skates since I was able to stand up at 1 year old and it’s as normal a muscle usage for my body as walking is for most people. It is still a cardio exercise for me but just doesn’t do as much for me as it does for people who came to it later in life or aren’t so used to it.

@seasidehunteri do want to add yoga/pilates as I used to be very flexible and I want to get my flexibility back. I do however already have an extremely strong core, my back pain is quite unusual because it comes from me being ’built wrong’. The vertebrae in my lower back and my tailbone are arranged in such a way that the natural curvature of my spine is excessively arched. This means that the natural centre of gravity for my torso and upper body does not fall through my tailbone (and thus transfer the weight neatly through my hips and legs) but is too far forward. So the muscles in my lower back are permanently having to support my full upper body weight and physically pull it backwards. As a result the muscles are over developed and over worked. Useful in giving me a very strong core, less useful as a way of life!

Quick check-in. 1lb GAIN for me this week. Not unexpected. I've had quite a lot of wine and corresponding snacks. Very stressful week and no outlet (stuck at home 5 days with ill child)

Onwards and downwards!

Weigh day today instead of tomorrow as I’m away and no access to scales. Amazingly have kept the 4.5 pounds loss so a total of 2.5 stone now (started 3rd of March). However after a week of feeling great and no side effects I’m sad to say my stomach is in bits after a lovely meal last night that my stomach just cannot digest! Red meat does not agree with me anymore. Sick as a pig all morning and now having to travel for work. Shoot me

@Lolliz87 that sounds rough! Hope you feel better soon. It's weird isn't it? Certain things now really set my stomach off too....in particular too much deep fried food!

@TryingMJ there are a couple of products I now have a lot. M&S do a supper nutty quinoa salad and a goats cheese and butternut squash with lentil salad and I love both of those for a quick lunch around the 350-400 calorie mark.

The other thing I'm having when I can't be bothered about food and just need something quick are the microwave packets of daal with a microwave packet of cauliflower rice. Together you can get a big bowlful of food that is mostly veg and about 300 calories.

I also like Vieve protein water. You can get it in Holland and Barrett or on Amazon. It is a clear juice rather than a shake but has 90 calories and 20g protein per serving.

All of those are regulars for me during the day and mean that I can have a sensible family meal with DH and DDs in the evenings without really having to calorie count.

I'm not fancying sweet stuff very often. Once a week at most but when I do I've suddenly discovered a love of Bounty chocolate bars which is strange as I was never fussed about them before but got a craving for them a few weeks ago. They're useful as they're rich and also come two in a pack so I can eat one slowly and be satisfied then save the second one for another day.

Thank you. Just queasy now so fingers crossed I’m coming out the other side! Yeah fried food is not my friend either, found that out after after eating a hash brown that had been deep fried in oil…..nearly 💩 myself that day! 😂😂. All fun and games!

Hello! End of week 13 (started march 1): Weigh in at 140.1 pounds - tantalisingly close to the nines which will be the first time for a very long time. 3.7kg to go and it's very slow. Starting weight 11 stone 10. Total loss 24 lbs. My weight bounced up and down all week but has settled on a down number today, which is good.

my best news is that a month chronic diarrhea - crazily explosive - and insomnia - has stopped. It wasn't the Mounjaro at all - or at least only incidentally. I was mildly hypothyroid as I was already on a fairly high dose of thyroid medication before I started the weight loss made the dose too high and pushed me into an over medicated state. Everything has finally stabilised now my dose is adjusted. Wooooo!

this week I also did a full blood count - wanted to make sure i am not secretly doing damage and see if my iron is recovering. Got back into the excercise swing as well. Also cleared out my clothes cupboard. im doing a big sale. Your advice on EBay or Vinted for new with tags (clothes between 100-200 new).

Week 10 weigh in for me and I'm officially the lightest I have been in many years. Still a long way to go, but I promised myself I would make a proper go of this in the run up to being 40 and I'm so proud of myself for sticking to it.
Start Weight: 21st 6llbs
10 Week Weigh in: 18st 8llbs

I'm on 7.5mg at the moment and I think I'm going to stick with it next month too. It's so inspiring reading about everyone's stories, so thank you all x

Keeping it real, 1lb gain this week but that’s not a problem and I know it’s because I was navigating my mother’s portion sizes, wine, milk tray (some how that is a tradition) and the biggest pain au chocolates I’ve ever seen (three chocolate sticks)!

Swapping providers this time, moved to Oushk as thinking ahead to maintenance. They have approved my prescription so seems ok :) BMI is currently 27… about to jab for 12th time… weird how long yet short it’s been! I remember how nervous I was the first injection 😆 now don’t bat an eyelid

@Flamethrowers good your thyroid stuff sorted, must feel great. Vinted easy with postage much more streamlined now than eBay.

@Aboutmeabouttime yes, same about being routine now jabbing, weird how you can get used to something.

I’m enjoying hearing of research about use of GLP-1s with dementia, fatty liver disease, atrial fibrillation, psoriasis, epilepsy. Sounds like there’s a whole heap of ways this stuff could and will make millions of lives better.

@Flamethrowers That's great news about your thyroid - that's a brilliant NSV.

I have zero hope of this week being anything but a gain week - half term, weekend away for my birthday, loads of delicious food and I didn't really deny myself any of it (even if I didn't finish portions). We'll be back in London later, and DD wants her favourite takeaway for dinner tonight before she goes back to boarding school tomorrow. But that's OK, the odd week here or there isn't going to change the destination of this journey, just slows down the arrival time a bit!

Checking in. Had a busy week and felt burnt out with work. Part of the reason I gained weight was wfh and getting into a rut. No loss this week. Week 11 day 3 now.
SW 16 stone 11
CW 14 stone 9
Target 11 initially
Today I decided to go on my treadmill, which I bought during lockdown as has gathered dust since. I did 10 mins of walking, then dud run 1 of couch to 5k.
I used to run, be a perfect 10. Despite the 2 stone loss I realise I have a long way to go. I've spoken about being in denial. Now I can just about look at myself in the mirror, I still look so big. I know, it's a marathon and not a sprint. I'm going to try to up my exercise a bit, in the hope it speeds up the weight loss. I need to buy next pen and I'm going to stick with 7.5mg. I have good supression.
Hope everyone is having a good weekend. Dissapointed I haven't loos, despite sticking to diet this week.

Hi all, just having a little read. Having suffered with constipation since the start I think I’ve finally cracked it. 2 heaped teaspoons of chia soaked overnight - usually dropped into a protein yoghurt for breakfast, 2 magnesium citrate tables and 2 plus litres of water. Sharing in case it helps anyone else.
still losing very slowly - need to find motivation to exercise 😩

@Flamethrowers may be worth looking at Vestiaire collective for selling clothes. I buy and sell majority of my clothes on Vinted but generally pay less than £20 for brands such as Cos, Me+Em, Ralph Lauren. I’ve paid more for some which have been new with or without tags or Ralph Lauren coats. I used to use eBay but moved away from that now.

Good morning all, think I am just about caught up on the thread after my holiday - sounds again like there is loads of progress and especially that any gains being viewed philosophically rather than opportunities to binge :)

I’ve had 5 days in Spain and not gained … had more treats than usual but got loads of exercise in - as was just me and the teen.

the biggest NSV though … been flicking through the photos and 1) I don’t hate them and 2) they aren’t of a ‘fat person’. Of course I ’m not slim - long way to go yet. But it’s nice that my first thought isn’t ‘fat’

Morning all. Entirely as predicted, last week was a gain week, my largest one so far, but as I said, I'm philosophical about it because it was half term with lots of very calorific meals, a really fab dinner at the River Cafe, a weekend away that involved loads of walking (pretty much the only exercise I did last week), but also an awful lot of food and wine because it was my birthday weekend - and a lot of cake, chocolate and ice cream. It was a happy, happy week, full of joy, and if the scales ticked up as a result, it doesn't matter.

Two wins, though, that gain was much, much less than I would usually have had from a week like that, a "holiday week" could easily have been a 4lb+ gain, which would then have taken me a month to reverse. This time it was only a 2.2lb gain and I'm still seeing an 8 on the scale (just!) - I should be able to get that off in 2 weeks if I focus back on more normal eating habits after today. Which is my birthday. Second win, I'm turning 53 at about the same weight, give or take a pound or two, that I was at 30, 40 and 50. That feels amazing to me. Not quite the same size yet because I'm not as muscular and definitely on the fatty side of body composition. But I think that is starting to change.

SW 10st 4.6lb/144.6lb BMI 25.7 (prescribed MJ because of diabetes risk and hideous waist measurement)
CW 8st 13.7lb/125.7lb BMI 22.3 - 18.9lb down, 84% of target achieved.
GW 8st 10lb/122lb (22.6lb total target loss, 3.7lb to go (5.7 allowing 2 for a bounce) BMI 21.6

Loss by week:
W1 (2.5) 5.5lb
W2 (2.5) 1.3lb
W3 (2.5) 0.7lb (ate out loads)
W4 (5) 3.3lb
W5 (5) 0.5lb gain (ate out loads)
W6 (5) 3.8lb (Post Easter weekend plus period)
W7 (5) 2.6lb
W8 (5) 1.5lb gain (BH weekend away, ate out loads)
W9 (7.5) 1.1lb (NY trip)
W10 (7.5) 1.1lb (Hakkasan and weekend away)
W11 (7.5 split dose) 3.7lb (Chelsea, BH weekend)
W12 (7.5 split dose) 2.2lb gain (half term, River Cafe, birthday weekend away)

Onwards and downwards!

A feel good day for me. Mini-goal of 1.5 stones lost has finally been met!!

Next goal is getting out of category 3 (super-obesity) ie BMI >40

i’ve gone up to 7.5mg. Felt a bit sick on Thursday (post injection day) but an otherwise OK. Made it to Pilates three times (my goal). Next step is to start putting in some big cardio probably spinning. Not this week though. Did have a feeling fat in my gym gear day on Saturday though. Maybe the leggings (old Decathlon) are less compressive than my newer premium branded ones!

Favourite foods at the moment are protein yogurts, and Greek yogurt and berries. I ate a lot of home made ready meals this week from my freezer. This felt good as I’m trying to reduce my UPFs.

SW - 127kg
CW - 117.2kg
Next mini-goal - 115kg
GW - 73kg