January 2025 Starters Thread 9!

[meatyryvita]

Time to check in losers!

I’ve fallen into a bra black hole thanks to you all. I’ve learned more in the last 24 hours than I have in all the time I’ve had boobs! I have never had much to put in one in my defence, it’s only since menopause and weight gain that bras became a nightmare and most of the problems I’ve had are caused by back fat and side boob.

Apart from a couple of Gossard wonderbras in the 80s/90s and a Triumph Doreen in my first pregnancy my bras have come from Sainsburys or Tesco and when I gave up on underwires I bought a load of genie bras. When they wore out I started making my own bralettes and sports bras.

I briefly considered going to get measured but realistically I’m unlikely to wear a ‘proper’ bra as I don’t do underwires, moulded cups, hooks and eyes, lace, padding or that awful rubbery elastic stuff so I’d probably be wasting everyone’s time.

Morning all, well done on the fab losses and NSVs!

Maintenance update. Family came over last night and ordered a big Turkish Takeout. I’d also gone out for dinner the night before, and went to bed both nights feeling very overstuffed and slightly nauseous. I wondered if I should increase my next dose to get my eating under control. But I would like to be able to balance out big family events with lighter meals either side as part of life. So I’ll see where my weigh in lands this weekend. If it goes up I’ll stick with 4mg and just track calories next week.

@zempy I’ve realised I didn’t properly respond to your post about your parents. That sounds really, really tough to work through. ❤️

@zempy hope you are feeling better also after the carbs.

Rubbish so many have crap parents - hopefully different times and most people have a better experience now.

So I usually inject Thursday but I went away from Wednesday last week so decided to do it Wednesday and inject 10mg from my first 12.5 pen. I didn't want any new side effects whilst away and I wasn't 💯 sold on going up anyway. I was going to inject 12.5 this morning but felt dodgy after having a mini binge last night 😭 ... I think said binge indicates i definitely need 12.5 so I think going to brave it when I'm home after work.

The reason I'm hesitating is I go on holiday abroad in 2 weeks and sometimes I get new side effects when it's fully in my system at week 3 🫠 so I'm nervous! But also I am feeling rather fat today and really want to have a loss before holiday. In reality I shouldn't have gained this week even with the binge but still it's not a nice feeling. I think I'm overall feeling a bit down that I'm not magically at my goal weight or really happy with my body in time for holiday 🙈 That was never going to happen anyway!

I just hope 12.5 is the dose I do really well with. I've never had a big suppression on any dose and I know we shouldn't chase it but it would make it easier!

Hi. We just stopped working for another long break!!

I am almost dizzy free today, so I’m going to try to eat a bit more than usual and then adjust any resultant weight gain when I return. I think 10mg is too much for me right now. My body is rebelling!!

Well done to everyone on your many achievements. It’s such a lovely thread to be part of. I like to think of us all cheering each other on.

I love a Doreen bra @jins.I still have some which might fit again. Nothing like it for hoiking your boobs up under your chin. I do find they get a bit sweaty though so I spray anti perspirant everywhere if wearing one. I can only wear with a crew/high neck though, otherwise it’s that neon signage with arrows and flashing lights. LOOK AT MY BOOBS!!!!!

@sociallydistained I’ve been the same with suppression, still wants chocolate etc but it’s is easier to stop and only have a few? I think you just have to remind yourself how much progress you have made. Also weigh in tomorrow - you might have a bit of carb weight? Which shoujd go quickly. Could you consider jabbing every 6 days?

I just joined the Oushk maintenance group on FB and I’m already irritated. Someone posted asking if food noise is returning with a vengeance then are they allowed to up their dose whilst on maintenance. Some comments saying ‘this is the time to exercise some willpower’ and ‘have some self discipline’ and I am screaming in my head IT DOESN’T WORK LIKE THAT FOR MOST OF US! I bloody hate this attitude of ‘you wouldn’t be so fat if you just had a bit of discipline and wasn’t so greedy.’ So many people haven’t got a clue have they.

Apologies for the rant…

@discov I was on the Oushk users group before it went and if the same people are on the maintenance group I don’t think I’ll bother. Hira answered all those questions and more in less than 10 minutes in my maintenance call.

Two NSVs to record. Our lovely 81yo neighbour who we call the Nan of the close asked me, and I quote, “if I’ve lost a shit ton of weight”. I love that woman.

Secondly I’ve just been sewing a dress in two sizes smaller and it’s a little too big!

One additional expense - I need a new dress form.

@discov so why did those people need MJ in the first place, they could have just exercised will power and have some discipline ..

@Jinsyes it’s pretty much the same vibe as the main group so I don’t think I’m going to bother! I find this thread much better for support. Everyone on Facebook is batshit 😂

Love the shit tonne of weight comment!!

I know right 🙄

And I'm totally accepting that I may need to be on MJ for life. I love how I'm feeling right now - finally it seems sustainable to keep this up. It's not a temporary diet I can't want to be done with.

Yes me too - I’m not battling to get to 9 stone something again - it’s not worth the stress or headspace for me. I figure £150 monthly is where it.

Do people get nails done ? I’m thinking of upping my game ! I normally do clear polish on hands and just have a pedi pre holiday.

Any more neck serum recommendations? I just finished a Sunday Riley - was meh. I love the Vit c face cream though.

I started on the 1st January, so just under six months, definitely another six months to go!

@BlueLimes I do like to get my nails done, but the process does wreck them, so have been on a break. If I can be arsed, I use the semi-cured nailstrips. Not hard to do at all and muck more durable than regular polish.

For neck, I use whatever I put on my face, which is a lot of stuff, mostly Korean. But retinol definitely (tret from Spain).

Blimey this thread is moving fast!

@spanieleyes what an amazing loss, well done 🎉.

Sorry to read the parent stories, you can’t underestimate the impact our childhood has on us 😟.

Glad you’re feeling better Zempy, always horrible being ill when you’re away.

@BlueLimes I get my nails done too but also on a break as it does wreck your nails! I’m getting them done for the first time in a few months for hols next week and can’t wait as they look awful at the moment! Re neck cream, I found a bargain Trinny Elevator on Vinted and have to say it seems to be working! It’s expensive but if it continues to be noticeably different I’ll definitely invest in a refill.

I'm also a Bravissimo girl, they do virtual fittings which are great ( sadly no online orders atm, they’ve had a fire at their warehouse).

That’s as much as I’ve caught up on! Hope everyone’s ok.

Oh I’m tempted to try that Trinny cream- despite not liking her - hmm I do like a boycott but I also want a good neck cream - dilemma !!! (I’ve done loads of boycotts over the years, nestle, Starbucks etc even olives once - my DH finds it amusing.

My friend recommended townhouse. I’ve had gels once or twice before and agree do damage nails. I’d get regular polish. I do have eyebrow threading regularly, which makes a huge difference I think.

Sorry to divert threat a bit - trying not to be weight obsessed, also after my toddler tantrum re plateauing - I am feeling more positive this week, so want to focus on other areas.

DS has come in starving from school - made him a cinnamon bagel - wasn’t even tempted by a bite. Day 3 is always my best suppression day.

The weather is giving me a terrible headache tonight and after spending an hour on Vinted looking for a school play costume for my DD I’m even more irritated. She’s playing the part of a roving news reporter so she needs a ‘smart’ type outfit - blouse and trousers type thing. So I’ve been searching for that and oh my God Vinted need to have a word with themselves. I kept finding listing of young girls in age 10 or 11 clothing posing in the most unsavoury fashion. In some cases fully grown women in age 11 clothes. WTAF? I’ve reported a couple of the listings but there were too many to complain about them all. I’m so angry about it. The sexualisation of girls on a second hand clothing website is vile. I had no idea this was a ‘thing’

Trying to catch up and failing. I've been eating the last 3 days. It's my 4th jab of 2.5 so this is now the lowest level and I wonder if it's too low. On comparing my dosediary graph it's not that different to last week but this week I feel like I have no control!! I wonder if I should up the dose although also I don't need to lose any more weight. It's a difficult one!

I hope everyone is ok!

I am being brave and posting some pictures here, but have scribbled out my identifying tattoos so don’t mind the marks 😂

I am hoping someone can give me some advice about my upper stomach. You can see from my before photo that i have pockets of fat on my upper abdomen below my boobs. I have had these for as long as I remember and I think it’s just unfortunate fat placement. But now I’ve lost weight, I’ve developed this lovely line down the middle!! I am not sure if it’s loose skin but it still feels a bit ‘fatty’ there rather than loose skin. But it could well be. I also still have a lower belly pouch which is wrinkly but I don’t care too much about that as I can tuck it in my knickers 😄 Same as I have lipedema in my legs so I am just accepting they are never going to look super svelte.

It does actually look much worse in real life than the pictures!!

I do no exercise at all apart from walking the dog (he’s a spaniel so it’s a lot of walking!). I don’t know if some sort of core strength/weights situation might help? Does anyone who is active have any idea? I do suspect that my only option would be surgery which I’m never going to get.

I am 9st 3.8 now, and started at 12st 2. I am adjusting my goal from 9st down to 8st 7 to see if it helps but I guess if it’s loose skin then it might just look worse!!

I'm sure your skin will still shrink and improve, give it time - might be actually due to those fat pads on ribs disappearing . But core exercises won't hurt.

Thank you. I remember reading that it can take your skin a while to catch up so hopefully it does. I am really hung up on it at the moment! I used to go to Bikram yoga a few years ago and was thinking about restarting as I loved it and I could feel my strength improving quite quickly. I wouldn’t know where to start with weights etc!

best exercise is the one you do. And bikram is certainly good for core strength.

@discov you looks fab ! I think we’re a similar build although my stomach is far worse - my PT at the gym has shown me some core exercises. Could you get some stretchy bands?
https://www.healthline.com/health/fitness/resistance-band-workouts-abs

I’m an absolute beginner at all this though.