January 2025 Starters Thread 9!

[meatyryvita]

Time to check in losers!

@DGonMJ yes the dry eye thing is strange.

Dry eyes were my first symptom of perimenopause and my eyes were so bad I had blepharitis almost constantly. As a result I've spent too long reading about dry eye causes.

My current theory is that the cause is multifactorial:

1. As we lose weight our estrogen levels decrease, which you probably knew.
2. Estrogen is important for tear production and quality.

So ou eyes have already been drying out more

Then

1. People with EDS can be more prone to dry eyes. From previous lurking I remember a lot of people in here have EDS as do I.
2. There are even glp1 receptors in our eyes and brains.

So if my eyes are more sensitive as a result of the weight loss and decreased estrogen, then reducing the glp1 level has a benefit and perhaps even more so as I have EDS.

Totally theoretical and more holes than a block of Swiss cheese...

Ohhhhhh @Fullmoonwalker not for me but teen dd has dry eye issues under investigation. She’s also hyper mobile like I am. V interesting……

@Fullmoonwalker that's really interesting about the dry eyes. I've had them since perimenopause and I've noticed that they're worse than usual this year. Air conditioning at the moment is horrendous. I'm on HRT which helps a bit but sounds like I'll need to keep on using the heated eyepads, eyedrops, etc until I've lost all the weight I want.

I'm still losing about a pound a week on average and nearly at 2 1/2 stone down. I've got another 2 stone to go I think to reach around 11 - 11 1/2 stone. I've been getting rid of the big clothes too

Onwards and downwards losers

@myladyjane you are welcome. Only a guess but does your teen spend a lot of time on her phone? Being on my phone always makes mine worse, says she whilst mning 🙄

@hunkydory54 Glad to help. Not sure how long you'll be on mj for but you may find using an eye ointment at night helpful. Air con and even hot weather don't help either. Hope it passes for you soon.

It’s the day after a half dose for me and bizarrely I have more suppression than I’ve had for months. So far today I’ve had a gluten free chicken salad sandwich and I don’t feel hungry now at 17.20. Weigh in this morning saw me the lightest I’ve been at 9st 1.6. Just when I’d reframed a plateau as maintenance!

Everything I thought I knew about MJ is turning on its head. I’m very pleased though - the side effects were getting me down, especially when I didn’t seem to be noticing any positives

Hope everyone is doing ok! Is anyone else struggling in the heat to shift anything? I have lost 1 kg (barely even that) in the last 1 month. Was hopeful to stay on 10mg but have ordered 12.5mg now. My suppression is not as good as it was previously. Not sure If heat related water retention is also playing a role!! Bad habits (mainly sweet tooth) are coming back! I need to lose another 10kg. Its really slowed down. 23kg down in total have gone from size 20 to size 14 so its not all bad news.

I'm doing ok on 10mg at the moment but I've only been on it a few weeks, it's definitely worth a move up if you've stalled. We're at similar stages too, I've lost 20.5 so far with 10.5 to go and also at a size 14 now!

@Ireolu I wonder if it is water retention? I have found it really hard to eat in the heat. Interestingly, I was always like this but without the MJ I would binge sweets and ( especially) crisps as soon as it got cooler in the evening. Now, I am having to ensure I am taking in a minimum number of calories.
Well done on the dress size NSV!
@MJalltheway thats also a brilliant NSV! Size 14 is a usual size- every shop has it on the rails. Its such a good feeling 😃
@discov size 8/10 is an amazing NSV! Fabulous
@Polkadotdash glad the scales have found their manners and hope you continue to feel better!
@Jins missing a clothes size is a massive NSV! I am looking forward to doing some more clothes shopping. Operating on the bare minimum now as I have still have quite a lot to lose.
@MJalltheway healthy BMI!! That's so close- you are inspiring me. I prescribe clothes shopping for you too 🤣
@myladyjane brilliant losses! Maybe surgery and a long lie down is what we all need?
@DGonMJ maintenance! You star! 🌟 Anither inspiring woman on the thread
@HeidiNotSoHeavy I love Camenbert! Being able to eat amazing food on holiday is a human right! I only got back from Sicily earlier this week and ate pizza and pastries ( rude not to!) But I could only manage small portions and I came home to a small loss.

You are all doing so well ( and everyone else on the thread!)

I am going to take advice and move my too big clothes to new homes ( thanks vinted!)
It's my birthday end of next week and I am desperate to get to a healthy weight by then. 3lb to go which I know would be impossible at this stage in the journey without MJ so I am grateful.

I have been planning on a steady 2lb week weight loss leading me to my final 22.5 BMI early October. I'm no longer sure this is achievable so I have recalculated at 1lb a week after I reach healthy BMI and I still get there before Christmas which seems psychologically important 🎄 💃
I'm hoping for something in the middle (give me a change to get a couple of killer outfits for the festive season) 🤣🤣🤣

Mixed emotions today, off on my hols so I will miss a dose whilst away, plus I’d put on 1lb on weigh in this week. But I have been taking period delay tablets and had salty food the last couple of days so that could be water retention rather than fat.

No scales now so solely relying on me and mj to keep on track whilst away.

I’ve missed a dose @Grecianrainbow and haven’t weighed for nearly three weeks. God knows how I’m doing. I’ve eaten more than I would at home but not excessive amounts, I’ve also walked tons.

My appetite isn’t noticeably bigger, for instance we were at a sauna/swim place yesterday for the afternoon and by the time it got to 6pm we were starving. The menu wasn’t full of fab choices, I chose a burger (bbq’d on the beach, the smell was divine), but only ate ⅔ of it and half of the fries. No pudding as I was stuffed.

I’m really hoping that all the walking I’m doing will make a difference. 🤞🏻

Have a lovely holiday.

I still have no idea what I look like. Went to a fitness class outdoors and was standing between 2 slim women and thinking that oh I must look like a whale in comparison. But then noticed our shadows and we looked about the same size. My head still can't comprehend that when people look at me, they would think I am slim. Not heavy, not voluptuous, not a bit plump.

@BreezyPeer my birthday is end of next week too ☺️

I've finally given in to the fact I need to buy some new pants. Why I didn't think I would need to is beyond me, given I've had to buy new everything else 🤣

Very pleased to hear the holiday success stories - off on holiday end of this week and looking forward to not coming back half a stone heavier...

Maintenance update

I’ve lost more weight 😳 and I had 4 meals yesterday. I’m now down to 58.8kg BMI 21.6.
My initial target bracket was 60-65kg. My goal weight was 62.4kg as that got me just into a healthy BMI for my ethnicity (<23).
Today is jab 28 and the plan is to go down to 3.75mg (45 clicks), which is only 3 clicks less than 4mg (48 clicks). But wondering if I should go lower and just do 40 clicks which takes me to 3.33mg.

@Thelittlestranger i also need to buy some new knickers. I have a whole load of size 16, shorts style that I bought pre-MJ in December are just about hanging on. My size 14 bikini-style are much more comfortable. I’ve always preferred at least a size up for knickers, so not sure whether to get size 12 now if the 14s are still ok.

Am also going to get some new bras today, I’m shocked at how non-existent my boobs are when viewed from the side. Front on, they look normal. My 34C bras I bought in Feb are all sculpted cups in which my boobs just gather at the bottom.

@TomorrowPenny lots of walking and a taste of good food is my perfect holiday!

@BreezyPeer I think 1lb a week is a very sensible rate…minimises any issues like loose skin, gallstones, hair loss etc.

@Grecianrainbow hope you can enjoy your holiday.

@Ireolu you've done so well overall! 23kg is an incredible loss. Hopefully moving up a dose, and the weather cooling off, will help with the next 10kg.

@HeidiNotSoHeavy adjusting your own view of yourself compared to the world is such a strange thing to do. I often find myself in meetings looking around the room and thinking people in general look bigger…but it’s actually because I’m smaller. It’s like the opposite of growing up and wondering why Wagon Wheels are smaller, when actually it’s that we’re bigger!

I definitely think a drop for you @DGonMJ I'm still on 2.5 and half tempted to go up because I keep eating rubbish but the scales were 8st 6 this morning (BMI 22). I find the scales move quite wildly in a daily basis (up and down a pound or two) which they didn't whilst losing weight, but I'm not gaining massively either (I've not been over 8st 7 for a number of weeks).
My aim is to try and control my sweet tooth, probably by eating more. I'm obviously still eating only around maintenance despite it feeling like I'm troughing. Hubby had a peach last night whilst I had a magnum, protein yoghurt and 4 hifi bars!

I've not missed a dose since I started this journey but off on holiday in 2 weeks. I will jab on Monday as usual and then I'm back 10 days later on the Wednesday evening so will probably jab then. Not sure whether to stick to 2.5 or go bigger so that when I finish my holiday the amount in my system would be the same as if I'd jabbed if that makes sense. I will probably stick to 2.5 and deal with the consequences when I get back.

@HeidiNotSoHeavy I also have some body dysmorphia. I measured my hips yesterday, 88cm. They used to be something like 106, that's a huge difference so not sure why I can't see it in the mirror. Obviously I can see that my stomach is slimmer, but my arms and legs are still large. Hubby just says it's excess skin not fat. I will keep going to the gym and embrace being smaller. I probably need to buy some new clothes. I hate clothes shopping although perhaps now I won't as clothes might fit. I remember going to the shop last year, I'd got rained on whilst away in a city break and needed new jeans. I took I think a size 12 and perhaps a 14 into the changing room and neither fitted. If always been a size 8-10 and was very confused. Although it still took until a photo a Christmas to realise. I think my head just doesn't seem what's in the mirror regardless of size.

Not sure how to maintain this, I'm not sure about weighing daily, but if I do to have no idea. Maybe measurements... Clothes I can't go on as they just stretch and as mentioned I can't trust the mirror!

Ok, one more ‘why am I still losing when I’m supposed to maintaining’ post from me. Please feel free to ignore!

I was hoping to train heavy yesterday, but because I’ve still got traces of a cold (tickly throat) my PT didn’t think it was a good idea. So we did kick boxing instead. So I’m wondering if normally on a Sunday I’m a little heavier from muscle inflammation from my PT sessions. But it’s been a week of no strength training and also I’m 8 days into my cycle, so probably the lightest I’ll be all month. In any case I think I will go down to 3.33mg - I’m enjoying some of the cognitive benefits I’m feeling from the reduced dose…my brain feels back on track with work after 6 months of ‘meh’. Possibly the increased caffeine, possibly dopamine receptors are back on when reading emails and realising I know the answers!

@Thelittlestranger woohoo!! Birthday buddies. 🎂 I've always liked having a summer birthday, lots of scope for parties and no where near Christmas!
Knickers and bras I haven't bought yet- really need to but I have been wearing the wrong size bras for a decade so that feels normal 😅 I do need to get some new pants though.
I'm getting my colours done on my birthday as a massive treat to me! Holding off buying too much before I get the magic mix of colours that is going to make me fabulous 🤣🤣🤣

Thanks for thoughts everyone. I am very grateful for mounjaro it's made losing weight possible for me. I was on 10mg for 4 months and was hopeful would be the highest dose I use. Finding it hard to admit it's time to go up. Wishing everyone well and success on with their weight loss plans :)

@DGonMJi always preferred my knickers a size up but seems it was just due to being softer. Don't need it any more as the right size is not digging in.

Managed to get new bras. Not entirely convinced about the size but I think it’s just the M&S style. I’ve gone from 34D (was mistaken earlier thinking I was a 34C) to a 32C. Left boob is snug, right boob is extra gapey. Took far too long trying them on that I forgot/ran out of time to grab pants. Will order those online.

People who are skipping jabs while on holiday,.is it because you're worried about side effects or you don't want to travel with the pen? Just curious, took mine as usual this week.

@DGonMJ I would risk going down, but that's because my long term strategy is to try and come off the jabs - knowing that I can always come back on them if I need to. But I want to try without.

@HeidiNotSoHeavy I'm not jabbing for a couple of reasons. I can't be bothered to take it with me (I've taken it to NY and Brazil, so I'm not worried about it) because I can't be bothered to think about it. It also gives my body a chance for the levels to drop before starting on a lower dosage when I get back.

@BreezyPeer love my summer bday although this year I'm spending most of it on a plane - with a glass of fizz in hand !!

I finished a pen on week 2 and didn’t want to bring a new pen with me as I wasn’t sure about storing it properly whilst away when we were travelling so much so I’ve skipped a week. Glad I did as we didn’t have a fridge in our cabin on the boat we were on for three nights (or on the overnight train).

New pen in the fridge at home awaiting my return.

The single use pens I accidentally bought are certainly handy for travelling - I only had to take one and no worries about storage after the shot. So if you're ever in Switzerland, can recommend.