January 2025 Starters - Thread 10 - Onward & Downward Losers!

[meatyryvita]

thread 10 already!

A friend recently went through like a dozen interviews (c-suite), everybody loved her. Except that just before the offer the CEO said that actually, I don't want any women with child care responsibilites. 😮
I mean again obviously a bullet dodged and I hope the company goes bankrupt, but to say or even think that in this day and age??

I was asked about my plans for marriage and children in my early thirties before being made a partner @HeidiNotSoHeavy .

I actually had no plans for either at the time, I simply said, you can’t ask me that can you? You’d be a brave (stupid) person to ask that in today’s world.

For my first job in Switzerland, they asked if I was planning to have kids. I was quite shocked. But told them that yes probably and got the job anyway.
For my current job, they also brought up family. I was again shocked, because the company has a great reputation, so really wasn't expecting it from them. But no, they just wanted to advertise how family-friendly the company is. So that could also happen.

My DH has never been asked. Funny.

9:5 weigh in today.

I just did a little maths. I have lost 30% of my body weight this year.

When I was a student, I worked in a greengrocers. We had to unload the delivery lorries, and when a 56 pound bag of potatoes was dropped onto your shoulders, your knees buckled slightly from the weight until you adjusted/balanced.

I had been walking around with the equivalent of a sack of potatoes on my shoulders all day every day. And that sack was getting heavier…

I am just so grateful for this new lease of life.

It's official, and I know you have all been on the edge of your seat waiting for the outcome of my post holiday weigh-in...

Well, I weighed EXACTLY the same as when I left. 9 stone and 3/4lb. For the first time ever I have not gained or lost a single part of a lb. I'm quite incredulous if I'm honest. I drank every day, ate more than I do at home - I didn't track, as I haven't for a few months, but in my head I was averaging around 1600-1800 cals per day. Which seemed massive compared to what I've been eating to lose for the past six months (around 1100 cals) and I didn't feel like I was restricting. Just finished when I was full. Lots of walking, which helped. I'm very pleased.

I left it 11 days between the last two shots, and I'm jabbing from my 5mg pen today 12 days after my last one. Officially in maintenance and titrating down with the plan to go to 2.5mg with my next pen.

Agree with @Zempy - a new lease of life is what it is.

That’s amazing @Thelittlestranger. Well done!!

@Thelittlestranger isn't it just great, not to come back from holidays bigger and bloated? I think I had my first holiday where I actually lost weight.

@Zempy just saw some old (male) friends yesterday - have told them about the MJ. And they, of course measuring everything in gym weights said the same - can you imagine doing everything with two 10-kilo plates strapped on you!

@Zempy we are weight loss twins! I've lost 57lb too.
I am impressed that you were able to carry a bag of potatoes that heavy but its amazing to think we were both carrying that every day at the start of the year.

fab results again. I love seeing the losses and NSVs.

Miserable day here so I’ve allocated myself a sewing day with the intention of getting sorted for my holiday in September to Malta. Less sweltering round the pool and more exploration is planned so I think a few swishy dresses are in order. I’m also part way through turning two bikini bottoms into a tankini 🤣. So far so good but it may yet end up in the bin.

First weekend without DS1 nursing a hangover in his room. TFIF has been a thing for his crowd since they all left school. Finding positives already 🤣 He called in last night for post and a few bits and bobs and the cats appear to have forgotten who he is.

Amazing @Thelittlestranger absolutely agree @Zempy @BreezyPeer goof luck with the sewing @Jins

I’m in a plateau but it’s a plateau beginning with a 9 so I can’t be too cross.

@PenelopePerseveres that job sounded bloody awful, with the hoops they were expecting you to jump through! Ridiculous! I hope something better will come through.

@HeidiNotSoHeavy, good luck with your job application too. I hope it's a good company and good fit for you! I'm certain that another cat won't make a huge difference. Hell, the maine coon is more like a dog (well mine is anyway!).

I bloody hate when male managers ask us if we're planning on having kids etc (when we are applying for jobs). It's so rude and inappropriate!

@BlueLimes , I'm going to reduce dose even more on "dosing day" this week. I started reducing dose when I got this pen (actually, I think I started reducing the dose before I got this pen) as I really don't want to be losing any more. Weight looks like it is has stayed around the 51kg-52kg over July. IF it stays this way and I can eat alright, then great. It will be interesting to see if weight stays same once I'm completely off everything. I had been worried that if I go cold turkey, everything would pile back on again. I think I am more watchful of what I eat, and stop when I feel full etc etc. I do eat what I fancy though, so nothing is off limits, just careful with portions. I'll keep an eye on my weight (to ensure it doesn't drop any more and doesn't creep up too much). Hopefully this will stand me in good stead for life.

@myladyjane I started on HRT last year. Peri started when I was about 38, but my GP wouldn't consider perimenopause/menopause until I was 45, despite me begging for help to sort symptoms. I ended up seeing a private gynae who started me on HRT last spring (and sent a 12 page letter to my GP!). It's been a life changer for me: no more anxiety/panic attacks, no more night sweats/flushing, no more brain fog, less tiredness etc. I'm on Lenzetto spray, utrogestan and androfem (which I only take 1-2 times a week). I'll poss stop the androfem (but going to finish this tube and see what is what with it).

Fab losses and maintaining on hols everyone 😍.

Thank you @TicTac80 . I'm so over applying for jobs, particularly when they are only advertising externally because they have to.

Enjoy your sewing day @Jins , it is a really beautiful morning here weather wise. Cats are hilarious aren't they.

No plans in particular here today, I took DC2 to work at 7am, the sooner they lose the L plates the better. I'm going shopping shortly, just a boring food shop as I didn't book a delivery for some reason, then I will read my book/have a bit of downtime until I need to go to collect DC2 later on.

I'm driving to the coast tomorrow - I think the forecast is a bit rubbish but it will be lovely to see the sea/have a walk.

Just about to inject, I think I'll go for 6.25mg again, building up to 7.5mg when I get to my new pen in a couple of weeks. I've felt ok on that this week, bit flat maybe but no significant side effects.

Happy Saturday Losers.

Well the bikini bottoms to tankini conversion isn’t going too well and I’ll probably call it quits. I bought two identical pairs of bottoms in a sale for £1 each, one size 12 and one size 18. Mixed with some blue I already had I was hopeful but it’s not working out. Fun experiment though.

Taking a break now and looking at Shotsy to calculate next dose. This is more complicated than it should be but I need to find the sweet spot where IBS is under control again. So far so good and I’m considering a half dose every four days rather than five. That would bring it more in line with how long a pen should last.

Good luck on the job @HeidiNotSoHeavy
@PenelopePerseveres it's frustrating looking for new roles. I'm currently putting feelers out for new roles as my current one isnt making me happy. I've realised it's not worth it, and for the first time I'm looking at what else I can do for the end of my career. I look around and think what a load of rubbish we all spout every day 🤣 There has got to be more out there...so I'm looking at other options.

Just jabbed and then went on a walk/run with the dogs. 10km walk, ran half of it. Really enjoyed it.

@PenelopePerseveres re the flatness - my body battery on my Garmin has been so much higher over the last month since I've left longer between jabs and reduced my dose. I've also been on
holiday, so that's probably contributed - but am keeping an eye on it as I go back to work, to see, as I've rarely been at 100% in the last 4 months.

Enjoy your weekends all!

Two of mine can drive now @PenelopePerseveres and while it's great they no longer need lifts, it's pretty terrifying at the same time! My DS was out with friends this week and one of them completely flipped their car on a back lane and rolled it several times. Amazingly lucky to walk away with just cuts and scrapes. I'm hoping that will scare DS into slowing down a bit!!

feeling a bit slow and flat myself today, not sure why.

Woah you lot have been busy since I checked on Thursday night!

@Zempy congrats to your daughter, that’s amazing!!
@PenelopePerseveres I’m so sorry, that sounds shit. I work in HR ( but not recruitment!) and I’m astounded at how horrific some companies are in terms of their recruitment processes, it’s unacceptable. Don’t waste peoples time, be clear on requirements, if you want someone internal don’t advertise externally and fgs don’t make people jump through so many hoops. I know you were on the fence about whether you wanted it when you met them and saw the culture so hopefully that’s providing at least a bit of relief.

to all my fellow job hunters, good luck! I’m also going through a bit of realisation that maybe what I do isn’t for me long term- I’m looking for exec roles but I’m quite niche in terms of what I do and there are v limited roles out there so looking at other options.

great work in maintaining on holidays, reaching goals and losing! Sorry I can’t remember everyone and on my phone so can’t see things v easily!

sorry I can’t remember who asked but I spoke to Oushk before my holiday and they were fine with me going back in my 10mg 17 days after my last jab. I had no side effects either.

I’m in Portugal, have done a fair bit of swimming, and enjoying the sunshine! Had a bad food day yesterday in that for various reasons I didn’t eat a thing until 8pm, by which time I was so hungry!!

have a great weekend losers!

Argh, I hear you re kids passing their test. I bought a car for them to share a couple of years ago. DC1 is rarely at home so it is here for DC2 to learn in/use (slow learner, not that interested for a while tbh but is now). Right now I have to drive more than I need to just to keep our cars running 😑after having to replace the battery in DC's car.

Re flatness, I don't find a lot of joy atm, I'm faking not being an absolutely, permanent, miserable 🐮every day, at home, at work, generally. I've definitely lost my spark on MJ.

So many of us are thinking about changing our jobs. @2025istheyeari my work is really niche too and I think that's why I'm struggling. I am determined to leave the absolute niche and have a few strings to my bow. When I apply for a job that's a slight change of direction using string 2 there's always someone with a better experience fit. I get it.

Enjoy your holiday 🍹.

I'm in a permanent state of uncertainty as to whether to look for another job too. Myself and DH are hoping to retire early in another few years so it really would only be for a couple of years. Current job is easy, close to home, part-time hours, long holidays but pay is pretty rubbish and morale is very low in general with redundancies already this year and probably more coming. But I love the folks in my office, we get on very well and work well together.

At the moment we're investigating whether to buy a holiday let house and set that up as a bit of income for retirement so that might take me in a different direction anyway.

Aargh. The memories.

I had a niche specialism in a niche role and I never managed to escape it. Lots of transferable skills but no success in transferring them. At one point the four of us in the uk that did what we do just circled round filling each others jobs. Self employment was my solution.

Good luck to all job seekers - not easy.

ah interesting @2025istheyeari and @PenelopePerseveres - I have the opposite problem, I'm a total generalist in my profession. Been there, done that, whatever comes my way. On the one hand, theoretically many options open, but then again I can never compete with people who are more specialised for any specialist roles. And for generalist roles, there are a million other 'Jack of all trades, master of none' out there.

Good luck with all job plans.

and so nice to hear about holidays and hobbies.

in theory I could retire in 2-3 years but I’m wondering about moving to a lecture/ research post instead.
DC are in secondary (‘geriatric’ mother - such a rude term as was late 30s/40). So I’d really want to help them with uni/ on housing ladder.

Me too @BlueLimes ’advanced maternal age’ 🤣. I’d have done something less reliable by now if I didn’t want to help my kids set themselves up.

@HeidiNotSoHeavy maybe we can’t win at this. Baffling isn’t it.

I’m also going to have to work longer and harder to help support young adult DC. It’s so hard for them these days, and both mine live in London!

Unfortunately their father is too wrapped up in his “new family” to be any support, so it’s all down to me. 😡

I was a geriatric mother with my 3rd at 35! Couldn't believe it!!

@Zempy 💐 I get it. I’ve done it alone without any financial support (my choice as I didn’t want anything to do with my twat of an XH) for ten years so far. I was the asset/salary rich one so it would still sting if I allowed myself to think about it.

Still, I wouldn’t change it because we’ve lived without an overtly controlling influence in our lives and my kids (and me!) are better for it.