March Starters 2025 Thread 7, where we are now all having advice from Janice, Janice can do one!

[TheSpoonyNavyReader]

Welcome to thread 7.

Thank you for sticking around and making a little community of WL. This group makes me so happy that we are non judgmental and support each other.

@Bipaloss I understand how you’re feeling, and it sounds like you’re doing the right thing. It sounds like we need to take this next opportunity to really change the way we think about food. I clearly didn’t put enough effort into that while losing weight - I just relied on the jab to reduce my hunger and eat less. Nobody knows I’m using MJ, so I think I felt I had to keep eating bad things so it didn’t look obvious. Or maybe it’s that I feel like it’s rude to refuse food, or boring to eat healthily (messed up ways of thinking I know!!) I don’t know, but while I titrate back up and try and get this under control I’m going to REALLY focus on getting my relationship with food sorted. I might look into hypnosis…..! There’s a mumsnet thread called what I eat in a day round 3 that I might get religiously involved with now and record all I’m eating.

@Fatmumslim01 - totally - isn’t it wonderful! I don’t think I can stay on it long term due to cost, the fact that nobody knows I’m on it and I don’t like the secrecy. I think I’m going to give it 4 weeks back on 5mg then see from there :) so pleased it’s really helped you change your eating habits - it does indeed feel like a miracle drug!

Hi All

It's a good while since I've posted on this thread. I started on Ozempic last year, lost 20lbs and then lost a further 40lbs on MJ since March. So I've gone from 205lbs to 145lbs in 18 months. I'm 5'7" so my BMI is now 22.7.

I'm very happy at this weight and decided four weeks ago that I would start titrating downwards. My highest dose was 11mg (counting clicks from a 15mg pen). In addition to being happy with my weight, the cost has obviously been a factor.

I have stretched out my dosing to eight days, and done 2x10mg and 2x9mg so far. It's tempting to go down quicker, in order for the pen to last longer, especially coming up to Christmas. But I think if I'm to do this, I'm going to try and do it as slowly as possible. I would be happy to get down to 5mg every ten days. But we'll see how that goes.

In terms of hunger, there's definitely more of it. But I expected that. I only went up to 1mg of Ozempic last year, as that was all that was available. When I plateaued after losing 20lbs the hunger came back, but the weight didn't go back on. So I'm not afraid of the hunger as such. It's just a bit of pain - it's an uncomfortable feeling that I honestly didn't miss. And I didn't miss the "looking forward" to food either. It was so nice to get out of the cycle of constantly thinking about high calorie dense foods that I'd happily not bother with food for the rest of my life, if that was possible.

I am now properly hungry before lunch, and definitely peckish before dinner. I can also eat more of my dinner than I could before. I do look for snacks after dinner, but not at the point where I'm like "what else can I eat, what else can I eat", like I was pre-GLP1s.

Like others, I didn't focus very much on totally overhauling my diet while losing the weight. I know that I have to refocus now on protein and good fats, to help keeping the hunger at as low a level as possible.

One thing I am struggling with is hair loss. I had very fine hair in the first place, but lots of it. Now loads seems to have been coming out in my hairbrush. I'm on two different hair supplements, am using rosemary oils overnight twice a week, and am using a collagen and biotin shampoo. This has only been for the last two weeks so I'll let you all know how it goes.

EDIT: I should say, I haven't put any weight on over the past four weeks. In fact I've lost a pound. That said, I'm still taking a relatively high dose, so I do expect to put on three or four pounds before I settle at my maintenance weight.

I think the return of cold weather also makes it harder - I've really had to dig deep into willpower not to eat too much stodgy food. My issue was never actual diet when eating at home, it was portion size and struggling to make good choices when eating out. The eating out problem has been largely solved by looking at menus online and choosing ahead of time what's best to order. But as the temperature has dropped, I'm really craving larger portion sizes, I feel like I need more food to stay warm (which is clearly bollocks), and am having to be careful that they don't go up again.

I have had so much hair loss. It’s been going on for 4.5 months now and has only just started slowing down and I can see regrowth. I bought caffeine shampoo (plantur) which I think helped disguise it a lot by making it more volumised, but it was still pretty obvious. I have also recently been taking collagen. I don’t know what helps really but just wanted you to know you’re not the only one and it sounds like you’re taking the right steps much quicker than I did!

Hi all
Thought I'd update you
I haven't injected since end of September, went completely cold turkey
I have only regained 1kg! Very surprised
Starving hungry all the time 😂 but that's something I'll just have to learn to cope with

Well done, that’s a great result!

I did my 5mg yesterday after titrating down, I’m titrating back up. It has made THE WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!! I feel normal, calm again. I have eaten so sensibly and focusing on protein, I thought earlier oh maybe I fancy a square of dark chocolate, and then realised that I didn’t. I don’t necessarily want to lose more weight but I just need to take this opportunity to work out what my eating looks like after MJ

That’s amazing how much did you loose before going cod turkey ?

sorry for offending or ignorance , I lost 4.5 st in 6 months I went from BMI 37 to 28 im now 3 weeks post last dose after going semi cold turkey and now BMI29 after 5 lb gain

I was 7 weeks on 12.5 , 1 w 13mg , 1 w 7mg, 1 w 7 mg

reason why I am asking how much you lost and potentially which dose you went up to is because , until 1 week post last 3mg dose I was maintaining (keep in mind last 2 weeks on high dose I was greeving and deeling with a very stressful situation) , for 3 weeks despite absolute starvation on first tilter from 13mg to 7mg but , 1 week onwards from cold turkey I’m just gaining , just by stepping on the scale . It’s all bloating and water weigher, my chest and tummy so bloated like pre period bloat , how on earth did you only gain a small amount?

when I originally started MJ , when stopping I had 1 st as a buffer this is because I had to go too top dose to reach goal , reading the feedback of water weight

again kudos to you , but how???

Posting for weekly accountability.
sw 114.4kg
cw 75.8kg
loss of 0.4kg this week. This is really slowing down now and I’m finding that very frustrating. Especially when I still have to get down to gw of 65kg

Hiya
No you haven't offended don't worry!
I lost 30kg
While on the injections I made sure to completely overhaul my diet, I didn't have very strong suppression on the injections so I was always using a bit of will power

I'm still keeping up with my protein intake and have a protein shake a day. Whether that really helps or not, I'm not sure

I'm doing about 23k steps a day still, as I walk an hour to work and an hour home

Sorry if this isn't much help xx

Edited to add i started at 93kg
Only went up to 10mg and only had one month of 10mg as I felt like it wasn't doing anything, I didn't want to become reliant on the medication and the amount of hair I was losing scared me enough to come off xx

Good to hear how people are getting on.

@northernlight20 I hear you with the slowed loss situation.

SW 13st 3lb
GW 9st
CW 9st 8lb

I'm losing about .5lb a week or maintaining at the moment, and that’s with sometimes going 5 or 6 days between doses. Still on 2.5mg, no way I’m upping it now when so close. Still it is coming off and I have a couple of pens in the fridge so just keeping going.
Some eczema has returned in the last couple of weeks suggesting my body has become very used to MJ and not getting as much anti-inflammatory benefit. It took 8 months though, so not bad in the long run. Also less sun light now and more UPF again lately which won’t have helped.

NSV, been in Asda in the reduced to clear aisle and got a few sizes 12 and 10 dresses with the hope to get into them by summer and guess what? They fit!! And I’m gobsmacked, I’m 45, and havent fitted in less than size 14s since I was 18!!! And when I took pics, even tho on the scale I haven’t lost much, my body looks slimmer and clothes are looser. Guess all the weight training and running I’ve been doing is working away from the scales.

Well done everyone, maintaining OK, except the inflammation is back, flaky scalp, painful joints.

@Fairfaxandflavor I can't remember if you are on a low dose or have come off completely?

NSV here today, went out for a meal with friends and had some pics taken of me and I don't look awful! I'm still clearly overweight (I'm still officially obese) but I'm starting to see the difference in my face possibly, about time really as I'm just over 3 stone down!

Still feeling quite sick most evenings 😞. I really don't want to go down though as I'm really enjoying 10mg it's just if ive had anything rich in the evening I feel a bit sick. But I'm making wise choices eg tonight pre MJ I would probably have had pizza in the restaurant but instead I chose salmon fillet with veg I left the potatoes. It had a creamy sauce though which is probably why I feel sick now. One bite of cake for dessert (brought home for DH). And a glass of 0% wine, I'm not a big drinker anyway.

@Fatmumslim01 im on a low dose for now, because I'm at goal, and stretching to two weeks between a small dose, the niggling inflammation symptoms start to come back after a week, but I will have to come off it eventually as I can't afford it.
I'm sure you are looking great in photos, and well done navigating eating out, it's tricky! Nausea is an awful symptom. I pretty much eat the same thing every day so I don't get caught out, boring but it works for me.
Just thinking about some food makes me 🤮even when the mj is wearing off, because of how it made me feel when on it properly. So chips, pizza, anything remotely fatty, is a no no, I do start craving sweet stuff a bit more though and all the Christmas food ads aren't helping.

@Fatmumslim01 i know you switch a lot, I’m looking for recommendations for 10mg. I’m with pharmacy 2u and on the monj website says £30 off for returning customers but the code doesn’t work. Lloyd’s £60 off work but I didn’t submit as yet, not keen on doing video. It’s so expensive at £250 discounted 😭

Hey @popdepop yes I tend to switch most months as in this for the long haul so need the best value I can 😂

Last month I got 10mg from "we prescribe" for £223 I believe. No need for a video, just uploaded a pic of my ID and my previous MJ box, they sent me a link to the online portal to upload those things after I have paid. There was a code on monj which is still there for the first order discount.

I actually stayed with them again this month as the offered me 10% off for repeat orders which I thought saved the hassle of switching and like you I want to avoid videos if i can, not that I'm trying to fiddle them or anything my BMI is still 32 so i well qualified, I just don't want the faff of video.

I actually ordered a 12.5 this month but am planning on taking 10 so I get 6 weeks out of it. Obviously this is against guidelines and you would still need to order regularly otherwise pharmacies may think you have a gap in treatment but it's a way to cut costs.

Long story short....we prescribe 😂

Thank you @Fatmumslim01, I will use them next time. Had a bit of a panic as my last prescription was 6 weeks ago as I had an extra pen previously so I ordered again with pharmacy2 u. They did question it but order is approved. It’s cost me £300. Disappointed 😔 I won’t be caught out next time. I feel the same with the faff of a video. BMI is down 10 points from 37 to 27 I don’t want to be on it forever but I’d like to lose another 1.5 stone

I have been doing 80 clicks from a 7.5 mg pen to get 10 mg as it 7.5 mg just wasn’t working anymore. I have the golden dose plus a little extra. How many ml do I need to extract 10mg from a 7.5mg pen? The syringe is 1ml and has 10 unit increments up to 100.

0.8mls.

It's simpler than you think - you were halfway there knowing that it's 80 clicks.

Each click represents 0.01ml because a full dose is 0.6 mls, ie 60 clicks. Therefore 80 clicks = 0.8mls

Alternatively to work it out you divide 0.6(ml) by the pen dose size (in this case 7.5) to get what amount of liquid contains 1mg. (Answer: 0.08mls)

Then multiply by 10 to get the amount of liquid that will supply 10mg.

Thank you @GiveMeWordGames All done. I really don’t like doing it at all. There seems to be so much more liquid to inject with a needle than a pen. Feel like I’m plunging down for ages.

The pen definitely makes it very quick and easy and seem like nothing.

Hello,

weekly check in for me for accountability

I have received my new 2.5 but have decided to hold off restarting focusing more on how I am eating and moving

until this week , I could eat and then snack 30 min later as I was never full with the food noise this became a bad habit

this week I feel fuller for longer , reduced snacking as well and feel fuller quicker and been making more healthy choices

anyway it’s all resulted in a 0.5lb loss this week and I’m hoping weight is now set at this point at a BMI 29 (4.5 weeks post jab and 50 days post last high dose)

Morning all. For the first time since reaching goal and stopping MJ, I've gained beyond goal, 3lb over today. It's not surprising since I've eaten out loads this week, lots of work and social events. But one thing I'm realising is that it's a lot harder to maintain in the winter than when the weather is warm - just more stodgy foods on menus, and my body seems to want to eat a lot more. I'm going to need to dig deep and be more mindful, I need to head into Christmas with a few pounds in the bank.

Hi all, not updated in a while, as busy busy busy.

Lost 2.2lbs this week and I've now only got 3.6lbs left until I hit my goal of 5st. This doesn't even bring me under a BMI of 25 - think it's 24.4.

So I think I'll try and get down a bit more to build a buffer as I'm not going to be on this long term.

Hope everything is going well for you all.

Next challenge - Christmas 😳.