May 2025 Starters Thread 6 - We’re all totes protes now ✌️

[FlorenceNightshade]

As requested a protein and fibre filled shiny new thread for us!!

Morning all! So lovely reading about all the kittens! A nice change from my white knuckle approach to weight loss 🤣

I’ve just started my second pen of the bundle I bought before the prices went up so have had to order the next one - £250 (plus a £20 voucher)! Ouch.

Ive got another 40lb to go so I freaked out a bit. Now I’m trying to do the sums, I think I’ve spent about £1,100 on this so far and if it takes another 5 months, that’s about another £1,250 = £2,350 in total to get healthy, lose 80lbs, get strong, build some self esteem, live longer for my beautiful boys. When I put it like that - worth every penny. I’d choose to spend it again and again. Thought I’d share my thoughts in case it helps anyone else.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn and @Foreveronaplane - beautiful photos , three adorable fluffy bundles there .

And HUGE thanks to you both for rescuing, fostering and/or adopting them . ❤️❤️
It’s something I would love to do , but DH and She Who Must Be Obeyed ( seventeen year old cat 🐈‍⬛ in residence) very much not in favour……. 🥲

Still here. On 7.5 but getting a bit of food noise and cravings for sweet stuff.
not sure if I need to move up to 10mg and hoping to put it off as it’s so expensive now.

I’ve lost 21.4 kg - I think it’s nearly 3.5stone

clothes size kinda down to 18s I think. Have bought anything except some new jeans so far. Everthing else I have is black boring and size 20-22 or XXL

i think I probably have another 30kg to go as I’m very heavy compared to some my hight and size.

so at least another 6 months at this slow rate. Less than 1kg per week.

Very appreciative of the gorgeous kitty pics. They are adorable.

Progress wise, if I put my head to one side and look at the scales at the right angle, I can just about convince myself that I’ve lost another half pound, but the way down is a slow one.

On the other hand, I put some skinny jeans on this morning (I know, so 2015) and they are too big, so I’m taking that as a win.

Not sure we'll keep them, we have a lot of cats already and I'd rather be able to help again in situations like this. They'll stay with us until they get adopted though which is the tricky part. We fostered a cat last year under similar circumstances and we fell hook line and sinker for him. He's currently sprawled on the couch next to me. So I can say 'oh no we won't keep them' all day long for all the good it'll do... Send stern thoughts please.

No stern thoughts at all from me. It’s funny how temporary little balls of fluff work their way into our hearts.

Id love a little ball of fluff in the future (1 year time minimum) but life is SO hectic atm i dont have the head space for it yet….
im in italy at the moment. I dont think i need to say anything else… im eating until i physically cant and there is so many things to try… not sire all the extra steps im doing during the day are balancing all that cheese, wine, gelato, pasta …… 😅

Ooh how lovely. Where are you? I used to live near Lucca.

After 10 weeks in Spain we are finally on our journey home, driving so stopping of for a couple of days on the way back. Since I have been here I have lost 4kg, slow but still losing. Will be glad to e home and hopefully get back on it seriously,

@Gingercar- sorrento, beautiful! Maybe you can help me but not sure what to eat! I am sick of pasta and pizzas!! Before MJ i vould eat them now… i am feeling sick at the thought of it. Plus im veggie im eating bruscetta but its a bit boring! A lot of the foor is quite rich but maybe thats because it isnt summer anymore?

How lovely!
I can’t really think. I’d have said tomato based pastas or risottos. Frittatas? I’m veggie too. I’ve frequently eaten pasta with healthy tom/veg sauces on my MJ journey. It’s one of my staples!

While we’re on the subject of eating out. How do i handle this - I’m doing the Lincoln torchlight memorial walk in a couple of weeks and am meeting a few of my late friend’s other friends to do it (I don’t live there, they do). I’ve suggested having a meal before we set off, and asked for suggestions. They’ve come back with tapas or indian. I’m veggie and don’t like olives or eggs, so tapas isn’t great. And while I have seemingly been able to eat just about anything without side effects on MJ, I haven’t actually had an indian takeaway and I don’t feel like testing it out a hundred miles from home just before starting the torchlit walk with 1000 other people! Any suggestions for cuisines? Italian might be safest?

I find most Italian food quite carby, @Gingercar . Sorry, no helpful suggestions.
I went swimming today for the first time since I've been unwell (a month) and I think my swimsuit is too baggy. When I replace it, I'm going to get something other than boring black. Happy days.

Question for the ages: how do I self soothe without food, alcohol or shopping?

@DidILeaveTheGasOn good question I find something relaxing since being on MJ like a bath, face mask or just a few creams lotions or mani pedi (self applied). The last bath I had was a revelation - loads of room in the bath and really easy to get out 😛I put my music on and chill sometimes one of my kids will come in and chat / annoy me 😄.
it is strange not turning to sweets or Choccy when I need to destress but hopefully I have learned a few tricks since beginning of May so I don’t struggle in maintenance mode when I get there .

I like to watch a comfort film or tv - right now I’m rewatching Ghosts or often rewatch the Detectorists. I find the familiarity and gentleness really hits the spot! Especially in bed with a duvet!

i struggle with this too, it is so hard to break habits that are so ingrained!! I’m trying to be ritualistic about it to make it a new ingrained habit.

i put the kettle on & make a quiet mind herbal tea as do find this really soothing

i try & do a 5 min LWR stretch but depends where I am etc!!

if this doesn’t shake the chocolate urge I have a couple of the dark chocolate forest feast cherries

if timing works have a bath

if I’m at work I try & go for a quick walk round the block but obv this only doable once a day!!

I struggle with this too. When i get home after work, i am emotionally drained and i eat whatever comes my way or worse drink wine to numbe myself (hence i only open a bottle at the weekend). I have not found a way yet. I am too exhausted for anything. I do have a home gym but the thought of getting changed is enough to make me sink even deeper in the sofa.
i might try a walk around the block. I also need to slow down at work as i have a very unhelpful tendency to take on too much and this just adds to my stress

My visceral fat dropped into the acceptable’ range today. Nice to see some things going into the green on my smart scales dashboard.

I am really struggling with this, too. Have been drinking too much wine lately, then waking up at 4am feeling really sick in that horrid Mounjaro 'It's your own bloody fault!' way, and also furious with myself for sabotaging my very expensive weightloss.

We've had some difficulties chez nous of late. I would usually deal with them like any sensible person (rapidly eating four yumyums in the car in M&S car park, then balancing out the sugar with a sharing bag of tortilla chips), instead I've taken to staring out of windows like a cat, sighing a lot and slopping about feeling miserable. It's not the way forward.

@DidILeaveTheGasOn @tostaky @Seahorsesplendour @HKG @DBatteryBand and anyone else struggling with this!

Obviously a caveat to say we are different and what helps one person might be a bit woo for another etc!

I have researched this lots for work, trying to support women through similar medical procedures/diagnosis etc but everyone responds to different approaches!

Little bursts of exercise as mentioned can help as can being out in the fresh air even if briefly!

There are apps that promote mindfulness and short guided breathing exercises, short meditations etc but not for everyone.

Making a list of what you can control and what you can’t, putting things on paper can really help some people!

Cleaning - headphones on music blaring or an audio book and set a timer for however long suits!

Meal prepping can help and at this time of year using the slow cooker so you don’t have to do much after a long day is useful!

And as someone said a wee pamper sesh of nails, face , bath, hair treatment whatever can help remind us that we are worthy of the attention!

I find that if I change into my gym stuff before leaving after my shift or wear a sports bra to work then I won’t “waste” it by going home!

But most importantly be kind to yourselves, life happens and we can only do the best we can do with what we have! Some days it’s easier than others and that’s okay 👍

Weekly check in time! Jab 25 today.

SW 92.9kg. BMI 30
GW 67.4kg. BMI 21.8. MET!!!
Total loss 25.5kg/4 stone gone gone gone!

Well today I am at goal!!! I actually hit it on Friday and went a bit up and down over the weekend but firmly at 67.4kg today!

I have decided to only take 2.5mg today instead of 3.75mg and see how that goes. I’m not sure how much of a buffer I want as I am pretty happy with how I look now.

Got a lot of family and work stuff going on (don’t we all!) so will see how I get on this week and can always increase dose next time if I start to struggle! I’m excited to start maintenance but realistic that it probably won’t be straightforward!

Much love and support as always to everyone! Still putting our health first and making better choices - I’m so proud of us!

Onwards and downwards ✌️

Well done Florence! I'd be interested to hear how your maintenance goes - I've started to think about this myself, although it's still some way off. I'm wondering how much I want to allow my weight to fluctuate - surely you have to allow yourself a kg or 2 either way...? What will I do e.g. after Xmas, if my weight has gone up a bit, when do I start worrying... So many questions....

Yeah I know @SutekhsEars so much to think about! I’ve been skulking about on the maintenance thread and it’s a bit like ours - everyone has a slightly different approach but ends up with pretty similar results!

Doing lots of nodding here but not replying, daft. Really appreciate all the posts. Hope we'll all develop additional coping skills along the way.
@FlorenceNightshade I'm so chuffed to read your posts. Well done!

Time for some kitten pictures from this afternoon's lull in proceedings.