Thread 2 because we have reached our goal weights and we want to maintain not regain. We might be going cold turkey or titrating down or staying on!

[MargoLivebetter]

Can't believe we filled up a whole thread! Welcome to thread 2.

On a positive note to start us off, I've lost 1lb of the two that I gained from my autumnal apple crumble caper. Filling full of resolve and pleased to know I can gain a pound or two (which is of course completely normal) and then lose them again.

Yes I think it would! Might be worth trying it anyway. Good luck!

The small bit extra might be worth a try @Blondeshavemorefun . Also, could you have something like a chocolate protein pudding or mousse instead of the maltesers? Would that satisfy the chocolate craving and fill you up, all for fewer calories than a packet of maltesers? I know they are not everyone's cup of tea, but some of them are really tasty. I had a chocolate salted caramel one yesterday and it was like a proper delicious pudding - all for 151 calories and 20g of protein!

I mix Chocolate Options with authentic Greek yoghurt from Aldi for a quick sweet treat...cheaper than a shop bought protein pud..but I like the Aldi protein puds too!

Thank you everyone! I'm at a family event this weekend so food is all over the place. I was hoping to have a few 'good' days so I could write off the weekend and start afresh on Monday. (But actually, I just need to start afresh on Monday anyway.)

@MargoLivebetter that's a fair point and I think you're right I'm not truly hungry it's very shouty food noise. Maybe it's a bit of hunger - but mostly noise with the constant nagging in my brain. I'm not sure how to manage it because obviously I never did before... because I was obese! I am trying what @FurForksSake said, especially the pairing with something nutritious.

@MeridaBrave breakfast was a Huel shake with added protein powder, and ground seeds. A bit weird but it works for me. Critical stats were 40g protein, 15g fibre, 400cals. I wonder if I needed something solid not soup-consistency to stay in my stomach longer?

@Zempy I'm on 4.0 from a 7.5 pen. Trying to dose down really slowly. I dropped from 4.25 a few weeks ago. I really don't want to go up again. I want to do everything I can to manage with only a little bit of help from mounjaro!

Decent amount of calories / protein but sounds like it didn’t set you up for success so maybe need to try other options, maybe Greek yoghurt with chia seeds/ berries? I do also have a couple of coffees with skimmed milk so get me through the morning. Need also to drink loads of water.

I think the issue with drinking meals is that they don’t take much effort to digest and don’t physically fill you up. A couple of weetabix and semi skimmed milk or Greek yoghurt topped with frozen raspberries or something would be better, maybe?

An omelette with spinach, onions and peppers in served on a piece of grainy sourdough again would probably fill you up for longer and be slowly digested.

Weetbix and milk too low in protein but yes omelette or Greek yogurt could be better. Need to experiment. I have Greek yoghurt chia seeds and berries.

I have tried many protein mouses and not found a single one I like. Too rich and have weird taste

I’m not really a pudding person. Would always choose a starter v a pudding

that’s how I feel @OneThirdLess. Was on 15 and now 5 but struggling but don’t really want to go up

Honestly, I think we over obsess with protein. Weetabix and semi skimmed milk would be 13-15g of protein, so not that low really. We need on average 60g a day, a skinless cooked chicken breast is 56g of protein apparently. So some cheese / chicken / fish Greek yoghurt across the day will usually mean you hit what you need.

Protein does help with fullness, but so does fibre and the best thing is to combine them.

60g is the minimum, and not really enough to maintain muscle esp as we age. But yes would be ok if eat more later in day. I’ve not lost any muscle at all, but that’s with 120g protein and weight lifting.

I’ve def lost muscle as have a saggy arse and need a cushion to sit on the sofa

Most people store quite a lot of fat in their bum and thighs, it’s often fat loss and a bit of muscle you’re losing.

I'm maintaining well but I can hands up say that protein does nothing for me in terms of appetite etc. It categorically does not make me feel fuller! So I've given up focusing on it, I'm sure it's super good for you if you're exercise heavy but I'm not and it makes me feel no difference.

I saw someone somewhere talking about binge eating disorder and how certain foods can cause them to start bingeing, gateway foods. I think sugar and chocolate can often be those foods and make our bodies crave more and more. With MJ cravings are turned down and satiety is turned up so bingeing is much less likely. I guess tapering allows you time to do that work around triggers, gateway foods and putting in solid coping strategies. If it’s feeling very tricky you can up your dose and go down a little slower or stay at the same level for longer.

@Mysticmaiden your experience with the doctors sounds so similar to mine, right down to the lump in your armpit! I too have changed gp. Have you got any further with nhs? I'm contacting again this coming week have realised it seems to be a swollen lymph node that comes and goes with flu like symptoms currently got a sore throat and slight chest crackle

Good point about gateway eating. Probably best to try and cut out sugar as much as possible? Even artificial sweetner is said to trigger sugar craving.
Wine is my downfall....I try to avoid it but sometimes have a glass...then one glass leads to another!
Everyone is different as we know, but I find an omelette in the morning is so much more filling than weetabix. Sometimes though I just cant face eggs so I mix weetabix with Greek yoghurt and blueberries plus chia seeds, although I think you really need to soak chia seeds overnight?

Chia seeds need about 20 minutes to soak, I think?

I find eating breakfast just makes me hungrier whatever I eat.

Another pudding discovered last night - custard and banana, with a few walnuts. Delicious! And not too high in cals.

I cut out sweeteners at the start of my mj journey, and then sugar from my hot drinks. I've found non processed food as snacks fills me up more - so reach for chicken, egg, ham when I go in the fridge. All protein. I try to stick to around 100grams - it does maintain your muscle better for sure.

Less if you use boiling water!

I find eating breakfast just makes me hungrier whatever I eat.

Same @Thelittlestranger so I eat nothing until lunch which I normally have around 12.

Me too - gives me leeway for later in the day. That is definitely my mindset, healthy or not, but save cals, to eat them later - because I know there will be times when I want to eat more.

I prefer to spend the majority of my cals on my evening meal as that's the one I enjoy the most.

I also save up for dinner mostly! Today I had a small bag of proper chips and a neoh wafer bar and then roast chicken dinner.

How do you manage to get 120g protein?

I think I eat pretty well but struggle to get more than 70g (eggs, yogurt, meat, beans, nuts etc). I'm also trying to get 30g fibre, so lots of fresh veg and pulses. I like to eat proper food, so I don't have any protein shakes.

@20bloodypounds I try to get about 90g of protein, but fail about one day in three! I often end up eating a piece of meat with either salad or vegetables and very little carbs for two of my three meals, as that is the only way I can consume enough protein but not go over my calories. All a bit dull.

I'm getting better at being a bit more creative, but that requires more planning and sometimes I just can't be arsed.

I thank the powers of universe for protein puddings as they are an easy 20g hit. Zero fat Greek yoghurt is great too. The only protein powder my insides can tolerate is Huel and I think it is disgusting. But I do force it down on days when I'm going to be very low, if I don't.