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.

Hello everyone, so I’m almost 7 weeks off now, I’m still maintaining, my weight has fluctuated up-and-down by around 2 lb but it’s pretty stable, I’ve been increasing my exercise and the main thing has been focusing on protein. I won’t lie it’s been hard but I feel Good about the fact it hasn’t piled back on.
Also, I was really struggling with low mood and my hair falling out, pleased to say the hair falling out has slowed down, and my mood is back to normal, feeling motivated again and not crying every day so that’s a relief!
Little bit concerned with managing the Christmas period as there is lots of focus on eating out but I just need to try not to let a couple of indulgent days turn into a few weeks of it

I’m not counting. For me that’s the point in taking the medication. I don’t want to count, and it’s freed me from counting. I’m literally paying the money to avoid counting. I know by what I eat that it’s about right for maintenance (and my weight is stable).

Fantastic news @Thischarmlessgirl . You should feel really pleased with yourself. Agree with your approach for Christmas - like you say a few days of indulgence doesn't need to turn into weeks. Keep us posted.

@Thischarmlessgirl snap! Now 10 weeks post jab, and Xmas is looming...we got this 💪

Last Christmas I found that a few indulguences - a mince pie here, a florentine there - lingered on into January and made getting back into better habits difficult.

Maybe it was spiking my blood sugar a bit and meaning the subsequent drops made me want more empty carbs - or maybe it was just bad habits, but it's going to be interesting to see how it goes this year. I got back into the swing of things eventually but definitely approaching Christmas with a bit more awareness this time around.

I think that's part of the solution isn't it? Recognising that Christmas is one day, and eating like it's Christmas every day for a month isn't going to work. So I keep telling myself...

Good morning all!
I am now on 7.5 and definitely ate more this week. I didn't count my calories every day. On Wednesday I went for a couple of drinks, a thai meal (couldn't eat all of it) then went to the Panto and ate a big packet of chocolate raisins! 2 pounds heavier on the scales today. Going to calorie count until my holiday in 9 days time. Hopefully weight will come off next week but if it doesn't it seems to me that I am going to have to be strict forever on maintenance and count my calories. PS I am short and old which doesn't help!

Just calculated my TDEE on a reliable calculator and it's actually 1335 a day as in the winter I probably only do light exercise, that's 1/2 times a week, 1498 if I do exercise 3/5 times a week (moderate) Sighs

I've read a few articles which reference studies on TDEE. These have taken two groups of people at the same "normal" BMI, but one group has always been at that weight while the other group had previously been obese and had lost weight to reach that point.
The studies found that the group who had lost weight required 3-400 calories fewer to maintain.
I do therefore wonder if TDEE calculators possibly overestimate what we can eat. For sure, we can eat less than we might think if we want to avoid regaining, and less than people who hae always been thin.

I'm sighing with you @Azuresky68 . I have reached pretty much the same conclusion and I'm not even short!

@HappyWineDay I think there is definitely something in what you are saying about the TDEE calculators. I remember years ago reading in one of the many, many, many diet books that I bought, that when you gain weight you actually increase the number of fat cells in your body and although when you lose weight you shrink all the fat cells, you don't ever get rid of them all. So you always have more of the little buggers to fill back up again which means that it is much easier for a previously fat person to regain than it is for an always slim person to gain.

@Azuresky68 that’s frustrating! I’m sure it will drop off quickly. I do get the occasional wave of depression when it hits home that I’m going to have to be this careful about what I eat for the rest of my life. And it is absolutely worth it. I love how I look and how fit I am but it feels (especially at this time of year) that I am constantly worrying about the next meal out and how to manage it.

Fridays have always been my official weigh day and I’m now sitting at 10st which is right at the bottom of my zone of tolerance (I must admit I’d like to see a 9 on the scales!!). I took 2.5mg on Sunday. I’m not sure I can feel any effect of it… I am definitely hungry at times and usually able to finish a meal but I don’t have any urge to binge and I’m not really fussed about alcohol so maybe it is still working away in the background. I will probably jab next Friday… I’ve got two meals out over the next 7 days so will see how things go. I’m trying not to restrict on days when I’m eating out later as I feel that’s a bit eating disorder ish. I’m also trying to balance fuelling my runs with not gaining so there’s a lot to think about.

I used the Boditrax machine again today - it told me I’d lost 2.2kg which I knew - interestingly it said 0.5kg of that was muscle and the rest was fat… no idea how accurate this is. It’s also frustrating when I’ve been working very hard on resistance training and protein intake over the last fortnight. I won’t take it too much to heart though.

have a lovely weekend everyone

Hello 👋 May I join you please?

I started on April 24th this year at 12st7.5, (5’3”). My provider (Juniper) set me a goal weight of 8st 10 - which I believe is bang in the middle of healthy BMI (21.75).

The highest dose I used was 6.25, for about 3 weeks but I have spent most of my time on 5mg.

I hit 8st 13 a couple of weeks ago and, feeling confident, decided to try to lose the last 3lbs without MJ.

I took my last dose on 21st November and have lost 1.1lbs since then. I’m finding it okay - slightly increased food noise, particularly in the evenings when inactive. My appetite has not increased (yet!) and I’m still satisfied with small meals. Hunger is more intense.

I am confident my diet and routine is transformed. I now have a gym habit and am back to running 3 x per week, so I feel positive about giving “cold turkey” a try.

If this doesn’t work I have 2 x 2.5mg pens in the fridge and am on a maintenance plan with my provider.

I absolutely love being slim (ish) and healthy! I never want to go back to being fat and unhealthy - so being in this maintenance chat will be very important.

I haven’t quiet reached my goal but am very happy as I am.

Tdee is right for me - sorry ladies @Azuresky68and @MargoLivebetter

Maintaining nicely and thought do a pic and the tale of 3 Christmas jumpers

But pic doesn’t seem to want to load. Can anytime else load pics

For sure, but my issue last year wasn't eating like it was Christmas for a whole month, it was eating maybe one extra little treat a day, like a mince pie, for a month. It triggered loads of food noise & cravings which took a lot more effort than I thought it would to overcome. (And they were mostly all homemade treats too, so I can't blame UPF.) Thankfully I didn't gain, but now I know even a small treat can amp up the food noise so - I'll be prepared!

@AbundanceofKatherines welcome and well done! You are definitely in the right place for support through maintenance. Mumsnet threads have been so helpful during my weight loss journey. Thanks to everyone on this thread and to @MargoLivebetter for this thread. Also thanks to @Blondeshavemorefun who kept the August 2024 starters going on our separate thread. There are a few of us in here now as we are maintaining. I think I will need this thread forever plus the August one of course 🤗

@AbundanceofKatherines Good to see you here!

Indeed we will as I refuse to gain the weight back

I said that last time when lost 4s on ww and swore I wouldn’t gain it back

I did and 2st more so 6s

this time I’ve lost 7s at lower end of my buffer

don’t want to gain 7s and 2s more

it’s easily done and if k have to weight every week for the rest of me life the. So be it

far easier to lose 3/4 lbs then 3/4s or even 7 if I gain it all back

if clothes get tight I need to diet. Not buy bigger clothes

So the tale of 3 Christmas jumpers

I thought I was slim / well slimmer last Xmas but compared to now I was still porky

Witwoo!

I have decided my method of maintaining alongside tapering and staying on a low dose is having a strict bubble. My bubble will be 7st9 to 8st9 with my goal weight of 8st2 (which I am hovering around). I’m going to weight a few times a week and it if I get two weigh ins at least a week apart that are above the top of my bubble I’ll count and restrict down to 8st. And rinse and repeat.

my issue in the past has been letting things go, getting despondent and not dealing with things. I’m hoping that having a bubble and a plan means I’ll be able to keep my weight in check.

I think that’s a great approach @FurForksSake , especially the ‘if there are 2 weigh ins above’ - it’s very specific and measurable. Better than my vague ‘if I go up, I’ll just have to cut down’. I’m going to pinch that. Mine will be upper limit of 9 st 4.

I think the two weighs in is definitely key to my mind. One measurement out of range could be a natural fluctuation, an undigested piece of beef, a large bowel movement unmoved, some water retention. If it is still there a week later, it’s a gain. So I’m hoping it will allow me to be cool with life’s natural fluctuations but also give me a big red button to push. If I want to get back to goal and have say 8lbs to lose, that’s hopefully just 8 weeks of restriction and then back to maintenance. Very doable and hopefully something I’ll only need to do once or twice a year maximum.

@Blondeshavemorefun amazing weight loss! Well done. 👏🏻 i love comparing pictures, so telling. Im lurking here, probably like in your second pic but hoping to get at GW soon. Your pics are inspiring

Hello @AbundanceofKatherines welcome and congratulations of all that you have lost. Great to see you here and look forward to hearing how you get on. All sounds very good so far.

@FurForksSake loving the bubble concept.

@Blondeshavemorefun for some reason I get "Sensitive Content" on your post with the photos!!!! Which is a shame, as I was looking forward to some Christmas Jumper content 😀

@OneThirdLess I definitely get "treat creep". It is a slippery road for me too and I find that it leads to increased food noise as well.

Thanks to the op who posted re the cost per kg lost….. I’m finding that quite motivating if I stand on the scale and it’s up by a kilo I am thinking bugger that, that kilo cost me £xx!!!

Felt the same all week, no appetite and no food noise, no sugar drops, no side effects. I'm meant to be on around 12-1400 to maintain and I really can't afford to lose any more so I've eaten a few empty calorie snacks to get up to about 1200. I'm pleased so far.