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.

This is definitely the key! If clothes start to feel tight, adjust your calories straight away. Not think and wonder and delay and go shopping.

Click on it. Should show it ?

Thank you. And sure you will get there. We are 18mths in roughly

It did! What a transformation. I also love this year's Christmas jumper. Where did you get that from?

@MargoLivebetter you are correct about the number of fat cells in our bodies. It take quite an effort for new fat cells to be produced (maybe that's why generally slimmer people find it easier to stay there) but once the cells are there they are much easier to re-fill - something I will always have to be mindful of.

@OneThirdLess I also find the increase in the occasional treat is the hard part. It's usually OK at other times of year, but turning down someone's home made shortbread at this time of year feels challenging (yesterday was my DIL's pavlova!). It is the twin devils of feeling like I should treat myself and feeling like I'm a rude guest if I say no. But there are too many of those moments during the festive season.

I'm experimenting with one month on and one month off. So, no MJ at all in November. I put on 2 pounds. I know my weight fluctuates by a couple of lbs, but in the last two of weeks in November it didn't fluctute down at all. I was doing pretty well with my eating most of the time. I use a smaller plate, serve myself smaller portions and I generally eat more healthily than I did 18 months ago. However, I noticed that I was back to eating much more quickly than when I'm on MJ, and that my smaller portions were not quite as small as before - so the tempting buttery mashed potato had a medium sized dollop rather than a morsel. Also being small and restricted in TDEE calories I usually only have 2 meals per day - a brunch and a dinner. I definately had more days when I had breakfast, lunch and dinner.
So I was back on 2.5mg on 1st December. I did wonder whether it would be the complete impact of the very first time... it wasn't. But I've felt the benefit, found it easier to resist snacking and I definitely notice the reduction in food noise. And one of the additional 2lbs seems to have gone.
I've clearly got more to learn / habits to look out for etc. I'm glad I'm back on MJ for the festive period. 2 lunches out this week and I need to make good choices, although the bigger temptation is when I cooking and hosting at home as I will make ALL my favourites!
I still plan to continue with alternating months so will have January off and February on. It halves theprice and means I'm not using a pen for extended periods.

@MargoLivebetter "Treat creep" is a brilliant way of putting it. (And is is so damn frustrating that little treats can have such an impact on food noise.)

@20bloodypounds It's hard when there's so many delicious things isn't it. I find myself wondering what I can cut out to make way for the treat, but actually, I want to eat my normal food as well, as it's nutritious. Can I ask which provider you're with to do 1 month on, one month off? Or would it not really matter if you're only on 2.5? Good luck with it and keep us updated on how you get on, halving the price would be nice.

@Blondeshavemorefun Yes I'm thinking exactly the same - I'll watch the scale like a hawk for the rest of my life if that's what it takes to keep the weight off. I've got rid of all my too-big clothes (save for one box of things in a size up, because I'm in peri and realistically, if I gain a little around the middle, I'll have to deal with that, I just want to keep healthy). Also I love your Christmas jumper - and look at your thigh gap! 😁

I had a quiet few weeks of maintaining then it's all gone to pot this week and I've put on 4 pounds. (Ok, it probably isn't 4 pounds of fat, but other than one big blowout meal, I've nothing to blame it on - mid point in cycle, everything else normal). So it's mostly just annoying and I shall have to work to lose it again.

That said, I saw myself in a full length mirror yesterday (I don't have one at home) and I looked like... a slim person! I am still mentally fat, I guess. When I was at my biggest, I couldn't get my head around being that size, and now I'm slim I still can't. 😆

Thank you @MargoLivebetter

amd Temu. My fav place for clothes. My whole new wardrobe has 99% come from there

Was £4

https://share.temu.com/4KAECDUVSjB

@OneThirdLess I know. Squeaks excitidly . I have a gap

That's really interesting about your month off, month on idea @20bloodypounds . I'll be keen to hear how that goes longer term.

@OneThirdLess very annoying about the 4lb. Hopefully, it will fall off fairly quickly.

@Blondeshavemorefun heading off to look at Temu, thank you. So far an unexplored retail territory for me!

Last injection, I scaled back to the equivalent of 1.0 dose of MJ. I was doing 1.25 but had evil acid reflux so dipped lower and the acid reflux has reduced but I'm still getting relief from the food noise. Weight is stable a few pounds below my original target weight. I'm surrounded by temptations at every turn - so glad that I decided to go back on for a few months.

@Blondeshavemorefun
When using Temu or Shein make sure you look very closely at the pictures and the material. I've bought lots from both but sometimes the items are poor material, and sometimes the items are fab and are my favourites.
Have fun shopping!

@OneThirdLess I'm with Oushk. But at 2.5mg it doesn't really matter who I'm with, any pharmacy that has maintenance options should be able to deliver that.

I agree about finding it hard to match my self-image in my head with how I actually look. Sometimes in my head I am in my mid-30s (and surprised to realise I am actually mid 60's). But conversely at an event yesterday I was wearing a winter dress above my knee. Someone took a photo and I couldn't quite reconcile the person in the picture (with a slim face and slim legs), with the fat me I still feel I am. Aren't humans strange beings!

@MargoLivebetter I think the all or nothing approach suits me. I plan on doing one on / one off for the first half of next year. It's sort of an experiment in seeing how well I am actually managing to change my eating longer term, but with the safety net of being a 'regular' with my prescriber. If I manage OK I might try one on / two off... but that's for autumn 2026 and who knows what might happen by then :)

I have not had any thing bad or useless at all

most thjbgs on there are on Amazon but come tomorrow and double the price

if happy to wait 4/5 business days so a week roughly for stuff then can save so much money

I’ve ordered

trousers
tops
dresses
pjs
bedding
hoover
garden furniture
Halloween stuff
Xmas stuff
boots
clothes for mini blondes

Hi everyone! I went away and missed a weigh/jab - I did eat and drink more which gave me a 5.7 pound gain. I got back on it and lost 5.9 pounds this week. So happy that’s done!

5 pounds (ish) from maintenance - I have been accepted by Pharmulous. Very quick and easy, signed up on Monday and delivered on Wednesday.

@Nearlyhadenough well done on losing the gain so quickly. It is very satisfying to know that you can do it. Glad to hear you got on ok with Pharmulous. What dose are you on now?

Hi all, just checking in, it’s been awhile.

I’ve been maintaining for three months while reducing MJ. Gradually going down from 7.5 to 2.5mg.
I have my last one scheduled next week.

I have found my appetite comes and goes but is definitely less mad a couple of days after the dose.
I’m a little nervous about stopping altogether but also just want to be done with it now.

My OGW was 133lbs and I got down to 126lbs which was amazing. I’ve stayed between 126-128 which I’m very happy with.

I will enjoy the festive season, monitor my weight and see how it goes.
I started on 18th Jan last year so almost a year.
It’s going to be awesome to start a new year without thinking, this year I should really try and lose weight.

@SteveHarringtonsHair it sounds like you have reached a really good spot. I agree it is the best feeling knowing that you won't be starting another year overweight with yet another diet in front of you.

@MargoLivebetter I’m taking 2.5mg. Only went up to 5mg for a couple of months but couldn’t tolerate the side effects.

i occasionally take a 2.75/3mg. Not really sure how I’ll maintain, probably stay weekly but go even lower on the dosage. That’s why it’s great to hear all your ideas, so many ways of doing it!

Lost 2 so hit the 100lb loss again but to me it’s not the right weight and in too skinny
never would have said that before
done my last 5 from A 10.
I don’t know whether to drop again next week to 2.5 but is that mad for Xmas week or wait for Xmas and in Jan do 2.5
I would like to know if I can sustain this weight loss without anything and be lovely to save the money if I can
but I read so many stories that it creeps back on that I’m almost scared to come off
you take antid daily or other medications if need then so why not this - apart from the fact it costs lol

Hi Everyone, @Nearlyhadenough I’m so impressed you dealt with your holiday gain so quickly.

I’m now 12 days post 2.5mg and back down at the low end of my maintenance range. I’ve had several meals out and other social events so pleased with myself. I’ve had the odd treat but also been very consistent on normal days. I’ve noticed food noise and an urge to emotional eat creeping in but what works for me is planning out my days food in advance - then that’s what I have - non negotiable. Xmas away with family will be more of a challenge and I’m wonder about going back up to weekly jabs for the festive period… I do want to prove to myself that I have some agency and can do this on my own but also I’m scared I can’t do it on my own!!

Dilemmas, dilemmas @Blondeshavemorefun . I think you won't know until you give it a go. What's the harm in trying and if the weight starts going back on again, you know that you have options.

@Incognitoburrito88 so good to hear that it is going well post MJ. Why not give yourself a chance without it and see how it goes and if it all starts becoming unmanageable then you know that you can go back on. Take each day at a time.

@Blondeshavemorefun - I am in a similar position. I weighed myself this morning and I am 5 lbs below my target weight. I am only 5 feet tall so 5lbs is quite a lot for me and I am definitely too thin! My current dosage is 5mg (never went above that) and my plan was to continue with 5mg until the New Year and increase calories consumed by eating more protein. After my weigh-in this morning, I am wondering whether I should start to titrate down now (due to jab tonight). Pre-MJ, I had difficulties with portion control -especially for wheat based carbs- and my worry is that if I titrate down before Christmas I will end up eating my (old ) body weight of Yorkshire puddings, mince pies, Christmas cake and cookies and my old carb cravings will spiral out of control again. I am tempted to jab 5mg again tonight and consciously eat more protein this coming week. If I continue to lose weight, then can titrate down next week.

Would be great to how anyone else reversed weight loss? Who would have thought we would have to do that when we started out!!

@LadyClumber it’s 2w left in Dec. I think I’m going to stick with 5 to ride me over Xmas and then drop to 2.5 in jan and see what happens

i haven’t ordered any pens for a few months due to my stash so think i need to maybe order a 10 do can take 5 from it and if need be then 2.5 but on. Would way be over the shelf life

I don’t went to go to 2.5 and struggle and go back to 5 and then not be able to get a 10 pen for cost @MargoLivebetter

My goaL was 11s and then I kept dropping even tho was extra 600c a day for maintenance so ending up 10-4 to 10.7 as a ballpark an now 10.2 but face is looking gaunt imo

shame the weight /fat isn’t going off my tummy

@LadyClumber I think you have a good plan to jab as normal this week. Then see how you go over Christmas, it would absolutely be the worst time for a recurrence of cravings and food noise. (Also after Christmas there'll be loads of yummy leftovers and Christmas treats still, so - stay vigilant!)

Like you I never went that high up the doses and am titrating down reeeaallly slowly. I am maintaining weight ok, but mentally still struggling with the shift in trying to get the scales to stay the same rather than drop. I almost wish I had more weight to lose as it was a much more familiar state for my brain.

@Incognitoburrito88 I'm doing one month on and one month off, and deliberately planned it so November was off, and December is back on. I think there is one thing being in control and making good decisions in a normal period - much harder when you're away and not in charge of everything that goes into a meal, and when people have bought in (or made) lots of additional 'treats'. Mince pies with brandy butter - lots of sugar, lots of fat. Nuts and crisps - those salty more-ish things. A cooked breakfast, a steak pie, creamy mash... I feel very glad to have a little bit of MJ to help me to enither refuse completely, or to eat only a small portion.