May 2025 Starters Thread 7 - Ending the year as we mean to go on ✌️

[FlorenceNightshade]

A sparkly new thread for our chatty gang!

Hello, I rarely post but do read all the comments. WL has been very slow (okay, non-existent) for the last couple of months. Every time I get into a rhythm something happens to disturb it and unfortunately when that happens I know from past experience I am likely to get strong SEs so will pre-emptively drop or lower my dose. The good news is, I have avoided SEs, and haven’t gained any weight including over Xmas. So I guess I accept the silver lining and hope that January will see me starting to lose again. This is too costly not to be losing any weight!!

Congratulations to all this at/near target, what an amazing Christmas gift to yourself.
I’m so proud to be part of this supportive group. I reckon I am half way so will be here for a while longer …..
Lets keep falling (weight) into 2026 x

This feels apt for our group!

https://feedmephoebe.com/jewish-chicken-soup/

I've been eating this delicious soup the last few months and it is incredible. Very easy to make and light. Thought it might be handy...

Merry Twixmas all. I thought I was doing well what with all the vegetables and then I discovered the nuts…

Still I’m not sure I recognise the person who thinks one fancy chocolate biscuit with coffee is enough.

Hello, so nice to read about how everyone’s managed over Christmas and love that this group is so active. I didn’t particularly watch what I was eating or drinking in terms of calories, but was aware that I was eating smaller amounts than I would normally do at Christmas. Forgot to jab on Christmas Day so jabbed on Boxing Day instead, weighed myself this morning and actually lost 0.5kg! Believe me when I tell you I was shocked.
As someone earlier said, trust the process!

3lb of my 5lb Christmas gain have evaporated. 😀

Being an old lady I was invited for my annual NHS health check today. 'You've lost a lot of weight' said the HCP. 'How did you do it?'
'What do you think?' said I .
'Eating less' she suggested. I just agreed. It's true.

But it was worth going as I insisted on being measured and I've gained back 1/2 an inch. That gets my BMI down a little bit - not sure if I care any more.

I cannot stop eating!! I feel like I’m falling off the wagon.

I took my big box of scrummy chocolates to my in laws today and opened them there. I managed to shovel five down my neck while we were there. But I left them there.
I think I’m a bit exhausted after mum and having to have the cafe open every day except Xmas. I’m really looking forward to next week when the schools go back and I can just open weekends again. I’m going to have to massively throw myself into a new regime. I’m craving sugary stuff again. Sad how easily I can pick it up again after six months of no sugar. My previous time of successfully being sugar free and losing weight came to a sudden stop when my husband was seriously ill in hospital. I can’t let this happen again.

@Gingercar : Last year, would you have had an unopened box of scrummy chocolates 4 days after Christmas ?
Last year, when you had scrummy chocolates, did you only eat 5 of them ?
Last year, would you have left the rest of the box at your in-laws ?

I think you’ve come a VERY long way since last year !
Please be kind to yourself, you’ve very recently lost your Mum and have been crazy busy with work and personal stuff.
You’ve not fallen off the wagon yet, just dropped the reins for a short while. xx

Very wise words @ElsieJay . We should all use them as our mantra. Think about the overall progress in changing habits, not the minor slip ups.

It's reminded me that the chocolate brownies in the fridge wouldn't have made it past boxing day last year.

Gearing up for Hogmanay here, Christmas was not too bad i gained a pound, lost it gained it again so im 1 over target right now. I think it does help me to weigh every day i know it’s not for everyone but i have definitely cheated a fair bit so i think that’s not a bad result. I have to disagree with the not jabbing , obviously whatever works for you but i jabbed on CHristmas day, there was no way i was going to unleash my appetite on the most calorific day of the year 😂. I have been surprised at how well i have coped with sticking to smaller portions and just having little treats, and ill be honest im glad it’s almost over so I can get back on my normal routine. It sounds boring but I actually enjoy my steady diet of the similar meals that keep me to my calorie deficit.
Ive got a family birthday tomorrow as well as NYE so will be double buffet! I have been doing myself a nice salad on every buffet to fill half my plate with, it’s a good trick, except rest of the family were diving on it so will have to make it bigger! Have a good one all and looking forward to January progress. I cannot believe this will be the first January of my life where my resolution wont be to lose weight because I’ve already done it 🤩🤩🤩

Some great supportive words in past few pages reminding us all of how far we've come. I love the 'no new year's resolution' about losing weight as we've already done it, or at least made massive inroads compared to last year.

I've had a bit of a shocker festive period with the amount of boozing, just had loads of social nights out where I've not thought about calories in alcohol. Food-wise I was doing ok till the past week where there has been food out in our house all the time and I've snacked so badly.

Yesterday I threw out half eaten things or put away in cupboards to stop the grazing as I walk past. Im also looking forward to the yoghurt, fruit and granola bowl as a treat return to normality.

I've put on 1kg but feel ill gain more on my next weekly weigh in as it catches up. I've always wondered how long it takes you to gain when you've overeaten for a week, does it hit next day, a week later?

Last night I went up to 5mg from my introductory 2.5mg month after having 2 months off at maintenance (where I gained 3kg 😬). The 2 5mg was working well for the first 3 weeks but has worn off, so hoping my higher dose kick-starts the weight loss. I did not restart jabs to gain more!

Thank you. You’re such a lovely person.

Hi all!!!! So lovely to catch up with everyone!!!

I totally went into ignore everything other than getting through the day & surviving Christmas mode!!!

I normally love it but for multiple reasons it’s been a tricky one this year!!

I am coming out the other side & reengaging with my sensible self! Have weighed this morning & gained 3lb which tbh I am thrilled about I felt like it was going to be about half a st & should have been more the amount I’ve eaten & drunk!!!!

I am so glad to be emerging again!! Have jabbed today a few days late & that’s helped me start to feel in control again! It’s the first time I’ve jabbed late!

I'm almost onto my last MJ pen & have just ordered my first Wegovy pen to take over after finish MJ as absolutely cannot afford to continue MJ but still have 3st to loose!!

lovely to look back at the difference in me last year to this year despite all the challenges life has posed this year!!

we have all done amazingly & I’m starting to look forward to the next part of my journey as the new year starts!!

Belated happy Christmas to you all losers 😊
I’ve finally braved the scales and oddly I’ve not gained any weight over the Christmas period despite me digging into lots of delicious food-but there’s still NYE to navigate so we’ll see- big party here with lots of food and booze planned so I might not be so keen to jump on the scales next week!

Exciting NSV for me today - I decided to treat myself to a pair of size 14 wool crepe Jaeger trousers online - sadly not in the sales…..
They arrived this afternoon and are too big!
I am deliriously happy. 🥳

I feel the same about sugar (and I haven't had the emotional upheaval that you've had this Christmas) It's scary how hard it is to not eat sugar then how easy it is to slip back into.

I'm cross with myself for letting it back into my diet - my skin especially looks sad and tired from it.

Anyway - enough of my rambles. Please be kind to yourself. You've had a lot to go through recently 💐

Hi all, apologies for not being around much. Was so sorry to see your news @Gingercar. Losing a parent so close to Christmas is so hard, especially when life doesn't slow down to let you come to terms with it. Sending big hugs.

Well done to all for making it through the worst excesses of the festic period without derailing completely - and even if you feel that you did, it isn't the end of the world and will be easily remedied.

I could gain almost a stone over Christmas and New Year in the past, so keeping it to 3-5lbs would be an absolute result for me when I weigh in tomorrow! Haven't gone crazy, and sooo much less than it used to be, but there have been some things I've eaten less of that I'd normally eat more of (fibre/protein) and some I'd eat less of usually that I've eaten more of (chocolate and mince pies!)

We had a lovely chickpea salad and beany soup yesterday which was so lovely after all the richer foods!

Keep on keeping on everyone, 2026 is a whole new year and I hope it will be a wonderful one for you all xxx

@notgonnafail how’d it go? Hope your gain feels manageable!!!

I’ve magically managed a LWR work out this morning and feel so much psychologically better already!!!

looking forward to getting shot of the extra water I’ve gathered!! Forgot how puffy a face can get after too much indulgence!!!

im feeling hopeful for getting my next 3 st shifted to hit my next & possibly final target! Could lose more but want to see how it feels.

happy new year to all and thinking of those of you who are having tough times 💞

going to post my favourite message from last night and my New Year’s resolution this year is to be kinder to myself!

Happy New Year lovelies!

Quick accountability check in - I weighed and I've maintained this week. Which is okay actually - I've had a few treats but countered it with lots of homemade vegetable soup and grilled chicken.

I ended the year almost 2.5 stone lighter. I found a pic from last January and turned it into a collage on my phone with a current pic - the difference is HUGE.

Even more determined to end 2026 even more lighter and brighter x

Happy 2026 - the one where we will all be Bikini Babes ! 👙
“Summer bodies are made in the winter …”.

Happy new year to all! 🥳🥳
i would be up for having “bikini babes” in our next thread title!!

i am determined to get to my GW in the next couple of months and then start maintaining (with MJ help)

Last night my friend commented on how well i looked and it is true i feel like a million dollar better than this time last year!

Apologies, this is going to be a nauseating gratitude post. And apologies also to those who aren't yet where they want to be, I don't want to appear smug.
In addition to the weight loss (18kg, now a healthy BMI) I have had the confidence to buy some nicer clothes - not loads, just enough that I don't look scruffy all the time. I ran into an acquaintance by chance the other day and wasn't embarrassed by my appearance - I think that might be a first! When I go shopping now I'm not just looking for something to cover me, I can choose nice things and not just buy the one thing that doesn't look awful on me. I tried on a pair of jeans recently and thought, 'they're ok but not as nice as the ones I already have so I'm not going to get them, because I can look amazing now!'

My confidence has improved massively: I had a dream about my horrible XH a couple of nights ago - previously I would dream that he was attacking me and I'd wake up in a panic, but this time he was just a bit pathetic and I almost felt sorry for him.

When I started MJ I thought it wouldn't work for me, I would be the exception etc etc. I'm so pleased with how it's gone so far and so grateful to this group for all your support. I couldn't have done it without you. I have a few kg to get to target and I'm going to get on it in the new year. I'm also going to increase my exercise, especially weights, in the new year so I can get strong.

Happy New Year & thank you, losers!

Inspired by @SussexLass87‘s post upthread, but I’m not tech-savvy enough to make these into a collage !
What a difference 8 months and 2.5 stone makes …..
Inspirational to read how positive and enthusiastic our little band of May 2025 starters still are as we head into a New Year .
The downwards journey continues !

@Seahorsesplendour I actually managed a loss over Christmas and New Year, but had had a gain earlier in the month, so am back to just 6kg total loss since May, but given how much being on this messed with my head earlier in the process I am happy enough with that. I am half a stone less than I was on 1st Jan 2025, so I'll take that happily as had been pretty consistently increasing year on year for a loonngg time! My biggest win this year is a NSV - getting to understand myself better and accept myself as I am whatever happens with my weight.

Well done to all who have had amazing results on the scale and off it in 2025. I think every one of us has had their ups and downs (in every way), but MJ has helped us through those things and helped us to stay on track and not give up on ourselves. 2026 is going to be a great year for us all, whether already at goal or still barely scratching the surface (me, definitely me!)

This little corner of the internet has been such a support and comfort and I thank you all for that xxx

Whit whoo!! Elsie check you out! You're looking absolutely amazing! ❤️