Oh come all ye injectors, slimmer and maintaining, oh come ye, oh come ye to Thread Number Three! For all those who've hit goal, maintaining in whatever way they can / want to / aim to etc

[MargoLivebetter]

Welcome fellow maintainers to our third thread! Tis the season to be joyful and we do have reasons to be joyful, as we are still here. Not always the perfect journey and full of treats and temptations, but we'd have nothing to talk about otherwise. So hop on the Magical Maintenance Sleigh of Wonder and lets go! (Apologies to all those reading this for the first time in March! I got a bit carried away my festive season puns.)

thank you @MargoLivebetter

@Blondeshavemorefun I’ve lost about 3 stone and gone from 31 ish BMI to between 22.5 and 23. I’m very short so I didn’t carry it well and have been overweight all my adult life.

@Sadteacher well done to you! I put on a few pounds over Christmas but it came back off when I stopped drinking and eating my weight in cheese every day 😂

Maybe it is my age (50) I put on 5lbs, try hard and only drop 1 or 2 lbs. That is my long term problem. I always maintain I just can’t lose weight! I enjoy my teacher holidays! If I’m still up on my happy weight after Feb half term I will order another pen if I can.

I’m so glad I have heighr

well 5/7

not like in 6f

Weigh in day for me today and after staying the same for the last few weeks I’ve suddenly lost 3lbs. Not sure how! I am now 7lbs under my original target, but that’s fine for me as my target was the top end of a healthy BMI. BMI is now 23.8 so although I don’t want to lose anymore I can afford to lose a bit extra. Plus it’s coming up to half term and my birthday, so I’m pleased to have a bit of a buffer in case I have a gain that week!

Weigh in day for me today and lost again so I am now very near the bottom of a healthy BMI - despite poor gym attendance this week and increasing food intake. Today is jab day and while I had planned on taking the full 5mg until I finished this pen, I think I should start reducing dosage. I was thinking of reducing by 5 clicks per month for a gradual titration downwards but am wondering whether I am being too conservative given my current weight/ BMI?

@Sadteacher yes, that is how it creeps on. Very frustrating. Are you off MJ completely now?

@MummyInTheNecropolis That all sounds really positive. A big turnaround from a few weeks ago. I'm so pleased for you.

@LadyClumber does sound like it might be time to reduce dose a bit more. Why don't you be a bit more bold and see how it goes?

@MargoLivebetter - I think you’re right. Will reduce dose to 4mg and see how I get on this week. Problem is that I know I need to gain weight, but I’m terrified that once I start gaining I won’t stop. Need to pull on my (now tiny) ‘big girl’ pants and face the fear!

You've got this @LadyClumber . Nothing is irreversible. You are the boss of your dosage and the calories you consume, so you can find the right level in your own time and make it all work for you.

What are you eating @LadyClumber

write a few days diary’s an said we can help add calories

Typical day would be:

Breakfast - berries with Greek yogurt, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, drizzle of homey

Lunch - chicken breast or salmon with selection of salads (our firm has amazing catering), satsuma or pear

Dinner - chicken/ tofu/ salmon/ beef with veggies with pulses/ rice/ potato wedges

i have been consciously trying to eat more (eg. Eating breakfast) and focusing on increasing protein but you’re right @Blondeshavemorefun - I should resume calorie counting on Nutracheck to ensure I am eating enough to gain.

@LadyClumber could you add an afternoon snack?

I’ve developed Raynauds and realized it may be not just the weightloss in general but specifically because I’ve been eating very low fat for over a year. I’m also still slowly losing weight. So now I’ve added a little snack, just some dark chocolate or peanut butter on banana or on dates. Something with fibre and fat and about 150 calories.

I’m also upping healthy fats like avocado.

Lunch is prob 300c so could have more

protein shakes ? Puddings ? Chocolate bars ? So calories and protein ?

I’m avoiding protein shakes etc because, apart from the taste (🤢) I’m keen to avoid UPFs. Like the idea of snacking on peanut butter and oatcakes and avocado, though. There is a M&S next door to my office so maybe also pick up an egg and spinach pot for an afternoon snack.

@Sadteacher I’m 54. Tbh I’m surprised how I’ve maintained. I had to stop MJ very suddenly due to health concerns which took me ages to get an answer about and now I know what it is I could have stayed on MJ. It coincided with the price increase too so that was a motivation not to have to go back! I think being active and daily weighing helps. And tracking at the start showed me what portion sizes and calories I needed.

@ladyclumberhave you considered spacing out the doses more? Maybe every 10 days or 2 weeks? Are you now weighing a lot less than your target?

I remember towards the end of the weight loss, I was still buying smaller clothes but the scales just would not budge. I thought my journey was over and I couldn't lose anymore. I got new scales and discovered I was about half a stone down, so I'd still been losing at the same rate all along 😂

A while ago I suddenly looked at my stomach and was like "where did my stretch marks go?!". They seemed to vanish overnight. The loose skin is moving at a much smaller rate but it is firming up. It's probably a combination of collagen, exercise and time. I wish I'd have taken collagen from the start though, I think it would be much better.

What collagen do you all take as its very expensive and I don't want to buy something that doesn't work.

I have been taking ancient and brave but it's very expensive so I've been researching for a while and I'm planning on switching to nutrition geeks when I've used it up.

I’ve just finished my ancient and brave collagen, I can’t decide if I should buy more or not as when I listen to science based reports the evidence of it working is very thin, I can’t say for sure it’s made any difference, but I feel like I should be taking it 🤷‍♀️
I do think time and exercise really helps, my flat bum is really improving and I don’t have a double fold of loose skin at my bum/top of leg line anymore.
I’ve put on 3kg since October and although I’m still taking 5mg my weight is staying the same, but I’m eating more, enjoying food more and getting comments about looking very well, so I think maybe for me, being 62 I was possibly looking a bit frail before putting this weight back on.
My focus now is on health and strength, I plan to up my exercise and up my weights, my new scale tell me I still have too much body fat so that’s what I’ve got to work on.

I use alpha zero one multi collagen. Apparently you have to take it for a long time consistently and the evidence isn’t massive. But with the state of my neck I’m willing to try! I also take creatine daily.

im recovering from hip surgery in November so im still low on exercise. I’ve just done 17 minutes of interval on my exercise bike and I’m doing physio / Pilates every day.

My ideal would be to be a size 8 but really toned. At the moment some of my clothes are a six but I have no tone. I follow someone on social media called Mrs May who is 47 ish (it was her birthday) and her body looks amazing. Not real muscle mummy but really slim and toned.

It is fantistic that people are so motivated to exercise, and to look after their skin, and to take appropriate supplements. Also I think that part of this journey is acceptance. Acceptance of how we have been (and our metabolism and how that may be a long term challenge). And acceptance of our genetics - the ones that gave us short legs or wide hips or square torsos and skinny bums. I'm mid 60s and I have to work with what I have. No amount of MJ or weights are going to make me any taller. If I'm prone to some genetic cardiovascular disease or arthritis or dementia, all I can do is work with that and keep in the best shape. And most importantly enjoy every part of life. Enjoy my slimmer figure, enjoy my better energy, enjoy eating foods that taste good.

Oh, and enjoy a community of people who are on a similar journey! xx

Has anyone tried the Willpowder range? I bought a “trying” stash tin for £15 and have been really impressed with the MCT keto creamer and the protein bone broth powder. Genuinely feel better. I don’t know much about it tho so would welcome thoughts.
I’m having keto in my morning coffee and protein milkshake in the afternoon.

@Yetanotherusername2000 do you have a slow cooker? I stick the left over chicken carcass or lamb roast or a duck in it and leave it on for hours. With bits of left over veg, and some seasoning. Honestly you will get the best bone broth, natural and unprocessed (with all the collagen you need). No need for MCT or collagen powder or protein shakes.

Big food/big pharma are always trying to seduce us (and make profits). For me, making this sustainable, maintaining a steady weight over the long term is not about mixes and fixes. It's about proper food that fits into my lifestyle.

Sadly, big meat cooking isn’t for me. But thanks

Hello All, can I join please?
Been reading since new year.
I've lost 4 stone, am only just in a healthy BMI but this is due to high muscle and has taken some accepting from me. My waist to height ration is right in the middle of healthy though so im happy with that. (14 stone down to 9stone 13lb)
I have about 3 doses of MJ left, these are from last August and have been dropping my dose from 10mg pens. I'm taking 2.5mg for my next three, then that's it. I'm hoping I can do it as I dont know that any pharmacy would take me on as I haven't ordered since August, which again stresses me. I do have all my boxes still though.
I dont want to be on MJ forever, although it makes me incredibly anxious and nervous, but I need to try first. Your thread is really supportive and inspiring.
I'm exercising with body pump, body Balance and reformer pilates and walking lots too. And surprisingly enjoying the exercise!
Oh and im 54.
@Yetanotherusername2000 I use willpowders collagen. I buy the 1kg bag and it lasts me months. I love it. I got the stash tin to try some other things too.