Nov 25 starters - thread 2 - the one where we don’t eat everything in sight this Christmas!

[Springbaby2023]

Hi everyone, starting a second thread as the other one is almost full. We made it through month one, now here’s to a happy, healthy and lighter 2026!

Interesting idea about 1.25 maintenance dose for a year. Could be a good plan. I wonder if you’d still feel it at such a low dose. I could seriously consider that if so.

i have 10.5lbs to get to target and that builds in a bit of a buffer. I have eaten more this last week or so than any other since on the jabs - mainly due to social situations (being away from home/work, meals out etc) and also a bit due to less suppression towards the end of jab week than previously.

2.5mg works well for me generally so I think it could be enough to give me mild suppression. I imagine if people have been on a higher dose overall then it possibly wouldnt be enough.

This has been the first week I haven't eaten really well and I'm definitely feeling it. I havent been awful but not enough protein, less water and feeling very sluggish!

I am dead on BMI 23 and would like to get to around 21 then will have a few lbs to play around with

@tobee funny you should say that about bread as I have wondered that. I used to eat loads of bread but for some reason I’ve gone right off it since starting MJ, but I have noticed that sometimes my side effects seem to coincide with having it. But equally could be many other things. Fortunately so far touch wood as much as I’m having some slight side effects this week, so far it’s not a patch on what I had to put up with last week!

I stopped at the motorway services and got a U-FIT milkshake with 50g protein for lunch! Never seen one that high before and it was actually really nice!

I don’t calorie count as I’ve not been eating enough to need to - but if I did I would have blown the budget today. Delicious meal out with friends this evening and staying away for a couple of days with them so it won’t be a good week for weight loss but I’ll be back on track soon. I feel so full now.

My BMI is 23.8 and target weight would put me on 22.5. Those size 12 jeans are my goal!

The best thing about the jabs is that I am not actually stressing about 1 bad week. Getting back on track doesn't seem like a mammoth task.

I still feel like I am living in an alternate universe and can't believe my clothes actually fit now!

Agree one of the best things about the jabs for me is that I don’t feel like I’m ever falling off the wagon. When I do eat something that maybe isn’t ideal, it’s never a big portion so it just all feels pretty normal.

I am - finally - officially two stone down. Means my loss is exactly 2lb per week for the last 14 weeks.

Roll on “overweight” BMI. Edit: 10lb to go! Not long.

I agree .. the jabs have helped with my challenges .. like feel emotionally upset , tired , a bit fed up , pissed off 🤨
All of these things would have previously sent me to Ben &Jerrys , chocolate and haribos
It’s been nice to experience some of those things and manage my eating , not ruin my plan and continue to lose .

I feel like maybe these jabs just don’t agree with me, I have none of this that people talk about. I’ve not noticed my difference to food noise, just eat smaller portions. Weigh loss is painfully slow now. I get a rush at each injection it’s that lasts several days, and I’m still ving quite bad side effects for half the week then zero suppression on the other part of the week. I just feel like it’s maybe my body saying this isn’t for me?!

@Springbaby2023 I found trying to go up to 7.5 mg gave really bad side effects (fatigue, cold, stomach cramps etc. I went to 6.25 every 5-7 days and it improved a bit, then dropped a bit lower. This week, after reading up on split dosing, I’ve opted to go to a lower dose (4.25mg after 4 days which should reduce the peaks (and side effects) but also get rid of the lows and lack of suppression etc at the end of the week.

so far, so good, no bad side effects, no runaway appetite and time will tell but I think losses are unaffected.

im not a medic, this is my own experimentation so not a recommendation but I think you need to consider what you want in terms of side effects versus dosing.

Sorry its not been great still @Springbaby2023 the suggestion of splitting the dose may work. I can totally see how it just feels too much, when I had the nausea I was thinking I'm not sure i can manage feeling like that long time but then the weight dropped off and it felt worth it, I definitely couldnt manage the higher dose. I can feel a significant difference between 2.5 and 3.75. I do feel like I would be better on 2.5 bit every 5 days maybe.

What is your weightloss like now?

@SexyFrenchDepression @putthehamsterbackinitscage I’m definitely going to try split dosing, I have one dose of 7.5mg left but for my next pen I’m going to order 7.5 then split dose. I’m not ready to give up just yet, but equally don’t just want to continue as things are! Hopefully a lower dose will mean less side effects and more regular dosing will mean more equal suppression.

Glad it is working for you @putthehamsterbackinitscage - my side effects at 7.5mg sound identical to yours in terms of fatigue, stomach cramps and the coldness. Not helped by this bloody weather.

@SexyFrenchDepression I’ve lost 1 stone 6lb give or take as it keeps fluctuating. I only really want to lose another stone so it sounds manageable but feels such hard work right now!

Hopefully if the split dose works then the weightloss will feel easier, even if it is 1lb ish a week then it'll feel OK if you dont feel like crap and your appetite is suppressed. I know I'll be struggling to lose over 1lb a week now, that early burst of weightloss is so motivating but now its so much slower, just need to remember it'll be better for maintenance to lose at a reasonable rate now!

Yeah I think that’s the thing, if I had better suppression I’d be happy with a slow weight loss, but at the moment it almost feels like I’m not on it (apart from horrid side effects) because of the battle I’m having with calories. I know I’m eating too many calories and that’s why I’m not losing quick, but at the same time no point me spending a small fortune a month to have the same battles I’d be having not on the jabs! Fingers crossed the split dose will work better, it’s all trial and error isn’t it.

Best of luck with the split dosing. It sounds really sensible next step and we will be keen to hear how you get on.

@Springbaby2023It is very much trial and error to see what works for each of us.

split dosing has got rid of the bad side effects for me, and I am still losing - nearly at target now. The only side effect of mj or weight loss I can’t seem to get rid of is feeling extremely cold so I end up wearing lots of layers.

I would say to look at calculators that help track high and low levels, and be mindful of what the equivalent dose would be as a single jab. I worked out that if I keep my peak level on Shotsy below 9.5 I am mostly ok but I feel much better below 9.

And, keep a record of jabs, side effects etc so you can see how things change. It’s way to forget little details and you can end up not being sure what you have taken, or what triggered a side effect.

i am at around 7.5 - 8mg effectively at present - going to slowly reduce that on alternate jabs to begin with as long term I’d like to maintain on a lower dose but I’m going to stick with 4 days between jabs and aiming for a much more even level of mj.

I’m trying to just eat normally albeit small portions and I’m not banning anything but I genuinely don’t want sweet stuff and very few snacks… I have a g&t at the pub rather than a pint, and usually lose interest in wine after a small glass. That said, I cook from scratch at home and we don’t have takeaways much at all- biggest challenge is eating out as pretty much all meals are large portions that I just don’t want and can’t finish.

i probably do need more protein and I am aware of trying to eat protein with each meal in some form- even if it’s protein powder in coffee at breakfast.

Good luck with split dosing but be careful to make changes gradually and give it time to see how it works for you.

@Springbaby2023 how are you feeling?

I had a break and then took a microdose. 1.25

And within a day all puffy and swollen and exhausted - I get a lot of that on this medication but with even half of therapeutic dose!

I know I've got to throw it out it's clearly very bad for me personally

I don't know why I'm struggling

I think it's partly because there are just no other stories about this happening to people - honestly at this point I'm wondering if some of the stories get suppressed

If I write down my list of side-effects, it's huge

Also, I had a new one on the dose two weeks ago, I thought I had pins and needles I thought maybe I've been sitting funny

Turns out it's an actual condition called allodynia and lots of users report it and just seem to be putting up with it

I was just starting to feel perfectly healthy again and I stupidly took some what is wrong with me?

anyway, I feel quite embarrassed about it, but I'm just posting this in case it helps anyone else. It's turned into a kind of weird obsession taking this stuff. And I've never in my life been so obsessed with food even though I just have to constantly eat the same
Because I'm so worried about stomach upset

Wish I'd never gone near it

anyway, it's Lent now so I'm going to focus on that. It seems like a good opportunity to help focus with eating less

i'm just putting this out there in case it helps anyone I did think about starting a separate thread for people who came off it but really I just need to stop thinking about it and move forward

I tried it. It was bad for me. That's the end

Yes I had heard of people getting allodynia. It’s mind blowing how wide ranging the side effects are, just goes to show it’s a drug that affects the entire system.

I’m done now - 3 stone in total since November and very happy to be back in a size 10. I do need to do some work regarding exercise but I have been lucky and the skin that was looking crepey seems to have tightened as I reached goal weight.

Im not sure the world is ready to see me in a bikini yet but hopeful that with the upturn in excervise it will all start pulling together.

I reduced to 2.5 and have been stretching the doses out - currently 10 days post last shot. I might micro dose but haven’t noticed any huge appetite changes and my weight has stabilised.

I think this drug has been life changing and will stop taking it as per my original plan but I will hop straight back in again if I need to.

Wow @Fifiellz thats amazing work, well done. I’m amazed how fast some of you slimmer ladies have lost.

Did anyone see the thread on here about Voy supporting click counting? Be interesting to see if it’s part of a trend to support flexibility.

@TaffyTabby Thankyou! I was actually in a massive stall after Xmas for about 3 weeks and then suddenly lost the last 10 pounds in 2 weeks! It was when the suppression had worn right off and I started eating more - I think the extra food kickstarted the loss again

@Springbaby2023I was just wondering has your provider given you any advice?

@Fifiellz amazing well done! I have 6lb to go till 3 stone, 8lb till goal but I want to get lower so I have a buffer which would put me around BMI 20/21. It feels slow now but thats expected I guess. Such a fantastic weightloss for you in such a short time and thats so interesting re the last 10lb, I do wonder if I need to increase calories a bit but I am still losing 1lb+ a week so its doing the trick still.

@tobee yes I saw that, really interesting. There are lots of users from outside the UK who have it prescribed that way already and have never had issues with having the pens open longer than 30 days, some posters on here get very agressive about the 30 day usage, yet now some pharmacies are prescribing it that way, there is a disclaimer re the shelf life when purchasing. I am using 5mg for 2.5-3.75mg doses so around 6/7 weeks usage and all good so far.

Yes nice to have pharmacies validate that storing and using the pen for more than a month isn’t going to kill you!

Congratulations! Brilliant result! You must feel great. Best of luck for maintaining - please hang around and update if you feel able. I’ve been equally rubbish at any exercise but I’ll find that easier as days get longer, lighter, milder and less wet!

I am one pound off losing 3 stone. Currently 11st 1 lb. I need to keep going for about another half a dress size. I’ve set that as 10st 5 lbs but will need to see how weight and size line up. It’s getting harder now. Supression is definitely less and more willpower needed. If I can manage to just keep losing albeit slowly on 2.5 I will. I don’t want to increase but I may have to move doses closer together if I stop losing before target.