September 25 starters - new year, new trousers.

[outofofficeagain]

We won’t make it to Christmas without a new board.

Well done to everyone for getting this far and thank you for your company.

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2026.

it's gone quiet in here! How are you all doing? I am celebrating having lost 4 and a half stone, from 16 st 8 lbs to 12 st 1 lb. I still have a stone to go to reach my theoretical target and a healthy BMI. My rate of loss, having been good for the first 6 months, really stalled after Easter and became glacially slow. I only lost a couple of pounds in June and sabotaged my own expensive progress in July by going on holiday, drinking wine every day and eating too much despite having little appetite. Back on track now for that last push, having lost the 4 pounds I gained on holiday. I upped my dose from 6 to 6.5 which, although a small increase, does seem to have had some effect, slightly felt it in my tummy for a day or two but am ok now and feel it is has helped kick start the loss again. By the time I eventually reach target it will all have taken me longer than I originally anticipated, and thus cost more (£2k so far), but I am really thrilled with the changes in my body and am really enjoying clothes (thank God for Vinted). I emailed my provider, Ashcroft, about what happens when people reach goal weight and got a helpful response that implies they go on providing at maintenance levels, but presumably they don't like people using pens for longer than 30 days - will cross that bridge when (if) I get there

I’m still here and still losing, albeit much more slowly than I was. I’m 5 stone 5lbs down from when I started in late September last year. Still about another 10kg to go.

Have recently discovered the joys of Vinted and have started to list a selection of my old clothes and buy the odd thing. Got a Joe Browns jumpsuit in size 14 which I love but is a little on the big side, and have a Seasalt dress on order.

People are starting to notice and I”m now out at work with anyone who asks. Have had no judgement or negative feedback at all.

@Chopsy123that’s a lovely thing to happen!

I’ve been struggling with losing since about April and it hasn’t really changed for me, but I’m currently on holiday 7 stone and 4lb lighter than I was last time I was abroad - the difference is amazing. I’ve enjoyed the heat, I haven’t felt dizzy and breathless as usually happens to me. I’ve been able to do day trips and the energy I have is huge compared to my last few holidays. Just being able to to move around without a massive effort is a shock! And then there’s how I feel in my summer clothes - size 22-24 down to 14-16 - I catch glimpses of myself in shop windows and have to remind myself it’s me, I expect to see someone a lot bigger. So my win for this week is definitely the change to my holiday. I’m in a very hot and humid country, almost 40 degrees and feels hotter because of the humidity.

However, I’m having to stop MJ for now due to a change in circumstances. After a lot of miserable years trapped in a job I’ve hated I’ve managed to change my job to something I love. The pay is around half of what I was on, so I just can’t stretch to the cost. Now the good thing is that I’m only 21lbs away from my target, and I’ve started my exercise classes and the gym again. I’ve changed a lot of my habits and I’m in a really good place with time to attend classes and the gym without being worn out. I really think I can lose the rest without the support of MJ using all of the tools I’ve learnt. So I took my last dose (10mg) last Monday, and I haven’t ordered another. My plan is to give it a few days to see how I feel, if I can’t manage I will contact my provider and look at titrating down. But honestly, 7.5mg did nothing for me so I won’t feel the effects and still have to stump up money, I don’t think lower doses will make any difference that willpower won’t.

l’ve lost around 80lbs on MJ, I’ve lost 104lbs in total so it’s just the last little bit to go. It’s amazing how 21lbs seems so small now yet when I started, 21lbs seemed impossible. I’ll be staying on the thread and I’ll update with how it’s going, if my plan doesn’t work I might have to look at alternatives - but there’s one thing I’m certain of, I’m definitely not going back to the weight I was!

Hope the share token works for this story in today’s Times

UK approves weight-loss pill considered ‘treatment for life’

https://www.thetimes.com/article/4eb39d58-8ac0-4988-8532-af726dc7621c?shareToken=5f9c792fbbb7e61059f8d5688946644b

@threescoops thanks for the article. Very interesting reading and sounds like a really good solution for maintenance. I wonder whether I’ll be able to get it here in Ireland?

When I asked previously, the UK pharmacy I use in the north (Northern Ireland) will only supply MJ to me with a prescription from my GP. We can’t order across the border and buy the drugs directly without involving the GP, like you can in England.

Also, your rate of loss is similar to mine and I think I need go move up to 5mg (or more?) to shift that last stubborn stone.

@GhostOrchid Well done on your 5 stone plus loss. That’s brilliant!! 💃
Sounds like we’re all slowing down losing once we get near to goal weight. I guess this is normal with any diet regime?
What dose are you on currently?

@familyornot Congratulations on your new job. 👏👏👏

You’ve done incredibly well so far, and I’m sure the psychological effects of being happier in a new job will really help with ongoing weight loss.

However, I’d be worried about stopping suddenly at 10mg rather than titrating down. I think some people find their appetite comes back with a vengeance so you’ll need to be prepared for that and maybe stock up on (snacky) foods that are filling but also low calorie?

@Chopsy123 the last couple of weeks I nudged my dose up from 6 to 6.5 for that very reason and am sorry to report that such a small change has given me a bit of gastro intestinal discomfort for the first time! Nothing terrible, but rather unwelcome. Glad I didn't go straight to 7.5.....

Thanks @Chopsy123. I can’t quite believe it. I’d be pretty happy if I ended up staying where I am - a size 14 with visible collarbones and cheekbones - but I’d like to have a go at getting the last 10kg off.

I’m on 10mg now which seems to be working well although I have been toying with going up for the last push.

Hi everyone. I’m still in maintenance, taking 5mg and struggling to maintain as it’s not suppressing my hunger at all the last two months. I’ve only gained 2lb but worried it may keep going. I’m hungry a lot and food noise is back.
In other news I took the plunge and got Botox and fillers for for my face which in my mind had aged 10 years since losing weight. Has made a big difference. I still have some face sagging but it has really freshened me up a bit

@Kazzaa46 You’re grand. A 2lb gain is only one big poo away from goal! 😂

Seriously, you’re doing really well so don’t feel disheartened. I think staying at Maintenance sounds like the most difficult part of the whole journey, judging by posts from @JustPickleRick and @OneDayIWillLearn

Are any of you contemplating swapping to the Wegovy tablets or the about to be released Lilly version pill for maintenance? Or do you plan to come off the drugs completely?

The other day DH asked me when I was stopping MJ as initially I told him I’d only take it until April this year as I assumed I’d lose the weight by then and that would be it! 😳

Thing is, DH has always been on the tall and skinny side of life. He's active but has never had an interest in food and lives on a very minimal and bland diet. We never eat meals together. He’s been very supportive but was a bit shocked when I said I might have to take some form of glp-1’s forever…!

@Chopsy123I am titrating downwards by myself and then if I can’t maintain by myself will look at getting the pills (if it’s possible to get them with a green BMI?).
It’s been three weeks since I hit my target and I went down to 4.5 for a week but then went back to 5 for my holiday abroad and this week I’m on 4.5 again.
I’ve got a couple of 7.5 pens which I’m going to use as it was cheaper to do it that way. And when they’re gone, I’ll see how I go.
It looks like Asda would agree to start me again on 2.5 if necessary in the future.

As predicted, stopping cold turkey is not a good idea. I think it was wishful thinking on my part because I just can’t afford to pay for 10mg anymore. My jab was due on Monday but I was on holiday, by Wednesday I was starving and yesterday my appetite was massive. I didn’t give in, but I can see how it’s a disaster waiting to happen. I realistically cannot do it without MJ, I’ve got a stone and a half to go and it won’t happen whilst I’m this hungry. I ended up using one of my mum’s doses (thankfully she owes me one from a few months ago and offered), she’s on 7.5 so I took that last night. Quite hungry this morning but nothing I can’t ignore. So I need to see how this week goes as to what I do next, I’m with Medexpress and I’ve looked at other providers but they’re pretty much the same price (give or take). It’s a big difference between not being able to afford it and getting a bargain. I also saw that the wegovy tablets were an option so I am going to seriously think about those, I think with Asda or Bolt they were around half price for the first order.

On holiday I found it really hard to find foods to eat (I have an intolerance to an ingredient which is common and trying to identify it in another language is hard!). I’ve eaten a lot of fatty foods I wouldn’t normally have, I’ve tried to walk and swim a lot. Overall I’ve gained about 2lbs, so not a disaster but coupled with the lack of money for 10mg it’s a bit of a sticking point.

So I’ve taken 7.5mg, I’ll see how I get on this week. I also got back to exercise before I went away so I’m back to that now too. Hopefully I can use the 7.5mg to support my willpower. It’s helpful to remember how far we’ve all come with this, before MJ a stone and a half seemed such a mountain to climb but now it feels more manageable, just with the right support of course.

Everyone is doing so well!

Hi all :) i'm still here and posting from the canary islands! First holiday since going from 12 stone 9 to 8 stone 4. It's been amazing so far. Over indulged the first day but found a routine that works for me now and haven't gone crazy. Feeling so comfortable in myself has made this whole journey worthwhile. Its almost a year since I ordered my first pen and i'm so glad i did!

I'm still in maintenance of 2.5mg and haven't put any weight on, actually lost 3lb as my goal was 8 stone 7. I'm happy with that wiggle room though as i will no doubt have a gain once I get home!

I emailed lotus recently and they have put a pause on my account whilst I use up my surplus of doses. Got a 5mg pen and a 2.5mg pen still in the fridge. I plan on staying on the jab but I do wonder how I will be without it. I've been spacing my doses to 10 days the last couple of weeks in prep for my holiday. Its a 12 day break until I can have my next dose so this will be tricky!
Food noise is definitely there and has been for a while but i've been managing it well. I really don't want to go back to what i was before.

@JustPickleRick Glad you’re having a great holiday and at least you can eat lots of lovely fresh fruit over there when you’re feeling very peckish. 😋
You’re doing really well in maintenance mode, so that gives me hope. What was your highest dose on MJ before titrating down?

@familyornot @Pinkbox I wonder if the new Foundayo tablets could be the answer?
I don’t think I could do the Wegovy tablets as you can’t drink (or eat) for 8 hours beforehand and I wake up at least three times and drink lots of water during the night. Probably at least a pint. (It’s not due to the heat either as thankfully, it’s not been that hot over here and I always keep my bedroom window open.)

Thank you :) I won't lie, i've completely avoided the fruit haha. I'm eating bad things but just little amounts!
My highest dose was 4.17mg so I didn't go too high at all.

@Chopsy123 I haven’t even heard of those - going to have a look now. I also didn’t realise that about the Wegovy pills, they don’t sound like they’d work for me either. I drink water constantly!

On the plus side, the 7.5mg is working well for me. I’d had a suggestion previously about injecting every 10 days rather than every week, so maybe stretching out the dose will help. I need to have a good look at my options, I do need to keep on some sort of suppressant. I don’t feel like I’m ready to go it alone although I wish I was.

I’m still a bit in denial about being in maintenance! I haven’t really changed my dose other than going back to 5mg every 7 days (I’d done it every 6 days for a couple of months before that). I’m considering starting to drop it slightly but I really dread having food noise come back - more than I fear putting weight on to be honest! So I haven’t.

My goal weight was 10 stone 7lbs and I’m now more like 10 stone 4lbs so I think I’m losing slightly, but it’s very slightly. But I wouldn’t really want to lose much more.

I haven’t told Oushk that I am switching to maintenance partly because I don’t really understand their maintenance plan. I could do with spending a bit less on it all but I really can’t face going it alone yet and for the lack of food noise the money seems worth it for now.

I think I’ll try and get a better plan together in September when the kids are back at school!!!

Hi everyone. I've hit my maintenance weight with a BMI of 22, but just as I was about to start gradually titrating down to find a comfortable maintenance dose, I had stomach pains which were worryingly suggestive of gallstones, so it looks as though I might have to do cold turkey maintenance.

Have you seen your GP and got checked out?

My GP does regular blood tests and was concerned some of my blood results were slightly high which could indicate issues with Pancreas or Liver so she’s referred me for tests. An initial ultrasound was inconclusive so I had an MRI last week and will see the consultant in a fortnight to discuss the results.

Must admit, I’m not worried because I haven’t had any obvious symptoms and I think my GP is just being cautious.

I've been referred for a scan and blood tests.

Ugh. Nearly 11 months on this medication and I’m still learning.

Injected yesterday around lunchtime, as usual. I rarely feel the effects quickly, normally takes a day or so kick in so was feeling quite peckish early evening. We didn’t have much in so got a Chinese takeaway. I helped myself to what I thought was a fairly modest portion (there was loads left!), which I enjoyed. I had four (4!) prawn crackers. All good. Woke up at 4am feeling like someone had poured quick drying cement into my belly, and a mouth that was dry as the Sahara. Spent an unpleasant hour in real discomfort then a bout of explosive diarrhoea which eased things a bit. Then an enormous belch which eased things a bit more. The worst has passed now, but I’ve been feeling a bit off all day and not eaten much. Stuck largely to fruit and veg and protein. No more Chinese takeaways for me.

In better news my weight is still dropping, albeit slowly, and I’m now down at 74.6kg (around 11 stone 10). With a bit of luck I’ll be at my final goal by Christmas.

Hope you're feeling better today! Your post stopped me from eating left over curry for lunch so thank you 😅 I injected again on saturday night after a 13 day break for holiday. Felt a bit of a headache and gassy sto.ach so that curry would have led to a very bad night I think!

Speaking of holidays, I put 4lb on over the 10 days so i'm back up to 8 stone 8. My target was always 8 stone 7 but I lost a bit more before before holiday even though im in maintenance and just went with it for buffer room. Glad i did now as i've not got a lot to go to get back to goal.

Feeling fine now, thank you. And glad to be of service 😆. Down another pound since that post as well, taking me to a cool 5 and a half stone loss in 11 months exactly. That averages out at 7 pounds per month.

Woohoo well done, thats an amazong amount! Mad to think its almost a whole year we've been doing this for 🤯