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.

I’ve had a similar week @GhostOrchid but the 7.5 pen is so expensive I really want to stay on 5mg longer.

Going to have to put a bit more focus in I think.

Glad you're okay @Ihateslugs.

I was surprised they didn't give me anticoagulants after my surgery in March, especially given in my previous surgery I developed a massive pulmonary embolism in each lung. I was terrified - the physios said they'd never had someone out of bed and so quickly after a GE, let alone after spinal surgery. The room dipped and swayed, but I did it!

Again no losses to report for me this week. I experienced a bit of fluctuation over Christmas as might be expected, but have now remained at a steady 13 st for 3 weeks. Guess this is one of the annoying plateaus we get from time to time.

With a 2st loss under my belt I'm happy to ride this out and give my body time to adjust. To lose this amount in only four months was quite quick going; when a plateau has arrived in the earlier stages this has been known to derail me in the past. Meantime I will just enjoy being able to wear my old jeans again - which are not only capable of being zipped closed, but are a comfortable fit and don't lacerate my middle.

Well done to all those who have continued losing at probably the very worst time of year for weight loss!

@Ihateslugs great to hear the update, sounds positive.

@Bugling I’ve only ever done my stomach. I’m considering trying thigh or arm for my next dose. Apparently it shouldn’t make a difference but some people say it does so I’ll try and see.

@GhostOrchid I’m still struggling on 5mg too. I’ve jabbed on day 6 the last two weeks and am now constantly hungry to the point where I’m getting that hunger sickness feeling. My provider are quite pricey for 7.5 so I may need to start shopping around!

I'm suddenly struggling on 5mg too, since taking a 4 day break over Christmas and eating too many unhealthy things (although still managing to lose the usual 2-3lbs a week which surprised me). I've got a 5mg pen I haven't started yet so I've got a few weeks to decide whether to stick or move up. I'm hoping that it's just because of the break and the levels in my bloodstream haven't got back up to where they were yet? Because I was really happy on 5mg before Christmas and really didn't want to move up yet, if at all

I got a hunger headache a few days ago which surprised me. This was my biggest issue pre-MJ - if I didn't eat enough I'd get a terrible headache and the only way to fix it was to eat (generally carbs). I was so surprised that MJ seemed to fix the headaches - I haven't had a single one since starting, even if I eat practically nothing for days. No idea why they started up again although I suppose it's probably linked to eating more unhealthily (more carbs, occasional sugar) over Christmas

@Ihateslugs great to hear how you’re getting on, it sounds tough but good there is progress. Out of interest did you get the same side effects when you had your two weeks tapering down on 2.5mg before stopping for the operation?

Weigh in day for me.

Week 19 12st 7.5lbs - 1.5lbs loss this week

Total loss so far = 32.5 lbs.

I was away in the city for a few days and only getting back last night so I missed jabbing yesterday and will jab this morning. I was taking 3mg from a 5 mg pen previously but as I’m a day late, I’m going to take 2.5mg (30 clicks) instead because I want to go back to Friday jab day next week. I’ll see how that goes.

I wasn’t planning to buy any clothes but Penny’s (Primark) had their sales and I ended up buying a pair of jeans, some knitted pants (trousers) and a couple of wool mix jumpers as they were so cheap in the sales. My current jumpers are mainly size L from the men’s dept. so they’re not just baggy but the sleeves and body are far too long as I’m only 5’ 2.

@namechange0998776554799000 I bet your current issues are down to the increase in sugars and carbs over Christmas. I find it’s really noticeable how much crap foods affect me now so I’m trying to make better choices. If I want to snack, I actually grab an apple and I happy with it. That would have been completely unheard of in the pre MJ days. 😳

My big breakthrough for the end of this week is seeing an 11 on the scales for the first time since 2021. That means the whole of 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 have all passed by without me seeing an 11 once - and the whole of my 40s so far!!

It’s the stone bracket in which my healthy BMI starts (albeit at the very bottom but still 😂). And I haven’t been at a healthy BMI since summer 2020, when I just got there with weight watchers and then after a couple of weeks promptly put it all back on again.

Anyway, mentally this is a huge boost for me and I’m delighted.

In other news, I jabbed with 4mg last week after deliberating going up to 5mg, and it’s actually felt fine for suppression. I didn’t drink any alcohol during the week and focused on high protein lunches. I still seem to be losing around 1lb a week so I’ll do another week of 4mg when I jab tomorrow.

89.8kg! First time I’ve seen an 8 for 10 years. Only 2lbs to go until I’m under 14 stone.

Realised yesterday I forgot it was jab day! I’m all out of kilter with Christmas etc.

That is very satisfying

W20 D1 4.25mg
SW 19st 3lbs
CW 14st 7lbs
GW1 15st (03/01/26)
GW2 13st
Total loss- 64lbs

Two massive NSVs this morning as I was brave enough to try… I fit into two dresses that I last wore over 17 years ago, pre-children. Body shape has changed, boobs are lower, but my waist is in and I can even sit down! I could cry!

@outofofficeagain @OneDayIWillLearn and anyone else who I can’t remember to tag.. we are not only moving down the scales but also going back in time for years, it is such a great feeling! So glad I started this journey xx

Yes I did! It appears Mounjaro was not for me!

Morning everyone, just checking in so I keep holding myself accountable 😅

Been back on the diet properly this week and i've enjoyed the structure. Noticed i am feeling a little more hungry though. I'm still on 3.75 and don't really want to go up anymore. I've got 10 weeks of jabs left in the fridge and i will buy one more but thats's it. I only have 11lbs left to lose until i'm at mt goal weight.

Weighed yesterday and another 2lb down.

SW: 12st 9lbs
CW: 9st 4lbs
Total loss: 47lbs / 3st 5lbs

Happy with that :) I think I now need to start thinking about what to do once I reach target. What are other people's thoughts? Stop the jabs or taper down and stay on it forever? I was looking at it the other day like it's a £150 monthly subscription to being skinny 😂 i could live with that

That’s great work @JustPickleRick

i’ve just ordered another 5mg pen. I still have another 2 stone to go so I’ve given myself until May/June.

Now that I’ve lost the first 2 stone, I really need to work on my fitness and strength. I’m hoping that will help when I get to my target weight.

I’d really rather not stay on them forever but can see that I might.

I know that some people switch to Wegovy for maintenance which is much cheaper. I might look into that.

@JustPickleRick well done!

When I started, I mentally had in mind I’d take it for two years. I now think it might be an even longer term commitment for me, but two years wilL be the minimum. I’ve lost and regained weight repeatedly as an adult and I heard a doctor recently quoted as saying ‘obesity is a chronic and relapsing condition’ which rings totally true with my experience. So I want to be realistic here.

I think there probably is a scenario where I maintain a healthy weight without MJ - I did maintain after a long Weight Watchers ‘journey’ in my late twenties for about 4 years - but that was pre children/ marriage and I had a lot more bandwidth and time for exercise/ meal prep. I think my ability to manage my weight without WLI will remain quite circumstantial. Mental health, stress (and probably undiagnosed ADHD) are all issues in me staying on track with food. But as the children get older and the dust settles from a big relocation/ job change I did last year, I hope it might get more realistic. I want to maintain with MJ for a good long period first though and hopefully get my body used to being that new size - we’ll see! As you say £150 a month to be thin isn’t such a bad deal.

@JustPickleRickwell done! Back on track like a boss! 👏🏼 I’m 2lb behind you with the same end target of 8st 7lb. My plan is to get to target by my birthday on 28th Feb. Then stick at whatever dose I’m on for a month or so whilst increasing my calories slowly back up to around 1500 - 1600. Ideally I will go back down the doses slowly extending it to 14 days between doses at hopefully 2.5mg. I will happily stay on it as long as I can as the other health benefits I have experienced are too life changing to give up.

I’ve got 7 weeks left on 5mg. As I’ve plateaued for a month and am constantly hungry I’ve decided I’m going to take extra tomorrow for my jab. I’ll take it slow and start with 6mg. As it’s a 5mg pen I’ll do the full dose and then use a new needle to take an additional 1mg.

@JustPickleRick I think I’ll hit target in the next 2 months if I get over this plateau. I plan on staying on MJ long term. I’ll taper down to a dose that allows me to maintain. I’ve had so many other positives to my health from MJ besides weight loss that for me I don’t mind paying the monthly cost to stay slim and get the other benefits 🥰

I still have another 4–5st to lose before I need to make any decisions about maintenance, but I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit, especially due to the press this week after the latest study results were published about maintaining weight loss. I keep losing weight at a fast rate, which statistically puts me into a higher-risk category for putting the weight back on.

I’ve made quite big changes to my lifestyle over the last few months to get to this point, and I’m not just relying on the jabs. For me, it’s about portion sizes, cutting down on alcohol/other empty calories, and focusing on protein and greens. I’ve increased my exercise from non-existent to a 4-6km walk/5-6 times a week, all things which I should be able to maintain. But is this enough, I don’t know!

MJ has never reduced my appetite to the level where I can’t eat. I’m having three meals plus a few snacks per day, and on days 6-7 I definitely need to use my willpower. I do recognise that this will become more challenging as time goes on, the less I weigh and my TDEE gets lower. For example, compared to @Atalosswhat2do (I hope you don’t mind me using you as an example), I’m still losing weight almost on the same calorie intake as you are planning to maintain. So if I ever get to anywhere near 8st, my lifestyle changes might not be enough, but I’m not worrying about that now.

And I agree, £150ish per month is money well spent to feel better and maintaining a healthy weight. Someone else might spend it on David Lloyd membership/new nails and lashes/Starbucks coffees etc, it easily adds up.

I like all of your ideas, we all seem to be on the same page.

I was always slim until I had my son so I'd like to think once I get back to that weight, I'd stick with it.

There's no way I will ever let myself get back to the weight I was. I'm actually thankful it did go up to what it did though as it meant I qualified for the jabs!

I'd worry about getting prescribed the jabs again in the future as my bmi wouldn't be as high 🤔

I think its likely to be a lifelong subscription 😅

On a side note...i've been using a 5mg pen for 6 doses of 3.75mg which i know is not what you're supposed to do but its been great for saving money!

So after much back and forth I finally moved up to 7.5mg this weekend. I ended up taking it a day early too as I’d spent 3 days being starving and my weight just hadn’t shifted at all. Thank you for all of the advice, it was really helpful and made things a lot easier in my mind. I seem to have quite a lot of anxiety around moving up but it’s normal to do. I’ve got on the scales this morning and I’ve lost 2lbs so I’m back on track. I focused in last week which is what has made the difference, it just goes to show that people who think this is the ‘easy’ way which we do with zero effort are very wrong. It’s a tool which supports but certainly doesn’t work on its own.
SW: 18 stone 4lbs (19 stone 11lbs before MJ)
Goal 1: 15 stone 10lbs ✅
Goal 2: 14 stone 7lbs
Goal 3: 12 stone
Target: 10 stone 7lbs (!)
CW: 15 stone 2lbs
Total Loss: 3 stone 2lbs (4 stone 8lbs)

I haven’t had many side effects but the one I’ve noticed the most is my menstrual cycle, unfortunately. I take the progesterone only pill which has stopped my periods for the last 4 years. Since starting MJ I’ve noticed spotting and then the return of my period, but only light although longer than it used to be. I’m 43 so hormone changes are at play. This month it’s back with a vengeance - heavy and I feel awful. I’ve known it reduces the effectiveness but I didn’t think it would bring my periods back full force. After doing some research though it seems quite common - either because my body isn’t absorbing it well as everything is slower or because fat cells hold oestrogen which is now being released as they go. The other side effect I’ve noticed today is my stomach feels ‘acidic’ and I’ve got an ache, I’ll take some Rennies and see how it goes. I’m also under a lot of stress at the moment so it might not be because of MJ but I feel quite anxious.

I can’t wait to fit into the next item of clothing I never thought would fit again. Well done to everyone!

Has anyone else lost their bum but still got a flabby tummy?

My bum has all but disappeared but my tummy is still huge and wobbly and shows no signs of dissolving. 😩

I think that despite losing weight my shape remains completely out of proportion around my middle.

My new jeans fit my bum and thighs perfectly but won’t zip up over my tummy so I’m going to insert two small wedges of stretch denim to the side seams.

I tried on the bigger size and it zipped up but was far too baggy on my thighs. 😤

Why is my bum still massive but not comfy to sit on anymore?? Even sat at my desk chair is noticeably uncomfy after a while. I don't remember this when I was this size before, and I'm still at least a size 18/20!!

Anyway, had a slow week last week but weight is starting to drop off again, which I'm happy with!

SW: 131.6kg
CW: 115.3kg
Next goal: 110kg

Tuesday morning is my official weigh in day and this morning I was 12 stone 0.25lbs, down 1.25lbs from last Tuesday and down from 13 stone 10lbs starting weight.

I have seen lower weights on the scale throughout last week (starting with 11s) but wasn’t to be today!! Still, going the right way.

I’ve been mentally setting out some target milestones for the next few months - anyone else got any?

• weekend away with school friends (weekend after next): have had an official weigh in starting with an 11
• Valentine’s Day: have reached a total 2 stone loss (11 stone 10) and be seeing 11 stone and pounds in single figures
• 10K race on March 8th: be around 11 stone 7lbs
• Easter: cross the line into healthy BMI (11 stone 4lbs)

This assumes a loss of around a pound a week which feels about right for what I’m doing, though aware it may slow down as I get closer to healthy BMI.