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.

Ok thanks both, I'm definitely going to try a bit extra from the 5mg pen then. Good point that I don't need to jump all the way up to 7.5, I think I'll try 6.5 for the next two weeks and see how I go.

it hadn't occurred to me that the pen wouldn't let me do any more clicks after a certain amount but of course that makes sense. I'll do some extra clicks this week, then have a syringe ready for next week.

I spoke too soon getting cocky with my dose management, pharmacist just phoned me to query the gap between ordering pens, worried I'd had a break in treatment and/or that my pen had been open for more than 30 days. They wanted to change my order to a 2.5 mg pen. They quite rightly make the point that they are only licensed to supply the medication to be used in the prescribed way. And of course they would never sanction the golden dose business. We resolved it by me promising I'd go up to 5 mg. So don't leave it too long between orders, they notice if you're not ordering as regularly as they expect!

Rather than bin the 5mg pen, you can achieve the same result (dose level) by reducing your days.

I did that with 7.5mg pen & currently with a 10mg to increase the level by injecting every 6 days instead of 7 - which gave ne a level between 5mg & 6.25mg.

I've now reduced that to every 5 days with the 10mg pen became I feel ready to go up to 6.25mg - but getting that amount from a 10mg pen is a faff and it results in an odd amount leftover.

@threescoops that’s an interesting approach from them. I registered with a local pharmacy 2 weeks ago, the Pharmacist is fully supportive of me using less from a 5mg pen and getting 6 weeks from it including the GD.

I agree... the media are making it seem like people never regain weight after traditional dieting methods.

I've lost 3 stone+ 3 times on my life...
1st in my 20s, gym and low fat dieting 2nd time - mid 30s, the year before I got pregnant with my daughter doing the atkins diet
3rd time - 5 years after having my daughter, initially very low calorie dieting and exercise... kept it off for 2 years until I injured myself abd couldn't exercise for over 6 months

Yay... lost 1.8kg / 4lbs since my last weigh-in 5 days ago

I switched to jabbing 5mg (from 10mg pen) every 5 days 2 weeks ago - was previously jabbing every 6 days (dose = 6.25mg).

Except I took the 2nd one a day early, 4 days after the previous one - I've recorded that as 7.5mg!

I'm going to stick with 5mg every 5 days until I finish the 10mg pen.

Added some photos of meals I've eaten last

Starting weight (kg): 121.4
Starting weight (lbs): 267.6

Current weight (kg): 106.4
Current weight (lbs): 234.6

Total loss (kg): -15.0
Total loss (lbs): -33.1
Average Loss (kg) -0.7
Average Weekly Loss (lbs) -1.4

2.5mg pen
Dose 1: 28/08/2025
Dose 2: 04/09/2025 Week 1: -0.7kg / -1.5lbs
Dose 3: 11/09/2025 Week 2: -1.3kg / -2.9lbs
Dose 4: 18/09/2025 Week 3: -1.2kg / -2.6lbs

(2.5mg pens: GD + 1.25mg) 3.75mg dose
Dose 5: 25/09/2025

Week 4: -0.4kg / -0.9lbs

30 clicks (2.5mg pen) + 30 clicks (5mg pen) 3.75mg dose
Dose 6: 02/10/2025 Week 5: -1.1kg / -2.4lbs
Dose 7: 09/10/2025 Week 6: -1.3kg / -2.9lbs
Dose 8: 16/10/2025 Week 7: -0.3kg / -0.7lbs
Dose 9: 23/10/2025 Week 8: -1.5kg / -3.3lbs
Dose 10:30/10/2025 Week 9: -0.9kg / -2.0lbs

5mg pen
Dose 11:06/11/2025 Week 10: 0.0kg / 0.0lbs

(2.5mg pen: 60 clicks + GD 0.6ml) 5mg dose
Dose 12: 13/11/2025 Week 11: -0.9kg / -2.0lbs

(5mg pen: GD 0.6ml) 5mg dose
Dose 13: 20/11/2025 Week 12: -0.8kg / -1.8lbs

(from 7.5mg pen) 5mg dose
Dose 14: 27/11/2025 Week 13: -1.4kg / -3.1lbs
Dose 15: 04/12/2025 Week 14: 0.3kg / 0.7lbs
Dose 16: 11/12/2025 Week 15: -1.5kg / -3.3lbs
Dose 17: 18/12/2025 Week 16: 1.1kg / 2.4lbs
Dose 18: 23/12/2025 Week 17: -1.0kg / -2.2lbs
Dose 19: 29/12/2025 Week 18: 0.8kg / 1.8lbs

(7.5mg pen: GD 0.4ml) 5mg dose
Dose 20: 04/01/2026 Week 19: 0.3kg / 0.7lbs

(from 10mg pen) 5mg dose
Dose 21: 10/01/2026 Week 20: -1.0kg / -2.2lbs
Dose 22: 16/01/2026 Week 21: 0.1kg / 0.2lbs
Dose 23: 20/01/2026 Week 22: -0.5kg / -1.1lbs
Dose 24: 25/01/2026 Week 23: -1.8kg / -4.0lbs

Yay... lost 1.8kg / 4lbs since my last weigh-in 5 days ago

I switched to jabbing 5mg (from 10mg pen) every 5 days 2 weeks ago - was previously jabbing every 6 days (dose = 6.25mg).

Except I took the 2nd one a day early, 4 days after the previous one - I've recorded that as 7.5mg!

I'm going to stick with 5mg every 5 days until I finish the 10mg pen.

Starting weight (kg): 121.4
Starting weight (lbs): 267.6

Current weight (kg): 106.4
Current weight (lbs): 234.6

Total loss (kg): -15.0
Total loss (lbs): -33.1
Average Loss (kg) -0.7
Average Weekly Loss (lbs) -1.4

2.5mg pen
Dose 1: 28/08/2025
Dose 2: 04/09/2025 Week 1: -0.7kg / -1.5lbs
Dose 3: 11/09/2025 Week 2: -1.3kg / -2.9lbs
Dose 4: 18/09/2025 Week 3: -1.2kg / -2.6lbs

(2.5mg pens: GD + 1.25mg) 3.75mg dose
Dose 5: 25/09/2025
Week 4: -0.4kg / -0.9lbs

30 clicks (2.5mg pen) + 30 clicks (5mg pen) 3.75mg dose
Dose 6: 02/10/2025 Week 5: -1.1kg / -2.4lbs
Dose 7: 09/10/2025 Week 6: -1.3kg / -2.9lbs
Dose 8: 16/10/2025 Week 7: -0.3kg / -0.7lbs
Dose 9: 23/10/2025 Week 8: -1.5kg / -3.3lbs
Dose 10:30/10/2025 Week 9: -0.9kg / -2.0lbs

5mg pen
Dose 11:06/11/2025 Week 10: 0.0kg / 0.0lbs

(2.5mg pen: 60 clicks + GD 0.6ml) 5mg dose
Dose 12: 13/11/2025 Week 11: -0.9kg / -2.0lbs

(5mg pen: GD 0.6ml) 5mg dose
Dose 13: 20/11/2025 Week 12: -0.8kg / -1.8lbs

(from 7.5mg pen) 5mg dose
Dose 14: 27/11/2025 Week 13: -1.4kg / -3.1lbs
Dose 15: 04/12/2025 Week 14: 0.3kg / 0.7lbs
Dose 16: 11/12/2025 Week 15: -1.5kg / -3.3lbs
Dose 17: 18/12/2025 Week 16: 1.1kg / 2.4lbs
Dose 18: 23/12/2025 Week 17: -1.0kg / -2.2lbs
Dose 19: 29/12/2025 Week 18: 0.8kg / 1.8lbs

(7.5mg pen: GD 0.4ml) 5mg dose
Dose 20: 04/01/2026 Week 19: 0.3kg / 0.7lbs

(from 10mg pen) 5mg dose
Dose 21: 10/01/2026 Week 20: -1.0kg / -2.2lbs
Dose 22: 16/01/2026 Week 21: 0.1kg / 0.2lbs
Dose 23: 20/01/2026 Week 22: -0.5kg / -1.1lbs
Dose 24: 25/01/2026 Week 23: -1.8kg / -4.0lbs

that's interesting! what a maverick - stick with them :)

Weekly weigh-in for me and drumroll....exactly 2 stones lost in 18 weeks 😁thrilled but very aware it's likely to get harder to shift as I get closer to my goal.

I have also discovered that Next do single sizes (eg a size 15 for between 14 and 16) so I shall get one pair of jeans every so often - the ones I bought before Christmas are starting to fall down!

@threescoops yes I live in the Republic of Ireland and get my prescription from my local GP but… I still have to pay for the medication and the prices of MJ in Ireland is about double that in the UK so I order from a pharmacy in Northern Ireland (GP recommended) and they post it next day delivery via DPD. They’re the only pharmacy I’ve found in the north that will post it to the Republic.

Very annoying as I live not that far from the massive ELilly plant here in County Cork that makes the stuff. Shame they don’t have a seconds shop on site I could pop into, like a chocolate factory. 😂

Brilliant @Pinkbox 🌟
You’re totally smashing it!!! 👏👏👏

I'm having a 'hollow' week this week. I feel constantly starving for the first time since starting. It might be that since Christmas I've allowed my sugar consumption to creep up. I thought I'd been keeping this down to a minimal level, albeit I have, at weekends, had a sliver (1 oz) of leftover Christmas cake. But it seems that's more than enough to trigger cravings again, which I've been getting a bit over the past week and having to keep carefully in check.

Time to nix all sugar entirely as it could be the reason I'm plateauing as well. But it's irritating; it's not as if I've been shovelling crunchie bars down when no one's looking.

It's my recollection from past dieting that even the smallest amount of 'cheating' can be enough to sabotage my efforts. Calorie intake on average is still around 1200, the recommended lowest daily limit, but it's very obvious that what comprises those calories is just important as the number of them I take in.

I'm not going below 1200 as the result will be simply unsustainable. Once this weight comes off I want it to stay gone.

Swizz, though, innit!

@SerafinasGoose Have you tried significantly increasing your cals for a week or two to re-set your metabolism?

I know that I really should. I think I will.

@OneDayIWillLearn I have successfully got to a healthy weight previously on both SW and WW. However I have always gained it back within a year. I know it’s no different to MJ. I have a bad relationship with food, mostly sweet stuff. MJ has shut off that desire to see it as a reward.

I did a separate post but not many replies so I’m guessing this isn’t a common symptom.

Apologies for the tmi but I started bleeding yesterday only a week after I finished my last period. It’s carried on today. MJ hasn’t affected my periods so far. I’m really hoping it’s either MJ or weight loss related or a new peri symptom but I did the worse thing and googled it which now has me worried. I called the Dr today and managed to get an appointment next week with the nurse.
I’m really hoping they don’t send me for a cervical biopsy as I’ve heard so many horror stories about how they take a chunk from your cervix with no pain relief and it’s apparently excruciatingly painful 😬

I posted on this thread a few weeks ago about a similar issue. After about 2 months of being on MJ my periods came back having previously been MIA, I was put on the progesterone only pill back in 2020 due to heavy periods. At first it was just spotting but then much heavier. This month I was on 2 weeks ago for a week and then it stopped for a week, it’s restarted again but it’s much heavier than usual. I’m 43, so this may be a natural change for me but I do find it a bit of an odd coincidence. Maybe for me it’s because the pill isn’t being absorbed properly. I am a bit concerned today though it’s very heavy and I’ve already had over a week of it this month.
I think the best thing to do is seek medical advice , but with all the charges MJ causes and the effect weight can have on periods it’s likely to all be connected and nothing sinister. I hope you don’t have to go through having a biopsy.

MJ definitely does stop pills from being absorbed, I've changed HRT to patches and I can see from blood tests that vitamin tablets, medications etc don't work the same now. Are you on any medication that would have been effecting periods @Kazzaa46? @familyornotyour progesterone pill probably isn't working any more, may be worth discussing other options with the gp (they'll probably suggest a coil)

@familyornot thanks for sharing, I missed your last post about this. I’ve read a lot of people who are on one of the pills say they’ve have unusual bleeding so it does seem to be common with MJ. Like you said it stops the absorption of the pill so can stop it working.

@namechange0998776554799000 I don’t take the pill or any medication other than MJ. I’m 47 so definitely at the age when things can go awry. Normally I have a 28-29 day cycle with light periods since being in peri. This month it was 4 days late and then a week after finishing had another light period. It lasted 2 days and has stopped today.

Definitely worth checking out then, although like you say it probably is 'just' peri. Don't worry too much about a biopsy yet, first step is probably just an ultrasound - maybe internal which is unpleasant, but fine.

@kazaa I have had loads of weird things going on with my cycle since starting MJ and am in peri too. Have read about it affecting many women in various ways. A cervical biopsy sounds a bit extreme after one issue.

I canned 0.5kg, so just over 1lb last week. Hoping this is the end of my plateau too. Making a big effort to drink plenty of water, which I don’t usually struggle with but it’s January and it’s dark and cold.

Advice needed. I always aimed to stay low and slow with my dose and weight loss. I had visions of staying on 2.5mg the whole time and being one of the people who loses 5 stone never having to go up a dose and being full of willpower. I started on 2.5mg in early September. I went up to 3.75mg in early November as the effects of the 2.5mg was starting to become minimal. I've managed to stay on 3.75mg since then with pretty decent suppression. But the last couple of weeks have been a struggle and this week in particular has felt like I have hardly any suppression at all. So I begrudgingly think I need to up my dose. But I don't know whether to go straight to 5mg once a week, or try split dosing at 2.5mg every 3.5 days, OR give 4mg a go with perhaps doing 2mg every 3.5 days. Part of me thinks stick to my guns and go up gradually just to 4mg, but the other part of me thinks I need to get over myself and just go to 5mg, as I've already done very well to avoid getting 5mg for this long. I am 2lb away from a 3 stone weight loss. Any advice/thoughts will be appreciated x

@wodantimbercoaster I did 3.75 and then did 4mg, I didn’t find any difference between these two doses as I think the difference is so small.
I only tried splitting the dose once and it didn’t work well for me as the lower dose even though done twice in the week just didn’t feel enough to give suppression. I know it does work for some though reading threads on here.

If it was me I’d just take the leap to 5mg. I’ve been on this dose for about 3 months now and overall it’s still giving me suppression. Took it yesterday and have strong suppression today. I don’t feel the need to move up. You may be the same and find you can stay on 5mg for quite a while.

@wodantimbercoaster I’m still on a lower dose. Stayed on 2.5mg weeks 1–8, followed by 3.75mg until the end of November and 4.25mg over Christmas period. Now back on 3.75mg since 10/01.

Originally, 4.25mg was fine, but I started feeling very bloated after my meals, so dropped back down to 3.75mg. I have good suppression on days 1–4, less so after that, but I can deal with it as I don’t have any cravings. My calorie deficit stays on average during the week, but on the days with less suppression, I have more high protein food to keep me feeling fuller for longer.

One thing I have noticed over time is that after anything carb heavy, my suppression declines. I had a Chinese takeaway and a few pieces of birthday cake last weekend, and I felt much hungrier on Monday/Tuesday than I normally would and I might end up taking the jab a day earlier this week.

If you decide to try 5mg and it doesn’t work, you can always drop back down and maybe try 4.25mg after that?

Thanks for the words of wisdom. I may well give 4.25mg a go. I just want to be able to make my stocks last as long as possible, hoping to not need to buy anymore and use what I have left to lose what I'm happy with and then taper off to come off MJ.