January 2025 starters - goal weight era

[HeidiLite]

New thread!

@PenelopePitstopPersists hello again! Well done on the new job! I missed tgst while I was away xxx

Thanks all for your words of encouragement. From what I can tell there are 5 other candidates so I have some stiff competition. I’m looking at it as an exercise is getting my mind back in to job applications.

Also - I have a question about M&S clothes sizing. I tried on about 10 different styles of jeans in M&S last week and nothing fitted or looked right. I was beginning to think it was me when I saw a reel from a ‘mid size’ fashion influencer I follow who posted about M&S having resized everything and stepped away from the vanity sizing they have had for years. Has anyone else experienced this recently or is it just wishful thinking on my part that I haven’t gone back up to a size 16?

I've bought jeans from M&S recently @Polkadotdash from per una.

I sized down to a 10 in the girlfriend jeans which are a roomy 10 - they are a decent fit. Bought a 12 in the straight cut ones which are tighter than the 10 in the girlfriend. I think sizing is really variable and I don't feel that I can either celebrate or otherwise re the number on the label, I just buy the size that fits best.

M&S sizing is all over the place. I had a pair of trousers I liked, tried to get a pair in another colour and the length was completely different.

Bleurgh. I've had a few nights of drinks and unstructured eating and I'm feeling it this morning. Two nights eating out, and one night just eating popcorn with some wine. Combined with 2 full on days of workshop Pilates and I'm ready for my reset which will happen from today. I'm going to WI for the shock value.

M&S sizing can be all over the place.

Today I have my last day of workshop. I'm finding it fascinating learning how our bodies move, and how they have adapted to our lifestyles. Really enjoying it.

@PenelopePitstopPersists I wonder what is driving their attitudes. It's got to be something. Passed over for the job? Really liked the previous person? Worried you are going to micro manage? Hopefully you can work it out, so it will improve. I tried this with 3 of the team I inherited. For two years. Ended up moving them on eventually. I wish I'd done it sooner. They simply didn't want to move in the direction the company was going. They are all much happier now.

Morning maintainers! I've got a day if pre holiday jobs, a workout and a walk planned for today before I meet up with some dear local friends this evening. Looking forward to an unstructured day. Hope your Sunday is everything you need

@PenelopePitstopPersists yes there must be something behind it, did they all want the job themselves?

For sizing, many high street shops are all over the place with their sizing. Just got something from vinted, a zara dress in my usual size, way too small. Can't complain either, listed correctly, so back to vinted it goes.

Gym day planned for today - first we do my fancy gym with a friend, where the main focus will be on saunas and chatting. Later in the afternoon, will take kids to our local cheap gym. Weather went from sunny 24 degrees yesterday to 9 and raining, what the heck is this? I was wearing shorts yesterday and now need a thick coat. I need summer!

@Thelittlestranger popcorn with wine 😅, I would have loved that for dinner pre MJ, these days I cannot drink wine at all.

I don't think they did want the job necessarily and they are not qualified to do it. Typical dyed in the wool/role CS attitudes by people who have been in the same role in the same department for too long. I'm over it already, I don't need to engage with the chippiness, I will just ignore it unless I get to the point of having to deal with it directly.

Have a good day @BreezyPeer, sounds great, and @HeidiLite too, spa time sounds amazing.

I have got a quiet day planned, work but not new job work, I'm planning on writing a lecture plan for a university lecture I am delivering soon.

My new yoga class was really enjoyable yesterday. I feel inspired to do a yoga class at home today. I'm trying a new reformer pilates studio one evening next week, it is half way between home and new office and I thought I could add in a session on the way home one day a week quite easily.

The weather forecast here isn't too bad, although we had snow showers breifly yesterday 😳. I was meant to be doing a golf workshop today but it has been cancelled, due to low update not weather which is a bit annoying.

Have a great Sunday everyone.

Weighed in and am back to 8:1

I don’t understand how, as I have definitely increased calorie consumption this week. I injected a day early and increased dose to 7.5 as I could really feel the increased hunger. It’s a mysterious business this maintenance lark!

@PenelopePitstopPersists I had a similar experience with a team member who was FURIOUS he hadn’t been made manager of a team I was brought in to manage. He actually said “I should have got it on seniority”. He was so disruptive and difficult to manage, I had to involve HR and manage him out.

His behaviour made him unpopular with his colleagues over time which helped. I also remember a quote from Janet Street Porter that might help you. She said when you start managing a new team or department, mentally divide them into thirds. The top third will be keen to support you and go along with what you do. The bottom third will be bloody difficult in various ways. Focus on the middle third. The ones who could be swayed either way. If you can’t afford get them onside you have your viable team. What often happens is the “bottom third” get all the attention and this annoys the middle third who become disenchanted.

I hope this is useful.

I am doing very little today. Might do some Vinting!

I saw something re M&S changing their sizing due to how they are cutting fabric to save money. Loads on line about them shrinking around waists especially.

I tried on 3 dresses in whistles the other day in the sale. So had a go at whatever was on the rack. All vaguely the same kind of cut. One was a 10 and was a bit small on the boobs but excellent elsewhere, one was a 12 p and fit well except the waist was too high (my issue between being p in some stuff, regular in others) and one 12 I looked like a stuffed sausage. Similar in H&M the other day, I tried on stuff between an L and an xs.

Thank you @Zempy , I wish I could write more.

I am still shopping @myladyjane 😅and finding exactly the same.

A Whistles dress in a 12 last week - h u u g e. Hobbs dress in a 12 fit beautifully, Mint Velvet jacket in a medium fits well, Whistles knitwear in a S is almost roomy. I had to buy a 14 in a Reiss suit because I chose the single breasted blazer and cigarette trousers, in the double breasted version and wide leg I was between a 10 and a 12.

I have got so many returns o/s I have added a sheet to my budget spreadsheet to track my refunds!!

@PenelopePitstopPersists love that you have a refunds spreadsheet!

And I wish I was in a place where I didn’t care about the size label, just the fit. I’m not seeing any scales losses so my only hope is saying ‘I’m no longer a size 16 at least’

Going in to week 3 of the 7.5mg pen. Still no appetite reduction. Not sure what is going on.

I may have found my lower limit on dosage.
Official weekly WI today and I’m 59.6kg, weight slowly trending upwards for the last four weeks. I’ve stuck with 20 clicks for today, but I think if it goes up again next week I may need a more robust course correction and might go up to 2.5mg for a couple of weeks before going back down to 2mg and then seeing if I can try to get back down to 1.75mg. I’m hoping that with more energy and movement that I’m building a bit more strength and some of that weight is muscle. But I’m also aware that my appetite has noticeably increased, I’m hungrier and struggling to stop eating when I do have food. I am much happier with my current energy levels, so if I stayed around this weight, even at 60kg, I would be happy. But it’s about stopping the creep upwards.

DH was also on an upwards trend, but with his WI he’s lost 3kg this week - so the 5mg has kicked back in for him.

Agree on not placing too much stock in arbitrary sizing - I can be anything from a 12 in an M&S blazer and a 6 in a Whistles dress. I think I’m likely a large 10 on my hips and a small 10 up top. But most Whistles size 10 trousers fit perfectly, and size 10 sleeveless tops can be a bit gappy in the arm holes but long sleeves fit well across the shoulders. I have some M&S merino wool long sleeved jumpers in 10 which fit very snug.

@DGmaintaining same here, hovering around 60 and I don't like to be that close to 6. And I really, really don't want the weight to start creeping upwards, that oh well 62 is still fine and then it's 68 and 72 and soon I'll be back where I started. I increased my dose this week a bit to help with evening snacking. But on the other hand, increased calories really help with muscles and strenght. It's really a delicate balance.

@Zempy I love that advice! Will put to good use.

Just have to share this with you - I’m Vinted listing to raise money for jabs etc. I’ve literally just listed something and labelled it as ‘good condition’. Someone has messaged be to ask ‘Can you explain why you’ve chosen the good category?’ Erm let me just pull up my matrix of evidence assessment for you and share it so you can properly evaluate this second hand tshirt you’re looking at for £2.

OMG some buyers!
Bet she will also ask for measurements, photos of washing instructions, random opinions like 'is it nice', discount and in the end, won't buy it anyway.

Ahhh it’s the not buying it anyway bit that made me lol! That’s exactly what has happened!

@Polkadotdash you must have the patience of a saint. I got to the point of just deleting the stupid messages and not replying and then delisted everything. £2 🤯.

@HeidiLite a gym day sounds lovely but you are right about the bonkers weather. I did a work out in the living room followed by a walk ( a shorter one than planned due to the rain!)
@PenelopePitstopPersists people! Especially colleagues! Why can't they just get on with it? Instead of making your life more difficult?
@Zempy that's great advice about the team splitting into 3. I might be running a team myself fairly soon and this is something I will think about
@myladyjane I completely agree about the sizing- it's all over the place in most brands. Weirdly, I find Tu ( sainsbury's) to be the most convenient.
@DGmaintaining I am finding a real movement in weight connected to my cycle and as I'm peri this is very hard to predict!

@BreezyPeer I have a really low tolerance level for nonsense 😬. I often recommend Quinn’s Becoming a Master Manager when I’m teaching/mentoring, worth a look if you like books as a new manager. Not a cheap book but you might find it used.

As I write ‘not a cheap book’ I’m thinking … cheaper than MJ 🤣, funny how that’s become a measure in my head!

I have thought that my endless spending on clothes is being justified in my head because I’m no longer buying MJ.

With the “annoying Vinted buyer” you forgot the stage where they make you an offer, which you accept, and STILL they don’t buy…😡

Morning maintainers! I wish you all a Happy Monday xxx

Wish I’d heard that advice when I was still managing a team. Sorry you’ve got some mardy bums to deal with @PenelopePitstopPersists. They are everywhere unfortunately.

I made the mistake of weighing yesterday and it took me a while to remember that I gain a pound the day after a jab. Constipation starting to improve so by midweek I should have a clearer picture of where my weight is.

I decided that the bikini top I made last week was slightly too big so remeasured and made the cup size below. Can’t get the bastard thing on. Will go with the original for the trip in May. I’m ok for sunbathing and splashing in the pool now and I have a training suit I made last year for the sea. I’ve not been in the pool for months as our local one closed and all the others are insanely busy as a result. I need to get on with alterations as the wardrobe is very bare

@PenelopePitstopPersists thanks for recommendation, have just bought the book (found an used one).

We will have a bit of drama at work, as someone is expecting a promotion but I know she won't get it and I will probably take over certain tasks instead. The person expecting to be promoted is a bit difficult character, so I expect some emotions there. Just hope they will blame my manager and not me :D

You're a marvel with all the clothes making and alterations @Jins ! I have two pairs of trousers in the middle of being taken up. Just need sewing, but they've been in that state for about 2 months now 🤦‍♀️. I'm endlessly tempted to try making swimwear. In fact I'd love to do a course learning how to do it if I could find one, I might see if I can find anything.
Had a nice weekend, out for a friends birthday lunch on Saturday and cinema with DD yesterday.
But had an episode of atrial fibrillation last night and had to take meds for it and now feeling extremely discombobulated this morning. Combo of little sleep, after effects of the episode and side effects of beta blockers I think. I'm feeling so wobbly, I've even eaten breakfast which I NEVER do. Hoping that will settle things down a bit.
Morning @BreezyPeer ! @Zempy ive been guilty of being that annoying Vinted buyer (offering and not buying - not the stupid questions!) but that's because I just clean forget about the offer when I close the app! Constantly thinking I should probably get some sort of investigation into ADHD!