It’s time to Spring into the maintainers thread 4, where we don’t eat all the Easter eggs and undo all our good work!

[MargoLivebetter]

Welcome to our 4th thread of continuing all the good work we’ve done, believing in ourselves and recognising all we’ve already achieved.

@MummyInTheNecropolis so glad you managed to shift most of those pesky pounds and will soon have them all gone. Really impressed to hear of your running and fitness competitions coming up. It does help to have a goal.

Glad to hear all is well post surgery @Azuresky68 and the weight is where it should be too! Sounds like a good result all around.

Not posted on here for a while, my weight has been pretty constant at about 61kg which is up from when I started maintaining at 58kg but I think 61kg is a more realistic weight for me, been maintaining for about a year now I take between, 2.5/5 depending on how I feel.
I have recently had issues with numbness/ tingling in both of my lower legs and feet and a metallic taste in my mouth, I’ve had blood taken to check for B12 deficiency, the doctor suggesting I may have malnutrition due to being on MJ for over 2 years, not sure what to think, I’m careful about what I eat, avoid UPF, try to get enough protien/fiber, don’t take supplements as I’m not a big believer in them, exercise and lift weights, so I had been feeling really good at 63.
Has anyone else had any B12 issues?

@Itscoldouthere I can't answer that one. I've had low iron, D, B12 in the past - long, long before I was on MJ, so I've supplemented for years.

Given how well you are eating, malnutrition seems unlikely. Have you had the results of your test back yet?

Me too on the vitamins. I need to take Bs and D. I got quite poorly a few years ago with low levels.

I’m on holiday at the moment so can’t see my results till I get back, so next week.
dr Google says you can run out of vit B12 stored in your body and you can just stop absorbing it from food. All news to me, I’ll be interested to see what my dr says as this numbness is really not very nice and I’m not sleeping well, hoping we can find a solution and hoping it’s not linked to taking MJ.

Good morning. Feeling frustrated as I just did my Friday weigh in and have STS at 8 st 12. That's after jabbing 12.5 on Monday too. So I am on 12.5 to maintain, cut out alcohol, on 1250 calories, with a stubborn 5 pounds that won't go. Those pounds crept on in January to June, so on average a pound a month. I remember going up to 15 to lose the same pounds when getting to goal. Just can't do that again and I don't feel great on 12.5. I can't afford to stay on 12.5. My hope was always to maintain on 5. A bit despondent but then I have to remember my life long battle with weight and how good it feels to be under 9 stone. I haven't been there since my twenties and I am 70 now, wearing size 8/10 at last.

Keep us posted @Itscoldouthere . I hope the tingling isn't spoiling your holiday too much.

@Azuresky68 on the one hand that sounds very frustrating, on the other hand it is just 5 pounds, you are under 9st and wearing a size 8/10. I have no extra suggestions, as it sounds like you are doing everything you possibly can do.

I'm still chuntering on relatively stable. I put a pound or two on and then lose a pound or two. I remain in my zone of tolerance and if it starts going over, I cut back. I only eat two meals a day these days, but I do snack a bit in the evening. December will be more of a challenge, as always, but the MJ will help keep it so much more manageable.

@MargoLivebetter thank you. So glad you are doing well 😊 My main concern is maintaining, even at my current weight. I would love to be on 5 one day

Ah I’m delighted to have found this thread. I am very new to maintaining, going into week 3!
I tried spacing to 2 weeks but found I put on 3 pounds in week 2 so I think I’ll just reduce slightly my clicks/ dose and still inject every week.

wondering how others manage maintenance and what worked for everyone?

Same. Always tired. Bruise easily and take weeks to go - I take patting iron tablets and b12

Maintenance is tough isn't it @Azuresky68 . I've been steadily working down the doses from 10mg - currently on 5.75mg but I've gained the last 3 weeks. Only 2lb in total and still 0.5lb under my ceiling weight of 9 stone 7 but I suspect this is a sign that I need to increase the dose again. I'm with Swift Dr for maintenance but haven't ordered as a maintenance customer from them yet as been using up a pen stash. I'm hoping they do still allow 8 weeks between orders as that will make it much more affordable and less painful!

@JumpingJacks11 welcome. Great to see another maintainer. We have it all here. Cold turkeys, gradual reducers, sticking with it, tapering down and then going back up again, finding a dose to maintain on, mostly being off and short term returns and so on.

I think it is one of those things you have to try and see how you go. You also have to accept that you have to watch what you eat forever! Just no way around that.

Ask away. Whatever you have in mind, someone will probably have tried. 😊

Thanks @MargoLivebetter -on a related matter, I am having real difficulty getting rid of a full sharps bin. I took it to a local chemist’s (attached to my NHS medical centre) and they referred me to a pick up service, that comes to your house & picks it up. This is how the local area addresses medical waste. So far they have missed 2 pick ups. I will phone them yet again, but am sorely tempted just to take to tip & drop in general rubbish.
It has taken me over two years to fill 1-1/2 bins.
what has been the experience of others?

It's still in my bathroom @Moanranger not full...

Popping my head back in to say hi. I came off MJ Sept 25, stayed off until July 26 when I had put on 5lbs, couldn't seem to lose them and really just wanted a break from thinking about it all.

I jabbed, and the lbs were gone within a week, and the quiet mind was lovely. I didn't really enjoy jabbing again however. It unsettled my tummy more this time, perhaps because I didn't eat as cleanly so I only did it for 4 or 5 weeks just to see me through the Summer, and came off again. Have been off since mid August.

My weight has bounced up a few lbs, and I'm ok with that. Going down to 8.12 made my face look quite gaunt, so happy around 9.1.

I'm with Oushk on maintenance so I can do the same if I feel like it. I may do it over Christmas again for a month, just to calm it all down. I love the freedom of having the choice to be able to do it. It really helps.

I exercise a lot and I think that helps - because I get the snack attacks around 530. I haven't drunk for 7 weeks, so that's probably helping keep it stable too.

Hope you are all keeping on ok... maintenance doesn't make it any easier unfortunately.

@Thelittlestranger good to hear your update. Fantastic news that you are mostly off the MJ and keeping the weight off too. Agree with you, there is nothing easy about maintaining!

@Moanranger I used to have a local pharmacy which had a big sharps bin for easy disposal. Since, I've moved, I can't find anywhere and judging by the number of comments on my local facebook page, I'm not alone. I'm currently hoarding a stash until I find somewhere fairly easy to dispose of them locally!

@MargoLivebetter Yeah, I went back to them this morning and they claimed the driver came on Sat and didn't find anything, so it is now re-scheduled. I gave them additional instructions, we shall see!

I don't know how helpful this might be, but I remember, back in the early days, someone said you could drop off full sharps bins at your local hospital if you happen to be there for an outpatient appointment. Haven't needed to try yet but mine is definitely a bit jammed now after nearly 3 years so will be needing a solution soon.