After over 2 years on MJ do I need to go up a dose to finally get to target or accept the weight I am?

[ItsABatFaceThing]

I started MJ in May 2024 weighing 15 stone. I’m 5 foot 3 so pretty short! By the December of 2024 I was 9 stone 10 and have stayed this weight ever since

I occasionally go up to 9 stone 12 and sometimes drop to 9 stone 9 but you’ll normally find me bang on 9 stone 10 and I’ve stayed this way for almost 2 years now.

I don’t count calories or anything - just eat relatively healthily and I suppose I come in at around 1800 calories a day, sometimes more sometimes less.

I still take 10mg a week. This dose means I just eat intuitively and don’t overthink anything food wise

I suppose I’m relatively happy with my weight and how I look. I’m a bit … chunky maybe? No waist definition and a bit blocky but i wear a standard size 10 in everything

However I’m suddenly thinking that perhaps 9 stone 10 isn’t low enough? I know it’s a normal weight and I’m not exactly in the first flush of youth (50s) but should I be aiming for perhaps a little lower? Maybe 9 stone 5? Less?

So my question … would you stick where you are or would you go up to 12.5 and really go for another 5-7 lbs off?

I’ve enclosed a photo - feel free to be perfectly honest!

Congratulations and I think you look fine!

You look fabulous OP - just the way you are !

You look great!

You look slim now

You don't look chunky at all.

You look great but from my similar experience go up a dose and even go to 15mg if you need too xx

@liquoriceallsortfamily hmm. I’m considering it. I feel like I’ve been this weight for so long that I would need to increase the dose to get things moving again

And thank you all. I usually feel just fine but with a critical eye … could I do another few pounds? Is it even wise at my advanced age? Just not sure

I think you look fantastic! If your only worry is definition, I would suggest the gym.

How do you feel in yourself?

I think you look slim and well

what makes you feel you should lose more weight? do you want to be as thin as possible because it looks beautiful to you? Because it is fashion again to be very very slim? (Sorry if that sounds like a silly question, I am a similar body type /size to you and feel no need to be skinnier is all 😁)

Jesus I would be SO happy with this.
I'm same height and stuck at 11stone 🫠

You look good. If this is manageable and sustainable I'd stick with it personally

@DrumsPleaseFab don’t think so. As slim as possible isn’t really my goal at the age of 54 but it would have been 20 years ago! I also accept I’m not as toned as I could be - again, trickier when you’re older

I accept all that. I just can’t help but think a few more pounds off would look better. Have I got off the train a stop too early?

@SalmonOnFinnCrisp 11 stone was my initial goal! Had to go up to 7.5 to shift on from there. How much have you lost so far?

I think you look fine but what is your body composition like?

I’ve also been on MJ for over 2 years and am now at the stage where I want to loose the last 1/2 stone or so but what I actually want to do is loose fat and put on muscle. It’s being incredibly slow and I sometimes wonder about upping my dose (currently 7.5) but then I know I would struggle to eat enough protein- I would be lighter but not healthier.

You look like you might be more muscular than me naturally which might account for the blocky view of yourself. If your fat % is at a good place I would stick at current weight. If it’s high then I wouldn’t up the dose but would review the balance of what you are eating and modify your activity.

You could get skinnier but would it make you any happier?

You're at a healthy weight and not having to think about food.

@TicklishReader feel fine I think! Just sometimes a bit like I’m square shaped!

Well, you aren't.

I wouldn't lose more, but if you want, and if it's possible for you, work on weight training and muscle building classes at the gym, as this is what is important especially as we age, some PTs told me. BMI/dress size/weight isn't the most useful, as many very strong healthy people might have measurements above the norm.
BTW 5"3 or 4, depending if you're talking UK or the world, is the average height so you're not actually short!

I’m a bit older than you and think in your 50’s, once you’re at a sensible weight you should focus on building good muscle tone and ensuring your bones are healthy and strong.

Have you tried one of those body composition scales for a rough idea of how much muscle and fat you have? I think they have them in some gyms?

I’m the same height as you and 10st 1lb and also dropped from 15st over about a year on MJ but I’m now a solid size 12 and happy with that.

I’ve been weight training for a while now and I feel much stronger and I also think that it’s slowly firming my soft bits up. I’d rather have more muscle tone than wrinkly bits which is a real risk at my age. 😂

Think health and function rather than aesthetics.

What is your waist measurement? If it’s half your height or less (31.5”), you have low levels of visceral fat and therefore low risk of a variety of health problems which come with overweight.

Can you get up off the floor unaided without using your hands? Can you lift heavy shopping? Walk for miles without tiring? These are the things which really matter for quality of later life - not looking a bit leaner.

@PuzzledObserver yes good point! My waist is on the cusp of being over what it should be… I’m not lying when I say I am up and down like a rectangle! But yes I can lift heavy shopping, walk however far I want to without tiring and can get up off the floor so that’s something

OP I'm I think you look great too! I'm a similar height to you and I understand why you might be asking given the 'recommended' range for weight at this height, but I don't think losing more weight would be the best for you, or would change what you're seeing. I don't think you're 'blocky', just that you look like you've got regular sized shoulders & rib cage (not broad but not narrow) on a shorter frame, and, like most of us, you're not an hourglass. I could lose as much weight as humanly possible and I won't have a particularly defined waist, it just isn't my shape. I do think you've got a narrow waist for someone presumably menopausal or post menopausal though!
I know it might feel counter intuitive but if you did want to change your shape you could work on building muscle as you can add to your shoulders/back/hips and give yourself a smaller waist in comparison. But that's only if you want to have a certain look, it certainly isn't something you 'need' to do. And as others have said, functional goals are great, and can be a good mental shift after focusing on weight loss for so long.

I have also been at maintenance for 20 months now. I also use 10mg weekly to maintain my 22 BMI. No intention of losing more but like you need to do more strength building.

I think you look great and definitely don’t need to lose any more. You must be in a healthy BMI range now and that weight will be more sustainable for you. I’m in my 50s, heavier than you and a bit shorter and I wish I was more rectangular! 😂 My BMI is 28 though so I’m still actively trying to lose a few more pounds. I have just been googling exercises to target my hips because I feel they are too wide. You’ve done amazingly well to maintain your weight! 👏

Your weight is fine. It seems mad to try to lose more when you're happily maintaining at that weight without having to count calories. It's a perfectly healthy weight and I would suggest it's where your body is happiest.