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!

How about some weight training and gradually gain some muscle (say 6-8lbs) and lose equiv of fat?

Thanks all. When I have some time I must turn my focus to strength training - was doing well with it but then got busy with work and it fell by the wayside … for now!

I think I am pretty happy at this weight - and it is a normal weight - but I’m only half a stone or less from being slightly overweight so I think that’s perhaps what is driving me to consider just a few more lbs - but I know I’d find that quite challenging as I don’t want to enter into the whole ‘cutting back’ mindset again really, so perhaps a month or two on 12:5 may do something?

or I accept this is where my body is happy, remind myself that the dream (for me) was to see 9 stone something on the scales again and stop being so self absorbed 😹

😅😅😅
So i thought i was about 15 stone but I stopped weighing in lbs because i cpuldnt face the reality and was 105 /108kg....converting that now I realise i actually started at 16.5 stones!?!? 🫠🤦‍♀️

So it was a 5 stone loss which is very decent really... certainly its changed my life....
Woth the meds I also seem to maintain with relative ease.

I actually got to 69kg which is 10.5 at one point last year but gained back to 75kg (11.5) and have been there over 12m now
However, H2 25 and 26 have been... turbulent. Think multiple surgeries, workplace from hell and..and...and....

So in that context 5 st is fine... I am on highest dose so theres not much to be done by anyone but me now...

This thread has been interesting becsuse its made me think I can / should dig a little deeper and do that last stone or at least try to... gym fell by the wayside this year. I went back for the first time in about three months this morning

OP, you’ve lost loads, you look great & your are eating healthy. You are a size 10!!!! don’t lose perspective on that.

If you lost more it would probably come from your face and make you wrinkled. Woman do need a few pound on them as they age.

Please consider going to the gym to tone up whatever you’re not happy with.
increasing your dose isn’t needed. I’ve taken a micro dose for years, stayed the same weight like you (bmi 23-24) and I’m short too.

Less weight wouldn’t look good and I’m younger than you. If I was on 10mg I’d be trying to reduce that, not increase it.

You look great. I think it's important to stay at a weight you can maintain and I'd be wary of going too thin just because you can.

Are you going to stop the mj and what will you do then?

I don’t know anything about WLIs but if you are in your 50s and you’re not exercising, including some strength training, then you’re not safeguarding your health for later life.

@Cardhey no plans to stop at all. Plans in the new year to decrease my dosage though.

People are better educated about WLIs now. I was always a card carrying member of the ‘eat less, move more brigade’ and never in a million years did I ever think I’d come to see obesity as a disease.

but here I am. I now see the science in that

@AlphaApple I do exercise and I do strength train . That’s fallen by the wayside recently as I’m so busy with work right now - the most I manage each day right now is a 3 mile walk - but I’ll be back to training just as soon as I find time. And err inclination 😬

I think you look great. If you’re not happy with body shape focus on building Muscle but maintaining your weight, as with this you will lose fat.

I think you look fantastic personally.
I’ve been on MJ for 2 years now, maintaining at 10mg with no plans to stop.
I was really toned up until about 3 months ago when I had an operation and had to stop all exercise to recover. What happened was quite typical, my weight didn’t really increase despite having 3 weeks off the medication (actually it did by about 4lbs over a month but it’s come off now), but I just softened up everywhere and my muscles starting to not look as defined anymore. I’ve got the all clear to exercise again so I’ve just gone back to things, gently at first but I’m really looking forward to seeing things tighten up again and see how my body composition changes.
I could increase my dose to help but I’m actually going to stick with the 10mg as I’m eating so well, but I notice I’m reaching for things I haven’t been for 2 years so my plan is to keep an eye on that. I don’t calorie count and haven’t this whole time!

You look amazing. I wouldn’t lose any more weight. From my experience of taking MJ myself, it’s a very slow process to wean yourself off it and keep the weight off. The higher the dose, the harder and longer it will be to wean off and maintain.

If you can afford MJ long term then you might consider going up a dose (although I 100% honestly think you look amazing at your current weight). But if your plan is to wean off and stop using MJ then I would not go up a dose.

You look really great. Personally in your situation I'd add a gym session on stretching and toning first.

I think I’m going to give 12.5 a go for a month, weighing (ha) it all up. I genuinely feel about 5-7lbs away from where I’d like to be.

my face is fine. Well, as fine as anyone’s face can be at 54 but I’m not lined or gaunt or anything and I don’t think 6lbs will change that.

but being critical of myself - as I am prone to being - I do feel I look like a box - but then again, I can’t change my height or the fact I am a rectangle with a wide rib cage

Just try it. If you don’t like it then go back down.

Maybe post on style and beauty for advice if you are feeling a bit 'boxy'. Your figure is great but as a fellow rectangle shape who has lost weight it is a hard shape to style and add a bit of shape to.