Month: April 2026

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 47 (3.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Sweet Treats, Titrating dose

I’m not very good at doing nothing… which is slightly inconvenient when recovery demands exactly that.

It’s been a good week.

I’ve been consciously trying to conserve my energy as the effects of the concussion continue to linger. I do feel things are gradually improving, but it’s clear this is going to be a long, slow road back to 100%.

I’ve been deliberately taking things easy, using my energy for the basics — getting up, showered, and preparing meals. Sam came over for a couple of mornings, and we used that time wisely to prepare some batch salads. A firm favourite made a return: grated carrot, chopped apple, pecans, dates, desiccated coconut tossed in fresh lime juice. Simple, fresh, and full of those lovely tropical flavours that seem to go with everything.

It hasn’t all been “healthy” food — but it has all been delicious. And sometimes, that’s just as important. We made two small hot cross bun and apricot bread and butter puddings… absolutely gorgeous. A modest portion came in at 262 calories, and honestly, it was worth every single one.

On Saturday morning, we were up and out early, walking the length of our avenue alongside a handful of neighbours, collecting litter as we went. It was one of those perfect spring mornings — sunny and warm, with the gentle shade of the trees, barely any passing cars, and birdsong all around us. There’s something quietly satisfying about doing something practical together, and it was lovely to stop, chat, and catch up with neighbours along the way.

The weather has certainly helped lift things. We’ve had three days in a row of 20 degrees or more, and I’ve been making a point of sitting outside and doing very little. Not something that comes naturally to me. Sitting still is surprisingly challenging — especially when reclining isn’t comfortable and most outdoor chairs seem determined not to accommodate my rather uniquely shaped body…

My Mounjaro dose is due to drop again with the next injection, from 3.5mg to 3.25mg. It’s a small step, but this slow and steady reduction really does seem to suit me. I’m managing the urges to over-indulge, gently reminding myself that I’ve eaten enough, I’ve eaten well, and that I don’t need to fall back on the sweet, processed foods that can so easily creep in at times like this.

Weight this week: 54.85kg (about 8st 8.9lb)
Last week: 55.85kg (about 8st 8.11lb)
Weekly loss/gain:  -1kg (about 2 ¼lb)

100% – 2 months, 15 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 11lb)

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 46 (3.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose

Sorry, not very many pictures this week, I’m slacking!  I don’t really like photographing meals when dining out or when we have company…

We’ve just returned from a lovely weekend away in Loughborough, where we attended the annual Thalidomide Society AGM and conference.

This year’s event was held at Burleigh Court Conference Centre, set within the beautiful grounds of Loughborough University. Before heading to the conference, we made a little detour to visit a friend who lives nearby. It was such a lovely way to break up the journey — a cup of tea, a wander around her garden, and the chance to catch up properly. It had been years since I’d last seen her daughters, who are now all grown up, and it was especially nice for Mike to meet her for the first time.

The conference itself, as always, was both interesting and reassuring. There’s something quite special about being in a room full of people who share similar life experiences. It’s a chance to reconnect, hear how everyone is doing, and swap snippets of family news that you just don’t get in day-to-day life.

That said… the hotel stay was a little more “memorable” than restful.

Our room was comfortable enough, though compact – and the bed was a double — but not the king-size we’re used to at home.  The mattress was just a little too firm.  The real challenge, though, was the duvet. It was incredibly heavy and far too warm. Add to that the steady soundtrack of doors slamming closed and voices echoing along the corridors, and sleep didn’t come easily.

I’m still taking things gently following my recent fall, and Mike had been up since 5 am, so we were both more than ready for an early night. Unfortunately, a good night’s sleep had other ideas. I battled on under the duvet for as long as I could before finally admitting defeat sometime around 2 am. In the end, I swapped it out for a rather makeshift combination of a bath towel and my jacket — not exactly luxury, but infinitely more bearable!

Needless to say, I wasn’t feeling my best the following morning.

Thankfully, the hotel staff came to the rescue and provided us with two single duvets for the second night, which made all the difference. We both slept so much better — proof, if ever it were needed, that sometimes it’s the simplest things that matter most.

On the food front, it’s been a week of simple, fresh, and very satisfying meals. Earlier in the week, I’d prepared a spread for a friend visiting for lunch — lots of fresh salads alongside a delicious savoury cake made with grated courgette, feta, peas, and mint. It’s one of those dishes that feels both light and indulgent at the same time.  It’s also very filling and to be honest, we didn’t need much more for our evening meal.

For our journey up on Friday, I’d put together some pitta breads filled with coronation chicken, which turned out to be the perfect travel food. We pulled into a service station en route, made use of the facilities, and then sat in the car enjoying a late lunch in the warmth of the sunshine — one of those simple little moments that somehow feels just right.

All in all, a weekend of connection, conversation, and (eventually) a bit of sleep — and now, back home, where my own bed has never felt more inviting.

In terms of my Mounjaro dosage, I’ve reduced it again slightly — down by 0.25mg — so I’m now taking 3.5mg every five days.

So far, it’s been a smooth adjustment. I haven’t felt particularly hungry, which is always reassuring when making a reduction. That said, I was quite mindful over the weekend that lunch options at the conference were likely to be more carb-heavy (and I wasn’t wrong — sandwiches featured quite prominently!). With that in mind, I made a conscious decision to enjoy a more substantial (cooked) breakfast, and it paid off.

On Sunday, before setting off for the drive home, I treated myself once again to a proper cooked breakfast, included with our accommodation. Not being a regular breakfast eater, a cooked breakfast always feels like a bit of a luxury — and even more so when it’s prepared by someone else. It kept me going comfortably all the way through until our evening meal. Moments like that really do remind me how helpful it is to plan ahead and work with my appetite, rather than against it.

Weight-wise, I fully expected the scales to creep up a little on Monday. A weekend spent mostly sitting — whether in conference sessions or in the car — combined with a touch more indulgence than usual, would normally point in that direction. Less movement, different food choices… it all adds up.

As always, the scales tell their own story… and these are the results. I really am not too concerned with the gain as I know it is the result of my weekends overindulgence. I’m confident most (if not all) of it will be gone by next weeks post.

Weight this week: 55.85kg (about 8st 11lb)
Last week: 54.75kg (about 8st 8½lb)
Weekly loss/gain:  +1kg (about 2½lb)

100% – 2 months, 9 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 11lb)

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 45 (3.75mg every 5 days)

flidfit Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Pain, Sweet Treats, Titrating dose

A Quiet Week (and a Healing One)

This week has been a quiet one—and I’ve appreciated every single moment of it.

After my rather dramatic tumble, it turns out that peace and quiet have been exactly what I needed. Recovery is happening… slowly. There isn’t a part of my body that doesn’t ache. Both ankles, one knee, one shoulder, the rather impressive bruise on my head.  Thankfully, the black eyes are gradually subsiding, fading a little more each day.

That said, the standout discomfort has been in the top of my shoulder. I suspect it’s around where the brachial plexus nerve exits into the arm, as that familiar burning, aching sensation has been making itself known. It’s not my first experience of this, so I know it’s a case of patience—something I’m not always brilliant at, but currently have little choice.

We were treated to some lovely weather during the week—one day reaching a very respectable 24 degrees. I did make it outside to sit in the sunshine and eat my lunch, which felt like a small but significant victory… although that, it turns out, was quite enough excitement for one day.

More than anything, my body has needed sleep—and I’ve listened.

By Thursday, it became clear that I needed something a little stronger to manage the pain, so the doctor prescribed me Amitriptyline. It doesn’t take the pain away completely, but it has made a huge difference in one very important way—it allows me to sleep through it.

And sleep, at the moment, feels precious.

Before starting it, I was waking two or three times a night in quite excruciating discomfort, unable to settle no matter how I positioned myself. Now, being able to go to bed and sleep through the night has made everything feel just that little bit more manageable.

I did have to re-enter the outside world on Friday for my regular chiropractic appointment. I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely sure whether to go ahead with it or postpone. I’d already warned the clinic what to expect—sending over a photo along with a description of my injuries and the various aches and pains I was dealing with.

The chiropractor suggested I come in—and I’m glad I did.

He was incredibly gentle, took the time to listen properly, and treated me with real care. He worked on my right side, where I seem to have twisted and pulled my intercostal muscles (the ones between the ribs), and also gently treated my neck. I was given a few exercises and some light traction work—all very moderate, all very considered.

It was exactly what I needed… although it completely wiped me out for the rest of the day.

Aside from that small excursion, I’ve mostly stayed close to home—and, perhaps predictably, found my way back into the kitchen. It’s still the place I enjoy most, even if it’s currently accompanied by a few winces and the occasional reminder that I probably shouldn’t be overdoing things.

That hasn’t stopped me from producing some lovely, nourishing food, though. A crustless quiche with ham hock and grated courgette made an appearance, along with a comforting meatball pasta bake—simple, hearty meals that feel like a small act of normality in an otherwise slowed-down week.  I also made use of some bread that was past its best by making us a small bread and butter pudding!  It was heavenly, comforting, and worth every one of the 400 calories for a teeny-tiny portion.

Hey-ho… these things are sent to try us—and this has certainly been a bit of a trial. But I do feel like I’m over the worst of it now, which is just as well, as the coming week looks a little busier, with quite a few social engagements, trips out in the car and a lengthy drive and weekend away next weekend.

Let’s see how that goes… gently does it!

Weight this week: 54.75kg (about 8st 8½lb)
Last week: 54.8kg (about 8st 8½lb)
Weekly loss/gain:  -0.05kg (about ¼lb)

100% – 2 months, 1 day in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 11lb)

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 44 (3.75mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Pain, Titrating dose , , ,

An Unexpected Turn to the Easter Weekend

I had been quietly looking forward to the Easter weekend. Nothing too busy or demanding — just a simple family get-together planned, hosting a roast lamb dinner for my partner’s grandson, son and daughter-in-law. The kind of weekend that feels easy, familiar, and comforting.  We were looking forward to seeing the baby, who is just about walking now!

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan.

On Thursday morning, I was heading out to take part in an organised litter pick (one that I had, somewhat ironically, organised myself) when I tripped and fell forward in my hallway. It all happened in a split second, but the outcome was rather dramatic — I managed to headbutt the front door, whacking my forehead and wrenching my neck backwards.

Let’s just say… the front door remains structurally sound.

Or at least, it came off better than I did. Thankfully, my skull seems to be made of fairly sturdy stuff too, but I was left with immediate pain in my neck and concern about what damage I might have done. Given the nature of the fall, an ambulance was called — the right decision, even if it all felt a little surreal at the time.

The mechanism of the fall itself isn’t unusual for me. About three years ago, while on holiday in Mallorca, I experienced something very similar. I tripped outside our hotel and fell forward, my head taking the impact, followed by that inevitable snapping back motion of my neck. Without arms to break a fall, my head and neck take the full force — not ideal, but very much my reality.  Thankfully, this time the paramedics and A&E staff were on the case – and spoke English, which made such a difference to my treatment.

What made a difficult situation so much more bearable, though, was the care and kindness of the people around me. Sam, who was with me when I fell, and my partner both did a truly sterling job of keeping me as warm and comfortable as possible while we waited — a rather lengthy 2.5 hours — for the ambulance to arrive. It’s in those moments, when you’re at your most vulnerable, that calm, capable company makes all the difference.  I was shivering, cold and very, very uncomfortable.

A&E was, as you might expect, very busy. I needed to be assessed and scanned before they’d take me off the spinal board and remove the neck blocks. Thankfully, it was deemed that there had been no serious damage to my spine and, after another four hours in a noisy and rather traumatic environment, I was discharged home with instructions to take regular painkillers and return if anything changed.

Not content with that, my body decided to add a few extra flourishes over the following days. My eyes gradually turned a rather impressive combination of purple and black — not quite the pastel tones one usually associates with Easter, but striking in their own way. It also looks as though my forehead is attempting to produce the only Easter egg I received this year… slightly larger than your average chocolate variety and considerably less welcome.

As if that wasn’t enough, I also seem to have irritated the main nerve pathway running from my spine into my arms — the brachial plexus. As I fell, my neck was wrenched backwards, which has resulted in a rather unwelcome mix of numbness, pins and needles, loss of feeling, weakness, and a burning sensation in both arms.

It’s a very odd experience — not quite pain as such, but certainly not comfortable either. The sort of thing that makes you very aware of just how much you rely on your arms doing exactly what they’re told.

The good news is that it is slowly improving day by day. The less good news (based on previous experience) is that nerves take their own sweet time to recover, so this is likely to be more of a marathon than a sprint.

It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly things can change. One moment you’re heading out the door with good intentions, and the next you’re horizontal, taking stock of your injuries and your weekend plans.

Needless to say, Easter has taken on a rather different shape than I had imagined. Plans have been paused, swapped instead for rest, recovery, and a slightly closer relationship with my bed — where I remained for two days.

On the plus side, I was allowed some respite from the kitchen and food preparation… though I suspect that may be short-lived!

There’s always a temptation in moments like this to feel frustrated — at the disruption, the disappointment, the inconvenience, the change of plans. But I’m also reminded of how important it is to listen to my body, to take injuries seriously, and to allow time to heal.

The litter pick can wait. Easter can be… rebranded.

For now, slowing down feels like exactly the right thing to do.

Weight this week: 54.8kg (about 8st 8½lb)
Last week: 55.2kg (about 8st 9½lb)
Weekly loss/gain:  -0.45kg (about 1lb)

100% -(1 month, 23 days) in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 7½lb – 8st 13½lb)