Disability

Smart Tech, Crumpet Pizzas and a Birthday Surprise! ⭐

flidfit Disability, Fakeaways, Recipes, Technology, Wegovy, Weightloss Medication, YouTube

Fitting in a quick blog post this week before a few days away celebrating my wonderful partner Mike’s 70th birthday! It’s all a surprise, so to avoid giving the game away, I’ll tell you all about it in next week’s blog. We’re travelling about an hour and a half from home and, rather mysteriously, I’ve instructed Mike that we’ll need to pack a load of firewood… and his swimming trunks! That should keep him guessing.

This week started with a bit of disruption as we replaced both my cooker hood and induction hob with new models that can be connected to the internet.

“Why on earth does a cooker hood need to be connected to the internet?” I hear you ask!

Well… my previous cooker hood looked very smart and worked perfectly well, but there was one rather significant problem. I couldn’t actually operate it! The touch controls were completely inaccessible to me – something I hadn’t considered when I bought it around ten years ago. I tried everything I could think of: a stylus attached to a stick, touchscreen gloves… nothing worked. Every time I wanted to use the extractor fan, I had to ask someone else to switch it on.

The new Neff hob and extractor use Home Connect, which allows them to communicate with each other. Simply turning on the hob automatically starts the extractor fan. Better still, I can control everything using my voice.

“Alexa, switch on the hood.”

“Alexa, turn the hood to full power.”

“Alexa, switch on the hood light.”

You get the picture!

If you’d like a tour of my adapted kitchen and to see some of the many little changes I’ve made to enable me to cook safely and independently, there’s a video I made a few years ago here

Whilst voice-activated smart technology offers an extra level of convenience for many people, for those of us with physical impairments it can provide something far more valuable – genuine independence.

Alexa now controls much of my home, including the lighting, speakers, window blinds and every radiator. I also have a rather clever (and admittedly rather expensive!) Geberit bidet toilet. I haven’t yet explored whether it can be voice-controlled too, but it automatically opens and closes the lid, washes, dries, extracts odours, and even warms the seat. I have to admit, on a cold winter’s morning, a heated toilet seat is one of life’s little luxuries!

My culinary discovery of the week has been crumpet pizzas.

I’d made a batch of pizza topping mixture previously and frozen it in portions, so using that, a couple of slices of pepperoni and a sprinkling of grated mozzarella and Cheddar, I popped them into the air fryer for just two minutes.

The result? A delicious, surprisingly filling little pizza for only 186 calories each. They’re quick, easy and will definitely become a regular lunch in this house.

As for Wegovy, this week I took my first increased dose of 0.5 mg, having moved up from 0.25 mg.

So far… very little appears to have changed.

I’m still finding that I have to work quite hard to keep both my appetite and my sweet tooth under control. I know it’s still very early days, so I’m hoping the increased dose simply needs a little time to build up before I notice any real difference.

Weight

Whilst I’d have loved the increased dose to have taken the edge off my appetite immediately, I’m reminding myself that these medications don’t work overnight. Patience has served me well throughout this journey, so I’ll give it a little more time before drawing any conclusions.  BUT I am getting dangerously close to the top of my maintenance range!  I also remind myself of how far I’ve come on this journey in 14 years….

Weight this week: 56.15kg (8st 11.8lbs)
Weight last week: 55.95kg (8st 11.3lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.2kg (-7.5ozs)
100% – 5 months 14

days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

 

Maintenance Isn’t About Being Perfect: A Weekend Away, Wegovy and Keeping Things in Perspective

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Eating Out, Emotional well being, Travel, Travel & Holidays, Wegovy, Weightloss Medication

Hello all,

Apologies for the delayed update. Usually I plan and draft my blog post over the weekend, but as I mentioned last week, I’ve just returned from a lovely weekend away in Cambridge with some girlfriends.

We had a wonderful time. The hotel (Ibis, Cambridge Central Station) was accessible (the most important factor), perfectly located with nearby parking, and the staff were welcoming and helpful. Trying to find a hotel that meets all the access requirements for three wheelchair users with very different impairments is quite a challenge! It had taken us several weeks to find somewhere suitable, but when we finally arrived and saw our rooms, we knew the search had been worthwhile.

Of course, all the accessibility features in the world don’t mean a thing if the staff attitude isn’t positive, friendly and proactive in providing the little bits of assistance we all need, particularly in the restaurant. Thankfully, they couldn’t have been more accommodating.

My journey to Cambridge took around three hours in total, including an hour’s break halfway. It meant tackling the M4, around the M25 and then up the A1(M) – hardly the most relaxing route, especially as those roads are usually very busy.

Thankfully, I’d planned well. I’d packed my lunch in a cool bag and stopped at South Mimms Services to use the loo, stretch my legs (well… as much as I can!) and found a peaceful shady spot under a tree to enjoy my lunch. Inside, the services were absolutely heaving, but the toilets were clean and spacious, which was the main reason for venturing inside in the first place.

Friday evening was spent at La Maison du Steak. Unsurprisingly, the menu featured a lot of steak in every imaginable cut and size! I opted for the quarter chicken… which turned out to be about the size of half a chicken!

On Saturday we visited the Cambridge University Botanic Garden. I’d been there once before, about six years ago, but remembered very little. I don’t think we’d had enough time to appreciate it properly on that visit. This time we enjoyed a leisurely stroll around most of the gardens, taking in the beautiful planting before stopping for lunch.

The café deserves a special mention. The food was delicious, healthy and excellent value for money. You all know my views on eating out, so you’ll know I don’t hand out compliments to cafés and restaurants unless they’ve genuinely earned them!

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On Saturday evening we treated ourselves to dinner at The Ivy in Cambridge. If you’ve never had an Ivy experience, I’d certainly recommend it if you have one nearby.

I must admit, I felt slightly alarmed when we arrived and found three steps leading up to the front entrance. Fortunately, a member of staff quickly came outside and escorted us around to the rear of the building, up a side alley, through the refuse area and into the restaurant, where we received a warm welcome and were shown straight to our table.

Sadly, older buildings often have to be preserved without being able to create ideal wheelchair access, so entering through the “back door” is something I’ve experienced several times over the years. As long as staff do everything they can to make you feel welcome rather than like an inconvenience, I’m more than happy to forgive the less-than-glamorous entrance!

The food was amazing. I chose the three-course menu for £50, which even included a glass of champagne, so I thought it represented very good value. The only problem was that three courses turned out to be far too much for me, and I finished the evening feeling uncomfortably full.

It wasn’t helped by the fact that our dining experience lasted about three and a half hours, as the restaurant was incredibly busy. I’d completely forgotten that Cambridge would be in the middle of graduation celebrations, so they were dealing with a huge number of diners.

Thankfully, my journey home on Sunday around lunchtime was much more straightforward. I’d picked up one of Sainsbury’s Kitchen Deli Japanese Style Teriyaki Chicken & Sushi Rice bowls, which I enjoyed sitting in the car before setting off again. No loo stop required this time, so I was soon back home unpacking.

So… how’s the Wegovy going?

At this stage I’d honestly say I’m not noticing any effects whatsoever. However, 0.25mg is only the loading dose, designed to allow the body to adjust gradually to the medication. From everything I’ve read, many people don’t notice much appetite suppression or reduction in food noise at this stage, so I’m not concerned. In another fortnight I’ll increase to 0.5mg and, hopefully, that’s when I’ll begin to notice the benefits.

Looking back over the weekend, it would be easy to criticise myself for some of the food choices I made. But it’s important to keep things in perspective.

Weekends away like this are rare for me. I limited myself to just two meals a day (even sitting watching people eat breakfast whilst I sipped a coffee!), planned ahead by packing lunches for both journeys, and made choices that undoubtedly saved me a good number of calories.  I also did my best to log my meals and estimate my calorie intake (about 500 over one day and 700 another!)

I also have to remember that I spent two full days sitting in either my wheelchair or my car, rather than moving around my home as I normally would. My energy expenditure was probably even lower than usual.

Could I have skipped the desserts? Absolutely.

In fact, I rather wish I had because they tipped me from feeling pleasantly satisfied to feeling over-full and stuffed. But then I reminded myself that this feeling used to be my normal. Before losing weight, feeling over-full after meals was something I experienced regularly without giving it a second thought.

Not surprisingly, the scales are showing almost a 1kg gain this week. But I’ve been here before. I know it’s almost certainly a combination of extra food, restaurant meals, a little more salt than usual and less movement over the weekend.

I’m confident that most, if not all, of it will have disappeared again before the weekend. In fact, it needs to be gone because I’m now just half a pound from the top of my maintenance range… eeek! 😬 That’s the reality of maintenance though – sometimes you brush right up against the edge of your comfort zone before reining things back in again.

Sometimes maintaining your weight isn’t about having a perfect week. It’s about enjoying life’s special occasions, accepting the temporary blips on the scales, and simply getting back to your usual routine afterwards.

That’s exactly what I’m planning to do

Weight this week:  56.5kg (8st 12.5lbs)
Weight last week: 55.7kg (8st 11lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: +0.8kg (+1.5lb)
100% – 4 months, 25 days in weight maintenance range (54-57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

 

Why I’m Going to Try the New Wegovy Pill

flidfit Disability, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Wegovy Pill

After a lot of thought, I’ve signed up to try the new Wegovy weight-loss pill.

Many of you who regularly read or subscribe to my posts will know that I’ve been gradually reducing my Mounjaro dose since reaching my goal weight in January. The plan was always to see whether I could successfully maintain my weight on less medication, while continuing to rely on the habits and routines that have served me well for the past 14 years.

However, over the last few weeks I’ve noticed a definite change, and it’s been increasingly difficult to stick to my daily calorie allowance.

My appetite has increased considerably and, perhaps more significantly, the food noise has returned.

For those who have never experienced it, food noise is that constant chatter in your head about food. Thinking about what to eat, when to eat, whether to have a snack, counting down the time to the next meal and battling cravings that seem to appear out of nowhere. Mounjaro quietened all of that for me. As my dose has reduced, in the last 4 weeks, it has gradually started to creep back.

The reality is that my daily calorie allowance is incredibly low. At 4ft 8in, 63 years old and with very limited mobility due to my disability, my maintenance calories are only around 1,100 calories per day.  I don’t have the ability to earn additional calories through doing lots of calorie-burning activities or exercise.

What has surprised me is just how much I have come to appreciate the freedom that Mounjaro gave me. For the past seven or eight months, particularly when I was on the higher doses, sticking to my calorie allowance felt easy. The constant internal negotiation around food largely disappeared. I wasn’t fighting hunger all day, and I wasn’t endlessly thinking about what I could or couldn’t eat. Instead, I was able to eat sensible portions, stay within my calorie target and watch the weight come down gradually, week after week.

Looking back, I realise how much mental energy Mounjaro took out of the process. Weight loss still required planning, calorie awareness and making sensible choices, but it no longer felt like a daily battle against my own appetite. As the dose has reduced, I’ve become increasingly aware of just how much work the medication was doing behind the scenes.

In many ways, the return of hunger and food noise has been a reminder of what life was like before treatment. It has made me appreciate just how transformative Mounjaro has been for me, not simply in helping me lose weight, but in making it feel achievable and sustainable.

                         

What this experience has made me realise is that if I want to maintain my weight loss long-term and avoid regaining the weight, I may need some form of ongoing medical support. There is absolutely no shame in that.

I’ve joined the pre-order list with Pharmacy Online for the newly approved Wegovy pill and have paid £106 for 30 tablets at the 4mg dose. They’ve suggested that this is roughly equivalent to the level of appetite suppression I currently receive from my low-dose Mounjaro maintenance regime.

The tablets are expected to arrive sometime in July.

One of the attractions for me is the convenience. No injections, no sharps bin, no refrigeration and no travelling with injection pens. Instead, it’s simply one tablet first thing in the morning with a small amount of water, followed by a 30-minute wait before eating or drinking anything else. As someone who rarely eats breakfast anyway, that should fit quite easily into my daily routine.

Will it work as well as Mounjaro? I genuinely don’t know.

But I do know that the return of hunger and food noise has reminded me just how difficult life felt before I started treatment. It has also reinforced my belief that obesity and weight regain are not simply about willpower for many individuals.

For me, maintaining my weight isn’t about fitting into a particular dress size or about how I look in a bikini. It’s about preserving my mobility, reducing pain, protecting my independence and giving myself the best chance of remaining active and healthy as I get older.

I’ll continue documenting my experiences honestly and sharing exactly how I get on with the Wegovy pill, including any side effects, changes in appetite, effectiveness and, of course, whether it helps me maintain my weight.

If you’d like to hear more about why I’ve made this decision, I’ve also recorded a YouTube video where I talk through my reasoning in much more detail.

As always, I’d love to hear from anyone else considering the Wegovy pill or already planning to switch from Mounjaro.

Feel free to leave a comment and share your own experiences.

Mounjaro Journey (Maintenance) – Week 53 (2.75mg every 5 days)

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

It has been a very sociable week.

The week started with a day trip to visit a friend who lives in Shrivenham, Wiltshire, followed by a lunchtime visit from a friend over from Germany for a few weeks.

This was followed by an evening of gin and tonics with a neighbour, where peanuts and little savoury biscuits were on offer, but I was quite pleased with myself as I stopped at a single measure of gin and tonic. What affected me more than the drink was the late night! Having said that, I was still in bed by 10pm, but that’s late for me these days. My head was still buzzing from all the conversation and it took me a little while to drift off to sleep.

Later in the week, we enjoyed a day out in London to see Come Alive, the Greatest Showman-inspired spectacular. It was absolutely amazing in London at the Empress Theatre (built on the site of the former Earls Court conference centre).

We were attending the matinee performance, and I’d deliberately planned for us to arrive early enough to have lunch beforehand. The food options at the venue looked fairly uninspiring, and I imagined there would be lots of people all trying to eat at the same time. Instead, we found a lovely café in Brompton Cemetery, just a five-minute walk from the venue.

Brompton Cemetery and Park

I’d never visited Brompton Cemetery before (or indeed any Cemetery in London!) and was struck by how beautiful it was. As part of the Royal Parks, it’s enormous and feels like a peaceful oasis in the middle of London. I was particularly pleased to learn that it is the final resting place of Emmeline Pankhurst, who led the suffragette movement. Many of the graves date back to the 1800s, and some of the monuments and mausoleums are incredibly impressive, clearly belonging to notable and wealthy families of the time.

Emmeline Pankhurst’s grave

The show itself was spectacular. It combined singing, dancing, acrobatics, magic and even fire-eating, all performed within a circus setting. The talent on display was incredible, and we were fortunate enough to have seats right at the very front.

The access team also deserve a special mention. The care and attention they provided throughout the show was exceptional. They checked in with us regularly, explained what would happen and when, ensured we were seated before the main rush of people arrived, and even escorted us through a priority entrance so we could avoid the queues. It made the whole experience so much easier and more enjoyable.

After the show, we met up with one of our friends. She had spent a week in London after travelling from the Isle of Man and joined us for the journey back to Reading and dinner before flying home the following day. We had parked at a hotel for the day and, somehow, managed to secure free parking, saving ourselves £18 in the process.

So, all in all, it has been a week filled with friendship, days out and plenty of socialising.

On the weight-loss and Mounjaro front, my dosage is now down to 2.75mg every five days. I’m also pleased to report that my weight has returned to its pre-holiday level. Given the extra food, reduced activity and all the temptations that came with being away, followed by another busy week packed with socialising, meals out and disrupted routines, I’m very happy with that outcome. It reassures me that the habits I’ve built over the past 14 years are becoming deeply ingrained and can continue to support me, even as I gradually reduce my medication.

Maybe the years of weighing, logging, planning and preparing really are paying off.

I’m just in the process of uploading a video about the holiday, my return to maintenance, and how things are changing as my Mounjaro dose continues to reduce. If you’d like to take a little peek, it’s now live on my YouTube channel.

 

Weight this week: 55.05kg (8st 9.4lbs)
Weight last week: 55.7kg (8st 10.8lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: -0.65kg (-1.4lbs)
100% – 3 months, 26 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)

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 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)

Mounjaro Journey – Week 43 (4mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose

A Quiet Week… With a Few Thoughts Along the Way

Not a huge amount to report this week, but sometimes those quieter weeks still bring moments worth sharing.

I took part in an online focus group looking at housing requirements for Thalidomiders as we age. We talked about whether our current homes still meet our needs, what works well, what doesn’t, and how we see things evolving in the future.

When asked which part of my home I value most, there was no hesitation — my kitchen.

Since living independently, I’ve had two homes and I’m now on kitchen design Mark III. Each version has improved on the last, incorporating lessons learned and small adaptations that make a big difference. I spend a lot of time there, so it needs to be practical, accessible… and somewhere I genuinely enjoy being. It’s probably the one space in my home that feels completely “me”.  If you fancy seeing my kitchen, I filmed a little “tour” some years back (2020).

I was also due to attend a talk at our local museum about the history of Jackson’s Department Store — a place I remember well. It’s recently been sold and is now home to Rosa’s Thai restaurant (where I had that rather disappointing meal not long ago!).

My memories of Jackson’s are a little mixed. We mainly went there for school uniforms, and I vividly remember trying on skirts as a teenager and being told by a shop assistant, “Well, if you lost weight, you’d have more choice.”

Fourteen years old — and I’ve never forgotten it. Words stick.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the talk anyway. I received an email beforehand explaining that both lifts to the first floor were out of order, leaving only two flights of stairs. Not much use when you’re a wheelchair user.

Just one of those frustrating reminders that accessibility still isn’t where it needs to be.

On a more positive note, Saturday evening took us to our local gem — The Progress Theatre — for a comedy night.

It was… alright.

The compare (who openly admitted she’s actually a children’s author, not a comedian) was, somewhat ironically, the funniest part of the evening. The main act didn’t quite hit the mark.

That said, I’d booked a wheelchair space, which meant a free companion ticket — so I can’t complain too much. A slightly underwhelming show, but a perfectly acceptable price tag. A rare little win.

Sunday was a quieter, productive day at home. I shortened the sleeves on a cardigan and a bargain Rab fleece I picked up on Vinted.

I do love buying pre-loved clothes — even more so because I often end up cutting them up and adapting them anyway! Sewing is one of those skills I’ve picked up out of necessity, and while I wouldn’t call myself an expert, I’m definitely capable.

For someone with shorter arms, it’s not just useful — it’s essential.

Food this week has been wonderfully varied (and very enjoyable):

Homemade lasagne, tuna with chopped cornichons on toast, chicken noodle stir-fry with lemongrass, cheese and onion quiche with salad, southern fried chicken fillets, Thai chicken and salad, Cumberland chipolatas with mash and veg, cold sausage with cottage cheese salad, rump steak with spicy chips and greens, ham hock salad with pitta, pork stir-fry with plum hoisin, and cod with ratatouille, mash and green beans.

Definitely no complaints there.

I also took the opportunity this week to try out my new vlogging camera — the Osmo Pocket 3 — and I absolutely love it. It’s small, easy to use, and performs exceptionally well.

I used it to film my latest YouTube video, where I talk about how I’m titrating down my Mounjaro dosage now that I’ve reached my goal weight. If you fancy taking a look, I’d love to hear what you think.

A quieter week, perhaps — but still full of small moments, reflections, and reminders of what matters: a home that works for you, words that stay with you (for better or worse), and the simple pleasure of good food and practical skills.

Weight this week: 55.05kg (about 8st 9lb)

Last week: 54.7kg (about 8st 8½lb)

Weekly loss/gain:  +0.35kg (about +½lb)

Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)

In case you’re interested, and thinking about slowly reducing your Mounjaro dosage, here’s my planned schedule.

Mounjaro tapering

 

Mounjaro Maintenance Journey – Week 42 (4.25mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Travel & Holidays

A few weeks ago, I found myself watching some very old VHS footage from 1991 — my honeymoon in the Seychelles.

I was 29. Newly married. Happy with life… and, at the time, happy in my own skin.

Looking back now, I can see I was already carrying a lot of extra weight — but I don’t think I truly saw it then. Awareness is a funny thing like that.

Fast forward to this week, and a photo I took of myself really stopped me in my tracks. The weight I’ve carried for so long… gone. Hopefully for good.

1991
2026
I’m realistic — I’m not ruling out weight loss medication being part of my future in some way. But what I do know is that everything I’ve learned over the past 14 years has built something much more important than just weight loss.

This week has also reminded me of something else.

How much I rely on others — and how okay that is.

Accepting help has always been part of my life. It’s not weakness. It’s not failure. It’s simply reality. And actually, there’s a real strength in accepting support.

As I get older, that support requirement will increase — as it will for many people. Our bodies change, energy fades, things take longer. For me, my energy is pretty much gone by 5pm — so using support wisely allows me to focus on what matters most.

Cooking from scratch. Keeping my home how I like it. Taking care of myself.

And speaking of cooking… what a week of food!
Salmon & asparagus quiche, cooked breakfasts, marinated tuna steaks, cassoulet, ham hock and leek potato topped pie, pan-fried mackerel (the smell lingered for days 😂), flapjack topped apple crumble… and, a long time favourite – spaghetti Bolognese ❤️

This isn’t a “diet”.
This is just life. Real food. Enjoyed.

And this week — with blue skies, sunshine, and a real sense of progress — has felt pretty wonderful.

Onwards 💛

Weight this week: 54.7kg (about 8st 8½lb)
Last week: 55.2kg (about 8st 9½lb)
Weekly loss:  0.5kg (about 1lb)
Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)

My dosage plan for reducing my Mounjaro dosage:

My Tapering Journey (Every 5 Days)

These doses are from a 10mg pen:

9th January – 45 clicks (7.5mg)

14th January – 30 clicks (5mg × 5 doses)

9th February – 29 clicks (4.75mg × 6 doses)

6th March – 27 clicks (4.5mg × 2 doses)

16th March – 26 clicks (4.25mg)

21st March – 24 clicks (4mg)

And now… I’m gradually stepping things down even further.

🔽 My Plan Going Forward

Dosing every 5 days, gradually reducing:

4mg → 3.75mg → 3.5mg → 3.25mg

3mg → 2.75mg → 2.5mg → 2.25mg

Then down to 2mg… and eventually 1.5mg

 

The Art of Maintenance

flidfit Disability, Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Pain
March 2025 75kg (11st 11lbs)

There’s a quiet stage of life that doesn’t get celebrated very much.

It’s not the dramatic beginning.
It’s not the triumphant transformation.
It’s not the crisis.

It’s maintenance.

This week alone has been full of it. A new, larger radiator installed so the kitchen is properly warm. Clearing wardrobes of clothes that are now two sizes too big. Adjusting my glasses prescription. Tweaking medication doses. Bringing forward recruitment plans for Mum’s care. None of it headline-grabbing. All of it necessary.

For years, my life felt like it was about change. Losing weight. Recovering from injury. Adapting to mobility challenges. Learning how to live well in a body shaped by Thalidomide. Those were visible milestones. They felt measurable. Applaudable.

But maintenance is different.

Maintenance is choosing not to keep the size 18 “just in case.”
It’s planning meals because appetite suppression isn’t quite what it was.
It’s stretching daily, even when nothing hurts too much.
It’s booking the eyesight test before things become a problem.
It’s upgrading the radiator instead of just putting on another jumper.

Maintenance is a decision to stay steady.

With Mounjaro, the early months were about loss — weight coming down, food noise quietening, habits tightening into place. Now I’m at my lowest weight ever. I’m not trying to lose more, but I am determined not to drift backwards. That requires awareness. Planning. Honesty about increased hunger. A willingness to adjust rather than pretend nothing has changed.

Maintenance isn’t passive. It’s active stewardship.

The same applies to Mum’s care. To charity work. To relationships. To our home. Things don’t hold themselves together. They require small, often invisible inputs of energy. Quiet decisions made early enough to prevent bigger problems later.

There is a certain satisfaction in this stage. A maturity to it. I am no longer constantly reinventing myself. I am tending.

And tending, I’ve realised, is a skill.

It takes discipline to stay at a healthy weight.
It takes humility to ask for help when needed.
It takes foresight to recruit before there’s a crisis.
It takes confidence to throw out the clothes that no longer fit.

Maintenance may not look dramatic from the outside, but from where I’m standing, it feels like strength.

Steady doesn’t mean stagnant.
It means cared for.

And at this stage of my life, that feels like success.

Mounjaro Journey – Week 37 (5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Disability, Exercise, Mounjaro, Pain, Recipes, Travel & Holidays

A nice quiet week, ahead of what promises to be a busy one.

The most exciting event was a visit to our chiropractor. We tend to go every couple of months for a “maintenance” appointment. I first started seeing him just under five years ago after a fall on holiday in Majorca, when I tripped, fell forwards headlong to the ground, hitting my head on a wall on the way down.  Because of my shortened arms, I wasn’t able to break my fall properly and sustained a severe whiplash injury.

Immediately afterwards, I had no sensation in my legs and intense pins and needles in both arms — like shards of glass embedded in my hands. I was whisked off to hospital by ambulance. Unfortunately, unlike in the UK, there didn’t seem to be any assessment of neck pain or altered sensation. I suspect quite a bit was lost in translation, and perhaps the paramedics didn’t fully grasp that I had effectively head-butted a wall.

Thankfully, the fall happened right outside our hotel, and the receptionist — who spoke excellent English — came out to interpret for the paramedics.  I had to request that they fit a neck brace before they moved me, as at that point, I knew I’d damaged my neck and potentially my cervical spine.

I was x-rayed, told my neck was fine, and sent back to the hotel in a taxi. I was in excruciating pain and hadn’t been offered any pain relief. I took ibuprofen and paracetamol, and the following day, attended a different hospital where I was properly examined and given stronger medication. The remainder of the holiday was slightly marred by pain. On returning home, my GP advised me to go straight to hospital to rule out a possible bleed on the brain.

Thankfully, there wasn’t one.

That episode led me to our wonderful chiropractor, whom I’ve been seeing ever since. Treatment involves consultation, manipulation, exercises, traction machines, and six-monthly progress reviews with x-rays and posture imaging. The visits keep me relatively pain-free and have made me much more disciplined about daily neck stretches and limiting too much time at the computer. The staff are lovely too — we always feel genuinely welcomed.

It looks like an instrument of torture, but this neck traction became part of my regular routine for a while!

The weather this week has been rain, rain and more rain — until Saturday, when we were treated to bright blue skies and sunshine. It was bitterly cold though. The log burner has been on all day, most days, and turned down low overnight.

On the Mounjaro front, I’ve definitely noticed an increase in appetite and a drop in appetite suppression. I’m mindful not to let that derail my efforts. I plan my meals carefully so they’re ready to go, which prevents me from reaching that point of ravenous hunger where anything in sight seems appealing. The 5mg dose still takes the edge off, thankfully, but it’s a reminder that the habits I’ve built over the past decade really matter.

Cooking has been simple and satisfying. I made a delicious tomato soup using tomatoes from last year’s harvest — pulp that had been cooked and frozen. A small bowl is incredibly satiating. We’ve also had salads, prawn stir-fry, sticky beef stir-fry, and steak with mushrooms and onions.

I dusted off the bread maker and made a couple of malt loaves — far superior to anything from the supermarket. Once cooled, I slice and freeze them in two portions so we can enjoy them over several weeks. We took one over to Mike’s grandson’s family on Sunday, which was very well received.

A quiet week perhaps — but the kind that quietly reinforces routines, resilience, and gratitude.  Time to appreciate home-cooked food and my love of cooking!

Weight this week: 55.4kg (about 8st 10lb)
Last week: 56.1kg (about 8st 11.5lb)
Weekly loss:  0.5kg (about 1lb)
Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)