Travel & Holidays

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)

Mounjaro Journey – Weeks 31 (7.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Emotional well being, Mounjaro, Sweet Treats, Travel & Holidays, YouTube

Happy New Year to all of my subscribers.

Here’s a New Year plot twist I never expected — two weeks of holiday sunshine, festive meals… and the scale still went down.

Mounjaro has made a genuinely positive difference to my Christmas and New Year, and this is the first time in many years that I’ve come through December without the usual weight gain. We always go away for two weeks of winter sun, and I’d long accepted that the holiday plus the festive period meant an inevitable increase on the scales. It was simply “the price I paid” for relaxing my routine and not logging food while I was away.

This year was different. I started the New Year weighing half a kilogram less than I did before our holiday.

I ate mindfully, I logged everything, and my portions were naturally smaller. There was no snacking between meals because I finally felt satisfied. Mounjaro has shifted my tastes and preferences in a way I didn’t expect. Sweet foods just don’t appeal, and I’ve not eaten chocolate since starting my Mounjaro journey on 2 June 2025. If I want something that feels like a treat, I have a small, measured portion of dried fruit and nuts.

Chia berry pudding, full of flavour and my “daily sweet fix”

My evening “treat” — the time of day when my snacking used to be at its worst — is now a chia pudding. Chia seeds, full-fat Greek yoghurt, a little Sweet Freedom and a handful of berries. About 200 calories, but full of nutrition. The chia seeds bring protein, fibre and omega-3 fats. The berries are low-calorie but rich in fibre, vitamin C and natural sweetness. And the 5% strained Greek yoghurt is both satisfying and nutritious; the straining process concentrates the protein, making it far more filling than the 0% versions. It keeps my blood sugar steadier and gives me a long “full” window. The live cultures also support gut health and digestion. It’s become my daily fix — and one I genuinely look forward to.

Sweet Freedom syrup

This week I’ve started planning a new series of YouTube videos exploring aspects of the Mounjaro journey that rarely get discussed. So much of the content online focuses on weekly losses, side effects, dosing, stretching pens, and how much people still have to lose. What seems to be missing are the habits, emotions and behaviours around food that don’t vanish just because hunger is quieter.

The everyday choices. The old patterns that still need unpicking. The subtle shifts in how we shop, cook, portion, and respond to temptation. The mindset work. The behaviour changes. The part that ultimately determines whether long-term success is possible — with or without medication.

Over the past 14 years, I’ve worked hard to reshape my relationship with food. Small changes became part of my routine until they felt normal. Those foundations have made my Mounjaro journey so much easier, and they’re exactly what give me confidence in my life beyond weight-loss injections – my continued success and weight-loss maintenance.  I feel I’ve learned so much through my own experience and would like to share that to inspire and encourage others who might be struggling with these issues.

If you know of any content creators who talk honestly about this side of the journey — the habits, the mindset, the emotional work — please share details in the comments. I’d love to explore their content.

Weight this week: 57.5kg (about 9st ½lb)

Last week:  58kg, (about 9st 2lbs)

Loss: 0.5kg (about 1 pound)

To goal weight: 0.5kg (about 1lb)

Will I reach my 57 kg goal next week? Check out my blog for next week to see!

 

Mounjaro Journey – Week 30 (7.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Mounjaro, Recipes, Sweet Treats, Travel & Holidays

This has been such a peaceful and relaxing week — exactly how Christmas should feel.

We started with a big “click and collect” order from Morrisons, which turned out to be the perfect solution after returning home to empty cupboards and a bare fridge. It was a sizeable pre-Christmas shop, full of essentials, and not a single item was substituted. Everything was in stock, and we were there and back within about 40 minutes. The trip also gave us a chance to try out the new traffic-calming measures on our road. Speed humps have been installed while we were away, and they’re just right — not too harsh, but definitely enough to keep drivers to 20mph. Our road has suffered from speeding cut-through traffic for years, so I’m hopeful this will finally help.

On Christmas Eve, the fantastic Sam arrived with an armful of homemade gifts: a huge, freshly baked salmon-and-courgette crustless quiche, a slab of Christmas fruit cake, and a jar of her cranberry sauce. We shared a cup of tulsi tea (holy basil) and a relaxed chat to ease into the festive break.

Leek, mushroom and nut Wellington

Christmas Day itself was intentionally low-key, much like any other day for us. I began with my usual exercise routine, then had lunch: a simple brie-and-cranberry toasted sourdough sandwich with half an apple and a satsuma. Dinner was the star of the day: a homemade leek, mushroom and nut Wellington — you can see me preparing it here — which took a bit of time but was absolutely worth it. I cooked the filling first, let it cool, and then wrapped it in pastry. Neither of us is a vegetarian, but the recipe caught my eye and felt like something special for the day. If you fancy giving it a try, I’ve shared the full recipe on my blog.

We’re not Christmas traditionalists, nor are we religious, and with our children grown and living elsewhere, we enjoyed a wonderfully self-indulgent, pressure-free day.

Boxing Day was family time. My sister and brother-in-law brought Mum over for lunch — she lives about 30 minutes away, and they were staying with her over Christmas. We kept the food simple: shop-bought cream of tomato soup with crusty bread, a slice of Sam’s delicious salmon quiche, and a fun little “retro” dessert of orange jelly, tinned mandarins, Jamaican ginger cake, and a choice of vanilla ice cream, double cream or crème fraîche. After the over-indulgence of Christmas Day, everyone was more than happy with something uncomplicated and comforting.

Jamaican ginger cake, orange jelly, mandarin orange segments and creme fraiche

Today we’re off to The Watermill Theatre near Newbury to see their production of The Little Mermaid. We’ll drop in to see Mum on the way, as her house is en route, and we’re packing lunch because timing will be tight — plus the visit is meant to be a surprise. We have tickets for the 3pm matinee, and I’m quietly hoping Mike resists the urge to sing along… he knows every word of the Disney version!

Weight this week: 58kg (about 9st 2lbs)

Last week:  59.7kg, 57.7kg (about 9st 5lbs)

Loss: 1.7kg (about 3 pounds)

To goal weight: 1kg (about 2lbs)

Leek, mushroom and nut Wellington – 590 calories

flidfit Recipes, Travel & Holidays, Vegan / Plant based, Vegeterian

My healthy Christmas dinner this year was a gorgeous nut, leek and mushroom wellington, served with sweet roasted carrots and parsnips. It’s a naturally vegetarian dish, and with a tiny tweak it becomes fully vegan too.

It looks wonderfully indulgent on the plate, but it’s surprisingly easy to pull together – especially if you prep the filling ahead. And because it all comes together in one pan, you still get that Christmas magic without the mountain of washing up.

Leek, mushroom and nut Wellington

Preparation Time:     30 mins

Cooking Time:     30 mins

Serves:     4

Calories per serving:     589.5

 

Ingredients

Ready Roll Puff Pastry                                                               –   320g

Cavolo Nero                                                                                 –   60g

Leeks, Raw, Trimmed                                                                –   200g

Garlic, Raw                                                                                   –   2 Cloves/6g

Chestnut Mushrooms                                                                 –   200g

Chestnuts, Whole, Roasted & Peeled, Vacuum Packed      –   180g

Stuffing Mix, Sage & Onion, Dry                                             –   25g

Nutritional Yeast Flakes                                                           –   1 Tbsp/15g

White Miso Paste                                                                       –   1 Tbsp/15g

Soy Sauce                                                                                     –   1 Tbsp/15g

Olive Oil                                                                                       –   10ml

Eggs, Medium (for pastry glaze)                                             –   ½ Egg/28g

Nigella Seeds                                                                               –   ½ Tsp/2.5g

Walnuts, shelled                                                                         –   25g

Pecan Nuts, shelled                                                                   –   25g

Preparation:

Remove any tough stalks from the kale and roughly slice.  Chop the leek finely and wash thoroughly.  Peel and finely chop the garlic cloves.  Wash the mushrooms and finely chop them.  Roughly chop the chestnuts, walnuts and pecans.  Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

 

Method:

Pour the oil into a large frying pan or wok and heat over a medium heat.

Sauté the leeks, kale and garlic in the oil for 10 mins until soft, stirring regularly to avoid burning and sticking.

Add chopped mushrooms, continue cooking, stirring regularly, until browned, and the moisture is gone.

Stir in miso paste, soy sauce, nutritional yeast and stuffing mix. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes and then allow to cool.  Once cool, add in the chopped chestnuts, walnuts and pecans.

Roll out the sheet of puff pastry.

Lay the cooled mixture in the middle (lengthwise) of the pastry sheet and fold over the sides to make a long parcel (or sausage). Seal the edges well, along the long edge and the ends.  Use a little water to ensure everything is tightly sealed.

Score the top lightly in a diamond pattern (do not cut all the way through the pastry) to allow steam to escape. Brush with the whisked egg (or milk), sprinkle with nigella seeds

Bake on a lined baking tray in the centre of the oven for 25-30 minutes until golden and crispy.

————————

The filling can be made in advance.  The Wellington can be assembled ahead of time and stored refrigerated until required.

Mounjaro Journey – Weeks 28 & 29 (7.5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Eating Out, Mounjaro, Travel, Travel & Holidays

I’m back from my Winter sunshine break feeling very refreshed, relaxed, bronzed… and a little heavier!

As I explained, I didn’t expect to be able to continue losing weight whilst away from my routine of logging all my food, counting all my calories, and unable to do my 45-minute exercise routine. Plus, I am much (much) less active on holiday, being away from the household routine, enjoying sitting in the sunshine and reading my book.

I was also sleeping really well, usually 7-8 hours a night. The beds were comfortable, and it was very peaceful. Plus, we were opposite a piano bar that played live piano music each evening – very relaxing and conducive to sleep.

During the first week, my partner (Mike) was quite poorly, quite possibly man flu.  He spent most of the day and night coughing and spluttering, feeling quite under the weather and exhausted much of the time.  Whilst he coughed and spluttered, I sat in the sun on our sun terrace and enjoyed the sunshine and my Kindle.

We also experienced Storm Emilia, which brought torrential rain, high winds and huge waves to Puerto Mogan and Gran Canaria. Being on the sheltered south side of the island, we definitely got off lightly.  We had a whole day of torrential rain.  I occupied myself brushing up on my video editing skills!

The north of the island experienced high tides and floods. Tenerife even got snowfall in the Teide National Park and had to get their snow plough out! I was very surprised to learn they had one on the island.

Once Mike was fully recovered, we were back to enjoying evening meals out, the odd glass of alcohol (you should see the size of their gin measures!) and more sunshine.

The Mounjaro definitely made a difference. I was often unable to finish my plate of food. For the first week, not a single drop of alcohol passed my lips, and there was no snacking.

I always skip breakfast, lunches were self-catered (meats, tinned tuna, local cheese, pickles, tomato, salad, avocado and freshly baked bread. Dinner was taken at one of the local restaurants.

The first week I collected us takeaway foods – a Chinese and an Indian meal. But to be honest, the meals I enjoyed the most were the lunches taken at our apartment in the sunshine.

I had taken my Mounjaro pen with me and was taking a 7.5mg shot every 5 days. I weighed myself the first morning after my return and….. no surprise, there was a gain of 2kg (around 4lbs). I can take that!

A holiday like this in the past would have looked very different. Evenings would usually involve half-litre jugs of sangria, daily ice creams or desserts, and plenty of evening snacking on turrón and crisps. Two weeks away typically meant returning home 7–9lbs heavier. This trip felt a million miles away from that. The difference wasn’t about restriction or willpower — it was about genuinely different habits, a calmer relationship with food, and feeling in control without feeling deprived.

As from today, I’m straight back to logging food and calorie counting and sticking to my calorie deficit. I am confident that by Friday’s official weigh in, most of that 2kg will be gone.

Weight this week: 59.7kg (about 9st 5½lbs)

Two weeks ago, 57.7kgkg (about 9st 1lbs)

Gain: 2kg (about 4½ pounds)

To goal weight: 2.7kg (about 6lbs)