Travel

Cakes, Steaks, Liquorice and the Great Fourth-Floor Flush!

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Travel, Travel & Holidays, Weightloss Medication

I’m back from my travels, and apologies for the slight delay in getting this post to you. I’d been really clever – or so I thought – and tried to get ahead of myself by scheduling a blog post to upload automatically while I was away. Unfortunately, I put the wrong date in!

Anyway, I had a super time in Copenhagen and Helsingborg in Sweden, which I’ll tell you a bit more about in a moment.

Since getting home, things have been rather busy. My partner Mike headed off to Turkey for a week, and then my sister and her husband arrived to stay with me for three nights.

Her visit had originally been planned around what we usually do when she comes to stay. She lives about two and a half to three hours’ drive away, so we normally make the most of our time together with lots of days out.

This time, however, things didn’t quite go to plan. She needed to empty a rental property ready for sale, and the deadline happened to coincide with her visit. So instead of enjoying lots of days out, we spent two days working hard clearing furniture and household items from the house.

I tasked myself with getting everything to the local recycling centre — six trips in all, three each day! My car would be loaded up, I’d drive to the recycling centre, queue, offload everything, drive back and have the car filled up all over again. Then off I’d go for another round.

As if that wasn’t enough, I also managed to come down with a bit of a cold. I was feeling decidedly under par, lacking in energy and generally not particularly great. It also affected my sleep, so I wasn’t getting a good night’s rest either — just when I could really have done with one!

We had an amazing time in Copenhagen, where we stayed for one night and spent the following morning exploring, visiting food halls and the Round Tower, which,  having been built in 1642, was surprisingly very accessible for my powered wheelchair!

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The following afternoon, we took the one-and-a-half-hour train journey to Helsingborg, our next destination. Helsingborg is a city on the western coast of Sweden, overlooking the narrow stretch of water separating Sweden from its very close neighbour, Denmark.

My friend (Tina) was determined that we should see as much as possible of the beautiful area in which she lives – and there was certainly plenty to see.

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The weather was definitely on our side. We had very little rain and plenty of sunshine, although being that bit further north, it was slightly cooler than we were used to back home in southern England with an added fresh sea breeze.

Helsingborg was just lovely, with a wonderful mix of culture and history, beautiful buildings and gardens to explore. Despite it being September, there was still plenty of colour around, including some gorgeous displays of roses and dahlias.

One thing that fascinated us was the Swedish enthusiasm for cold-water swimming. And when I say cold, I mean cold! I felt chilly enough standing beside the sea, never mind actually getting into it.

Helsingborg has a long tradition of kallbad, or cold bathing, with traditional bathhouses built out over the water. People warm themselves in the sauna and then walk down steps straight into the sea for a swim or a quick dip, before heading back into the warmth of the sauna.

And modesty doesn’t necessarily come into it either! We actually saw people swimming completely naked at one of the kallbads in Helsingborg – including older swimmers who seemed entirely untroubled by either the cold water or the lack of clothing.

Apparently, alternating between a hot sauna and a freezing dip in the sea is considered wonderfully invigorating.

I was quite happy to take their word for it and observe this particular Swedish tradition from a safe distance — fully clothed!

We also got to visit my friend’s apartment, where I finally met her 17-year-old cat in person! She’s a familiar face because she often comes to say “hello” when we’re chatting on video calls, so it was rather nice to meet her properly at last.

Our hotel was excellent, apart from one small snag, which I’ll come to in a moment! All of our travelling was actually very straightforward, but you know how it is – travelling takes it out of you. There’s all the hanging around at airports and navigating unfamiliar train stations, and when you’re reliant on lifts and travelling with a wheelchair, there’s always that extra layer of planning (and anxiety) involved. Accessibility was generally very good, although not entirely without its problems.

And then there was our hotel.  Our hotel was perfect in almost every way. It was only about a five-minute walk from Helsingborg’s main train station and overlooked the sea and the ferry terminal.

Ferries run regularly across the narrow stretch of water between Helsingborg and Helsingør in Denmark, with the crossing taking only about 20 minutes. We made the trip ourselves during our stay, which felt rather novel – popping over to another country for a few hours!

However, one rather memorable incident happened at the hotel.

All of the toilets operated on a vacuum system, rather like those on an aeroplane. Press the button and, with an almighty WHOOSH, everything disappears at great force – and with a noise that certainly doesn’t go unnoticed!

When the toilets on our floor suddenly stopped flushing, it was fairly obvious that something had gone wrong. Thankfully, they were still usable, but we had to wait until the following morning for the problem to be fixed.

And that’s when things became rather amusing. Presumably, everyone on the fourth floor had been waiting to test whether their toilet was working again because, once the system sprang back to life, an extraordinary succession of loud WHOOSHES seemed to come from rooms all around us.

And so it became known as The Great Fourth-Floor Flush of 2026.

Thankfully, normal service had resumed – although for a short while it sounded as though the entire fourth floor was being sucked out to sea!

Thankfully, that was the end of our plumbing excitement and the toilets behaved themselves perfectly well for the rest of our stay!

One thing that really stood out was how helpful people were, both in Copenhagen and Sweden. Of course, it helps enormously that so many people speak excellent English, but we found that people were only too willing to help if they saw us struggling to find somewhere or work out how to do something.

Travelling with a wheelchair in an unfamiliar place can sometimes add an extra layer of complication, particularly when you’re trying to find an accessible route, a lift or the right way onto public transport. Several times, people simply noticed that we might need a hand and offered to help without us even having to ask.

Those little acts of kindness make such a difference when you’re travelling – and they certainly added to our enjoyment of the trip.

In terms of Mounjaro, I deliberately spaced out my injections so that I didn’t have to take my pen with me to Sweden. And while I was away, I certainly indulged!

Since coming home, I’ve taken a 7.5mg injection, and I’m really pleased to be experiencing the kind of appetite suppression I had when I was taking Mounjaro before. My weight chart has started to respond accordingly.

That’s not to say I didn’t come back from Scandinavia carrying a few extra kilos! But I’ve largely ignored that, got straight back on track and, as I write this, I’m now only about half a kilo heavier than I was before I went away. I’m very confident that will quickly disappear.

And actually, I can live with half a kilo. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and ate things I wouldn’t normally eat at home.  Breakfast for one, since it was included in our hotel package.  Then there were cakes, some lovely steaks and plenty of liquorice, which the Scandinavians seem to absolutely love – so do I!

For me, that’s what maintenance is about. I don’t want to go away on holiday worrying about every mouthful or feeling guilty because I’ve enjoyed something different. I enjoyed the food, enjoyed the holiday, enjoyed the company of Tina and her PA,  came home a little heavier, but simply got back to my usual routine. No panic, no guilt – just back on track.

Weight this week: 55.5kg (8 stone 9¼lbs)
Weight September 12th: 55kg (8 stone 10¼lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: +0.5kg (+1lb)
100% – 7 months 17 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

Getting Ahead Before Getting Away

flidfit Disability, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Travel, Travel & Holidays

This will be a very short blog post, as I’m currently travelling in Copenhagen and Helsingborg, Sweden. I thought it would be useful just to touch base, though, in case you are eagerly anticipating my usual weekly blog post. I wouldn’t want to let you down!

So, how has this week been? Well, mostly I’ve been trying to get way ahead with life admin because I know that once we get back to the UK in a week’s time, I’ll hit the ground running.

Some of the things I’ve been trying to sort out this week include arranging cover for the live-in carer who supports my mum while her usual carer takes some breaks at the end of the month and over Christmas, organising who is going to feed our cats and our fox while we’re away, and putting together an itinerary for a friend from Australia who is visiting next month and spending ten days in London.

We’re planning to get together with her while she’s here, and, as well as helping with hotel reservations, I’ve been sorting out tickets for a London theatre show – Matilda the Musical.

She was also extremely excited when we spoke last week to share news that Leo Sayer is doing a UK tour while she’s here. She must be his number one fan and has attended every single one of his tours in recent years. I’m not sure how many that is, as I’m not a huge fan myself, but she always seems to end up meeting the man himself!

Naturally, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see him while she’s in the UK. The closest he’s getting to us is Basingstoke, which is quite handy, as Reading is roughly halfway between London and Basingstoke. It also means she’ll have the opportunity to drop in and visit my home in Reading.

I should probably mention that this friend is also a thalidomider, and I can’t help being impressed by the fact that she is travelling halfway around the world. She has very shortened arms and feet where her legs would normally be, and is a full-time wheelchair user, but remains incredibly independent and active. Goodness knows how she manages that huge long-haul flight. It isn’t something I would particularly want to do!

She’s stopping off in London on her way to the big international thalidomide congress taking place in the Netherlands in October.

I can’t remember whether I’ve mentioned the event before, but I’ve chosen not to go. I think I would find it rather overwhelming being among so many people, and I think I made the right call. The latest numbers, I believe, are around 480 people attending, although that will, of course, include carers, family members and others.

These days, I prefer doing things in smaller groups, where there’s more opportunity for in-depth, meaningful conversations. However, I completely understand why thalidomiders who don’t have many opportunities to meet others are making the trip. There are people travelling from America, Canada, Ireland, Sweden, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Norway, Japan and Australia – which gives you some idea of the scale of the event.

I’m quite happy to take a back seat on this one. I was instrumental in planning international events in 1992 and 1995, when I was much younger and had considerably more energy!

Mounjaro update.  I do feel that, at long last, I’m starting to experience some appetite suppression and a reduction in food noise from my current dose of Mounjaro. A 10mg pen should be delivered within a few days of my return.

I’m not bothering to take my medication with me this time. As we’re staying in different hotels, it just feels like too much hassle, and I’d worry about leaving the pen somewhere. Instead, I’m taking my usual Friday dose one day later, on Saturday, and will then take my next dose on the Sunday after we return. Hopefully that will see me through the week and limit the damage when it comes to food! I’m certainly not planning to spend my holiday worrying about every mouthful, but I will remain mindful as I don’t want to undo all the hard work I’ve put into maintaining my weight.

Anyway, that’s my quick update from Scandinavia. I’ll share some of the details of my trip on my return – assuming, of course, that I survive the life-admin avalanche waiting for me!

(PS. In my eagerness to be super-organised, I realised today I’d scheduled the blog post for the wrong date! So here it is anyway 5 days later than planned!)

In the meantime, here’s my weight report…

Weight this week: 55kg (8 stone 9¼lbs)
Weight last week: 55.60kg (8 stone 10½)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.5kg (-1lb)
100% – 6 months 26 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

I’m really pleased with that loss ahead of my time away, and I’m also liking the downward trajectory of my weight graph, back towards the middle of my maintenance range.

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A Hotel Mix-Up, Matilda and Mounjaro

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Technology, Travel, Travel & Holidays, Weightloss Medication

My week began with a jolt. I’ve spent hours recently helping a wheelchair-using friend who is visiting London from Australia in October. She’ll be spending 12 nights in the capital and asked me to help her find a good accessible hotel in a convenient location from which to explore London.

My go-to hotel chain is Premier Inn, so I duly booked her a 12-night stay at the Premier Inn in Waterloo. This wasn’t quite as straightforward as the usual online booking process because any stay of more than nine nights has to be booked directly over the telephone.

I particularly wanted to put her into this hotel because I’ve stayed there myself, so I know it well. On that occasion I was staying with three or four other wheelchair-using friends, so I felt completely reassured that it would be perfect for her.

I sorted all of that weeks ago.

Then, this week, I realised I’d booked her into the wrong hotel!

Apparently, there are two Premier Inns in the Waterloo area, probably only about half a mile apart. The one I thought I’d booked was the one close to the river, with really easy access across the Thames into central London. The one I had actually booked was somewhere else entirely.

One particular detail should have alerted me when I made the booking. A warning said wheelchair access to some parts of the hotel involved a platform lift.

If you don’t know what one of these is, it’s one of those contraptions that often folds down alongside a flight of steps, usually at the entrance to a building. The wheelchair user rolls onto the platform and it then slowly glides up or down the steps.

I absolutely hate them!

Created using Chat GPT. I’d probably be laughing nervously rather than grimacing like that!! Haa haa!

For one thing, you generally have to find a member of staff to operate the thing, which is all very well if you have someone with you who can disappear inside and find somebody. More importantly, I always find using them slightly anxiety-inducing, however smooth and uneventful the short journey might be.

And there is always the very real concern that if the lift breaks down, there is no Plan B. If the steps are the only other way into the building, a wheelchair user simply can’t get in.

So, having felt rather smug about finding my friend a great deal at the perfect hotel, a flurry of frantic emails and a phone call or two followed as I tried to unravel everything.

Thankfully, it all ended well. There was still availability at the correct hotel and I managed to get the original booking changed.

Phew!

I don’t think most people have any idea how complicated something as seemingly simple as booking a hotel can become when you’re a wheelchair user. It isn’t enough to find somewhere in the right location at the right price. You need to know whether you can actually get through the front door, whether there are steps, whether the lifts are big enough, whether the accessible bedroom really is accessible and whether the bathroom will work for your particular needs. There are so many additional things to think about.

Anyway, onwards and upwards!

Mike and I have now booked ourselves into the same hotel for two nights during our friends’ stay so that we can spend some time with them. We’ve also booked tickets to see the stage version of Matilda, which we’re really looking forward to.

We’re also planning a trip to Greenwich together. It’s somewhere I’ve never visited before, although I’ve heard it’s beautiful, and my friend’s partner particularly wants to visit the Greenwich Meridian and stand on the famous line dividing east from west. It should make for a really enjoyable day out and it will be lovely to explore somewhere completely new together.

After that rather frantic start to the week, everything else has felt positively sedate!

The utility room refurbishment is now almost complete and I’ve managed to get most of the contents of the cupboards back into their rightful places. It’s amazing how much stuff you can cram into a utility room until somebody empties all the cupboards and deposits it around the rest of the house!

Everything should be completely finished next week, with just a lick of paint and some silicone sealant left to apply. I’m really pleased with how it has all turned out and, after living with the old utility room for so many years, it feels lovely to have everything looking fresh and new.

Another highlight of my week was taking Mum and her care team out for lunch. I arranged it partly to give everyone the chance to get together socially and get to know one another a little better, but also to say thank you for all the support they’ve provided during Mum’s radiotherapy treatment.

It turned out to be a really lovely occasion.

We went to the Butt Inn at Aldermaston and the food was way above average – really tasty and, even better, not ridiculously expensive. Everyone seemed to enjoy having the chance to chat away from the usual caring environment and get to know each other a little better.  My choice was a very tasty and perfectly cooked trout fillet.

Mum thoroughly enjoyed herself too. She kept telling everyone how grateful she was for all the support they’d given her, which was lovely to hear. All in all, the lunch was a huge success, and I was really pleased that I’d organised it.

On Saturday, we took part in a community litter pick along our road, as well as cutting back the basal shoots growing around the lime trees that line the avenue. It’s always a lovely way to catch up with familiar neighbours and, this time, we also had the opportunity to meet a couple of new ones.

Basal roots are those leafy shoots protruding from the base of the tree.

Once we’d finished, a group of us were invited back to a neighbour’s garden, where we sat together in the shade enjoying a well-earned cup of coffee. It was such a simple thing, but really rather lovely – neighbours chatting, getting to know one another and enjoying a bit of time together after doing something positive for the area.

The litter pick also coincided with the installation of our exhibition in the windows of a vacant local shop unit. I popped around to see how things were progressing and to offer my support – although I certainly wasn’t about to start climbing any ladders!

The shop has been empty for around six years and, as you can see from the before-and-after photographs, I think the exhibition has made an enormous difference to its appearance. Instead of a rather sad-looking empty shopfront, there is now something colourful and interesting for people to stop and look at as they pass.

If I had to talk about the things that contribute to my own sense of wellbeing and good mental health, being involved with my local community would definitely be right up there. Working alongside other people to make improvements, particularly when you can actually stand back afterwards and immediately see what you’ve achieved together, is enormously satisfying.

We have something that feels remarkably close to a village community here, but with all the advantages of living on the outskirts of a very large town. People know one another, stop for a chat, look out for each other and are prepared to muck in when something needs doing. I think that sense of belonging and connection is incredibly valuable – and Saturday was a lovely reminder of just how fortunate we are to have it.

Finally, there’s been another development in my GLP-1 maintenance journey.

My new medication has arrived – and it’s Mounjaro!

After my experiment with Wegovy, I’ve decided to return to Mounjaro. My new 7.5mg pen arrived this week. I took my first 7.5mg injection on Friday.  Now just waiting to see what happens.

What I’m hoping for, more than anything, is the return of that support that made maintaining my weight feel so much easier – particularly some relief from the food noise and persistent hunger that have gradually crept back in.

It feels slightly strange to be so excited about an injection, but I know what a difference Mounjaro made for me previously. I’m not looking for dramatic weight loss. This time, it’s about finding the right level of support to make maintenance manageable and sustainable.

So now we wait.

Hopefully, by the time I sit down to write next week’s blog, I’ll have some positive news to report.

Fingers crossed!

This week’s weigh-in…

Weight this week: 56.55kg (8st 12.6lbs)
Weight last week: 55.75kg (8st 11lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: +0.7kg (+1.5lb)
100% – 6 months 12 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

Builders, Birthdays and a Bit of Hadestown

flidfit Disability, Eating Out, Eating Out, Maintenance, Salads, Sweet Treats, Travel, Uncategorized, Wegovy, Weightloss Medication

This week has been quiet, but full of activity. How does that work, you might ask?

Well, we’re having our utility room refurbished.

It was originally fitted out 21 years ago, at a time when I was still recovering from a serious road traffic accident and was pretty immobile (non-weightbearing). We completely reconfigured the downstairs to make it more accessible for me, including adding a downstairs bathroom and toilet. The kitchen/diner was moved to the opposite side of the house, and the space where the kitchen had originally been was divided up to create a wet room and utility room.

At the time, I really wasn’t in a position to take much interest in the work being done, so I left a lot of the decisions to the builders. They were a family-run company – two fathers and their sons – and seemed to spend a considerable amount of their time arguing with one another! I mostly kept out of their way and got on with my injury recovery.

The result was that some of the finishing touches were, let’s just say, not ideal!

For example, the worktop in the utility room was installed about 6cm higher than the washing machine and tumble dryer underneath it. That might be completely inconsequential if I were very tall.

But I’m not.

I’m 4ft 8in, with short arms, so that extra 6cm makes an enormous difference when I’m trying to reach into the sink!

New wall units in place

The cupboards had also gradually started falling apart. I don’t think they were particularly expensive ones in the first place and, after 21 years, they’d certainly done their time. So, the moment had finally come to replace everything.

I decided to try to keep the refurbishment as simple as possible. I’m keeping the original sink, the safety flooring is staying – not least because it covers a manhole – and the basic layout remains largely unchanged. We’re really just replacing all the units and, most importantly, bringing the worktop down to a height that actually works for me.

Of course, “just replacing the units” turns out to be more complicated than it sounds! There’s been lots of hole-cutting for pipes and electrical sockets; the electricity has been on and off at regular intervals and, at one point, so was the water.

It has also meant getting up and organised early every morning, ready for the builder arriving at 8am.

The work is progressing really well, although there’s still a little way to go.

I was due to have a friend visiting on Monday, but she called off. As it turned out, that was probably just as well. There was no room for her to park in the driveway, and it was a particularly noisy day, with the demolition of the old cupboards taking place.

I also managed to get rid of my old cooker hood, which I mentioned in an earlier post, along with a dehumidifier that had been sitting in the utility room but was never actually used. Both have been recycled and gone off to new homes.

Even the old kitchen units have found another use. They’ve gone off to live in a barn where, I’m told, they’ll be filled with chicken paraphernalia – feed, bedding and the like! I’m really pleased that so much of what we no longer need will be reused rather than simply thrown away.

I’d actually booked two slots at the tip in anticipation of having loads of rubbish to dispose of, but thankfully didn’t need either of them. That was particularly welcome given how ridiculously hot it has been here, with temperatures reaching as high as 38°C on a couple of days.

On Wednesday, my sister came to work for me as usual and stayed overnight because on Thursday I was taking her to London for her birthday treat.  The night before our London trip, I’d actually arranged another little surprise outing for her. We went to the IMAX cinema for one of their “secret screenings”, where you book your tickets knowing absolutely nothing about the film you’re going to see other than its age rating. I rather like the idea — you could end up watching something you’d never normally have chosen for yourself! On this occasion, our mystery film turned out to be Tony, a new biographical drama about the early life of chef, writer and TV personality Anthony Bourdain. It follows 19-year-old Bourdain as he heads to Provincetown and rather accidentally finds himself working in the chaotic world of a restaurant kitchen — a summer which ultimately sets him on the path that will shape the rest of his life. We really enjoyed it, and given the heat outside, it was absolutely wonderful to spend a couple of hours in a beautifully air-conditioned cinema! Meanwhile, almost everyone else seemed to be outside in the blazing sunshine watching the solar eclipse. We may have missed the celestial event, but I think we probably had the cooler option! 😂

I’d booked us lunch at The Ivy in Soho, followed by a trip to see Hadestown at the Lyric Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue.

Love the old theatres – we are so fortunate to have so many of them!

It was a VERY hot day, but everything went perfectly.

There was an added bonus when I discovered that parking at the Royal Festival Hall is now free for Blue Badge holders. There were plenty of vacant spaces too and, being underground, the car stayed beautifully cool for the duration of our day — a definite bonus in that heat!

Once we’d parked, we were able to use the toilet facilities in the Royal Festival Hall before heading across the river towards Soho, wandering through Chinatown on our way to the restaurant.

Lunch at The Ivy was excellent. I made some pretty sensible choices too. For my main course, I had an 8oz sirloin steak with green beans and a heritage tomato salad, and we shared a dessert that was basically raspberry sorbet.

Then it was on to the theatre.

My sister absolutely loved Hadestown. It was a full house, and there was an incredible amount of talent on that stage, both in terms of the acting and the singing. If you get the opportunity to see it, I’d definitely recommend it.

On Saturday, I had a friend over for lunch and, given the continuing hot weather, kept things fairly light. We had a prawn salad with a really simple dressing made from lime, olive oil, black pepper and a little maple syrup.

We did, however, indulge in dessert in the form of a pistachio and almond ice-cream bomb which, from memory, came in at around 220 calories. Very nice it was too!

So I’m now getting through my final week on Wegovy before moving back to Mounjaro next Friday.

I have to say, I’m really looking forward to it.

I’m still experiencing zero appetite suppression from Wegovy, and the food noise has been totally overwhelming. I think I’ve managed to stay within my calorie allowance on most days, but it’s taken real effort.

It’s certainly reminded me how much of a difference effective appetite suppression and the absence of food noise can make. I know I can resist temptation and stick to my calorie allowance — I’ve been doing this for a very long time — but constantly battling those thoughts about food is exhausting.

I’m hoping that moving back to Mounjaro will give me back the helping hand that I know it gave me before.

Anyway, on to this week’s weigh-in…

Weight this week: 55.75kg (8st 11lbs)
Weight last week: 56.10kg (8st 11.6lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.35kg (-1lb)
100% – 6 months 5 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

A Hot Tub, Heathland and a 70th Birthday Surprise

flidfit Eating Out, Salads, Salads, Sweet Treats, Travel, Travel & Holidays, Wegovy, Weightloss Medication

We’re back after our little trip away to celebrate Mike’s 70th birthday!

We headed down to the New Forest, about an hour and a half’s drive from home, where I’d booked us into a Finnish-style log cabin on the edge of the forest. The real selling point? A wood-fired hot tub!

Before checking into our accommodation, we stopped off at Highcliffe Castle on the coast. It’s really more of a stately home than a castle, but I’d discovered it had an accessible pathway leading all the way down to the beach, which immediately put it on my list of places to visit.

We’d kept lunch simple, taking a packed lunch from Waitrose, and enjoyed it sitting on the beach with wonderful views across to the Isle of Wight and The Needles.

Highcliffe Beach
Highcliffe Castle

Afterwards we treated ourselves to tea and cake at the castle before making our way through the New Forest to our cabin, passing ponies, cattle and beautiful heathland scenery along the way.

The journey wasn’t entirely relaxing, though! It included a couple of rather hairy junctions where we had to pull out onto a fast-moving dual carriageway. Thankfully we both survived!

When we arrived, the owner showed us around the cabin and pointed out all the important things, including where to find the water hose in the unlikely event of a fire. Given the exceptionally dry weather we’ve been having, it was a sensible precaution.

Once we’d settled in, Mike set about firing up the wood-fired hot tub. It eventually reached the recommended temperature of 40°C. Personally, I found that just a little too warm! Getting into the tub wasn’t exactly easy with my disability, but getting back out again was on a completely different level. Thankfully, by taking things slowly and carefully, I managed it safely.

Easier to get into than out! But an amazing experience.

The following day we visited Exbury Gardens before heading on to nearby Buckler’s Hard, a fascinating historic shipbuilding village on the banks of the River Beaulieu.

Bucklers Hard

By chance, we arrived during a week-long archaeological excavation. Volunteers were carefully searching the mud and silt along the ancient slipway, uncovering artefacts that had lain hidden for centuries. It was fascinating to see the finds emerge from the mud.

That said, looking at the volunteers working all day in the blazing sunshine, covered from head to toe in mud, I have to admit I wasn’t tempted to swap places with them!

Back at the cabin we enjoyed a relaxed barbecue. I’d gone well prepared, taking several salads I’d made at home beforehand, so there was very little food preparation to do. That’s always a bonus because I find cooking in an unfamiliar kitchen much harder than in my own adapted one.

Barbequed steak, green bean salad, tomato and cucumber salad, olives and tzatziki
Barbequed Cumberland chipolatas, green bean salad, tomato and cucumber salad, olives and tzatziki

Our final morning was wonderfully relaxed. Mike had hoped to squeeze in one last soak in the hot tub, but despite being left overnight, the water was still over 43°C – far too hot to climb into! So we packed up instead, left at 10 o’clock, and were back home by midday, conveniently avoiding all the rush-hour traffic.

It was a lovely few days away and a wonderful way to celebrate a very special birthday. Sometimes you don’t need to travel hundreds of miles to feel as though you’ve had a proper break.

As for Wegovy, I have to admit I’m feeling rather disappointed.

I’ve now been taking it for five to six weeks and, if I’m honest, I don’t feel it’s really doing anything for me. Unlike Mounjaro, I’m finding that my appetite is much the same as it was before, and the food noise has never really gone away.

I’ve spoken to Voy, my provider, about switching back to Mounjaro. Their advice was that once I’ve finished this current 0.5 mg pen, I can move back to 5 mg of Mounjaro, which is exactly what I intend to do.

I know these medications affect everyone differently, and many people have fantastic results with Wegovy. Unfortunately, I don’t seem to be one of them. Whilst Wegovy is a little cheaper, any saving is quickly outweighed if it isn’t effectively controlling my appetite and food noise. For me, Mounjaro simply worked far better.

So… how did I get on with my weight this week?

Our little break away did include both cake and an ice cream. However, we tried to be sensible. Whenever we had cake, Mike and I shared a single slice, which immediately halved the calories without making us feel as though we were missing out. Apart from those little treats, we ate as we normally would, with packed lunches, prepared salads and a barbecue back at the cabin.

So, despite a few holiday indulgences, here’s where my weight stands today…

Weight this week: 55.75kg (8st 11lbs)
Weight last week: 56.1kg (8st 12lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.35kg (-1lb)
100% – 5 months 21 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)

 

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) – Weeks 51 & 52 (3mg every 5 days)

flidfit Maintenance, Mounjaro, Titrating dose, Travel, Travel & Holidays

I’ve been missing for a couple of weeks because I’ve been away on holiday. We couldn’t have chosen a better week to relax in the sunshine, with temperatures reaching the high twenties and even nudging into the early thirties.

I spent the week with my 91-year-old mum and my two younger sisters, both in their early sixties, at a lovely place called Hallow, just outside Worcester. We’ve stayed there twice before and always choose the last week in May to coincide with Mum’s birthday. It’s become something of a tradition – a girls-only holiday, leaving the boys to fend for themselves at home!

The accommodation is a single cabin situated in a small orchard on a working farm. The farm itself is about half a mile down the lane, and the cabin has no neighbours, making it wonderfully peaceful and secluded.

In previous years, we’ve explored the surrounding area, visiting gardens, stately homes, picturesque villages, Worcester city centre and the cathedral. This year was rather different. Three of us were mobility-compromised for various reasons. I use a powered wheelchair when I’m out and about because of my disability. Mum, at 91, can only get around using a rollator or wheelchair, and one of my sisters is awaiting knee replacement surgery in the next couple of weeks and is struggling with significant pain when walking.

To be honest, the weather was so hot that none of us really fancied spending time in the car travelling around. Instead, we decided to stay put and simply enjoy the peace and quiet.  My sister had thoughtfully packed a paddling pool, so in the afternoons, we’d sit in the shade and splash our feet in the cool water….

It turned out to be exactly what we all needed.

We slept incredibly well and settled into a gentle daily routine. After breakfast and showers, we’d spend the mornings reading, chatting, or taking short strolls along the nearby lanes. We made a couple of trips to a large Sainsbury’s and to a lovely farm shop a few miles away to stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables, but otherwise we barely left the orchard.  Mum and my sisters went to watch the sheep shearing, but I stayed behind in the peace and quiet and stayed cool.

Because I can’t easily cook when away from home — my kitchen is specially adapted for me — I prepared and packed a selection of meals before we left. These included ingredients for my sticky chilli beef and mushrooms, a potato-topped fish pie made with smoked haddock, cod and jumbo prawns in a creamy leek sauce, a batch of my carrot salad, and a Middle Eastern-inspired butternut squash and bulgur wheat salad.

I’d also packed ingredients to make pizza one evening and took my bread machine along to make a malted fruit loaf for us to enjoy with cups of tea.

I thought I’d only prepared enough food for the first couple of days, but most of it lasted the entire week! As a result, I found myself eating very similar lunches each day, but I was perfectly happy with that. The food was delicious, nutritious and, most importantly, already planned and prepared.

Of course, there were plenty of temptations around. Iced buns, toasted teacakes, ice cream, double cream, biscuits and chocolate all made appearances during the week. I managed to avoid most of them, although I certainly didn’t feel deprived.

I enjoyed a small portion of cappuccino ice cream and also created a rather lovely dessert consisting of chopped fresh strawberries, crushed corn cakes and Greek yoghurt, topped with a sprinkle of toasted mixed seeds and a drizzle of maple syrup. If that sounds delicious, I can confirm that it absolutely was!

I also took my Mounjaro medication with me and had one injection during the holiday. I’m now down to 2.75mg every five days. My appetite is no longer significantly suppressed, and I’ve become increasingly aware that cravings for sweet foods — particularly in the evenings — are returning.

The difference now is that I recognise what’s happening. Rather than testing myself unnecessarily, I simply avoid temptation wherever possible. I know that once certain foods start creeping back into my routine, they can quickly become habits again.

Awareness, planning and preparation continue to be my most valuable tools.

So, how did my weight fare after a week away?

Well, here’s my report…

The scales showed a gain of 1kg, but honestly, I’m not too concerned about that.

When I look at the bigger picture, it was a week where I was far less active than I am at home, spending long periods sitting and reading rather than following my normal daily routine. I was also eating more than I usually would, simply because food was a bigger part of our holiday experience, and I was surrounded by plenty of tempting treats throughout the week, most of which were successfully swerved.

Given all of that, I actually feel quite positive about the outcome. I enjoyed myself, I relaxed, I had some treats, and I didn’t spend the week feeling deprived. At the same time, I continued to make sensible choices, stuck largely to the meals I had planned and prepared, and remained mindful of my eating.

A 1kg fluctuation after a week away is hardly surprising and is likely to be influenced by many factors, including changes in routine, food choices, hydration levels and the sheer heat of the weather. What matters far more to me is that I came home feeling refreshed, having thoroughly enjoyed the holiday, and confident that I can simply return to my normal routine.

If maintaining my weight long term means occasionally gaining a kilogram after a holiday and then gently bringing things back into balance afterwards, that feels entirely realistic and sustainable to me. That’s real life, after all.

Weight this week: 55.7kg (8st 10lbs)
Two weeks ago: 54.7kg (about 8st 8lbs)
Weekly loss/gain: +1kg (2lbs)
100% – 3 months, 19 days in weight maintenance range (54-56kg or 8st 8lb – 8st 11lbs)

Mounjaro Journey, Week 39 (4.75mg every 5 days)

flidfit Eating Out, Eating Out, Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Recipes, Sweet Treats, Travel

Can you believe it’s March already? I know February is the shortest month, but this one seems to have raced past at extraordinary speed.

It has been one of those weeks where everything that needed to be done… was done. My recruitment advertisement has gone live. There has been a little interest – early days, but encouraging. Alongside that, I’ve been working on documenting the care framework we’ve gradually developed over the past six or seven years for Mum. Setting it all out on paper – how my sisters and I work together, who oversees what, how decisions are made – has been something of an eye-opener.

When you’re in the middle of “doing”, you don’t always stop to notice the structure holding it all together. Writing it down made me realise how fortunate I am. I have an exceptional relationship with my two sisters. We communicate openly, we each play to our strengths, and we all share the same priority: Mum’s wellbeing. She tells us often how happy she is with the support she receives – and that, more than anything, makes the effort worthwhile.

The week ended on a rather special high.

We drove up to London to see Cirque de Soleil at the Royal Albert Hall. The journey was blissfully smooth (rare words when speaking about London traffic). We found one of our usual parking spots on Carriage Driveway in Hyde Park and walked through the park towards Kensington. The skies were grey, Kensington Palace was shrouded in scaffolding and protected with plastic sheeting, and the Diana, Princess of Wales Sunken Garden was looking rather bleak without its usual Summer colours. We spotted a Mandarin duck, which added a welcome splash of colour to an otherwise monochrome day.

Lunch was at The Ivy, Kensington – only my second time dining at The Ivy (the first being in Manchester with my daughter). I have to say, the experience restored my faith in being able to enjoy a reasonably priced meal in beautiful surroundings with attentive, polished service.

We arrived slightly early for our midday booking, which turned out to be a good thing. Within half an hour the restaurant was full. We started with coffee while we waited and then chose from the “Special 2 Course” menu – two courses for £19.17.

We both made exactly the same choices.

The Ivy Classic Shepherd’s Pie – slow-braised lamb and beef with Cheddar mash, rosemary and red wine sauce.

Followed by Flambéed Crème Brûlée – flamed tableside, silky vanilla custard with a perfectly caramelised sugar crust.

It was all beautifully cooked. Comfort food, elevated.

I opted for a non-alcoholic mocktail – Wild Mojito – mint, pear and citrus topped with Wild Idol sparkling wine. Light, fresh and celebratory without the alcohol.

After lunch we wandered back towards the Royal Albert Hall, stopping en route at Whole Foods Market on Kensington High Street. It is one of those places where you feel you could happily browse for hours. I was particularly impressed by the Steenburgs range of herbs and spices. I’ve previously ordered their tamarind paste and sumac online – not cheap, but exceptional quality. I once bought a much cheaper tamarind paste from a supermarket and ended up throwing it away. Sometimes you truly do get what you pay for.

And then… Cirque de Soleil OVO.

Wow. Just wow.

An enormous egg dominated the stage as the show began. The theme was insects and flowers – but what unfolded was an extraordinary blend of acrobatics, aerial artistry, dance, costume, lighting and music. Trampolines, strength, balance, precision… and artistry woven through it all. I’d seen Cirque years ago, but this was my partner’s first time and he absolutely loved it.

We had wonderful seats – not inexpensive, but worth every penny. And thankfully, I receive a complimentary accompanying carer ticket, which makes experiences like this far more accessible.

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A perfect London day.

Back at home, the week’s food highlights were just as satisfying in their own way: a mini upside-down pineapple cake, homemade pizza using a simple Greek yoghurt and flour base, a spelt and white flour loaf in the bread machine, creamy tomato and harissa chicken, and a chicken bhuna.

Yes, The Ivy was lovely. But truthfully? I’m just as happy with what’s on offer in my own kitchen.

And that, perhaps, is the quiet theme of this week. Gratitude. For sisters. For Mum’s contentment. For accessible days out. For good food – whether in Kensington or at my own dining table.

As I slowly lower my Mounjaro dosage, I’ve been paying close attention to how things feel. The appetite suppression is still there. It’s gentler perhaps, but definitely present. And interestingly, when I do notice hunger, it feels manageable. Not urgent. Not demanding. Just information.

That’s quite a shift.

Even with a lovely lunch out in London and an ice cream during the interval at Cirque, I tracked everything. No drama. No guilt. Just data. And the result? I’m maintaining successfully.

For me, that’s the real win.

It isn’t about never enjoying shepherd’s pie at The Ivy or crème brûlée flambéed at the table. It isn’t about avoiding ice cream in the theatre interval. It’s about being able to include those moments consciously, account for them, and carry on as normal afterwards.

Mounjaro has never been magic. It’s been a tool. And as I reduce the dose, I’m reassured to discover that the habits built over the past 14 years are still firmly in place. The tracking, the portion awareness, the calm decision-making — they’re mine. Not the medication’s.

That feels steady. Sustainable. Grown-up.

Maintenance, for someone with a TDEE as low as mine, will always require close attention. But this week has shown me that I can enjoy a special day out, a restaurant meal, even ice cream — and still remain in control.

Slowly lowering. Still steady. Still maintaining.

And that’s exactly where I want to be.

March has arrived at speed… but I feel ready for it.

Weight this week: 55.4kg (about 8st 10lb)
Last week: 55.7kg (about 8st 11lb)
Weekly loss:  0.3kg (about 1/4lb)
Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)

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)