Eating Out

Duck, Downpours & a Dose of Mounjaro

flidfit Eating Out, Eating Out, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Vegeterian

This week has been fairly calm, with a few social activities thrown in, which is always nice and breaks the week up a little.

On Wednesday, my sister was here to work for me and, as part of her plan, we were going to do one of our community litter picks, which I organise (date, invitation sent, provide all the gear and collection bags).

When we were due to leave at 10.45 am, it was pouring with rain. As I hadn’t had an email from anyone confirming they were going to be there, I decided the coffee machine looked considerably more appealing and made myself a coffee instead.

Then there was a knock at the door.

It was a neighbour asking whether the litter pick was on. I explained my decision, and he told me he’d just come from the meeting place and that no one else was waiting there. That seemed to confirm I’d made the right call, so I went back to enjoying my coffee.

Then my phone rang.

It was somebody at our meeting place asking where I was and telling me that there were three other people waiting there with her!

Oops!

I polished off my coffee rather swiftly, and we rushed up the road. By then the rain had blown over, and it turned into a really nice event, with about five of us collecting litter and then seven or eight of us having coffee together in one of the cafés at the shopping parade afterwards.

I always really enjoy these events. It’s lovely to have the opportunity to meet neighbours, have a chat and find out a little bit more about them.

On Thursday evening, I’d organised a social gathering for my fellow trustees at the organisation I’m a trustee for. You’re probably beginning to spot a pattern here – I’m the organiser! 😂

We went back to the Rising Sun, a venue we’d used for a meeting in January, and enjoyed a really lovely meal. There were just six of us this time, which gave us another chance to chat and get to know one another a little better.

The food was really nice – and you know that, coming from me, it must have been above par! 😂 I chose pan-fried duck breast with a citrus sauce, dauphinoise potatoes, green beans and carrots, and it was delicious.

I even managed to swerve the dessert menu, opting instead for a floater coffee, which went down very well. I did, however, have a bottle of 4% fruit cider with my meal. It’s all about balance!

I wheeled into town in my wheelchair but, now that the evenings are beginning to draw in, Mike very kindly came and collected me afterwards.

I’m feeling rather bereft now because both of my sisters have disappeared off on their holidays. My younger sister (the one who helps me at home) has gone off to China for three weeks. That feels like an eternity!

My middle sister, meanwhile, is in Cornwall for two weeks, climbing with her husband -something they both really enjoy and do on a regular basis. She had knee replacement surgery in June, so this trip is a real test of endurance and whether she’s still got what it takes to climb up cliff faces;

Rather her than me!

Judging by the photographs she’s been sending, though, she’s doing all right.

Saturday brought yet another social occasion: our local neighbourhood summer picnic, held just across the road from where I live, on the university grounds.

Everyone takes along food to share, and we spend the afternoon having a natter and catching up with neighbours. Then, as tradition dictates, we have our annual game of rounders – odds versus evens.  I made some really simple cheese and tomato pinwheels, using shop-bought ready-rolled puff pastry, tomato pesto, herbs, grated Mozzarella, Cheddar, and Parmesan.

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I did manage to limit myself to a single bite of homemade carrot cake (my absolute favourite!).

Each year, as the neighbours get older, this gets funnier.  Most are in their 70s and 80s – but we do have a few younger newcomers, which is just as well.

This year, some of our more elderly players were allowed to use a runner – otherwise known as their grandchildren. 😂 The neighbour has an attempt at hitting the ball (often they miss!) and then their grandchild sprints off around the posts on their behalf.

I have absolutely no idea what the final score was, but that really doesn’t matter. It’s always great fun.

We’ve enjoyed some lovely sunshine this weekend, and I’ve been making the most of it, as I believe the weather is about to turn a little colder.

Something else has also been keeping me rather busy over the past 48 hours. Somebody reading this post will know exactly what I’m referring to here, but I’m planning to keep that a secret for now…  All will be revealed in due course… 😉

Okay, on to Mounjaro and my progress update.

I took my third 7.5 mg injection of Mounjaro on Friday and, finally, I appear to be experiencing some appetite suppression and a reduction in food noise.  Hurrah!

Its effects are still not as strong as they were when I was taking this dose originally, but we’re well on the way to getting there.

In the meantime, here’s my weight report…

Weight this week: 55.60kg (8st 10.6lbs)
Weight last week: 55.85kg (8st 11.2lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.25kg (-½lb)
100% – 6 months 26 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

Mounjaro Maintenance: Am I Looking at It All Wrong?

flidfit Eating Out, Eating Out, Emotional well being, Maintenance, Mounjaro, Weightloss Medication

The week started off looking rather frantic, with visitors planned for three days running. However, for completely different reasons, the first two visits were postponed. And I have to admit, I was actually quite pleased!

Don’t get me wrong, I love having visitors and catching up with people, but three days in a row – all of which involved feeding several people – was beginning to feel like quite a lot of work. We were still living in piles of boxes whilst the utility room was being refurbished and – as always, these things seem to coincide with all the other regular, time-critical jobs that need doing. I had staff payroll to sort out ready for the end of the month, a submission to put together and circulate (more about that in a future post), and a draft agenda to prepare for a meeting at the beginning of September.

Once I’d got all those deadlines out of the way and two lots of visitors had cancelled, everything suddenly felt considerably calmer.

We did have friends here for lunch on Wednesday, but by then I had a fridge packed full of food I’d bought and prepared for all the visitors who hadn’t actually arrived, so at least feeding them wasn’t a problem!

The friend who came with her husband is someone I’ve known since primary school.  Her husband is a local man, so he and Mike had a fine old time reminiscing about bands, live music and various venues around town. It’s lovely when people discover they share that sort of history.

On Thursday, when Sam came for her regular visit to help me, we had the exciting task of putting everything back into the newly refurbished utility room. The decorating had been completed the day before, so these really were the final touches.

And actually, it was exciting!

There is something enormously satisfying about going through cupboards and getting rid of all those ancient bits and pieces that you know perfectly well you’re never going to use again. Does anybody even use shoe polish these days?

We consolidated all the cleaning products, disposed of things that were well and truly past their useful lives, sorted a box for a charity pick-up and reorganised everything into the cupboards. I’m really pleased with the finished result. All the disruption was definitely worth it, and the room is now much more practical, with a little more storage than we had before. There’s nothing quite like opening a cupboard and seeing everything neatly arranged inside. How long it will remain like that is another matter entirely!

Tuesday evening was our community get-together, which I’d organised for a couple of the local groups I’m involved with. There isn’t really much organising involved – it’s largely a case of advertising it and hoping that people actually turn up!

Last year’s gathering was very successful, with probably around 12 people dropping in during the evening. This year there were eight of us, although three were newcomers, which was lovely.

One first-time was clearly expecting something rather more grand and organised and arrived at the venue asking where our reserved table was. There wasn’t one! I’ve never bothered reserving a table because there’s usually plenty of seating, particularly when the weather is good enough for us to sit outside. I think I’d done too good a job on the invitation design!

I think she enjoyed herself nonetheless, and actually having a smaller group worked rather well because we could all sit around one table and hear what everyone else was saying.

The food was decidedly mediocre, but I did have a couple of pints of “Blackguard Nitro Stout” from a local brewery.  It was very nice indeed. Two pints later and I was ever so slightly tiddly! I drink alcohol so rarely these days that I clearly have absolutely no tolerance for it anymore.

This is the Bank Holiday weekend, and rather wonderfully, we have very little planned. That suits me perfectly. Even things like sorting out the utility room take quite a lot of energy – both physical and mental.

I must be getting old!

And so, on to Mounjaro.

There is still absolutely no noticeable change in terms of appetite suppression or a reduction in food noise.

I found myself giving myself a bit of a talking-to this morning because, in some ways, I keep thinking that the drug isn’t working.

But then I realised that perhaps I’m looking at it from the wrong perspective.

After a lifetime of needing to lose weight, I’ve become accustomed to judging success by whether the scales are going down. Week after week, for years, that was the objective.

But I’m not actually trying to lose weight anymore.

I’m supposed to be maintaining it.

And I’ve been successfully doing that for well over six months.

When I stopped and thought about it properly this morning, I realised just how extraordinary that is for me. Particularly when you don’t weigh very much in the first place and therefore don’t have a huge amount of wiggle room.

Since reaching my goal weight in January, my weight has remained within a range of around seven pounds – approximately 3.5kg.

For more than six months.

That is a huge achievement and, more importantly, something I have never managed before.

So perhaps the question shouldn’t simply be, “Is Mounjaro suppressing my appetite?”

Perhaps it should be, “Is Mounjaro helping me maintain my weight?”

And the answer to that is much harder to know.

I’m certainly still doing my part. I continue to log everything I eat, moderate my intake, try to reduce snacking between meals and weigh myself regularly.

But perhaps most importantly, I’m also trying to be kind to myself.

I’m an almost 64-year-old woman who can’t move very much, who is very short and who has spent more than 50 years of her life being overweight.

For the first time, I’m no longer carrying that weight.

And it feels good.

I took my second 7.5mg injection of Mounjaro on Friday 28th August, and for now I’m simply going to plod along and see how the land lies.

Maybe maintenance isn’t supposed to feel dramatic. Maybe the absence of anything happening on the scales is actually the whole point.

That’s something I’m still learning to get my head around.

Are you maintaining your weight on Mounjaro? How are you finding it? And what has the experience been like emotionally, as well as physically?

I’d genuinely love to hear how other people are getting on, because I’m sure we’re all very different – not just in the way our bodies respond, but in how we adjust mentally to the idea of no longer constantly trying to lose weight.

And perhaps also to the possibility that this little injection may, in one form or another, be part of our lives for a very long time.

This week’s weigh-in…

Weight this week: 55.85kg (8st 11.2lbs)
Weight last week: 56.55kg (8st 12.6lbs)

Weekly loss/gain: -0.7kg (-1.5lb)
100% – 6 months 19 days in weight maintenance range (54 – 57kg or 8st 7lb – 8st 13lbs)

 

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)

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) – 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 – Week 41 (4.25mg every 5 days)

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

It all feels a little odd at the moment — in the nicest possible way.

For the past six weeks, I’ve been maintaining my weight, gently bouncing between 56kg and 55kg. Over the last four weeks, it has been even more consistent, sitting between 55.2kg and 55.7kg. That kind of stability is something I have never experienced before.

Usually when I reach my goal weight, I let the brakes off. Gradually, the old habits creep back in, and the weight follows. But this time, something feels different.

Of course, I still have a helping hand from my slowly reducing dose of Mounjaro. I’m also continuing to log my food as carefully as I can. Looking back through my diary, most days I’m actually eating over my calculated maintenance calories by 150-600 calories. That may not sound like much to some people, but when my daily allowance to maintain is around 1,172 calories, that’s quite a sizeable percentage.

Over the past four weeks, I estimate I’ve eaten around 800–900 calories above maintenance each week — yet my weight has simply held steady.

Body weight can never be truly linear. It’s impossible to remain at exactly the same weight day after day. As someone who weighs daily, I understand that perfectly well. There are always small fluctuations — hydration levels, food intake, hormones, salt, sleep — all of these things can nudge the scales slightly up or down.

But what I’m experiencing at the moment feels quite remarkable.

Being able to maintain my weight week after week within a 1kg (about 2lb) range is something I have never experienced during my entire weight-loss journey. The scales might move a little from one day to the next, but the overall pattern has been incredibly steady.

And I have to say… I’m loving it.

There’s something very reassuring about seeing that level of stability. It feels calm, predictable and sustainable — which is exactly what long-term maintenance should feel like.

It’s also been quite a social week.

On Monday, I went out for dinner with some girlfriends and enjoyed a delicious crispy beef salad. Later in the week, I hosted a small neighbourhood meeting at my house. Crisps and cheesy biscuit thins were on offer alongside wine. I’m not drinking alcohol at the moment — Mounjaro seems to have altered my taste buds quite dramatically, and alcohol simply doesn’t taste very nice anymore — but I have to confess to enjoying a few of the leftover crisps and biscuits afterwards.

On Thursday, I took my Mum and her live-in carer to visit my sister for the afternoon. The drive itself (about an hour) is always rather lovely, taking us over the Ridgeway through the Oxfordshire countryside. Normally, the views are quite stunning, stretching out across the landscape towards Oxford, but this time the murky skies meant they were a little obscured. Even so, it’s still a route I always enjoy — there’s something very calming about driving through open countryside. Mum enjoyed the journey too. It’s a drive she knows well, but one she hasn’t done for quite a while, so it felt familiar and comforting for her to travel that way again.

I made an apple crumble to take with us. Lunch itself was very healthy — chicken skewers, lots of vegetables and some rice — and the crumble portions were small as it wasn’t a large dish. We spent the afternoon playing simple card games, then a board game that Mum could join in with, supported by her carer.

We laughed a lot.

Activities like that are becoming increasingly important as Mum’s dementia progresses. Cognitive stimulation really matters. She is doing incredibly well — eight years after her initial diagnosis — and most importantly, she is still very much Mum. We can still enjoy one another’s company and share plenty of laughs.

Friday was my routine breast screening appointment. I know many women find these appointments uncomfortable or stressful, but personally, I’ve never had a problem with them. The staff are always extremely kind and helpful, particularly as I need assistance getting my clothing on and off. It’s one of those simple health checks that I’m always very happy to attend.

Food at home this week has included a particularly successful new dish: a “Marry Me” chicken with added cannellini beans in a creamy tomato, paprika, chipotle, garlic and mushroom sauce. It was absolutely delicious. I’m very grateful that I log my recipes and calories, because it means I can easily find and recreate dishes that work well.  I also made two hot cross buns in the air fryer with self-raising flour, Greek yoghurt, cinnamon and sultanas.  Ready in 10 minutes and perfect eaten still warm with a little butter.

I also made a batch of my raspberry, chia seed and yoghurt desserts, which I enjoy every single evening. They’ve become a bit of a staple for me now — simple, satisfying and exactly the sort of thing that hits the spot when you fancy something sweet after dinner.

I really must share the recipe for these at some point because they tick a lot of boxes. Each portion contains 6.8g of protein and 6.8g of fibre, which makes them perfect for that little sweet treat while also helping to keep me feeling pleasantly full for the rest of the evening.

And finally, the weekly weigh-in:

Weight this week: 55.2kg (about 8st 9.4lb)
Last week: 55.2kg (about 8st 9.6lb)
Weekly change: -0.15kg (0.2lbs)
Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)

For now, everything feels calm, steady and sustainable — which is perhaps the most encouraging sign of all.

If other Mounjaro users are titrating down after reaching their goal weight, you might find it helpful to see how I’ve been managing this. I achieved my initial goal weight (57kg) on 9th January 2026.  I’m being guided by my hunger, appetite suppression and the ability to maintain my weight.

9th Jan: 45 clicks – 7.5mg

14th Jan: 30 clicks – 5mg>5mg>5mg>5mg>5mg>5mg>5mg

19th Feb: 29 clicks – 4.5mg>4.5mg>4.5mg>4.5mg>4.5mg

16th March:  26 clicks – 4.25mg

Mounjaro Journey – Week 40 (4. 5mg every 5 days)

flidfit Eating Out, Eating Out, Emotional well being, Exercise, Maintenance, Mounjaro

It’s been a week full of socialising — something I always enjoy, although it does mean the days seem to fly by.

On Monday, I drove to Oxfordshire to visit my sister, who lives about an hour away. The weather was perfect — wall-to-wall sunshine and bright blue skies. After lunch, we decided to do a gentle circular “walk” to the neighbouring village along a nearby bridleway. I say “walk” in inverted commas because I was, of course, in my powered wheelchair. It was one of those simple outings that turn out to be rather special: big open skies, countryside views stretching into the distance, the sound of birds, and the occasional stop to chat to other people also out enjoying the day.

Naturally, I took plenty of photographs.

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I’ve always been someone who takes pictures — nothing particularly artistic, just documenting moments and experiences. Long before the digital age, when cameras had film that you had to send away to be developed, or those wonderful disposable cameras with the little cube flash that clipped on the top. One of the lovely results of that lifetime of “snapping” is that I now have two large crates in my loft absolutely full of photographs.

I don’t look at them often, but when I do they are a treasure trove.

After my first husband’s sudden death — my daughter’s father, aged just 61 — in 2022, I started looking through some old photographs. They brought back vivid memories of the early days of our relationship and why I fell in love with him in the first place. He was handsome, kind, and above all, a wonderful father. Even after our divorce, we always remained on good terms. Those photographs are packed with memories of happy times and shared experiences.

These days, of course, most photographs exist digitally. With a large 27-inch screen, it’s a pleasure to scroll through them — trips around the world, people who have passed through my life, and moments that might otherwise have been forgotten.

Tuesday was a quite different day. I made a rare visit into Reading town centre to attend the AGM of Reading Voluntary Action, the charity where I serve as a Trustee. There was a fantastic turnout, and it was genuinely inspiring to hear about the work RVA supports across the town — from grassroots community projects to voluntary groups doing extraordinary things with very modest resources.

Later, I had lunch with a friend at a Thai restaurant. We’ve known each other since primary school, so the company was great — but unfortunately, the food was terrible. The service wasn’t much better either. Since it was my first time there and I had high expectations, it was a bit disappointing. However, the good conversation made up for the experience.

This week, I also coordinated a leaflet drop for a small neighbourhood group I am involved with. The local university kindly printed 250 copies of our letter, and my role was to organise volunteers to deliver them around the nearby streets. I enjoy a bit of practical coordination. About six neighbours came to my house to collect their bundles, and each let me know when their round was finished. It’s always satisfying when a simple plan comes together.

Friday was dominated by a rather less exciting household event: a new boiler installation. Not terribly interesting to write about — other than the fact it was a fairly expensive exercise and I was relieved that the weather was mild while the heating was off.

Food at home this week has been a mixture of comforting and practical: homemade cottage pie, a slow-cooker beef bhuna, a fresh loaf from the bread machine, shop-bought chicken kievs, and a large bowl of porridge — which is actually quite unusual for me as I rarely eat breakfast.

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That porridge came about after a rather strange night. On Saturday morning, I woke at 2am and simply couldn’t get back to sleep. I’m wondering if it might be related to my Mounjaro injection, as it happened within about 24 hours of taking it. I felt oddly energised rather than tired.

So I decided to make good use of the time. By 8am, I had done a load of laundry and hung it out to dry, sliced my homemade loaf, tidied the cupboard where the boiler sits, emptied the dishwasher, and drunk several cups of tea. By that point, I definitely needed something more substantial to eat, so porridge it was — with vanilla protein powder and a banana. The rest of the day’s eating ended up being rather out of sync, though!

Regarding Mounjaro, I’ve continued to slowly reduce my dose. I can definitely notice the difference now. My appetite is slightly stronger, my sweet tooth is returning, and my portion sizes have increased marginally. Interestingly, even though I’ve been regularly eating over my daily 1172 calorie allocation by around 200–600 calories — I’m still maintaining very comfortably. I should add that I exercise for around an hour every day – which earns me an additional 330-350 calories.

In fact, the scales are still nudging downwards.

Weight this week: 55.2kg (about 8st 9½lb)
Last week: 55.4kg (about 8st 10lb)
Weekly change: −0.2kg (about ¼lb)
Goal weight: 55kg (about 8st 9lb)

Overall, it’s been a busy week filled with people, projects, sunshine, and good home cooking — with the scales still behaving themselves nicely. And that, I think, is a pretty good place to be.

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)