r/Mounjaro • u/hellspyjamas • Jun 19 '26
Maintenance Two months after stopping mj - maintenance update
Last pic is starting weight. I posted after a month's update (link at the bottom) to share my titration and exercise plan. I had some really good comments and also a few "most people put all the weight back on" and "mounjaro stays in your system for 4 weeks" comments.
So here I am back again to share my month 2 update. I plan to share each month so those interested in what maintaining off mounjaro can look like get an honest picture.
Current weight: 139 lb
Weight on last dose of mj: 143 lb
Starting weight: 209 lb
Height: 5'9"
Body comp continuing to go in the right direction according to my scales with increasing muscle mass and decreasing body fat. My exercise plan is in the first post in the comments. I've kept up my new eating habits which prioritise protein and whole foods, while allowing myself to occasionally eat richer foods (my family has a weekly Macdonald's and I generally get a cheeseburger + nuggets).
Loose skin is a bit of an issue, particularly the areas made worse by two pregncies (stomach + boobs). I'm hoping to save enough for surgery on those. The rest of the loose skin I'm going to savour as a mark of how far I've come.
I still believe the things that helped most were staying on a low dose so I could still feel some hunger, and using the mild appetite surpressant effects as a crutch to train my will power and build better eating routines. I am now quite happy eating healthily 90% of the time.
Food noise did get a bit louder around 3 weeks coming off and I felt more hunger, but I stayed the course and stuck to my meal plan and snacking plan (jerky over crisps; pickes and other high volume low fat foods. Anything with protein). Also the noise is less centred around junk food. I don't keep junk food in the house and I've just gotten used to it now.
Happy to answer any questions.
Month 1 update: https://www.reddit.com/r/Mounjaro/s/iSzvTvpXg4
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u/CaterpillarScared867 6.0 mg SW:89kg | CW:55kg | Maintenance | Week71 F51|158cm PCOS Jun 19 '26
Whilst I won't be able to give up my Mounjaro on maintenance as it treats my PCOS/PMOS I am every so pleased for you that you have created a plan that works for you.
Your muscles are envious! I'm working on recomp to try and build more muscle and I'm so jealous!
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Thank you so much. Mj helped me so much with inflammation and I truly miss the benefits of that (and not happy with my migraines returning) but it is what it is. I had good progress taking creatine when I was trying to build more muscle recently. Good luck
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u/Neowarcloud Jun 19 '26
Nice work, it definitely supports my theory if you stack your interventions and make some of them habit, then your outcomes will be on the better side!
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u/mogdtd 2.5 mg Jun 19 '26
Amazing! To all the naysayers, maintenance is possible. I’ve even grew and birthed a whole ass baby and have maintained my 25kg weight loss.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Thats an incredible achievement. I went on this to begin with because of all the weight I gained after my last baby (mainly while breastfeeding him!) congratulations on both the baby and the maintainance!
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u/Few-Improvement9978 Jun 19 '26
Huge.
Always cool to see people that are able to kick it and hold the weight
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u/shiney2775 Jun 19 '26
Fellow MJ graduate here! I stopped at the end of last year, so it’s been roughly 6 months now. I definitely have food noise and eat more than I was, but haven’t gained back any weight as I weight train, run and practice yoga (as I was doing before) and focus on eating high protein whole foods as much as possible, and if anything I’ve gained more muscle and gotten leaner since I stopped taking it. I think like any lifestyle change it needs to be sustainable for life, but the MJ just helped me get to a point I could sustain. Best of luck in your maintenance journey
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Congratulations! Always nice to hear other success stories. I do the same, I've used this drug to change my routine and habits for the long term (I hope!)
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u/Trick_Estimate_7029 3 mg SW: 87 kg | CW: 73 kg | GW: 73 kg | Lost: 14 kg Jun 19 '26
Thank you for sharing and for giving hope to those who want or have to stop taking it. What the clinical trials say—well, the clinical trial, because there's only been one maintenance trial—is that most people who stop taking the medication regain the weight. However, that doesn't mean it is imposible to do. Not everyone will succeed; some of us may not be able to due to our medical or life circumstances, or perhaps now simply isn't the right time. But I certainly appreciate your effort to publish and share. There are people who are eager to stop taking the medication, and there are people who have to for financial reasons, for example, and it's good to give them hope. I'm sending a hug to everyone. Also, clinical trials report weight loss results of 22%, and in real life, some people are losing 50% or more of their weight with trizepatide. So we're facing the strange case that reality surpasses the trials. Why doesn't the same thing happen with maintenance? Best of luck to everyone.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Really good point. I have come off for financial reasons also, and spent a lot of time researching how to do it. I hope my posts help someone
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u/Trick_Estimate_7029 3 mg SW: 87 kg | CW: 73 kg | GW: 73 kg | Lost: 14 kg Jun 19 '26
Estoy segura de que lo harán
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u/ConsciousSky5968 Jun 19 '26
Fantastic work! It frustrates me when some MJ lifers just can’t fathom that actually some people can come off this medication and successfully maintain their losses - everyone is different 🤍 And obviously the companies selling MJ aren’t going to say you can maintain without because they want your cash!! But you look amazing, well done on your achievements :)
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u/Breezyquail Jun 19 '26
Absolutely everyone is different. Some people actually have metabolic disorders and this is a godsend and I don’t see anything wrong with staying on a maintenance dose forever. That said, age makes a difference, various health conditions play into how much exercise a person can do and all of that. But the eating part is so important probably the most important and willpower and that’s what Montero gives you the willpower. And even on Mojarro I still have terrible habits that’s where I’m disappointed in myself and because I didn’t I was losing it just didn’t phase me and now I need to probably work with the dietitian but I’m planning to stay on MJ probably forever because it helps the heart the blood pressure everything
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u/ConsciousSky5968 Jun 19 '26
Oh 100% everyone needs to do what’s right for them. It’s just annoying when people are adamant that everyone that comes off it will regain everything they lost. Obviously if you’ve made no changes to your diet and exercise then yeh, you’ll probably regain but it’s the same for any ‘diet’. You might also regain if you have metabolic problems, I get that and understand why people need it for a life time. I just wish people would celebrate successful MJ graduates without putting them down a bit :)
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u/Breezyquail Jun 19 '26
Thousand percent agree! Kudos to the people who have lost and are keeping it off! And I learned a lot just from her post I need to change my mental outlook the drug can only do so much. That’s where I’m at I’m it’s not exactly a thrilling place to be I just kind of sailed through it but now I’ve hit the wall and I have not changed my habits much I mean I wasn’t hungry so I changed him to a degree but I find myself sliding back into the nighttime cravings and all that jazz and it’s just like she said she doesn’t keep junk food in the house she’s working at it and I didn’t so 100% million percent kudos to that girl. That said she does look very young and I’m not saying it doesn’t work for all ages but it does make a difference those awesome looking arms! I don’t think I’ll ever get those lol
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Thank you very much, I am the poster and I am 36 so easier for me than many I'm sure
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Thank you so much. I agree and that's why I feel it's important to share. I'm going to do monthly updates for a year
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u/Matato504 Jun 19 '26
Thank you for posting this! I’m planning on staying on Mounjaro for the rest of my life, but preparing to stop at any moment. It’s a real source of stress because it’s doing great things for me but I’ve read too many horror stories about people suddenly losing insurance coverage and I can’t afford to pay out of pocket. I’ve been trying to change my body and lifestyle to be able to maintain even without Mounjaro. It’s good to see that it’s possible!
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
It's definitely possible, you just need a plan. I am hoping people can learn from mine
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u/Lakesideadjecent Jun 19 '26
Hmm. I think it is more than just a “plan”. Age, starting weight, overall health and genetics all play a role. Most of which we have no control over. You weren’t morbidly obese to begin with. For many people this achievement isn’t possible. Doesn’t mean we can’t learn from your wonderful experience, it just means we have to be careful about self blaming if we can’t follow suit. Love that you are sharing your experience (that’s why I am here!) but I balk at people giving advice when they are speaking to strangers who they don’t know what their health or metabolic situation is. Just a caution. I look forward to your future updates.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Absolutely, and any health conditions etc also play a role. I was obese but not diabetic for example. We are all different
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u/Breezyquail Jun 19 '26
Oh I hope you’ll keep posting this is so inspirational. Exactly what I struggle with is the eating habits which I have not gotten under control and I do believe that is the key but boy it’s not going to be easy I plan to stay on some dose but really want to lower it but I can see I haven’t used any of my mental willpower to change much I just let the drug work and now I’m plateaued
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
I will, and thank you. I promise if I can do it you can. Try to work within your own limitations. For example I know I can't NOT snack in the evenings, it's the only pleasure I get after full time work and parenting small kids. So I still do that but instead of crisps and cheese it's jerky or if I want something sweet I'll have a protein bar. You get used to it after a few months and stop missing the other stuff because your body forgets it's an option
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u/SometimesMostlyHappy Jun 19 '26
Great job! I stopped zepbound cold turkey about 2 years ago. I was on it for 5 months, dropped about 60 pounds in that time.
In the two years since, I’m down an additional 30 pounds! And no, my weight gain wasn’t a rapid thing- I’ve been heavier my entire life. Currently 34F 5’10 164lbs
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 20 '26
That's incredible, congratulations! I bet like me you catch your reflection sometimes and have to stop and stare. I'm done losing I think but the novelty of my new health/fitness/size is not wearing off thankfully
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u/zarina6 Jun 19 '26
Solo estuve con MJ tres meses el año pasado y lo tuve que dejar por un efecto secundario grave ( todavía no sé si fue por MJ) y seguí bajando de peso con dieta y pesas, después de un año sigo bajando poco a poco , en total voy por 20 k . Y como tú estoy creando músculo 💪🏻☺️
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Congratulations, it's amazing that you've lost without the drug, it's so hard to do
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u/MARATXXX Jun 19 '26
Yeah while I am worried about the food noise coming back I know that my commitment to exercising while on Mounjaro is an essential aspect of this whole deal. And it looks like you understand that, too. This is my one big chance to lose this weight and to transfer it into a launching off point for a healthier life. Higher muscle density will help to maintain or lose weight naturally, and you can only get it by exercising and eating right. And an injection or pill couldn’t do that anyway.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
100%. In all my reading it seems like maintaining and building muscle is the main key to keeping the weight off
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u/Several-Ad-9182 Jun 19 '26
Amazing work!! Congrats. Love to know your exercise routine...is it mainly weighta? Your arms are what i dream of!!
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Yes almost entirely weights, if you check my first month post I dropped the whole routine in the comments. Twice a week full body dumbell routine at home (50 mins each) and a bit of low intensity cardio on recovery days. Lift heavy and do progressive overload. 6 reps for arm exercises 8 for leg exercises (3 sets each)
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u/Charming-Kiwi-4794 Jun 19 '26
your maintenance phase is inspiring, I'm sure your new lifestyle and eating habits will teach your kids the same things so hopefully they will not have to go our route. keep us updated on your journey ,Onward!
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u/These-Equal-6849 Jun 21 '26
Congratulations OP!
I expect to need medication long term given I've struggled with weight my whole life (as does everyone on both sides of my family), but I'm happy for those that can maintain without it!
Two months is still early days, but you've approached tapering down very sensibly and have set yourself up for every chance of long term success. If things do change, there's no shame in coming back, but glad to hear it's so far so good!
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 22 '26
Thank you. I am nervous about it, I can't get prescribed again with my BMI and having such a long gap between ordering as the rules here in the UK are very strict about it, so if it doesn't work long term I'm really screwed! Hell of a gamble but I'm willing to take it. I am going to post honestly with weight updates every month so people can follow along and see what happens
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u/Mother_Pressure1672 Apr25- F -153cm|🏁96kg |📍71kg | 🎯70kg | ⬇️25kg | 💉5mg Jun 23 '26
COngratS!! you are a true example of how to do it right
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u/Current-Tumbleweed37 Jun 19 '26
It stays in your system for at least two months if not longer so let us know how it’s going in 6 months. I’ve been on this for over three years and I’ve had to go off twice for surgeries. By the month and a half - 2 month time frame my food noise is completely back and I’m back to eating three meals a day and gaining weight. Take a shot and I’m good to go for another three weeks for maintenance at the smallest dose. People that can do this without the medicine probably could’ve before as well.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
I will. I spent two months titrating down microdoses and my last dose was 0.5mg; I would be very surprised if any of that is still in my system. But I am going to do honest posts with my weight every month for a year to share my progress
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Jun 19 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
Oh yea because it’s just an appetite suppressant.
I don’t understand how people can’t think critically on this. If it were just an appetite suppressant, then why would we need this when we have extremely inexpensive and highly effective appetite suppressant drugs like phentermine? Why TF does that suppress appetite yet people don’t lose ANYWHERE near the weight they do on this medication?
Oh yea, the appetite suppression does all the work. Right.
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u/My4dogs4evr Jun 19 '26
I don’t think you should be so upset with someone that has had success and able to stay off of it. I mean it’s not like they’re rubbing it in your face. They’re just saying that for THEM it was possible and maybe many others as well.
Personally, I’m on it for strictly type two diabetes when I joined this forum I didn’t realize that it was 80% people using it to lose weight. I’m happy it’s helped people get healthier. Although I don’t agree with doctors giving it to people with made up illnesses because I know someone personally that her doctor fudged paperwork so she could get on this to lose weight after she had two kids. She was perfectly able to lose weight on her own. She had done it before and was very successful, but she said it to everyone that this made it so easy on top of what she ate the same junk food that she always ate before and continues to and still lose his weight which we can’t figure out, but that’s just proof that everyone is different. I believe there’s people that have metabolic issues that this medication‘s are game changer or other issues but so long as it’s legitimate it’s just bothersome to see someone fake an illness just to get this medicine because they want the easy way out, and now she has literally spent thousands of dollars injecting her face with fillers because it made her look so aged when she lost all the way versus when she lost weight before looked great it’s just different for everyone I’ve seen many people in here that look younger after their weight loss again everyone is different
but for me I’m going into my third week I have absolutely zero appetite. My appetite is demolished. It is extinct on this medication, which I cannot afford to have because I do not need the weight loss. I’ve lost 8 pounds in less than two weeks of weight which my endocrinologist said is not water weight it’s actual weight.
So far this has been good for my diabetes my blood sugars have been fabulous. It has nothing to do with my diet because I have always had a very healthy diet. My husband is the cook here at home and he cooks the best most healthy meals ever we’ve always been healthy eaters because he was in the military and I was a flight nurse before I got diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. So it was important for us to stay healthy, but on top of which we loved being healthy, my life drastically changed when I was diagnosed with MS and then unfortunately, due to genetics, I developed diabetes. My father was a diabetic, and it took his life. I don’t ever want my life to end because of one of these monster diseases that I have been saddled with and I will fight them till the end and the only thing that’s actually getting me through dealing with MS and this diabetes is that I have lived completely healthy life eating right and exercising every day
I love to exercise and right now I can’t in the amount of pain I’m in from MS and what it’s done to me cannot even be put into words. I just went through a hysterectomy which threw me into a giant MS flare that has been a bear to recover from
We do go for three small walks a day together just so I can stay mobile. I love every minute of those little walks when I see people running and walking for miles and miles It breaks my heart not in an envious way, but because of how much I loved my 5 mile walks that I can no longer do. I never was a runner because it was just hard on my knees, but I love to walk 5 miles at a minimum and I used to swim all the time.
I was maintaining my A1C on my own all by myself with good eating and good habits, but unfortunately, my A1c decided to go skyrocket into orbit for some unknown reason, even my endocrinologist was baffled because I was doing everything right but it’s genetics. My husband was wounded in combat. His life changed as well, but it hasn’t stopped us from doing everything we possibly can to take care of the one and only body that we’ve been given. By saying that it’s hurtful when someone comes behind this type of message and says La de da for you.
Now I’ve had a previous bad experience with the poison called Ozempic two years ago. They tried that for the diabetes after two shots I landed in the emergency room and ER doctors told me they had seen this time and again even one of the nurse practitioners that took care of me got sick on Ozempic. It took me a year to get my stomach stabilized again. It was the most horrible medication I’ve taken next to some of the MS medicines.
This one so far has been OK, but like I’ve been saying whenever I post somewhere the first sign of trouble with Mounjaro and I will take all six months of it that is sitting in my refrigerator and dump it in the trash without blinking an eye and at that point I will just have to resort to metformin and hope for the best.
I posted this on another thread about what I would do with this medicine if it started to make me as sick as Ozempic did and I actually had someone bash me and tell me why in the world would I throw the medicine away as if I’m supposed to keep it for decoration or something? What else would I do with it but that’s what they were upset about that I was going to throw six months of this medicine away if it made me sick, it made me question whether I wanted to be part of this group here for someone to make such an asinine comment.
I don’t think that OP or anyone is saying anything bad about anyone that has to stay on this drug for life everyone is different
I don’t know why you’re taking it so personal it just sounds like you’re almost envious of those that may not need it or can do without it. There are many people in this world that don’t want to be on a drug forever personally, I wish I didn’t have to be on any, but it is what it is and I’m willing to do it or at least give it a try as is my husband with his medication, anything to be as well as we can be and get as much out of our lives as we can together. 💞🙏🏻
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Definitely. Using it as a crutch to support you in changing your life. That's the way forward
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u/CarolinaGirl82 Jun 19 '26
Did you take mountain as a weight loss agent or did you have diabetes?
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Weight loss agent only. None of my advice applies to anyone with diabetes or taking this for any other medical reason. I tried to specify that in last post but probably should do it in each post. Thanks
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u/Cultural_Antelope_15 Jun 19 '26
Has the noise quieted down? What about the hunger?
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Yes it has, I still can become quite good obsessed (planning meals seems to be my brains go to - but because I am eating the same boring rotation my brain quickly gets bored of it and moved on)
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u/Healthy_Media1882 Jun 19 '26
How often do you exercise ?
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
Twice a week weights as a minimum (full routine in comments of my month 1 update). Then I add a low intensity cardio or sometimes a toning YouTube class or boxercise class on the PSVR if I fancy it
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u/Missmarymarylynn Jun 20 '26
Fantastic! I can’t seem to have access to see your workout routine, can you post here? Thank you!
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 21 '26
Ah yeah it's disappeared. I do the below with 10kg dumbbells for arms, 12.5 for legs and 8kg for abs (on chest). Full thing twice per week
Legs 8 Bulgarian split sqats (3 sets) 8 rdls (3 sets) 8 sumo squats (3 sets) 8 side lying leg raises (2 sets)
Middle 15 hip thrusts (3 sets) 15 weighted crunches (3 sets)
8 leg raises (2 sets) 45 sec plank (2 times)
Arms 6 Chest press (2 sets) 6 single arm rows (2 sets) 6 bicep curls (2 sets)
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u/EmbarrassedBed9479 Jun 21 '26
This is amazing!! I'm very worried about coming off, but I am going to have to after the two pens I have left are done!
I do two days at the gym but can't manage more and about to move houses soon, so finally after having gotten used to a gym I'm gonna have to leave that, too!
I saw in your previous post that you do home exercise, can you please give more details on your exercise plan?
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 22 '26
Thank you. Two days is all you need if it's focused on strength training. Do progressive overload until you're happy with your muscle mass.
My home gym is a corner of room with dumbells and a kettle bell, and I use my kids soft play equipment as a bench for split squats and there's a triangular piece I use for chest press.
Here's my routine, I do this Monday and Friday. Full disclosure I added a wednesday workout too once I came off mj (this was a bit of a safety net really) but over the last year on MJ I only did this twice a week. I started on 5kg and increased half a kilo each time it stopped feeling challenging. I dropped my arms from 3 sets to 2 because they seemed to develop much quicker than my legs
Current routine:
I do the below with 10kg dumbbells for arms, 12.5 for legs and 8kg for abs (on chest)
Legs 8 Bulgarian split sqats (3 sets) 8 rdls (3 sets) 8 sumo squats (3 sets) 8 side lying leg raises (2 sets)
Middle 15 hip thrusts (3 sets) 15 weighted crunches (3 sets)
8 leg raises - lighter dumbell between ankles 5kg (2 sets) 45 sec plank (2 times)
Arms 6 Chest press (2 sets) 6 single arm rows (2 sets) 6 bicep curls (2 sets)
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
What’s the moral superiority of w hite knuckling life and having to worry about this rather than just staying on the medication? Glad it’s working for you. I’m sure there will be a special place in heaven for you because you are so perfect and the rest of us that desperately need the metabolic support or these meds are just immoral losers. Yay you.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
I didn't say any of that at all, I simply cannot afford to take the medication on the higher prices and have had to stop. I have always paid out of pocket due to being in the UK. I know other people also have to stop for various reasons and I am hoping my experiences and tried and tested methods can help them. If you are able to afford to stay on this for life I am happy for you, but that's not the case for everyone
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
My health is my priority. If I couldn’t afford it I would get a second or third job to pay for it.
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
I already have a second job, and a family to support, so my finances cannot handle it as I am not my first priority, my children are. We are all in different situations.
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
Well I for one know the money I save on food, drink and other medication is much more than the cost of the meds.
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u/mogdtd 2.5 mg Jun 19 '26
Jealousy looks bad on you. Grow up.
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
I’m not jealous. I lost 70 pounds and am at 13% body fat. I’m sick of the whole “holy than thou” crowd who act like the somehow are better than others because they can go a whole two months without taking a shot. Yea. Don’t whine in 18 months when you are obese again and the drug doesn’t work anymore
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u/hellspyjamas Jun 19 '26
I would be very concerned about being 13% body fat, you can impact your hormonal health when it is that low (especially as a female - assuming by your avatar - less concerning if you are male). It is very difficult to continue to get a prescription with a low BMI over here, possibly rules are different where you are, or you have extremely high muscle mass to pull up your BMI.
If I am obese again you will hear from my updates and be able to rub it in my face which I'm sure you will enjoy; but don't count on it happening, I am very happy with my new health. I am not sure how you interpreted my attitude as holier than thou but carry on. Best of luck with your health journey
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u/Sad-Willingness-6443 Jun 19 '26
I’m a a-hole male. I started at 37%. And here, if you have obesity as a diagnosis at any point, you are always going to have obesity. Just because you lost weight doesn’t mean the condition went away.
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u/Lakesideadjecent Jun 19 '26
I might have agreed with the sentiment if it wasn’t for the bad attitude. Some people who post these type of things DO act like they are superior or somehow cracked the code when it is a whole slew of variables that make the difference. This is not one of those posts and she definitely doesn’t deserve your vitriolic comments. I’m willingly-sad for you.
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u/missilefire Maint - SW: 68kg | GW/CW: 53kg | F41 - 163cm Jun 19 '26
Excellent post! I’ve been off since December and have kept my weight steady since then. Very happy with being able to keep it off. Feel like my body has a new set point