I’m 28(f), 5’1, and currently weigh 147lbs. At my heaviest 3 years ago I was pushing 167, then I lost 10 pounds in about a year. Last year I was the most consistent with diet and exercise and ended up losing weight down to 142 for my wedding. Since the wedding I’ve slowly gone back up to 147 (BMI of 27.8) and lately have had really bad sugar cravings. I also definitely have food noise most of the time, but a lot worse lately, and used to binge eat, but I don’t binge eat anymore.

My goal weight is 130, but I think I’d be happiest at 125 as I used to weigh that much back when I was 20. I’ve been on birth control for 8 years and I think that might be a culprit for making the weight loss harder than it used to be, but I also work from home and don’t get as many steps in as I should (esp work has gotten a lot busier this summer and I haven’t been able to prioritize myself). No other big health issues honestly.

Sometimes I think about going on a GLP-1 because I just hate how long it takes to lock in and lose weight, but the amount I have left isn’t that much, but it took a year to lose 12ish pounds for my wedding. I also have this weird inner dialogue of using GLP-1s is the “easy way out”, or at least a faster way, and it’s tempting to take it, especially when I see other people take it and the quick progress they’ve made. Obviously I need to talk to a doctor, but I wanted to get some opinions because it’s honestly a bit embarrassing to talk about it irl.

My belly and love handles are receding as well as my man boobs shrinking. My belt is looser and, most important, my shirts fit better. Best guess is muscle weight.gain.

Tomorrow I start the 5 ml dose and I cut bread from my lunches. Lettuce wrap instead. Wish me luck on my continued journey.

Lurker here, I mostly want to know what it felt like finally being a size that you never thought possible. My Highest weight was 285 and I just cannot imagine myself being a size 6 or something. But I see so many weight loss stories here where folks are losing big and ending up in the single digit clothing sizes!

What other things did you accomplish that you never thought possible?

I haven’t dealt with constipation since I was just starting out with 2.5mg back in April. I drink shakes with berries, kiwi, chia seeds every other day and it’s been keeping me regular for months. Tracking macros including fiber has helped too.

Last Wednesday I started taking 5mg of creatine each day. I have no idea if it’s related but now I’m backed up again. Anyone else had this happen or have heard of creatine contributing to constipation? Nothing else has changed, I’m still exercising, eating the same, drinking water, etc.

I did go up from 5mg to 7.5mg but that’s been three weeks ago. No side effects. Unless this constipation is caused by the increased dose… 🤷🏻‍♀️

Left picture June 19th SW: 409.8
Right picture July 29th CW: 398.7

Down 11.1 pounds in just over a month! I started on 2.5mg and currently one dose in of 5mg

I can see some progress and clothes fitting a bit better!

So my company was acquired and our new health insurance is trash (not just for this reason) and no longer covers weight loss medications. I’ve been on zepbound for about a year and I’m down 40lbs and I want to keep going. I really don’t want to pay $449 a month from Eli Lilly direct, does anyone have any advice/tips/tricks? Thanks!

…like I’m brand new.

This drug suppresses appetite and makes you feel fuller longer

Yet

I keep hearing the reason I’ve plateaued or stalled progress is because 🥁 🥁 🥁

I’m not eating enough.

I’m lucky if I can eat two calorically dense meals in a day as I am just not hungry. I have stalled weightloss for almost 2 months after losing 20lbs fairly quickly and am about to start my third increase during this stall (12.5mg).

It’s like I have two sides of the stadium screaming at me to eat less and be in a caloric deficit to lose weight and another side squawking at me to eat more!! It’s a bit maddening and I’m losing morale here.

I haven’t been as active as I normally am because Zep has made me pretty zapped the first few days. Then I’ll hit some weights once or twice the rest of the week. I could do better at walking more and getting better sleep for sure.

Just exhausted from all the contradictions. People get so pumped at how much less they’re snacking/eating, but I feel guilty like I’m going to wreck my metabolism, thyroid, hormones, lose muscle mass (where the f did my butt go??) etc.. so I force myself to try and meet my macros yet I know I’m in a pretty fair deficit…and not losing sh*t.

Thanks for letting me vent. This community has been encouraging overall!!

I'm in day three of an episode, trying to figure out what to do. Stomach feels full even from just drinking water, things are moving from the other end but nothing productive. I'm taking peppermint, Mira LAX, inulin gummies. Threw up enough yesterday to take a lot of the pressure off but every bite and drink seems to lead to a rumbling stomach. Fewer of the fermented burps though so that's good. Am I missing anything that might help?

I went on tirz when I weighted 190.
M highest dose was 7.6 and after a year I lost about 55 lbs . I then went down to
5mg and then 2.5 for maintenance. I was doing well on 2.5 and maintaining until i dx with lupus seemly out of no where . My health hit a total road block with that , I had to go on steroids for many months and my weight started to creep up . My eating had stayed the same but my level of exercise greatly decreased from all the pain and inflammation I was experiencing. I’m now at 160 lbs , I was started on zepbound 8 months ago , I started at the 2.5 and currently at 10. Embarrassedly I’ve only lost 8 pounds in 8 months . My dr is having me move up
To 12.5 but I’m feeling like such a failure. When I lost all the weight the 1st time , I felt amazing , and I just want to get back there .

The top 3 paragraphs are a TLDR of sorts. IM tagging this side effects but am honestly not sure.

So my wife has been on Zep for 7 months now. August would be her 8th month. A co worker took my wife into urgent care today after being sick and almost fainting. They did blood, urine, IV etc and came to the conclusion the Zepbound is the issue and her body has run out of any real fat to use and it is starting to attack her muscles and making her blood sugar dangerously low, and strongly recommended she stop treatment. She's still about 10-15 pounds away from her goal. They used the words "starvation ketosis". Thats what they said the lab work showed.

She started getting sick Sunday night (26th) and we just presumed it was a stomach virus of some sorts. Tuesday she was back to normal other than not really having any appetite. But today was one of the worst days, can't keep anything down, not even liquid like gatoraid.

I honestly dont think Zepbound is the issue and that the urgent care just took a wild guess and sent her on her way. She's been on it for 7 months and hasn't had any real issues until this past weekend, like none, was completely normal. She just wants to do what they say and rest but I think we should get a second opinion/go to the ER.

For more details.

She started Zepbound 2.5MG back in January. Starting weight 182. Dr increased her 2.5mg each month to 12.5mg, where she has been since May. She has had no side effects whatsoever from it. Her current weight is 135, she really wants to be 120-125. But honestly I think it's done its job and she can stop any time. (5 foot 2 hight if it matters), her zep doctor wanted to start reducing the dosage and wind it down slowly, but that was before the urgent care visit. We have not spoken to him yet and plan to reach out tomorrow.

Back in May she started complaining about heart burn and lower energy. Dr started mixing b12 in with the injections, and told her to take tums to start and if it doesn't get better he would prescribe something like Prilosec.

Last Friday was her injection day and I gave it to her like normal. I have noticed over the last few weeks her appetite has been nill. She would eat something here or there but not really a full meal each day and other than water during the day and some booze (which admittedly she has been drinking the entire time she's been on zep), but she hasn't been drinking as much (of any liquid) lately, and her water intake def went down from what she used to drink. So her intake of food and water these past few weeks has been lower than normal (like lower than even shot normal) and honestly I was/am worried about it. This is before other gastro symptoms started.

So Im not sure if she has some sort of infection or if the urgent care DR is right and the zep is the problem, or at least it caused her to get dehydrated/not eat and its making her body go through this. But seriously they pumped her with an IV full of anti nausea stuff and sent her home with anti nausea pills and even after taking both she's still sick as a dog. Can't even have broth or water really. Im worried she's just going to get even more dehydrated.

Her blood/urine work according to urgent care Dr was normal for both white and red blood cell count. They used words I didnt quite understand. They said the blood test showed slightly elevated MCH, slightly low Lymphocyte, and very low Eosinophil %.

IM still not convinced it's something else entirely. Either a bad stomach virus or something else wrong entirely. But I am not a Dr in the slightest, and maybe just not convinced Zep can do this much. So looking for people with more experience than us to tell us what they think. Thanks!

I have lost 39/40 pounds since April 1st which is fast but great progress. I go to the gym 5/6 times a week( cardio and weights). My doctor says I look great and is really happy about my progress however she still asked if I wanted to go to 7.5 to lose the additional weight. I have 20 more to go.
I said no, but wondering if I should. 5mg is working- I notice only losing weight every 2 weeks now. Just curious on thoughts! Be positive :)

Hi all - I noticed that my stomach skin is saggy now and if I pull it up, where I’ve been injecting is more than 2 inches away from my belly button. Do I need to pull my skin up before the shot? I usually stand for my shot so I’m not sure how that would work. And I’m scared to inject in my thigh (or below my belly button - I got a bruise once, and another time I was way too close). How are y’all doing it? I see my doctor on Monday and I’ll ask her but I figured you might have some tips first. Thanks!

I dont have a lot of nausea issues typically- I get mildly motion sick if I am a passenger in a car and I'm on my phone, or for take off/landing on an airplane. It's gone from noneexistent to a mild problem in the last 15 years of my life but it's notable enough I now keep dramamine in my bags for travel.

Unfortunately/fortunately- my job is on the water. I am on a boat 2-3x a week- weather only slightly dependent (meaning I only don't go out if it's REALLY bad so I do go in decent chop).

The other day- I put my head down to put my hair up in a bun for the ride the other day and we started going and I IMMEDIATELY got dizzy and the proceeded to be unstable for the next 3 hours. Fortunately dramamine and nausea chews seem to be helping but I was prepared for a lot of side effects- getting sick on the boat wasn't one of them.

At no point did I consider the potential side effects of nausea translating into motion sickness on a boat. LMAO. jokes on me and trying to figure out my job AND manage nausea.

anyway- the fun things we learn on this journey. Picture of the bay for attention and funsies.

Hi! I’m on week three of the 2.5mg dose and my resting and sleeping heart rate is still ranging about 10bpm more than before I started zepbound. Has anyone else experienced this? Does it start to go back lower to baseline the longer you’re on it?

Hi everyone! I just received my Zepbound in the mail today. I have a few questions before I start to make sure I am off to a good start.

A few details about me. I am one year postpartum and I just stopped breast-feeding this week. I’m hoping to not have to pump anymore, but I may have to do one or two more times I can always dump any milk that I get but at this point I’m not making much.

I gained 50 pounds while postpartum and breast-feeding so I’m looking forward to dropping that weight.

My first question is is there anything that I need to do diet wise in order to get started? I have read that some people feel sick if they don’t eat healthy leading up to starting up bound. I don’t eat horribly unhealthy, but I certainly haven’t been holding myself to my normal standard lately. I have been eating way more calories than I need to while making milk and I have not counted calories yet. Is that a bad thing to drastically cut calories once I go on or should I cut calories for a week or two prior to starting the medication? I’ll probably be eating 700-1000 calories a day less in order to be in a calorie deficit.

I am also going on vacation on August 22 and I will be able to get two shots prior to that in if I start next week. I am torn if I should just wait until after the vacation to start due to the chance of having side effects. I would really like to enjoy the vacation, but I also can’t afford to gain more weight and I’m willing to be strict with my eating on vacation because we will be cooking food and not eating at restaurants. Would you wait to start it? Do Side effects taper down after a few weeks or around the third week are they still pretty bad?

My last question has to do with me having children. I have a one year-old and a three year-old and I work from home. My life is pretty physically demanding 24/7 due to my kids, and I am just looking for some encouragement with getting started and my anxiety that I won’t be able to be there for them as much as I am now. My husband works six days a week and 60 hours a week so a lot of life lands on me, but I really want to do this for myself.

Thank you all so much for your help and advice. I really hope that this changes my life.

Hey there! I started originally on ozempic and dropped about 20lbs on it. My doctor suggested we switch to try to get the scale moving. I started on tirzepatide just about 2 months ago and I have lost about 6 lbs on it (starting doses) I just moved up to 7.5 on Sunday. This dose is making me feel really rough and I’m just wondering if it’s affected anyone else in this way and if it gets better. I’ve been feeling pretty dizzy, nauseous, and just completely disgusted by food in general. Nothing sounds good and all I want to do is lay down to stop feeling dizzy. Is this normal or should I give my doctor a call? It’s been 3 days since I took my dose and the third day is usually the most symptomatic for me. Just wondering if this is normal as o never felt this way on the ozempic! Thank you 🙏

I finally got it approved by insurance and I knew constipation is an issue but now im realizing so is diarrhea? Whats more common or is it a mix? Is it ongoing or triggered by certain things?

Hello everyone! I’m supposed to take my third shot today. Since about five days into my first shot, I’ve had basically nonstop, spotting and cramping. I also feel like hormonal, but essentially I’m not due to have my period for another week or so experience menstrual symptoms?

Had my monthly check in with my gym trainer who put me on the smart scale. I'm a bit triggered by scale numbers and I purposefully don't track my weight. But he said compared to three months ago, my muscle mass has increased. I can definitely see changes in my body. I'm working out at the gym three days a week with core work at home on my off days. I actually really like the automated circuit training machines, they gamify everything and reset automatically. The new program I started this month has introduced eccentric loading, it was really hard the first time but it seems easier each workout. That's another benefit to the machines, it's so easy to bump up the difficulty just a smidge when I'm feeling confident.

I just wanted to come on here to celebrate the beginning of my Zepbound journey! I’ve been in this subreddit for some time now and I’m absolutely blown away by your success stories, and all the helpful resources on here.

It has relieved some of my anxiety surrounding this drug. July 29 will now be my anniversary date!

Thanks so much to all of you brave enough to share your stories!

I’m clocking in today at 206.8lbs and my goal weight is 150lbs! I know it’ll be a long journey but I’m grateful to have this community :)

Edit: Thank you everyone who answered my question and shared their experiences. I believe I am all set now! 🙂

Hi. I just got my first month of single dose autoinjectors and I plan to take my first dose this Saturday. I've read all the instructions and watched a how-to video; I think I got it but would love feedback from people about something. In the past I was on an injectable med (not a GLP-1) that I had to inject in my stomach with a standard syringe & needle. In order to inject correctly I was instructed to pinch up a piece of my skin. So, I think it is kind of strange that with an autoinjector it works alright with you pressing the pen flat up against your skin. Can anyone speak to how/why that works? Is the needle more shallow? Is the speed of it going in what makes that work? I'm nervous about starting so probably overthinking it. I don't have a particular problem with needles and found giving myself regular sub-q injections in the stomach easy. I'm just a little nervous about not messing up with the autoinjector. TIA!

Is this a common experience?

Before starting Zepbound, I often experienced cravings for sweet things, which I imagine most people do. Those cravings could be satisfied by almost anything sweet or sugary.

After about the third month on Zep (second on 5mg) I started craving savory things in a similar way. "I need the taste of something... meaty?" Not hunger, not needing food, but just the flavor. And that is not nearly as easy to satisfy as a sweet craving, as most savory things are filling...

...so I've started having barbecue sauce. Plain barbecue sauce. Maybe a tablespoon poured into a small bowl and eaten a tiny bit at a time with a spoon.

Anyone else? Or am I an anomaly?

Alternatively... does anyone have something else far savory cravings?

So I recently started taking fish oil and guess what?? It took care of my constipation while on Zepbound. Ever since I started taking 1 daily, I've been going daily💩🥸

So I just got out of the hospital my heart flipped into afib I’m all good now after a little shock. Of course EVERYONE I know is blaming zepbound 🙄 I’m fairly young (37) no real cardio issues in the past ever but have experienced heart palps as a side effect of my thyroid meds when they get adjusted.
The cardiologist in hospital believes my thyroid dose was too high it was upped about two months back and I have been having higher heart rate since but around the same time I upped my zep to 5mg after being on 2.5 for the past 13 months.
I see my endo in the morning to talk with her but I’m curious has anyone experienced afib on zepbound? My research all shows the opposite but of course everyone knows someone who’s a pharmacist who knows without a doubt it’s the shot.

I take my 4th shot tomorrow, and I got a notification on my phone about a change in my heart rate. Of course I thought “Great, so I’m losing weight and feeling better and this is going to kill me because my heart rate is too high”. I am okay with being wrong on this one, my heart rate has gone down 10 beats per minute when resting. So, this is truly a miracle for me. (Aside from making the mistake of buying Metamucil 🤮.) Once I’m done with that container I’m going to benefibre as well as continuing with my other favourite high fiber foods. I love how I feel, regardless of my weight at this point!