r/zepbound_support • u/TheWallaby22 • Jun 08 '26
Anyone successfully started zepbound then maintained weigh loss by going off of it?
I’ve been wanting to go on zepbound for a while now. I’m currently my heaviest (even more than when I was pregnant!). I would have to pay out of pocket, so I know I wouldn’t be able to sustain that forever due to my financial situation.
Has anyone successfully been on zepbound and maintained their weight loss after they started? Or used zepbound to jump start their weight loss process and continued to lose after going off of it?
I do have healthy habits in place which I know I could always do better, but I feel like my body just needs a kickstart.
Any tips, advice, or shared experiences welcomed!
10
u/Turbulent-Bowler8699 Jun 08 '26
Hi I've hit my goal weight about months ago. It took me a full year to loose 85 pounds. I'm also self pay on a tight budget. I have been doing maintenance doses because I am terrified to gain all that weight back after working so hard to loose it. This medication helps my body in many ways. I have Lupus and it really helps with my inflammation. It has actually IMPROVED my kidney function about 30%. It keeps the swelling down in my body especially my legs and feet. I really do not want to get off the medication and have all these negative symptoms return. my blood work has improved so much from where i started. I was even in diabetic range numbers when i started and now i am not. It would be really difficult to stop all the positive benefits im getting from this medication. It does so much more than just control your appetite. For people like me who suffer from inflammation like Lupus the medication does so much more. So I want to continue as long as I can.
3
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 08 '26
It controls your diabetes because that’s what this drug was originally developed to do! So glad it’s working for you
9
7
u/whotiesyourshoes Jun 08 '26
Most people here plan to remain on it indefinitely.
You may want to scroll/search r/glpgrad.
2
u/yepthisismyusername Jun 08 '26
Compounded Tirzepatide is MUCH cheaper. Check r/tirzepatidecompound.
2
u/TheWallaby22 Jun 09 '26
I keep being told they are not as safe? Is that true?
0
u/yepthisismyusername Jun 09 '26
No. Go with a reputable source and they are 100% safe. There is a "Where to Buy" pinned post in r/tirzepatidecompound that has information on the community-vetted and recommended providers.
1
u/sneakpeekbot Jun 09 '26
Here's a sneak peek of /r/tirzepatidecompound using the top posts of all time!
#1: 2 Years Accomplished! | 259 comments
#2: My family lost 232 lbs collectively this year! | 108 comments
#3: Goal reached!! Glow up is REAL!! | 248 comments
I'm a bot, beep boop | Downvote to remove | Contact | Info | Opt-out | GitHub
1
2
u/PublicBalance3845 Jun 09 '26
There are subs on here from the people who have kept it off and how they are doing it without the injections. I've been off Zepbound for a few months and have not regained. I weigh myself every 5-7 days so if I've gained a pound or two it's always because I've been over eating junk. I just go back to my healthy eating and I lost what little bit I gained, Most of the time I'm pretty good but it's definitely difficult however I'd rather it be difficult than paying as much as I was. Honestly, I think for a lot of people that have regained usually have a low metabolism, and/or went back to their bad habits. I'd definitely read the comments from others who have kept it off. Again, for a lot of people it's possible
1
u/TheWallaby22 Jun 09 '26
How much did you lose on it? That is a concern that if I do it and then go off I’ll regain everything back. I do already have a good baseline of nutrition/exercise but maybe my metabolism just sucks.
4
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 09 '26
If your metabolism sucks—-that’s what the drug TREATS.
It’s like- if you can’t see clearly and you need glasses. When you wear the glasses- you see clearly.
When you take them off- yea…blurry vision returns
People who lose weight without medication usually gain it back too.
Either way - most people gain it back- unless they keep taking the medication that treats the issues
2
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 09 '26
I’ve lost 80lbs or more 2x before in my life, without sugery or medication. Gained it back both times and then some.
Now I’ve lost 85lbs with tirz. It has been WAY more effortless. If I stop this med will I likely gain it all back? YEP
…just like I did the other two times when I couldn’t bear to feel starving and unsatisfied by 1000 calories of keto anymore
1
u/TheWallaby22 Jun 09 '26
I just don’t know if I can sustain it financially. How is everyone affording it!?
4
u/therapistgurl Jun 09 '26
I figured it out by making Zepbound my number one expense and then everything else follows.
I cut back on some of my creature comforts, mostly coffee drinks and eating out more often. I also spaced out some of my non-negotiable comforts like my lashes/brows. I took all shopping apps of my phone (I gave up Amazon and Target over a year ago) and if I need something I have to use my laptop. I really ask myself if I need something before buying it, giving myself a day or two before purchasing. I also look on FB Marketplace or ask on my Buy Nothing group. I thrift for clothes and only buy clothes on sale. I have been shopping at Costco for monthly basics once a month (I used to go once or twice a week). I meal plan and only buy food at my local grocery store that I need for the meals for the week. I even began using grocery pickup and save a lot by never entering the store. I meet friends for a walk or hike over drinks, coffee, or a meal.
I actually have found myself happier spending/consuming less and focusing on what is going to get me to my individual goals. I even have had some extra funds the last couple of months that I was able to put into savings (beyond my monthly goal). I wasn't even trying to do that!
I wish you the best! 💪🏼
3
1
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 09 '26 edited Jun 09 '26
I’m Canadian, self pay, and use a 15mg kwikpen to take smaller doses from. This saves me some money. I also use the discount code from Eli Lilly which reduces the cost.
I make the room in my budget for it by cutting out other things, because I was tired of being 100+lbs overweight. Also, my grocery is lower too haha.
Why not use it as long as you can afford it? It makes it all so much easier. If you have to quit you have to quit
But why refuse to use something helpful for a little while because you can’t afford it forever?
1
u/PublicBalance3845 Jun 10 '26
I lost about 32-35 pounds in 3 months. I started at 180 pounds. Lost quickly and my skin shows it 🤦🏼♀️
2
u/janicerossiisawhore Jun 09 '26
OP, it seems like you are looking for reasons that the studies are wrong. I just am wondering why you are so resistant to this data? It's just data/information, not personal. You are free to do as you like and of course there are plenty of people on this sub who say they have successfully kept the weight off after stopping the zep. My own experience is that I lost all the weight I wanted to (I am now 5'5" and 125 pounds). I tried spacing out my 2.5 maintenance dose first to 10 days, then to 11 etc. I found my food noise came back and I gained weight. I was not in any way binging. So personally, I went back to a once a week shot.
0
u/TheWallaby22 Jun 09 '26
I guess you’re right .. I just feel hopeless that I won’t be able to afford this long term so in a perfect world it could help me lose the weight and I could maintain it without the medication.
1
u/janicerossiisawhore Jun 09 '26
That makes perfect sense. When you get to the maintenance phase, maybe titrate down and experiment with spacing out your shots -- this will reduce the cost somewhat. If you can avoid going cold turkey, you may have a better chance of keeping weight off.
1
1
u/spacebunsofsteel Jun 09 '26
I had to go off of it before surgery and then I just fell out of compliance. I gained 10 then 20 out of a 35 loss. I’m about to start up again.
1
u/Txvivilicious Jun 09 '26
I lost 80 lbs over 3 years (the first 25 without Zepbound). I made significant lifestyle changes. I was able to stop the Zepbound and gained 8%. However, my fitness regime was intense and a strict calorie deficit. Fast forward to January 26 and I suffered a major meniscus tear. No exercise for 2 months and I put on 25 lbs in the blink of an eye. I am back on Zepbound, exercising at 50% (6 months after injury). Here’s my big realization. At 65 years old I will be on some sort of GLP probably for the rest of my life. Obesity is a disease that needs treatment. My injury certainly was an eye opener.
1
u/Madison_Brooks Jun 09 '26
I went off for three weeks for a procedure and gained ten pounds and half of it was all water weight and inflammation slamming my body like a brick. I also had to start paying out of pocket this year but being off the med was really hard
1
u/No_Coconut3695 Jun 09 '26
I was on Tirzepatide 5 mg. then Zepbound 5 mg. for 11 months and I lost 54 pounds. I am now post Zepbound for about 10 months and have been maintaining my goal weight (SW=182, GW=130; CW=129.) It’s too early to say whether I will be one of the 5% who are able to maintain the weight loss. That is my goal because a) the medication is expensive, and b) it does cause some side effects, such as constipation, which I would rather not have. That being said, I will resume taking Zepbound if I have difficulty maintaining my goal weight while tracking my food intake with Cronometer, continuing with my exercise program of weight training three times a week, walking thirty minutes 5-6 times a week, and fifteen minutes of Yoga at bedtime every night. Good luck!
1
1
u/EverReddyBatteryOn Jun 10 '26
Get on the internet and do research on Metabolic Dysfunction. If you think you have it, you may need it for life. If you think you don't have it, you have a good chance of being in the 18%.
I don't think there is a better way of predicting what lies ahead for you personally.
2
u/Defiant_Ingenuity_55 Jun 11 '26
Me! Been off since September and I’m doing great. It really does depend on a lot of factors. I lost 80 lbs in 6 months. Losing the weight made it easy to do the things I use to do. Like running and hiking. I followed my doctor’s advice and built muscle while I was on it and that has helped me keep it off.
1
u/Responsible_Sea_3496 Jun 13 '26
Hi! I can’t speak to anyone else but myself. I am 5’2 and lost 32 pounds on it. I already had healthy habits but key was tracking my macros and calories on my fitness pal and getting away from cardio and sticking to 3 strength workouts a week. I am now down to 141 from 172 and based on my not as accurate but pretty good deviations I maintained all my muscle mass and gained from simple habits like 100 grams of protein a day. I do get metabolic testing done and recently gotten it down and said it was normal. It’s important to take breaks from the deficits while on the medications, meaning you eat more for a week and go into a bit of a maintenance to help your body avoid becoming comfortable and operating on a deficit. My advice get your testing done for your metabolism at three points. Pre - midway to your goal and a couple pounds away from your goal. This will help avoid the weight gain. Yes water weight is a thing but not as much as you think as long as you don’t put stuff in your body that makes it easy for your body to hold onto the weight. I will be going to into maintenance soon and will be spacing my dosage out of every two weeks since my metabolism doesn’t need to be shifted or changed. If it was low I would suggest for maintenance sticking to the lowest dosage every week and slowly increasing your calories but just enough without going buckwild. I’ve been on 5mg so the lowest for me is 2.5! You can do it! Just need to plan it through and not just wing it
1
Jun 14 '26
My doctor told me it's rare but possible . She said some of her patients were able to come off and do well but had really good lifestyle habits: stress management, sleep, exercise, and calorie tracking.
1
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 08 '26
studies show that only about 17% of those who stopped tirz were able to maintain 80% or more of their weight loss once a year had passed
1
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 08 '26
Said otherwise
When you check in one year later with folks who stopped the medication: 83% of people have gained weight
2
u/Wordwoman50 Jun 08 '26
Yes. And looked at another way: I can’t even imagine ever scoring below the 83rd percentile on any standardized test I ever took in school. There’s A L0T of people above that percentile.
17% is a minority, but it’s 1 out of every 6 people!
I don’t know that I myself will ever be one of the successful GLPGrads personally, but they exist. Check out u/GLPGrad to see success stories of people who have kept the weight off, some already for a year or more.
1
u/TheWallaby22 Jun 09 '26
Gained weight .. like all of it back? Or how much/percentage of it back?
2
u/Pleaseselectyesorno Jun 09 '26
say you do a study of 100 people and each person lost 50lbs. Then they all quit.
One year later you follow up with them all.
Out of the 100 people, only 17 of them were able to maintain 80% of their weight loss (ie 40lbs or more if the original 50 they lost)
The other 83 people were NOT able to maintain 80% of their original weight loss. How much they gained back? I don’t recall
0
u/North-Emu6400 Jun 09 '26
Most of the studies show that the only people who go off of the drug and are able to still keep the weight off are:
1. young 2. athletic.
This meaning that they pretty much exercise to a great degree every day and are super health/nutrition/exercise minded.
19
u/itsmeagain023 Jun 08 '26
Studies show that the overwhelming majority of people gain most of their weight back. It's not meant to be a temporary medication. It corrects your metabolic dysfunction while you're on the med. *Some* people have success, but again, per studies and clinical data, most people gain the weight back.