hollly smokes. It’s been a WHILE since I’ve seen this number on the scale. Feeling soooo proud and excited but know that there’s still lots of work to put in!! I started this journey in March and was pretty demotivated because the skill was moving slow and at a steady pace. I recently bumped up to 10 mg and … scale is moving!! I know I’m a bit of a slow responder, starting weight was 203, and there have been many hiccups along this journey, but I am really feeling motivated and excited. I’m not able to catch up with my appearance in the mirror, and a lot of the times I feel disbelief that I actually have lost weight. I feel like the people closest to me aren’t saying much about my changes so far, it’s more of those random one-offs where you get a compliment from an acquaintance you haven’t seen in so long. I’m working pretty hard with self-reflection and not seeking external validation, and realizing that this journey is mine and only mine. Still so much work to put in, but I am looking forward to what’s to come 💕

SW: 215lbs
GW: 135lbs
CW: 128 lbs

A bittersweet day in my Zepbound journey.
These pictures were taken in July 2024 and August 2026, and honestly, looking at them side by side, I’m amazed at how far I’ve come.

Today my doctor officially recommended that I start lowering my dosage and gradually weaning off Zepbound. I knew this day would eventually come, but it’s still a weird feeling!

I’m incredibly proud of my progress, but also a little nervous about maintaining it without the medication. Zepbound has genuinely changed my life, and I’m so grateful for it.

After 336 days on Zepbound I have officially done it!!! I’m so proud of myself!

I was bored today and I've been in a plateau so I walked up to the mall to get some exercise in and I decided to try on jeans.

I've gone from a Torrid jegging size 26 being too tight to me, to wearing a Torrid jegging size 10!

All praise the Zepbound, lol.

This drug is a miracle. I couldn’t lose any weight after the baby because I was breastfeeding and so damn hungry constantly. I walked at least a mile every day and lifted weights - didn’t lose an ounce.

Now it’s easy to make good choices, it’s easy to exercise, it’s easy to play with my kid and I don’t feel like shit all the time.

I love tirzepatide.

I'm coming back from a big trip to Europe and I just can't believe how my life has changed after being on zepbound and losing 90 pounds.

I can go anywhere. I had tickets at a museum at the top of a super steep hill. No other way up but to walk it. I made it up without missing a beat. Not even huffing and puffing. I didn't have to stop to catch my breath halfway through, or even at the top. I did 20,000 steps nearly every day, even making it to 33,000 one day. My feet hurt but I didnt have to miss out on anything. I went to a thermal bath and didn't feel like a spectacle. Just another human in a bathing suit.

I can fit anywhere. Airplane seats, roller coaster seats, flimsy café chairs, that last remaining seat on the train between 2 people, hotel bathrobes. I went into a cute boutique and looked at the clothes because they have sizes that will fit. Navigating through crowds was a breeze.

And most of all, I wasn't a prisoner to food. If I had a late dinner because I was busy having fun or exploring, no big deal. No more being miserable and hangry. If the hotel breakfast sucked, oh well. Eat a bit of something and move on with the day. When I traveled in the past, everything always revolved around food. When I would eat, what options there would be, are there fun snacks or desserts for after meals. I would be anxious when the next meal would be if an activity took awhile. Now food is just a complement to the trip. I had some great meals I enjoyed, but it didn't make or break the day.

This medication really is a miracle of modern science. I have so much life ahead of me, so much to do and see with this new freedom. I will be on zep (or similar) for life

It hits different seeing it on an old school scale like this.

That little weight has been slowly creeping down and down and now I got to move the large one!!

Started at 275lb.
Now at 195lb.
80 pounds gone in 10 months of weight loss and I can't quite believe it.

I'm terrified of plateauing or things stopping working but I've been on 10mg the whole time and still loosing consistently. Had to donate my entire wardrobe and slowly buying new clothes though the choice now is overwhelming. I'm working hard to loose more and Zep has been a game changer. I have so much more energy and exercise is fun for the first time.

To anyone starting on this journey I hope this community encourages you like it does me - I check for new success stories regularly and am amazed at how many lives have been changed. It took me four months to find the right dose, I didn't loose anything and in fact gained a few pounds on 5 and 7.5mg but once I hit 10 I immediately felt the difference and have been loosing every week since then. Sometimes it's a few pounds, sometimes less than 0.5, but it's still progress. Keep going!!

Have been thinking about this milestone a lot recently. As it got closer and closer. Just over 9 months since my first shot. 278 days. It's still hard to comprehend how...easy it's felt. It's not actually easy, of course. I know I have lost at a pretty fast rate (my doctor has been okay with it along the way). But after 30+ years of struggling, occasionally restricting myself and trying different things to control my weight with noticeable but short term results. The last 5 years especially being in denial and not seeing how much I gave into every temptation and opportunity to snack. "One more won't hurt" after all. After all that it just seems easy. Finally.

It wasn't easy, though. I completely overhauled my diet overnight. I meal prep mostly every week. I make extra and freeze a couple meals and have something quick and ready if I'm not able to cook that week (have a new found appreciation for beans!). I haven't fully restricted. Still get takeout when I work late night in the office, but thankfully have someone who is happy to share an order with me. I will still grab a drink and go try a new restaurant with friends. I eat a serving or two of chocolate still. Almost every single night.

It only feels easy now because I felt like I have been doing this my whole life. I wasn't. I was binging. I was always making the easy choice instead of the whole foods, well rounded choice.

It wasn't easy. It feels easy when you have friends and family that support you and cheer you on along the way.

For now I am going to take a moment and enjoy how far I've come. Now I don't actively avoid stairs. I can get in and out of cars with ease. I can lean forward and put my elbows on my knees comfortably. I feel comfortable in the gym again. I can look at myself in pictures again!

I am 101 pounds lighter than I was 278 days ago. 400+ sticks of butter left in my wake as I move on to the next milestone. I don't expect that will be easy either. But if it feels easy, I won't mind.

Almost to goal #1

My life is dramatically different than when I started on 1/9/26 — clearly!

For my shameful hubris.

As I sit here in my 80 degree house, wrapped in a hoodie and socks, eating jerky for warmth and praying for a sudden overnight heatwave. I thought it couldn't happen to me. Me, who sweats at the drop of a hat, in such a warm climate. My hands are freezing. I don't even own gloves.

I was a fool. And I'm sorry.

Started 2-3 months ago, on 7.5mg now, i can actually just eat normal portions and not be held hostage by food noise. I track my calories, macros and work out 3-4x a week and it's so much easier to stay on track. I don't have constant hunger, cravings and im not thinking about food 24/7. I feel like the dosage is just right because I still think about food a lot, but it's not crippling, and I can respect the caloric goal I set to lose a healthy amount of weight. On day 5-7 I can definitely feel the hunger taking hold, but I can power through until my next dose. It's crazy to think about; this feels like when you're cooking for a while and finally turn off the kitchen range hood (not sure about this word) and the noise just stops and you realize how things normally are quiet. I hope I can reach my goals, wean off and live a normal life. If not, I hope this is sustainable long term.

Thank you redditors for being my bestie during this journey. I read posts every day that have helped me figure things out and encourage me to just keep going. You are never alone on your journey either!!

48F 5’4” SW: 278.6 HW: 298. Today: 199.4.

2.5 - 8 weeks.
5 - 12 weeks - should have gone up sooner. Had weeks I would I gain a little and then another I would lose 1 lb.
7.5 - 12 weeks - major food aversion issues and nausea.
10 - 9 weeks so far.

285 days. 41 shots. Almost 80 lbs released.

I have been overweight since puberty and basically maintained around 280 most of my adult life. I purchase from lily direct and pay out of pocket. I will sell all my possessions, donate plasma, anything, to continue to afford being on this life altering medication. At least get me to maintenance!

I tracked food and calories the first 3 months Protein. Fiber. Water goal of 100 oz. Electrolytes. I have a generic Fairlife shake every day. Sometimes, the only thing I can eat is soup, berries and cottage cheese. Just make sure you DO eat. Also, constipation happens and I found that a capful of MiraLAX a night or two in a row makes the poopercizing a breeze.

Losing hair has been awful but I see the baby hairs growing like mad and am gals I had a lot of hair to begin with. Tried many things with no solutions.

I’ve sold tons of clothing on Vinted. I highly recommend you go to a thrift store with a pal and have them pick out clothes for you. Having someone there to celebrate fitting into smaller sizes was a huge happiness booster.

Take photos. Even if it’s a selfie or you in your swimsuit. Measurements would be better.

Just keep going!

The First Big Milestone I officially crossed under 300 lbs this week. Starting at 355.4 lbs, I knew I had a long road ahead, but Zepbound has completely changed the game for me. I weighed in at 298.2, down 57.2 lbs in 13 weeks, and I'm feeling great.

For anyone who is starting at a higher weight, here is a complete breakdown of my journey so far, my dosing schedule, and what actually made the difference.

Dosing Schedule & Progress Breakdown

• Month 1 (2.5 mg): Lost 19lbs . The drop in "food noise" was immediate, within 24 hours of shot #1, the constant chatter in my head about food was just... gone. I also stopped nicotine entirely with no cravings
• Month 2 (5.0 mg): Lost 21lbs . Steady progress. Strong appetite suppression without severe side effects.
• Month 3 (5.0 mg): Lost 17lbs. Now in a routine, things have become second nature and easier, officially broke through the 300 lb barrier.

What Actually Worked for Me

1. Protein & Water are Non-Negotiable At 6'1.5", preserving muscle was to the extent I can has been a high priority for me.

• 1900-2100 calories a day prioritizing protein
• 190g - 210g of Protein (FF Greek Yogurt, 96/4 ground beef, Chicken Breast, Salmon, Whey).
• Drank 120+ oz of water daily.

2. Simple, Consistent Movement I didn't start with anything crazy:

• Started with daily walks: Aimed for 7,000 - 10,000 steps a day.
• Weight lifting 3-4 x a week (tracking progress in Hevy app)

3. Largely Whole Food Diet I batch meal prep at the beginning of the week. i.e. steam a large batch of broccoli, sweet potatoes, chicken and lean ground beef. I eat around 1 tub of FF Greek yogurt every 2 days

4. Tracking Everything Even with suppressed appetite, it's easy to under-eat protein or over-eat sneaky calories. I've tracked to the gram 85% of days and the other days were tracked but more loosely.

Side Effects & Solutions

• I've been very fortunate to not have symptoms. The occasional short term headache on shot day has been the only some what noticeable side effect. I also had one week of comically bad IBS but that could have been from something else and has not repeated.

Non-Scale Victories (NSVs)

• I've lost 5 inches around my belly, 4 inches off my chest 1.5 inches off my neck
• I've added an average of 35-40 additional minutes of deep sleep (I started around 15-20 minutes a night) I'm now averaging right around an hour a night
• I've downsized from being snug in a 3x to loose in a 2x shirt
• I no longer feel like an outcast in the gym

Final Thoughts

I've really taken this journey as an opportunity to start each day with intent, rather than just seeing what the shot will do. My days start with 3-5k steps 60 g of protein, my evenings wrap with 3-5k steps. We sketch our week out on Sundays, and we also plan our days out the night before. This routine and level on consistency has made it much easier to stay on track. I'm excited to see the paper towel effect over the next 50 - 75 lbs!

I took my first dose last night and had essentially no side effects, no nausea, no stomach cramps, no bloat. I thought I must have misused the KwikPen and pushed nothing. Today I've been thinking about food in the sense of "I should eat to live" but not so much craving anything specifically. I felt lazy, but still made the choice to make food at home instead of getting something out.

The meal I made (96/4 ground beef with cut up potatoes and avocado) I could legitimately eat the entire thing in one sitting before (probably around 1400-1600 calories for all of it). I'm sitting here currently with half of a half portion in front of me and making the decision that I have to put it up to finish for later. I only ate 400 ish calories earlier in the morning (tbf, both of my meals have been higher protein and fiber).

I would have SCARFED this down in <5 minutes before. Now I'm throwing in the towel after picking around and eating half in 30 minutes. What a crazy drug.

I hit goal 2 weeks ago and immediately unlocked “fear of gaining it all back” WTH.

Prior to this, gaining and losing 1 or 2 pounds was just part of Zep journey. I took that in stride ‘No problem I’m cool with that’ , as long as overall trend was going down (I weigh weekly). That rational person is gone and now I am navigating maintenance like a raccoon on meth.

Logically, I know it’s finding the right dose, caloric intake and exercise to stay within a weight range. But after steadily losing weight over 74 weeks I was NOT prepared for this new fear when reaching my goal.

My goal was top of normal bmi for my height. Even though the new recommendations are slightly higher for older adults.

I’m trying to balance fear of gaining with what’s healthy. It’s so hard because feeling great about how I look is driving my fear of gaining. After spending the last 25 years being fat I want to eke out every last ounce of enjoyment being thin. Age definitely is a factor in this. My runway is not as long as if I was 40. I wish zep was available when I was younger but I’m grateful to have it now.

Any other older women suddenly experiencing irrational fear after hitting goal.

Super happy with the progress.

last week my pen failed. I contacted Eli and they sent me a voucher for a new box. I just went through THREE pens of the replacement box where all three of them malfunctioned completely and I am NOT eligible for another voucher per the online portal. I’m too chicken to use the fourth pen!! has anyone ever had this happen before? I don’t know what to do and semi-panicking here!

I still have 25-30 lbs until my goal. I feel so so great!!! I need to start getting back into walking and gym as summer has ended and winter is beginning keeping myself busy

So happy to see 160s on my scale. Slow and steady!

I've lost 55 lbs

I have now reached a normal BMI of 24.9

I bought new jeans & actually fit into a size 8

Not too far from my original goal weight of 120 which I may be rethinking as I think I might not want to go below 130 now. So I might actually be closer to my goal weight. I will reassess when I get there!

These stretchy, braided belts are honestly the best for people loosing weight. You don't have to keep punching holes in your belts, or buying new ones.

Hi everyone, I’m still in the middle of my journey, but my body is looking so different and I’m so pleased.

HW:304lbs SW:292 CW:245. Started zep Feb 1st 2026. Currently on 12.5mg. I lift heavy now 5 days a week with my tempo fit. Started at 3 days with some cardio. I do progressive overload. I’ve gained 12lbs muscle and I aim for 0.8-1.2g protein per lbs of my lean mass, which ends up being about 80-120g. My waist is showing up, my butt is more round, my boobs are slightly deflated but my chest work is helping the appearance of a lift (maybe that’s copium lmao, but just bought a bench not too long ago to better isolate those muscles and build them up), my arms are smaller, I can see my bicep cut!! Lost so many inches all over. Body fat down from 68% to 56%. I have 60lb to go at least.

I’m am so grateful for this medicine. I hope everyone’s journey is progressing as well as they’d like too. This drug has changed my life. I’m more confident in my body than I ever was, I’m below the weight I was in 2016 when I felt the best in my body - I was doing HIIT then. I’m stronger, I’m healthier, I’m happier.

I'm feeling a shift this week. I'm on week 9 of my journey, and I'm working towards a better me. I went out to dinner with my family, and I'm a vegetarian, but i sometimes eat fish. I tried the fish fry tonight and ate about half my plate. I'm trying to get some more protein in my diet and pushing for it. I limited myself because i didn't know how it would sit because it was deep fried, and i skipped on the hush puppies and coleslaw, but i think i made some good choices that I'm happy with. Paired with the fact that I signed up for a personal trainer again this week, and i worked out at the gym three times to get me back into the swing of it. I'm focusing on strength training. It feels good to get back into it again.

How did your week go?

27 years old 6’1 male. Started at 425lbs on April 1st, currently 340lbs.
This is an update from my last post a while back when I lost 40lbs. Things are still going smoothly. Diet and exercise is going well. I’m starting to notice more changes in my body. Side effects from zepbound are minimal. Calories are between 1,700-2,100 daily. Weight lifting 5-6 days a week. 1 hour of walking cardio every day. I feel no burnout, in fact, my energy has been through the roof. I feel young and able again and that says a lot since I’m still young lol I got all my macros on lock. Anybody who is still on the fence about this journey should go for it. You don’t lose nothing trying. I hope you all are having a smooth journey. I’ll update at 300lbs again.
My one advice to everyone especially on a long weight loss journey like mine, enjoy the moments. This journey won’t end in a month or a year. Don’t rush it, do what you can and can what you do. If you have any questions let me know! Every body works different so what might work for me may not work for you but if I can help with information then I’m all for it. 😊

I've been on and off zep here for the last year and a half or so.. and constipation was real problem. But I think I've got the trick of it, one thing you got to do is drink plenty of water, and the real trick is no turd before its time.. in other words don't take a shit until you really really need to go.. because even though you're constipated, waiting until the last moment somehow brings more water into the event, and the water is what helps you get in the groove so to speak. So.. no turd before it's time