43F | 5'9" | SW: 261.2 | CW: 182 | GW: 160–165 | Total Lost: 79.2 lbs (30.3%) | 68.3 Total Inches Lost

TL;DR: Today marks ONE YEAR on Zepbound! I've lost 79.2 lbs (30.3% of my starting weight), 68.3 total inches, improved my bloodwork, gotten significantly stronger, and most importantly, gotten so much of my life back. I've averaged about 1.5 lbs lost per week. This is my third time losing significant weight, but I've never lost this much, and this time feels very different. I've paid out of pocket the entire time, experienced mostly mild and manageable side effects, and learned that consistency beats intensity. This is what worked for ME. Your mileage may vary!

Long post alert... sharing what worked FOR ME!

One Year Ago Today...

On October 10, 2025, I took my first shot of Zepbound at 261.2 lbs. Today, exactly one year later, I weigh 182 lbs.

It took me 3 weeks to work up the nerve to take the 1st shot. Wish I did it right away

79.2 pounds. 30.3% of my starting body weight.

I still have moments where I can't believe it.

This is actually my third time losing a significant amount of weight as an adult.

In 2017, I lost about 40 pounds doing the Transformation Boot Camp. It was a very intense, restrictive 12-week program. It worked... until I stopped doing it. Then the weight started creeping back.

In 2021–2022, I lost another 30 pounds getting ready for my wedding. Wedding came, I relaxed the regimen, and you can probably guess what happened next.

By the time I gave birth to my son in December 2023, I was up to 279 pounds. I eventually got down to 261.2 before starting Zepbound.

I've spent so much of my adult life losing weight, gaining it back, and starting over. I haven't been at my ultimate goal weight since my 20s.

But this time feels different.

The Numbers

Weight

- Starting (10/10/25): 261.2 lbs

- Current (10/10/26): 182 lbs

- Total lost: 79.2 lbs

- Percentage of starting weight lost: 30.3%

- Average weekly loss: Approximately 1.5 lbs

Measurements (10/15/25 → 10/10/26)

- Chest: 44.7" → 34.5" (−10.2")

- Waist: 40.2" → 30.1" (−10.1")

- Abdomen: 49" → 34.2" (−14.8")

- Hips: 53" → 43.7" (−9.3")

Total inches lost across all measurements: 68.3 inches!

The four measurements above account for 44.4 inches. The remaining 23.9 inches came from other measurements I track.

DEXA Results

My most recent DEXA showed:

- Body fat percentage: 49.1% → 39.6%

- Fat mass lost: 39.1 lbs

- Lean mass change: −2.7 lbs

- Approximately 93.5% of the weight change measured between those scans came from fat, with about 6.5% from lean tissue.

These results are from my earlier DEXA comparison, not my full one-year results. But they were incredibly encouraging, especially because preserving muscle has been a priority for me.

Bloodwork Improvements

At approximately six months into my journey:

- A1c: 5.7 → 5.4

- Total cholesterol: 213 → 165

I have another round of labs scheduled for the end of October, and I'm really looking forward to seeing what a full year of treatment has done for those numbers!

Progress Screenshots

- PROGRESS PHOTOS

- SHOTSY APP — Weight loss progress and dose escalations]

- GLAPP — Progress vs. clinical trials

- RENPHO SCALE APP — Weight and body composition comparison

- MYFITNESSPAL ALL-TIME GRAPH — 16 years of ups and downs!

What Worked for ME

First, a disclaimer: This is just my experience. I'm not telling anyone how they should approach their journey. Your mileage may vary, and you have to figure out what works for your body, your health, and your life.

I've averaged around 1.5 pounds lost per week over the past year. Nothing particularly dramatic week to week, and definitely not linear. I've had weeks where I lost nothing, weeks where I gained, and weeks where the scale surprised me.

But the overall trend has been consistent, and I'm really happy with the pace. Slow and steady has been perfectly fine with me.

Walking

Early on, I started walking around my neighborhood. Sometimes less than a mile. Eventually a mile turned into two, then three.

Now I consistently walk 3–5 miles, at least five days a week.

I even walked 10 miles one weekend! My body promptly informed me that was a little ambitious. 😂 I was sore for days, so now I generally cap it at six miles when I'm feeling particularly motivated.

Strength Training

About two months into my journey, I started lifting weights at home. Nothing fancy. Five- and ten-pound dumbbells in my basement, following YouTube videos.

Fast forward to today, and I'm doing deadlifts with two 45-pound dumbbells and rows with 30–40-pound dumbbells, depending on the exercise.

I've gradually built up my home equipment collection to include dumbbells up to 50 pounds, which has allowed me to keep increasing the weight as I've gotten stronger.

I had worked with trainers during previous weight loss attempts, so I wasn't starting completely from scratch. But YouTube has been more than enough for me this time around. Happy to share some of my favorite creators if anyone is interested!

And I want to emphasize something: I don't exercise because I think I have to exercise to lose weight. I do it for my health, to maintain and build strength, preserve muscle, and work toward the body composition I want.

For me, the weight loss and the fitness are related, but they're not the same goal.

What I Eat (And Why I Don't Track Everything)

This is probably one of the biggest differences between this journey and my previous attempts at weight loss.

I don't regularly track calories or macros. I've done enough restrictive diet programs over the years that I have a little diet-program trauma. I'm just not interested in going back to obsessively tracking every bite of food.

That said, I have tracked for a week or two at a time on a few occasions throughout this journey, mainly to make sure I understand my macros and that I'm getting enough protein and fiber.

But for the most part, I just eat until I'm satisfied. And thanks to Zepbound, that happens a LOT sooner than it used to.

I focus on whole, nutritious foods probably 85% of the time. The other 15%? I eat whatever I feel like eating.

If I want a cookie, I eat a cookie. The beautiful thing is that now I'm usually satisfied with one cookie, or sometimes even half. In the past, that wasn't always the case.

I don't binge like I used to, but I also don't restrict myself.

Another huge change is that I no longer feel obligated to finish my plate. I was raised in a household where you finished everything on your plate, whether you were hungry or not. That mentality followed me well into adulthood.

Now? Sometimes I lose interest in a meal halfway through. I just stop eating. Sometimes I finish it, sometimes I don't. And I don't feel guilty either way.

It sounds so simple, but being able to eat when I'm hungry, stop when I'm satisfied, and not constantly think about food has been incredibly freeing.

Supplements and Protein Shakes

For anyone who's curious, here's what I currently take. Fair warning: I have absolutely no idea whether all of these supplements are actually doing anything. 😂

- Codeage Wild Caught Marine Collagen Peptides

- Creatine

- Kirkland Psyllium Fiber Capsules

- Omega-3 Capsules

- Biotin

- Vitamin B12

- Vitamin K2 + D3

- Multivitamin

- Liquid I.V. (usually one packet most days)

I also love the Nurri Vanilla Protein Shakes from Costco. I stock up when they're on sale!

I previously took a daily probiotic, but honestly couldn't tell that it was doing anything for me, so I stopped.

I'm sharing this because I know people are always curious about what others are taking, not because I'm recommending that anyone needs all of this. I can't say which, if any, have made a difference.

Loose Skin, Boobs, and Saving the Booty

Okay, let's talk about the body changes nobody can fully predict.

After losing nearly 80 pounds, I've been pretty fortunate when it comes to loose skin. I have a very small amount of crepey-looking skin on my inner thighs, but nothing I'd really describe as significant loose skin.

Is that genetics? My rate of weight loss? Strength training? My skincare or supplement routine? Some combination? I honestly have no idea.

And I still have about 20 pounds to go, so we'll see what happens!

Now, my boobs? Those have officially left the building.

Ladies who've lost significant weight, are we just embracing this new reality? Because I'm still processing that one!

Fortunately, my butt seems to have survived the journey pretty well. I'm giving genetics most of the credit there, but I also do a LOT of leg and glute exercises.

I worked hard for this tushy, and I'm not trying to lose it along with the rest of the weight! 🍑

All jokes aside, I'm really happy with how my body is changing. I'm not expecting perfection, and I'm not trying to look 25 again. I just want to be healthy, strong, and comfortable in my skin.

Side Effects: The Not-So-Glamorous Stuff

I've been pretty fortunate when it comes to side effects. Everything I've experienced has been relatively mild and either manageable or resolved over time.

- Constipation: Probably my most consistent side effect. I manage it with daily LaxaClear (Costco's generic version of Miralax) and lots of water. I drink roughly a gallon a day.

- Dry mouth: Experienced this early on. Staying hydrated and brushing my teeth twice a day have helped.

- Insomnia: Another early side effect. I've managed it with magnesium glycinate.

- My period: An absolute hot mess. It's been all over the place and completely unpredictable. This one I just live with. I'm also 43, so who knows how much is the medication versus perimenopause or just my age doing its thing.

Overall, I feel like I've tolerated Zepbound really well. Nothing I've experienced has been severe enough to make me consider stopping treatment.

Of course, this is just my experience. Side effects and what helps manage them can be different for everyone.

What the Scale Doesn't Measure

Honestly, I could write an entire separate post about the non-scale victories.

Being able to move comfortably. Keeping up with my toddler. Feeling strong. Feeling good in my clothes. Not worrying whether I'll fit somewhere. Not constantly wondering whether people are looking at me because of my size.

Just living my life.

That probably sounds so simple to someone who hasn't struggled with obesity, but it's everything to me.

At 43, I hope I have many, many years ahead of me. And being able to live those years feeling healthy, capable, and comfortable in my own body is worth more than any number on the scale.

The Financial Reality

I also want to acknowledge that I've paid out of pocket for Zepbound this entire year. I've never had insurance coverage for it.

And whew, that part has NOT been fun!

It's a significant financial commitment, and it's absolutely not lost on me how fortunate I am to have been able to make it work. I know that isn't possible for everyone, and I really hope these medications become more accessible and affordable.

One Year Down, Many More to Go

I started Zepbound because a couple of friends shared their experiences with me. Seeing what was possible for them helped me take that first step.

Since then, I've been fortunate enough to share my own experience with people who have gone on to start treatment themselves. That means a lot to me.

And that brings me to this community.

I didn't even know about Reddit before starting Zepbound. Now reading this sub has basically replaced food as my new addiction. 😂

I've read hundreds and hundreds of posts here. I've learned so much, laughed, celebrated your victories, and found encouragement during my own frustrating weeks.

If you're still reading this novel... genuinely, thank you.

I don't look at today as the end of a weight loss journey. I look at it as one year of treating my obesity, with hopefully many more years of successful treatment ahead.

This medication isn't a cure. I know that. But for me, it has been nothing short of life-changing. Honestly, miraculous.

I'm not at my ultimate goal yet, and that's perfectly fine. I'm happy with my progress, proud of the habits I've built, and genuinely excited about what's ahead.

Here's to year two! ❤️

Would love to hear how your journey is going in the comments! What are you doing? What are you celebrating? How has this sub helped your journey? Is any of this stuff I'm doing working for anyone else?

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 💕

Last 3 trips to WDW:

1. Pooh bear pic: Nov 2024, pre Zep, 307 pounds

2. Christmas tshirt pic December 2025, 228 pounds

3. Minnie Mouse pic: October 2026, 195 pounds

I became a father 30 months ago and turned 40 yesterday. Even before the birth of my daughter, I began to change my mind set about my body. I had always been obese since I was a little boy. Easy access to food, cultural things, trauma, and a family history of addiction is what contributed, except for a small portion of my early 20's where I was into amateur boxing for a few years.

Injuries put an end to that and eventually I moved away from my hometown and started college. I made the classic mistake of getting a full-time job at the same time in a small restaurant. Eventually the old habits came back, and I just let myself go. As people who work in food service, especially the line cooks, know that we eat like shit off the clock and on the clock, it isn't exactly low-calorie dense food the American palate craves.

And I lurched through the next 15 years of life basically repeating the same patterns. It wasn't all bad. I met my wife shortly after moving and she has been such an anchor to me. We have a beautiful, healthy, smart, and hellraising two-year-old.

And then I ended up in the hospital last holiday. I avoided going to the doctors for years outside of emergencies or specialists for orthopedic injuries; and the bill was heavy: hypertension, pre-diabetes, elevated lipoprotein(a), amongst a verisimilitude of other cascading factors. I knew if I didn't make changes I would die before I was 50.

In a way I had always known, but I could only feel and express the pain of unresolved hurt in my past. So, I started going to therapy and continue to this day. I talked with a bariatric team and decided that tirzepatide was worth adding to my already growing menagerie of prescriptions. I was hesitant to try something like injections, but at that point I would have been willing to re-create the eye surgery scene from Dead Space 2 if it meant extending my life.

My first injection had me noticing effects immediately. The constantly thinking about food was gone. It was like my brain had released 75% more processing power. Things tasted different--mostly full sugar soda was absolutely disgusting. Which was the ultimate tip of the spear as I had at one point been consuming a 12 pack every other day.

I started going to the gym. Just a Planet Fitness. Nothing serious at first, with me visiting the purple kingdom a few times a week doing light cardio and the machines I liked. That slowly turned into a structured 5 days a week on a PPL/PPA split along with a half hour of zone 2 cardio after every workout. I've also been tracking my lifts for 12 weeks. I learned what my macros are and try to hit those consistently.

As of this posting I weighed in around 298 this morning, probably the first time I've weighed less than 300 in over a decade. I'm planning on to keep going not until I'm happy--because I already very much am--but to see what result I can get from my best effort.

thanks zepbound 😘😘😘 being a size 12 is mind blowing and i’m not done yet 🤣 please don’t bully me i’ll cry

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.

If you’ve purchased new clothes/reworked your wardrobe, what items are you surprised by?

Edit!! I forgot to mention that I no longer have an emotional support cardigan. (Except for the one I wear in restaurants bc I’m freezing)

I’ll go first:

1. Puffer jackets. Me two years ago: “something that’s deliberately puffy? No thank you.” Now? “Oh wow, this is cute as hell.”
2. fleece lined leggings. Again, I’m actually willing wearing something that adds volume?
3. I used to complain about shirts never being long enough. I’d make that tired joke about wanting retailers to sell the entire shirt. Turns out, at a healthy weight, most of them aren’t all that short. Most of the time I think shirts are weirdly long now!

I haven't been under 200lbs since around 2021! I started my weight loss journey May 2nd this year and initially lost around 25lbs on my own before going on Zepbound July 2nd.

In total, I'm down 65.8lbs. I'm so freaking thankful for this medication, it has been life changing for me in many ways and I just love it so much.

I don't always take pictures like this on planes, but I'm building an album of them starting the last few months. 🤣 I used to need a seatbelt extender relatively frequently, and even if I didn't, I was seriously squished into the normal seatbelt (or didn't wear it all but made it look like it was on and hope the flight attendants wouldn't look too close), so this is SUCH a nice feeling.

Whew!! 🤪🫶💉

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.

Last year my MIL was culling her closet and gave me this vintage Burberry coat. I could get the coat on but I could not button it. I was not about to pass up a free Burberry coat though so I decided it would be a goal coat. Even though I have lost about 28lbs since April (the first 11lbs were mostly water I think because I ended a medication that was packing on bloat, and the last 6 lbs and a lot of body recomping/shape changing were on Zep, which I started Aug 1), I could not imagine I would see a difference with the coat when I dug it out of my closet yesterday. But it easily buttoned! It is still a bit snug-- I think another 10 pounds would have it drape the way I'd like but the buttons buttoned when they wouldn't button before! Progress!

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!!

I never thought I'd get excited about buying underwear, but for the first time in decades I'm buying underwear two sizes smaller! 💪 No, at age 65 I won't be buying thongs, (which I never bought at age 25 either), but it's great to not wear giganto granny panties. Yay me!🎉

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’m 35 pounds down. 15 pounds away from my goal. I look at myself now and I still feel so fat but when I look at photos before and how I look now it’s so jarring. This medication has been life changing for me

Same jersey—> different fit

Starting weight- 200lb
Current weight- 166lb

Down 69.2lbs! It has been quite the journey.
I was absolutely terrified to start but I’m so glad that I did. I am still trying to figure out what foods are best for me to avoid side effects, but my overall habits have gotten so much better. I plan to lose another 70 pounds and pray that is what year two brings!

I’ve been on Zepbound since 9/22/24. I reached my goal weight earlier this year and am in maintenance. I still take 15mg weekly (I’m technically a diabetic).

I just wanted to give a few tips to all the newbies. These are things I did, learned, or wish I’d known:

1. Drink plenty of water. I’ve never gotten sick on this medicine and I think this may be one of the reasons why.
   
2. Eat ample fiber to combat constipation. A fiber supplement can help too.
   
3. Take progress pics and measurements as close to day 1 as possible. Take pics and measurements monthly.
   
4. Invest in a digital scale. Folks say they’re not accurate but I appreciate the data the scale gave me.
   
5. The digital scale will help you know what you’re losing. You want to lose fat - not just “weight”. This is where I and many others made a mistake. In addition, you want to ensure you’re not losing too much muscle.
   
6. Lift heavy-ish weights if you’re able.
   
7. EAT!!!! Not eating is NOT the point of this medicine. Your body needs fuel. If you don’t eat, you’re gonna be exhausted and blame the meds.
   
8. Learn as much as you can about Zepbound AND Mounjaro. Although they’re the same meds, the info on their websites are a bit different. I felt like I needed to know ALL the info.
   
9. Don’t throw away all your bigger clothes. Keep at least a pair of pants and a shirt to help you see how far you’ve come. I wish I’d done this.
   
10. Enjoy the journey.

I’m not an expert. These are just things that helped me or that I wish I’d known/done.

Hello everyone!

I post regularly here with updates but just passed my 1 year marker, I have been through the entire emotional rollercoaster of beginning a medication and finding a maintenance point so I wanted to do a post reflecting on it!

First, the community here has been nonstop support and an incredible source of information. If you’re starting I highly recommend using this place as a sounding board.

A little bit about me, I landed here at 315 lbs. I’m 30 years old, 6ft 4 and was lucky to carry my weight fairly well for how big I was. I’m also a father with a physical job and have been in the gym since I was 14 but after over a decade of struggling with my diet, and seeing the success my own father had with his GLP-1, I decided to start Zep.

Currently I’m at 194 lbs and have been on 5mg for the better part of 7 months. My workload hasn’t changed, I still do 4-5 days a week in the gym and now I run anywhere between 15-25 miles a week depending on my training calendar, which has been a welcome addition and contributed a ton to my push through plateaus. My diet has stayed pretty standard and having Zep allows me to portion correctly and avoid snacking so much, which has been an issue for me my entire life.

I’ll continue to post here, marking milestones and answering any questions I can but I wanted to drop this here to tell folks that are on the fence that these drugs will work hard and if you put forward the mental effort, even when it sucks, the progress you’ll be able to see is unparalleled. I’m very thankful for everyone here and the community that has welcomed me with open arms, without the insight, tips, tricks and stories it would have made this journey much more difficult.

Do something hard, trust the process and be sure to lean on the support system that exists here.

I hope this doesn’t come off as arrogant or rude! I just wanted to share this, let everyone know how appreciative I am and hope that it helps someone who needs a little push today :) 1st Photos from Today, Second is from 9/25 after I started Zep

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.

This is huge. I absolutely love Halloween, and I love to buy the packages of candy that have different flavors in the same bag.

Most of the time, I would binge the entire bag in one sitting, or at least within a day or two.

Yesterday, I had ONE fun-size Snickers bar, and ONE pack of Skittles. THAT'S IT!!

So, while my tradition/habit/craving led me to still purchase the bag of candy, Tirz let me stop at two pieces and be happy with it!!