u/Melodic-Chain-3756

I knew it would happen, or more like I had a very strong feeling it would happen, and planned for this just in case it did. My insurance has been covering Zepbound since January, only paying $25 per month. My PA expires August 25 and in February I saw that zepbound coverage had changed from “covered with prior authorization” to “covered after failed step therapy.” So now they want me to go off Zepbound and try and fail phentermine for 6 months before they’ll approve Zepbound again. I am in maintenance, have been for only a month, and I don’t want to fail phentermine because that means I would need to regain weight in order to get back on Zepbound. I’m disappointed but not surprised. Back in February I started coming up with a plan. I began taking my dose every 8 days. Then every 9. Then every 10. I’ve been filling my prescription every 21 days and the last four fills I requested a lower dose than what I’m currently on. Now I have 3 pens of 7.5mg, 8 pens of 5mg and 8 pens of 2.5mg in my fridge. I will use these to tapper off slowly over the course of 4-6 months. If it doesn’t work I will look into other options because I can’t pay for this out of pocket but I want to try to come off first. I’m not really looking for tips on how to fight my insurance on this. I’ve spoken to over 10 different people and spent countless hours on the phone. I’m done. I need some reassurance and tips on how to navigate this off of Zepbound. For some background, I am a 5’5 female in my 30s. Highest weight was over 215 but not exactly sure. I gained 70 pounds slowly over the course of 10 years of marriage and two pregnancies. I lost 20 pounds on my own and stalled. Started Zepbound at 195 and lost 50 pounds in 6 months, been maintaining at around 145 for a month. Completely changed my diet, started counting calories and macros, cardio 2-3 times a week and strength train 4 times a week. I know people are planning on being on this medication for the rest of their life, but what about those that have come off and kept the weight off. How did you do it?

Also, I posted this on the Zepbound forum yesterday and only received tips and advice on how to continue on a glp. Whether to go on compound, or how to fail phentermine, or how to use my stash until I can get it prescribed again. Not one tip on the advice I specifically asked for. I understand people are coming from a good place, but I want to try to come off. So I’m hoping this is a better place to ask. Thanks in advance.

The website states the jeans can be any brand but must be at least 90% cotton. But not even American Eagle jeans are 90% cotton nowadays. How strict are they on this rule? I have an old pair of old navy jeans that are 67% cotton. Do I try or is this a hard no?

More like a confession. I started zep 6 months ago, 45lb down and I feel great. My husband and I were laying on the couch after our girls were asleep and we were looking at pictures and videos of when they were babies. I’m hardly ever in any pictures or videos because I’m the one behind the camera. Well my husband wanted to show me a video he found of our one year old when she was 3 months old, thought she looked adorable. But I couldn’t even look at my baby girl, I was too focused on myself. I was the biggest I had ever been, don’t know how much I weighed because I was afraid of knowing, but I could tell I was much bigger than I thought. Instantly felt completely disgusted by myself. I can’t believe I let myself get to that point. I felt my eyes water. I was so angry that I did that to myself. I wanted to erase that video evidence of the monster I created, I couldn’t even enjoy the beautiful little baby in it.
Will this get better? I hate feeling like this. I’m crying right now writing this out. But I hate my past self. How could she do this to me and her family? I know I birthed two little girls in a short time, I know what my body sacrificed to bring life into the world, and I know I’ve come a long way. But I can’t help but feel terrified that I will go back to how I was.

Edit. I’m sorry if I offended anyone, I do not feel disgusted with people struggling with their weight. I maybe didn’t express myself properly. This has to do with my self image and self worth. Thank you to everyone who commented, I read each and every one. I am definitely going to be kinder to myself, I don’t think these thoughts of others so why should I toward myself. Also to those saying my starting weight isn’t even high, idk why you feel the need to compare yourself to me. I started zep in January, I weighed 195 then. At my highest I was easily 230, but I’m not exactly sure since I avoided the scale. Makes me feel like I can’t or shouldn’t have these thoughts because I wasn’t heavy enough..? Don’t get me wrong, I shouldn’t have these thoughts at all, but that doesn’t mean my feelings aren’t valid. Again I’m sorry if I offended anyone. That was not my intention.