I get bad injection site reactions, large welts and I never bruise. When I’m ready for my next dose the welt is pretty much gone and then it’s just this weird dark circle and they just don’t go away for at least a month maybe more. You can see the far left top is barely there.
I started in January this year at 5'3½ and 155lbs, but didn't take any full body pictures until April (135lbs). I just started maintenance at 119lbs and have been mostly focused on gaining muscle over the past 4 months, which is going fantastically. I have lipedema in my arms, so they'll never be skinny, but they are getting strong. :)
I strength train 4x per week, progressive overload. I went from barely being able to do a 10 second deadhang to currently 2 full pull-ups! I was never interested in working out before tirz - can't thank this med enough.
I’m curious whether anyone else has encountered this after responding well to Zepbound.
Some background: I was obese for more than 20 years and reached approximately 270 pounds. I also needed medication for high blood pressure and cholesterol. For about three years, I saw a doctor who would not prescribe weight-loss medication while my insurance would have fully covered it.
I eventually started Zepbound approximately 13 months ago. I’ve been paying out of pocket since January and am currently taking 15 mg. I’m now around 188 pounds—roughly 75–80 pounds down—with a BMI around 28.7. My goal is approximately 160 pounds, which would place me just under a BMI of 25. I have tolerated the medication well and no longer require the blood-pressure and cholesterol medications I previously took.
At my latest appointment, my doctor noted that I had lost approximately eight pounds since the previous visit. When I expressed concern about beginning to discontinue Zepbound before reaching my goal or establishing a maintenance plan, she said my fear of stopping demonstrated “anorexic traits.”
I recognize that some of my recent days have been low in calories and too dependent on protein or breakfast bars. I’m completely open to a formal eating-disorder screening, working with a registered dietitian, increasing resistance training, and monitoring protein intake, bone health, labs, and lean mass. I’m also open to eventually reducing the dose. I am not insisting on remaining on 15 mg indefinitely.
What concerned me was that she had already decided that she would begin tapering me at the next visit and have me completely off the medication within four months—or once I reach a BMI of 25. There was no maintenance plan, monitoring period, goal-weight range, or discussion of what we would do if hunger, weight, blood pressure, or cholesterol began returning.
She also told me that continued use could cause eye and bone loss and that, once internal fat is depleted, the medication can begin “eating away” at organs. That description did not match my understanding of how tirzepatide works or its use for long-term weight management, although I understand that significant weight loss and inadequate nutrition can contribute to lean-mass and bone loss.
When I questioned the fixed four-month timeline, she told me I could find another clinician to prescribe it. I currently have approximately five weeks of 15 mg remaining, including an authorized refill, so I’m now looking for an obesity-medicine specialist or endocrinologist who can provide a second opinion without interrupting treatment.
The frustrating part is the contrast: there seemed to be much less urgency during the decades when I was obese and taking blood-pressure and cholesterol medication. Now, just weeks after leaving the obese BMI category for the first time in roughly 20 years, the focus abruptly shifted to getting me completely off the treatment that helped me get here.
What I’m trying to understand is whether other patients have had a similar experience, particularly after responding well to the medication and moving below a BMI of 30. I’m open to discussing nutrition, monitoring my health, and eventually reducing the dose, but I wasn’t expecting a predetermined four-month discontinuation plan before establishing a goal-weight or maintenance strategy.
Has anyone else:
Been told to taper immediately after moving from the obese to overweight BMI category?
Had a clinician insist on complete discontinuation at BMI 25?
Transitioned successfully to a lower maintenance dose rather than stopping?
Changed prescribers while using LillyDirect self-pay without interrupting refills or pricing?
Been labeled as having anorexic traits primarily because you were afraid of regaining weight?
I would especially appreciate experiences from people who worked with an obesity-medicine physician, endocrinologist, or registered dietitian on a structured maintenance plan.
UPDATE: Well, that was quick! 😂
I’ve got a plan: new PCP, obesity specialist, and telehealth as a bridge if needed. I’m not against lowering my dose; I’m against deciding today that I must be completely off in four months before reaching my goal or discussing maintenance.
I feel much less cornered. Thanks, everyone!
🎉Goal reached🎉
Starting weight: 292 lbs
Goal weight: 150 lbs
Current weight: 149.4 lbs
142 pounds gone
This journey has been about so much more than the number on the scale. I’ve gained strength, confidence, healthier habits, and a version of myself I honestly wasn’t sure I’d ever meet.
It wasn’t quick or easy. There were plateaus, setbacks, days I wanted to quit, and plenty of lessons along the way. What got me here was staying consistent more often than I was perfect. A supportive family, tracking my calories and macros, strength training, using a GLP-1 as a tool, and choosing not to give up even when progress felt nonexistent.
To everyone who’s followed along, encouraged me, or cheered me on, thank you. Your support has meant more than you will ever know!
This may be my last weight loss update, but it’s not the end of my journey. Now the focus shifts to maintaining, getting stronger, and continuing to build a healthy life that I love.
If you’re just starting your own journey, keep going. One day you’ll look back and realize those small, daily choices added up to something incredible and your future self will be so grateful.
I would be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous, but here’s to the next chapter. 🩷
one of the best NSVs yet!
I’m 8 months in and down 41 lbs. I had bloodwork right before I started so I finally got curious enough to repeat some of it.
Before:
A1C 6.0
Triglycerides 186
LDL 124
ALT 44
My PCP appointment isn’t until October and my telehealth hasn’t asked for another set yet, so I ordered CBC, CMP, A1C and lipids through Goodlabs last week rather than waiting.
Now:
A1C 5.4
Triglycerides 108
LDL 139
ALT 27
CBC/CMP were otherwise normal.
Most of it went the direction I hoped. LDL apparently decided not to participate. I’m not changing my dose or doing anything different based on this and I’m sending the results to my PCP. Mostly wanted another data point since so much has changed with my weight and diet since I started.
For those who have been on compounded tirzepatide a year or longer, how often are you actually getting bloodwork now?
Today, I reached my goal! I’m so happy. Only problem is, I’m still six lbs overweight. I did not think much about my goal weight because I was so miserable. So I just picked a number I hadn’t seen in a long time and assumed that was the magic number. How in the world do you know you’re there? Do you get scans? I’ve been lifting so hopefully I’ve got more muscle or at least the same as I did before.
I want to celebrate but I have a funeral for a close family member today 😭
The last time I was 220 pounds was in 2004 when I left high school. Hitting this milestone a few days before my 40th birthday has been extremely difficult, emotionally exhausting, and incredibly satisfying all at the same time.
I have cried, put myself down, failed, gotten back up, and kept going across every stall and uptick in the process. I've learned a lot about myself, and I feel so incredibly privileged to be able to afford these medicines that have very clearly done their part as much as I have done mine. The body dysmorphia I've realized I have is insane, but that's an issue for the me that's starting her journey to Onederland after my birthday. I've earned a week off the macro counting, and I'm so looking forward to a big ass slice of cake. 🎂 🎉 ♍️
I’m looking for good online providers to get micro-dosed tirzepatide. My current provider supplies 17mg every month that I pay $189/mo for. My dose is only 2mg/week and I have to throw the remainder away. Feels like I’m wasting almost $100. Please share good experiences here!! Note that I am not overweight, so some I do not qualify for. I use it to control my hypoglycemia.
Hello all! Just wanted to share my current progress :) Around 2ish years ago I was at my heaviest weighing in just north of 500 lbs. I moved to a new place and started trying to change some of my habits as I was eating out for basically every meal, and buying lots of snacks, binging, etc. I was also at a peak depression and failing to accept it. I lost around 30-40 lbs just from changing habits back to eating mostly home cooked meals and cutting down on the amount of snacks I was buying, but I was still eating way too much and very unhealthily.
Finally I decided to get on the GLP-1 train as I realized how accessible it actually was and took the plunge. My start weight on GLP-1 was 467, and I started on April 10th of this year. I've officially fallen below 400 lbs for the first time in a decade or more! I am currently weighing in at 394 lbs and I couldn't be happier! And the train doesn't stop here! My goal is to eventually get back down to around 220 or so, but it'll still take some time. Progress every week though and I couldn't be happier! Just wanted to share with some folks as I'm in great spirits today!
Face shot 225 April 2025 now 136!
Feeling absolutely fantastic at 42.
Photos are right before Tirzepatide - November 2024.
One year later, November 2025.
June 2026.
August 2026
I could've had this four months ago but I focused recently on maintenance intake to throw on some more muscle.
Kicked my ass in the gym the entire time, but I'm very happy to have Tirzepatide in my corner. I'll never stop taking this - never going back!
I'm not as active as I was, but helping others in this sub has been paramount to my progress, so I wanted to share.
I didn’t want to use the unpackaged needles I received with my last order so I bought a box on Amazon. They say for veterinary use only. Are they OK or did I buy the wrong needles?
Surprised that it’s been up for two hours over on their sub but hadn’t made it over here yet.
I haven't seen this side of 200 since probably 1995. My goal is 195, so I'm close!
Eli Lilly couldn’t make oral tirzepatide work, but that’s just because they never thought about putting it in chocolate with a “carbohydrate glass matrix” /s
Yes, this is a real product allegedly coming from a 503a pharmacy (and yes, they’re charging $249/month for it)
Hey guys, so I’m transitioning off of Zepbound (started December of 2024, lost 76 pounds, currently only 13pounds away from my goal weight of 140) and thought I’d share my experience with preventive MD. So I signed the intake with preventive on 8/12. I received my approval the morning of 8/13. On 8/14 I received the email that my order was being prepared which was a Friday, so I knew I wouldn’t hear anything else until maybe the following Monday how ever they did check in with me that Saturday with a courtesy message stating orders are usually filled the following week. Monday 8/17 they sent me another follow up message stating my order was still being prepared. Tuesday 8/18 around 5:45pm I received an email stating my order was shipping. Today 8/19 I received my order around 3:45 pm. The ice packs were still cold but melted and my medication was still very cold !! I won’t be using the needles as I have my own. So excited to be giving compound a try after spending 449 a month since last summer because of a job change which changed my insurance. I’ve ordered 3 months worth of 12.5 dose and paid 334.00. Hopefully I do good on compound. I’ve seen a lot of great reviews about Boudreaux’s. Excited to give them a try. I know it probably wasn’t smart to order 3 months without trying them first but I got too excited about the price lol.
I am wildly impressed. I just submitted my first prescription request through Rift two days ago on Monday, August 17 and already have the medication in hand, nice and chilly, almost exactly 48 hours later. Prescription was approved same day, and the pharmacy fulfilled the request the following day/yesterday and shipped it overnight. Excited to try Hyalo after several successful months using ProRx. 🤞🏼
Starting using tirz in December. Current dose is 5mg from BPI. I unexpectedly received 6 boxes of 1mg Ozempic pens. I know that tirz & sema aren't the same meds and aren't 1-to-1 dosing. From what I've seen, 5mg tirz is equivalent in efficacy as 1mg sema. I'm losing an avg of 1lb/wk on 5mg tirz with some mild but manageable food noise/snacking urges.
Could I switch to 1mg sema on my next shot day, use up these pens, then switch back to tirz after the pens are gone? I have 6 Ozempic pens and around 300mg of tirz in stockpile (6 vials w/ differing BUDs). Hate to let such an unexpected gift go to waste.
WWYD?
I received two vials from Apothecary (Quaker pharmacy) through Fifty410 a couple months back. I just finished the first vial, it was good and as expected. Good appetite suppression. I stayed on the same dose of 7.5mg all throughout the vial.
Yesterday was injection day and I opened and used my new vial from the same company. Same dose of 7.5mg. Same concentration of 18mg/ml. This vial has the same manufacturing date, by use date, I received it from the same source in the same shipment. I pulled and injected 40 CCs which is 7.5 mg at the 18mg/ml concentration. I've been on this dose since May and have been handling it quite well with few side effects except upon titrating up to 7.5 initially back in May.
I injected yesterday and then last night woke up in the middle of the night nauseous with sulfur burps. After a couple of miserable hours I vomited and had diarrhea. Still nauseous and having diarrhea a few hours later.
Has anyone had this sort of thing happen with a new vial from the same source? This is so strange. I hope I feel better soon and I guess next week I'll try a lower dose and see how it feels. I'm trying to figure out if it was something I ate or the Tirz itself. I had this sort of nausea and diarrhea back in May around increasing my dose, but it occurred 5 days after injection day after eating too much rich food. This time the nausea began about 20 hours post-injection.
I was searching Reddit for someone with a similar experience and really only found cases where people were switching providers or manufacturers of Tirz so figured I'd post for posterity.