| Key Points from this Post (aka TLDR 😊) – After years of struggling with weight and trying various diets unsuccessfully, I started Zepbound (tirzepatide) and have lost 107 pounds over two years, finding it effective in managing appetite (“food noise”) and supporting significant weight loss. – My first year focused on titrating the Zepbound dose and establishing healthier eating habits and gentle exercise like walking, while the second year on the 15mg dose involved incorporating more strenuous exercise like weightlifting and Pilates to address potential muscle loss and build strength. – I found the incorporation of digestive enzymes helped improve energy levels and increase my exercise frequency. I personally use and recommend MassZymes. – Taking Zepbound long term is a tool for managing obesity, a chronic disease. My success is a combination of the medication, dietary changes, regular physical activity, and ongoing partnership with my healthcare provider. |
Weight Loss Encouragement Emails
My Two Years on Zepbound 15mg: A Journey of Weight Loss and Finding Strength
Hi everyone, my name is Elizabeth, and I’m in my 40s. I wanted to share a bit about my journey over the past two years on Zepbound. It’s been quite a ride, full of ups and downs, learning, and ultimately, significant change. When I started this path, I had tried everything from Keto to Weight Watchers to South Beach to intermittent fasting, only to see any weight I lost come back.
The idea of losing any weight felt overwhelming, let alone the 107 pounds I’ve managed to lose. I know how isolating and frustrating the struggle with weight can be, and I hope sharing my experience, particularly being on the 15mg Zepbound dose long-term (100+ injections and counting), might resonate with some of you.
Since my first diet in elementary school, I battled with my weight. I tried countless diets, exercise programs, and nothing seemed sustainable. The weight always crept back on even though I vowed it would not, often bringing friends with it. My BMI (body mass index) was high, and I was starting to face various weight-related conditions, including concerns about high blood pressure and worrying blood sugars and blood panels. My healthcare provider and I had many conversations about the best path forward. We discussed various options, including different weight loss medications, but nothing felt right or effective for my situation until GLP-1s, Mounjaro and Zepbound came into the picture. Mounjaro and Zepbound are the same drug, but different FDA approvals. I started on Mounjaro and moved to Zepbound once it was FDA approved.
Zepbound is one of the newer prescription medications on the market for chronic weight management. Its active ingredient is tirzepatide, which acts on two hormone receptors: glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP). These hormones play a crucial role in regulating appetite and blood sugar. Essentially, Zepbound works by mimicking these natural hormones, leading to several effects that support weight loss goals. It slows down gastric emptying, which contributes to feelings of fullness and reduces food intake. It also helps regulate blood sugar levels, which can be particularly helpful for people with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes (though I should note Zepbound is specifically approved for weight management, not diabetes, unlike its sister drug Mounjaro, which has the same active ingredient but is indicated for type 2 diabetes).
Deciding to start Zepbound wasn’t a quick decision. It involved many discussions with my health care professional to understand the potential benefits and potential risks, review my medical history, and ensure it was the right fit for me. We talked about possible side effects, which can include nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation – the most common side effects of Zepbound. Thankfully, for me, these were mostly manageable, especially as we started on a low dose and gradually titrated up.
Year 1: The Foundation of Change
My first year on Zepbound was primarily focused on finding the right dose and establishing sustainable lifestyle changes with food. We started with the lowest dose and slowly increased it over several months, as is typical with this type of drug administration. This titration process is important to help the body adjust and minimize side effects. During this time, I was on lower doses, gradually moving up to the higher dose of 15mg.
The medication was incredibly helpful in quieting the constant “food noise” in my head – that persistent thinking about food that many of us who struggle with weight experience. It made it easier to stick to a healthy diet. I wasn’t battling intense hunger or cravings all the time. This allowed me to focus on making better food choices without feeling deprived.
Alongside dietary changes, I incorporated lighter forms of exercise. This included walking my dogs and gentle swimming for very light exercises I LOVED. The goal in this first year wasn’t intense calorie burning through exercise but rather building consistency and making movement a regular part of my routine. The combination of the medication helping with appetite regulation and consistent, gentle exercise led to significant progress. By the end of Year 1, I had lost a substantial amount of weight, though I wasn’t quite at 107 pounds yet. I was building momentum and confidence with my food perspective.
Learning to put my fork down when I was full to what ‘hungry’ felt like to what body signals full-feels like were part of my food perspective changes.
Year 2: Reaching the Max Dose and Finding Strength
As I moved into my second year, my healthcare provider and I had titrated up to the maximum dose of 15mg. By this point, my body had adjusted well to the medication, and the transition was smooth. Being on the 15mg dose felt like it provided the most consistent support for managing my appetite and maintaining the progress I had made.
However, as the weight continued to come off, I started thinking more about body composition and began to struggle with weight stalls. Losing much weight rapidly, even with the help of weight management medications, can sometimes lead to a loss of muscle mass alongside fat. This is something I wanted to proactively address. My goals shifted from just seeing the number on the scale go down to feeling stronger and healthier overall.
This is where I introduced more strenuous forms of exercise. I started incorporating weightlifting a few times a week and also took up Wall Pilates. In my free encouragement group (HYPERLINK), a group member recommended on Youtube senior wall pilates which started my journey. That confidence built into going into pilates classes.
From pilates, I felt confident to go into weightlifting.
Weightlifting is fantastic for building and preserving muscle mass, which is crucial for metabolism and overall strength. Pilates, on the other hand, focuses on core strength, flexibility, and muscle tone. This shift in exercise felt empowering. It wasn’t just about burning calories; it was about building a stronger, more capable body.
WIth any substantial weight loss, muscle mass loss occurs (not just with Zepbound weight loss). To combat muscle mass loss, I needed to do pilates/weight lift. But I was not mentally ready to tackle this in Year 1 due to learning new food habits and untangling an unhealthy perspective with food.
This change in exercise intensity did bring new challenges, particularly around energy levels. While Zepbound helped with appetite, consistent strenuous workouts required sustained energy. I started looking into ways to support my body through this increased activity.
Supporting Energy Levels: A Note on Digestive Enzymes
One thing I found helpful during this phase, after discussing it with my health care professional, was looking at how my body was processing nutrients. Sometimes, even if you’re eating a healthy diet, your body might not be fully breaking down and absorbing all the nutrients from your food, which can impact energy levels.
This is where digestive enzymes, like MassZymes came into my routine. Digestive enzymes are proteins that help break down food into smaller molecules that your body can absorb. Different enzymes target different types of food – for example, amylase breaks down carbohydrates, lipase breaks down fats, and protease breaks down proteins.
By potentially assisting with the efficient breakdown and absorption of nutrients, taking MassZymes could help ensure that your body has access to the fuel it needs for energy, especially when you’re engaging in more demanding physical activities like weightlifting or Pilates. It’s not a magic bullet, and it’s essential to talk to your healthcare provider before adding any supplements to your routine, but I personally felt MassZymes made a difference in supporting my energy levels for my workouts.
Taking Zepbound Long Term – Maintenance
One of the biggest questions people have, and certainly one I had, is about using Zepbound long term. Will the weight stay off? Will the medication continue to be effective?
The clinical trials for tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound, have shown significant substantial weight loss compared to a placebo group. While the initial trials often focus on shorter durations, there is ongoing research and real-world data emerging about the long-term use of these types of GLP-1 medications.
What we know is that obesity is a chronic disease, and for many people, maintaining weight loss requires ongoing strategies. Just like someone with high blood pressure might need long-term medication to manage their condition, many individuals may need weight management medications long-term to help maintain a healthier weight.
For me, being on Zepbound 15mg long-term is part of my treatment plan. It’s not just about the initial weight loss; it’s about having a tool that helps me manage my appetite and food choices consistently. Combined with regular physical activity and a focus on a healthy diet, it feels like a sustainable approach.
It’s important to remember that individual results vary. Some people might reach their weight goals and be able to maintain them with lifestyle changes alone after stopping the medication, while others may need to continue taking it. This is something that should always be discussed and decided in partnership with your healthcare provider based on your individual needs, medical history, and response to the medication.
Beyond the Scale
Losing 107 pounds has changed my life in countless ways. My waist circumference has decreased significantly, my energy levels are higher (especially with the new exercise routine and focusing on nutrition), and my confidence has soared. More importantly, the concerns I had about developing chronic disease related to my weight have lessened. I feel better equipped to manage my health long-term.
I was able to return to activities that had been out of reach for me for years including horseback riding and riding roller coasters. Not only has my health improved but so has quality of life and levels of happiness.
My journey on Zepbound, particularly being on the 15mg dose for the past year, has taught me that weight management is complex. It’s not just about willpower. For many of us, it involves biological factors that medications like Zepbound can help address. But it’s also not just about the medication. It’s about building a comprehensive treatment plan that includes dietary changes, regular physical activity, and ongoing support from your healthcare provider.
Finding that balance between the support from the medication and incorporating more strenuous exercise like weightlifting and Pilates has been key for me in Year 2. It shifted my focus from just losing much weight to building a stronger, healthier body. And paying attention to how my body processes food, like exploring the potential benefits of digestive enzymes, has helped support my energy for those workouts.
If you are considering weight loss drugs like Zepbound, or if you are currently on one and thinking about the long term, please talk to your healthcare provider. They can provide the most accurate, personalized information based on the latest clinical studies and your individual health needs. My experience is just one story, but I hope it offers a glimpse into what the long-term journey on Zepbound 15mg can look like – a journey of continued progress, learning, and finding new ways to build a healthier, stronger you.
Remember, you are not alone in this. Reaching out for support, whether from a healthcare professional, an obesity medicine specialist, or a support group, can make all the difference. There is good news and hope for achieving and maintaining a healthier weight.
Disclaimers: Friends, I am not a medical professional, nor do I pretend to be one on the internet. This information is for educational purposes only, gathered from trusted sources and my personal experiences. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your medication or lifestyle. This post has links included that are affiliate links. Countess of Shopping & her furbabies will be compensated when you make a purchase by clicking through the links at no cost to you. This post is sponsored by BIOptimizers.
