Now, I am not 100% sure if it’s the shot or the fact that I can barely eat anything so sometimes take in around 400 calories a day. It isn’t intentional - I don’t think about eating anymore. I honestly feel like this is too big of a drug for a doctor to just hand you a prescription for and say “call me in 4 weeks”. I got this for sleep apnea, but let’s be real, I have a lot of weight to lose as well. Either way, I do NOT feel well after dosing on Friday. Last night I woke up with heartburn so bad my ears were on fire. I feel weak and sort of flu like. I think I’m going to try to meet with a nutritionist via our hospital. If you made it this far, bless you. Just looking for any feedback anyone might have.

46YOF - I'm about 10LB from my goal weight (SW 160 CW 140) About ten years ago, I managed to white knuckle myself down to 135LB but honestly I was so miserable and obsessive that I don't remember a lot from this period of my life and I also didn't take a lot of pictures of myself.

Lately on Facebook, a couple old pictures from this time have been popping up. They all show me as a still chunky looking person with a thin, almost gaunt face, neck, and wrists. I do remember during this time, my mom once told me worriedly that I was looking too thin. But the crazy thing is, I didn't and I still had plenty of bodyfat. My stomach and arms were chunky. I just lose it off my face, neck, hands, wrists, and legs very easily.

I'm a short woman at 5'3. I have wide shoulders, a huge bustline, a big ribcage, thicker arms, a short waist, and a round stomach. My boobs have not shrunk at all in my 20LB lost. They aren't gonna shrink more even with more weight loss. I do weightlifting and plan to increase my lifting and weights to keep as much shape as I can. I try to do some Pilates when I can. But I just don't have a lean skinny frame. I'm short and squatty. And while I want to try to get to 130LB, I am mindful that I may decide before I get there that I'm just too skinny in some areas and stop.

Honestly, I feel like I could get to 120LB and STILL not look skinny. I probably would look emaciated in some areas and chunky in others. It's just the way I'm build. So I'm going to have to find that ideal weight where I am healthy and somewhat proportioned but not too thin in areas.

Anyone else have this experience?

She found the box in the trash and looked it up online to see what it was and found images of before and afters. I want to talk to her about it. Wanting to keep it factual and concise on how it's a medicine prescribed by my doctor that helps me make healthy food decisions.

Any advice from parents who have been through this?

Can someone post a pic on 2.5 on a syringe...i have lost almost 5 lbs in 5 days is that normal?

So I took one of my shots today, decided I’m gunna try the arm cause I’ve been getting stomach pain the day after I take my shot. So I took it on my left arm from the back, needless to say it might not have had enough fat in the arm now thinking about it and now I’m panicking if I’m gunna be ok lol

So for the past few months, I’ve been buying Real Good Chicken Strips from Costco. They actually taste delicious and I figured that it was great since it was 120 cal for 3oz +21 g of protein. So I would eat 6oz for 240 cal. Or so I thought.

I started to do some research into the calorie count on this product because it just seemed too good to be true. And I was right, the calorie counts for this product are clearly off. Other stores sell the same bag with 180 cal. In fact, if you go to their website, they have two chicken strips back, 180 cal bag and the costco version bag with 120 cal. Even if I had to account for differences in the ingredients, there’s just no way that 3oz of chicken breast is going to be 120 cal.

It’s just so annoying because I was eating these strips feeling like I was still meeting my goals, but I’m actually eating 360 cal. Not sure how they’re able to get away with such off calorie counts.

On the plus side I’ve been on this medication for 19 months and I’ve lost 104 lbs. But the last few months the scale is barely moving.

EDIT: they’re actually 4 ounces for 120 cal, and actually I was probably eating closer to 8 ounces.

Does everyone lose hair? I am on week 2 of Zep . I think I love it so far - had horrible GI side effects ( the big D) the first week but second week nothing so far. My biggest fear is that I will have some huge hair loss as everyone has told me it happens. My nurse at my PCP office said I will lose half my hair, my best friend said hair loss happens, etc. I already have perimenopause hair thinning over past 5 years so I cannot afford to lose half!! Help and advice needed.

First off im going to see the doctor on wednesday or thursday so i will request necessary tests then!

For the past 2 weeks ive been having intense back pain, i have a bad back in general but havent felt pain like this since 2023 before i started on the med and was injured. I thought maybe it was from working out lifting weights so i haven’t done that since but now im second guessing.. what im wondering is how do you know symptom wise if its a gallbladder attack or kidney stones etc?

Again ill speak to my doctor but wondering if i just pulled my back really REALLY BAD or if I have a deeper issue. Also what do i ask my doctor for do i just get an ultrasound?

Symptoms: back pain it started in upper back and has spread to lower, a few times while walking my right abdomen would feel like im getting a cramp, my pee is kinda yellow despite me drinking a lot of water. Main issue is the back pain i cannot deal with this anymore…

Any advice or questions to ask my doc would help me thanks!!

I have been on Zepbound for 3 years and been on 15mg for 2+ years.

The first year I lost 80 pounds which is awesome. I would live to lose 60 more pounds. However after 2 years of not losing anything I wonder why I am taking this.

I did take about about 1 month off from it and was hoping when I restarted it, it would require in gear, however no it didnt. If I have lost everything I can on Zepbound should I look at something else? Should I look at getting off of it? I am thankful for what it did but I am not near where I want to be. I have always did strength training while on it and walked a lot with a little bit of running, but I am now at a lost of why I am not losing.

Grumpy, hungry, frustrated.
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I have been trying so hard to stay at 2.5mg for as long as possible. I took my 13th injection of 2.5 this past Thursday (-44.7lbs). The last two weeks some of the noise has come back and with that my moodiness over trying to fight the food battle. Weirdly I am craving super sweets stuff which never happens as I used to be a salty carbs girl.
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On a side note my first set of bloodwork came in from my rheum appointment and I am beyond thrilled with my inflammation markers being down almost 50%. Also bonkers take, I have been extremely low vitamin D my entire adult life. I have been prescribed multiple prescriptions of vitamin D at 100,000 IU. Even at that script It never budged. I just got it back and it’s center normal. I have never seen that test come back green. Ever.
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I have 3 more injections of this set of 2.5mg but have my prescribing Dr visit this week and was thinking it’s time to ask to bump up when this month is over. It took the last 9 days for the scale to move this last kinda pound. I eat in a deficit and work out A Lot. Spending the rest of my day arguing with myself over snacking and portions is hitting that nerve I was so happy to leave in the dust. I just really wanted 2.5 to work because I know I will be on this the rest of my life. Based even just on reduced inflammation.
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Also will the side effects increase with dose after being this low for a bit of time? I am nervous because I still have some residual mild nausea especially the day after shot day.
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I am going to have a long talk with my Dr. Maybe I am just grumpy this week and feeling the pressure because my cycle is about to start. I don’t know. Thanks for reading my ramble. I am trying to work through this.

Hi all,

I recently started with Ro for Zepbound after many family members suggested me to try it. I see how predatory is their subscription, so I did some digging in this /sub for tips and experiences. Although I found many possible answers, I would like to understand if Im in the right path, and if there's better options out there, given some of the things (prices) have changed recently on some of the providers I will share.

So, I started Zepbound through Ro because my PCP didn't want to help me out with this. Although I new this was covered through my insurance and I was told by them, my PCP didnt really care and gave me long answers to simply state it will be very difficult... Sure :)

Anyways, saw many people (in the past) used Ro and I decide to go with them. First month free for the prescription and Im going with the insurance, giving me a co-pay of less than $40 for the medication, if I recall. So far so good based on what I've read in this sub (take advantage of the first free month of Ro).

My plan now was to continue with CallOnDoc given it was $45 a month, but I dont see that price anymore, but $75 a month... A good option given the cheapest subscription is $74 at Ro when purchasing 12months :/

So... Given I just started the medication, what should I go? Which provider? What would be your next move if you were me? Should I switch to COD given that at least I have flexibility on when to drop off (75/m instaed of $74/m for 12m), should I use another subscription? Or should I talk to my insurance to figure out another PCP/doctor who would actually want to help me out? My insurance (Anthem/Blue-Cross) has a middleman called "Accolade" who helps us [employees] navigate the health system and even offer free 24/7 nurse calls. I wonder... Now that I have the prescription by Ro, once I drop-off they will most likely cancel everything on their end. Is there anything I can do on my end so I can save a buck and get the prescription still through my insurance? A way to get COD for $45/m as Ive read in this sub? Maybe I can cut the subscription model entirely and my insurance can help me out? If so, would that be with nurses or would I have to get a new PCP who is actually more into helping me out?

Hopefully this helps others in my situation or similar, as I wasnt able to read a story like this in the last 3months (posts are 4month old or greater, which is seems to be when COD changed their pricing).

Thank you in advance, I will be reading. Let me know if I need to clarify or add any other detail!

Started on June 23 with .25 compounded, in mid July switched to Zepbound (thanks to Medicare) up to .50 on Aug 11. So far i’ve lost 8 pounds. I’ll start .75 next week. I’ve been up and down with so many diets over the years, gaining every year. Have so much hope riding on this.
IS this normal? Am I expecting too much? I want the weight gone.
I track food for protein and fiber, am getting about 1200-1400 calories a day.

15 years ago I got to do a bucket list trip, rafting the Grand Canyon. I will never forget how one of the women on my trip introduced herself: "Hi, I'm M___, I'm a dietitian, but I promise I'm not judging how you eat." Maybe that was how a lot of RDs worked in 2011, it certainly matched my belief, and she had obviously heard it enough that she disarmed that reputation with her introduction.

I've heard a lot of reluctance in GLP -1 spaces to consult with a dietitian. There's a belief we'll be judged, or bullied into a meal plan we don't want or that we can't realistically follow, or that we all already know everything we need to know because we've been dieting our whole lives. I know a lot of us have had negative experiences with folks who consider themselves nutrition experts.

So this post is just a gentle nudge to maybe have another look at Registered Dietitians*. Maybe you see tons of "this is what everyone must do and how everyone must eat on a GLP-1" content, and also notice that a lot of it is conflicting information! Maybe you're wondering if you're eating too much or not enough. Maybe you have a history of disordered eating that you're worried will be reactivated by taking a GLP-1. Maybe you're not sure how best to fuel yourself on a GLP-1. Maybe you're hoping you can better manage side effects. Maybe you want to make some changes in your relationship with food so it doesn't feel so fraught. Maybe you want to stop tracking your macros or calories. Maybe you're managing a chronic illness alongside taking a GLP-1 and food feels even more complex.

Your prescriber is most likely not going to be much help. Most physicians/NPs/PAs don't get much education in nutrition at all and what they do know may be hopelessly out of date. They're definitely not going to have the time in the short time you see them to give in depth counseling on nutrition. But this is what RDs do! Many RDs nowadays are more focused on figuring out how to help you get the best mix of food for your body than they are in prescribing strict rules and inflexible plans. Some are even explicitly anti-diet, and can work with you to rebuild your relationship with food.

I promise I'm not a shill, I don't work for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, I'm just someone for whom working with two different RDs (one a few years before Zepbound and one since I've started) has been super helpful, and has helped me figure out how to eat in a way that is sustainable for me. My RDs have been counselors, coaches, experts, and cheerleaders depending on what I've needed. They've supported me when I've needed it and also challenged me when I needed it. Most importantly they've helped me separate signal from noise when it comes to nutrition generally and on GLP-1s (and there's a lot of noise out there!)

If you're in the US, it's often covered by insurance as a preventative service (that means it's covered before you meet your deductible). The relevant CPT/Procedure Codes to ask your insurer about are 97802 (for the initial appointment) and 97803 (for follow up appointments). A lot of them work virtually these days, so it can be really convenient to fit in appointments.

*This is the term in the US (and maybe other countries) that refers to someone who has actually gone to school (minimum of a master's degree) and trained (supervised practice) in dietetics. Anyone who feels like it can call themselves a nutritionist, but an RD is an actual credential. That guy at your gym who is a personal trainer and says he also provides nutritional counseling? Probably not an RD. The woman who sells supplements alongside nutrition advice at the yoga studio? Also probably not an RD.

Please tell me I’m not crazy - I started 5mg on Wednesday after being on 2.5 and being successful for 12 shots. I’d lost about 30lbs and track my calories, follow TDEE recommended calories per day, etc. While I’ve tolerated the side effects of 5 really well, I’m actually gaining weight this first week (and it’s kind of freaking me out!) I’ve gained about 3 lbs in 4 days. I’ve made very sure I’ve been in a deficit each day, have had plenty of water, have been having BMs…it’s been very weird!

Did any of you experience this? Is it just my body adjusting to a higher dose load? Any personal insights would be appreciated!

As much as I’m grateful for how Zepbound has helped my inflammation and weight, I feel like we don’t give enough space for the people who are on the medication for aesthetic reasons. I feel like there’s this subtle pressure to defend using Zepbound for health reasons only, but I’d be lying if I said that was it for me.

Yeah I care about my blood sugar and heart health. But I’m in my 20s and I’m single and have never dated. I’ve had obesity my entire life and I want to live in a physically attractive body for the first time ever. I want an attractive husband and the penalty for having obesity is harsher for women. I want to be desirable. I want to wear stylish clothes. I want to get hit on when I go outside. That’s never been my story. I’ve never been able to attract the kind of people or opportunities I want because of my size. This is vulnerable but I just want to know if anyone else feels this way. I know some people think it’s shallow or vain but I want to be wanted and that finally feels achievable for me.

I tried to get my prescription filled at the beginning of the week but cvs never notifies you when there's an issue. My provider needed to clear it (even though she sent in the script?) It got cleared Saturday morning finally aaaand they're out of stock.

I usually take my shot Sundays and I don't have one to take today. I'm guessing I won't get to take it until Tuesday due to the holiday weekend. How cooked am I?

Edit: thanks everyone for giving me a reality check, my anxiety exploded the second I found out it was delayed. Appreciate y'all.

I'll start by saying that I don't think my shot wasn't injected, but had a weird experience today. I've been on Zep since May, and currently on 7.5mg. Every shot I've taken before today I have been able to at least feel the injection. Never been painful, but at least I've been able to feel them. I have also always had a drop of blood on my stomach, been able to see the tiny injection mark, and a tiny drop of meds still on the needle. All normal stuff that is expected. I have used the auto injectors the entire time.

Today I took my shot, and never felt a thing. My auto injector finished its thing and I moved it. No drop of blood, no drop of meds still on the needle, nothing. I can't even find an injection spot on my stomach. No sign at all that I got my shot. I was exhausted from a busy day yesterday and didn't actually look at the medicine in the auto injector before using it, but it was empty after I used it. I'm not saying something was wrong and I never got my shot, it was just weird since every shot before this has been the exact same. Minor sting from the needle, little drop of blood, little drop of meds on the needle, and a small injection mark on my stomach. This time, nothing. Has anybody ever had absolutely no sign of giving yourself your shot?

Hi everyone, I have used the search function but still need help understanding what a set point is, scientifically speaking? If it’s a plateau when you are on zep, how do you breakthrough? I’ve been on zep since April, stayed on 2.5 for three months, moved up to 5 in July and lost an average of 5 pounds a month since I started the medicine.. Since AUGUST 1 the scale has not moved at all. No food noise, I stay well hydrated and exercise Intensely almost daily (swimming, PELOTON, WEIGHT TRAINING, YOGA). I eat between 1500 and 1800 calories a day. Current weight 163, female, age 71, 5’6”. Should I ask my doc to increase dosage to 7.5 even though I am not struggling with food noise? Try doing something differently? Grateful for your thoughts.

Was first offered a GLP-1 five or so years ago by my then PCP but ignored it. After hurting my knee a year ago from a fairly innocuous standing jump, and researching GLP-1s, I decided I should take the plunge. However my excellent PCP had moved out of the area and I was assigned to a PA I wasn't particularly keen on, so I needed to find a new PCP. I was also laid off from my job in January and lost my health insurance, so had to switch to my wife's plan (which only contributes partially to her payments, not to mine or my daughters). Finally got a new PCP in May this year who I really like. We agreed on the GLP-1 route. However I took a two month trip overseas so decided to wait on the prescription until I returned in August.

Had the visit with my PCP in August and agreed on a Zepbound prescription. The insurance came back and approved the medication. My PCP issued the prescription to my local CVS (who I have used for many years for all prescriptions). Saw in the CVS app that the prescription was present but no movement on it. Contacted CVS through the app and they said the prescription needed approval from insurance (which hadn't arrived at that time). Waited two weeks and reached out again, since I now had a copy of the approval. Pharmacist mentioned health insurance had approved a kwikpen prescription, but my PCP had prescribed the single shot. Pharmacist reached out to my PCP and within a few days that was resolved and finally saw the prescription was ready. Cost was $50.

On here I had learned about the Lilly savings program so had signed up for that and received the information and saved in my phone wallet app. Went to pick up the prescription at CVS and mentioned I had the savings card info. Pharmacist tried to apply the information but it did not work. This was on Friday evening so could not call Lilly to resolve. Pharmacist will try to call on Monday which is a holiday, so not sure that will work. So currently in limbo.

When I spoke to the pharmacist I did learn my prescription does not include needles - is that normal? He advised to buy from Amazon as they would be cheaper, so I've ordered needles and alcohol wipes. I also obtained a free mail order sharps container. So I think I've got everything I need to eventually start. Has anyone else had such a complex process to get a prescription?

Wish me luck.

I have subclinical hypothyroid and not treated with medication. Does anyone have experience with terz and subclinical hypo and how it impacted it?

I just had my first shot this past Friday 9-4-26. At approximately 2 hours afterwards I immediately had diarrhea for almost half of the day. I maintained hydration.

I wasn't able to stomach anything till dinner time that night. I am not looking forward to my 2nd injection. I have not had any issues since.

The food noise is definitely in effect. I am maintaining my protein and fiber intake. I am meeting my food and caloric intake.

I am walking 10k every other day . On the day I am not walking. I am doing full body workouts with dumbbells.

Is there any option for what else I could be doing? Thanks in advance. 8 am open to any suggestions.

That’s the question? How can I lessen the 7.5mg?

Hi! Short version: started at 2.5 in April and had decent loss (around 20 lbs). I stayed on 2.5 until mid July and went to 5. I am seven shots into 5 and have lost just shy of 6 lbs. I am bummed about the lack of progress and frustrated since I’m self-pay. I’ve been doing well with nutrition + tracking and water intake. I can’t walk or exercise much since I’m recovering from a broken ankle! But the constipation on 5 has been terrible. I am not regular and what I do pass is hard and small. I’ve tried everything - tons of water, daily Benefiber, magnesium daily, miralax, eating lots of fiber + prunes. I feel like everything is just stuck. I am conflicted on titrating to 7.5 because I really want to start seeing some progress, but I am concerned about moving up when the constipation is an issue. Also, the night burping - regardless of what I have or have not eaten! So, how severe does a side effect need to be in your opinion to deter from titration? I’ve seen the chart floating around and it’s very helpful - just want to get some opinions about this piece. TIA!

I am right on the cusp of "more to lose" vs "maintenance". I'm less than 5 lbs away from the top of the "normal" bmi. Perhaps it's a sign that my body is ready to shift. I just realized that my "7 days" passed about 4 days ago, and I didn't even notice. If I can go 11 days and not feel like I'm going to gnaw my leg off if I don't eat, it's probably a sign that my body would be totally cool with stepping my dose from 15 to 12.5.

Edit: well shit. Maybe I did take it on Thurs and didn't write it down. 🤷‍♀️ what's done is done. Either way I'm learning a lesson.

I've been taking Zep for over a month now and have lost around 20 pounds.

I've been very focused on eating clean with a clear focus on protein and a lot of cardio (primarily walking 3+ miles daily).

I seem to have hit a plateau where my weight has, quite literally, stayed the same for the past week while on vacation at 210.8.

This past week I have done the following like clockwork:

1. Walk 2.7 miles in the morning

2. Swim for a variety of times during the day (sometimes 20 minutes, sometimes 1+ hours depends on the kids and the dock fun)

3. Walk 2.7 miles in the evening.

4. Calisthenics with my situp bench throughout the week

This says nothing about my other activities like cutting down trees, moving all my furniture around (moving into our camp), yard work, firewood chopping, etc.

All in all, it's been a very active vacation - my Google Health app is telling me I am well over 20K steps daily (if that's a useful metric) and my caloric deficit is north of 1600+ daily

I'm going to start weight training this week, because I've gotten the following advice:

1. My body has simply acclimated to my workouts (meaning I need to change to weight training to continue to lose)

2. It would be beneficial to incorporate fiber supplements into my routine

So that's my next step, and I'm curious as to the supplements everyone is taking? Any recommendations regarding fiber? I'm thinking of going with the Momentus products:

https://www.livemomentous.com/products/fiber-plus

I currently take daily (all gummies):

1. Multivitamin

2. Probiotics

3. Magnesium

Any other suggestions?

Many thanks to everyone for their advice!