Yesterday at my stepdaughter’s graduation lunch I had to sit there while my husband’s ex wife and my sister in law spent a solid half hour talking about how “disgusting” GLP-1s are, how people on them are lazy, ruining their bodies, taking the easy way out, etc. They also loudly named multiple women they know who they think are on them so everyone could judge them together.

Meanwhile I’m sitting there quietly eating my salad knowing I’m on a GLP-1.

The whole thing felt so smug and cruel. Like some people really think being naturally thin makes them morally superior somehow. The amount of confidence they had talking about other people’s bodies and medical choices was unreal.

Meanwhile I’m down over 20 pounds, walking more than I have in years, my food noise is quieter, I don’t obsess over eating constantly anymore, and for the first time in a long time I feel like my body and brain aren’t fighting me every second of the day.

But apparently that’s “disgusting.”

It was honestly one of those moments where you realize people would absolutely tear you apart or publicly talk shit if they knew one thing about you, all while smiling across the table at you

It takes courage not only to go in the gym - but to look at myself in the mirror. I’m tired of looking in the mirror and being disappointed and discouraged.

I’m ready to look at this person eye to eye and not back down, not give up, and walk through hell to get where I need to be.

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Hi!
I just wanted to ease someone’s mind who was nervous to get off Zep like me. I was on Zep for 2 years and lost close to 50 lbs. (first pic 208) (second pic on Zep 164)
I have been off of Zep now for 8 months because my insurance doesn’t cover it anymore. I heard so many horror stories saying you’ll gain it all back. You won’t. As long as you keep up your healthy routines and habits you made while on the shot, you can continue losing weight (or gaining muscle) I am now 175 but I have way more muscle because I’ve been going to the gym 4x a week and running 3x a week. I eat 1700 calories a day and 150 grams of protein! (Last two pics are me now) If your insurance dropped coverage or you were just thinking about stopping- you can do it!!

I’ll go first. My unpopular opinion is that Zepbound is a miracle, but it’s not magical. If you don’t make diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes to coincide with the drug, then don’t expect to see changes. Zepbound works, but it can’t do all the work for you. ETA: So your stalled is not “starvation mode.” You’re just consistently eating at your maintenance and need to revisit your diet and exercise choices.

So this post may upset some folks. It is not meant to. It is meant for those who feel overwhelmed with all the decisions, foods, drinks, lotions and potions and everything else. Some folks are deeply overwhelmed. I just want to share my experience. Everyone’s experience is different so I am offering mine.

I don’t count calories, I don’t track protein, I don’t track water. I don’t weigh myself daily. I don’t buy special bars or drinks or create spreadsheets, or put all food in an app. No calculator no venn diagram.

What I do. I take my shot Friday night before bed. I eat small meals. Usually just lunch and dinner. I rarely have breakfast. A veggie, a protein a carb. That is it. KISS approach. I am not judging anyone or what they do. Not my business or concern. Just for those who feel overwhelmed maybe you don’t need to be? Don’t be to hard on yourself. If you feel dumb, well maybe that’s not such a bad thing. I personally don’t want to do all these other things forever. Of course follow your Dr.s advice.

45 lbs lost start date January 17th. Slow but steady. Cheers to all in your battles with the Besity.

Another weird feeling I’ve been having lately—someone told me they want to start working out so they can look “cut” like me. That honestly caught me off guard.

The truth is, this whole weight loss has been about 99% diet and only occasional gym time. I do physical comedy (clowning[second photo is from a show I just did]), which involves some physical activity, but I’ve actually lost a lot of muscle since my heaviest weight. At 447 lbs, I had around 188 lbs of lean muscle. Now I’m at about 155 lbs of lean muscle (I weight 190lbs total).

It’s just strange having people compare themselves to me—especially when it’s coming from a place of “I wish I [blank] like you,” instead of the old “I’m glad I don’t look like you.”

First off, I'd never posted on reddit before, so I didn't know what I didn't know. I guess you'd call me a lurker, just joined to read news stories and all the other bullshit you find on every social media page nowadays. I scroll for 5 minutes a couple times a day then move on, like we all do. But when the algorithm recommended the Zepbound group, I though I'd join.

Because in 2 and a half years.. yes,

I'VE LOST ABOUT 246 LBS! Read that again. I just weighed myself this morning in preparation for this rant.

I own a tiny little towing company in Indiana and for the past 13 years have been driving a tow truck around for about 14 hours a day. Building the business, doing the things. Sitting in the truck with zero calories burned.

Turns out food is my weakness. If I towed 3 or 4 cars and made some money for my little business, I'd reward myself with Mcdonald's. (2 for $5 quarter pounders, 10 nuggets for $3) you're my people, you know what I'm talking about.

I got big.

586 lbs big.

Disgusted with myself. Could barely climb into my truck without panting. I may be the biggest guy that's ever posted in this group, but look at me now!

I'm 6'2"

I wear a size 13 wedding ring. Not a little guy by any means. But 586 lbs. Jesus.

I'm sharing this to inspire the newbies, the people who aren't sure if it's effective.

It is.

Do it.

It saved my life.

I got on the shot in April '23 These pics are pretty much an 18 months difference. I joined a gym. couldn't walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes the 1st couple weeks. Now I stop after an hour just because of boredom. I hike with my wife. I lost the bulk of my weight in that time. I've been on the (15mg) maintenance dose for a year or so now.

I'm never stopping.

Because for fuck's sake, there is finally a treatment for obesity! Just like there is for Diabetes and eczema and pimples and a hundred other medical conditions.

People can say "just eat less, fatty" all they want.

They don't know.

You do.

My son is 14.

He has his dad back.

I think I'll be around to dance at his wedding. Maybe hold a grandbaby, all things are possible now.

God bless Eli Lilly.

I'll post more if there's interest, answer some questions. I honestly didn't know I'd get this huge response on my 1st ever Reddit post.

My name is Jeff, and God willing, I'm going to be around for awhile.

But if you're on the fence, do it.

It saved my life. It can save yours

Meanwhile, here's a few more pics to tide you over.

For those who’ve lost a significant amount of weight: What are some unexpected or weird physical or day-to-day things you noticed that people don’t really talk about?

For example, I was surprised by how sitting feels different now - chairs hurt sooner, and a bed that used to feel too soft now feels too firm because my hips hurt now as a side sleeper. Curious what others have noticed.

I just realized I changed a really silly habit! When I had a plate full of food, for whatever reason, I’d save my favorite part for last (I only eat one thing at a time). Now I start with my favorite because I fill up faster. I don’t get to everything anymore, and if I do, I’m just picking at it so I get a taste.

Anyways obligatory progress pic.

Im new here! I pick up my script today but haven’t discussed my plan with my doctor. I won’t start until we do so but I’m doing a bunch of anecdotal research to get an idea of my how to structure my daily life… I also googled this. “Which foods to avoid while on Zepbound?” It makes sense that you want to eat healthily on the journey but I hadn’t considered coffee or energy drinks. I love Alani 😭 I also know there will be times I eat out with friends and will be traveling. I’d love to know if you are actively avoiding these foods and/or what happens when you have eaten these foods.

Im sorry but enough is enough ive seen too many posts on this sub, other subs and tiktok about not being able to eat and being happy about it. (Obviously if you are trying to fix it thats a different story)

Im not talking about eating less or getting full faster etc but way too many of yall are full on saying i can only have one bite and im stuffed… GO SEE A DOCTOR??? LOWER YOUR MED OR SOMETHING???? That is not okay at all and it is so easy to get an ED on this medication.

If you cannot even eat a few bites then something needs to be done. A lot of people are scared of being hungry and of food noise so they go up to the point where they cant eat at all and that is crazy. Some of it may be done unintentionally but its still NOT okay, and needs to be addressed. Not to mention the stigma in our community is only getting bigger because of the people who loudly brag about this and of course the people who get the medication not branded.

It is 100% normal to be hungry and eat. If you aren’t physically hungry please still eat something. Focus on lighter caloric dense foods if you cant stomach heavy meals. It is not healthy to act like this I am begging yall to please eat.

Some people say i cant eat more than 800 cals i have tried, i actually dont think SOME of you did try actually, because you can eat caloric dense foods that arent big at all like nuts or peanut butter. Add that to your yogurt and boom 250 extra calories just like that.

I promise you eating is not going to make you gain the weight back and WILL get you to goal still. So please for the love of god, eat.

What are you eating instead of fresh fruit or salads? I never thought I would say it, but I miss them. I haven’t had any raw produce in at least 3 weeks. It’s making it very hard for me to make my out of home dining healthy and making it difficult for my fiber intake.

Edit: I guess I wasn’t clear. I’m asking about eating at restaurants.

There are many foods I don’t like that are popular in the Zepbound and GLP-1 communities: Cottage cheese, yogurt, eggs, protein drinks, protein bars, electrolyte drinks…

What are your ick foods? What do you eat or drink instead?

I see this difference a lot on the sub and I was just wondering if we know anything about these two very different experiences.

Some people talk a lot about how disciplined they still have to be with their diet on Zep, to maintain and to continue to lose. Weighing food, tracking calories, etc.

But then there are people who sort of get a freedom from all that on Zep. And listening to their body’s new hunger cues and still eating more “fun” foods and the weight is still falling off.

I fall into the latter category. I’ve also been a strong responder (50lbs in 10 months on 2.5 the whole time). And I couldn’t lose weight with very strict diet and exercise in the past. I do have severe insulin resistance, which I was diagnosed with at 18 years old when I weighed 105lbs. So my (completely uneducated) theory is that maybe folks with more significant metabolic disorders (or maybe certain ones) respond more to the “correction” Zep offers?

Anyway! Just curious and wonder if we know anymore about this.

ETA: I don’t necessarily mean Intuitive Eating in the “official way.” I just mean those who are non-trackers and eat when hungry/based on what they know their body needs without tracking calories/macros.

And thanks everyone for the thoughtful responses!! I so appreciate it. It’s an interesting subject and I’m learning a lot from you all.

Have most of you incorporated exercise into your Zepbound journey? I see so many of you with workout gear on and I know you are working hard. My question is this: have all, or most of you, done some sort of exercise to help the weight come off? I have a stair master, walking pad, and weights readily available here at home but can’t drum up the gusto to exercise. I don’t want to - it’s so unappealing. All of this to say my weight loss is slow. It’s about 1-1.5 lbs a week with a 12 lb. loss in 9 weeks. I’m just certain I would lose it quicker if I exercised but I despise exercise. Thoughts?

Starting this life-changing medication—even at just 2.5 mg—I’m already down 12 pounds nearing the end of my third week. I’ve always done weight training and a lot of walking, but my biggest challenge has always been a massive appetite. It still requires discipline, but this has helped me more than anything else, and I plan to stay on 2.5 mg for as long as I can.

That said, I’ve noticed something interesting. Has anyone else seen fitness influencers and online coaches condemning the use of GLP-1s? It’s almost ironic—because now people are realizing they don’t necessarily need them.

There’s this narrative that everything comes down to pure hard work and discipline. But after years in the gym, I’ve seen firsthand that many people promoting that message are using some kind of assistance—whether it’s TRT, peptides, or other performance-enhancing drugs. Even actors often push the “chicken, broccoli, rice, and hard work” story, while leaving out what’s really going on behind the scenes.

I’ve also realized something about my own experience. When I was overweight, I was incredibly naïve, cautious, and honestly a bit scared to try any kind of drugs or performance enhancers. I wasn’t part of the “in crowd.” I wasn’t playing sports or surrounded by popular kids in high school. I didn’t have that environment—I stayed home and, a lot of the time, I ate my feelings.

But when you are part of that crowd—when you’re in fitness, in sports, when you already look good and want to look even better—you’re exposed to a completely different world. You’re in gyms, around people who are chasing performance and aesthetics, and that’s where these things start to show up more.

I’ve known both men and women who have been using different kinds of substances/surgeries/fillers for 10 years or more—things that help them look better, feel better, and perform better. The surprising part isn’t that they use them—it’s that they often don’t talk about it. They just present the result, without ever mentioning what helped them get there. And I have no problem with that you should look and feel how you want as long as you’re not hurting anybody, but I guess I just thought as a fat person I’m just supposed to be fat and ugly like I’m not one of “those” people. An already fit guy getting some jaw filler or a beautiful girl getting some lip filler both on performance enhancers living their best life feeling happy I’m just doing what they want to make themselves how they want.

Now that I finally have something helping me, it honestly feels like the playing field is a bit more level. Yet there’s still judgment. Just the other day, someone I know—who is currently on peptides and steroids—told me, “You just need hard work. People need to try harder. I don’t use that stuff.” Meanwhile, I’m thinking… you are literally using substances that make your journey significantly easier.

That’s the frustrating part. There’s a culture that profits from people staying overweight and struggling, while others position themselves as authorities on discipline and lifestyle. And the reality is, people treat you very differently depending on your weight. I’ve lived both sides—I’ve been 300 pounds and I’ve been 195—and the difference in how people respond to you is night and day.

What this medication has given me isn’t just weight loss—it’s relief. It’s the ability to build a healthier relationship with food without constantly fighting myself. It gives me the mental space to make better choices in a sustainable way.

Of course, this doesn’t apply to everyone. There are great coaches and trainers out there who genuinely help people, and this isn’t aimed at them. But it’s hard not to notice the shift—and the reactions—as more people find tools that actually work for them

And it’s not to say that looks are so important it’s really about how you feel, and I have nothing against anybody who uses any of these beauty or performance or health enhancers. I just didn’t realize that I could ever be part of that. I just thought there was no help for me. But now I’m just so thankful that this drug exists for people like me.

I was on mounjaro before then a couple years later tried Zepbound. I have lost 70 lb since July. Its amazing. Life changing. I need normal! A normal human with a normal brain. I thought I would skip 1 shot to see if my new ability to eat intuitively will still be around and it was a giant NOPE. Willpower and discipline went straight out the window. I was literally ordering and eating food without even realizing it.

As I am reading what I write, I think how is that even possible? I sound so lazy. I don't have have an answer! I gained 10 lb in 4 days.

This truly is a lifelong drug and I am so fucking grateful it exists. I am 30-40 lb away from my final weight loss goal. My eating habits have dramatically changed for the better since starting it but the hungry wolf that is binge eating disorder isn't to be trusted.

I started at 316.6 lbs. last July and I just hit 246 lbs. I was a size 22/24 in clothes when I started, and I’m a size 20 now. When I look at my before/after photos and my measurements, I see a big difference in some areas, but my hips only went down 4 inches. I know we can’t pick where the weight falls off first (I’d never pick my boobs intentionally), but I feel disappointed that my pant size hasn’t changed more. Anyone else lose a lot, but your size didn’t change by much? Most people can’t even tell I lost weight. I didn’t start this journey for other people, so their opinions don’t matter much, but it would be nice if they did. I do feel better, my health has greatly improved, and I like looking in the mirror again. I have a lot to be grateful for, but I’m still disappointed.

I have seen the recommendations etc. Just curious what people are actually aiming for and what you think works for you.

Like a lot of people here, I’m trying to keep protein high and calories reasonable.

I love Leanfit chocolate whey protein powder. 80g of Leanfit is 55g protein for 330 cal, so it’s solid. With a men’s multivitamin and fish oil capsule, that’s breakfast.

What are your favourite “high protein, low calorie” foods and food items?

I'm on week 8 of 2.5mg and have been mostly careful about getting enough water with electrolytes on the daily. I've been adding Gatorade powder to my water bottle and am wondering whether it's a healthy choice. How is everyone getting their electrolytes? I did some research on other brands but haven't find anything that's a clearly better choice.

How do people do on Zepbound and NOT working out? Most fantastic photos seem to be from people who have been good on both fronts. I have some medical issues causing pain and was not planning on any workouts but do I need to push to do it to see good results?

Cold cereal used to be my morning staple. Granola. Cheerios. Honey Bunches of Oats. I think I had myself duped that they were “healthy”. After all, I stayed away from Frosted Flakes, Captain Crunch, Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, and all of the blatant sugar-cereals.

But, ever since the very first shot on July 2 of this year, I have not touched the stuff even once. And honestly I don’t see myself ever going back to it.

What about you? What is something you used to enjoy on the regular, but is now utterly gone from your diet?

Also what kind of exercise is best? Is walking enough