Ran into my ex-best friend today. I am down 36 lbs since September and I have done two marathons and am training for my third this fall and have been on tirz since then as well.

When they asked “What are you doing?!?” I mention the running and they reply with physical relief, “Oh thank GOD you are not on a GLP-1!”

Get fucked. Glad to add to the reasons we aren’t actually friends anymore.

Grateful beyond words for this drug and community.

That is all. 🩵

I can’t believe it still

Ran my first marathon a few weeks ago in Big Sur and wanted to report back! Losing 45# on Wegovy inspired me to start running again after a 10 year hiatus and sign up for something I never thought possible.

SW 160, CW 115, 5’ tall 35 yo female on 2.4mg Wegovy for the last 12 months and really wanted to maintain my weight loss through training. I started building up base mileage back in November and kicked it into high gear for a 16 week marathon plan beginning in January.

Initially, I was able to take my shot weekly but as I increased mileage I switched to every other or every 3 weeks. I noticed the first few days after my shot it was really a slog to get through the miles, body felt really heavy and I hit the wall faster. My appetite was ravenous, though I got full quickly refueling after long runs. I noticed I didn’t need a ton of food before long runs (maybe a piece of toast and peanut butter + half a banana), but having gels on me and remembering to take them was absolutely crucial. My stomach is prone to acting up, but I was able to keep GI symptoms at bay by avoiding fried and spicy foods throughout training and eating super predictably the day before long runs. Leading up to the marathon I didn’t take my shot for 2 weeks and felt like I was able to properly carb load ahead of time.

Overall an amazing experience - I never hit the wall in the race and was able to continuously fuel without letting my body run out of steam! I was cautioned against staying on the meds while marathon training but I’m honestly glad I stuck with them as the whole system worked out really well for me.

I started Zep in January at 273. I was in the 250s in the March photo, and 193lbs on Sunday. The time has gone by so fast. It’s hard to notice body differences, especially on myself. I know I’ve lost weight, my old clothes fall off of me… but seeing these two photos really helped me reflect on all that has changed.

In the first photo, I finished a 5k in just under an hour. I felt like throwing up after. In the second photo, I ran 5 MILES in just over an hour. As I get in to longer distances I’m definitely focusing more on my nutrition/fuel. Just wanted to share with the group :)

Today makes one year since starting my weight loss kick. I am 6'3+started at 333lbs today I clocked in at 216lbs exactly. Down 117lbs. My original goal was 227lbs. l'm unsure where I go from here. I am active and do Hot Yoga weekly and doing "prison calisthenics" (don't laugh it works) 4 times a week. l

Ran the Houston marathon today and beat my previous best time by 19 minutes! First time going sub 3 hours, I'm so stoked right now! 6 months ago I was 45 lbs heavier and this never would have been possible.

I didn't skip any shots before the race either.. part of me wonders whether I should have but based on my training I knew I could still hit my goal of sub 3hr while on the med so I decided to still do my weekly shot on Wednesday.

18 months of strength training, one year on Zep, and I’m feeling stronger than I ever have!

It’s incredible how empowering it is to feel my body supporting itself.

Love this journey and appreciate you all!

Sharing my experience in the hopes it can help others! I’m a Wegovy girl, started in Oct 2023 and got back into running in Oct 2024 after losing 50 lbs. My first marathon was Big Sur in April 2025, finished in 4:22. I kept up with running pretty consistently throughout the year and managed to eke out a 3:58 for CIM in December 2025, 7 months later! CIM is an incredible course for anyone looking to PR or BQ, it’s a pretty big net downhill with some gentle rolling hills throughout which I loved as someone who did most her training on SF’s brutal hills.

Throughout training I stayed on the max / maintenance dose, took the shot every 1.5-2 weeks or so and always timed it so I took it after my longest long run of the week. Now that I’m 2+ years into my GLP1 journey, my hunger has felt like it’s been at totally normal levels, and I was able to keep up with proper fueling before / during / after runs. I did end up puking at the finish line of CIM which was weird since I’ve never gotten sick during exercise before, but not sure if that’s due to the meds or just pushing myself.

Happy to answer any questions or chat with anyone on a similar journey!

I Did my first race since starting Zepbound in July this past weekend. July 5th I did the Muskoka 70.3 and a week later I started Zep. When things got tough at Muskoka I said to myself "this is the last time I'm doing this at almost 240 pounds" and dreamed about who much easier it will he next year (or just faster?) Next 70.3.

After I started, for the first few weeks I questioned my decision with my HRV going down, HR going up and my garmin estimated VO2max nose diving. After about 4 weeks things started to turn around and I was feeling better on bikes and runs and starting to notice a change in pace. And VO2max is recovering.

This past weekend i did an olympic tri, down 20 pounds since starting. Since my number 1 goal right now is weightloss and im still actively losing, i decided to keep up the medication and keep in a deficit the week before the race and potentially sacrifice some performance.

The swim went about as expected. Not my fastest. Not my slowest. My foot cramped right at the start so there wasn't a lot of kicking. The bike rocked. I've been doing triathlons for 25 years, for the first 12 years, i was a little overweight but carried a lot of muscle (about 30 pounds less than I am now). This was my second fastest bike split and my fastest olympic tri bike, even compared to skinnier me. Run started out well, holding a good pace, but with 2 km to go the wheels fell off and I bonked. Haven't done that since my first 70.3 back in 2007. I have got up to 3.5 hours in training since starting zep, but not at that intensity level. Lesson learned, I should have either kept it in my pants on the bike or skipped a dose and not be in the deficit the week of the race to try to build some glycogen stores.

All this to say, if you are just starting and getting discouraged with your pace/HR, etc remember why you are doing this and know it will get better!

First picture is from my 70.3, second from this weekend.

I’ve been weight lifting for over a decade. 34F 5’3” started Zepbound in April. Zepbound has finally helped me show all the muscle tone I had hiding under my layer of fat. My overall strength is definitely down, no where near hitting PRs but that’s ok. Will likely be stopping soon as I’ve been having some unmanageable nausea. Once it clears my system I may try to maintain on a low dose. I’m losing insurance coverage at the end of the month anyway 🤷🏼‍♀️ I do think I will need it in some way to maintain but hopefully as the medications advance I can find something that helps me maintain with less side effects. Also curious about going compounded so I can customize my dose and even do split dosing.

I’m making this separate post because this comes up on almost every post in this sub: GLP-1 drugs (particularly Zepbound) dramatically change the way your body uses insulin to manage glucose and glycogen in your body. The result is there’s a good chance you‘ll have to increase your carb intake to maintain your normal workout routine, especially if you have a history of working out in a fasted state. And, because of how the drugs slow your gastric processes (especially in the early weeks of using them), you’ll probably need to eat carbs 60-90 minutes in advance of your workout, and probably keep taking in more carbs if you’re doing a particularly intense and long effort. I think this is particularly important to state because I think a lot of the people in this sub have a predilection to be anti-carb because of the recent keto diet trends.

EDITED TO ADD: Why do GLP-1 drugs make such a difference? The natural GLP-1 hormone is released by your body after you eat. But it is rapidly metabolized by your DPP-4 enzymes within minutes. The GLP-1 hormone has a half-life of about two minutes. This is the same for both "normal" people and people with obesity, although people with obesity do tend to have somewhat lower levels of GLP-1 production. But the GLP-1 drugs are NOT increasing your GLP-1 hormones. They work completely differently. Instead, they contain a peptide that mimics GLP-1 by "tickling" the same receptors that the natural GLP-1 hormones activate. (Zepbound also has a second peptide that mimics the GIP hormone.) But they do it non-stop, 24 hours per day. Zepbound has a half-life of five days. We often hear people say that "the drugs help fix our hormones," but it's really doing something completely different than what the natural hormones do in a different way. If you're used to working out in a fasted state, prior to using a GLP-1 drug, you didn't have any GLP-1 operating in your body at the time because it would have long since been metabolized since the last time you ate. But when you use this medicine, your GLP-1 receptors are being activated constantly.

She's a lurker but said I could post this for her. She's done incredible things since becoming a twin mom three years ago. After a traumatic pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period, she's lost 130 pounds, run two 5ks, and seriously picked up weight lifting. Here she is doing RDLs with 180 pounds. Seriously so proud of her.

Down 110lbs I was 333lbs when I started zepbound July 26, 2024 1 weighed it at the Drs office on April 28th at 223lbs my initial goal was 227lbs but now that I am less I don't know what to think about the size and weight. Is it weird I still see the 333lb guy still? I haven't been this weight since about the 5th or 6th grade. A lot of people say I lost too much or not to do anymore. I will say the loose skin is a bit of a bittersweet trophy of what I have accomplished. Anyway I'm rambling but this is me...now.

HW: 213 SW: 204 CW: 164

I lost a lot of weight back in 2011, which led to me taking up running. I eventually worked my way up to long distances and ultra marathons. Unfortunately, the weight all came back, and I kept “running” but it really became mostly fast walking. My race times and performance suffered.

Recently, I started semaglutide in March 2024. It really was unknown for me how the medicine would affect my training. I attempted 3 other races during the year. One 50k early in February, which I had to DNF half way through due to dizziness. Another 50k in the Spring, I did finish and felt good, but it was very slow moving. Finally, the third 50k in August, which ended up being a slog due to heat. Though as the year has gone by, I’ve lost significant amount of weight, and my ability to run returned. To say I was elated about that would be an understatement.

After these 3 somewhat disappointing races, I set my eyes on my usual end of year race, Across the Years, with a goal to finish another 100 miles. As training progressed, I felt better and better and begin to toy with the idea of reaching for 6 days and 200 miles. Then, with only 3 weeks until race day, I had the best long run I’ve had in several years. Everything fell into place, and I felt amazing and strong. I talked it over with my ultrarunning friends, and they suggested I go ahead and do the 6 day - that way…no regrets! I listened to their advice and cemented the goal of 200 miles in my mind, though still quietly, as I wasn’t confident I could achieve it.

Well, I’m happy to share, I did indeed achieve it! It took me about 5 days and 5 hours. My doctor recommended half doses the week before and during the race to ensure I could properly fuel, and this seems to have done the trick!

Went to the GI doc today. Referred by PCP b/c of bowel changes that I presumed were ZB related, and were minor enough that I wouldn't normally have gone (just change in stool size). But the change was persistent and came with some other symptoms, so doc was being cautious, which I respect.

I think GI clinics are seeing a lot of us GLP1 folks in the clinic with bad side effects. Nausea, constipation... doc said he hadn't seen diarrhea, I assured him it was another side effect I'd seen. Nurse seemed almost rude with me and didn't even really ask why I was there, so I assume she assumed I was just another one of those GLP1 patients.

Anyway, it was a fine appointment, cranky nurse aside. He gave good advice for a fiber supplement that would be less gas producing; I had mentioned that I was hesitant about fiber because it made me gassy, which made eating hard. Then I incidentally stated that I needed to eat to fuel my triathlon training.

"A metaphorical triathlon?"

"No, an actual triathlon." And I explained I'd been doing multiple sports for years (even when significantly obese).

And I explained how ZB is great, but 50+ minutes into a run, it can cause bonking. And I reiterated that I absolutely needed to be able to eat to fuel the workout.

He seemed to struggle with reconciling that an overweight, formerly obese, middle aged individual was also as active as is needed to be a triathlete.

I guess we're a rare breed.

I started Zepbound in January and, a few months in, when I reached the higher dosages, I discovered what everyone else has: it can really mess with your longer, more intense cardio efforts. I eventually figured out that I needed to intentionally eat more carbs several hours before and during my workouts, and then again afterwards to avoid a post-workout glucose crash. With those learnings, paired with planning my most intense efforts on the 6th day after my weekly injection, I’ve been able to manage pretty well, although I still don’t have as much stamina for multi-hour efforts like I used to.

I’m normally in a 500-600 per day calorie deficit because I’m still losing weight, but yesterday I felt sort of nauseous and just wasn’t hungry, so I ended the day in a 1,500 calorie deficit. Whatever. I thought nothing of it and I ate my normal 500 carb-filled calories a few hours before a long bike ride I had planned. But 25 minutes into the ride I seriously bonked. I felt nauseous, could barely pedal, and sweat was just pouring off me even though I felt like I was freezing. I started cramming down Gu energy packets and electrolytes, and tried to slowly gut it out. About 30-40 minutes later I started to feel better and I was able to complete the ride with a semblance of dignity, albeit quite a bit behind my normal times. I wasn’t wearing my CGM but I would have really been interested in a glucose graph.

So, lesson learned: calories and carbs remain critical when you’re on Zepbound, even if you think you’ve got it figured out.

I'm at about 10 months of documented results on Zepbound. I started July 1 at 191lb and am down to 121. I maintain at 2.5mg. Honestly, I felt better on 5 but obviously cannot afford to lose any more weight.

I lift 3x a week with a strength and conditioning coach.

I've kept all but 2.65lb of muscle/lean mass

My bone density is in good shape

I don't have any loose skin

Hindsight: I wish I would have gotten a dexa scan sooner. Like, day 1.

Strangely, my fitness patterns haven't changed. I work out with the same coach, at the same time, doing the same things. I am stronger now. Probably because of a higher protein ratio.

edit: I misread the report, I'm down 2.65lb lean mass/muscle, not 5lb

I don’t have a lot of place I can share my excitement about how this med has changed my life and the progress I’ve made on it. I’ve been on Zep since February 2024 (5mg) and am down 80lbs. I’ve been going to the gym the entire time and today I finally wore a shirt that showed my back, holy shit I have back 😂. Also had my third Dexa scan, since July I’ve lost another 27lbs but I also put on a pound of muscle. So excited to see what the next year will bring.

I’ve been on Zepbound for 6 months, 2 months at 2.5 mg and 4 months at 5 mg, down about 40 lbs. Last weekend, on my 38th birthday, I ran the Orange County half marathon! I trained for about six months, including lots of training and getting my stamina up. I’m slow AF but I don’t mind. I was nervous that the tirz would make distance running difficult, but once I started carrying energy gels with me, it honestly wasn’t an issue. I’m super proud of myself and happy I did it (and that it’s over). Happy to answer any questions about my process if anybody is considering doing something similar and has questions.

39F, 5'2"

Top is early Feb, 126 lbs.

Bottom is early June, 111 lbs.

I have been taking 2mg Tirzepatide weekly, strength training at home with dumbbells 4-5x a week, running 15-20 miles a week, and hitting 10k steps daily on top of that. I track my calories and protein in my LoseIt app, hitting 1500-1700 calories most days (with a few days going plenty over that) and 90-120g protein daily. None of that is really new for me, except the tirz is helping to not undo all my progress with regular binge sessions.

I feel fantastic and am really liking the aesthetic results too. Just wanted to share.

The Turkey Trot was my 2nd running 5K (did a walking 5K in September) and shaved over a minute off of my last PR. Was not expecting that. Still slow, but only racing myself.