When I started my journey with tirzepatide, I wasn’t sure what to expect. But after six months on the medication, I’m down 34 pounds. Now, six months off it, I’ve successfully maintained my weight loss. Here’s my full experience—why I started, how it went, and what life is like now.
Why I Decided to Try Tirzepatide
I had been stuck in my weight loss journey for a long time. I suspected I was insulin-resistant, had trouble breaking habits, and felt like I needed some medical help to push through. Since my insurance didn’t cover GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro or Zepbound, I opted for a compounded version after doing my research and feeling confident in its safety.
My First Month on Tirzepatide
Receiving my first vial felt like a turning point. I immediately noticed changes. The first week, I felt very full and no longer obsessed over food. My cravings disappeared, though I still experienced occasional hunger, but I filled up quickly. I lost six pounds in the first week.
By the second week, I started experiencing mild fatigue, occasional nausea, and some GI upset. Despite this, I continued losing between one and two pounds per week. My diet was high in protein, with a goal of around 100 grams per day, plenty of water, electrolyte drinks, and vegetables. For exercise, I focused on strength training, did pilates a couple of times a week, and committed to full-body weight training at least once a week.
Months 2-4: Steady Progress
I remained on the 2.5 mg dose and continued losing one to three pounds per week, though there were occasional stagnant weeks. My diet and exercise routine stayed the same. By the second month, I had lost more than ten pounds and looked noticeably thinner. Initially, I was shy about sharing my experience, but eventually, I decided to be open about it.
Weaning Off Tirzepatide
After four months, I had reached my goal weight, down 30 pounds. I didn’t want to stop abruptly, even though I was on the lowest therapeutic dose, so I decided to wean off gradually. During the fifth month, I took half doses. In the sixth month, I took half doses every two weeks. This slow tapering allowed me to adjust to being hungrier and experiencing the return of some food noise while working on coping strategies.
Since I had cleaned up my diet significantly, my cravings weren’t as intense as they had been before. However, I did notice an increase in hunger. To manage this, I stuck with intermittent fasting, maintaining a fasting window of at least 14 to 16 hours. I also continued my high-protein diet, which helped control my appetite.
Maintaining My Weight After Stopping Tirzepatide
I was nervous about stopping the medication, but the transition was smoother than I expected. Since I had weaned off gradually, the increase in hunger wasn’t overwhelming. I felt that my metabolism and insulin resistance had improved significantly throughout the therapy, leaving me in a much healthier state. A couple of months after stopping, I started Wellbutrin for chronic fatigue, ADD, and depression, and I believe it also helped slightly with food noise and appetite control.
Now, six months later, I am still maintaining my weight. My journey was unique to me, but I recognize that others may need to stay on GLP-1 medications long-term, and that’s completely valid. This is just my personal experience, and I hope it helps others considering or navigating their own paths with these medications.
