@quinceykk

Congratulation on your weight loss. I understand your fear of gaining weight back if you stop the medication. I am going to tag @blynn9030 who commented earlier about her success with Zepbound and tapering off the dosage.

Lifestyle changes are important to maintain your weight loss. What lifestyle changes have you made?

Hi @quinceykk, congratulations on your weight loss! I have lost a total of 38% so I am right there with you. I have been overweight off and on my entire teenage and adult life. Been on all the diets, therapy, and so on. Trizepitide has been the only medication that has helped changed my life completely. I am not completely off of it yet. I have tapered down from 7.5mg to 5mg, to 2.5mg.. I added Wellbutrin to the mix on a low dose as it does help very little with the cravings or just not focused on food. Wellbutrin (Bupropion) is an anti-depressant, it's stimulating so not for everyone. It does make my anxiety slightly worse BUT because of that, I have been forced to learn new strategies to help with anxiety. It's funny how when you what something bad enough you seem to manage things. My weight is one thing, but my health is up most important now, especially since I have seen so many positive changes. I could go on, but to answer your question; here are my thoughts based on my own personal experience.

1. It's tough and a daily battle. It's not easy and never will be. So throw any idea out that you will just maintain easily, you most likely won't. You'll have to do things you don't feel like doing, and miss out sometimes.
2. Through my entire process I lost, then gained some, or stayed at the same weight even though it wasn't my "goal". I gave into those times, especially when I maintained. I personally feel it's crucial to let your body gain homeostasis balance during this process. Give your body time to adjust to a new weight and body. I've never been a fan of constantly losing weight, if you do that, then what? How will you ever learn to maintain if your focus has always been on losing. Let your brain adjust to a new setpoint. Just my opinion.
3. I weigh myself every other day. I know some people fear this or it stresses them out. Get over it. Life is stressful, don't overthink things. I needed to toughen up. Keep track closely before it gets out of control because it will.
4. I stop complaining and whining. Who cares why I am overweight, doesn't matter anymore. The only thing that matters is moving forward.
5. Get a Dexa scan; I paid for mine through a company that checked different biomarkers, not just bone but muscle mass and my V02 Max and also my true RMR. So I had an idea of where I was and what I needed to work on. I think it was DexaFit (the company).
6. Make sure you have the right focus on your goals and go from there.
7. Avoid diets unless you think this is the only way you can maintain. Diets made me fatter. Come up with a plan that works for you. I don't do cheat days anymore. I have figured out a way to eat mostly healthy with some additions of what I like. We have choices, we better choose wisely most of the time.
8. Be grateful. Most people can't get this medication, and I did not take that for granted. I worked harder because I felt it was a privilege I didn't deserve. I was given a second chance. My dad has T2DM. It makes me sad he didn't have the opportunity to change his life earlier on like I have. I am forever grateful, and I try to live my new life this way. With gratitude; optimism is sustainable.
9. This is more for newcomers, but respect the medication. Don't play games and use it in an unsafe manner, or under unsanitary methods remember it's a medication which changes your biochemistry.
10. Let go of who you were, and understand that person is no longer. Accept the change, and habits. It will be difficult but the most rewarding to maintain your new weight and health.

Good luck to you 🙂