I’m 25 years old, and I started my Zepbound journey in June 2025. Looking back at these pictures, it’s honestly hard to believe how much has changed in just 16 months.
I know the scale tells one part of the story, but for me, the biggest victories have been everything beyond that number.
Here’s where I started vs. where I am today:
Age: 25M
Highest weight: 292 lbs
Current weight: 180 lbs
Total lost: 112 lbs
Pant size: 42 → 32
Body fat: 42% → 24%
Highest Zepbound dose: 12.5 mg
But here’s what I’m even more proud of.
Throughout this journey, I’ve made strength training a huge priority. I lift 4–5 times a week, average around 7,000 steps a day, and aim for 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight to help preserve and build muscle.
My biggest non-scale victory? Going from wearing size 42 pants to size 32, feeling stronger, being more comfortable in my own body, and actually enjoying the process of getting fitter.
Zepbound has been an incredible tool, but I’ve also learned that the habits you build alongside it matter just as much.
And I’m not done yet!
My next goal is to get below 15% body fat, while continuing to prioritize strength training, protein, and maintaining muscle. I plan to continue Zepbound as part of that journey.
I’m sharing this because when I started at 292 lbs, I couldn’t have imagined being where I am today. Seeing other people’s progress on this subreddit has been incredibly motivating, and I hope mine can do the same for someone who’s just starting out.
Still a work in progress, but definitely proud of how far I’ve come.

I also want to thank u/drspencernadolsky and joinvineyard.com for providing excellent care throughout my journey.

Happy to answer any questions.

If you’re wondering whether you should keep going, just keep going

This is 105 lbs of weight loss. Don’t stop. Even if you’re losing slowly. The time will pass anyway, you may as well get healthier. This also happened over 4.5 years. So if you’re a slow losing, you’re still losing. Don’t give up.

Down 80 pounds as of today (14.5 months). Just a reminder that a sunken face is NOT a guaranteed thing that’ll happen! I may or may not look older, but I do think my face is overall prettier (at least to me, and my opinion is all that matters!).

It's officially been a year! I can honestly say that both my physical self and mental self are in a much better place than a year ago. I'm down 64 lbs, 44.5 inches overall, and down 4 sizes ... woohoo! My sleep apnea is gone, my blood pressure meds have been cut in half, I'm back at the gym and moving better than I have in 8 years! Yes, it has not been easy, yet it also has not been the all-consuming struggle that I've had to endure the majority of my life to lose even a few pounds.

I'm definitely looking forward to continuing the journey towards subsequent weight goals (36 lbs to go to first weight goal) and NSVs!

I actually started my journey at the end of December weighing in at 222lbs. There were a lot of hoops to jump through with insurance and I almost gave up, but I’m so glad I didn’t. From January to July, when I was finally able to start Zepbound, I dropped from 222 to 204 and then bounced back up to 212.

Starting was so scary. That first shot I couldn’t get myself to do on my own and had my husband do it for me, and then I actually cried from all of the guilt I was feeling. The thoughts were horrible! I’m a lazy bum, I should be able to do this without meds, why can’t I just be more disciplined, I suck not being able to do this on my own, I’m an absolute failure, etc.

It’s only been 13 weeks, but I wish I could go back and hug that version of me so tightly and tell her that she wasn’t the failure she thought she was for needing help, and that she was so strong and brave. She tried off and on for 20 years to do it on her own bouncing between 180-237!! It was never from a lack of effort that the weight wouldn’t come off and stay off, her body was just working against her.

Anyway, I’m down 20 lbs since starting Zepbound and 30 lbs since starting this recent journey. It is amazing how much better I’m already feeling in my own body, and I still have 70+ lbs to go. I can’t even imagine what that will feel like, but I’m so excited to find out!!

I hung on for as long as I could, across nearly 37lbs and 6 months, but the time has come to say farewell to 5mg. May others find the success in you that I did, and may 7.5 and beyond give me the same love and support.

Just wanted to share my journey and see if anyone else has gone through something similar.

I originally had my gastric sleeve in 2021. I lost a decent amount of weight but eventually started regaining some of it after my pregnancy.

Fast forward to September 2025, I decided to have a revision to SADI-S. My surgeon left my original sleeve alone and only did the intestinal bypass portion.

I was really hoping the revision would help me lose more weight, but honestly, the results weren't what I expected. I still struggled with hunger and felt like my body was fighting me every step of the way. I also have to be honest, even after the revision I constantly felt hungry. It almost felt like I was on a crash diet. I would get dizzy and just didn't feel great overall.

I started Zepbound on August 18 at 201 lbs, and I'm currently at 180 lbs. So I've lost 21 lbs in just about two months, which is honestly crazy to me considering how much I struggled before starting it.

Looking at the bigger picture, I'm officially down 92 lbs since my highest weight before my first sleeve. It's taken me years, two surgeries, and now medication to get here.

I know some people have strong opinions about using GLP 1 medications after bariatric surgery, but I personally don't see anything wrong with needing additional help. Not everyone's body responds the same way to surgery.

I'm also thinking about incorporating more exercise and resistance training because I really want to focus on maintaining muscle as I continue losing.

My goal is somewhere around 130–150 lbs, but I'm trying not to obsess over the number.

Has anyone else had a sleeve, revised to SADI-S, and then started Zepbound? I'm curious how your weight loss went, whether you eventually had to increase your dose, and if you noticed a bigger difference with the medication compared to surgery alone.

I posted this picture of me ready for a Paris Paloma concert yesterday and people commented on my JAWLINE!!! And you know what……I have stressed over the loose skin under my chin and haven’t fully appreciated the positives that are there…..I do indeed have a jawline!!!

Edit: that's not me in the photo, just a photo to show the pose I'm referring to.

I've been practicing yoga for several years and there's one pose that I've not been able to do: the extended side angle with full bind. My hands couldn't touch because there's simply too much fat in the way.

Yesterday it finally happened. My finger tips were able to touch and hook together. I was so happy!

I shared this with my doctor and she was encouraging and told me to celebrate these little victories. 5mg has been kicking my ass since I started it 6 weeks ago. My stomach feels permanently inhospitable to food and at times I felt miserable. Little victories like this makes it feel worth it.

What are the little victories that you celebrate?

With the exception of one minor stall (I stayed in 7.5 a bit longer than I probably should have), this has been an amazing experience.

I’ve smashed through 2 goal weights so far, with the possibility of beating a 3rd. Mind officially blown…

Today is my 1-year Zep anniversary! My weight loss has not been as significant as some, but all the other changes have been so worth it, wanted to share and encourage others who are just starting out. The year flew by!

Blood pressure went from avg 148/93 to 114/72. Cholesterol 239 -> 185. My joint pain is nearly gone. I was able to walk 15k steps a day this summer in Scotland with energy to spare, where last summer in Japan, I was miserable, in pain and had to skip parts of our itinerary. Yes, it’s great being able to fit into smaller clothes, but what I really value is how much my quality of life has improved.

I was one of the lucky ones, no real side effects, just some constipation and a few overfull/heartburn episodes til I figured out to eat (and what times of day). I’m on 12.5 dose and have kept my weight steady last 3 months. Hoping to stay here for the foreseeable future.

I am so grateful to this community for the resources, encouragement and productive discussion. I could not have done this without y’all.

I drink 2-3 Olipops and 4 Topo Chicos a day. My first drink of the day is 32 ounces of water mixed with 12 ounces of coconut water, a scoop of Altima (sweet), unflavored collagen, and a scoop of orange (think super sweet Tang) psyllium husk mixed together to make pretty much a 44 ounce creamsicle. I crave something sweet all day. All day. But I don’t want any sweets that are food. I bought a Creami, nothing, when I am grocery shopping and walk through the bakery, zero, no actual “Food noise” but I absolutely have to have my sweet flavored drink. I used to drink only tons of water. The moment I got on Zep, I lost interest in water and it tastes weird. Pic of our beverage garage fridge that used to hold over flow groceries but with 2 of us now on Zep, it’s my “sugar” station. The beers my husbands and the drawer sodas just live here now 🤣. (I buy the Olipop on sale and stock up when I can, which is how I ended up here 🤣.)

Before, 1 year in and current on 8 months of maintaining. Now it's all about strength and conditioning. Sticking with healthy habits.

Starting: 189.2 (obese)
Current: 168.6 (overweight)
Goal: 145
60yoF 5’4
Starting date: 7/8/26 (13 weeks)

Yay! It has been slow and steady. I’ve been on 2.5 the whole time with no side effects.

I’ve lost this 45 pounds at least 5 times (🙄), but this has been the easiest. Usually by this point, I’m exhausted with the whole thing and my willpower is shot. Usually by this time, I start to struggle. THIS time, I feel good and ready to get it done.

The biggest things for me:
Zep is helping me practice good eating habits while feeling positive. In previous efforts, I practiced good habits but felt bad, wanted to cheat, on the edge.

Very Low food noise, but still hungry at meal times and can easily step away from the table when I’m full. Grateful for this, but I’m mind-blown 🤯 that this is how normal people feel. It has finally made it clear that I have a chronic disease, and I’m not just a weak POS.

🎊🍀🎉✨🙏🤯

Started Zepbound in May of 2025, and I finally hit 100 lbs lost last Friday!

Starting weight was 294. Current weight: 197.

I have officially been on zepbound for one year and im down 100 lbs. I just titrated up to 12.5 less than a month ago and I really want to say thank you to this sub. I lurked this sub before I officially started taking it because I really wanted to know what I was in for and the information has been tremendous. I learned about the good and the bad that comes with taking this (luckily the only bad ive experienced is acid reflux the night after taking my shot), and how to mitigate any bad side affects. I stocked up on protein and electrolytes before my first shot and have stuck with that ever since. This has been such a godsend to me and I am beyond grateful to have been prescribed this. I was exercising before at my heaviest but now its so much easier to exercise and keep going. My energy levels are so much higher and I can sleep better through the night. My only regret is not asking my doctor sooner to be put on this. So thank you all for all of your tips tricks and stories both good and bad because I do believe even seeing the bad helps us make the most I formed decisions for ourselves. I know this isnt for everyone but for me specifically it has been one of the best decisions of my life

I started my weight loss journey in 2023 at 207 lbs. I was able to lose most of my weight with phentermine, diet and exercise but stalled at 158. Started Zepbound in June and I’ve now officially lost 20lbs and only have 13lbs to my goal. I was so worried I wouldn’t even get below 150 in this time! I think I’m losing at a slower rate than others which had me feeling disappointed for a bit but I realize now I’ve still made good progress!

PMOS and depression wreaked havoc on my body several years ago and I am finally feeling like myself again!

3 weeks in Europe. First time I truly enjoyed life to the fullest. No food anxiety. Walked, danced, laughed.

First time ever getting off a plane after traveling in double digits (hours) without inflammation or leg pain.

Had bread, ice cream, and all the goodness before me without anxiety. Came home 2 lbs lighter.

11 weeks in, 15.6 lbs lost.

Zero food noise. No side effects. Aware of hunger and fullness.

Still on 2.5mg. Slow and steady.

The future looks brighter than I ever thought would be possible for me!

So grateful for the encouragement of this community!

Onward.

So it looks like Zepbound won't be on Medicare Part D formularies in 2027. That's probably because it’s still too expensive for Part D plans to cover. My guess is they’re waiting for results from the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge program.

The Bridge program was presented as a way to give seniors affordable access to GLP-1 medications for only $50. In reality, it’s an actuarial test to see how many eligible seniors sign up, how long they stay on the medication, and how much is saved on healthcare costs like ER visits, surgeries, medications, and cardiology events.

I think the government and Medicare plans want to see cold, hard data before considering adding a high-cost drug to their standard formularies. What we don’t know is how much Part D plans are paying for GLP-1 medications (or their negotiated rates with Eli Lilly and Novo).

My guess is they are too expensive.

I caught my reflection in the doors on the playground at work today and got emotional 🥹

Used to always avoid looking that way, and now I’m finally feeling good about what’s looking back at me.. 🥲

I’m down 38 lbs in 6 months from 194, I’m definitely a super responder on top of being really active. I would be overjoyed to lose about 10 to 15 more pounds genuinely but I actually feel like giving up on zepbound because of the nausea and the amount of work it takes to get in 1200 calories a day. I feel like I have disordered eating because literally nothing appeals to me to eat, ever, and it’s a daily fight and half the time I’m nauseas. I’m on 7.5 mg and have been for about the last three of the six months.

I have tried the fair life protein things and it’s a struggle because they’re so sweet. Do y’all have any other things you’re doing? I do bring a bag of nuts with me and make myself eat those but it’s not enough, and I’ve eaten so much chicken I almost want to gag when I see it. I’m also living off of apples and those liquid oikos yogurt drinks.

I’m down 42 lbs but am having so much trouble getting my ass to the gym. There is objective proof that I am losing muscle bc when I do go to the gym I have to reduce the amount of weight that I lift. That is discouraging. So I don’t want to go. Then I don’t go and I know it’s just getting worse. Vicious cycle. Any stories about similar struggles and how people have slogged their way through exercising on a regular basis would be appreciated.

Today marks two years since I started Zepbound. My starting weight was 278. I’ve maintained a loss of 104 pounds since October 2025. I white knuckled in the early stages and I’m glad I did. Discipline is what I needed and I pushed myself to stay focused throughout the process. I’ve been able cut back in some areas just because I don’t want to lose anymore weight. I still walk at least 3 miles everyday. I strength train every other day and control my eating. I still indulge on those sweet treats when I desire them, but I know when to back off.

I wasn’t happy at all with myself in 2024. I was turning 60 and had no idea who I had become. It was a “when did this happen moment!” To me, my first injection was one of the best days of my life. That first shot gave me all the courage I needed. Looking at photos of myself was also a good motivator.

I wish you all success and perseverance! Me at 62…who would have thought!!☺️

62/175-180/15mg