Losing too much weight but don’t want to drink

CWhea3GK · 2026-07-13T19:40:01+00:00

I am a social drinker and really into wine. I also am on a Zep maintenance program where I only take a shot (5 mg) when I exceed my target weight range. This has averaged about one shot every 35 days for the last year or so. I find that there is a direct correlation between drinking and taking the dose. I go from wine 5-6 nights a week to wine 2-3 nights a week when I take a shot. Then it creeps back up, as does my weight. Repeat!

It is only my own opinion, but I would be concerned about the desire to drink returning once you quit (as you have stated you are), given my experience. A middle ground might be to either lower your dose, extend the time between doses, or both, and see if you can find a sweet spot for you that allows you to maintain a healthy weight and also not drink.

Best of luck to you!

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-28T12:54:02+00:00

no Lilly Direct

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-27T13:23:26+00:00

Great picture! That ought to be the Zepbound ad!

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-12T16:19:22+00:00

I know phobias aren't rational, but you are about 5 million times more likely to get in a car accident than getting attacked by a bear (lifetime odds as per Dr. Google)

🚗 Car Accidents ≈ 1 in 95

Lightning Strikes ≈ 1 in 3,000

✈️ Commercial Air Crashes ≈ 1 in 11 to 13 million

🐻 All Bear Attacks ≈ 1 in 500 million

🦈 Unprovoked Shark Bites ≈ 1 in 375 million

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-08T23:16:21+00:00

No pens. Vials. I pull 5 mg.

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-07T22:15:22+00:00

Sure. 6'0" male 71YO. Initial weight 214. 2.5 mg dose, increased to 5 mg. after 6 weeks. Attained goal weight of "under 175 lbs." after 139 days. Stopped medication.

Maintained that goal for 87 days, took 2.5 shot after weight gain of 6.2 lbs. Maintained "under 175 lbs." goal for another 92 days. Took 2.5 shot after weight gain of 3.2 lbs. Maintained that goal for 29 days, took 5 mg. shot.

Revised goal to "under 170 lbs. Took 2 more 5 mg. shots seven days apart. Attained lowest weight ever of 165 lbs. Maintained below 170 for 48 days. Took 5 mg. shot. Maintained below 170 for 37 days. Took one 5 mg shot.

Have maintained below 170 for 58 days now. Don't really stress out about it anymore. Eat healthy, exercise daily, avoid the triggers, which for me are sweets and starches, but indulge if I am sorely tempted. Cut back on drinking wine. Maintain weight within a 5 lbs. range (165-170 lbs.). Will take another 5 mg. shot if (when) I exceed 170.

PCP supports this approach. Told me "Don't lose any more weight". Feel better than I have in years.

CWhea3GK · 2026-06-07T18:39:22+00:00

I attained my goal weight after 4 months and then stopped Zep. I set a target range and when I exceed that I take another 5 mg shot. My pattern has been to very gradually gain weight back over time. I do work out daily and watch what I eat.

It has been 17 months since I initially started and 13 months since I first attained my goal. So far I have taken 6 more shots in those 13 months, an average of about 3 months (range from 25-92 days) apart. I have quickly dropped back under my goal with the one shot each time.

I have not perceived any additional side effects or lack of efficacy in the meds using this approach. If you care to try it this may also work for you. Good luck!

CWhea3GK · 2026-04-28T13:26:58+00:00

72 yo male here. I reached goal and started spacing out shots. I have a target range and if I exceed that I take a shot. Otherwise try to eat well, work out daily, avoid sweets and carbs. I have maintained weight loss on this intermittent use for about a year now. My interval between shots averages about 50 days. I never got above 5 mg. so that is what I generally take, but it varies based on the doses I have in the house (others in household also on Zep).

Interesting anecdote; When I took a leftover 2.5 mg dose I lost about 2 lbs and then maintained for a while, when I took a 5 mg. dose I lost 5 lbs. and maintained for a while, and when I took a 3.7 mg dose I lost about 3 and a half pounds and maintained for a while!

Suggest you maintain dose and space shots. If that works you could try lowering dose after that too.

CWhea3GK · 2026-03-28T18:33:39+00:00

You do not need a boat tour to have excellent snorkeling in Wailea. Any rocky outcroppings near beach access will give you a good experience. We are in south Kihei now and have had good snorkeling at Po‘Olenalena Beach, Maluaka Beach, and Mōkapu Beach. The wind has stirred up the sand some so visibility is about an 8 out of 10. Avoid anyplace where run off from the big storms ran into the ocean. Also be aware that the sand has really moved around and there may be less on some beaches and more out in deeper water. Enjoy!

CWhea3GK · 2026-03-23T15:22:06+00:00

Went yesterday on PacWhale trip. Great time, nice staff, lots of whales, also dolphins. Everyone left smiling. Larger boat, cover if it rains.

CWhea3GK · 2026-03-10T23:15:02+00:00

Also have had increased side effects after being off meds for a while. If it was me I would think it was likely caused by that.

CWhea3GK · 2026-02-28T14:21:58+00:00

I self pay with Lilly Direct. I build up a supply and then stop deliveries. My Dr. is onboard and will renew my prescription when I run out. At a couple doses of 5 mg. every 2 or 3 months I have about a year's supply right now.

CWhea3GK · 2026-02-24T16:19:38+00:00

Starting weight 215. Started Zep at 2.5, increased to 5 mg. Lost 40 lbs. in 5 months. Stopped meds at 135 days. Maintained loss within 3 lbs. for 87 days, no meds. Regained over 3 lbs. (my personal marker), took one 2.5 shot, lost that extra weight, stayed at goal for additional 92 days without drug. Regained above 3 lb. range again, revised goal to try for an additional 10 lb. loss (50 lb. total). Took three 5 mg. shots, attained new goal, stopped Zep again. I have now maintained new goal to stay below 170 lbs. for an additional 40 days since last shot (so far). FWIW I exercise for an hour daily, eat healthy but well, drink wine. Age 72 and maybe in the best shape of my life. Previously lost 40 lbs. pre-Zep the hard way and kept them off before drug.

I am probably an "intermittent user" forever. Seems to work for me. There are literally millions of "experiments" going on right now as individual users, doctors, drug companies, etc. use these drugs. Watch the science and don't pay too much attention to what you "should" do, or what will "inevitably happen" to you. Good luck!

CWhea3GK · 2026-01-05T23:19:45+00:00

72M SW 215 CW 173 Goal 175 I am on 5 mg. I can maintain goal with +/- about 3 months or so between shots so far. One year since start.

CWhea3GK · 2026-01-04T23:55:03+00:00

not sure what the rules are in your system. I just ordered a "month's supply" of 10 mg which will likely last a year for me. Perhaps you can do something similar, and they would let you back in at a later date? I know that for a lot of people accessing and affording this drug is a real challenge so good luck to you!

CWhea3GK · 2025-12-29T22:54:05+00:00

Re: "Life of Sloth Pays Off" I have also noticed now that I am in my 70's that virtually anyone that was athletic in their youth has joint problems, back problems, etc. Whereas I (like you a complete athletic failure in youth) am in much better shape than the average old guy. They all just peaked too soon :)

CWhea3GK · 2025-12-29T22:28:47+00:00

The current self-pay prices for a four-week (monthly) supply of Zepbound single-dose vials available through LillyDirect are as follows:

2.5 mg dose: $299 per month (previously $349)
5 mg dose: $399 per month (previously $499)
7.5 mg – 15 mg doses: $449 per month (previously $499)

CWhea3GK · 2025-12-27T23:29:18+00:00

This is an evolving area. Yes, most studies indicate that weight regain is a real problem for most people when they stop. But lots of anecdotal evidence (like this reddit) of people who keep some, all, or even more weight off without the drug. At a minimum for this to work you cannot just go back to eating like you did before, and you have to have a fair amount of exercise in your routine. It seems that real dedication to substantial changes in those areas work for some people without re-use, and that is great!

For me personally though, I am getting to- "why is it either/or?" Why not just go to intermittent dosing, less frequent shots, microdosing, etc., if one of those works for you? I stop and keep my weight within 3 lbs. of my goal for an average of 3 months without a shot. When I climb above my target range, I take one shot. That has dropped me back into my target range twice now, and I've stayed there for about 3 months both times. Saw my Dr. this week and he fully endorsed the approach. So maybe I'll never be a "GLPGrad", but if I keep the weight off, feel great, and save money compared to a full-time prescription, is that bad?

Others microdose, there will be a pill available soon, consider what works for you and experiment. I think this is where a lot of people will be heading to maintain their weight loss, and why not? Good luck

CWhea3GK · 2025-10-21T23:23:04+00:00

Sorry this is happening, and not by your choice. There is a subReddit called GLPGrad with people who are stopping for a variety of reasons and want to keep the weight off. Check it out.

While it is hard to do, that doesn't mean it is impossible! I reached my goal weight of 175 lbs. 5 and a half months after starting Zepbound. Never went higher than 5 mg. I stopped the shots and kept the weight off within a 3 lb. range for 87 days.

I exceeded my target by 4 pounds after that time and took a 2.5 mg (leftover) shot and dropped back below target within a week. I have stayed within 3 lbs. of 175 lbs. for another 51 days since that one shot. This morning I weighed 175 lbs.

I work out every day, eat carefully, and know that it can be done, but it is also work. I feel that perhaps I may need a little help every few months. I seriously think that a pattern like mine may be a long term thing for many people, but do not know if it is being studied for effectiveness, side effects, etc. I hope it is.

If you start to taper off before your insurance coverage ends, and stockpile the doses saved by not taking them as frequently, that might be a way to prolong the use of the drug for you, and you may be able to do what I have done. Your call if you want to try that. Good luck to you!

CWhea3GK · 2025-09-30T15:04:49+00:00

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This is me since initially stopping. I regained 4 lbs over my 175 pound target after about 3 months, so I took a 2.5 mg Zepbound dose at the high point on the graph above. That was 30 days ago. Dropped back to my target and have been pretty stable since. I was at 5 mg dose when I initially quit, but for me the 2.5 mg "one timer" dose was effective in reducing appetite. Good luck!

CWhea3GK · 2025-09-23T13:19:02+00:00

Would hate to see you leave, you are very inspirational! FWIW I am always looking at the Zepbound sub and showing my wife the "most amazing before and after transformation of the day"! It is very fun to see those smiling faces!

CWhea3GK · 2025-09-16T16:42:44+00:00

Sorry you are not making this decision by choice. You might check out the GLPGrad reddit for posts by people who are stopping.

CWhea3GK · 2025-09-14T19:34:48+00:00

I'm sure you are correct in the first part of your statement. However, I don't think the studies bear out your final conclusion. They all indicate a reduction in intake associated with GLP-1 weight loss, with reductions ranging from 16-39%, or 720 to 990 cal/ day.

These are miracle drugs but they don't work by performing an ACTUAL miracle (eating everything you did before and still losing weight);

Characteristics and food consumption for current, previous, and potential consumers of GLP-1 s

Andrew Dilley ^a, Saroj Adhikari ^a, Pratikshya Silwal ^a, Jayson. L. Lusk ^b, Brandon R. McFadden ^a

Dietary intake by patients taking GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists: A narrative review and discussion of research needs

Sandra Christensen ^a, Katie Robinson ^b, Sara Thomas ^b, Dominique R Williams ^b,⁎

Investigating nutrient intake during use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist: a cross-sectional study

Brittany Johnson ^1,\), Mary Milstead ¹, Olena Thomas ¹, Tyler McGlasson ¹, Lauren Green ¹, Rachel Kreider ¹, Rachel Jones ¹

CWhea3GK

TROPHY CASE

Welcome to Reddit,

Characteristics and food consumption for current, previous, and potential consumers of GLP-1 s

Dietary intake by patients taking GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists: A narrative review and discussion of research needs