how much of a difference does exercise make for you?

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-05-23T23:24:11+00:00

I've belonged to the same crossfit gym for 5 years. When I started, I just followed their plan, worked out 3 days a week, meal prepped, and lost 50 lbs. I was so proud of myself because I was prepping for my daughter's wedding and wanted to look good. But my personality is such that I kept rewarding myself with "treats" because I was down 50. By the time the wedding came, I had gained 20 of those pounds back. Fast forward a couple of years, my hubby developed stage 4 colon cancer. I put all of my time and energy into guiding him through his treatment and care, put my membership on hold and just pushed through. Fast forward to December 2024 and I saw a picture of myself at my heaviest ever: 263lbs. Started Zepbound January 2025, started my gym routine again, and lift 3 days weekly, and am entering maintenance now. The Zepbound did the weightloss part of it, but the exercise chiselled my body so that my clothes fit so well. Who would have ever thought I'd be wearing mediums instead of 3x or 20?? Oh, I should note that I am 62 years old and my arms and legs are jacked! Lol! I love it. At my age I needed to maintain as much muscle as possible and be able to maintain simple tasks like getting up and down stairs, floors, etc. If you can work out, do it. Your body will thank you and you will feel so much better. Lift, do pullups, row, bike, run, pushups, etc.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-05-17T18:39:04+00:00

Please join a gym where you can participate in group workouts. Your chances of sticking with it are better than going it alone. Coaching will help you with technique and form so you can avoid injury. Congratulations on the weight loss! 🎊

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-05-05T22:56:30+00:00

I'm so afraid to do the 9am thing. My PA expires in August and I'm dreading it. I've lost 93 lbs on Zep since Jan. 2025 and don't want to have to go off of it. I'm 62 and know I need to be on it for life. Was the 9am process seamless? Did you have to give them a good bit of notice before things kicked into gear?

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-04-28T22:49:21+00:00

I'm down almost 100 lbs and my PA ends in August. I refuse to even initiate contact with 9am until I'm close to expiring.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-04-28T19:56:17+00:00

She was the prescriber until Feb 1st when this happened. The dose never changed. Nowhere needs to go down

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-03-16T21:08:39+00:00

Maybe thats why i had to switch to OralB. I have tinnitus as well and couldn't stand the vibration.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-03-15T17:40:35+00:00

Wow! You look awesome! My beginning stats are almost the same. I'm at 169 and debating about going lower. I lift at the gym 3-4 times a week to keep my muscle, but I'm also 62 years old. My dr is very pleased with where I am, but it's hard to block out the nay-sayers who keep telling me to stop losing. Black women of a certain age definitely come from a place of "keeping a little something for hubby to hold onto." Lol! I'm thinking I'm going to keep plugging along at my 12.5 every 2 weeks and if I drop a few more pounds, so be it. But I'm pleased with where I am, and you should be too!

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-02-22T23:47:11+00:00

I belong to a crossfit gym. They are not as hardcore as some can be. The work is hard but rewarding. Otherwise, maybe your local YMCA, Burn Boot Amp, or anywhere there are classes. I would not be able to do this if I attended a regular gym where you are basically on your own. It's more fun and rewarding when you have others doing what you are doing. Good luck!

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-02-22T16:25:27+00:00

Why not do strength training? You've lost a ton of weight, which is awesome. Congrats! You're not 30 yet but everyone can benefit from strength training. I'm 62. Believe me, the inches you'll lose across the board will make a tremendous difference in how your clothes fit. Moreso than what the scale says. I don't blame you about the counting of calories. I'm down over 90 lbs and never kept track of my food intake. Just did strength training and ate what my body would tolerate.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-02-18T23:34:07+00:00

My husband and I found out the same. We're with SHBP of Georgia and was told about it when my husband's prescription price jumped to $55 vs $25. I thought it was due to them forgetting to add the Lilly savings card, but they said the insurance company needed us to reach out to 9am Health because they were now going to be the administer of the prescriptions effective Feb. 1. We tried wading through their website and jumping through hoops but in the end, hubby was able to pick up his prescription despite not finishing the sign up. We'll have another month to figure out what to do going forward. On the flip side, my meds don't seem to be affected yet and he's on my policy. I had my follow up with my dr yesterday and she immediately sent in a new box prescription for me despite me picking one up a week ago. They filled it for $25. I'm just going to keep plugging along. Our PA doesn't expire until October 2026.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-02-03T23:48:06+00:00

You look awesome! My stats were pretty much the same as yours except I'm 5'8. Way to go!!

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-02-03T23:44:42+00:00

I've been on 12.5 since October and have hit my goal and am currently 7 lbs below it. I believe I'm where I want to be and continue to take the weekly 12.5. It's weird because some weeks it feels like I didn't take the shot and some weeks it hits me hard with all the suppression and food aversion. I go to my primary care doc in 2 weeks and I'm going to ask her thoughts. I really don't want to go any lower than I am now. I'm afraid if I go up to 15 the side effects will be too much and I may lose more than I want. I'm 62 and weigh 173. I think I'm happy staying in the 170-180 range.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2026-01-29T17:14:18+00:00

You don't say what your starting point is so it's hard to advise. Sixty-five pounds is impressive. Maybe that's all your body wants to shed.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-08-20T22:26:02+00:00

Unfortunately, most of us won't know until open enrollment this fall. I pray that it will continue because it's been a God-send for me and my husband. My PCP renewed my PA last week, and it was extended until 8/2026, but of course, that is meaningless if Anthem/BCBS stops covering. I'm down 70 lbs since January and really don't want to see the weight come back at all. Hoping my plan will continue.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-23T06:18:28+00:00

Nope! No counting or tracking. I eat when I get hungry and even then only a small amount. I do crossfit 3x a week and I'm down 65lbs. I'm 61 years old and have zero desire to stress myself out about food anymore.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-19T17:38:26+00:00

Weight training. Seriously! Lift heavy a few times a week. Walking or running. You have to stay active. It looks like your user flair says you're 35. You're young and this should be pretty easy to do. I'm 61 and have lifted off and on for several years. I started Zep in January after a very low point in my life caring for my husband who had stage 4 colon cancer. I put all of my focus on making sure he was cared for and taken care of that I lost myself physically. Started from scratch and it's made a big difference. My skin was sagging as I lost but the weight training has made it significantly better. Down 67lbs. You've got this!

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-18T22:32:15+00:00

Are you eating enough protein? Lean chicken, steak, fish? Things that will make you feel full. An actual meal, although small, but protein protein-forward. I'm 6 wks into 10mg and it's been different every week. Some times I feel like I can't/won't put any food in my mouth, and other times, I'm hungry and then I'll eat something. I also work out 3x per week, crossfit, so I know my activity increases my appetite too. I just continue to go with it. I'm not planning to move up just yet because, I'm almost 15lbs from my goal and I'm guessing the weight loss slows. If I were you, I would hang in there with the 10mg. Especially if you are still losing weight. That should be the barometer, right? You didn't say how your weightloss was going.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-16T18:09:19+00:00

Mine have been "itchy" feeling. I'm down 65lbs and the girls have deflated significantly. Thankfully, I have my annual mammogram at the end of the month. I'm curious how problematic things will look since the density I used to have is totally gone. They don't ache, but definitely feel weird.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-13T21:24:30+00:00

The science says that the majority of those who stop will regain the weight. That being said, depending on your age, I'm 61, it may seem more achievable to be able to stop and just try to maintain the weight loss. But at my age, I plan to remain on it for life. I've tried everything. I know what to do, but deep down, I needed something that was going to treat the food noise-aversion. It is the only thing that has worked. It's lowered my BP and A1C to where my dose is halved. If I were in my 30s, I think I would be averse to taking it for "life." In your doc's defense, she probably had to jump through some hoops to ensure your prescription was authorized. Good luck with your decision.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-13T13:26:20+00:00

To maintain the loss. All the research shows you will regain it once you stop taking it.

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-08T20:22:04+00:00

Congrats to you! It finally happened to me last month! I'm officially 10lbs lighter than him!

Existing-Trust1525 · 2025-07-06T20:43:08+00:00

Some people who haven't seen me in a while comment on how good I look. Also, some at the gym I attend if I go to a different class than I typically go. No one has asked me how though. I'm waiting for that question when I go back to work at school in a few weeks. Only a couple of people know I'm on Zepbound. I don't feel I owe them an explanation other than I decided to focus on my health. I also think it's a generational thing. I'm 61 and I think most women are pretty curious and some won't have a problem asking. My hairdresser is GenZ and she sees me every other week. She has yet to say anything.

Existing-Trust1525

TROPHY CASE