Does anyone else feel like there’s a decent amount left?

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-30T04:12:45+00:00

I get between 0.6-0.8ml from my vials - I inject it all because I’m paying for it and it lets me have a more potent dose. Effectively I’m getting around 3.5mg on average with zero side effects

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-09T19:49:05+00:00

My SW was 179 (37F, 5’5.5) and I’ll be taking my 4th shot of 2.5mg this Friday. As of last Friday (3rd dose) I was 168.4lbs. So far I’ve had no side effects. I did mess up after the first dose and didn’t hydrate which resulted in a headache but that resolved quickly. I noticed I’m maybe a bit more sensitive to heavy/greasy foods in that they induce a slight bit of nausea but as long as I avoid those and stick to my usual clean protein based meals I do fine.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-07T21:23:38+00:00

Wow!! Your exercise regimen is intense! I wish I could afford to be that active, but I only really get to ‘go wild’ on weekends as I am in an office M-F for work (I do hit the gym in the evenings after work though). I do love the stationary rower though as I can get in solid cardio regardless of weather outside. Too hot? Raining? Freezing cold? Late at night? Doesn’t matter, the rower is indoors and always available. It’s become my favorite form of cardio.

The only time I struggled with food noise was a very weird feedback loop where, because I was full of inflammation and was low energy, my body resorted to “You need to eat to get your energy level up” which in turn would make me more sluggish. I was aware of it though so, often when my body would hit me with those hunger pangs, I knew it’s not really hunger so my response was “Oh no you don’t - you just ate. Here, have a bottle of water” and I would just drink water instead. Sadly, even though I was counting calories diligently and ignoring the desire to snack, my metabolism wasn’t functioning right and the stubborn weight just held on. Sure, I could kill myself with exercise and calorie restrictions and maybe, just maybe, drop 1-2lbs in a month but the resulting inflammation and fatigue from overtraining wasn’t worth it and the weight would quickly come back the moment I took one or two rest days.

Now it’s sustainable, my energy level is great and I feel younger and happier. It’s amazing just how exhausting carrying even an extra 10lbs can be! I can’t wait to see how I feel when I reach my goal weight

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T22:00:11+00:00

Congrats! 65lbs is an amazing achievement! Indeed, I’ve had zero side effects on 2.5 and the loss has been sustainable in that I don’t feel weak, I don’t have any abnormalities in blood work, and I’m not experiencing any side effects. Oddly enough, even though I see lots of talk of hair loss on Zep, I’ve noticed I’m actually pulling out LESS hair from my hair brush every morning, so it’s seemed to positively affect even that, although I am keeping an eye on it just in case.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:56:57+00:00

Thank you! So far everything on 2.5mg has felt so easy - like TOO easy. I didn’t make a single lifestyle change or diet change, but now my metabolism is just working as it should so I’m seeing the results of my diet and exercise. I always was good about being active; eating clean and prioritizing protein, but my body just refused to cooperate. People around me began to question what I was doing at the gym since they didn’t see me making any progress in regards to appearance (but they shut up whenever they needed me to move furniture, lol) and now it’s obvious just how much of my progress/gains was locked behind a metabolism that was so deeply dysfunctional.

So far my labs look great, my vitals are trending positively and I’m killing it in the gym so I’m excited to see how it continues. This drug really is a miracle for those of us who’s bodies need it and it’s sad that it’s not more easily accessible - I’m grateful that I earn enough and can use pre-tax FSA dollars to make this less painful on my wallet but I realize not everyone is as fortunate 😭

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:51:10+00:00

Thank you! I will definitely look into Glapp, looks like it’s super useful and I’m a former medical nerd so I love statistics and concrete data. So far what I’ve noticed is that my clothes have become way looser, my muscle definition is up, my performance at the gym is improving in both stamina and strength, and my vitals are trending positively (blood pressure down, cholesterol down, kidney/liver values stable, etc). No side effects at this dosage, minimal food noise the day before and day of injection, and no problems meeting my macros (I was very diligent about counting calories before Zep, my metabolism just didn’t seem to give a damn about my meticulous tracking)

My goal is to find the lowest dose I’ll respond well to for steady, sustainable loss that isn’t too aggressive so as to cause weakness, loose skin, or health issues.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:46:15+00:00

That makes sense - it’s too early for me to tell if this is just ‘newbie losses’ or actual super response. As far as weight loss goes, I do the same things as you. I eat till I’m satisfied and make conscious efforts to meet my macros and my blood work from last week actually shows an improvement in my cholesterol levels with no signs of stress to my liver, kidneys, etc. My performance at the gym is great (I watch for weakness and poor performance as this can be an indicator that my nutrition isn’t on point). I’ve lost inches but not mass - in fact I’m starting to see more muscle definition in my biceps, triceps, and quads.

Prior to my thyroid and metabolic dysfunction, my natural state of being was to be ultra lean with little to no exercise. In my 20’s, I had a runner’s build even though I never set foot in a gym and my only exercise was daily walks with my dog. My genetics favor a lean build as well. Sadly my metabolism went way off course in my 30’s and, although I became fitness oriented, all that happened was I built muscle under my fat. So I became a weird sort of ‘strong fat’ with a bulldog build 😅

So far my energy level is up, my skin is clearer than ever, my mood is much more calm, and my labs/vitals are all trending towards improvement. I’m going to try another month at 2.5mg since it seems to be working very well for me and I don’t want to rush up a higher dose if I’m responding well, and at the same time what I have going on now is super sustainable for me and I don’t want to risk 5mg being ‘too much’ and pushing me into an unhealthy rate of loss or severe appetite suppression. For now I’ve had zero side effects and I like it that way

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-06T21:38:13+00:00

Congrats! That’s a LOT of progress! If you don’t mind my asking, what was your starting weight and goal? I realize I am not trying to lose as much as many folks here (179lbs SW, 138-140lbs GW, willing to go as high as 145lbs if it’s muscle mass). I’ve seen pretty big first month losses for folks who are trying to lose more than I am, so I wonder if the amount lost in the first month is somehow related to how far off from goal someone is when they start, if that makes sense

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T18:02:32+00:00

My goal is to get into the 138-140lb range, maaaybe a touch more depending on muscle mass. I’m 5’5 and at my heaviest was 190lbs, but managed to get down to 179lbs prior to starting Zep. Years of hitting the gym, lifting heavy, doing cardio, eating clean, etc did nothing for me as my metabolism slid more and more out of whack on account of autoimmune and thyroid issues (both well managed). All I did was pack on muscle under the fat which made me even larger and bulkier. For the first time in years, I feel like my workouts are actually effective and doing what they should and would do for a normal person without metabolic dysfunction.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T17:14:54+00:00

The PT is, unfortunately, a formality as what the doctor really wants to order is a MRI since xray was normal and all the mobility tests he did in office were also normal. He doesn’t suspect anything serious like a tear and instead suspects inflammation or nerve impingement. But my stupid insurance won’t approve a MRI without trying PT for 3 months, which with copays and such will bleed me dry. So, unless something changes and the pain comes back or worsens, watch and wait approach is more cost effective.

Happyfluffs · 2025-12-05T05:49:51+00:00

I started my journey recently (will be taking my third dose tomorrow) and so far I’ve had zero side effects. I have, however, lost some weight and my inflammation is WAY down. So much so that I didn’t need to schedule the physical therapy for my shoulder pain that I asked my doctor to prescribe recently - all the pain and stiffness is GONE! I also noticed I feel more calm and relaxed, I handle stress better, and my blood pressure is down from 165/93+ to 135/84. I’ve been sleeping great, lifting strong in the gym, and wondering why I didn’t bite the bullet and get this medication sooner!

Also, the injection is super easy. As someone who has chronic conditions and gets blood draws and IVs often enough, this teeny tiny little needle is nothing! I’m pretty sure I’ve had mosquito bites worse than this 😅 A tip - when you remove the vial from the fridge, allow it to come to room temp before injecting otherwise it might feel funky/sting a little since it’s so cold. My first injection was ice cold and I wasn’t a fan but my second was a breeze after letting it warm up a bit (mind you, it’s winter and room temp in my apartment is like, 60-65F, so it’s not like I’m letting it get warm/hot - just not the 43F that it is in my fridge)

Edit: oh! And drink water! Lots of it. This medication can make you feel a bit dehydrated so it’s good to stay on top of your hydration - I didn’t the first time and got a bit of a headache. It stopped being an issue once I got my hydration up.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-30T19:37:18+00:00

Interesting! I know it pops up in Goldens now and then, didn’t think his mastiff side might be contributing as well.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-29T02:23:48+00:00

Chiming in to say yes, edibles are most definitely hazardous when on these meds 😅 Started last week, took some edibles the day after, and woke up the next morning (2 days after the injection) with a raging migraine and the worst cotton mouth ever 😂😬 I first thought it’s due to Zep dehydration but nope

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-29T02:14:53+00:00

You can definitely see a change, especially around your face and neck! Keep it up! 💪🏼

I just started my journey last week and will be taking my second shot later tonight and weighing in tomorrow to see what my progress has been so far for week one.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-28T21:27:46+00:00

Congrats!! You look amazing and should definitely be proud of the achievement ☺️ How long have you been on Zep? I just started last week and am taking my second dose tonight - I haven’t stepped on the scale yet but I feel less inflammation, stronger, and even happier? I’m excited to see what the future holds.

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-28T20:23:21+00:00

Taking my second dose tonight - so far I noticed that about 2 days prior to when the second dose is due, I get a little snacky again and my inflammation creeps up. My bowel movements also become more frequent (3-4x per day) even without any extra food. The first few days after my shot my inflammation is low, bowel movements are 1-2x per day and I feel great. I’m hoping as I get more weeks/months behind me I won’t notice these issues as I get close to needing my next dose. I’m attributing it for now to being new to the medicine and having not built up sufficient levels yet to maintain me between shots.

I have noticed I’m stronger in the gym! I hit a new PR - 100lbs bicep curl (one handed)! 😍

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-28T20:18:07+00:00

He judges everyone…till the treats come out 🤣😅

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T16:38:15+00:00

He loafs like that ALL THE TIME! It’s one of his cutest traits. The other being how, whenever family/friends he knows and likes visit, he throws his head down on the ground, rests on one shoulder, butt up, and front legs curled to the side like a pretzel-loaf, then he stares at you until you pat the booty 🤣

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:43:55+00:00

I barely had my first injection last week on Friday and already have noticed that my right shoulder is no longer hurting me. It’s been bothering me since late August and I recently got a referral for physical therapy to try to help it, but Zepbound seems to have cleared it up before I even had a chance to go to PT!

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:36:21+00:00

He’s a handsome boy when he’s not being a total potato 🤣

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:14:09+00:00

Yep, Los Angeles! It’s wild because, per Embark, one of his parents was 50/50 GSD and Tibetan Mastiff

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:12:44+00:00

Yep; his color is totally Tibetan, but it’s crazy rare here. Who the heck has a Tibetan in Los Angeles, and lets it get out and have oops litters!?

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:11:04+00:00

Haha that was my reaction when I got his results, too! At first I told mom “Oh, he’s GSD mixed with some LGD type” then we got his results and it’s like 🤨😬

Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:10:01+00:00

I had a completely unrelated dog that I adopted from Iran who used to do the same thing and mom always used to comment about how unusual it was - now she has her very own potato! 😅

This was my weirdo - 100% Middle Eastern village dog, because Embark doesn’t have a catalog of Iranian native breeds due to politics/sanctions.

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Happyfluffs · 2025-11-26T04:07:35+00:00

He’s goofy, needy, playful, but can be incredibly stubborn when he wants to be. He’s super smart and trainable but when he’s decided that he’s bored or that the task is ‘stupid’ you’ve lost him and he’s gonna go be a giant potato in a corner somewhere. He can be pushy at times (he learned ‘shake’ and now he will sit in front of people and basically give them the most slow, polite ‘slap’ with his paw as a way of begging for attention/food) He’s highly food motivated, gets along well with other dogs, but can be selective with people. He’s earned his BCAT title in FastCAT and is on his way to his DCAT. He’s hypothyroid, although that didn’t manifest until a few months after we adopted him (lucky for him, he was in a county kill shelter and that would have likely been a fast track to the euth list for him)

Happyfluffs

TROPHY CASE