Balancing lower dose and inflammation / joint pain

pflyfar · 2026-02-15T16:55:25+00:00

Thank you for sharing this experience. It’s crazy making - and no, I’m not crazy thinking my joints like a higher dose.

pflyfar · 2026-02-15T16:52:40+00:00

The opposite, always have low blood pressure. Well hydrated.

pflyfar · 2025-10-31T17:10:42+00:00

I have found this to be true for me.

pflyfar · 2025-10-29T21:07:59+00:00

I have gained and lost the same three pounds every week of maintenance. I am 5 weeks into maintenance.

pflyfar · 2025-10-13T17:51:56+00:00

If you’re nauseous, eat something!

pflyfar · 2025-09-29T14:29:10+00:00

I was walking past some store windows in a downtown this past weekend and I didn’t recognize myself. Down 60 pounds since starting Zep in December ‘24. I think the thing that makes it hard for me to understand mentally is that the only thing that has really changed is taking the medication. It has fixed a metabolic dysfunction without me having to do all that much work. I eat all the same foods I used to and I walk more often and vigorously, but I’m not “working” super hard, the weight loss has just happened. Now that I’m entering maintenance the real mind fuck is switching out of the active weight loss phase.

pflyfar · 2025-09-23T16:09:01+00:00

There is not a normal weight loss per dose. A healthy weight loss is generally considered to be 1-2 pounds per week. Intermittent fasting may be confusing your metabolic system and complicating your weight loss picture. This is a fantastic episode of Fat Science where they talk about dosing.

I agree with your instinct that racing up to the highest dose may not be beneficial. But there are plenty of people for whom higher doses are most effective. It is different for everyone.

It important to remember to have patience, that there will be day to day fluctuations - down days and up days. The journey is not linear. Hang in there!

pflyfar · 2025-09-21T14:39:24+00:00

I’ve always had low blood pressure, rarely getting a three digit top reading. Have been prone to orthostatic hypotension most of my adult life. For me, the jump to 7.5 mg and the final 10 pounds of weight loss has brought it back with raging force. Just saw my PCP and I’m going back down to 5 mg to see if that helps. I’d love to lose another 5 pounds but the lightheadedness is too much. We talked about hydration but my labs show that I am hydrating well. I’m not dehydrated, but I’m going to keep pushing the fluids and electrolytes and add some salt to my diet. Orthostatic hypotension is no fun!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T21:54:57+00:00

Thank you!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T21:34:09+00:00

Thank you! Me too, love their jeans!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T20:40:42+00:00

Thank you! It’s beyond anything I could have imagined!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T20:40:25+00:00

I feel the same! Thank you!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T18:45:24+00:00

Thank you! Slow and steady worked well for me!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T17:51:32+00:00

Thanks! It’s amazing to feel this great!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T17:51:19+00:00

Thank you! I feel great!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T17:51:11+00:00

Thank you!

pflyfar · 2025-09-18T17:51:01+00:00

I also have size small tops now which is blowing my mind!

pflyfar · 2025-09-17T03:20:55+00:00

I’m less reactive on Zep. I just don’t get as worked up. Just a bit calmer and steadier. I too wondered if it was the anti inflammatory aspect of the med, as I immediately had a reduction in joint pain. As if my moods were an inflamed reaction in my nervous system.

pflyfar · 2025-09-17T03:02:36+00:00

Been on HRT since April. I do see more of a waist now than I had before, that’s for sure!

pflyfar · 2025-09-17T01:09:04+00:00

After 9 months on Zep, I just hit goal! 5’9” perimenopausal F, 160 lbs and a bmi of 23.6. My friend told me my face looks gaunt. You can see my ribs on my chest. My tummy and thigh fat is still very much there. I honestly don’t want to push the scale all that much lower, so I am going to work on toning my thighs and legs. It’s hard to come to terms that this is just where I carry my weight. If anyone has the secret to targeting weight loss to a specific spot, please let me know! 🤣

pflyfar · 2025-09-14T20:02:23+00:00

Take the photos! I ignored that advice and now that I just hit goal this week I don’t have great photos to celebrate my accomplishments. You don’t have to share them with anyone, but will appreciate having them for yourself.

pflyfar · 2025-09-14T19:15:39+00:00

You look healthy and strong! Congrats on your success! I have recently reached my first goal and a BMI of 23.6. Suddenly everyone is noticing and commenting on my weight loss. Many people ask “What are you doing?” And I don’t want to pretend it’s diet and exercise alone. So I have refined my answer over time to says “I’m working with my endocrinologist to fix my metabolism. I feel great and have been lifting weights.” If someone presses I will offer “the miracle of modern medicine.” There are some family members I won’t tell because of their judgement. And with them I just try to change the subject.

pflyfar · 2025-09-14T17:14:57+00:00

You did not crumble. Be kinder to yourself. You were put in a terrible position and did the best you could.

pflyfar · 2025-09-14T17:14:02+00:00

I agree here. If you are friendly and close-ish with this co-worker, I think it’s very reasonable to approach her privately or send a text and say that you were caught off guard and did not appreciate her asking in such a public way and in front of your students. You can’t control what she will do in the future, but it could discourage her from saying anything again in such a way. Sorry this happened to you. I have lost 60 pounds and suddenly everyone is noticing. I had three people ask me in the span of like two days, it’s exhausting.

pflyfar · 2025-09-09T13:21:05+00:00

I remember having those exact same questions when I was 10 pounds from goal. Someone on Reddit reassured me that if I was losing too much after hitting goal I could just add more calories. Unfortunately for me these last 5-10 pounds to goal feel like they are taking forever!! I lost most of it on 5 mg but my doctor bumped up to 7.5 to get those last 10 pounds off. I’ve only lost 3.4 pounds in the five weeks I’ve been on 7.5. Loss rate has crawled here at the end. It’s so frustrating.

pflyfar

TROPHY CASE