Along For The Journey Week One....
So this may be too much info for some but this has been my journey and experience.
I started zepbound 2.5mg on 8/11/25 at about 296. I have a total goal of 85lbs to lose but while using zepbound I'm aiming for 45lbs or 6 months. My last weigh in and taping before zepbound was 6/20/25 at 300lbs. So between 6/20 and 8/14 I've lost 10.1lbs and more than 20in (total body). 5.9lbs of that 10.1lbs was during the first week of zepbound but I spent 1.5 days not eating due to constipation, 2 days using the restroom a lot due to laxatives and stool softeners and it was the end of my monthly cycle. So who knows how much was actually zepbound.
After my first shot I experienced the odd side effects: dry mouth, feeling cold, extreme sleepiness, pins and needles feeling sporadically everywhere on my body (dysesthesia), (the former went away after two days), some food aversion (smell and taste) and constipation (the worst).
Expected responses: my food intake decreased and I was full longer.
Changes I've made or improved on: Staying on top of my multi-vitamins and supplements, increasing my fiber with every meal using a variety of soluable and insoluble (chia, pysillium husk, and flax are amazing), ensure I drink at least a gallon of water, increase my protein, increase fruits and veggies, and decrease my carbs. Grain carbs make me feel extremely full really quick. Keeping a daily log of side affects, how my body is feeling/doing, foods that work or dont, and tracking bowel movements. I also have some stool softeners and laxatives on hand for severe cases but ill be talking to my doctor about supplements to help. Long term use of stool softeners and laxatives is not ideal as it can make your GI system dependant and not function properly, so I only use sparingly and on occasion. I'll also be increasing my steps / walking.
Things I've noticed: While I am full longer, when I do get hungry its usually extreme and very quick. I've noticed a few times when that happens, I feel lightheaded, jittery, and low energy. Similar to hypoglycemia but I am not diabetic nor have any other health problems. I'm usually out running errands when this happens and that why there's a delay in eating so keeping snacks handy is something for me to be mindful of.
Things I'll tinker with in the future: Returning to crossfit and hiking. I've taken a short break while I adjust as those activities require a lot of energy, and I'm not sure if my food intake and calorie expenditure will match so that I don't get sick or injured. I also presume that I'll reach my maintenance dose pretty soon (either 5mg or 7.5mg) especially if constipation remains an issue.
I am also fortunate to have a friend who has been on ozempic for almost 2 years so he's shared many of his tips and tricks to avoid dehydration, kidney stones, and many GI issues. Which has been comforting to have someone to talk about things with.
Welp, here goes the second shot....
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Congrats on starting this journey. My weight management doctor was really helpful in setting the number of calories I needed to be consuming on a daily basis, how much protein I should be eating to prevent muscle loss and giving me good advice about making sure I have enough fiber every day and drink tons of water. Never in my life have I forgotten to eat, but with zepbound I have to make sure that I am eating enough throughout the day so I don’t get overly tired from not eating enough. I have been keeping packs of 100 calorie Only Beans in my car, purse, and desk for a quick snack when I get the sudden hungers because I have been working or distracted and it has been too long since my last meal. A big protein and fiber filled breakfast of 400-500 calories helps me start off the day well when my stomach is the emptiest, because if I leave too many calories to the end of the day, I end up having to eat so much it makes me nauseous.
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