3 Years on Zep/MJ!

MixDone217

MixDone217

Active member
Started at 298 pounds in late Nov '22.
Year 1: 165ish
Maintenance: 140 (April '24)
Now: ~130 pounds

I keep coming back to share my experiences - hoping it gives others some encouragement. If you are curious about my journey, check out my post history! I have spent a silly amount of time answering questions :)

Hard to believe it's been 3 years. That before pic feels like a lifetime ago. I'll always remember the old me, and I'm happy in my current body.

Started with 2.5mg back then...overanalyzing EVERYTHING. Headache? Must be the worst side effect ever. Turns out, it was mostly anxiety. But then the food cravings DIED DOWN. That was REAL. Didn't realize how loud it had been until it stopped.

Year 1: Weight loss
Year 2: Emotional stuff
Year 3: Settled into a stable life.

The good habits are consistent. The cravings are quiet. How I eat and move feels sustainable.

Folks treat you differently when you shed pounds. Some are nice, others are odd. Some encourage you, some don't. It's human nature. But I'm happier now, especially because I feel more comfortable in my own skin. I shine brighter.

Maintenance is consistent. I still do maintenance doses. I eat to nourish my body. My body lets me live a full life. So I do!

2 years ago, I called this my Celebration of Life. 3 years in? I'm living it.

It's been work. But it's been worth it. I'm choosing to live a life I want to be present for. I am experiencing joy and happiness. There's softness within me. It took a long time to align my brain and body. We are almost there.

So:
If you're starting, you got this.
If you're in the thick of it, KEEP GOING. FIGHT.
If you're in maintenance, I'm proud of you. I hope you are too.

3 years down...a lifetime to go. I've got this.
 
Amazing progress! I'm at 2.5 years, down 140ish. Still trying to figure out the mental alignment piece, but your post shows me it's possible!
 
Glad to see you're still posting! I stumbled across your older posts back in late 2024/early 2025 when I was first exploring this. I was searching for inspiration as I began my own journey. I was afraid it wouldn't work for me or that it'd only get me part of the way. I felt like I had too much to lose.

Your photos are inspiring, and so are your detailed posts. It's helped me immensely, especially your comments. I'm now in maintenance myself. I've been sharing monthly updates to pay it forward.

Congrats on 3 years!
 
I'm also at 3 years this month (48M), went from 315 to around 195 and I agree with your sentiments, especially this:

MixDone217 said:
Year 1 was the physical transformation. Year 2 was the emotional unraveling and rebuilding. Year 3 is the part where everything settled into a life that feels real and steady.
Click to expand...

In year 3, I decided to rebuild some lean muscle. I gained about 10 pounds back and reclaimed my old self (the athletic and energetic guy). Before I could, I had to mentally unpack who I was for the past 2 decades and start living again. Now I'm healthier, happier, stronger, and better for everyone. Congrats!
 
I always love your updates, MixDone217! I've been following your journey since before I started on MJ a year ago. You've been such an inspiration!

Congrats on everything! It's amazing to reclaim ourselves and our lives. Forever grateful for this medication!
 
This is such a great experience. I read "My outside matches the person I've always thought could be inside me," and that's how I felt when I told my friends I felt thin on the inside. Looking in the mirror or at photos feels bizarre. I'm still relatively new to this, but I'm determined to lose around 140 pounds. Thank you for sharing!
 
Congrats on your success! I have been on a similar journey! I'm getting closer to my goal of being 198... currently 205, down from 272 when I got diagnosed with Type Two Diabetes in 2013. Started MJ maybe 18 months ago at ~248 pounds. Cheers to life!
 
Thank you for this and the encouragement. I really needed that.

As someone starting after years of PCOS and failed diets, I'm skeptical that this will work. I've internalized a feeling of failure. I'm trying to be kind to myself and hopeful that I can achieve and maintain results. I look forward to when my outside matches my inside.

Thank you again!
 
I'm in maintenance and dropped about 115 pounds myself. My doctor wants me to stay at this weight for a bit to stabilize. Great job, you look like a new person.
 
It's worth remembering that these medications are regulating, not repairing. Like many chronic conditions such as hypertension, long-term treatment is often necessary for sustained benefit.
 
WellWin said:
It's worth remembering that these medications are regulating, not repairing. Like many chronic conditions such as hypertension, long-term treatment is often necessary for sustained benefit.
Click to expand...

Exactly. It's like needing medication for eyesight issues. You manage the condition, not cure it.
 
I completely get that. I stopped the meds a while back and the constant food cravings were exhausting. I can now put the energy back into work, the gym, my family.
 
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