Fluctuating appetite on Zepbound - normal?

Moody_Path

Moody_Path

Active member
I'm finding it hard not to compare my progress on Zepbound with other people's journeys, and it's messing with my head a bit.

I'm a 35 year old male, 5'2", currently sitting at 180 lbs. I'm only in my first week of the 5 mg dose. My appetite seems to change a lot during the week. I get the best appetite control for the first couple of days after my injection, but then it fades off toward the end of the week.

I've seen some people online claiming they shed 10-12 lbs a month, and that makes me wonder if the treatment is even effective. I'm worried that it's not "working" for me.

Like today - my next shot is tomorrow, and my appetite is creeping back. I wasn't really hungry, but I had major food cravings, especially for chocolate. I ended up eating half a pastry with some hazelnut spread. Not a total binge, but not exactly eating because I was hungry. I just wanted it.

Right after that, I started thinking:

* Maybe this treatment isn't the right one for me.
* Is something wrong with me?
* Am I always going to struggle with my weight?

I know rationally that one little snack isn't going to derail everything. Most of the time I have good control. But emotionally, it feels like it proves I'm different from the lucky ones who say they can barely eat.
 
I'm in my fifth week, and I had my dose yesterday. I'm also seeing that same pattern. It's simpler to manage my calories and reject extra food now... but I haven't had any of that "I can barely eat" experience that you see a lot online. But prior to this, I was really struggling and fighting to lose like, one pound a month - if that! I'm feeling positive, and trying to just compare myself to myself from last year - or the last decade!

Moody_Path said:
I ended up eating half a pastry with some hazelnut spread.
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Would you have stopped at half a pastry before? I know I would have struggled!
 
In my opinion, losing about 1-2 pounds weekly is the most sustainable and healthy goal.

If your appetite is reduced and cravings are lessened, then the medication is doing what it should.

I would advise tracking calories and macros to stay on course. And please, try not to compare yourself to others. You've started your own unique journey toward better health. While those anxieties are real, have trust in the process.
 
The healthy loss rate is about 0.5-1.0% per week. I prefer to consider a four week average as the loss isn't a straight line - notably if you are a hormonally active woman. I personally gain one week, and lose the next.

I began around 275 lbs, which meant I could safely lose 10 lbs my first month. Now that I'm at 196 lbs, I couldn't take that risk. 7.8 lbs would be the limit for 4 weeks. For the last 5-6 months, I've averaged 4.4 lbs a month. In the last 4 weeks I lost 5.5 lbs, and the 4 weeks before that it was 3.3 lbs.

It requires 4 weeks at a higher dose to reach its full potential. It builds in stages, so it can feel less potent after a few days for the initial weeks.

Effective dosage varies widely, and is difficult to predict. Some (a small number) stay on the lowest dose all the time. Others don't see effects until they reach 7.5mg or higher.

Zepbound is designed to treat obesity. Regrettably, I'm sure some use it to jeopardize their health for quick results. Don't fall prey to comparing yourself to that.
 
First of all, don't worry about other people. Seriously. Secondly, don’t only judge success by pounds lost. Compare your blood work at 3 and 6 months (and later) to what it was before you started your GLP. And, allow yourself little treats. Enjoy the pastry and hazelnut spread - don't beat yourself up about it.
 
I’ve only dropped around 13 pounds in a couple of years. But I hit the gym more and have gone down a couple of sizes from reshaping my body. For some, it just doesn’t cause much weight loss.
 
I'm 69F, have type 2, and other health problems. I've been on Zepbound since March of this year.

Everyone loses at their own rate. Don’t compare. No two people are the same. When you compare, discouragement sets in.

Some lose on lower doses; others need higher doses.

I needed to reach 10 mg for the food chatter and cravings to stop, and for suppression to begin. That took 5 months.

Once that happened, I lost 50 lbs in 9 months.

I still get hungrier before and on injection day. I usually eat more then. Maybe 2 protein bars/shakes instead of 1, a few extra nuts, or an extra serving of yogurt.

I sometimes have a small bag of chips. I love them, so just having a little is an accomplishment. It doesn’t happen often.

If I have extra healthy snacks on those days, I can maintain my weight.

I now take 5 mg to prevent further weight loss, and it's stable. I had to increase long-acting insulin because of the drop to 5 mg.

I eat twice a day, around 11:00 and 5:00. If I get hungry, I snack on healthy foods like celery and peanut butter, carrots, protein shakes/bars, nuts, Greek yogurt with fruit/peanut butter, or cottage cheese with fruit.

Drink 2-3 liters of water and take probiotics for gut health.

Remember protein and hydration.

Zepbound is a great tool, but you need to work with it.

Good luck.
 
Yeah, I can relate to that food noise. I've been on Ozempic for a while and sometimes still wake up ravenous. It's like a gnawing hunger. I found having a protein shake or some veggies before bed helps.
 
Just-Journey said:
Would you have stopped at half a pastry before?
Click to expand...

That's a good question! Honestly, probably not. I probably would have eaten the whole thing, and then looked for something else sweet. That's a definite improvement!
 
I agree with Just-Journey. It’s important to get enough protein while on these meds. If you don’t, you might experience hair loss. Also consider a multivitamin.
 
I've been on this medication for a while now, and I've found that if I don't eat enough during the day, I wake up in the middle of the night starving. It's like my body is trying to make up for lost calories. So, I try to spread my calories out more evenly throughout the day. It seems to help.
 
I know what you mean about waking up hungry, MaintenanceMode! I often wake up at 3am with a serious hunger pang, no matter how much I eat for dinner. I saw someone say a spoonful of honey helps. I might try that.
 
Just started Mots-C today and was planning 5mg Monday/Wednesday/Friday like the AI suggested. But reading more I see people doing 1–2mg daily. Why daily? What's the timeline before you feel anything?
 
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