Tag: diet

12 Weeks on Tirzepatide: The Scale Is Only Part of the Story

I’m officially 12 weeks into my tirzepatide journey.

Since starting in May, I’ve lost 6 pounds. And since I really started paying attention to my weight again when I recommitted to strength training in May, I’m down 11.8 pounds total.

Would I have expected that number to be a little bigger by now? Yep. But I’m choosing to be happy with the progress instead of letting the scale decide whether or not what I’m doing is working.

Because there are some other numbers that matter too.

I’ve taken a full minute off my mile time over the last couple of months.

I’m steadily lifting heavier and getting stronger week after week.

And maybe the biggest shift: I’m starting to care less about what number I see on the scale and more about being able to see the muscles I’ve been working so hard to build.

I know there may be people who hear me say that and think, Of course the scale doesn’t matter to her right now—it’s not moving very fast. Wait until she loses a bunch of weight and suddenly it will matter again.

I understand why someone might think that. But I also know that isn’t where this is coming from.

My relationship with the scale has been changing for a long time. I simply got tired of battling my body based on one number. Tired of letting a number in the morning determine whether I felt successful or frustrated. Tired of overlooking all the things my body was accomplishing because the scale hadn’t given me the validation I thought I needed.

That doesn’t mean I don’t want to lose weight. I do. I want to lose body fat, and I know some of that will likely show up on the scale. And when it does, I’ll absolutely be happy about it.

But I don’t want that happiness to erase everything else.

I want to be stronger. I want to run faster. I want to see the muscles I’ve worked hard to build. I want my clothes to fit differently. I want to feel good in my body.

Less fat. More muscle. More strength. More speed.

The scale can be one measure of my progress.

I’m just not willing to let it be the measure anymore.

Starting a GLP-1: Why I Finally Said Yes

I started a GLP-1 medication this past Friday. Going on tirzepatide is something I resisted for a long time for a variety of reasons. Honestly, I thought I could do it on my own, just like I had so many times before.

My weight has gone up and down since my 30s, but eventually I was always able to lose it. And even when my weight fluctuated, the other numbers that mattered — blood sugar, cholesterol, blood pressure — were not just normal, they were really good.

A few years ago, though, things started to change. I began gaining weight again, and this time getting it off felt nearly impossible. My cholesterol climbed, and because of my strong family history of heart disease, that was concerning. Both of my parents died at the age of 70.

My doctor immediately put me on a statin, but unfortunately, like many women, I experienced significant side effects, including extreme muscle soreness and liver issues. I also worked to lower my cholesterol through diet changes and daily CoQ10 supplements. Around that same time, I discovered my thyroid levels were off as well. It took a while to get my thyroid regulated, but even after that, the weight still wasn’t coming off.

Of course, when you’re overweight, most people assume it’s simply a matter of eating too much and not moving enough — the old “calories in, calories out” argument. But bodies, especially women’s bodies in midlife, are often far more complicated than that.

Over time, my cholesterol slowly began to improve, though not as quickly as I would have liked. A couple of months ago, I also started working regularly with a trainer again. I’ve been running more, walking more, focusing on strength training, and making protein a priority. Those changes have helped, and my numbers are moving in the right direction, but I’m still carrying more weight than is healthy for me.

My goal is not to be skinny. My goal is to be healthy, strong, active, and capable for as long as possible. I’m hopeful that this GLP-1 medication will simply become one more tool in my toolbox to help me get there.

I’m sharing this because I think it’s important to be transparent when talking about weight loss, health, and fitness. Too often, people gate-keep the methods or tools they’re using. I understand that everyone has their reasons for that, but I also think it can unintentionally do a disservice to the people watching and looking to us for guidance.

When we make health or weight loss look effortless without being honest about what’s actually helping us, we can create unrealistic expectations and potentially make others feel like they’re failing when they’re not. The truth is many of us are using a combination of tools, support, education, and lifestyle changes to improve our health. There shouldn’t be shame in being honest about that.

This is just the beginning of this chapter for me, and I plan to share updates along the way. If you have questions or want to reach out privately, please feel free — I’m always happy to have honest conversations about health, fitness, and this stage of life.