My Tirzepatide Journey: Week 8

I’m officially in week 8 of my tirzepatide journey, and I thought it was time for another update.

Over the first seven weeks, I’ve lost 4.5 pounds. Is it the dramatic transformation that some people experience? No. But after spending a long time watching the same one or two pounds come and go without making any real progress, I’m grateful to finally be moving in the right direction.

Next week I’ll increase my dose for the second time, so I’m curious to see how my body responds.

Overall, I’d say my experience has been very positive. I have noticed that my energy level is a little lower than usual, but so far it’s been manageable. The biggest difference is that the food noise has definitely quieted down. I simply don’t think about food the way I used to, and I don’t have much interest in eating just for the sake of eating.

Ironically, that means I have to be much more intentional about making sure I eat enough to support my active lifestyle. Between strength training twice a week with my trainer, training for a fall half marathon, attending yoga at least once a week, and fitting in extra walks whenever I can, my body still needs plenty of fuel—even if my appetite doesn’t always agree.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that I need to slow down when I eat. It’s surprisingly easy to eat past the point where my body is satisfied simply because I’m eating too quickly. When that happens, I definitely don’t feel my best afterward. I’ve also discovered that greasy foods and I aren’t getting along particularly well these days. My body lets me know pretty quickly when I’ve made that choice.

While I’m happy with the progress I’ve made, I wouldn’t say I’m thrilled just yet. From everything I’ve researched, many people don’t really start seeing more significant changes until months three through six. I’m hopeful that’s where I’ll begin noticing more of a difference—not just on the scale, but in my overall health as well.

As I’ve shared from the beginning, my goal has never been just weight loss. I’m hoping to improve my overall health while continuing to do the things I love—running, lifting, coaching, and staying active for many years to come.

I’ll continue sharing honest updates as I go, the good, the frustrating, and everything in between.

As always, if you have questions about my experience, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to share what’s worked for me, what I’ve learned, and what this journey has looked like so far.

My Tirzepatide Journey: One Month In

I’m currently in the middle of week five of my GLP-1 journey. This past Friday, I took my fifth injection and had my first dosage increase. The dose doubled from what I had been taking during the first four weeks.

So far, I’ve been fortunate not to experience any significant negative side effects. I have noticed that I simply don’t feel like eating very often. Because of that, I’m making a conscious effort to ensure I’m getting enough nutrition each day. My focus continues to be on protein, fiber, and plenty of water to support both my overall health and my active lifestyle.

If we’re looking strictly at the scale, there isn’t much to report. During the first month, I’ve essentially lost and regained the same two to three pounds. Surprisingly, that doesn’t bother me nearly as much as it might have in the past because weight loss isn’t my primary goal in this journey.

For the past two years, I’ve been taking a statin to help lower my cholesterol. Unfortunately, I’m one of the people who experiences muscle soreness as a side effect. Most days, the discomfort sits somewhere between a four and a five on the pain scale. While that’s manageable, dealing with it day after day for two years has become exhausting—especially for someone who enjoys running, strength training, and staying active.

My hope is that improving my health markers through the GLP-1 will eventually allow me to reduce or even eliminate my need for the statin. That possibility is one of the biggest reasons I decided to pursue this path.

While the scale hasn’t changed much, I have noticed some encouraging signs. A few shirts that had become a little snug are fitting more comfortably again. Changes like that remind me that progress isn’t always reflected in a number. Of course, I also give a lot of credit to the time and effort I’m putting in at the gym. Strength training remains an important part of this process, and I’m committed to maintaining as much muscle as possible along the way.

As always, I’m grateful for everyone who has shared their own experiences with weight loss medications and for those who have supported my decision to try a GLP-1. Hearing your stories, advice, and encouragement has made this journey feel much less lonely.

I’m committed to continuing to share both the successes and the challenges as they come. My goal is to be transparent about what this experience is really like, because I know there are many others who are trying to make informed decisions about their own health. Every journey is different, but sometimes it helps simply to know that you’re not walking the path alone.

Two Weeks In: My GLP-1 Journey Update

Today marks two weeks since I started my GLP-1 journey, and I took my third injection this evening.

So far, things have been going well. I’ve lost 2.3 pounds, which may not sound like a huge number, but I’m happy to see the scale moving in the right direction. More importantly, I haven’t experienced any negative side effects. One of the biggest changes I’ve noticed is that I stay full much longer than I did before.

I have one more week at my current dose before increasing it, and I’m curious to see how my body responds as the dosage goes up.

From the beginning, I’ve been committed to approaching this process thoughtfully. I’m making a conscious effort to get enough water and protein each day, and I’m also making sure I’m eating enough to support my activity level. As a runner and coach, fueling my body properly is incredibly important to me.

I’ve spent quite a bit of time researching the relationship between endurance sports and GLP-1 medications. I know that as my dose increases and my appetite potentially decreases, I’ll need to pay close attention to my nutrition and make sure I’m giving my body what it needs for training, recovery, and everyday life.

I’m also staying consistent with strength training. Preserving muscle mass is a priority for me, and resistance training is one of the best tools we have for maintaining strength while losing weight.

While the number on the scale isn’t my primary measure of success, I won’t pretend it isn’t encouraging to see it move. At the same time, I’ve noticed something else: a few pairs of shorts that had been feeling a little snug are noticeably more comfortable. That’s a reminder that progress isn’t always fully reflected by a number. Sometimes the changes show up in how our clothes fit, how we move, how we feel, and how confidently we show up in our lives.

For now, I’m feeling positive and optimistic. This journey is still very new, but I’m learning a lot, paying attention to what my body is telling me, and taking things one week at a time.

As always, I’ll continue to share honest updates along the way. If you’re on a similar journey or have questions you’d rather ask privately, please feel free to reach out.

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.

Redefining the Numbers That Matter

I was in my early 30s the first time I really worried about the number on the scale.

I had just come through a difficult period of depression—the year I turned 29—and had gained a significant amount of weight. Once the depression was under control, my focus shifted to the weight, because that is what I was told by the doctors to focus on.

Eventually, the weight came off. And that’s when my relationship with the scale really began.

For years after that, the number on the scale had the power to make or break my mood. Even when I gained weight, I could usually lose it again. But then perimenopause and menopause hit—and things changed. What had always felt manageable suddenly didn’t.

For a while, I kept weighing myself, and that number continued to shape how I felt about myself… and, if I’m being honest, how I showed up in the world.

At some point, I stopped stepping on the scale altogether. And that worked—for a little while. But the truth was, I still didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin.

Recently, I found my way back to strength training after a few years away. And something shifted.

I started to realize that the number on the scale isn’t what matters most to me anymore.

What matters is feeling strong. Capable. Powerful.

Today, I deadlifted 165 pounds and bench pressed 65 pounds. These aren’t my personal bests—but they feel like something even better: progress. Momentum. A return to myself.

Of course, I know there are other numbers that matter—blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar. Those are important pieces of the bigger picture.

But the number on the scale? That’s no longer the one I look to for a true measure of my health.

These days, I want to lift heavy barbells.

And more importantly, I want to be able to scoop up my granddaughter when she asks, lift her high in the air, swing her around—and hear those giggles.

The scale may still exist.

But it no longer gets a vote.

Learning to Start Again Without Motivation

The worst of perimenopause and menopause hit me right around the time the world shut down in 2020. Looking back, it was the perfect storm. Overnight, routines disappeared, uncertainty took over, and many of the habits I’d built and relied on for years slowly unraveled. Things that once felt automatic – movement, structure, self-care – suddenly felt heavy and optional.

Even now, years later, and despite feeling so much better physically, and mentally, I have struggled to fully return to those healthy habits. I kept telling myself that once the motivation came back, everything else would fall into place. But the truth is, the motivation just hasn’t shown up the way I expected it to.

What I finally realized is that for where I am right now, discipline has to come first. Motivation can’t be the prerequisite anymore – it must be the result. I’m trusting that as I show up consistently, as I begin to see progress and feel more like myself again, the motivation will follow.

There’s a reason Nikes “Just Do It” campaign has stood the test of time. It’s simple, honest, and uncomfortable in the best way. Sometimes you don’t feel ready. Sometimes you don’t feel inspired. But you do it anyway.

I’m no longer allowing myself to sit around, waiting for motivation to magically appear, because experience has taught me that it doesn’t work that way for me. Instead, I’m choosing discipline – small, intentional actions done consistently, even on the days I don’t feel like it. To help keep that commitment front and center, I’ve given myself a small physical reminder: something I wear on my wrist as a cue to follow through.

This season isn’t about perfection or pushing too hard. It’s about rebuilding trust with myself, one disciplined choice at a time, and believing that motivation will meet me along the way.

Why I Strike a Superhero Pose on My Long Runs

At some point during most of my long runs, I stop, turn toward my phone, and strike what I lovingly call my superhero pose—hands on hips, chest lifted, standing tall. Sometimes I’m sweaty. Sometimes I’m tired. Sometimes I’m questioning every life choice that led me to this exact mile.

And every single time, I take the photo anyway.

The idea for this pose didn’t come from a running book or a coach. It actually came from an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. In the scene, one of the characters talks about “power posing”—standing in a confident, expansive posture for a short amount of time to change how you feel. The claim was that holding a superhero-style stance for just two minutes could increase testosterone, lower cortisol, and boost confidence.

Naturally, I was skeptical. Two minutes of standing still doesn’t exactly sound like a magic fix.

So I did what many of us do when something catches our attention: I researched it. And while the science isn’t perfect or unanimous, there is evidence suggesting that posture can influence mindset. Standing tall, taking up space, and opening your body can signal confidence to your brain—even if you don’t feel particularly confident in the moment.

Here’s the thing: I never stand in that pose for two minutes. Sometimes it’s ten seconds. Sometimes it’s just long enough to snap a photo and laugh at myself. But somehow, it still works.

Over time, the superhero pose has become a tradition—my own quiet ritual during long runs. It’s a pause that says, Look at you. You’re doing this. It’s a reminder that showing up matters, even when the run isn’t perfect, even when my body feels different than it used to.

And in the last few years, my body has changed—dramatically. Perimenopause and menopause brought exhaustion, weight gain, brain fog, and a sense of disconnect that I wasn’t prepared for. I didn’t always recognize the runner staring back at me in the mirror. Some days, I still don’t.

There are moments—mid-run, mid-mile, mid-thought—when I ask myself why I keep pushing. Why I keep training. Why I keep lacing up when things feel harder than they used to.

The answer isn’t about pace or distance or race goals anymore.

I keep going because running helps me feel like me.

The superhero pose is my way of honoring that. It’s not about pretending I’m invincible or strong all the time. It’s about acknowledging resilience. About standing tall in a body that’s changing. About claiming pride in the effort, not just the outcome.

So yes, I’ll keep stopping on my long runs. I’ll keep striking that pose. I’ll keep reminding myself—on tired legs and uncertain days—that strength doesn’t disappear just because things change.

Sometimes, strength looks like simply showing up… and standing tall long enough to remember who you are.