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.

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.