I'm curious about other tirzepatide maintainers. What protocol do you follow? How is it going for you? I lost 72 lbs in 7 months and have been maintaining for 6 months on 6mg every 8 days which is perfect for me. Finding my ideal dose protocol was difficult compared to actually losing the weight 😂
Anyone else maintaining?
- Thread starter Bunny
- Start date
Although not quite starting, I am hoping to in the next few weeks..a few lbs to go..
I am also very interested in this information. Good job on your success, I hope to be able to say the same in 6 months.
I would also be interested in how you handled body composition changes, did you need to deal with loose skin, muscle loss?
Would love to hear about plans for this as well.
I'm going to try 5mg or lower when I hit my goal weight. If I gain any weight, no big deal, I'll just increase my dosage. I figure, what does an increase of 5 to 8lbs matter, when I've lost so much already? I can easily shed that off again in a few weeks.
I have 10-15lbs to go. I haven't decided where to stop yet, but the topic of maintenance is definitely on my mind. I'm thinking of still stacking Tirz and Reta, but maybe at 5mg each. I have to say that I'm more nervous about maintenance than I am the weight loss. I did a big keto weight loss about 12 years ago. I was very successful, but as soon as I tried to stabilize I gained about 15lbs very quickly. It was then a long, losing battle and I ultimately ended up weighing 20lbs more than when I started keto. Keto was unsustainable, at least for me.
I already have plenty of Tirz and Reta in the freezer to last years. Getting the peps isn't the issue. The issue is finding that magic formula for me that allows some appetite while maintaining my weight. I'm thinking it will take 3-6 months of experiments to figure out what that is. I wish there was an easy answer that works for everyone, but I'm guessing that is not how it is going to go.
I already have plenty of Tirz and Reta in the freezer to last years. Getting the peps isn't the issue. The issue is finding that magic formula for me that allows some appetite while maintaining my weight. I'm thinking it will take 3-6 months of experiments to figure out what that is. I wish there was an easy answer that works for everyone, but I'm guessing that is not how it is going to go.
I know, my other research partner has met goal weight for a few weeks now. We're playing and adjusting the weekly dose. I think we have a good dose right now (healthy appetite without overdoing it).
I have been maintaining for a couple of months. StilI working on tweaking the best formula, but currently I am doing 12 mg of Tirz every 14 days. I am continuing to lose under this situation, however - about 1/2 pound a week. I have a margin of maybe 10 more pounds before I am too thin and bmi is 19.7 but I am happy where I am. I will probably reduce to 10 mg next shot and may actually change the frequency too.
joearimathea
Recently Joined
I have been maintaining for 2 months at 5mg tirz. However, my max was 7.5mg due to side effects, but the weight came off quickly. I started not so much for weight but for health. My A1C and BP are much improved. I still have BMI of 26, but I am Ok with that for now.
Mykrodot
GLP-1 Novice
I've been on maintenance for over a year, I'm type 2 so am prescribed name brand. When I first went into maintenance I was still on Mounjaro at about 125 pounds, my doctor wouldn't raise my dose above the 5mg I had been on since month two. Due to a shortage, I had to switch to Ozempic. I ended up loving it because I was able to get down to 106 pounds (I’m only 5”2). So I stayed with it. Up until October of last year, I only had to use a .5 dose every other week.
But this is the important part. Last year in October I went to New Orleans for a week. So about six weeks before that I started moving my shot to every three weeks, I wanted to be able to eat and drink my way through that town. Mission accomplished. It worked so well that I decided to stay at that three-week schedule because now the holidays are coming and I want some more of that!
Move forward to late January of this year when it dawns on me I've put on a few pounds and I should get back to my every other week schedule. It was then I discovered that isn't working anymore, now I'm currently using .65mg every week and starting to get some response. My doctor refuses to up my dose, so now I'm supplementing my prescription.
Moral of the story is don't do that. I've read about it many times (I just thought it wouldn't apply to me, I'm a super responder) but for a lot of us, if we take a break from our meds and try to return to our former dosing, it isn't always as effective at the same dose. Just something to ponder, best wishes.
Edited to change is to isn’t.
But this is the important part. Last year in October I went to New Orleans for a week. So about six weeks before that I started moving my shot to every three weeks, I wanted to be able to eat and drink my way through that town. Mission accomplished. It worked so well that I decided to stay at that three-week schedule because now the holidays are coming and I want some more of that!
Move forward to late January of this year when it dawns on me I've put on a few pounds and I should get back to my every other week schedule. It was then I discovered that isn't working anymore, now I'm currently using .65mg every week and starting to get some response. My doctor refuses to up my dose, so now I'm supplementing my prescription.
Moral of the story is don't do that. I've read about it many times (I just thought it wouldn't apply to me, I'm a super responder) but for a lot of us, if we take a break from our meds and try to return to our former dosing, it isn't always as effective at the same dose. Just something to ponder, best wishes.
Edited to change is to isn’t.
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Nikki nik
GLP-1 Specialist
I am going into maintenance with about 10-15 more lbs to lose slowly..My highest dose with tirz was a few 7.5 doses after around 6 months of 2.5mg and 5mg. I plan on going off totally....do keto only.... while I'm resetting....then after around 6 weeks of no shot....low carb to none I will start back at around 1mg tirz.🤷🏽♀️
I'Although not quite starting, I am hoping to in the next few weeks..a few lbs to go..
I started weight lifting at 60 to keep me strong in old age and kept this up as I lost. Muscle mass percentage when I hit target in September was 57.6. Recent was 66.8. So a nice increase over the 6 months. I'm aiming for 72. Body shape is great for my age. Very little loose skin ( tummy and thighs). However my face and neck suffered. Wrinkles everywhere. I noticeably aged.I bought a small face massager, red light therapy wand from Amazon that is gradually helping and I use LOTS of creams - all over, twice a day. Boring but having a positive effect.
Firstly, I have to admit to being 74 😳Ended up going the grey route because UK pharmacies will not supply once you hit 75. I have a binge eating problem that I've suffered from since I was 15. I started on legit Mounjaro 13 months ago and, particularly at my age, it worked like a miracle. 1 jab and 3 hours later....Peace. I'd tried all the other jabs and tablets and they made me VERY ill. No side effects whatsoever as I titrated up. Lost the weight and the online pharmacy told me to "play about" to find a maintainance dose 😂 It took four months of footering about but I'm settled now. Absolutely, I'm staying on tirzepatide. I'm in excellent health, bloods are perfect (privately tested every 3 months).
I started weight lifting at 60 to keep me strong in old age and kept this up as I lost. Muscle mass percentage when I hit target in September was 57.6. Recent was 66.8. So a nice increase over the 6 months. I'm aiming for 72. Body shape is great for my age. Very little loose skin ( tummy and thighs). However my face and neck suffered. Wrinkles everywhere. I noticeably aged.I bought a small face massager, red light therapy wand from Amazon that is gradually helping and I use LOTS of creams - all over, twice a day. Boring but having a positive effect.
nonyabizznez
GLP-1 Specialist
I'm in the same boat...5mg maintenance with script but have supplemented along the way with gray to get over humps.
I'm confused by what you're saying here. Are you saying that after going back it's "always as effective at the same dose" or do you mean the opposite?
Mykrodot
GLP-1 Novice
I mean it is the opposite. I was very involved in the Reddit Mounjaro sub back in the day, I read MANY posts stating that after discontinuing a GLP-1 that the effects weren't always as positive when restarting. Some folks might build an antibody, I'm not really sure. I thought because I wasn't actually stopping my injections it would not negatively effect me. Wrong, I've had to increase my dose to every week, and I raised it .10mg. I will NEVER delay my dose again unless needing surgery.
I think it is different for each of us. These peptides work on our hormones, and everybody’s hormone situation is different. If you quit taking them for a reset when you restart you may have the best results ever, or it could be crickets. Each of us are going to react differently on these meds, that’s why they refer to it as a journey. So for me, I wont be doing that again. I'm hoping that maybe down the road when my receptors are fully saturated (I'm not even sure it works that way😂) I might be able to get my dose back down. I'm not too optimistic!
nonyabizznez
GLP-1 Specialist
I hope it doesn't work that way! I'll be taking my 5mg for life. I did stretch during last spring's shortages but no more than 12 days. I let my glucose checks determine shot days.
Thanks for clearing that up! ☺️
What the hell? What is the reasoning behind that?
They don't tell you but I assume it's due to potential muscle loss. When you are elderly it gets harder to meet protein goals and keep muscle. In theory tirzepatide could leave an elderly person weak and frail. It's the UK regulators acting as nanny! I do see their point. We have to take great care. However, I get all my protein every single day. I lift heavy 4 times a week and am fit and strong. In Europe, I think, the cut off age is 85. I read about an 87 year old lady in the states who lost something like 125lbs 😳If I came off I know for definite, I'd start binge eating and put it all back on so I've gone grey. I'm delighted to be on this forum. I've got a good vendor and have started on the grey stuff. Third jab this am. No issues and weight steady.
I have to say, you sound like you are doing awesome!
You seem to be setting the standard for what I would like to achieve. I hope to have half of your dedication during maintenance.
Mykrodot
GLP-1 Novice
Oh, I'm T2 and am NEVER quitting my GLP-1 either, or my Metformin. I will take them until I die. I would just like to get back to the dose my doctor prescribed so I don't have to supplement. I just worry about all of the what-ifs that go along with obtaining grey in the future! I read about folks who have lost their access to compounding and they are desperate, for many it is the first time in their lives they have been able to manage their obesity. It is scary, I get it, these peptides have changed my life.
nonyabizznez
GLP-1 Specialist
Right? I'll be honest I've got 700 doses in my freezer (3500mg) PLUS 48 Mounjaro shots in my fridge because I used Lavender Sky during the shortage. I also took myself out of the stressful refills at my regular brick and mortar pharmacy. The GLP crowd wore them down worse than the opioid crowd no joke! A lynch mob of Karen's. I went with my insurance company's mail order pharmacy (no shortages there!)
I may not use the bulk of it but the piece of mind is priceless! In all I've got a few months retail Mounjaro invested in my gray stash so no biggie!
Yikes. Up to age 75 you can be thin, avoid high blood pressure, diabetes, fatty liver, kidney problems, heart problems, etc. Starting at age 75 we will need you to be fat and sick again. I'm glad the US doesn't have a government nanny. We just have medication that only the rich can afford. Hmmm. . . I'm not sure that's any better.
Mykrodot
GLP-1 Novice
I think in the elderly it’s the risk of sarcopenia, loss of muscle mass. These drugs cause rapid weight loss, and with that comes rapid loss of muscle mass. A 75 year old person is mostly likely already suffering from significant loss of muscle mass due to their age alone. If I'm not mistaken I think our muscle mass starts to decline at thirty. The effects of lost muscle mass are more profound for an older person, just because their muscle mass is already reduced. Sarcopenia is bad news.
I'm attaching one of my favorite articles about muscle loss, I can not resist! 🤣 But really, this is an important read for anyone using GLP-1s. Your muscle mass is one of the most important things for anyone to focus on when using GLP-1s. It can help you lose weight faster, folks with higher muscle mass burn calories more effectively. And they can eat more at maintenance!
Edited for wordiness, imagine that. 😂
Yankeegurl_LQJ
GLP-1 Novice
How rude is that! Isn't that like age discrimination?
The powers that be do have a point. More mature tirzepatide users need to seriously weightlift or they will lose too much muscle and become frail. I have gone grey to take charge of my own life and make my own choices. I was already lifting heavy and will continue to do so. In my opinion (not a Dr) if an elderly person (me!!) is not lifting regularly they really should not be on tirzepatide.
Valerie
GLP-1 Member
I've been in maintenance for 6 months trying a variety of options from stretching days to dropping dose.
When I hit goal (lost 50 and dropped from 35% bmi to 22% - I'm 5'6" ) I was on12mg a week. Goodbye 3 hpb meds and a prediabetic A1C which was the objective 🙏🏽 🥰
The stretching days made my inflammation come back, the dropping dose made my night time food noise come back so I opted for split dose twice a week, then began lowing and now I'm every 4 days down to 4.5 mg. I used the Shotsy app to play with the glp plotter to keep an EVEN and smaller amount of glp in my system all the times instead of than the rise and fall I had during wt loss.
So far this has been my favorite as my tirz fatigue issues are far less (I barely notice any), I get the anti inflammatory effects I love and my appetite is back but I still eat the same - food tastes better - again. 😀😀
I'll stick with this and continue to evaluate! As long as I'm maintaining and or adding muscle I'm happy with the plan ...
I do get a scan every 6 months as well as blood work and use the body comp scale.
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Valerie
GLP-1 Member
Agreeeed! No 2 plans will be the same ... personalize for what's best for us !!
spacedogco
Recently Joined
I’ve been trying to tweak “maintenance” for the last 3-4 months because I keep losing due to being very physically active and am now a 5’9.5” female at 128 pounds. I’m actually trying to gain weight right now while not coming fully off of it because that resulted in regaining bingeing habits. I am presently taking 2 mg every two weeks which is allowing me to feel hunger and eat normally while not reaching for sugary and triggering foods. And I was able to gain a pound so that is encouraging. I have found it to be very tricky though trying to find that sweet spot.
