u/PollardPhotography

Barebells has been pretty dominant in the protein bar market for the last few years, and as a Barebells super fan, I wanted to make a tier list that was as comprehensive and all-encompassing as possible.

So I tried to hunt down every single Barebells flavor that's been released as far as I could tell, and I tried to get clean copies of the images of the wrapper. I wanted to put them into a tier list.

This is the result of those efforts. I've also attached my personal tier list, which I bet will make a lot of people very angry, especially how highly I have birthday cake ranked.

But find the link below to make your own tier list. I would love to see what you rank as the best, what you rank as the worst, and how horribly wrong you find my list!

https://tiermaker.com/create/barebells-protein-bars-usa-march-2025-17516570

Recently discovered these and picked up two different multipacks for a great deal from Costco.

I have to say that I am very partial to the Cherry flavors.

Have you tried these, which was your favorite?!

I recently picked up a new lunch bag, opting to go for a behemoth of a bag- the REI Co-op Trailgate 20 L Weekend Cooler in Asphalt.

I’m coming from a Stanley All Day Julienne Midi Cooler which provided me only a few months of service before a seam delaminated and the interior spring which props the top open failed. I hobbled along with it for nearly a year afterward, opting to move on after it started looking tired and worn.

The Trailgate is an upgrade in every way, but there are trade offs with the size and heft. Time will tell if I find it worthwhile, and I may someday swing back the other direction. But for now I am thrilled with it.

Huge interior capacity with a dense padded insert for near-total insulation coverage, one interior pocket, and an external zippered pocket with several slots for organizing your various small items and keeping them from the cold and heft of the interior compartment.

The liner is also removable and the bag can be used without it if you need more capacity and don’t need the cooling to endure as long as possible.

There are open pockets on either end. I’ve found these to be kind of tight, and since the bag offers so much capacity otherwise I don’t think I’ll be trying to jam things in or stretch them out, it’s just not necessary for my purposes.

The exterior is a sleek nylon. It feels durable and is easy to clean with mild soap and water. We’ll see how it holds up to scuffs, but I don’t expect it to see too much unnecessary action in my line of work.

Padded shoulder strap works well enough, but I’d like to see some more substantial padding. Thankfully the strap could be swapped out easily if that was a huge issue for you. There’s a Velcro handle as well, but I don’t expect to use that often. Also some handles with reinforced stitching on the sides, great if you are packing this thing FULL and need both hands to give it a lift.

This bag is overkill for me, but I love the feature set, the look, and the build quality. Two 4 Lb Yeti ice blocks kept my food and drinks VERY cold all day in a ~70° F indoor environment. The top of my yogurt even FROZE, which I never saw in my Stanley.

The liner is dense and there’s scarcely any cold to be felt seeping out on any sides, including the bottom.

The top is VERY cool, it’s super flat and has raised edges so it can be used as a surface to eat, write, hold your laptop, or otherwise.

Overall, very pleased with the value for be money. I’d love a version that’s identical but maybe 2/3 of the size, for now I find it a reasonable compromise.

If it sounds interesting to you, maybe hold off on looking until this weekend as REI’s largest annual sale starts on the 15th.

Thanks for reading, hope this was insightful!

Hi All!

This week I wrapped up a 15 week fat loss diet while using Tirzepatide, my first time ever doing so, and I learned some a few things along the way.

I’m not posting this as medical advice, nor as a one-size-fits all suggestion. Many people (including myself) can get very strongly anchored to what works for them. But there are many who don’t know what works for them, and I’d love to share what works for me in hopes that it may help someone else.

My all-time weight loss from my high weight is 35% body weight decrease, down from >31 BMI. For this 15 week diet phase I was dieting down from a relatively lower point, but wanted to see how Tirzepatide could help me manage hunger and satiety.

Over the 15 weeks, my weight dropped about 13.5% . My average weekly loss was around 0.9% of starting body weight, which is right around the range I was aiming for. This was slightly aggressive, but it is in line with previous diets I’ve undertaken and I knew it would be achievable.

For those seeking the closest thing to a “recipe” for replicating this level of success, I followed a few non-negotiable principles:

1. Consistent calorie deficit - I had no deviations from my diet, no cheat days, and no “refeeds” (another term for cheat day). Not everyone requires for success, but I do because of my own personal tendencies to write off an entire day, weekend, or week. Deficits average out, but if every day is a deficit you don’t have to worry about making it up on some other day. That strategy may work well for others, but it doesn’t for me**.**
2. Every substance consumed tracked - Every meal was measured/weighed and tracked. I’ve been doing this for years so it takes up almost no time or effort for me, and it’s very simple to do with an app. Monitoring my intake allowed me to ensure I stayed in a calorie deficit and also to ensure I was adequately nourished.
3. High, consistent protein intake - All days of the cut were above 160g daily, with many days >180g. Focused on lean meat, yogurt, and supplementing with the occasional protein bar. This allowed me to eat foods I enjoy and more importantly ensured I had adequate nutrition to prevent muscle loss and hair loss.
4. Resistance training 4x week - I’ve been lifting for years, but this remained the core of my exercise. I slightly deluded my weight, but focused on maximizing the quality of my workouts with full range of motion, tight form, and targeting an appropriate rate of perceived exertion
5. Rolling average > scale weight - I weighed in every single day under the same conditions (after waking up, after restroom, before eating or exercising). This allowed me to take a clean average of my weight and follow the rolling average to see my weight change over time. This removed a TON of the scale anxiety because even if I had an “up” weigh-in, I could see that my average was still trending in the right direction and I could be sure that it would continue to go down if I adhered to all of the principles outlined above.
6. Account for TDEE changes - As the scale went down and my TDEE dropped, I made adjustments of 100-250 calories/day to keep things moving along. I did not titrate up in hopes that more medicine would lower my weight- this is how some get into trouble. If appetite is well- controlled and side effects are minimal, I see no reason to titrate up for my own purposes. Being hungry is good, it is a normal and useful signal for survival. The goal for me was never to eliminate my appetite completely, but to quiet the food noise. To that end, Tirzepatide was incredibly effective for me.

The medication helped a lot, but mostly by reducing the mental friction. My food noise and cravings were much lower. I still felt hunger at times, especially later in the cut, but it felt more manageable. 

The biggest difference was that hunger did not feel urgent in the same way. I could be hungry and still feel calm knowing I had a planned meal coming later. That’s what felt most powerful to me. It was not that I suddenly had no appetite or that food became disgusting, but more like the background noise got turned down enough that I could more easily follow the plan I already wanted to follow.

Another interesting insight I found was my Apple Watch expenditure compared to MacroFactor.

My Apple Watch total energy estimate was about 29% higher than MacroFactor’s expenditure estimate on average. If I used the Apple Watch number, it would have implied that my deficit was almost twice as large as what my actual weight loss data supported. This means that there is some real danger in "eating back" the calories burned from exercise, as you likely did not burn as many as your fitness wearable thinks you did.

MacroFactor was much closer to reality because of how it calculates expenditure. It is not just guessing based on heart rate, steps, workouts, or a wearable estimate. It looks at what I actually ate and how my trend weight actually changed, then backs into my estimated expenditure from energy balance.

Calories in plus actual weight trend over time equals a much better estimate of calories out.

That was a huge reminder for me that wearables can be useful for activity trends, but they are not magic. If my watch says I burned way more, but my body weight trend says otherwise, the body weight trend wins.

Side effects were real, but pretty manageable for me. The main ones were delayed gastric emptying. I also experienced some burping and occasional mild nausea early on. Nothing about my experience felt like the horror stories others sometimes describe online, but it also wasn’t side effect free. Meal timing, hydration, fiber, and not tackling huge meals seemed to matter a lot for me.

Another thing I learned is that the scale still does weird scale things. Even with consistent tracking, high adherence, and Tirzepatide, the weight loss was not perfectly linear. Some weeks moved slower than expected, then I had a sudden whoosh near the end. That is another reason I think trend weight matters so much.

I also think it is worth saying that Tirzepatide did not make me immune to diet fatigue. Later in the cut, training got harder and I had to pull back slightly on lifting intensity to stay safe and keep quality high. That was not necessarily the medication. That is just what happens when you stay in a deficit long enough and get leaner.

My personal conclusion is that Tirzepatide is best understood as an adherence tool, not a replacement for understanding nutrition.

For me, the winning formula was not to simply take the medication and wait. That can work for some- hell, for many. But then you’re flying blind, not learning about proper nutrition, and not building yourself strong, functional body you can enjoy for years to come.

I think it’s important to be honest with yourself, but be mindful of things sliding into a disordered relationship with food and body image. This medication is just THAT strong, and it can give you some power that you may not be fully equipped to handle.

I think this medication can be an incredible tool, but I also think people will get better results and have better outcomes with the necessary education to properly leverage these incredible therapies.

I hope this was helpful. Not an expert and not a medical professional, but very happy to answer any questions or elaborate further on my experience if it would help.

Thanks for reading, best wishes!

TLDR

• Finished a 15 week cut using tirzepatide for the first time
• Lost 13.5% during this phase and 35% total from my all-time high
• Tirzepatide helped most by lowering food noise and making hunger feel less urgent
• The fundamentals still mattered: calorie deficit, tracking everything, high protein, lifting, and daily weigh-ins
• Apple Watch overestimated my expenditure by about 29% compared to MacroFactor
• MacroFactor matched reality better because it uses intake plus weight trend to estimate expenditure
• Side effects were real but manageable: mostly slower digestion, burping, and mild nausea early on
• Biggest takeaway: tirzepatide is an incredible adherence tool, not a replacement for understanding nutrition

I hit my fat loss diet goal this week! On the same day that I found out I passed the most difficult section of the CPA exams (it has a ~ 40% pass rate!), so it’s been a whirlwind and took me a minute to get around to putting some thoughts down.

I started my diet on January 5, and the main reason I’m not fully done yet is that I want to reach my goal weight as a running average/trend weight, then move into maintenance.

This is the second time I’ve gotten this fit in my entire life. I’m down from starting BMI >31, so being this lean is still a little foreign to me. But it took years for me to get here and it wasn’t a one-and-done effort.

This diet got me to a similar body weight and leanness as my effort last year, but in fewer weeks and with way less diet fatigue and stress. I learned a lot last year, and two big changes helped most:

1. Tirzepatide
   I’ve been using Tirzepatide since the end of January. I stayed at a “microdose” of 2.2mg and just didn’t feel the need to titrate up. It acted like an off switch for food noise. It didn’t ruin my appetite or my ability to eat enough to hit my protein.

I still enjoyed all my food, although I do eat the same foods for every single meal. I feel like that’s a huge part of maintaining my adherence. The hunger only got marginally worse in the last couple weeks of the cut, so I’d say it was very tolerable overall. Compared to the kind of hunger I felt in 2025’s cut, it was absolutely manageable and not at all difficult.

2. Much less cardio volume
   Last year, I did a lot more cardio because I had a ton of free time. I had just finished grad school, went on lots of bike rides with friends and did a bunch of trail runs, and the fatigue really added up.

This year I kept my resistance training programming as a constant. I still did an upper-lower split four days a week, but I cut the cardio volume way down and kept it structured. My strength held up much better overall. I did have an energy dip toward the end, but it was nowhere near the same level of fatigue and sleep issues I had during my Spring 2025 cut.

This cut achieved the same level of leanness a few weeks faster, likely because of my 100% perfect adherence. I’ll skip photos for now until I’ve been in maintenance for a week or two so my muscles can refill with glycogen.

Next, I’m planning another DEXA scan around mid-May the way I did last year to compare year over year.

I’ve noticed a lot of misinformation around Tirzepatide, like anything in the health and fitness space. People can be given something so powerful and then left to figure things out on their own, which is where you can end up with problems like muscle loss, hair loss, or serious fatigue. That’s treatable for sure, but education and good guidance matter a lot.

Anyway, I’m excited to start summer feeling and looking my best. I’ll be enjoying life at maintenance, getting my strength back, and maybe adding a bit more muscle. I’ve also found that hunger often comes roaring back in maintenance, but I plan to use the GLP-1 to help modulate that.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope this was helpful or insightful. If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. I'm happy to share more detail. I’d love to help anyone on their journey just by relating my experiences. I’m not a professional, but I do love to geek out on this stuff, and I genuinely get a lot of enjoyment out of it!

Best wishes!

I hit my fat loss diet goal this week! On the same day that I found out I passed the most difficult section of the CPA exams (it has a ~ 40% pass rate!), so it’s been a whirlwind and took me a minute to get around to putting some thoughts down.

I started my diet on January 5, and the main reason I’m not fully done yet is that I want to reach my goal weight as a running average/trend weight, then move into maintenance.

This is the second time I’ve gotten this fit in my entire life. I’m down from starting BMI >31, so being this lean is still a little foreign to me. But it took years for me to get here and it wasn’t a one-and-done effort.

This diet got me to a similar body weight and leanness as my effort last year, but in fewer weeks and with way less diet fatigue and stress. I learned a lot last year, and two big changes helped most:

1. Tirzepatide

I still enjoyed all my food, although I do eat the same foods for every single meal. I feel like that’s a huge part of maintaining my adherence. The hunger only got marginally worse in the last couple weeks of the cut, so I’d say it was very tolerable overall. Compared to the kind of hunger I felt in 2025’s cut, it was absolutely manageable and not at all difficult.

2. Much less cardio volume
   Last year, I did a lot more cardio because I had a ton of free time. I had just finished grad school, went on lots of bike rides with friends and did a bunch of trail runs, and the fatigue really added up.

This year I kept my resistance training programming as a constant. I still did an upper-lower split four days a week, but I cut the cardio volume way down and kept it structured. My strength held up much better overall. I did have an energy dip toward the end, but it was nowhere near the same level of fatigue and sleep issues I had during my Spring 2025 cut.

This cut achieved the same level of leanness a few weeks faster, likely because of my 100% perfect adherence. I’ll skip photos for now until I’ve been in maintenance for a week or two so my muscles can refill with glycogen.

Next, I’m planning another DEXA scan around mid-May the way I did last year to compare year over year.

I’ve noticed a lot of misinformation around Tirzepatide, like anything in the health and fitness space. People can be given something so powerful and then left to figure things out on their own, which is where you can end up with problems like muscle loss, hair loss, or serious fatigue. That’s treatable for sure, but education and good guidance matter a lot.

Anyway, I’m excited to start summer feeling and looking my best. I’ll be enjoying life at maintenance, getting my strength back, and maybe adding a bit more muscle. I’ve also found that hunger often comes roaring back in maintenance, but I plan to use the GLP-1 to help modulate that.

Thanks so much for reading. I hope this was helpful or insightful. If anyone has questions, please feel free to ask. I'm happy to share more detail. I’d love to help anyone on their journey just by relating my experiences. I’m not a professional, but I do love to geek out on this stuff, and I genuinely get a lot of enjoyment out of it! Best wishes!

After seeing so many anecdotes in this sub and elsewhere about patients using GLP-1s and seeing lackluster progress/success after stopping and restarting, it’s interesting to see some kind of evidence that supports that even if it isn’t necessarily conclusive.

This reaffirms for me that I will not be stopping or taking a break unless absolutely necessary.

The article does note that this effect may be related to body composition and a “muscle floor” in subjects which lost a lot of muscle mass and the body resists further weight loss to protect that muscle. Yet another reason to prioritize resistance training, protein, and nutrition.

Anyone else committed to continuing indefinitely regardless of your need for further weight loss?

Has anyone stopped and seen plenty of success after restarting?

Lately I’ve been seeing more discussion around storage solutions and best practices. I wanted to share the latest evolution in how I’m storing my Tirzepatide.

Eli Lilly recommends Tirzepatide be stored at temperatures between 2°C - 8°C (36°F to 46°F). I’m treating that as my target range, but of course everyone should follow the storage instructions as recommended by your pharmacy.

My goals:

• Keep medication within the narrowest temperature range reasonably possible
• Protect medicine from light, agitation, mishandling, and temperature excursions
• Avoid fridge door, as it tends to have bigger temperature swings and is the warmest part of the fridge
• Avoid storing directly against back wall or near a cold-air vent, where freezing could be more likely

When I first started Tirzepatide I just kept the medication in the interior packaging it was sent in. For my pharmacy, that was a plastic bag- a far cry from my current storage solution! This worked just fine and I didn’t observe any issues.

Sometime after starting I ran across a post where someone’s medicine was destroyed after a drop. That made me think it may be worth adding a little more protection, not to mention that my medicine was really kind of disorganized floating around in that plastic bag.

My first upgrade was a soft zippered case with a foam insert. It kept things organized, gave a little storage space for alcohol wipes, and gave me a bit more confidence moving between the fridge and counter for administration. It also may have offered limited protection from temperature swings, but it isn’t airtight so I imagine any temperature insulation would be minimal. This worked fine for several weeks until I once again stumbled upon an upgraded setup path.

Another post I found online piqued my curiosity: an insulated HydraPeak food jar with a 3D-printed insert. This really grabbed my interest because I know the fridge will cycle temperature as it works to maintain the target temp and an airtight container can provide meaningful protection against fluctuations. The added sturdiness of the container could be another benefit against impact protection. Unfortunately, I really love dropping things so this had some real appeal to me.

Unlike the other poster, I opted for silicone inserts. I see them as a bit softer and offering some cushion in the event of a drop, denser material to further insulate from temperature swings, and potentially more sterile as well since I’m able to “sanitize” them in boiling water.

For now, my current setup:

• HydraPeak 32 oz insulated stainless food jar
• Silicone insert
• Govee WiFi temperature and humidity sensor

I washed the jar and silicone insert with mild dish soap, dried everything well, and pre-chilled the empty setup in the fridge overnight before putting the medicine inside. I would not put the medication straight into a room-temperature insulated container, as the cooling process for the jar and inserts can take >12 hours and you’d be exposing the medication to temperatures beyond the recommended range for the duration.

The Govee temp sensor is not lab equipment, so I’m not expecting scientific levels of precision. But for home use, it gives me useful data AND alerts, which were the biggest selling point for me. I set the alert range slightly inside the recommended storage range so I can monitor and be alerted before the temperature goes out of range.

That is probably the biggest benefit of the setup for me. If the fridge door gets left cracked, the power goes out, or the fridge starts acting weird, I should get an alert early enough to move the medication to a safe location.

In the interest of confirming my new setup was actually providing me with additional value, I took some readings of the temperature pattern both outside and inside the HydraPeak.

In the first column of graphs, the sensor is sitting in the fridge outside of the Hydrapeak. You can see the temperature move up and down as the fridge cycles on and off- between 1.1C and 4.2C, with an average of 2.8C. The minimum shouldn’t be low enough to cause freezing, but it is outside of the recommended range.

In the second screenshot, the sensor is inside the HydraPeak. The temperature range is MUCH smaller- 2.2C to 2.6C, average 2.4C. That does not prove the medication will last longer or work better, but it does suggest the setup significantly reduces short-term temperature swings and prevents exceeding both the minimum and the maximum temperature range. 

Neither of these readings occurred near the time of a door-opening, and I’d expect that the insulation should protect against temperature fluctuations to an even greater degree during real-world use than is shown in my very limited observation.

Just to be clear- I’m not claiming this storage method extends the beyond-use date, improves/retains potency, or makes storage “better” in any medically proven way. However, I wanted to undertake some reasonable and relatively low-cost steps to ensure my medication is stored as recommended and that it is given the best possible chance to maintain safety and efficacy over long periods of time.

It is probably more than most people need. But if you’re looking to minimize risks associated with improper storage, I feel it is a reasonable bit of insurance.

Links to what I used:

Govee Smart Thermometer Hygrometer, WiFi Humidity Temperature Sensor with App Notification Alert:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872ZWV8X

Silicone 3ml Vial Insert, 1 short + 2 tall, compatible with HydraPeak food jars:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF8YBX8P

Hydrapeak 32 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C643VH3V

I hope this is helpful!

I know there are some other options out there like a dedicated medical fridge, backup generators, etc. Has anyone taken it this far? I’d love to hear about it!

Lately I’ve been seeing more discussion around storage solutions and best practices. I wanted to share the latest evolution in how I’m storing my Tirzepatide.

Eli Lilly recommends Tirzepatide be stored at temperatures between 2°C - 8°C (36°F to 46°F). I’m treating that as my target range, but of course everyone should follow the storage instructions as recommended by your pharmacy.

My goals:

• Keep medication within the narrowest temperature range reasonably possible
• Protect medicine from light, agitation, mishandling, and temperature excursions
• Avoid fridge door, as it tends to have bigger temperature swings and is the warmest part of the fridge
• Avoid storing directly against back wall or near a cold-air vent, where freezing could be more likely

When I first started Tirzepatide I just kept the medication in the interior packaging it was sent in. For my pharmacy, that was a plastic bag- a far cry from my current storage solution! This worked just fine and I didn’t observe any issues.

Sometime after starting I ran across a post where someone’s medicine was destroyed after a drop. That made me think it may be worth adding a little more protection, not to mention that my medicine was really kind of disorganized floating around in that plastic bag.

My first upgrade was a soft zippered case with a foam insert. It kept things organized, gave a little storage space for alcohol wipes, and gave me a bit more confidence moving between the fridge and counter for administration. It also may have offered limited protection from temperature swings, but it isn’t airtight so I imagine any temperature insulation would be minimal. This worked fine for several weeks until I once again stumbled upon an upgraded setup path.

Another post I found online piqued my curiosity: an insulated HydraPeak food jar with a 3D-printed insert. This really grabbed my interest because I know the fridge will cycle temperature as it works to maintain the target temp and an airtight container can provide meaningful protection against fluctuations. The added sturdiness of the container could be another benefit against impact protection. Unfortunately, I really love dropping things so this had some real appeal to me.

Unlike the other poster, I opted for silicone inserts. I see them as a bit softer and offering some cushion in the event of a drop, denser material to further insulate from temperature swings, and potentially more sterile as well since I’m able to “sanitize” them in boiling water.

For now, my current setup:

• HydraPeak 32 oz insulated stainless food jar
• Silicone insert
• Govee WiFi temperature and humidity sensor

I washed the jar and silicone insert with mild dish soap, dried everything well, and pre-chilled the empty setup in the fridge overnight before putting the medicine inside. I would not put the medication straight into a room-temperature insulated container, as the cooling process for the jar and inserts can take >12 hours and you’d be exposing the medication to temperatures beyond the recommended range for the duration.

The Govee temp sensor is not lab equipment, so I’m not expecting scientific levels of precision. But for home use, it gives me useful data AND alerts, which were the biggest selling point for me. I set the alert range slightly inside the recommended storage range so I can monitor and be alerted before the temperature goes out of range.

That is probably the biggest benefit of the setup for me. If the fridge door gets left cracked, the power goes out, or the fridge starts acting weird, I should get an alert early enough to move the medication to a safe location.

In the interest of confirming my new setup was actually providing me with additional value, I took some readings of the temperature pattern both outside and inside the HydraPeak.

In the first column of graphs, the sensor is sitting in the fridge outside of the Hydrapeak. You can see the temperature move up and down as the fridge cycles on and off- between 1.1C and 4.2C, with an average of 2.8C. The minimum shouldn’t be low enough to cause freezing, but it is outside of the recommended range.

In the second screenshot, the sensor is inside the HydraPeak. The temperature range is MUCH smaller- 2.2C to 2.6C, average 2.4C. That does not prove the medication will last longer or work better, but it does suggest the setup significantly reduces short-term temperature swings and prevents exceeding both the minimum and the maximum temperature range. 

Neither of these readings occurred near the time of a door-opening, and I’d expect that the insulation should protect against temperature fluctuations to an even greater degree during real-world use than is shown in my very limited observation.

Just to be clear- I’m not claiming this storage method extends the beyond-use date, improves/retains potency, or makes storage “better” in any medically proven way. However, I wanted to undertake some reasonable and relatively low-cost steps to ensure my medication is stored as recommended and that it is given the best possible chance to maintain safety and efficacy over long periods of time.

It is probably more than most people need. But if you’re looking to minimize risks associated with improper storage, I feel it is a reasonable bit of insurance.

Links to what I used:

Govee Smart Thermometer Hygrometer, WiFi Humidity Temperature Sensor with App Notification Alert:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872ZWV8X

Silicone 3ml Vial Insert, 1 short + 2 tall, compatible with HydraPeak food jars:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF8YBX8P

Hydrapeak 32 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C643VH3V

I hope this is helpful!

I know there are some other options out there like a dedicated medical fridge, backup generators, etc. Has anyone taken it this far? I’d love to hear about it!

Lately I’ve been seeing more discussion around storage solutions and best practices. I wanted to share the latest evolution in how I’m storing my Tirzepatide.

Eli Lilly recommends Tirzepatide be stored at temperatures between 2°C - 8°C (36°F to 46°F). I’m treating that as my target range, but of course everyone should follow the storage instructions as recommended by your pharmacy.

My goals:

• Keep medication within the narrowest temperature range reasonably possible
• Protect medicine from light, agitation, mishandling, and temperature excursions
• Avoid fridge door, as it tends to have bigger temperature swings and is the warmest part of the fridge
• Avoid storing directly against back wall or near a cold-air vent, where freezing could be more likely

When I first started Tirzepatide I just kept the medication in the interior packaging it was sent in. For my pharmacy, that was a plastic bag- a far cry from my current storage solution! This worked just fine and I didn’t observe any issues.

Sometime after starting I ran across a post where someone’s medicine was destroyed after a drop. That made me think it may be worth adding a little more protection, not to mention that my medicine was really kind of disorganized floating around in that plastic bag.

My first upgrade was a soft zippered case with a foam insert. It kept things organized, gave a little storage space for alcohol wipes, and gave me a bit more confidence moving between the fridge and counter for administration. It also may have offered limited protection from temperature swings, but it isn’t airtight so I imagine any temperature insulation would be minimal. This worked fine for several weeks until I once again stumbled upon an upgraded setup path.

Another post I found online piqued my curiosity: an insulated HydraPeak food jar with a 3D-printed insert. This really grabbed my interest because I know the fridge will cycle temperature as it works to maintain the target temp and an airtight container can provide meaningful protection against fluctuations. The added sturdiness of the container could be another benefit against impact protection. Unfortunately, I really love dropping things so this had some real appeal to me.

Unlike the other poster, I opted for silicone inserts. I see them as a bit softer and offering some cushion in the event of a drop, denser material to further insulate from temperature swings, and potentially more sterile as well since I’m able to “sanitize” them in boiling water.

For now, my current setup:

• HydraPeak 32 oz insulated stainless food jar
• Silicone insert
• Govee WiFi temperature and humidity sensor

I washed the jar and silicone insert with mild dish soap, dried everything well, and pre-chilled the empty setup in the fridge overnight before putting the medicine inside. I would not put the medication straight into a room-temperature insulated container, as the cooling process for the jar and inserts can take >12 hours and you’d be exposing the medication to temperatures beyond the recommended range for the duration.

The Govee temp sensor is not lab equipment, so I’m not expecting scientific levels of precision. But for home use, it gives me useful data AND alerts, which were the biggest selling point for me. I set the alert range slightly inside the recommended storage range so I can monitor and be alerted before the temperature goes out of range.

That is probably the biggest benefit of the setup for me. If the fridge door gets left cracked, the power goes out, or the fridge starts acting weird, I should get an alert early enough to move the medication to a safe location.

In the interest of confirming my new setup was actually providing me with additional value, I took some readings of the temperature pattern both outside and inside the HydraPeak.

In the first column of graphs, the sensor is sitting in the fridge outside of the Hydrapeak. You can see the temperature move up and down as the fridge cycles on and off- between 1.1C and 4.2C, with an average of 2.8C. The minimum shouldn’t be low enough to cause freezing, but it is outside of the recommended range.

In the second screenshot, the sensor is inside the HydraPeak. The temperature range is MUCH smaller- 2.2C to 2.6C, average 2.4C. That does not prove the medication will last longer or work better, but it does suggest the setup significantly reduces short-term temperature swings and prevents exceeding both the minimum and the maximum temperature range. 

Neither of these readings occurred near the time of a door-opening, and I’d expect that the insulation should protect against temperature fluctuations to an even greater degree during real-world use than is shown in my very limited observation.

Just to be clear- I’m not claiming this storage method extends the beyond-use date, improves/retains potency, or makes storage “better” in any medically proven way. However, I wanted to undertake some reasonable and relatively low-cost steps to ensure my medication is stored as recommended and that it is given the best possible chance to maintain safety and efficacy over long periods of time.

It is probably more than most people need. But if you’re looking to minimize risks associated with improper storage, I feel it is a reasonable bit of insurance.

Links to what I used:

Govee Smart Thermometer Hygrometer, WiFi Humidity Temperature Sensor with App Notification Alert:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872ZWV8X

Silicone 3ml Vial Insert, 1 short + 2 tall, compatible with HydraPeak food jars:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF8YBX8P

Hydrapeak 32 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C643VH3V

I hope this is helpful!

I know there are some other options out there like a dedicated medical fridge, backup generators, etc. Has anyone taken it this far? I’d love to hear about it!

Lately I’ve been seeing more discussion around storage solutions and best practices. I wanted to share the latest evolution in how I’m storing my Tirzepatide.

Eli Lilly recommends Tirzepatide be stored at temperatures between 2°C - 8°C (36°F to 46°F). I’m treating that as my target range, but of course everyone should follow the storage instructions as recommended by your pharmacy.

My goals:

• Keep medication within the narrowest temperature range reasonably possible
• Protect medicine from light, agitation, mishandling, and temperature excursions
• Avoid fridge door, as it tends to have bigger temperature swings and is the warmest part of the fridge
• Avoid storing directly against back wall or near a cold-air vent, where freezing could be more likely

When I first started Tirzepatide I just kept the medication in the interior packaging it was sent in. For my pharmacy, that was a plastic bag- a far cry from my current storage solution! This worked just fine and I didn’t observe any issues.

Sometime after starting I ran across a post where someone’s medicine was destroyed after a drop. That made me think it may be worth adding a little more protection, not to mention that my medicine was really kind of disorganized floating around in that plastic bag.

My first upgrade was a soft zippered case with a foam insert. It kept things organized, gave a little storage space for alcohol wipes, and gave me a bit more confidence moving between the fridge and counter for administration. It also may have offered limited protection from temperature swings, but it isn’t airtight so I imagine any temperature insulation would be minimal. This worked fine for several weeks until I once again stumbled upon an upgraded setup path.

Another post I found online piqued my curiosity: an insulated HydraPeak food jar with a 3D-printed insert. This really grabbed my interest because I know the fridge will cycle temperature as it works to maintain the target temp and an airtight container can provide meaningful protection against fluctuations. The added sturdiness of the container could be another benefit against impact protection. Unfortunately, I really love dropping things so this had some real appeal to me.

Unlike the other poster, I opted for silicone inserts. I see them as a bit softer and offering some cushion in the event of a drop, denser material to further insulate from temperature swings, and potentially more sterile as well since I’m able to “sanitize” them in boiling water.

For now, my current setup:

• HydraPeak 32 oz insulated stainless food jar
• Silicone insert
• Govee WiFi temperature and humidity sensor

I washed the jar and silicone insert with mild dish soap, dried everything well, and pre-chilled the empty setup in the fridge overnight before putting the medicine inside. I would not put the medication straight into a room-temperature insulated container, as the cooling process for the jar and inserts can take >12 hours and you’d be exposing the medication to temperatures beyond the recommended range for the duration.

The Govee temp sensor is not lab equipment, so I’m not expecting scientific levels of precision. But for home use, it gives me useful data AND alerts, which were the biggest selling point for me. I set the alert range slightly inside the recommended storage range so I can monitor and be alerted before the temperature goes out of range.

That is probably the biggest benefit of the setup for me. If the fridge door gets left cracked, the power goes out, or the fridge starts acting weird, I should get an alert early enough to move the medication to a safe location.

In the interest of confirming my new setup was actually providing me with additional value, I took some readings of the temperature pattern both outside and inside the HydraPeak.

In the first column of graphs, the sensor is sitting in the fridge outside of the Hydrapeak. You can see the temperature move up and down as the fridge cycles on and off- between 1.1C and 4.2C, with an average of 2.8C. The minimum shouldn’t be low enough to cause freezing, but it is outside of the recommended range.

In the second screenshot, the sensor is inside the HydraPeak. The temperature range is MUCH smaller- 2.2C to 2.6C, average 2.4C. That does not prove the medication will last longer or work better, but it does suggest the setup significantly reduces short-term temperature swings and prevents exceeding both the minimum and the maximum temperature range. 

Neither of these readings occurred near the time of a door-opening, and I’d expect that the insulation should protect against temperature fluctuations to an even greater degree during real-world use than is shown in my very limited observation.

Just to be clear- I’m not claiming this storage method extends the beyond-use date, improves/retains potency, or makes storage “better” in any medically proven way. However, I wanted to undertake some reasonable and relatively low-cost steps to ensure my medication is stored as recommended and that it is given the best possible chance to maintain safety and efficacy over long periods of time.

It is probably more than most people need. But if you’re looking to minimize risks associated with improper storage, I feel it is a reasonable bit of insurance.

Links to what I used:

Govee Smart Thermometer Hygrometer, WiFi Humidity Temperature Sensor with App Notification Alert:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0872ZWV8X

Silicone 3ml Vial Insert, 1 short + 2 tall, compatible with HydraPeak food jars:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FF8YBX8P

Hydrapeak 32 oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Food Jar:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C643VH3V

I hope this is helpful!

I know there are some other options out there like a dedicated medical fridge, backup generators, etc. Has anyone taken it this far? I’d love to hear about it!