5 mo. on low dose Zepbound update, stage 1.5, type III, IV
Not the best 1:1 comparison pics ever but ya know.
I’m almost 33, AFAB, currently working sedentary job, former athlete & high physical activity worker.
Left was November 1st when I started Zepbound. Right was a month or two in. Far right is now.
Between pic 2 and 3/4 I’ve actually lost an INCH on my calves, though it’s not super visible. I never thought they’d go under 15”, but they’re 14” now. Ankles stay steady at 9”.
I went from 144-ish to 131lbs overall. I feel a million times better, especially from inflammation. Though I will say the lipedema fat feels weirder at the lower weight, like it’s just this giggly goo hanging off me. I don’t miss the pain and inflammation but when I’m a higher weight the lipedema feels more “natural” for lack of a better word. (I’ve been up to 170 before).
I’m in a deep burn out state from life/work right now so these are still results I’m seeing on Zepbound without all the other optimal lifestyle changes.
Here’s what I do:
- did 2.5mg Zepbound weekly for ~3 months. Dropped down to 1.25mg weekly or every 10 days to get into maintenance. At my size and weight 2.5 was too intense especially after dropping the initial 10 pounds first month.
- I did get telogen effluvium from the med onboarding and quick weight loss. I’m still shedding tho I should hopefully be slowing down soon. It sucks but the pros still weight the cons. I almost didn’t try Zepbound because I was so afraid of hair loss, my hair was very healthy, full and long. 😩 I’d do it again tho! Shit this stuff is life changing.
- I eat relatively clean-ish and the Zepbound keeps me from wanting fried food and sweets. Other than that I eat whatever I want. I legit eat bagels and cream cheese every morning. I don’t do special diets tho I’m sure going GF/DF would probably get me even more results. It’s a lifestyle choice at the end of the day. We already suffer so much. 😮💨
- I wear compression socks frequently and full compression leggings when I work out. This is major to me for mobility and energy!!!
- I dry brush inconsistently. I sleep with my knees elevated. I forget to use my vibration plate, I haven’t months. I don’t do MLD currently.
- I weight train 2x a week with a focus on hyper mobility support. I take leg training slowly and never really go full send on them. Just slowly stacking gains. Consistency has meant more than any high exertion. I walk regularly in my walkable neighborhood. I don’t do any HIIT or high impact cardio.
- I was diagnosed with veinous insufficiency in both legs and had ablation surgery on my right leg. I honestly feel kinda gaslit about the procedure. It was barbaric and very painful. My doctor suggested I should’ve take Valium when I didn’t (she said it was optional, and I try to avoid these drugs). That was not the issue. I’m hyper mobile and a half redhead. My doctor did not consider that I may not feel the local pain management in time. I endured having a catheter inserted into my inner knees (where lipedema is) with no pain management. I’m not trying to scare anyone from doing this but hyper mobility and vein insufficiencies are comorbid with lipedema. Please consider if you need a custom pain management plan before doing this procedure. I am going to go to a different doctor for my left leg.
Idk if I feel any results yet from it but I’m just barely out of the initial inflammation/recovery window.
Overall I continue to be disappointed in the care infrastructure for women and AFAB people, especially with these chronic diseases that are so underplayed. 😩
On lifestyle:
Lipedema and other life and health factors did ultimately cause me to give up dance and sports as a serious practice. Sadly I don’t know if it’s sustainable to be a high impact athlete with this disease. I’m still grateful I can move my body but my happy place is in slow, measured, grounded movement. I’ve shifted dance to more of a pleasure activity and stick more to grounded hip hop and fusion styles.
On mindset:
I practice body neutrality and also an acceptance of all body thoughts internally. I don’t want to shame myself for shaming myself, if that makes sense.
Some days I feel terrible and am overwhelmed with grief. Not just in my appearance but everything it takes from me — feeling good in my skin, my dance craft, my strength, my mobility, my confidence.
Some days I feel gratitude that I have knowledge of the disease and tools to manage it. I’m grateful that I discovered this at its current progression level and have a chance at keeping it at bay. I’m grateful for overall health and wellbeing. And I have so much empathy for those experiencing similar and more advanced stages and symptoms. This is truly a painful disease woven with shame and grief that can be too heavy to carry alone.