My last health journey update was back at the beginning of the year, when I was recapping my biggest wins of 2025. If you missed that, you can catch up HERE; you can also find my very first post from last summer — just over a year ago — HERE. With the way social media algorithms work and people who haven’t seen my feed for a long time catching a post and asking about my weight loss, to those of you who have been curious about progress throughout 2026, I opened up a Q&A forum to address some of the most common questions.
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Before we proceed, a few caveats. If you are someone who is looking to set/make progress on your own health goals and/or lose weight to help accomplish those objectives, I hope this post (and my previous posts) can be relatable/inspiring. In the past, I have seen before/after weight loss style posts and have, at some times, felt encouraged and motivated… and at other times, felt bitter. And maybe even more defeated. If you are struggling with your own journey and comparing your results to others, consider what you are visibly consuming and if it’s helpful or hurtful to you in this season. My physical journey has not been without a fair share of ongoing internal work.
Also, as I feel I need to include in all content I share related to my health…
**I am not a physician and I have no medical background. While I am sharing my own story, it is just that. My story. I am not offering medical advice of any kind. Please consult with your own physicians and healthcare professional(s) for advice on how to reach your own specific health goals.
There’s a lot of topics to cover and I will still likely break out some topics into a discussion on their own, but I’ll try to work my way through the most recent and frequent FAQs. Some things won’t be addressed as I addressed them early on, so if you have more questions about my why, where I started, etc., again, you can visit my initial post HERE.
This post isn’t intended to be solely about GLPs but when I opened up questions, the majority that came through were about that specifically. While it has been a life changing tool for me, it is only one piece (albeit an important part) of my strategy and practices.
Lastly, since GLP1s are a heavy focus in today’s post, based on your specific questions, I wanted to relay what obesity actually is, as defined by The National Library of Medicine. Contrary to what most people believe and assume, it isn’t as simple as just not having the willpower to say no to food.
“Obesity is a multifactorial chronic disease resulting from complex genetic, molecular, environmental, and behavioral interactions. Its prevalence rises worldwide, affecting cardiovascular, metabolic, oncological, hepatic, respiratory, and skeletal health. Beyond caloric excess, genetic predisposition, epigenetic modifications, gut microbiota dysbiosis, endocrine-disrupting agents, circadian misalignment, and intergenerational and prenatal influences are critical determinants of obesity risk. Core pathophysiological mechanisms include insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, chronic low-grade inflammation, and neuroendocrine dysregulation of appetite and energy balance.“
More information on that HERE.
Health & Weight Loss FAQs
Q: How much have you lost?
A: For reference, I am 5’3″. As of today, from the highest weight I ever actually saw on the scale, back in 2019, (which may have been my highest or not), I have lost 149 lbs. I have lost 54% of my “starting” weight, which by any measure is wild. This is not me bragging. This is me proudly sharing a statistic I thought was an impossibility for my entire life. I remember every time I would start a new weight loss effort, thinking, “If I can just get to a size whatever”, or “If I could just get under 200 lbs,” that would be good enough. I never actually considered that getting to a clinically “healthy” weight would be a reality for me. When I started, it was hard to not feel defeated, knowing that even if I lost 100 lbs (again, which seemed like an impossible pipe dream), I would still be classified as being overweight. Actually, I may have still been classified as obese by BMI standards. My hope was just to be “less” obese and see if I could improve my other stats.
Polo Cardigan | Jeans | Phone Case
And what’s crazy (or maybe not??) is that I was moving and walking long before I considered the help of a GLP1. But, what they say is true. You exercise to be strong, to make your body healthy, and for all the benefits you get from being active. But, the majority of weight-loss comes from what you consume. You have to be in a calorie deficit and typically, you can’t do that without some major dietary changes, no matter how much you’re exercising and burning. I used to only look at calories burned as trying to cancel out the calories I was eating but now, I view them as their own entities, even though they work together to support your health. You can still over-consume good, nutrient rich foods. People who just encourage you to eat whole foods or foods that are “good” for you is not a weight loss strategy. If you are trying to lose weight, the caloric deficit has to be the priority. And if you start tracking even the bites here and there throughout the day, it can be surprising how quickly it can add up. At 5’3″, I don’t have as much wiggle room in terms of calorie consumption compared to someone a couple inches taller.
Something I learned along the way, which makes complete sense, is that when a lot of people (myself included) decide they want to lose weight, they immediately start working out and trying to do ALL THE THINGS all at once. The reality is, the more you work out, the hungrier you will be and the more calories you will likely consume. IMO, getting ahold of what you’re consuming and establishing some positive habits in the kitchen first, before trying to kill it at the gym isn’t an awful strategy.
Q: Are you still trying to lose more weight?
A: I am working on maintaining my loss and making my body stronger, now.
Q: Which GLP1 are you on?
A: Zepbound (tirzepatide). Zepbound is the actual name brand tirzepatide prescription from the patent holder, Eli Lilly, marketed for weight loss. Mounjaro is the name brand tirzepatide prescription from Eli Lilly, marketed for diabetes. Same thing, different label. And, because my insurance covers GLP1 usage for diabetes but not for obesity, (my A1C was just in the pre-diabetic range, which doesn’t count), I pay out of pocket, direct from the manufacturer. Don’t even get me started on how insane it is that obesity is now established as a chronic disease (and has been for a while), and that our country is “facing an obesity epidemic”, but the majority of insurance carriers won’t cover it. I am hopeful that we will continue to see progress here as there won’t be a generic until 2036-2039.
I could spend hours arguing against all the misinformation that is still being spread about GLP1 usage, but I’ll leave that to the doctors 😉 If you do want some good resources — not self-proclaimed fitness experts on Instagram, but actual board certified physicians who specialize in obesity medicine — my top recommendations would be:
- Dr. Spencer Nadolsky (I love his reaction videos and his counter-claims)
- Dr. Rocio Salas-Whalan (Her book, Weightless, should be required reading if you’re considering a GLP1 or have a loved one considering/using a GLP1)
An important point(s) that I feel passionate about is it isn’t an either/or. It’s an “and”. I use Zepbound to help manage my weight alongside diet, exercise, and following/implementing other healthy habits.
Sweater Fleece Zip Up | Leggings
I always get comments — both positive and negative — about what I’ve chosen for my health journey. But, the last time I shared my progress, someone wrote to me and said “I can tell you’re excited about losing weight, but…” Excited? Really? If there were ever a few condescending words to demean my efforts… I didn’t just drop a few pounds to fit into a dress I was hoping to wear. I am living a life in freedom I never knew existed. My health has been transformed and I am grateful to be able to continue to work on it. The assistance of medical advancements that are making reaching real health goals — life prolonging health goals — more attainable for millions of people is amazing. I’m also incredibly proud because my progress has not been made free of sacrifice and work.
Q: Are you still taking the meds for weight loss?
A: Yes. Because for me, the GLP1 I am taking is not just for weight loss but is to help manage chronic obesity. I didn’t start taking tirzepatide to shed a few pounds or to get back to a former weight or as a kick-start. I started using it as part of my overall health strategy to not just aid in reaching my goals, but to help manage a lifetime of obesity. Not only has it aided in weight loss and glucose levels, but it’s helped improve other blood metrics and has been a God-send for my inflammation. My psoriasis had gotten severe and I had started suffering from psoriatic arthritis. Gone. my rosacea had gotten bad and while I credit the serum my dermatologist prescribed, I think that a lot of it was cleared up with the inflammatory improving GLP1. I had agonizing cycles that seemed to only get worse over the years which on my worst months are now just mild cramps and discomfort. Some ailments have improved with shedding weight — like my chronic back pain — and some are a direct benefit of the GLP.
I won’t say I’ll never stop taking a GLP but I really don’t have any interest in it for the foreseeable future. I could see myself trying out smaller/less frequent doses at some point but again, it wasn’t just about losing some weight and then stopping.
Q: Did you lose any hair?
A: YES. A lot. And I would live without hair entirely if that was the tradeoff for how my body feels now. The hair loss is not specifically from the GLP1. It comes with any substantial shedding of weight. It is supposedly temporary and my hairdresser swears it’s in in a stage of regrowth. I cut my hair for less noticeable thin and straggly ends, and I wear my hair up a lot (a first for me.) I also bought some clip in hair extensions that I mainly wear up to give volume to my braids/ponytails.
Q: How do/did you deal with extra skin? Have you had skin removal?
A: LOTS of questions about this. With losing as much weight as I have and especially having lived with excess weight my whole life, extra skin is unavoidable. And again, this isn’t caused by a GLP1 but by losing a significant amount of weight. I have not had skin removal surgery but have plenty of loose skin in the regular suspected areas — most noticeably in the thighs, inner upper arms, under my chin, my chest, and stomach. If I chose to address the loose skin in all of those major areas, it would require multiple surgeries. And, like the hair, loose skin is an alternative I will happily live with if it means my body feels strong and my health is good. With loose skin, surgery is the only way to eliminate it. You can improve the appearance to a degree by increasing muscle (which fills out your skin a little more), but unless you have it removed, it’s pretty much there to stay.
I still have insecurities about it — especially my thighs when I’m wearing shorts/a swimsuit or my upper arms in something sleeveless — but I’ve come too far to get hung up on it.
Will I have skin removal one day? Right now, I would say probably not. I’ll never say never though.
I’ve had to be careful about the messaging to my young daughter throughout this entire journey. I never want her to see me picking myself apart, criticizing myself or what I deem to be imperfections/less desirable traits, or to talk about weight and health as a number on the scale. So, when it comes to nutrition and exercise, she hears me talk about working to be strong, fit, healthy. And when she asked if I was going to cover the wrinkles on my legs (the loose skin when I was trying on bathing suits, haha, from the mouths of babes), I told her “absolutely not”, and explained how incredible and powerful our bodies are and how our bodies are constantly changing and evolving and what’s important is how we treat them so they can do the very best job for us. Preaching that and sometimes faking my confidence for her benefit doesn’t magically make me immune to insecurities — I’m human — but it helps. When she sees me donate clothes, she assumes it’s because I outgrew them (like she does 😉 ).
Quarter Zip Jacket | Leggings | OnCloud Sneakers | Phone Case
Q: What dosage are you on and have you upped it from 2.5?
A: 2.5 mg is only supposed to be an introductory dosage to get your body used to the medication. It’s recommended to increase dosage each month for a while. 15mg is the highest dose for tirzepatide but I actually paused at 12.5 and have been at that dose for probably most of the past year. Dosage is something personal you should work with your doctor on.
Q: Who is your GLP1 provider?
A: My primary care physician prescribes the medication and I have it filled through Lilly Direct (the manufacturer of Zepbound). I have regular check-ins with her, blood panels, and DEXA scans to measure advanced body composition stats (muscle mass, fat mass, water — not just weight). I know there are plenty of med-spas and online services that will issue compounds but I think working under the supervision of a physician (and one who is familiar with GLPs) is one of the most important decisions to make when you’re determining if using a medication to support your health goals is right for you.
Q: Any unwanted side effects? Does it make you nauseous?
A: I am fortunate, I have not experienced any notable negative side effects (aside from the aforementioned hair loss from weight loss — not as a direct effect from the GLP). Some people experience nausea that eventually wanes — my physician had actually prescribed an anti-nausea medication, just in case, but I never had to use it. More people seem to experience nausea with semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) than with Tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound). I did have some indigestion at the very beginning but it was short lived and again, the discomfort paled in comparison to the benefits I was gaining. In addition to trying to focus on fiber, I do take some digestive “aids” occasionally. But, everyone’s body is different which is why it’s especially important to take a GLP1 under the supervision of a physician.
I will note that a lot of the fear-mongering potential side effects have been debunked and the benefits and list of improved conditions continues to grow. This isn’t to say it’s for everyone but I think we’re going to continue to see more people taking them, admitting to taking them, and overall societal health improving.
Q: I am reluctant to get started and worried about after effects.
A: For me, the risk of not choosing to take a GLP as part of my health transformation strategy was greater than potential risks of taking it. Again, I think a lot of the negativity around using an aid stems from viral soundbites on social media/people who do not have a direct background in obesity medication. And people continue to internalize the things they hear without considering the origin. Or that just because someone has a platform online where they speak loudly, doesn’t mean they’re right. And just because someone is fit doesn’t make them the ultimate resource on weight loss. Simple science is calories in and calories out but that doesn’t account for the now-acknowledged deeper issues that the majority of people who live with obesity face.
And may I just point out that every medication or supplement has a potential side effect(s). And if you have true concern over something you’ve heard, research it for it’s validity, whether it’s been since been debunked, or talk to a trusted knowledgeable healthcare provider about it.
Fortunately, I think some of the taboo reputation is starting to improve but there are still and will continue to be plenty of people who say things like “I want to do it the ‘right’ way”. Or, “So and so took the ‘easy’ way out.” Or “they just didn’t have enough willpower.” My advice — block those people out and avoid them. Your health decisions are yours to make and you don’t earn extra credit by not choosing a proven tool to assist your efforts, whether that’s weight loss surgery, a GLP, or whatever. I promise you — putting in the work and commitment alongside a GLP is not the easy way out of anything.
I remember Luke Combs being asked about the pressures of looking like other men in the industry and I was disappointed in his answer when asked if he would consider trying a GLP1. I guess that with the noise around him, it’s been ingrained in him that a medication is “cheating” because he said — to the kudos of those in the interview — that he didn’t want to take a shortcut and wanted to do it “the right way”. This is what perpetuates the myths and the stigmas. When people we love and respect who have a platform say something perceived as noble or self deprecating. He was just recycling his own assumptions. And so, there he is — having admitted that he wants to lose weight — but has such a negative prejudice about what using an aid might mean, that he hasn’t made any moves. And I don’t mean to throw any shade — I think Luke is awesome and only he knows his health and should decide what that looks like — but when I heard that, I saw former me, scared of what it said about me if I admitted I needed help beyond myself. When someone says “And no judgement for anyone who wants to, that’s just not me,” — well, to be honest, that is absolutely a judgement and virtue signaling if I’ve ever heard it.
Dress | Handbag | Earrings | Sunglasses
Q: What helped you stay feeling strong while losing weight and muscle?
A: I talked about this a bit before but for the first time in my life, I was able to view food as fuel and because I was less emotional about it and my brain’s reward sensors were quieted, I was able to focus on the things I had learned I should be focusing on. Low calorie, high protein, high fiber. Protein is KEY for energy and helping to preserve muscle, especially when you’re consuming significantly fewer calories and portion sizes. Cottage cheese, cold chicken in the fridge, using Greek yogurt as a condiment, Fairlife Protein drinks, protein-centric snacks like Built Puff bars and Quest chips… all core to my pantry and fridge now.
Leggings | T-Shirt | OnCloud Sneakers | Sunglasses
And when you lose weight, you’ll lose more than fat. That isn’t just a GLP thing, it’s a general weight loss thing. I’ve always incorporated weights into portions of my walks and I now also try to do a few kettlebell workouts, too (THESE are the ones I use!). Activity and movement in general makes me feel strong and being able to be more strategic about my food is the most helpful.
Building muscle is important but also, my body is less than half the size it once was. It doesn’t require the same amount of muscle to support it.
I do still get hungry and I can easily eat more than I did at the start of using Zep. but the food noise is still well managed. For most of my life, food was a celebration and reward and being able to view it in a different way now doesn’t feel restrictive. It feels freeing.
Q: What is your workout routine?
A: I’m a walker. I’m so glad it has caught on and so many people are talking about how effective and underrated it is. When I walk on the treadmill, I will do a pre-programmed HIIT walk and incorporate dumbbells for the first 10 minutes of the walk. I also love walking outside, early, and being finished before the sun comes up. On the treadmill, I typically read my Kindle and outside, I listen to an audiobook. I try to walk at least four days/week but ideally five.
I also use kettlebells and search YouTube videos for full body kettlebell workouts — these typically last 10-15 minutes, depending on the video I choose that day. I try to do these at least two days per week.
I love having the flexibility and freedom of simple home/neighborhood exercise but I MAY try a gym membership for more access to heavier lifting at some point.
I shared several snack/meal ideas in last year’s post, and while I should probably photo-document something like that for a full post, I did grab a few snaps I found in my camera roll…
These chick pea chips are like a healthier Cooler Ranch Dorito and I LOVE THEM! I don’t snack much, but I do like to have some easy go-tos to grab for the car, my desk, or to take alongside me for Eliza’s activities, just in case.
I love putting random stuff — like arugula — on my Sourdough avocado toast. Def. pay attention to your bread and how much avocado you use because this can either be a great, modest calorie lunch or could unknowingly put you well over your calorie goal. And, I love having cold chicken in the fridge, to cut up on the side always.
There’s a few quinoa salads at Costco that are great to add an additional protein to. I add volume with lettuce and this salad specifically has a flavor profile similar to Cava.
GET THE SALTED EDAMAME IN THE FROZEN SECTION AT TRADER JOE’S! Great snack or dinner side.
Q: How long has it taken to look this great?
A: This is so nice… thank you. In some ways, a lifetime, ha. But in concentrated efforts, I finally went to the doctor to get baselines and to get serious about my health in October 2024. I go into this in more detail in THIS post. I started a GLP1 in November 2024. I lost 92 lbs. from October 2024 to July 2025, and then another 35ish pounds from July 2025 to January 2026. And then from January 2026 to now, I’ve lost about 20 more (149 total). Most of my weight loss happened in the first year and tapered off, but my clothing size started dropping more quickly over the past 40ish pounds. I think that’s when my face started leaning out more, too, making it more obvious. But, I started feeling better back in December 2024. Basically immediately. And my numbers started improving immediately, also.
Clutch | Shoes | Earrings | Jeans | Phone Case
Q: Affordability for life and are there cheaper alternatives?
A: It (GLP1) isn’t cheap and not being supported by insurance is frustrating but the way I see it, it’s a lot less expensive than the health complications that could have become exacerbated. We don’t eat out/get takeout often and our food is pretty simple, keeping our grocery bills pretty modest, which helps, also. For me and my experience, I would prioritize budgeting for the access to be able to continue using it as an aid over most anything else. Because health is irreplaceable. I’m hopeful costs will continue to come down, especially with additional GLPs hitting the market. They are the most expensive in the U.S., which is also wild, but I don’t see it as a “extra”. It is a key component of my healthcare support and one I’m willing to pay for.
Two Piece Set (RIGHT)
Swimsuit | Sarong | Sunglasses
I’m grateful for my health and I’m thankful for the opportunity to continue to pursue it. I love being able to show up feeling strong and eager to do life with my friends and family. I never want to take for granted the freedom of feeling comfortable in my own skin. If you have more questions that weren’t covered here or in earlier posts, leave them in the comment section. And, if you’ve been on your own journey, I’d love to hear about it — the successes, tough stuff, and everything in between.
If you waded through this entire update, I know it was probably all over the place and maybe even a little ranty at times. Thank you for being here, your encouragement, and your grace when I don’t say exactly the right thing. xoxo
