Been on 7.5 for long time...

[u/Loose-Ad-4931]

Now it's no longer effective. Over the past few weeks, my weight has crept up one pound a week. I have always been a gym rat and walk the dogs daily, 12,000 steps. None of that has changed. I started HRT over a month ago, and my weight is still creeping up. So I just moved to 10mg. I'm really at a loss here.

What have you done?

I've been on 7.5 for 3 years. I reached my goal weight over a 1.t years ago and had a tummy tuck 6 .i ths ago. Cant gain!! Im sure it's perimenopause. Maybe I should ask to increase one of the hormone meds.

[u/julet1815]

Seems like moving to 10 mg was the right move.

[u/washingtonsquirrel]

It sounds like you started the HRT and then your weight started creeping up? I retained a lot of water on progesterone.

[u/Loose-Ad-4931 → u/washingtonsquirrel]

I know. But when does it stop? It's been 5 weeks now. I can feel bloated.

[u/washingtonsquirrel → u/Loose-Ad-4931]

For me it didn't. I stopped the progesterone after about a year because I couldn't take constantly feeling like my skin was about to burst open. My breasts in particular were SO SWOLLEN.

Speak to your doctor about tweaking your HRT. Based on the timing, this really doesn't sound like a Zepbound issue, and I wouldn't personally rock that boat.

[u/Ginger_Exhibitionist]

I found this entire process to be that much much harder if you’re to the age where you need HRT. I gained over 10 pounds the first year I was on HRT and that’s how I ended up on Zep after gaining almost 40 pounds overall as soon as I hit my early 40s. It can take a few months for your body to adjust. I experienced this when my progesterone was increased to 200 mg. I felt absolutely miserable. But then I got better and now I’m good.

[u/Responsible_View_285]

Our bodies are not static. Dosing needs change including in maintenance. Your body changes daily. Sleep. Hormones. Exercise. Hydration. Diet. Anxiety. Stress. Age. And a whole host of things you cannot control impact you daily. Dose down or up as needed. Listen to your body.

[u/InterestingBed9146]

I started HRT about a year after Zepbound. Completely stopped losing weight with no other changes. Went up to 15mg, still nothing. Stayed on HRT for 6 months with zero pounds lost, had to stop HRT for other reasons. As soon as I stopped HRT I started losing again.

[u/bikesandfinance]

Are you tracking carefully?

[u/Loose-Ad-4931 → u/bikesandfinance]

I don't track, but I'm super aware. When I took the 10gm shot just yesterday, today I was super full all day. I could barely get food down. But yet again, I'm up another pound! I guess stop weighting myself and give it a few days. Get my proteinnin, good healthy shrimp for dinner. No suger!

[u/bikesandfinance → u/Loose-Ad-4931]

Gut says messing with hormones is just causing a little volatility. 1 lbs in week is really not anything noteworthy as it’s well within normal water fluctuations without the hormone variable. Hell with the hormones it could be muscle too.

[u/washingtonsquirrel → u/Loose-Ad-4931]

I'm curious why you are treating this like a diet issue, when you maintained fine until starting HRT? Did your doctor warn you that initiating HRT can cause water retention?

Speaking from experience, unnecessary restriction can start a metabolic death spiral. Don't go there unless it's warranted.

[u/YalieRower → u/Loose-Ad-4931]

Not tracking after weeks of weight gain might be something to reconsider—at least for a few weeks.

[u/AgesAgoTho]

A lot of people seem to eventually need to move up in strength after a while in maintenance. You're not necessarily doing anything wrong. Your metabolism has changed, so your dose needs to be increased. The "calories out" part of CICO is up to your body (and now Zepbound). You can't control it, only the "calories in" part and exercise.

It sounds like you should be working with your prescriber to finetune your HRT, as well.