Halfway to goal in 14 weeks, not sure how to proceed.

amosmylove

amosmylove

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This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
 
Having stuck with this for 18 months, I'm 11 lbs away from my target weight, so I completely get it! My approach would be to bump the dose up slightly and make protein a priority. As for me, my core needs more work and my diet could definitely improve. Getting enough sleep? I've stopped trying. 🤣

Your body is still at an age where it can recover from carrying extra weight. I understand the urge to drop pounds fast, but taking it slow and staying consistent is what truly gets you there in the end.
 
amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that adipose tissue isn't just storage — it has endocrine activity too, while muscle burns energy at rest. When weight comes off this fast, hormone shifts are almost inevitable, and those shifts can definitely shape how you feel mentally. I don't deal with that particular problem myself, since my sense of self is quite solid. Still, if I were standing where you are, I'd take some kind of action. The tricky part is figuring out what that action should be, or rather what I'm already doing, since my own weight journey puts me in a comparable spot: chase fast fat loss while holding onto as much muscle as possible. My approach is simple — if eating is what's needed, I make myself eat. Say protein is the missing piece; then I'll drink it, like a big shake combining whey and collagen.

Another thing to hold onto: your mindset is the strongest tool you have, because 2 people can face the identical circumstances and interpret them in completely opposite directions. When I catch myself thinking I'm not good enough, I actually feel grateful, since it signals there's room to improve.

On the topic of energy and tiredness — I've said this before, but my laziness is so extreme that I coined a term for it, "slothiness," to capture that drained condition. Fat burners, ephedra, DMHA, caffeine and similar stimulants can give you a small lift so you can push through more training. And yes, modafinil would help you considerably; besides keeping you awake, it lifts mood nicely.

So to sum up: yes, I'd stack Reta and Tirza together to shed the weight fast, but these days I'm running Anavar to keep muscle and lift energy. It appears to be doing the job so far. Now the last piece of advice:

choose a modest routine built on manual labor that you can perform at home. I keep plenty of options at home — hand grippers, wrist rotators, resistance bands and so on — and I use them to train, raise myokine and endorphin levels, and burn additional calories.
 
amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Right now this is something I'm wrestling with too. My mind probably won't ever allow me to be truly satisfied with my appearance. I reached my initial target, but all I see reflected is the heavier version of me from before. For the 1st time ever I wore an xs shirt, and yet I still perceive myself as carrying extra weight. Your mental struggle makes complete sense to me. Whether I'll ever mentally move past the harm done to my self image, I honestly don't know. Yesterday we took a family photo, and without thinking I headed straight for the back row — my usual spot to stay out of sight.

Smiter said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that adipose tissue isn't just storage — it has endocrine activity too, while muscle burns energy at rest. When weight comes off this fast, hormone shifts are almost inevitable, and those shifts can definitely shape how you feel mentally. I don't deal with that particular problem myself, since my sense of self is quite solid. Still, if I were standing where you are, I'd take some kind of action. The tricky part is figuring out what that action should be, or rather what I'm already doing, since my own weight journey puts me in a comparable spot: chase fast fat loss while holding onto as much muscle as possible. My approach is simple — if eating is what's needed, I make myself eat. Say protein is the missing piece; then I'll drink it, like a big shake combining whey and collagen.

Another thing to hold onto: your mindset is the strongest tool you have, because 2 people can face the identical circumstances and interpret them in completely opposite directions. When I catch myself thinking I'm not good enough, I actually feel grateful, since it signals there's room to improve.

On the topic of energy and tiredness — I've said this before, but my laziness is so extreme that I coined a term for it, "slothiness," to capture that drained condition. Fat burners, ephedra, DMHA, caffeine and similar stimulants can give you a small lift so you can push through more training. And yes, modafinil would help you considerably; besides keeping you awake, it lifts mood nicely.

So to sum up: yes, I'd stack Reta and Tirza together to shed the weight fast, but these days I'm running Anavar to keep muscle and lift energy. It appears to be doing the job so far. Now the last piece of advice:

choose a modest routine built on manual labor that you can perform at home. I keep plenty of options at home — hand grippers, wrist rotators, resistance bands and so on — and I use them to train, raise myokine and endorphin levels, and burn additional calories.
Click to expand...
What exactly are anavar and modafinil? I'm thinking of looking into them to see whether they could be of help. Do both of them boost your energy? Or does anavar serve to preserve muscle while modafinil provides the energy lift? I need to go read up on these.
 
SeaGypsy said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Right now this is something I'm wrestling with too. My mind probably won't ever allow me to be truly satisfied with my appearance. I reached my initial target, but all I see reflected is the heavier version of me from before. For the 1st time ever I wore an xs shirt, and yet I still perceive myself as carrying extra weight. Your mental struggle makes complete sense to me. Whether I'll ever mentally move past the harm done to my self image, I honestly don't know. Yesterday we took a family photo, and without thinking I headed straight for the back row — my usual spot to stay out of sight.

Smiter said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that adipose tissue isn't just storage — it has endocrine activity too, while muscle burns energy at rest. When weight comes off this fast, hormone shifts are almost inevitable, and those shifts can definitely shape how you feel mentally. I don't deal with that particular problem myself, since my sense of self is quite solid. Still, if I were standing where you are, I'd take some kind of action. The tricky part is figuring out what that action should be, or rather what I'm already doing, since my own weight journey puts me in a comparable spot: chase fast fat loss while holding onto as much muscle as possible. My approach is simple — if eating is what's needed, I make myself eat. Say protein is the missing piece; then I'll drink it, like a big shake combining whey and collagen.

Another thing to hold onto: your mindset is the strongest tool you have, because 2 people can face the identical circumstances and interpret them in completely opposite directions. When I catch myself thinking I'm not good enough, I actually feel grateful, since it signals there's room to improve.

On the topic of energy and tiredness — I've said this before, but my laziness is so extreme that I coined a term for it, "slothiness," to capture that drained condition. Fat burners, ephedra, DMHA, caffeine and similar stimulants can give you a small lift so you can push through more training. And yes, modafinil would help you considerably; besides keeping you awake, it lifts mood nicely.

So to sum up: yes, I'd stack Reta and Tirza together to shed the weight fast, but these days I'm running Anavar to keep muscle and lift energy. It appears to be doing the job so far. Now the last piece of advice:

choose a modest routine built on manual labor that you can perform at home. I keep plenty of options at home — hand grippers, wrist rotators, resistance bands and so on — and I use them to train, raise myokine and endorphin levels, and burn additional calories.
Click to expand...
What exactly are anavar and modafinil? I'm thinking of looking into them to see whether they could be of help. Do both of them boost your energy? Or does anavar serve to preserve muscle while modafinil provides the energy lift? I need to go read up on these.
Click to expand...
One of the most popular anabolic steroids among women is Anavar. Among all AAS, it ranks as one of the least androgenic, and its anabolic potency is roughly 4 times that of testosterone, while its androgenic potency is about 5 times lower. The practical upshot: masculinizing effects tend to be very minimal when using anavar. At the same time, because its anabolic rating is so high, even a small dose can help you hold onto muscle mass, protect your joints, and put a stop to excess water retention. And naturally, you will also experience a huge surge in energy.

As for Modafinil, it is a wakefulness medication that was first developed for narcolepsy. This cognition enhancer also has mood lifting effects. On top of that, it curbs appetite. I have written about this in earlier threads as well, including pictures showing various AASs and their action profile.
 
Smiter said:

SeaGypsy said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Right now this is something I'm wrestling with too. My mind probably won't ever allow me to be truly satisfied with my appearance. I reached my initial target, but all I see reflected is the heavier version of me from before. For the 1st time ever I wore an xs shirt, and yet I still perceive myself as carrying extra weight. Your mental struggle makes complete sense to me. Whether I'll ever mentally move past the harm done to my self image, I honestly don't know. Yesterday we took a family photo, and without thinking I headed straight for the back row — my usual spot to stay out of sight.

Smiter said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Keep in mind that adipose tissue isn't just storage — it has endocrine activity too, while muscle burns energy at rest. When weight comes off this fast, hormone shifts are almost inevitable, and those shifts can definitely shape how you feel mentally. I don't deal with that particular problem myself, since my sense of self is quite solid. Still, if I were standing where you are, I'd take some kind of action. The tricky part is figuring out what that action should be, or rather what I'm already doing, since my own weight journey puts me in a comparable spot: chase fast fat loss while holding onto as much muscle as possible. My approach is simple — if eating is what's needed, I make myself eat. Say protein is the missing piece; then I'll drink it, like a big shake combining whey and collagen.

Another thing to hold onto: your mindset is the strongest tool you have, because 2 people can face the identical circumstances and interpret them in completely opposite directions. When I catch myself thinking I'm not good enough, I actually feel grateful, since it signals there's room to improve.

On the topic of energy and tiredness — I've said this before, but my laziness is so extreme that I coined a term for it, "slothiness," to capture that drained condition. Fat burners, ephedra, DMHA, caffeine and similar stimulants can give you a small lift so you can push through more training. And yes, modafinil would help you considerably; besides keeping you awake, it lifts mood nicely.

So to sum up: yes, I'd stack Reta and Tirza together to shed the weight fast, but these days I'm running Anavar to keep muscle and lift energy. It appears to be doing the job so far. Now the last piece of advice:

choose a modest routine built on manual labor that you can perform at home. I keep plenty of options at home — hand grippers, wrist rotators, resistance bands and so on — and I use them to train, raise myokine and endorphin levels, and burn additional calories.
Click to expand...
What exactly are anavar and modafinil? I'm thinking of looking into them to see whether they could be of help. Do both of them boost your energy? Or does anavar serve to preserve muscle while modafinil provides the energy lift? I need to go read up on these.
Click to expand...
One of the most popular anabolic steroids among women is Anavar. Among all AAS, it ranks as one of the least androgenic, and its anabolic potency is roughly 4 times that of testosterone, while its androgenic potency is about 5 times lower. The practical upshot: masculinizing effects tend to be very minimal when using anavar. At the same time, because its anabolic rating is so high, even a small dose can help you hold onto muscle mass, protect your joints, and put a stop to excess water retention. And naturally, you will also experience a huge surge in energy.

As for Modafinil, it is a wakefulness medication that was first developed for narcolepsy. This cognition enhancer also has mood lifting effects. On top of that, it curbs appetite. I have written about this in earlier threads as well, including pictures showing various AASs and their action profile.
Click to expand...
OK wow. Both of those sound like benefits I could really use. I'm definitely going to look into them! I'm about to dig through all of your earlier posts.....Thanks for the info
 
When I started Tirz, I hit that first round of tiredness that many others get, though it faded within about a week. It took some time before I noticed my energy was still below what it once was. I lowered the Tirz a little and introduced some Reta, and my energy feels a lot closer to normal now. I'm in maintenance rather than trying to lose, but your scenario doesn't sound all that different. Since you aren't close to the max dose, stacking could be worth considering. Just something you might want to mull over.
 
Others can address the science side. But honestly, friend, you're putting way too much pressure on yourself. Here — take a Mary Oliver poem, and maybe get rid of a few of your mirrors; they don't seem very safe to keep around while you're in that "LOOK AT YOU YOU'RE HIDEOUS AND THAT IS BAD AND YOU ARE BAD" headspace.

PS. These days I'm an XS in most shirts. Plenty of brands I used to love aren't even wearable for me anymore because they don't cut shirts small enough. And I still perceive myself as fat (that isn't accurate, and no one else sees it that way.) But whatever — "I do not have to be good."
 
Smiter said:

Damn... every bit of that info was wiped.
Click to expand...
Yep. I'm not going to go back and answer each person again. Funny enough, I can't recall what I wrote, and doing it over now would come across as only partly genuine
 
amosmylove said:

Smiter said:

Damn... every bit of that info was wiped.
Click to expand...
Yep. I'm not going to go back and answer each person again. Funny enough, I can't recall what I wrote, and doing it over now would come across as only partly genuine
Click to expand...
Should you need anything from me, just ask. My brain's still running at 60%, which is plenty to tackle it again.
 
Smiter said:

amosmylove said:

Smiter said:

Damn... every bit of that info was wiped.
Click to expand...
Yep. I'm not going to go back and answer each person again. Funny enough, I can't recall what I wrote, and doing it over now would come across as only partly genuine
Click to expand...
Should you need anything from me, just ask. My brain's still running at 60%, which is plenty to tackle it again.
Click to expand...
Thanks, you're awesome!
 
5byfive said:

When I started Tirz, I hit that first round of tiredness that many others get, though it faded within about a week. It took some time before I noticed my energy was still below what it once was. I lowered the Tirz a little and introduced some Reta, and my energy feels a lot closer to normal now. I'm in maintenance rather than trying to lose, but your scenario doesn't sound all that different. Since you aren't close to the max dose, stacking could be worth considering. Just something you might want to mull over.
Click to expand...
When you stacked reta with tirz, what was your starting dose? I'm planning to take 1mg this evening.
 
amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Yes, this concerns me as well — that amount, and at such speed. All the more so given that later in your message you mention fatigue and that you have gone 2 weeks without training.

My sincere hope is that you will put your physical and mental health first, so that you can be present for yourself and your family over the long haul.

I would urge caution before rushing toward suggestions that involve stimulants, ephedra, Anavar, steroids, and similar substances.

These are not trivial things to try out lightly, and they can carry serious health consequences.

One more thing to keep in mind — when someone answers fast, often, and with great certainty, that alone does not make them the best guide. Lately this forum has seen many men arrive from bodybuilding/steroid boards, and some of them frame weight loss through a “faster, leaner, harder no matter the cost” lens.

That may suit what they are after, but your post sounds like someone juggling health, energy, motherhood, appearance, and mental well-being all at the same time.

Before you act on advice that could strongly impact your health, sleep, anxiety, and muscle mass, I would suggest reading through older threads here from people who handled the last 20–30 lb more slowly and in a way they could sustain. A pattern tends to show up: those who end up happiest long term usually protect muscle, keep nutrition up, strength train, and refuse to turn the whole thing into punishment.

Losing 30 lbs in 14 weeks is, in my view, already a very substantial rate. If the scale has stalled a bit lately, that does not mean you are failing or that you must escalate hard.

What stands out to me is how much compassion you show everyone but yourself. You call other people beautiful and worthy exactly as they are, yet you talk to yourself with a harshness you would almost certainly never aim at another woman.

You do not come across as pathetic or weak. You come across as worn out, stretched thin, and emotionally raw while trying extremely hard to “get this right.” The fact that you are actively working to break unhealthy self-esteem patterns for your kids says a great deal about you, in a good way.

I would simply hate for you to make fear-driven choices in a low moment that damage your health down the road. Also, as you begin reta, you can find posts here on the forum noting that people may get fatigue and anhedonia from it too — so take it slow.

Best wishes, and stay healthy.
 
Vriende said:

amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
Click to expand...
Yes, this concerns me as well — that amount, and at such speed. All the more so given that later in your message you mention fatigue and that you have gone 2 weeks without training.

My sincere hope is that you will put your physical and mental health first, so that you can be present for yourself and your family over the long haul.

I would urge caution before rushing toward suggestions that involve stimulants, ephedra, Anavar, steroids, and similar substances.

These are not trivial things to try out lightly, and they can carry serious health consequences.

One more thing to keep in mind — when someone answers fast, often, and with great certainty, that alone does not make them the best guide. Lately this forum has seen many men arrive from bodybuilding/steroid boards, and some of them frame weight loss through a “faster, leaner, harder no matter the cost” lens.

That may suit what they are after, but your post sounds like someone juggling health, energy, motherhood, appearance, and mental well-being all at the same time.

Before you act on advice that could strongly impact your health, sleep, anxiety, and muscle mass, I would suggest reading through older threads here from people who handled the last 20–30 lb more slowly and in a way they could sustain. A pattern tends to show up: those who end up happiest long term usually protect muscle, keep nutrition up, strength train, and refuse to turn the whole thing into punishment.

Losing 30 lbs in 14 weeks is, in my view, already a very substantial rate. If the scale has stalled a bit lately, that does not mean you are failing or that you must escalate hard.

What stands out to me is how much compassion you show everyone but yourself. You call other people beautiful and worthy exactly as they are, yet you talk to yourself with a harshness you would almost certainly never aim at another woman.

You do not come across as pathetic or weak. You come across as worn out, stretched thin, and emotionally raw while trying extremely hard to “get this right.” The fact that you are actively working to break unhealthy self-esteem patterns for your kids says a great deal about you, in a good way.

I would simply hate for you to make fear-driven choices in a low moment that damage your health down the road. Also, as you begin reta, you can find posts here on the forum noting that people may get fatigue and anhedonia from it too — so take it slow.

Best wishes, and stay healthy.
Click to expand...
Yes, @amosmylove, I agree with that. Lasting weight reduction needs to come from a wise choice that also involves finding contentment in your approach. Gather all the information you can, then make the prudent decision. Your aim should be eudaimonia, and that calls for caution, persistence, and moderation.
 
amosmylove said:

This started as a brain dump and turned into word vomit. I'm feeling very mentally fragile right now. Is there a women's forum on here? I didn't see one. Anyway, consider that a warning — if you don't have patience for someone in a mental slump, skip this post.

The main thing I want to ask about is titration and being close to goal weight.

I keep running into conflicting advice and evidence about how fast to lose and about possible muscle loss.

32-year-old female, 5'7", athletic build

SW 207 CW 177 GW 145-155

I've been on 7.5 mg tirz weekly since the start of April.

In 14 weeks I've dropped 15% of my body weight, 30lbs, averaging 2.1 pounds weekly, which looks like it sits near the top of what's regarded as okay/safe for weight loss. So far no sagging skin, which is something I want to steer clear of since I have hEDS, meaning defective collagen, which means poor skin healing along with other problems.

Another worry is losing muscle instead of fat. For the past 2 weeks I haven't worked out at all. I'm not hungry enough to consume enough protein to prevent muscle loss, and the energy drain I've been attributing to tirz is still a nuisance. The fatigue has gotten better since a week ago, but I can't tell whether it's still bad from tirz or just my usual constant fatigue, which comes in varying waves but is always there because of autoimmune issues and poor sleep/a busy life. When I do eat, I eat well. Chicken, salmon, veggies, beef.

Anyway, for the last 20-30 lbs, everything I read from others says this is the hardest weight to lose for them right before their goal weight. I'm not sure if my total weight loss goal being less than 60lbs affects that (versus is the 100s) or if it's going to come off but eat up my muscles while it does.

Should I lower my dose so I don't lose as quickly, for the sake of nutrition/energy/muscle loss prevention/skin tightness, or keep it the same and potentially increase to 10mg hoping to get off the last stubborn 25ish pounds? I'm thinking it will be stubborn because in the last 3 weeks I've only lost 3.5 pounds, which is making me think I should increase my dose since I've been at 7.5 mg for the last 7 weeks.

I won't dance around it, I desperately want to lose the weight as fast as possible, but I'm trying to temper that desire with reality and what's actually best for my body versus appeasing my stupidly vain mind. It's a hard line for me as my mental health regarding my appearance is utter trash, to be frank.

Half of me (the adhd half) thinks this way: up my dose to 10mg now then 12.5 asap, screw my muscles and skin, I can wear turtlenecks forever and since I've always been over-muscular for a female, being 'dainty' sounds great even if I'm skin and bone.

The other half (the one who wants to be a good mom) is trying to be rooted in consciously choosing what is best for me long term and ignoring what I 'want'.

I can anticipate what the advice will be here. Titrate down or stay at 7.5, force myself to eat a steady amount of nutrient dense/high protein food and plenty of water. Get better sleep. Work out. Go to therapy to better accept myself. I'm just struggling with all of that.

Anyone in a similar spot or has been?

I just want to be more attractive. My husband doesn't care as he is happy with me, so really I'm just trying to be happy with myself for myself.

LOL it's so pathetically stupid!

I've loved myself/been content being bigger than I currently am in years past but I've taken a mental health dive regarding my self esteem as it seems I'll never be what I wish to be.

It's funny. I see normal people or overweight people, or people that are objectively less attractive, and think they are wonderful/beautiful/just right the way they are but I see myself and think 'yuck'.

I guess this has turned into a pity party.

Any ladies here struggled with their bodies changing and adjusting your mentality to be fine with yourself?

No one who knows me besides my husband would have any clue I care at all about these things. I present as an accomplished, productive, confident, arguably attractive, sweet woman and excellent mother to all I know in real life. In my brain I am vicious to myself, never good enough.

I will say I'm extremely careful about not being negative in front of my kids. They have great self esteem and confidence in themselves because I've gone above and beyond to break the cycle of self esteem issues I've inherited from my mother, who is slender and lovely even at 60 but complained about being overweight my whole life. She's 5'8" and 130 lbs 😑
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Of those 30 pounds, somewhere around 5 to 10 is likely water, so the genuine loss of fat plus lean tissue is closer to 20-25 lbs across 14 weeks — roughly 1.4 to 1.8 lbs weekly. By most people's reckoning that isn't extreme, and by itself I doubt it's the main problem. A better signal that you're overdoing it is probably just feeling awful, though even that isn't fully trustworthy, since losing weight can leave you tired and drained on its own, and your body trimming energy use to put the brakes on further loss doesn't exactly improve matters.

For the most part, what GLP medications do better than anything else is hold onto weight loss over the long haul — provided you stay on them. And they manage that with very little required of you: 1 injection per week. Sure, moving your body and eating well are wise choices whether you're losing, maintaining, or neither, but the drugs keep working either way. That low effort matters precisely because it's what makes long-term success possible. Without it, both losing weight and keeping it off are grueling, and far more prone to collapse. The upside of GLP-based loss over a typical diet is that after you reach your goal, there's a strong likelihood you can stay there as long as you continue the medication.

Which is a roundabout way of saying that any health intervention meant to last has to be something you can live with, since people eventually quit what's too punishing. That holds true while you're still losing, too.

So if you're feeling like trash, it may be some mix of running on fewer calories than your body wants plus tirzepatide's effects. You didn't say anything about nausea as a side effect? Malaise can come along with it as a side effect too, which might be causing or adding to the fatigue, as could eating less and how your body reacts to that. Untangling long-term fatigue when autoimmune disease is in the picture is close to impossible. I have some familiarity there — roughly 40% of people with ulcerative colitis deal with ongoing pain and fatigue even during "remission," myself included. And sadly, this is a corner of medicine with essentially no genuinely effective treatments and not even a solid grasp of what drives it.

Since you're finding it hard to get in enough calories and protein to feel OK, lowering the dose is likely wise. It could let you eat a little more and feel better from that, and it might also help if part of what you're dealing with is side effects — fatigue being one of tirz's side effects.

If you've recently dropped 3.5 lbs over 3 weeks, that's genuinely fine — about 530g/week (apologies, I tend to think in metric) or a 4000 kcal/week deficit. Not extreme. Still, it sounds a lot like your body is asking you to back off a little, and trimming the dose to slow the loss could help you feel better and make this more sustainable over time. And if you do start feeling better, you can always nudge the dose back up later.

Pushing the dose higher here is a bit like treating this as a diet and grinding for faster short-term results, but it's quite likely to leave you feeling worse in the meantime. As it stands you're already at or past the halfway point to your target, and if you stay on the GLP's, you may never need to do this again — so taking a bit longer to cover the remaining distance isn't such a bad trade. At your present rate of 1.16 lbs/week, another 25 pounds would take 21 more weeks, but realistically things will slow as you approach target: energy expenditure falls with lower mass, and metabolic adaptation to reduced intake will slow it further over time. So somewhere between 5 and maybe even 12 months — meaning making the process tolerable is worthwhile even if it stretches things out. However you do it, this is a long road, and it really matters to celebrate and feel good about hitting small or partial milestones, like getting halfway to your target. I certainly had to look at it that way as I went slowly from 145kg down to 65kg.
 
amosmylove said:

5byfive said:

When I started Tirz, I hit that first round of tiredness that many others get, though it faded within about a week. It took some time before I noticed my energy was still below what it once was. I lowered the Tirz a little and introduced some Reta, and my energy feels a lot closer to normal now. I'm in maintenance rather than trying to lose, but your scenario doesn't sound all that different. Since you aren't close to the max dose, stacking could be worth considering. Just something you might want to mull over.
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When you stacked reta with tirz, what was your starting dose? I'm planning to take 1mg this evening.
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I took my Tirz down from.4.5 to 3 and put in a 1mg of reta. I'd planned on 3.5 and 1, but with the half-life I went a little lower and then came back up. More energy is the only difference I've noticed. I'd expected suppression to fade or resting heart rate to rise, and neither did. I susp3ct you may need to swap 1.5 to 2mg with your dose — though obviously it's all guesswork at this stage. Hope it goes well, and I really want to hear the results.
 
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