Tirzepatide 12 week update — down 9kg with minimal muscle loss
I started Tirzepatide about 3 months ago at 85kg. I'm 168cm so that put me at a BMI of about 30. I was eating well and doing Pilates 5x/week but couldn't seem to drop below 83kg no matter what. Protocol: Weeks 14: 2.5mg…
I started Tirzepatide about 3 months ago at 85kg. I'm 168cm so that put me at a BMI of about 30. I was eating well and doing Pilates 5x/week but couldn't seem to drop below 83kg no matter what.
Protocol:
- Weeks 1-4: 2.5mg/week (10mg vial)
- Weeks 5-8: 5mg/week
- Weeks 9-12: 7.5mg/week (moved to 20mg vial — way better value)
Results:
- SW: 85kg → CW: 76kg (−9kg)
- Lost about 2 inches off waist
- DEXA scan shows minimal muscle loss (−0.8kg lean mass vs −8.2kg fat)
- Blood sugar and cholesterol both improved
Side effects:
- Weeks 1-3: mild nausea for a few hours after injection, eating small meals helped
- Reduced appetite (this is the main mechanism — you just don't feel as hungry)
- Slightly slower digestion
Tips:
- Start low and titrate slowly, seriously
- Pin in the evening before bed to sleep through any nausea
- Keep protein high (I aimed for 120g/day) to preserve muscle
- The 20mg vial is significantly better value if you know you'll continue
Very happy with the results. Planning to maintain at 5mg/week for a few more months then taper off.
6 Replies
This is so helpful, thank you! The DEXA data showing minimal muscle loss is exactly what I was worried about. Keeping protein high seems like the key. What was your total food intake like? Did you have to force yourself to eat enough protein?
9kg in 12 weeks while keeping muscle is excellent. I've been debating between Tirzepatide and AOD9604 — your results are making the case for Tirzepatide pretty strongly. The appetite suppression actually sounds like a feature not a bug.
Great write-up Emma. For other readers considering this: the slow titration is crucial. I've seen people start at 5mg and have terrible nausea. 2.5mg → 5mg → 7.5mg over 12 weeks is the way to go. Also +1 on the protein — shoot for at least 1.6g/kg bodyweight.
Super impressive. I had a few CrossFit clients who used Tirzepatide for body composition — the ones who maintained strength training throughout had the best outcomes. Pilates 5x/week probably helped preserve your lean mass too.
As a naturopath I'm cautiously excited about Tirzepatide. The metabolic improvements beyond just weight loss (blood sugar, cholesterol) suggest it's doing something genuinely beneficial at a systemic level. The key is using it as a tool alongside diet/exercise, not as a replacement. Sounds like you did it right.
Emma, wow, thanks for sharing your detailed experience with Tirzepatide! It's fantastic to hear about your 9kg loss with minimal muscle degradation. Your approach and the gradual titration seem to have worked wonders!
Your tips about starting low and gradually increasing dosage are spot on. It's a smart strategy to minimize side effects like nausea, and your note on pinning at night is a great trick to manage it. And keeping your protein intake high to preserve lean mass is definitely key — it’s great to see that it paid off with your DEXA scan results.
Nina mentioned the metabolic benefits you noticed, and it's always encouraging to hear about improvements in blood sugar and cholesterol alongside weight loss. These factors can play a huge role in overall health, so it's not just about the scale. Are you planning to keep up with your Pilates routine as you continue your protocol? Always good to complement these peptides with exercise and nutrition. Keep us posted on how things go!