I'm 48 and Lost 40+ Pounds on Mounjaro and Here's What I Wish I Knew Sooner

Losing a significant amount of weight is an incredibly personal journey. From workouts and nutrition to daily wellness practices, it's essential to establish the right approach that works for your body and needs. It can also serve as endless motivation hearing success stories from those who have already been there, done that, and achieved their goal weight. We spoke with 48-year-old Allison Rankin with MyCompanionBox who lost more than 40 pounds while taking Mounjaro/Zepbound. She shares four key things she wishes she knew before starting a GLP-1.

Rankin learned the power of protein during her weight-loss journey. This essential nutrient is key for building and preserving muscle while losing a significant amount of weight. After all, muscle loss is a common side effect of taking GLP-1s.

"A normal day of eating is about one cup of cottage cheese in the morning, along with electrolytes and collagen," Rankin tells us. "For lunch, half a sandwich (extra meat for protein) and some sort of veggie—and for dinner, a hamburger (no bun because I don't have stomach space for it) or chicken tenders, chicken breast, other types of meat with light veggies. Possibly a protein shake included."

Another crucial aspect of maintaining muscle? Performing regular resistance training, whether that be with free weights, resistance bands, or a combination of both.

Rankin also stresses the importance of consuming enough calories.

"I probably went from 3,000 [calories] a day to 60 and should have been at a safer number for sustained loss," she says.

In addition, you may be surprised to learn that you could experience hair loss on GLP-1s—something that caught Rankin by surprise.

Here's a summary:

1. Consume sufficient protein.
2. Eat enough calories.
3. Perform heavy weight training to avoid muscle loss.
4. You may potentially experience hair loss.

Rankin explored countless avenues before turning to a GLP-1. "I had tried just about everything, from over the counter weight-loss pills at the pharmacy to Alli, phentermine, Contrave and metformin for medications and calorie restriction, exercise, Atkins, paleo, juice cleanses and intermittent fasting to lose weight," Rankin shares. "I went on some medications after my father passed that caused some quick weight gain and I was beside myself because nothing would work."
She started taking Mounjaro/Zepbound when it first hit the market and has now been on it for more than three years. Rankin lost 40+ pounds—dropping from 190 to 140, and has successfully maintained her weight at 150 pounds.

Rankin experienced reactions to certain medications she's taken in the past, so she was a bit guarded going into her GLP-1 journey.

"I was wary going in because I've had reactions to other medications (heart palpitations etc) that were too scary to ignore. I was afraid the meds really wouldn't do anything, and I'd be in the same boat," she tells us. "Boy, was I wrong. From the first dose, I began to 'easily' lose weight (it came off quickly for me). After about six to eight months, I was at my goal weight!"

The most challenging roadblock Rankin experienced was eating even when she wasn't hungry in order to get her fill of nutrients.

"For someone who's struggled with food noise their entire life it was amazing to not be hungry and I leaned into that for a while before I realized too few calories was hurting my weight loss (and muscle tone)," she says.

Curious what else GLP-1 drugs can do? Here's 5 Surprising Health Benefits of GLP-1 Drugs That Have Nothing to Do With Weight Loss.