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I Gained 30 Pounds After Stopping Zepbound. Was It All Fat?

Matt Fjerstad

5,968 views

RENPHO MorphoScan Nova Body Composition Scale:
https://lvnta.com/lv_hbYj7YIitrCrnNwm0B

This video is sponsored by RENPHO. All opinions are my own. I earn a commission if you purchase through my link, at no extra cost to you.

After losing more than 100 pounds, watching the scale climb again is a little terrifying. Since stopping Zepbound, my weight reached almost 30 pounds above my lowest. The food noise is back, and some old habits are getting harder to ignore.

But I’m also stronger, and my body looks different than the last time I weighed this much. So how much of that gain is fat, muscle, or everything else—and am I getting too good at explaining it away?

In this video, I’m sharing what changed after stopping Zepbound, the mental struggle of maintaining weight loss, what I’m changing now, and whether I’m going back on a GLP-1.

I don’t have a finished transformation to show you today. This is the part where I’m figuring out how to keep the progress I worked so hard for.

What’s been harder for you: losing the weight or maintaining it? Let me know in the comments.

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Check the dates for the offer available when you purchase. Body-composition readings are estimates; I’m using them as additional context for tracking my progress going forward.

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20 Comments

@mattfjerstad Creator 3 days ago Pinned

Thanks to RENPHO for sponsoring this video! The scale featured is the RENPHO MorphoScan Nova:
https://lvnta.com/lv_hbYj7YIitrCrnNwm0B

2026 discount schedule:

• 10% OFF — ZUCEJIXS: September 15, 12:01 AM PDT through October 4, 11:59 PM PDT.
• 5% OFF — O7T4H782: August 31 through October 5; ends October 5 at 11:59 PM.
• 20% OFF on Amazon — October 6–7, applied on the product page. No code needed.
• 10% OFF — 8UYPG5YZ: October 8, 12:01 AM PDT through October 28, 11:59 PM PDT.

I earn a commission from purchases through my link, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.

What’s been harder for you: losing the weight or maintaining it?

@whatandwhy81 2 days ago

I appreciate how honest you are about the mental side of weight loss/dieting/life style changes

@tenorplayer09 1 day ago

I appreciate how upfront and honest you are about the challenges coming off Zepbound. I just finished up losing ~60 pounds using the medication and am transitioning to maintenance so very useful and timely advice for me. I also have used the Renpho Morpho scale and love the amount of information that it presents. Keep up the hard work, love your content. Wish more creators were this transparent about the process.

@mr1derful83 3 days ago

You've got the right attitude! Thanks for being so transparent and honest with yourself. I've been on the same road and keep this profile picture as a reminder of where I was 9 years ago. Be well, Matt

@charlesmarsh279 2 days ago

I completely understand your frustration. It is overwhelming.

@gbohnert 2 days ago (edited)

Thanks man. I have a very similar path , thoughts, and lifestyle change.....and scale

@theglp1athlete 15 hours ago

Congratulations bro... We should do a collaboration workout video together💪🏾

@WalkWitMeNYC 1 day ago

3:15 😂

@TravisLR 2 days ago (edited)

Matt: ive lost 127 on ZB, from 270 to 143. Id really like to be in the mid 150s, but know that is something that wilk take a couple years without gaining fat or playing the bulk/cut game. Ive reduced ZB from high of 10mg dose to 5mg and will probably go down to 2.5(price is certainly playing a part there). Im not confident enough, yet, to go off completely. I do track everything still i cluding BIA scale daily (sorry, not Renpho MS...but I know it is good option). Dude, you do what makes you happy. You are too smart to let yourself go somewhere you dont want to...returning to ZB or not. Best of luck.

@robertbehrendt8685 2 days ago

Thanks for that very open and honest video. I started today with Mounjaro and I will try to anticipate these kind of problems after reaching my aims. Yes, it may be, that I am not able to get complete off Mounjaro and will have to take a low maintenance dose.

@barrycooke5693 2 days ago

Start ultra running. Find supportive community that shares in your vision and goals.

@JeepinItReal5x5 2 days ago

I think microdosing tirzepatide for 6 months to a year after hitting your goal weight is a good idea for more people. Just enough to help ease you back into life without glp1s.

@riittap9121 1 day ago

I'm a recovering sugar / carb addict. I can't do moderation at all, for me abstinence is the only way. I'm doing low carb, I don't eat any processed foods, no starchy carbs whatsoever. Early on I did a three day sardine fast. That completely wiped off all of my cravings. I didn't even drink coffee for several months 'cause just didn't feel like it - earlier was addicted to that as well. It only takes a 48-hour fast to reset your dopamine receptors in your brain. After that, you'll find more enjoyment in simple foods and you don't have cravings for that stuff that is not good for you. If you can't fast for 48 hours, three days of sardines might help, at least it worked for me.

I don't feel like I need to restrict myself and not to eat icecream. It's just that I no longer crave for it. I feel free, as I don't have to struggle with those cravings. It's just like with alcohol, which I was never much into. It takes no effort not to drink it, as I never feel like drinking it. I hope you'll find your way to this kind of mental space, where junk food feels like 'meh' and you find it easy to treat your body well.

I'm only 7 months into this and while for now, I'm happy eating only whole foods, I don't make it a religion nor consider this kind of eating as a lifetime sentence. But for now, I don't feel safe adding carbs. It's easier to do without than to try if they would get me into a downward spiral I can't stop. For now, I feel fine with the thought of never having sugary treats again.

@JewelNile 2 days ago

The South Park clip!🤣😭🤣😭🤣😭
But to answer your question, it's ALL hard. Losing weight and maintaining that lose equates to around the clock effort. Even in our sleep the body is working and repairing. 😮‍💨

@alloy2005 2 days ago

I ve been on zepbound for 14 months and lost about 80 lbs. i am on small calls deficit 1900 calories. It scares me that if I stop the medication my weight can come back. A have already changed my cloth. Never had side effects. I am on 7.5 mg for most of the time. Thank you for telling your story.

@SJgunguy24 2 days ago

That's rough man. I was put on Ozempic for my diabetes after losing 100 lbs to get my blood sugars under control. I came off after losing another 30 lbs while on it.
My Dr said all of my weight would come back. I honestly don't know what it was but something clicked in my brain. I ended up changing everything I do with my diet and exercise. I lost another 50 lbs after stopping the GLP1 meds. My total weight loss is 185 lbs and it's been 2.5 years since coming off. There's a way to make it stick. I still get some food noise but I really don't crave the carbs anymore. I hope you can find that place that will work for you.

@tanker242 2 days ago (edited)

Hey man, I'm curious how tall you are so I can put things in perspective as I relate with some of your journey. Actually I think I just answered my own question.

@williamschoeningh3721 22 hours ago

I went down 60 pounds in about a year. I went natural so it took me all this time which is about a year and a half to be able to control the cravings. Today I barely have them. People who started GLP 1 when I got started dropped weight way faster but had less muscle. They also got off the GLP1 and went crazy with controlling food. I think what happens is that you are chemically controlling the cravings with GLP1 ad now it all came back. You are looking at about a year to mentally overcome this. I am glad I to9k this route instaid of GLP1 or gastric bypass bacause it help me overcome the menta hurdle.

@ddc2343d 2 days ago (edited)

I hear you on the sweet tooth. I've had a sweet, fatty tooth my whole life. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth right now, but I still love ice cream. I recently got my Ninja Creami out and started experimenting with protein powder. Gotta say, some of them make really good ice cream with crazy high protein. I’ve been trying to keep the base around 250 calories a pint and then add stuff based on cravings. Last night, I made a cookies and cream pint using Quest protein powder, added 4 mini Oreos, and I was super surprised at how close to a blizzard it was. A pint of ice cream for about 330 calories and 53g of protein.

I'm also worried about gaining the weight back. I've decided I'm going to keep taking a dose of it even after I'm done, as long as my insurance will cover it.

@robg7913 2 days ago

Zep gave you the life back that you could never have reached - the underlying metabolic benefits are likely even more powerful (brain health, glycemic response, reduced systemic inflammation) there is ZERO of this recovery attributable to mental weakness - Zep controls the underlying elements that will kill you - why ever consider stopping ?? It is like saying you are stopping insulin as a diabetic - that makes no sense at all - go back on Zep and do all the things you had been doing but know you will be successful forever - it’s worth it for your kids and grandkids - think about your thoughts one day when you have a debilitating disease or event that was totally avoidable