First time stalling on 5mg tirzepatide after 15 weeks – should I increase?

Almost every post like yours gets told to increase. Or else people on these meds start talking about dialing in macros like that will fix things long term. So I say increase.

I do not know the trial data, but eleven weeks on the same dose seems long enough. Most guidance says to stay at a new dose for at least four weeks to let it build up. You are well past that. It sounds like you already know your body and habits, so go ahead.

If the goal is dropping from 88 kg down to 53-55 kg that is a 33 kg loss, roughly 37.5 percent of starting weight. There is little chance of reaching that on 5 mg of tirz. There is no real evidence that the speed of dose increases changes the final amount lost, so holding back now to save room for later increases does not hold up. Going up slowly only makes sense for managing side effects. If a low dose still controls hunger and gives decent loss then there is no need to raise it. As weight comes off, daily energy use drops and hunger tends to rise, so it is normal for the drug to feel less effective after a while because the deficit shrinks. The current stall could just be fluid changes rather than a real one, though 12 percent loss might be the most 5 mg can deliver. To lose anywhere near 37.5 percent you will probably need at least 15 mg per week.

It sounds like your body has adjusted to the 5 mg dose. If it were me I would go up to the next dose.

Before switching to reta I took tirz every five days to avoid rebound hunger toward the end of the week. For example 5 mg every five days equals 7 mg per week.

I am in the minority here, the start-low-and-go-slow group. I would not call two weeks a stall. At the same time, if food noise is getting to you then more medication may be needed. First though, think about how long you have been in a deficit. Could your body use a short break? I sometimes stretch my dose interval to see when the noise returns and eat a bit more before that point, something the body does not expect. That can sometimes restart loss. Anything under a month is probably just adjustment and water holding. Changing foods, water intake, or exercise can help too. I have been on tirz since December and am now at 1.5 mg tirz plus 1.5 mg reta, planning to drop both to 1 mg at the next longer interval.

Two weeks flat after moving the injection day can just be water, so I would not treat that alone as proof you need more. Food noise returning hard after months of quiet is the stronger signal though. I am still on tirz and like staying at the lowest dose that keeps the noise quiet, so if it stays another week or so I would nudge up rather than keep fighting cravings.

I say give it some more time. Your body will sometimes hold onto weight through extra water retention from stress, both mental and from the weight loss itself. Try extra rest or a day off from activity and allow yourself a treat or special meal. You might be surprised how well it works. For example I have been trying to add muscle slowly and went up 10 lb over 14 weeks without a real deload. After an easy week at 60 percent effort plus massage and red light I dropped three of those pounds even while in a slight surplus. Being in a steep deficit puts even more stress on the body.

If you do not want to jump an entire dose, consider pinning every six days.

I found the suggestions helpful though what follows is simply my personal experience. Following fifteen weeks where I dropped about eight hundred grams each week I hit an initial plateau just like yours and it really bothered me. After some rash reactions I settled down and stayed on five milligrams examined my food intake more closely which showed I was undereating so I added more protein sources for roughly seven days after which I dropped an extra two kilograms quickly. I've chosen to continue with five milligrams for eight additional weeks before considering an increase.

Appreciate the note! No hurry on my end since days move forward regardless. I'll stick with the shots until hitting upkeep level once my target is met. Others have dropped much greater amounts than me on this med, leaving me quite hopeful 🤭. Weight training starts once I hit the bottom sixties or top fifties.