What did @destineesharnae actually say?
She stopped taking Zepbound (tirzepatide) at 7.5mg because the appetite suppression was too aggressive. As an active runner, she felt she couldn't eat enough to fuel her workouts. She's noticed some weight regain since stopping but says it's already coming back down. Her sign-off to other GLP-1 users: "do it up" if it works for you, but it wasn't for her.
This is one of the more honest and self-aware GLP-1 discontinuation videos you'll see on TikTok. She didn't claim the drug was dangerous, she didn't push any alternative product, and she acknowledged that others may thrive on it. The core reasoning, that severe appetite suppression is a real side effect that can interfere with athletic performance and basic nutrition, is medically legitimate and worth taking seriously.
Does the science back this up?
Yes, in meaningful ways. Severe appetite suppression on GLP-1 receptor agonists, especially dual GIP/GLP-1 agonists like tirzepatide, is well-documented and can tip from therapeutic into problematic for active individuals who have high caloric demands.
The SURMOUNT-1 trial (Jastreboff et al., 2022, New England Journal of Medicine) showed tirzepatide at 15mg produced average weight loss of 20.9% of body weight, largely driven by dramatic reductions in energy intake. That same mechanism is exactly what she describes: not wanting to eat at all. For a sedentary person with obesity, that might be the goal. For someone logging miles, inadequate caloric intake can impair performance, accelerate muscle loss, and cause fatigue.
Muscle mass loss during GLP-1-driven weight loss is a legitimate concern. Bikou et al. (2023, Obesity Reviews) found that a significant proportion of weight lost on semaglutide was lean mass, not just fat, particularly without resistance training or adequate protein intake. Running without sufficient fueling compounds this risk.
What did they get wrong (or right)?
She got more right than wrong. Her instinct that runners and active people "need the carbs" and calories is correct. Relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is a recognized clinical syndrome, and GLP-1-induced appetite suppression could theoretically push active users into that territory if not carefully managed.
Where she's slightly imprecise: she implies that weight regain after stopping is just her body "fluctuating back to its normal place." That framing undersells what the data actually shows. Wilding et al. (2022, Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism) found that participants regained about two-thirds of their lost weight within one year of stopping semaglutide. The weight rebound after stopping GLP-1 agonists is largely because the drug was doing physiological work her body isn't doing on its own. That's not a character flaw, it's pharmacology. Calling it a "normal place" her body is returning to is partially true but glosses over a real clinical pattern.
She also mentions "micro-doses" as a long-term strategy some people use. There's no strong clinical evidence supporting informal microdosing protocols, and dosing decisions should go through a prescriber, not TikTok.
What should you actually know?
Stopping a GLP-1 agonist is a personal medical decision that should involve your prescriber, not just a week off around Thanksgiving. That said, her underlying reasoning, that severe appetite suppression is a real side effect that can conflict with an active lifestyle, is clinically sound and not talked about enough in GLP-1 content.
If you're a runner or athlete considering tirzepatide or semaglutide, the appetite suppression is not a bug you can just push through. Inadequate fueling during endurance training is a real health risk. A few things worth knowing:
- Tirzepatide is a dual GIP/GLP-1 agonist, which is why appetite suppression tends to be more pronounced than on older GLP-1 drugs alone.
- Dose titration exists for a reason. If 7.5mg was too aggressive, a conversation with the prescribing provider about slowing the titration or holding at a lower dose is legitimate and evidence-supported.
- Weight regain after discontinuation is the norm, not the exception, per published data. Going back to diet and exercise alone is a valid choice, but it should be made with accurate expectations.
- The phrase "going back to the natural way" is not a medical plan. It deserves the same structure, accountability, and professional support as any other weight management approach.