I built my identity around food. Now that GLP-1s removed that, I don’t know who I am anymore.
I’ve been on tirzepatide for 6 months now and the weight loss has been amazing (down 58lbs), but I’m struggling with something I didn’t expect. My entire social life used to revolve around food. I was the person who knew every restaurant in town, who planned friend meetups around trying new places, who brought homemade treats to work every week. Cooking and eating wasn’t just something I did – it was literally my personality.
Now I eat maybe 1000 calories a day and food just doesn’t interest me anymore. I scroll past recipes that would’ve had me running to the kitchen before. My friends still want to do dinner but I sit there picking at a salad feeling like an outsider. I stopped my food blog because what’s the point when nothing tastes that exciting anymore?
The weird part is I’m healthier than ever, my labs are perfect, I feel great physically. But mentally I’m lost. Like who am I if I’m not the foodie friend? What do I even talk about now? Has anyone else dealt with this identity crisis? I know it sounds dramatic but I genuinely feel like I’ve lost a huge part of myself.
Not dramatic at all, I totally get this. I’m 8 months in on semaglutide and went through something similar around month 4. For me it helped to find ONE new thing to get interested in. I started hiking because I actually had the energy for it now. It’s not the same as my old food obsession but at least it gave me something to talk about besides weight loss. Your brain needs time to adjust imo, you’ve literally changed your dopamine patterns.
There’s actually research on this phenomenon. When food has been a primary source of reward and social connection, GLP-1s can create what some psychologists call an “identity vacuum.” I read somewhere that the medications affect more than just appetite – they can dampen reward-seeking behavior in general. That’s why some people benefit from working with a therapist during this transition. Not saying anything is wrong with you, but grief over losing a part of your identity is real and valid. Definitely worth mentioning to your prescriber at your next visit.
god I feel this so hard. I’m only 3 months in but already noticing it. My mom is Italian and Sunday dinners were EVERYTHING to our family. Now I show up and can barely eat half a plate and my relatives act like I’m personally offending them lol. The thing that’s helping me is I still cook, I just cook for others now. I make stuff for my neighbor who just had surgery, or I’ll meal prep for my sister. I get to stay connected to that part of me without having to actually consume everything. Just a thought?
Different perspective here – maybe this is an opportunity? I was similar, my whole identity was wrapped up in being a foodie and honestly it wasn’t serving me well considering I was 287lbs at my highest (45F btw). Yeah there’s grief in letting go of that version of yourself, but there’s also freedom. You’re not losing yourself, you’re becoming someone new. The old you is still in there, just evolving. Give yourself permission to explore who you are beyond food. It’s uncomfortable but that’s where growth happens tbh.