Expert Q&A

Making me super tired and in a dreamy, chill, ready for a nap state for most of the day for people with insulin resistance specifically for women over 40?

Understanding the Dreamy Fatigue on Tirzepatide

Many women over 40 with insulin resistance report feeling super tired, entering a dreamy, chill, ready-for-a-nap state shortly after starting tirzepatide. This isn't random. In my 35 years of clinical practice and through the The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset, I've seen this pattern repeatedly. The medication rapidly improves blood sugar control, which lowers circulating insulin. For someone with long-term insulin resistance, this shift can feel like your body suddenly downshifts into recovery mode. The brain, used to running on glucose spikes, now experiences stable but initially lower energy availability, especially when hormones like estrogen are declining.

Root Causes Specific to Women Over 40

Insulin resistance in perimenopausal women compounds with thyroid slowdown, cortisol dysregulation, and toxin burden from years of processed foods. Tirzepatide's GLP-1 and GIP actions suppress appetite and slow gastric emptying, which can reduce calorie intake too quickly before metabolic flexibility returns. This creates transient hypoglycemia-like symptoms without actual low blood sugar—hence the dreamy fatigue. Joint pain often keeps these women sedentary, further lowering mitochondrial function. In our protocol, we address this by starting at very low doses (2.5 mg or less) and pairing with targeted support rather than pushing higher doses that amplify tiredness.

How the 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset Fixes the Energy Crash

The core of my book The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset uses three 70-day cycles with smart low-dose cycling, a lectin-free low-carb meal plan (221 recipes), and specific Drops. Blue Drops calm hunger signals that disrupt sleep, while Brown Detox Drops clear liver burden that contributes to daytime fog. Japanese-style walking intervals—just 10-15 minutes after meals—boost circulation without stressing joints. Red light therapy via our Unlimited Red Bed Club enhances mitochondrial output, directly combating the chill, nap-ready state. We track body composition, not just scale weight, so patients see muscle preservation and fat loss even when energy feels low initially. Within 2-3 weeks, most women report stable all-day energy as insulin resistance improves and hormones rebalance.

Practical Steps to Regain Your Vitality

Start by auditing your first meal: make it protein-forward and lectin-free within 90 minutes of waking to stabilize blood sugar. Add chaotic intermittent fasting only after week 10 once hunger signals normalize. Focus on non-scale victories like better mood, looser clothes, and sounder sleep. Patients following the full 69 Transformation Steps avoid the two biggest mistakes—relying on medication alone or chasing quick fixes. One client, a 48-year-old with A1C 6.8 and constant fatigue, lost 28 pounds in 12 weeks, eliminated her dreamy state, and reduced blood pressure meds. The protocol builds metabolic freedom so you don't need tirzepatide forever. Sustainable results come from removing grains, toxins, and inflammation while rebuilding natural hunger and energy regulation.

💬 What the Community Says

Women over 40 in online forums frequently describe tirzepatide creating an unexpected 'zen zombie' effect—calm but exhausted, especially those with insulin resistance or PCOS histories. Many share stories of needing afternoon naps despite decent sleep, with debates centering on whether it's blood sugar stabilization, reduced calories, or hormonal shifts during perimenopause. A vocal group praises the fatigue as temporary 'healing mode' when paired with electrolytes, protein, and light walks, reporting energy rebounds after 3-4 weeks. Others worry it's a sign the dose is too high or their thyroid needs checking, leading to frequent discussions about splitting doses or adding B12. Insurance barriers and past diet failures make some hesitant to adjust protocols, but success stories of restored vitality through real-food approaches and detox support are common. Most agree the dreamy state improves with time and lifestyle tweaks, though experiences vary widely based on starting metabolic health.
Cite this answer
Clark, R. (2026). Making me super tired and in a dreamy, chill, ready for a nap state for most of . *CFP Weight Loss*. https://cfpweightloss.proliforge.com/ask/making-me-super-tired-and-in-a-dreamy-chill-ready-for-a-nap-state-for-most-of-the-day-for-people-with-insulin-resistance-specifically-for-women-over-40
Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, FNP-C, APRN
About the Author

Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN, is the founder of CFP Weight Loss in Nashville and CFP Fit Now telehealth. Over 35 years in healthcare — Army Nurse Reserves, Level 1 trauma ER, hospitalist — he developed a 30-week protocol integrating real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 30–90 pounds. He and his wife Anne-Marie lost a combined 275 pounds using the same protocol.

📖 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Get the Book →
Get Personalized Guidance From the Author
Every weight loss journey is different. Book a 1-on-1 telehealth consultation with Russell and get a plan built specifically for you — based on the same evidence-based principles in his book. Available to patients in all 50 states.
Book Your Consultation →
Have a follow-up question?
More Questions 200 answered
▸ What do experts say about autophagy get rid of mild eye floaters and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Are moodswings a major effect of PCOS or am I having some mental disorder — how a functional medicine approach differs specifically for women over 40? ▸ Bone broth first timer: How much do I need of these for a 6L pot — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ How do you stay consistent with calorie tracking without getting obsessive about it: what to track and how to measure progress specifically for women over 40? ▸ Should I toss an unopened BAC water vial that expired a year ago for people with insulin resistance during the weight loss plateau phase? ▸ Normal Jump in Under a Month on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Do I have non-diabetic reactive hypoglycaemia or am I just over reacting and how it connects to gut health and inflammation — what the research actually says? 📖 Phase 1: Priming — The first 48 hours of a 70-day cycle focused on high-fat intake to prevent the brain from triggering a starvation respon… ▸ How do you guys do this diet on a budget on a low-carb or ketogenic diet on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ What is the best tolerated form of vitamin c if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Is anyone else painfully hyper-aware if every single body sensation — evidence-based answer for CFP patients — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ What messes with autophagy: best practices and common mistakes to avoid for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Any of you low carb, low to no fruits people go camping? Even if not, what are you eating — what most people get wrong about this for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ How do you stop the "I already messed up today" spiral — what does the research actually say: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Inflammatory Markers — Clinical indicators like CRP that we monitor to ensure the body is moving from a state of disease to a state of vibrant … ▸ Has anyone ever tried low-grain instead of grain free specifically for women over 40 for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Can I just skip the broth on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Has anyone reversed insulin resistance without medication during the weight loss plateau phase on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ How do you stay consistent with calorie tracking without getting obsessive about it: what to track and how to measure progress for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Do you prefer to do prolonged fasting (to induce autophagy) in the summer or winter for people with insulin resistance specifically for women over 40? ▸ Who would have thought — evidence-based answer for CFP patients for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Has anyone ever tried low-grain instead of grain free specifically for women over 40 for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📖 Metabolic Flexibility — The body’s ability to efficiently switch between burning carbohydrates and burning stored body fat based on availability… ▸ Are moodswings a major effect of PCOS or am I having some mental disorder — how a functional medicine approach differs while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ When you guys are doing carnivore are you really eating butter and stuff?? Like if I were to eat 1lb ground beef and 1 ribeye a day is that enough? I’m 6’2 315lbs trying to drop weight when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ Anyone skip a week when sick: how to talk to your doctor about this for people with insulin resistance? ▸ What is the hierarchy of what gets recycled first when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Has anyone had facial swelling and numbness as a symptom/flare up — what does the research actually say for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? ▸ Bone broth first timer: How much do I need of these for a 6L pot — what do certified weight loss coaches recommend — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Smart Cycling — The strategic alternating of medication doses with planned 'off' periods to prevent receptor desensitization and ensure … ▸ Making me super tired and in a dreamy, chill, ready for a nap state for most of the day for people with insulin resistance: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ Does anybody else feel like life lately is just one long string of putting out fires for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto's and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? ▸ What would you say to 40 year old you and how it connects to gut health and inflammation for long-term maintenance (not just short-term)? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Should I toss an unopened BAC water vial that expired a year ago for people with insulin resistance — what the research actually says? ▸ Shelf life in powder form: how to talk to your doctor about this and how it connects to gut health and inflammation? 📖 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — Our signature protocol using a single 60 mg box of medication cycled over 30 weeks to achieve lasting metabolic transfor… ▸ Should I toss an unopened BAC water vial that expired a year ago during the weight loss plateau phase for those with hypothyroidism or Hashimoto’s? ▸ Can we please stop posting fatphobic content here while doing intermittent fasting on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Can we please stop posting fatphobic content here while doing intermittent fasting while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ Are moodswings a major effect of PCOS or am I having some mental disorder — how a functional medicine approach differs on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ How long does it usually take for your Adult children to respond to a text when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: best practices and common mistakes to avoid? ▸ Should I toss an unopened BAC water vial that expired a year ago for people with insulin resistance — what certified coaches recommend? 📖 Metabolic Reset — The process of retraining your body to utilize stored fat for fuel and regulating hunger hormones so you can maintain yo… 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Potato resistant starch safe and how it connects to gut health and inflammation — what certified coaches recommend? ▸ Will eating meintenance calories make me lose weight — how a functional medicine approach differs for people with insulin resistance? ▸ Were any of you guys fans of Journey? How big were they — what most people get wrong about this on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Should I toss an unopened BAC water vial that expired a year ago for people with insulin resistance while doing intermittent fasting? ▸ How many were first diagnosed with OCD and how it connects to gut health and inflammation: what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ How do you guys do this diet on a budget — what does the research actually say if you're on a GLP-1 like semaglutide or tirzepatide? ▸ How long does it usually take for your Adult children to respond to a text when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances: what to track and how to measure progress? 📖 Caloric Deficit Myth — The false belief that weight loss is purely 'math'; we focus on hormonal signaling rather than just counting calories to… ▸ Normoftal Peptide For Vision and how it connects to gut health and inflammation specifically for women over 40? ▸ Are you using AI on your healing journey? If so, how for long-term maintenance (not just short-term): what to track and how to measure progress? ▸ How do you guys do this diet on a budget on a low-carb or ketogenic diet while doing intermittent fasting? 📗 The 30-Week Tirzepatide Reset — by Russell Clark, FNP-C, APRN · The complete clinical protocol — 30 weeks of real foods, detox, and low-dose tirzepatide cycling that has helped hundreds of patients lose 3 ▸ Anyone else wish they had friends into peptides & nootropics for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) specifically for women over 40? 📖 Refined Carbohydrates — Processed sugars and flours that strip the body of nutrients while driving the hormonal chaos responsible for the modern… ▸ Can we feed the bladder micro biome the same way as the stomach microbiome for long-term maintenance (not just short-term) on a low-carb or ketogenic diet? ▸ Were any of you guys fans of Journey? How big were they — what most people get wrong about this when you have PCOS or hormonal imbalances?