Day one

[kaahhllll]

Hello, I finally received my products and reconstituted my first vial today. This is my first time with any injectable, aside from trying out HCG like 15 years ago when that was the craze, however I did maybe two injections before stopping.

32m, 5'11" 299.8lbs at 44.2% body fat(according to a scale that measures body composition, as well as my Galaxy Watch). My goal is to lose 80-100lbs, but I will be strength training and weight lifting throughout. My true goal is to get below 25% body fat at any weight.

I took my first dose about 30 minutes ago. I decided to do 0.5mg for the first two weeks and see how I feel and what results I see, where I will decide if i will stay at 0.5mg or bump up to 1.0mg for week 3 and repeat moving forward. I'm experiencing no discomfort and no reaction in the pin site, so that's a relief!

I was just wanting to get some first hand experience stories. After your first injection, when did you begin to notice anything, if you did feel anything? If you had any side effects, how long after? When did you begin noticing less food noise, or have a lowered appetite?

I'm looking for your first time ever using this family of injectables- GLP1's, but also from your first time using reta specifically. Thanks!

 

[aquis]

Reta has been my first GLP and I started feeling some appetite supression on day 4 after my first pin. After the first pin it has been steady on days 1-5 after injection. But I did start out on a higher dose (2.5) than you.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

Day 3-4 to notice any change, go low and slow. Easier to tolerate and less chance of problems.

 

[kaahhllll]

Day 3-4 to notice any change, go low and slow. Easier to tolerate and less chance of problems.

Thank you, I am wanting to stay as low of dose as possible, for as long as possible. Why I chose to start at 0.5mg

 

[Skidude]

I found the first month amazing... but I had mentally committed to change and the GLP-1 (tirz) made it so much easier.

 

[PackmanJohnny]

What was the craze about HCG?

I know with anabolics its a popular PCT option, was it touted for weight loss or anything besides hormone stability?

Ive never heard of it used for anything besides that and its actual medical applications lol

 

[kaahhllll]

What was the craze about HCG?

I know with anabolics its a popular PCT option, was it touted for weight loss or anything besides hormone stability?

Ive never heard of it used for anything besides that and its actual medical applications lol

Back in like 2010, people were using HCG along with a calorie deficit to "burn stored fat". Supposedly it "turned on your fat burning". Didn't take me long to realize that it was only the calorie deficit that was causing people to lose weight. And then studies from Mayo clinic and a few other places stated it had no effect on fat burning/weight loss. I worked in a small family doctor's office, and the Dr was big into it. Tried it, along with the rest of the office, noticed nothing, stopped it.

 

[kaahhllll]

Day two update.

I'm not sure if it's the "placebo effect" or if I'm already feeling the effects, but I never felt hungry today. I felt a bit  snackish this morning, browsed the vending machine at work, and walked away with a bottle of water.

Knowing I needed some form of sustenance, I grabbed a meal replacement shake from One Stop on my lunch break. For dinner I had a carnivore style meal consisting of a couple of Whopper patties and a crispy chicken breast from BK(convenience). My typical calorie intake lately was 3k or more, and today I barely hit 1700. All while having no cravings, only eating due to necessity.

I know daily weight doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme, but I'm down 4.2lbs in 24 hours to 295.6. I'm excited to see what my one week weigh in will be.

 

[AndyPanda]

I really don’t understand why people are starting on Retatrutide. You have nowhere to go once you max it out, with the exception of adding Cagri.

 

[kaahhllll]

I really don’t understand why people are starting on Retatrutide. You have nowhere to go once you max it out, with the exception of adding Cagri.

For me, I compared a lot of experience stories with all of the current options. It was the lesser of evils across the board for side effects

 

[NUFC200289]

What was the craze about HCG?

I know with anabolics its a popular PCT option, was it touted for weight loss or anything besides hormone stability?

Ive never heard of it used for anything besides that and its actual medical applications lol

Think he may have been mixed up with HGH which is well known to help with fat loss, and a few other things

 

[PackmanJohnny]

I really don’t understand why people are starting on Retatrutide. You have nowhere to go once you max it out, with the exception of adding Cagri.

I dont plan on being on these forever. I ran a few sample packs of Ozempic I got from a doctor who gave me extra because I pretended like I was gonna pay him 1100$/month for it, I dont remember the exact dosage, 4 or 5 pens worth. It was cool to not be hungry, but I already take Adderall for ADD and dont have a snack/hunger problem, and my A1C is actually within range on my bloods. Also not a fan of some of the long term sides Ive seen from Sema (tirz seems ok).

Reta is attractive because of the GCGR agonist and Im SUPER interested in the liver fatty acid release/reduction in FLD risk I read in a study. if I was ONLY interested in straight up weight loss by any means necessary Id stick to Tesa/GH. I have a lot of muscle I want to retain and am in a place in life where Im just not training much and have accepted that - Thats really the only reason a GLP-1 looks super attractive to me.

Think he may have been mixed up with HGH which is well known to help with fat loss, and a few other things

GH is the real deal - Wish I could afford to be on it permanently and plan to one day. My experience was life changing. Only second to Test as far as quality of life increase lol

 

[tul9033]

Think he may have been mixed up with HGH which is well known to help with fat loss, and a few other things

The "HCG diet" was a thing 10 years ago. Of course you'll lose weight if you restrict your calories to 500! I though it was a scam that hormone replacement clinics were doing to attract women.

The HCG diet is a weight-loss program that combines a very low-calorie diet (typically 500-800 calories per day) with supplemental human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), a hormone naturally produced during pregnancy. The diet is divided into three phases: loading, weight loss, and maintenance.

 

[aquis]

I really don’t understand why people are starting on Retatrutide. You have nowhere to go once you max it out, with the exception of adding Cagri.

For me it was reading too many people complaining about fatigue on Tirz. I liked the appetite reduction reports but I want to stay away from anything making feel sluggish or lazy. So far no sides 5 weeks into Reta. So far so good, but time will tell if it was the correct choice for me.

 

[Calm Logic]

I really don’t understand why people are starting on Retatrutide. You have nowhere to go once you max it out, with the exception of adding Cagri.

One can always read every post by @Super Trips for aggressive stacks and dosages:

I dose off of 2 things
feel of the drug working on food noise and food intake or wanting to eat.
how much are my symptoms and how they affect me.

Ive never really went off a dosing chart yet

Reta + Survo + Cagri stacked is like a super power I have been stacking this for a few weeks
reta 8mg survo 1mg and cagri 2-3 mg every few days besides the reta every 5-7 days
I'm going to try this stack for a month or 2 and see what happens.

cagri gives me the runs more than survo clogging me up.
i think 1mg of survo is ok but i have gone as high as 3mg every 3-4 days on a stack
cagri is how much you can handle the side effects i did a whole 5mg in 48hrs just to see what would happen but i do 2.5 as a normal dose on a stack

 

[AndyPanda]

One can always read every post by @Super Trips for aggressive stacks and dosages:

They are going to fry their receptors.

 

[Calm Logic]

On that note, it seems an occasional break or reduction could provide "receptor resensitization":

While desensitization and downregulation can occur, these are typically reversible processes. There's no evidence to suggest that high doses of these medications cause permanent, irreversible damage to the receptors themselves that would render them dysfunctional indefinitely.

An occasional break or reduction in dosage of medications like Retatrutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists can be helpful for several reasons, primarily related to receptor dynamics and side effect management.

Here's a breakdown:

1. Receptor Resensitization (Reversing Desensitization/Downregulation)​

As discussed, prolonged and continuous activation of receptors by a drug (especially at higher doses) can lead to:

• Desensitization: The receptors become less responsive to the drug, even when it's present. Think of it like a sound system that's been playing too loud for too long – you might not notice the subtle changes in volume anymore.
  
  
• Downregulation: The number of receptors on the cell surface decreases.2 The body essentially pulls some of the "listening stations" inside the cell or reduces their production because they're constantly being bombarded.

How a Break Helps:

By taking a break or reducing the dose, you give the receptors a chance to "recover."

• Clearance of Agonist: The drug levels in your body decrease.
• Receptor Recycling/Resynthesis: The body can then recycle internalized receptors back to the cell surface and/or produce new ones, increasing the overall number of available receptors.
• Restoration of Sensitivity: The receptors that were desensitized can regain their normal responsiveness.

What this means for the patient:

When the medication is reintroduced (or the dose is increased again), the receptors might be more sensitive, meaning the drug could potentially have a stronger or more effective impact at a lower dose, or the initial dose might be more potent than it was before the break. This can be particularly useful if a plateau in efficacy is reached.

2. Side Effect Management​

This is often the most common and practical reason for a dose reduction or temporary break. GLP-1 receptor agonists, especially at higher doses, can cause significant gastrointestinal side effects like:3

• Nausea
  
  
• Vomiting
  
  
• Diarrhea
  
  
• Constipation
  
  
• Abdominal pain

How a Break/Reduction Helps:

• Allows Adaptation: A lower dose or a temporary break gives the body time to adapt to the medication and its effects.
• Reduces Severity: By reducing the drug's presence or concentration, the intensity of these side effects can lessen, improving patient comfort and adherence.
• Titration Strategy: Healthcare providers often use a "start low, go slow" approach (titration) with these medications. If side effects become intolerable, they might advise holding a dose or reducing to the previous dose for a period, allowing the patient to stabilize before attempting to increase again.

3. Assessing Necessity and Individual Response​

• Re-evaluation: A planned "drug holiday" (always under medical supervision) can help a doctor assess if the medication is still necessary or if lifestyle changes have progressed to a point where a lower dose or even discontinuation might be considered.
• Individual Variability:Everyone responds to medications differently.8 Some people might be more prone to side effects or receptor desensitization than others. A break allows for a more personalized assessment of the drug's ongoing impact.

Important Considerations:​

• Medical Supervision is CRITICAL: Never make changes to your medication regimen (including taking breaks or reducing doses) without consulting your healthcare provider.
  
  Stopping GLP-1 agonists, especially for conditions like diabetes or obesity, can lead to:
  • Weight regain: Most people experience a return of appetite and weight.
  • Blood sugar elevation: For those with diabetes, blood sugar control will likely worsen.
  • Return of other symptoms: Benefits like appetite suppression and improved metabolic markers will diminish.
  • Rebound side effects: When restarting after a break, side effects like nausea and vomiting can return, sometimes even more intensely, requiring another slow titration.
• Risk vs. Benefit: The decision to take a break or reduce a dose is a careful balance of the potential benefits (receptor resensitization, side effect relief) against the risks (return of symptoms, weight regain, rebound side effects upon restarting).

In essence, an occasional break or reduction is a strategic tool in a healthcare provider's arsenal to fine-tune treatment, manage adverse effects, and maintain long-term efficacy and patient adherence to these important medications.