I learned that you shouldn't do this with retatrutide.

[Omxxl]

I wish I had found this when I started. Things I learned the hard way and that you shouldn't do with Retatrutide:

1- Not drinking enough fluids and not including mineral salts and electrolytes. You dehydrate very quickly with Retatrutide.

2- Cutting calories by more than 1000 kcal was crazy, and I lost almost as much muscle as fat. Remember that Retatrutide increases your basal metabolic rate.

3- Not getting enough protein (I always did this correctly, but many people make mistakes). Aim for 2 grams per kilogram of body weight of muscle mass.

4- Starting with very high doses or increasing them too quickly. I was cautious and started with 0.5 mg and then spent 4 weeks on 1 mg.

5- Thinking it's Tirze or Sema; it's not the same at all. Appetite suppression is less pronounced, and Retatrutide works in the long term.

6- Not weight training; this is a very common mistake. I love it, but a lot of people make mistakes here. I think that training, along with protein, is vital for maintaining muscle mass.

7- Thinking that Reta is some kind of magic bullet and that it alone solves everything is wrong. It's not just one tool in a protocol. Monitor your workouts and your diet, and don't skip meals.

What would you add? I'm reading your comments, friends!

 

[tendency]

8 - for some, important to keep the carbs up as well.

 

[yrrdead]

Pretty good list, my only nitpick is with #3.

Completely overblown both for weight loss/glp1s and just in general. For 99.99% not necessary. Also carbs are fine.

 

[Omxxl]

8 - for some, important to keep the carbs up as well.

100% agree! I noticed a big improvement by including more carbs in my diet while maintaining the same deficit.

 

[tendency]

100% agree! I noticed a big improvement by including more carbs in my diet while maintaining the same deficit.

Same here - reta and low carb did not mix well for me.

 

[BNLFL]

I'll vouch for #1. My sodium and chloride came back a little low in recent blood work. I just added sodium by drinking a gatorade/zero daily. I have liquid IV here, but 500mg each. I did two of those one day a little while back and my BP went to 140/89. It's normally 125/72. I normally check it once a week along with HR and O2.

 

[hoochiscrazy]

Is it possible to prevent muscle loss while on reta or is that just part of the bargain with weight loss?

 

[yrrdead]

Is it possible to prevent muscle loss while on reta or is that just part of the bargain with weight loss?

With any serious weight loss there is going to be muscle loss. TANSTAAFL**. You can reduce it with both training and diet. This is going to vary quite a bit from person to person based on all those factors including individual genetics.

**There are ways to avoid muscle loss and even gain muscle during a deficit but that is going to require AAS and all that entails.

 

[Jaylar]

Hey appreciate the post very good information as me and my wife are just waiting are delivery of reta and these tips will be beneficial.

 

[Mr. Blonde]

Is it possible to prevent muscle loss while on reta or is that just part of the bargain with weight loss?

Any time you are in a caloric deficit and losing weight, some will always be muscle. However, eat plenty of protein and strength train. Doing this will minimize the amount of muscle loss.

 

[Omxxl]

Is it possible to prevent muscle loss while on reta or is that just part of the bargain with weight loss?

It's possible with anabolic steroids or HGH, but that's entering a different realm, and we need to consider the side effects. I'm currently on TRT, and it minimizes muscle loss.

 

[chipsandsalsayall]

I appreciate the info in this post. At some point I may make the jump from Tirz to Reta (but Tirz is still doing what it's supposed to do). I'm feeling like this info is applicable to Tirz usage as well. I've been "carb-avoidant" but it sounds like I can relax on that a bit.

 

[Rezwalker]

I learned the hard way too.
I titrated a bit too fast—1 mg for 2 weeks, then 2 mg for 2 weeks. The second week at 2 mg was the tipping point.
I had a lot of GI issues, or it might have been food poisoning from some bad chicken. Either way, it’s been hard to get food in.
I’ll skip my dose today and restart at 1 mg once I can get back to 2,000 calories per day. Losing muscle is out of the question I’ve worked too hard!

 

[Galapagosfit]

alocohol when taking reta, i tried 2 times drinking alcohol . It made my sleep horrible, i was nauseous for almost 3hours. and it was really not that much, 2 drinks the first time, and the second time was like 2-3 beers. I really think i'm done drinking. not worth it.

 

[RosebudFox]

Pretty good list, my only nitpick is with #3.

Completely overblown both for weight loss/glp1s and just in general. For 99.99% not necessary. Also carbs are fine.

Resistance training is the key to building and maintaining muscle. My overall body composition did improve when I started to eat more protein, but I think I was just eating cleaner in general.

 

[Such1943]

People need to remember to simply get up and move. Go out, walk, and enjoy the process of losing weight. Staying sedentary is what got many of us here in the first place, so that habit has to change.

 

[sfkid]

Pretty good list, my only nitpick is with #3.

Completely overblown both for weight loss/glp1s and just in general. For 99.99% not necessary. Also carbs are fine.

If you want to lose FAT, this is ABSOLUTELY the MOST important factor. If you want to lose weight (muscle and fat) then you are correct.
For those that want to do a recomposition ( lose fat, gain or keep muscle) you need to eat a high protein diet or else you will lose muscle. There is no way around this - this is just how a calorie deficit works.

 

[sheilarae74]

All of these things mentioned are 100% my experience. I eat more now, especially carbs, than I have in the past year and I STILL lose 1-2lbs a week. You definitely don't have to starve yourself on reta or titrate up to full dosage quickly or if ever to make it work. You just have to work those muscles and ingest some protein.

 

[deleted.user.16]

All of these things mentioned are 100% my experience. I eat more now, especially carbs, than I have in the past year and I STILL lose 1-2lbs a week. You definitely don't have to starve yourself on reta or titrate up to full dosage quickly or if ever to make it work. You just have to work those muscles and ingest some protein.

Just saying, this is not true for everyone. I absolutely cannot eat more and lose weight (especially carbs). I only lose if I eat way less.

 

[Omxxl]

I see that most people have gone through the same thing, and that is because retatrutide is very different from other GLP-1 inhibitors and completely changed with the glucagon pathway.

 

[Omxxl]

Just saying, this is not true for everyone. I absolutely cannot eat more and lose weight (especially carbs). This is really bad advice imo. If you're struggling to lose weight you should not be eating more.

I think it refers to eating more within a low-calorie diet. I was also a keto or low-carb lover, and with Retatrutide, my body handles carbohydrates completely differently. Now I need them all day long, and I'm still losing fat at a good rate.

 

[5byfive]

Is it possible to prevent muscle loss while on reta or is that just part of the bargain with weight loss?

It is. I put on a good bit of muscle while losing weight. Probably lost about 90lbs of fat and gained 10-15 lbs of muscle. And that's at 50. Confirmed by both Dexa and by substantial increases in strength over time. Here are the keys:

1. High protein diet. At least 1g per pound of body weight a day.

2. Weight loss has to be slow. One of the issues with GLPs, especially Reta, is people lose weight very quickly. Thats good and bad. The faster you lose, the more muscle you lose. Personally, and I may get some hate for this, I think we are going to find that Reta is too effective for most people and that it is best reserved for people that are not successful with Tirz. Everyone is obsessed with more and faster and they lose sight of the downsides.

You probably need to stick to no more than a 500 calorie deficit and you are going to need to track calories. Its a marathon not a race.

3. You need to lift consistently and with good intensity. Really focus on progressive overload. The average person in the gym is not training with enough intensity to gain meaningful muscle, especially not when also losing weight.

4. It really helps to be a new lifter. Newbie gains are a thing and it is easier to build muscle the first year. Or, if you were more muscular in the past, muscle memory is also a thing so it is easier to regain.

It's not easy, but it is doable.

 

[CharlieBrown]

I wish I had found this when I started. Things I learned the hard way and that you shouldn't do with Retatrutide:

1- Not drinking enough fluids and not including mineral salts and electrolytes. You dehydrate very quickly with Retatrutide.

2- Cutting calories by more than 1000 kcal was crazy, and I lost almost as much muscle as fat. Remember that Retatrutide increases your basal metabolic rate.

3- Not getting enough protein (I always did this correctly, but many people make mistakes). Aim for 2 grams per kilogram of body weight of muscle mass.

4- Starting with very high doses or increasing them too quickly. I was cautious and started with 0.5 mg and then spent 4 weeks on 1 mg.

5- Thinking it's Tirze or Sema; it's not the same at all. Appetite suppression is less pronounced, and Retatrutide works in the long term.

6- Not weight training; this is a very common mistake. I love it, but a lot of people make mistakes here. I think that training, along with protein, is vital for maintaining muscle mass.

7- Thinking that Reta is some kind of magic bullet and that it alone solves everything is wrong. It's not just one tool in a protocol. Monitor your workouts and your diet, and don't skip meals.

What would you add? I'm reading your comments, friends!

OK ! With all due respect, you guys are doing your homework/research.

There are a few MD's from USA on Youtube that clearly state what to do and what not to do on Reta. I can't post links but I can mention a couple names just for example:

Dr.Jones, DC
The Visser Podcast / Dr. Richard Visser

It amazes me how many people just jump in without any real knowledge !

There is also ample information online as to what to eat and what not to eat. And I don't mean junk food. Certain foods will cause gastric problems because of Reta's mechanism.

I eat small portions every 2.5 hrs: 1700-1900 calories, 140g protein and 30g fibre each day.
I go to the gym EVERY day !
I go for a walk after lunch and dinner; you HAVE to do this !
I drink a ton of water; peeing every hour....lol

My profile pic is from 2 yrs ago, since then I got much bulkier.
I want to get shredded and I'm well along the way. I lost 15lbs of body fat and muscle definition is just amazing !

 

[yrrdead]

If you want to lose FAT, this is ABSOLUTELY the MOST important factor. If you want to lose weight (muscle and fat) then you are correct.
For those that want to do a recomposition ( lose fat, gain or keep muscle) you need to eat a high protein diet or else you will lose muscle. There is no way around this - this is just how a calorie deficit works.

I'm not saying that protein isn't important. Moreso the standard amounts of protein that get tossed around. AdditionallyI don't care how much protein you consume. If you are on a significant deficit and not on AAS, catabolism is going to happen. That's just how a calorie deficit works. Telling regular middle-aged people that a couple more scoops of protein powder every day is going to preserve their muscle while they lose 60-100lbs is disingenuous at best.

 

[sheilarae74]

Just saying, this is not true for everyone. I absolutely cannot eat more and lose weight (especially carbs). I only lose if I eat way less.

I'm sure eventually that will be true for me as well once my body gets used to it.

 

[chipsandsalsayall]

Still learning...wondering what is AAS?

 

[FlowerFairy]

I wish I had found this when I started. Things I learned the hard way and that you shouldn't do with Retatrutide:

1- Not drinking enough fluids and not including mineral salts and electrolytes. You dehydrate very quickly with Retatrutide.

2- Cutting calories by more than 1000 kcal was crazy, and I lost almost as much muscle as fat. Remember that Retatrutide increases your basal metabolic rate.

3- Not getting enough protein (I always did this correctly, but many people make mistakes). Aim for 2 grams per kilogram of body weight of muscle mass.

4- Starting with very high doses or increasing them too quickly. I was cautious and started with 0.5 mg and then spent 4 weeks on 1 mg.

5- Thinking it's Tirze or Sema; it's not the same at all. Appetite suppression is less pronounced, and Retatrutide works in the long term.

6- Not weight training; this is a very common mistake. I love it, but a lot of people make mistakes here. I think that training, along with protein, is vital for maintaining muscle mass.

7- Thinking that Reta is some kind of magic bullet and that it alone solves everything is wrong. It's not just one tool in a protocol. Monitor your workouts and your diet, and don't skip meals.

What would you add? I'm reading your comments, friends!

#1 is no joke- I drink a lot normally, but on Reta and Tirz my thirst was suppressed and I ended up with bilateral kidney stones. Not a mistake I’ll be making again!

 

[Omxxl]

Todavía estoy aprendiendo... ¿Me pregunto qué es AAS?

Anabolic Androgenic Stereoids

 

[yerffejytnac]

There are a few MD's from USA on Youtube that clearly state what to do and what not to do on Reta. I can't post links but I can mention a couple names just for example:

It's absolutely batshit to me that you folks can't do simple google searches on these YouTube clowns. "Dr. Richard Visser" is a fucking chiropractor, and not someone I'd be going to for any sort of medical advice.

Might want to second guess all of the information you have been eating up, because I'm willing to bet more than half of it is bullshit from snake oil salesmen.

 

[Estarossa19]

It's absolutely batshit to me that you folks can't do simple google searches on these YouTube clowns. "Dr. Richard Visser" is a fucking chiropractor, and not someone I'd be going to for any sort of medical advice.

Might want to second guess all of the information you have been eating up, because I'm willing to bet more than half of it is bullshit from snake oil salesmen.

Dr. Jones is also a chiropractor 🤣