Morbidly Obese Checking in from South Florida

[Retaholic]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a 40-year-old male living in South Florida. What brought me here is a combination of curiosity, frustration, and hope after hitting some challenging plateaus in my weight loss journey.

Started this journey in January at 298 lbs, currently at 274 lbs with a goal of 199. This is absurdly slow (and expensive) and I think I'm doing something wrong.
I see people on Reta doses of 2mg losing all kinds of weight, whereas it takes me 8+ mg/week to actually get meaningful hunger suppression... so the cost is beginning to get to me.

What I'm hoping to learn here is whether other people have dealt with similar dose issues, if there are strategies I'm missing, or if this is just how it works for some people. Also curious about experiences with switching between different GLP-1s and whether that helps with effectiveness or cost.

My background with weight loss has been the usual - tried everything over the years with limited success. Started GLP-1s a few months ago and while they're helping, the dosing situation has me questioning if I'm on the right track.

I want to be clear about my commitment to safety and harm reduction. I'm working with medical supervision and believe strongly in sharing honest experiences - both good and bad - so people can make informed decisions. No shortcuts or dangerous practices, just trying to figure out what actually works sustainably and safely.

Looking forward to learning from everyone's experiences.

 

[texmexpep]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a 40-year-old male living in South Florida. What brought me here is a combination of curiosity, frustration, and hope after hitting some challenging plateaus in my weight loss journey.

Started this journey in January at 298 lbs, currently at 274 lbs with a goal of 199. This is absurdly slow (and expensive) and I think I'm doing something wrong.
I see people on Reta doses of 2mg losing all kinds of weight, whereas it takes me 8+ mg/week to actually get meaningful hunger suppression... so the cost is beginning to get to me.

What I'm hoping to learn here is whether other people have dealt with similar dose issues, if there are strategies I'm missing, or if this is just how it works for some people. Also curious about experiences with switching between different GLP-1s and whether that helps with effectiveness or cost.

My background with weight loss has been the usual - tried everything over the years with limited success. Started GLP-1s a few months ago and while they're helping, the dosing situation has me questioning if I'm on the right track.

I want to be clear about my commitment to safety and harm reduction. I'm working with medical supervision and believe strongly in sharing honest experiences - both good and bad - so people can make informed decisions. No shortcuts or dangerous practices, just trying to figure out what actually works sustainably and safely.

Looking forward to learning from everyone's experiences.

Hi there! Welcome! I haven't tried reta but did well for 7mo on Sema, switched to tirz, stalled....when I added a small dose of Sema, I had the most appetite suppression and zero cravings. For myself, the stronger level glp1 seems to be the game changer. Without my extensive reading in this group and others I never would have had the confidence to do that. You'll find what works for you! 😃

 

[MsGizmo]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a 40-year-old male living in South Florida. What brought me here is a combination of curiosity, frustration, and hope after hitting some challenging plateaus in my weight loss journey.

Started this journey in January at 298 lbs, currently at 274 lbs with a goal of 199. This is absurdly slow (and expensive) and I think I'm doing something wrong.
I see people on Reta doses of 2mg losing all kinds of weight, whereas it takes me 8+ mg/week to actually get meaningful hunger suppression... so the cost is beginning to get to me.

What I'm hoping to learn here is whether other people have dealt with similar dose issues, if there are strategies I'm missing, or if this is just how it works for some people. Also curious about experiences with switching between different GLP-1s and whether that helps with effectiveness or cost.

My background with weight loss has been the usual - tried everything over the years with limited success. Started GLP-1s a few months ago and while they're helping, the dosing situation has me questioning if I'm on the right track.

I want to be clear about my commitment to safety and harm reduction. I'm working with medical supervision and believe strongly in sharing honest experiences - both good and bad - so people can make informed decisions. No shortcuts or dangerous practices, just trying to figure out what actually works sustainably and safely.

Looking forward to learning from everyone's experiences.

Make sure you are still getting enough to eat. Especially protein, fiber and water. Take a daily multivitamin as well. If the body thinks its starving it will shut down your metabolism. Other than that I can only say if one GLP1 isn't working for you maybe switch to another one.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

It took me 10-12mg per week of Reta to really kick in and allow for ongoing weight loss pretty consistently. If you look at vendors here you should be able to do $40 per month or less, buying the 10 pack kits. Every ones finances are different but for many the less food eated makes it almost a savings.

 

[byefatlicia]

Welcome Retaholic. This is a great place to learn and share experiences. There are many with a willingness to help each other through the maze of chemistry and purchase strategies. Most here, including me, have found the mainstream medical route to be too expensive and found a way to be more "hands on" in our approach. That being said, everyone here has a different level of risk they are willing to take to reach their goals. Learning will help you decide how to proceed according to your own comfort level.

 

[latviantower]

Welcome! Sounds like you’re doing the right things and have a healthy mindset. Others here have given good feedback. My two cents: everyone loses weight differently and at their unique pace. Hydrate and eat plenty of protein, fiber and good fats. When the real appetite suppression kicks in, don’t let yourself go into starvation mode!!

After titrating up on reta and you feel like you’re still losing too slowly, maybe try tirz? (Some on this board consider that a step backwards.) Or add tesa and/or aod-9604 for some fat burning assistance? I felt like I lost some significant gut weight with tesa after 8 months on tirz 15 mg, not a lot more pounds, but inches. Ran tesa at 2 mg before bedtime Monday through Friday (weekend recovery) for 14 weeks. Waist has gone from 46 to 32.

You’ll find your sweet spot! Good luck!

 

[indolent]

Welcome! It sounds like the main thing you've been doing wrong is paying too much. While this site doesn't allow users to provide vendor contact info to new users, you'll gain access to the vendor section after a period of using the search feature (magnifying glass) to keep reading more and more, and asking intelligent questions on existing threads.

Each person responds differently, but--along with the good advice you've been given for protein, water, fiber and (even very light) weight-bearing exercise to counter muscle loss--the summary below might steer you in the right direction based on your experience and "feels." Note that lower numbers are more powerful; that cagri is its own thing, not on this number scale, which users have stacked with reta (search for threads); and that I don't understand the significance of glucagon for weight loss therapy but need to learn; I have the info below in my personal notes but don't know where I got it....

Sema GLP1 = .38
Tirz GLP1 = 4.23 with GIP = .135
Reta GLP1 = 7.2 with GIP = .057 and GCCR = 5.6
Surv GLP1 = 1 with GCCR = 8.3
Maz GLP1 = 28.6 with GCCR = 17.7
Cag Mimics amylin, which binds to amylin receptors and calcitonin receptors.

Lower numbers mean the peptide will bind better to the receptor type, making it more effective. The GLP1 is the main appetite suppression effect, so in this case it's Sema, Surv, Tirz, and Reta for the best appetite suppression. The GIP makes you feel fuller longer by delaying gastric emptying so it's Reta and Tirz for this. The GCCR is the glucagon component aka energy so it goes Reta, Surv, and Maz.

 

[CrimsonTaco47]

My brother is morbidly obese…he bought a scale that’s supposed to go up to 550lbs and it gave him an error code so I think he’s around that…but over it. Anyway I finally convinced him to start Reta. I know he has an intense food addiction and it’s his coping mechanism for all of life’s stressors. I really debated on whether Reta or tirz would be the best option for him and ultimately went with Reta because it should be the best overall…but I didn’t think he would stick with it if it if he didn’t see results quickly and idk…I just figured Reta being the triple agonist and that it helps burn fat and preserve muscle and stuff, but I do wonder if tirz would have been a better starting place. I did tirz for about 10 months and lost 90lbs, it was amazing. Now that I’m on Reta, weight loss has been slower but I’m working out more and my hope is that part of that is muscle gain but idk…either way the point of my post is that I think tirz has a stronger appetite suppression. Last time doing tirz I relied heavily on that appetite suppression to lose weight by just eating less. This time around, because I’m not nauseous and don’t have as much appetite suppression I’m eating more, just less than without it. I think it’s a more sustainable approach this time, but it’s going to take longer. Just my 2 cents but maybe tirz would be better for you for a bit, then switch back to Reta at some point?

 

[Mustafa]

Hello Everyone,

I'm a 40-year-old male living in South Florida. What brought me here is a combination of curiosity, frustration, and hope after hitting some challenging plateaus in my weight loss journey.

Started this journey in January at 298 lbs, currently at 274 lbs with a goal of 199. This is absurdly slow (and expensive) and I think I'm doing something wrong.
I see people on Reta doses of 2mg losing all kinds of weight, whereas it takes me 8+ mg/week to actually get meaningful hunger suppression... so the cost is beginning to get to me.

What I'm hoping to learn here is whether other people have dealt with similar dose issues, if there are strategies I'm missing, or if this is just how it works for some people. Also curious about experiences with switching between different GLP-1s and whether that helps with effectiveness or cost.

My background with weight loss has been the usual - tried everything over the years with limited success. Started GLP-1s a few months ago and while they're helping, the dosing situation has me questioning if I'm on the right track.

I want to be clear about my commitment to safety and harm reduction. I'm working with medical supervision and believe strongly in sharing honest experiences - both good and bad - so people can make informed decisions. No shortcuts or dangerous practices, just trying to figure out what actually works sustainably and safely.

Looking forward to learning from everyone's experiences.

As others have said, you are paying too much. Contact a vendor here. In my circle, I opened up and discovered that others, like my mom, were interested. I did a local group buy to save on shipping and jabs.

Have you tried cagri? It's potent, which means that each vial should last a while. It has curbed my appetite in a way no other GLP-1 could.

Weight loss is as gradual as weight gain. Just as it has taken you years to gain this weight, it also will take a long time to lose it. Your weight loss averages near 5 lbs a month, within the healthy range, but unbearably slow especially at your size. Bigger people tend to lose quicker. It took me 11 months to lose 50 lbs, your journey will likely take longer. The good news is that you WILL get there!

My plan was to start on sema and, if needed be, to graduate to tirz and, if needed be, to reta. So far, I have only used sema and cagri. Sema is also more cost effective.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

If all else fails Brello Health will give up to max dose Semaglutide for 399 for 3 months supply and Tirzepatide for 499 for 3 months, 133 to 167 a month is a lot more than gray market but a lot, lot better than brand. The company is good and lost a lot of weight with them.