chillybilly22
Recently Joined
Hello I'm new.
M 57 5-9 SW 286 CW 277 GW ???
-I’m actually surprised at the number of people & posts that involve sources other than a medical provider. That isn’t a criticism or judgment …it’s merely surprise. I wonder if it’s because
1) it still isn’t officially FDA approved (according to various sources)
2) it’s getting such enthusiasm, hype and results and is therefore highly in demand regardless of source
3) by now GLP-1 meds are well-known and well-documented and the fear factor has subsided on an individual and collective basis
-That said, I did get end up working with a medical provider (or at least a clinic with an MD’s name on the door). Truth be told there isn’t much doctor involvement if any. The staff there know their jobs and do them well. I imagine it might be a little monotonous treating the same issues in the same way every day but that’s why they call them specialists. At least they have the staffing and training to do blood work etc.
-A neutral observer or perhaps a cynic might say that any patient who started restricting calories, tracking meals/nutrients/macros, exercising (more), lifting (more), drinking much more water every day, adding fiber, avoiding empty/sugary carbs, alcohol etc would probably lose weight, feel better, sleep better even if they never took anything stronger than aspirin. It’s not really a placebo effect since these changes are real and have real physical effects but they are obviously advisable for any person regardless of the current state of health.
-I used to cringe when I heard 'you can't out-train a bad diet.' Especially when supremely fit people said it! But damn it they're right. I'd been bicycling like a madman since covid days (75-100 mi/week 15 mph avg) and I'd say food intake was down 1/3 (I'd basically abandoned eating after 5 with little or no effect) but weight crept up anyway. Obviously food type and quantity and portion were to blame as they always are. But I've already got an intense daily cardio program so that's a huge bonus.
- A neutral observer or perhaps a cynic might also say that in addition to making physical/lifestyle changes there is also the mental aspect. Every patient/user is unique along with sources, doses, stacks etc. but we can safely say that the one thing all have in common is commitment. They made a choice…they marked the calendar…they measured the progress and result. ‘Speak it into existence’ is a horrid present-day cliché but, admittedly, it applies in this situation.
Weight loss programs and providers have long relied on this psychological tactic. Having a counselor, a buddy/partner, a support group are all means of reinforcement. The key is to make the locus of control internal (I control my eating and activities) even if that locus is often external when starting out.
-Reta’s big neon advertised effect is appetite suppression but users will confirm that the direct or indirect psychological effects are the not-so-secret weapon. Backsliding and binging are as old as diets themselves…sooner or later the brain fights a war of neurotransmitters and too often the dopamine receptors win out – which is also why other addictive or compulsive behavior is so hard to kick. Temptation involves the object of desire and a weakened or vulnerable state of mind. Taking away the object of desire can and does work but, as we’ve seen in treatment or counseling scenarios, the user will find a way around deprivation or restrictions. On the other hand, if the brain isn’t tempted in the first place then it’s very easy to walk through a bakery or past a refrigerator without giving it a thought (conscious and unconscious). The weak moments, therefore, are infrequent and/or nonexistent and/or not as weak.
-The ‘neurotransmitter trap’ is a diet wrecker twice over because negative feelings (guilt, anger, shame) compel a person to alleviate those feelings and often the means of soothing oneself is to eat! And, in a cruel irony, we are all familiar with the person who loses weight and…has a big meal as a reward!
-The very general rule of thumb is a male adult consuming 2,000 cal/day can lose 1 lb/week or, at worst, maintain current weight. Everyone’s physique, plan and provider (if they have one) is different but the clinic plan is 1,000-1,200 cal/day ie half of the above figure. Without Reta/GLP-1 it’s easy to see what a mental struggle 1,000 cal/day would be with constant and/or powerful hunger signals to say nothing of being in further calorie deficit from workouts.
-Let me drop the flowery language to say this: I see a lot of conventional wisdom about ‘1 lb per week should be the goal.’ Well that ain’t my goal. If I’m going to have the discipline to do the hard yards – diet, exercise, discipline – as well as incur the considerable cost then there needs to be a return on investment and patience. The studies, the testimonials, the photos are inspirational but they also set expectations – in a good way. Seeing is believing and believing fuels commitment.
-In addition these aren’t the typical ‘I did XYZ and lost 30 lbs.’ anecdotes. These are stories from people who HAVE tried. Maybe multiple times. They’ve sweated, measured, journaled, tracked, gone to appointments and meetings etc.
-I’ve been devouring (unintentional pun) the posts here and elsewhere. If anything they prove the maxim that every patient is unique and that effects can vary in intensity, longevity, side effects, mental effects (including the placebo effect) etc.
-Years ago I took Redux and it worked mostly as advertised – it was quite effective at inducing a feeling of satiety to the point where I couldn’t finish one slice of toast. Of course I was 30 years younger and already active so 5-10% loss came quickly. And I suppose it had to because Redux was pulled from the market due to alleged concerns about heart valve damage (I have none, by the way). One little study that was more or less one doctor’s opinion caused the usual wave of panic because even then providers and drug makers were worried about lawsuits.
- It was dumb luck and good timing that I decided to pursue GLP at the time Reta was coming available and its advertised/studied effects surpassed the previous drugs. Perhaps I’m paying through the nose to my provider/clinic relative to other posters but they also provide blood work services, some souped-up B-12 shots and body composition scans. Ironically a $20 scale and a free app can provide almost as much information as those scans.
-The staff are friendly and helpful and all have a quiet, almost bemused confidence. ‘You’re going to lose, no doubt about that’ (paraphrasing) they’ve said more than once. The reason I haven’t listed a GW is…well, they didn’t give me one. They asked me to provide it which is the wrong way round in my view but I understand that they don’t want to give unrealistic numbers and that when a 3-month course is finished they want to keep the patient for another 3 months or however long. The clinician said ‘We’re focused on your overall feeling and comfort in your clothes.’ Which is fine as far as it goes but doesn’t everyone feel better 50 lbs lighter vs 30 lbs or even 10 vs 5? And which clothes? I’ve got a closet stuffed full of them I’m not wearing!
-I did hardcore Atkins and intense daily workouts about 25 years go and reached 194 lbs but started out lighter (235-240). The tale is a familiar one – that many restrictions is tricky to adhere to forever and the rebound effect is all too real when carbs are reintroduced.
-That said I’ve done quite a bit of spreadsheeting based on the testimonials from people most similar to me – and in most cases they were on Tirz because it was available/current. Spreadsheet predictions can be dangerous because they can convey a sense of ‘spiking the football’ prematurely but they are also useful because you can use some real-world data to plot pessimistic and optimistic estimates while also tracking reality and refining the projections.
-A 3-month course would supposedly be 18.5% loss. As Coach Norman Dale said in ‘Hoosiers: ‘That’s beyond our wildest dreams so let’s keep it right there.’ But it is helpful in peeking at the end of the book and/or acting as a carrot at the end of the stick. But it’s also going to be a decision point and carrying on seems the most productive and logical step. I know that most people are pursuing a proper numeric goal and that 3 months seems like an eyeblink to them. As the trendline becomes more data-driven I plan to set a proper GW (even if it changes).
-I’ll be candid: I can’t imagine doing a solid year of this no matter how many dazzling before-and-after photos I see. But I’m also willing to concede that it’s very early days and the full effect of Reta both mentally and physically hasn’t kicked in yet. I’m not just talking of getting through each day in terms of portions, macros etc but also in reprogramming the mind – cue the adages about changes in habit/behavior taking 2-3 weeks or longer to take hold. I am impatient by nature but I am also fairly cold-eyed and realistic. If the results are there I can/will stay committed – knowing that results are strictly down to me.
-I admit I’m a backslider and a self-saboteur. It may seem negative for me to say ‘Well I’ve already taken the jab so I have to stick with the plan today/this week’ but any motivational port in a storm!
-The provider is already suggested/offering an increased dose ‘If I’m getting hungry.’ I may take it.
-Finally I do take heart from the positive stories I read and I pay attention to the stories of results that are slow in arriving. If the tales of Reta becoming more/most effective 3-4 weeks in are true so much the better but I’m at the 10-day mark and, as above, 20-30 days more seems like an eternity although I will probably look back and laugh at my own trepidation. That is the plan – pun intended.
M 57 5-9 SW 286 CW 277 GW ???
-I’m actually surprised at the number of people & posts that involve sources other than a medical provider. That isn’t a criticism or judgment …it’s merely surprise. I wonder if it’s because
1) it still isn’t officially FDA approved (according to various sources)
2) it’s getting such enthusiasm, hype and results and is therefore highly in demand regardless of source
3) by now GLP-1 meds are well-known and well-documented and the fear factor has subsided on an individual and collective basis
-That said, I did get end up working with a medical provider (or at least a clinic with an MD’s name on the door). Truth be told there isn’t much doctor involvement if any. The staff there know their jobs and do them well. I imagine it might be a little monotonous treating the same issues in the same way every day but that’s why they call them specialists. At least they have the staffing and training to do blood work etc.
-A neutral observer or perhaps a cynic might say that any patient who started restricting calories, tracking meals/nutrients/macros, exercising (more), lifting (more), drinking much more water every day, adding fiber, avoiding empty/sugary carbs, alcohol etc would probably lose weight, feel better, sleep better even if they never took anything stronger than aspirin. It’s not really a placebo effect since these changes are real and have real physical effects but they are obviously advisable for any person regardless of the current state of health.
-I used to cringe when I heard 'you can't out-train a bad diet.' Especially when supremely fit people said it! But damn it they're right. I'd been bicycling like a madman since covid days (75-100 mi/week 15 mph avg) and I'd say food intake was down 1/3 (I'd basically abandoned eating after 5 with little or no effect) but weight crept up anyway. Obviously food type and quantity and portion were to blame as they always are. But I've already got an intense daily cardio program so that's a huge bonus.
- A neutral observer or perhaps a cynic might also say that in addition to making physical/lifestyle changes there is also the mental aspect. Every patient/user is unique along with sources, doses, stacks etc. but we can safely say that the one thing all have in common is commitment. They made a choice…they marked the calendar…they measured the progress and result. ‘Speak it into existence’ is a horrid present-day cliché but, admittedly, it applies in this situation.
Weight loss programs and providers have long relied on this psychological tactic. Having a counselor, a buddy/partner, a support group are all means of reinforcement. The key is to make the locus of control internal (I control my eating and activities) even if that locus is often external when starting out.
-Reta’s big neon advertised effect is appetite suppression but users will confirm that the direct or indirect psychological effects are the not-so-secret weapon. Backsliding and binging are as old as diets themselves…sooner or later the brain fights a war of neurotransmitters and too often the dopamine receptors win out – which is also why other addictive or compulsive behavior is so hard to kick. Temptation involves the object of desire and a weakened or vulnerable state of mind. Taking away the object of desire can and does work but, as we’ve seen in treatment or counseling scenarios, the user will find a way around deprivation or restrictions. On the other hand, if the brain isn’t tempted in the first place then it’s very easy to walk through a bakery or past a refrigerator without giving it a thought (conscious and unconscious). The weak moments, therefore, are infrequent and/or nonexistent and/or not as weak.
-The ‘neurotransmitter trap’ is a diet wrecker twice over because negative feelings (guilt, anger, shame) compel a person to alleviate those feelings and often the means of soothing oneself is to eat! And, in a cruel irony, we are all familiar with the person who loses weight and…has a big meal as a reward!
-The very general rule of thumb is a male adult consuming 2,000 cal/day can lose 1 lb/week or, at worst, maintain current weight. Everyone’s physique, plan and provider (if they have one) is different but the clinic plan is 1,000-1,200 cal/day ie half of the above figure. Without Reta/GLP-1 it’s easy to see what a mental struggle 1,000 cal/day would be with constant and/or powerful hunger signals to say nothing of being in further calorie deficit from workouts.
-Let me drop the flowery language to say this: I see a lot of conventional wisdom about ‘1 lb per week should be the goal.’ Well that ain’t my goal. If I’m going to have the discipline to do the hard yards – diet, exercise, discipline – as well as incur the considerable cost then there needs to be a return on investment and patience. The studies, the testimonials, the photos are inspirational but they also set expectations – in a good way. Seeing is believing and believing fuels commitment.
-In addition these aren’t the typical ‘I did XYZ and lost 30 lbs.’ anecdotes. These are stories from people who HAVE tried. Maybe multiple times. They’ve sweated, measured, journaled, tracked, gone to appointments and meetings etc.
-I’ve been devouring (unintentional pun) the posts here and elsewhere. If anything they prove the maxim that every patient is unique and that effects can vary in intensity, longevity, side effects, mental effects (including the placebo effect) etc.
-Years ago I took Redux and it worked mostly as advertised – it was quite effective at inducing a feeling of satiety to the point where I couldn’t finish one slice of toast. Of course I was 30 years younger and already active so 5-10% loss came quickly. And I suppose it had to because Redux was pulled from the market due to alleged concerns about heart valve damage (I have none, by the way). One little study that was more or less one doctor’s opinion caused the usual wave of panic because even then providers and drug makers were worried about lawsuits.
- It was dumb luck and good timing that I decided to pursue GLP at the time Reta was coming available and its advertised/studied effects surpassed the previous drugs. Perhaps I’m paying through the nose to my provider/clinic relative to other posters but they also provide blood work services, some souped-up B-12 shots and body composition scans. Ironically a $20 scale and a free app can provide almost as much information as those scans.
-The staff are friendly and helpful and all have a quiet, almost bemused confidence. ‘You’re going to lose, no doubt about that’ (paraphrasing) they’ve said more than once. The reason I haven’t listed a GW is…well, they didn’t give me one. They asked me to provide it which is the wrong way round in my view but I understand that they don’t want to give unrealistic numbers and that when a 3-month course is finished they want to keep the patient for another 3 months or however long. The clinician said ‘We’re focused on your overall feeling and comfort in your clothes.’ Which is fine as far as it goes but doesn’t everyone feel better 50 lbs lighter vs 30 lbs or even 10 vs 5? And which clothes? I’ve got a closet stuffed full of them I’m not wearing!
-I did hardcore Atkins and intense daily workouts about 25 years go and reached 194 lbs but started out lighter (235-240). The tale is a familiar one – that many restrictions is tricky to adhere to forever and the rebound effect is all too real when carbs are reintroduced.
-That said I’ve done quite a bit of spreadsheeting based on the testimonials from people most similar to me – and in most cases they were on Tirz because it was available/current. Spreadsheet predictions can be dangerous because they can convey a sense of ‘spiking the football’ prematurely but they are also useful because you can use some real-world data to plot pessimistic and optimistic estimates while also tracking reality and refining the projections.
-A 3-month course would supposedly be 18.5% loss. As Coach Norman Dale said in ‘Hoosiers: ‘That’s beyond our wildest dreams so let’s keep it right there.’ But it is helpful in peeking at the end of the book and/or acting as a carrot at the end of the stick. But it’s also going to be a decision point and carrying on seems the most productive and logical step. I know that most people are pursuing a proper numeric goal and that 3 months seems like an eyeblink to them. As the trendline becomes more data-driven I plan to set a proper GW (even if it changes).
-I’ll be candid: I can’t imagine doing a solid year of this no matter how many dazzling before-and-after photos I see. But I’m also willing to concede that it’s very early days and the full effect of Reta both mentally and physically hasn’t kicked in yet. I’m not just talking of getting through each day in terms of portions, macros etc but also in reprogramming the mind – cue the adages about changes in habit/behavior taking 2-3 weeks or longer to take hold. I am impatient by nature but I am also fairly cold-eyed and realistic. If the results are there I can/will stay committed – knowing that results are strictly down to me.
-I admit I’m a backslider and a self-saboteur. It may seem negative for me to say ‘Well I’ve already taken the jab so I have to stick with the plan today/this week’ but any motivational port in a storm!
-The provider is already suggested/offering an increased dose ‘If I’m getting hungry.’ I may take it.
-Finally I do take heart from the positive stories I read and I pay attention to the stories of results that are slow in arriving. If the tales of Reta becoming more/most effective 3-4 weeks in are true so much the better but I’m at the 10-day mark and, as above, 20-30 days more seems like an eternity although I will probably look back and laugh at my own trepidation. That is the plan – pun intended.
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