Reta is a perimenopause miracle.

[octopusthorpe]

50 y/o, 5'10", lost 160lb back in 2016 via low-carb diet, progressive overload strength training, and hiking.
Maintained that weight loss until perimenopause hit in late 2024 - gained almost 20lb in a year despite no changes to diet or training.
Started HRT (estradiol patch and low-dose test-c) which helped with everything but the creeping weight gain.
Weight went from 140-ish to between 157-162lb and would not budge despite all my tried and true fat loss approaches.
Five and a half weeks on reta and I'm down 18.6lb (1mg/week, split into two 0.5 doses) with no impacts to my ability to lift (max bench 130lb, max squat 205lb and max deadlift 305lb) although my weekly hikes took a hit - I typically do anywhere between 20-30 miles every Saturday with around 2k feet elevation gain but recovery from these has taken a dip, so I've been keeping it around 12-15 miles every other week. Light indoor bike for non-hiking days.
RHR and HRV only very mildly impacted (RHR went from 45-50bpm to 51-54bpm). Sleep could be better (still averaging around 6-7 hours per night but the waking up at 4am kinda sucks).
Protein intake: around 160g/day (which is typical for me).
Now that I'm down to 144 I may take the dose down a bit as I don't want to lose too much, just amazed at just how effective this is.

 

[CJsMom]

Congrats on getting back into your weight comfort zone!

 

[octopusthorpe]

Congrats on getting back into your weight comfort zone!

Thanks! I was getting so frustrated about building all this muscle and having it hidden under peri-puff 🤣

 

[Smiter]

RHR and HRV only very mildly impacted (RHR went from 45-50bpm to 51-54bpm)

I was looking at the pic as well...So, spill, were you made by Cyberdyne for Skynet?

 

[octopusthorpe]

I was looking at the pic as well...So, spill, were you made by Cyberdyne for Skynet?

Shhhh don't tell anyone

 

[sheilarae74]

I agree. It has enabled me to lose weight like I never thought possible. I don't even need HRT. I wish I would have started earlier instead of wasting a year struggling on my own.

 

[Smiter]

Shhhh don't tell anyone

Gulp! No, I won't.. I read that first as "Give me your clothes, boots, and your motorcycle." And I was about to do so, until I realized I didn't have a Harley. I can try and boost this exercise bike from the Golds Gym I go to.

P.S: Do you practice saying "I'll be back" in front of a mirror?

 

[Smiter]

I was getting so frustrated about building all this muscle and having it hidden under peri-puff

That's unique. I would have thought that the deception would come in handy. Which makes me wonder. What's the agenda behind building all that muscle? Especially your kinda muscle. I can assure you, if I had that kinda forearm, scaled to my frame of course, I would be wearing a crown.

 

[WLBLD]

Wow you're doing great!! I know you put a lot of work in!! I need to know the secret on what you're eating too bc I know it takes a lot of everything to be in such impressive shape!! 🙂

 

[octopusthorpe]

That's unique. I would have thought that the deception would come in handy. Which makes me wonder. What's the agenda behind building all that muscle? Especially your kinda muscle. I can assure you, if I had that kinda forearm, scaled to my frame of course, I would be wearing a crown.

When I met my husband 12 years ago, he was training with a powerlifting coach in this dungeon gym with really cool bad-ass people and once I started losing the initial weight, I had FOMO and started training with the same coach - I was hooked instantly. (Newbie gains helped of course).
Now after keeping with it for a decade I just love the training (my husband and I train together - which is awesome cuz I always have a spot) and being strong af as I get older.
Osteoporosis and obesity has affected most of the women in my family, and I refused for that to be my fate.

 

[octopusthorpe]

Wow you're doing great!! I know you put a lot of work in!! I need to know the secret on what you're eating too bc I know it takes a lot of everything to be in such impressive shape!! 🙂

Oh my diet is really boring. Meat, fish, eggs, greek yogurt, whey protein, bone broth, cottage cheese, low-fiber veggies (I've had two small bowel resections so I have to limit fiber). My one guilty pleasure is Reese's peanut butter cups but I haven't craved them once since reta - go figure 🤣

 

[Smiter]

When I met my husband 12 years ago, he was training with a powerlifting coach in this dungeon gym with really cool bad-ass people and once I started losing the initial weight, I had FOMO and started training with the same coach - I was hooked instantly. (Newbie gains helped of course).
Now after keeping with it for a decade I just love the training (my husband and I train together - which is awesome cuz I always have a spot) and being strong af as I get older.
Osteoporosis and obesity has affected most of the women in my family, and I refused for that to be my fate.

Okay, fudge it.. I'm jealous. There, I said it. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I'll just go hide in a mustard seed. Well done, lady. Chapeau!

 

[WLBLD]

Oh my diet is really boring. Meat, fish, eggs, greek yogurt, whey protein, bone broth, cottage cheese, low-fiber veggies (I've had two small bowel resections so I have to limit fiber). My one guilty pleasure is Reese's peanut butter cups but I haven't craved them once since reta - go figure 🤣

All good healthy food!! All of those can taste great with a bit of garlic & other seasonings. Same with the Greek yogurt & or cottage cheese I make all sauces & dressings with that & seasoning (sometimes some vinegar or jalapenos w juice) Are you low carb? My diet is similar but do add a little rice & wraps + a bit higher fiber but I have a long way to go!!

 

[JokeyJo]

I wish this was the case for me.

Reta (and Tirz, but less so) gives me terrible anhedonia. Reta also seems to be giving me anxiety and panic and feelings of doom and dread. I’m pretty sure it’s the Reta. It’s so bad that I’m almost resigned to staying overweight (everything else is on point).

 

[londoner]

This is good to read. I am in the early stages of peri (46), and struggling to get away from this 152lb (+-5lbs) and back to a nice 137 that I am most comfortable at. I workout a fair bit, the muscles are there but so is the fluff. I am only two weeks (3 jabs) in and nothing is shifting yet despite a decent deficit and exercise every day. Hitting my protein goals. So just sticking with it and seeing what will happen over the next month or two.

 

[Powerslide]

I wish this was the case for me.

Reta (and Tirz, but less so) gives me terrible anhedonia. Reta also seems to be giving me anxiety and panic and feelings of doom and dread. I’m pretty sure it’s the Reta. It’s so bad that I’m almost resigned to staying overweight (everything else is on point).

male, female? age? just want some more info