Reta stack options - which to choose ?

[gimmeshelter]

Stats:
54M reta lands soon. Plan to take by itself for a month to get used to it but then, thinking about stacking to kick it into overdrive. Lose weight, keep muscle.
The stats:

6 5" 255 looking to get down to 225 to lean out.
Active at gym 3-4 days a week.
Once the weather turns I'll roadbike 75-125 miles a week zone 2/3/4/5 just depending on what the ride is that day.

Diet is ok working on it daily to up protein cut out processed food.

Like everyone here, I want to lose LBS and keep or add muscle. Gym and diet are not an issue, I am active.

What choice would u make or would u make another to stack w Reta to keep muscle and lose weight.
Options I have been researching and tracking the best I can. I am sure I missed a few.

🌶️Reta+Tesa
🌶️Reta+Tesa+IPA
🌶️Reta + CJC1295/IPA

Thoughts?

 

[Dos-Dox]

I personally wouldn’t add tesa until I was pretty close to my goal weight. Keeping your protein high and your gym routine on point should help you retain muscle. Adding tesa near GW to will help with the final cut and be more cost effective than running it while you still have some weight to drop. But that’s just my personal strategy.

Lots of other options out there, so it comes down to personal preference and risk tolerance. Adding a SARM like Ostarine can help retain muscle as well but you have to stay on top of your liver enzymes and hormone testing. Either way, I’m glad to see you’re going to run reta solo for a bit. So many people jump in with multiple compounds at once before figuring out how one is working for them and what sides are attributed to it.

Let us know what you decide and how it works out for you!

 

[maven8518]

Based on your post I wouldn't think you would need anything other than reta. Whats your current caloric intake vs estimated BMR? 500 calorie deficit plus reta and 175-200 grams of protein should be pretty close to the recipe.

 

[CharlieBrown]

The first thing I did was double my TRT dosage; it was only 50mg/wk.
I have a food log and eat smaller portions every 2.5 hrs.
1900 calories, 140g protein and 25g fibre each day.
Go to the gym everyday ! Go for a walk after lunch and dinner.

And I just ordered a Mots-C 40mg kit. It was just shipped and should arrive next week.

 

[ronin365]

Reta with CJC-1295/Ipamorelin is worth considering. I am almost at the end of a three-month cycle. That stack allowed me to keep gaining strength and muscle despite ongoing weight loss. You will get a few pounds of water retention, which should clear out shortly after you stop.

 

[Dogmandu]

• Reta + Tesa = two highly studied and proven agents. This is what I have settled on after trying your other two options. Tesa will really help you recover from your rides.
• Reta + Tesa + Ipa = All of the above plus extra appetite from the Ipa. IGF-1 could get high if you are not careful. Test for it no matter which option you choose.
• Reta + CJC/Ipa = these GH agents are far less studied than Tesa. GH secretagogues all aim increase IGF-1. Tesa does it very well with the most science and safety studies, so why bother with the others, is my thinking. CJC messed with my sleep.
  
  Also, for men 50+, Reta + Tesa + TRT is the combo to beat IMO. If you keep the Tesa and TRT in the high-normal range with regular testing, the risk-reward ratio is very favorable.

 

[gimmeshelter]

Reta with CJC-1295/Ipamorelin is worth considering. I am almost at the end of a three-month cycle. That stack allowed me to keep gaining strength and muscle despite ongoing weight loss. You will get a few pounds of water retention, which should clear out shortly after you stop.

Are you going to go off reta and CJC-1295 completely or titrate down to zero? Lots of options on that in terms of reta - cycle off or titrate down to maintenance level and cruise.

 

[gimmeshelter]

Just wondering how y’all getting on running Reta alongside road cycling?

Are you finding training difficult at all?
Is there a certain amount of time you can get by until you hit a wall per se?

I’m looking to do approximately 14 weeks on Reta to try and drop 10kg (100 now) by May, as I’m cycling into the Pyrenees at the end of May with approximately 400 miles of cycling, so need to lose a good 10kg to get up these mountain climbs.

My concern is when the Reta starts taking effect I won’t be able to sustain longer training rides of 2-6 hours?

Anyone here managing or not managing at all on the exercise front for long durations?

I will be taking a carbohydrate and electrolytes drink on these rides to keep me fuelled for the duration….im just hoping that will be enough 🤞🏼

up to date reta stock in US warehouses?

I am seeing my local PCP in a few weeks. This is the same PCP that prescribed me Zepbound and then we both understood I would not be taking that due to the price.
Same PCP then suggested (without knowing what we know) that I should explore options like Hims. (and we all know how THAT works)
So I am planning on sharing with them my telehealth journey I have been on this year, Share with them my telehealth research, CAUTION them about recommending Hims, and leave it at that.
I will not share about the grey research for reasons mentioned already in this thread.

I think I'm just wondering, as I'll be transferring to a pen which will last a month, whether I need to order new bac water every time I do a new vial. It sounds like that's the case, as the 30ml is only good for a month (or 2-3 months if you're risking it). Hmmm. Good to know thanks Soapy!

So quick it was like buying domestic but with China prices.

Also, for men 50+, Reta + Tesa + TRT is the combo to beat IMO. If you keep the Tesa and TRT in the high-normal range with regular testing, the risk-reward ratio is very favorable.

Ya I'm 54. Total test # was 565 in 2024 which I think is in normal range, feel good today, normal energy. When one goes on TRT are you not stuck on TRT forever for the most part?

 

[ronin365]

Are you going to go off reta and CJC-1295 completely or titrate down to zero? Lots of options on that in terms of reta - cycle off or titrate down to maintenance level and cruise.

I am not coming off Reta till I have reached my target weight. CJC-1295/Ipa I will stop when I run out in the next week or so. When I do come off Reta I will titrate down .5 mg a week to give my body time to adjust and set its new baseline. From what I have read, coming off Reta cold turkey is a bad idea if you don't want to undo all the progress made. Using Reta is a complete metabolic reset for the body, so it makes sense to me that you should titrate off it slowly.

 

[Calm Logic]

Ya I'm 54. Total test # was 565 in 2024 which I think is in normal range, feel good today, normal energy. When one goes on TRT are you not stuck on TRT forever for the most part?

That's better than some guys in their 30s. You can even go higher naturally with the weight loss taking effect to raise T (it's a process):

Phases of Testosterone Recovery

Timeframe	What’s Happening Physiologically
0–4 Weeks	The Suppression Phase: If you are in a caloric deficit to lose weight, your T-levels might actually stay low or even drop slightly due to the stress of the deficit and lower leptin levels.
1–3 Months	The Balancing Phase: As you transition to maintenance calories and your body fat stabilizes, the reduction in aromatase (the enzyme in fat that converts T to Estrogen) begins to show. You’ll likely feel better before the bloodwork confirms it.
3–6 Months	The Optimization Phase: This is typically when you see the peak "rebound." Studies often show significant increases in Total Testosterone (sometimes by 50–100 ng/dL or more) once a 10% reduction in body mass is maintained for a full quarter.

After I stopped my diy TRT, my test level decreased to lower than when I started. I didn't do PCT but just waited for it to go up on its own.

 

[gimmeshelter]

That's better than some guys in their 30s. You can even go higher naturally with the weight loss taking effect to raise T (it's a process):

After I stopped my diy TRT, my test level decreased to lower than when I started. I didn't do PCT but just waited for it to go up on its own.

I need to re test this year. Sent a request in. I guess it's luck really did not work towards raising, I do exercise a good bit both lifting and cardio. who knows lol

 

[Calm Logic]

Now that I think about it more, 565 is better than some baseline/natty levels for guys in their 20s at Meso. And:

Mathematically, your natural production at age 54 is virtually identical to the average production of a healthy 21-year-old. Most men your age would have to inject testosterone weekly to reach the numbers you are maintaining naturally.

So you are doing better than most guys in their 30s, as well as many 20-somethings.

 

[Rickcaps]

Given your level of physical activity I think reta alone would be enough for you. Ideally it takes a few weeks/ months to adapt to your body and start working.

Stacks are great but adds to the confusion. I would avoid them for now unless you're time constrained towards a goal.

 

[Calm Logic]

Stacks are great but adds to the confusion. I would avoid them for now unless you're time constrained towards a goal.

And no one posts before and after pictures with just GH peptides for weight loss. And if they did, few may believe that was the primary factor.

Even with fat loss from GH peptides, the results can be weight neutral, which makes it harder to know anything for sure:

 

[gimmeshelter]

Now that I think about it more, 565 is better than some baseline/natty levels for guys in their 20s at Meso. And:

So you are doing better than most guys in their 30s, as well as many 20-somethings.

Honestly that is hard to believe. I cannot build muscle really, sparce facial hair, etc. Maybe I am readying it wrong here is a copy and paste from the report. No hair loss, got lucky w that, thanks mom !

Tests: (1) Testosterone,Total (Testosterone,Total)
TSTO 560.56 ng/dL 241.00-827.00

Note: An exclamation mark (!) indicates a result that was not dispersed into the flowsheet.
Document Creation Date: 06/10/2024 10:07 AM
_______________________________________________________________________

 

[gimmeshelter]

Now that I think about it more, 565 is better than some baseline/natty levels for guys in their 20s at Meso. And:

So you are doing better than most guys in their 30s, as well as many 20-somethings.

Jumpin on reta to lose 25. that will put me at 6 5' 215ish. so ya, lean frame.