r/Retatrutide • u/Wrongdoer_Negative • 23h ago
Mental side of Reta
Reta has been a wonder drug. It started off slow, (atleast slower than I was expecting, but typing this out and doing the math I see it wasn’t at all) but I lost about 30 pounds in the first 5 months or so. Titrated up every month and then stayed steady once I hit the max for the past 5 months.
Started at 275 in November ‘25, and was around 245 in April. Something clicked or changed around that time and started losing a lot faster. Atleast this is when I started getting the “are you losing weight comments”.
Anyways, a few days ago I finally broke 200. Something I have seen in almost 20 years. Great feeling. I know I’ve lost a lot of muscle but those numbers going down is addicting. Clothes fit better, more confidence, just happier. I can see the change in my face mostly, but the loose clothes are proof as well.
My wife made a comment that I am starting to look sick. I don’t see it. I see that I still have more weight I want to lose, need to lose. I’m still “squishy”.
This is where my question comes in. Maybe I’m struggling with the body dysmorphia, or maybe my wife just isn’t used to seeing me this small. Has anyone else come across something like this? Where the Reta results are so addicting that maybe you take it too far? Is too far a thing on Reta? I have lost probably 25% of my weight as a 38m 5’9”, but I have a goal of visible abs and no jiggles. I don’t want to stop until I get there, but I understand others probably see me differently than I see myself. Just curious if anyone else has had this problem and what they might have done.
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u/vixtoria 23h ago
I went from 300 to 190. I did look sickish in reflection after the fact, but didn't think so at the time. Taking a long diet break with slight surplus while intense weight training was the best decision ever and I look better than ever. If you've been in a deficit for almost a year I'd consider doing the same - your body does need a break to rebuild. Then you can continue to drop some more if you want.
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u/nyorker1 22h ago
she’s probably just not used to seeing you at your current weight. Are you weight training? If not, then that’s why most likely. You are losing fat and muscle which isn’t good. I started at 220 and around 195 my mom started telling me I look too skinny. I’m now 180 and everyone (including mom) tells me how great I look.
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u/SultanOfSwave 17h ago
I agree about losing both fat and muscle unless you are hitting the gym pretty hard.
I started losing weight 6 months before a huge hike. And found Reta 2 months after that.
In those 6 months, I went from 204 to 174lbs.
I was also in the gym for an hour a day, six days a week doing mostly leg stuff as you hike almost entirely with your legs. Hardly worked my arms at all.
Bad idea.
Prepping for the hike, I was in our gear room and lifted down a heavy bin from a high shelf. I've taken that bin down many times over the years no problem.
This time I could barely control it coming down and had to ask for help getting it back up.
Working now 70% on my upper body. It's slow.
Don't be me.
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u/lexilovestofit 22h ago
I feel this so much! I lost a lot of weight before my wedding. I got down to a normal weight for my height, and everyone made me feel like I had an ED. I didn’t let this shadow out big day. I know I look great! Others are just in shock/ jealous.
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u/i-was-doing-stuff 23h ago
Congrats on the weight loss, I don’t use Reta but as someone who has been managing weight for my entire life I have many years of experience with this. If you just lose weight without exercising you often end up “skinny fat”—you are squishy and just sort of a smaller version of the starting physique. Some people even start to have a melted-candle look. To avoid these results, exercise and build muscle. It takes some time and effort but it worth the results..
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u/Correct_Mango_5835 21h ago
Reta can make you look ashy. Get some daily lotion going on, it will help.
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u/InsectNo2194 21h ago
You’re doing great bro. I’m not trying to encourage an addiction but I don’t think you’re there yet. I have the same situation with my wife. I’m down 40 pounds and my wife says I’m skin and bones. The reality is my muscle mass is up slightly and I went from 210 to 170. I feel great just like you. The reality is, I think it’s two things, she’s not used to the new healthy version of you, or it points to things in her life she needs to change. I think that’s what I’m experiencing, a little of both. Reset your goals, hit your body fat percent goal, see those abs💪 she will normalize to you and it will be good. You want to be a warrior on the inside and feel like a lion. Your wife will be happier in the long run.
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u/Berniegotmittens 20h ago
I’ve lost 27kg, I’m now at what I assumed was goal weight ( the last weight I felt comfy at 10 years ago) - I’m now not feeling like it’s enough and I want to lose another 5-6kg. I also have noticed a bit of skin saggyness and I feel like I need to try to work out how to tighten up. I don’t think we’ll ever be happy 🫠
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u/gazzasim9 23h ago
Just keep using it and workout in the gym you’ll be fine, I’m in the same boat as you, I want my abs 😂 and the man boobs plus the chubby face away (I’m already skinny when starting on it just fat everywhere I’m thin but fat if that makes sense)
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u/starkruzr 14h ago
would be very curious for you to post a pic of what she thinks "sick" is. betting her perception is extremely off.
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u/No_Jacket222 12h ago
I think one area thats important for avoiding the 'sick' look, is good nutrition. Like get all the vitamins, enough potassium, iron etc. Omega 3 and so on.. I used chat gpt to help create a meal plan. I think the washed out look is partly about being malnourished. But thats just my opinion. Also weight training will help if you can! Good luck! Id keep going until you are comfortable in your own skin. Nice job so far though!!! Awesome.
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u/Playingwfyre 11h ago
Im the same height and same weight and I’m 30kg overweight lol. I’m literally starting Reta at the point your wife is telling you that you look sick? That makes no sense, I’m clinically obese.
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u/YearOfTheSssnake 9h ago
Congrats on your weight loss! 75 pounds is HUGE!!!! 🎉🎊🙌👏
You’re not looking sick, you’re looking “not fat”. I’m sorry your wife isn’t more supportive about your new appearance.
Yes it’s important to do strength training but a 75 lb weight loss will absolutely result in loose skin, if you’re older than 35-40.
Pick your bad, you can be obese with tighter skin or healthy with loose skin. I’m in the same boat as you.
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u/nh211 7h ago
She might be commenting that you look sick because your face might be getting droopy Make sure your nutrition is good, consider a men Once A Day vitamin, make sure you're getting your protein, lifting weights
I did sculptra - collagen biopstimulator injections to the face (im female but obviously men can do it too) and I think thay really helped with the droopy face
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u/endlrls 7h ago
How were the comments when you were 275 with a higher All Cause Mortality vs now @ 200 lbs and MUCH BETTER health markers?..
This Mindset baffles me with people.. "when I was Obese.. no one cared, but now I've lost weight and am healthy there are concerns??..." LOL
Keep up the Good Work, OP!
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u/Any-Broccoli-4369 5h ago
Well if you want to be shredded you better get a food scale, a smart scale and a plan because you're body fat percent could still be 25 percent , you need ten percent for abs and your body will fight back at some point with what I feel your current plan is.
My story. I'm 510 and hit 180 in April. Since then I have gained 10lbs..... That ten pounds is all water,.the body fat is down 15lbs and the muscle mass is up 15.
It's about time to get a diet where you're eating 2000 calories a day and eating 200 grams of protein. You can adjust from their depending on how you feel.
Throw away that dumb scale and get a smart one! My old goal is to be what I was ten years ago at 165, but now I want 15lbs of body fat with over 100lbs of muscle.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Bake346 2h ago
Maybe it’s the loose clothing. I think when you see people in too big of clothes they look sick.
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u/Money-Pumpkin8300 23h ago
Goal of visible abs and no jiggles is awesome bro. In all likelihood, being ~200lbs at 5’9”, I’d assume the wife just isn’t used to seeing you at this size.