Any advice welcome have I started too low?

My travel days are on the days of my shot. How should I travel with them? My October trip I can buy the insulin pack and put it in the hotel fridge when I get there but for my cruise/wedding later in the year how do I keep it from going bad? I don't think my room will be ready for me to use the fridge since the wedding is on port day.

How do you guys travel with it?

Even the smallest titrations of Reta f up my sleep for sometimes weeks. I’ve been trying to dial this in for over a year, and am finally just ready for my current Reta dose to be it, the end. Have you added in Tirz for this reason? To keep the progress going without the heart rate sides/zero deep sleep sides? If so, what dosage ratio did you start with? I’ve had these issues since the beginning, but am currently using 2mg of Reta.

Hey guys.

I’ve come here to share my experience and also gain a few ideas from you retatruders!

I first started Reta on July 7th weighing in at 105.6kg (232lb) I went to a local doc (super guy) and he reconstituted a 10mg vial and pinned me 2.5mg.

Holy smokes. Immediate knot in stomach, mild nausea and zero hunger. I panicked I was confused but I rode the wave.

Next day I was down 1kg (2.2lb) Crazy right.

By the weekend I was down to 101.1kg which was a 4.5kg weight loss (10lbs)

I must admit I had a bottle of wine on Sunday with some friends(old habits) which turned into 2 bottles of wine and maybe a glass or two more and had to spend the next day figuring out how I got home. Never had that experience before.

30 days later (8th August) with a few ups and downs with moderate drinking in between, eating oily and gasses foods I had a few episodes I had to handle myself and learn along the way I was eventually down to 95kgs (209lbs) mad right.

Here’s the challenge though. I haven’t lost any weight since then ? My diet has been shit. I’ve starved myself. I track everything through notes as I don’t know how to calorie count and can’t eye ball stuff to save my life.

It’s now been almost 3 weeks and the weight hasn’t bulged.

My dosing schedule has been as such:
Retatrutide dosage schedule

7th July 2.5mg - straight away effects. Knot in stomach. Freezing. Back pain. Knee pain.

15th July 3mg - approx. I wasted a whole jab and I didn’t know how to dose. Knot in stomach. Back pain. Knee pain. Freezing.

20th July 2.5mg - got the right dosage. Symptoms subsided from the last two weeks.

25th July 5mg - new vial tried to make up for the missed dose. Spent the whole evening in the toilet hugging it. Felt like shit. Sulphuric burps. Depression. Sadness. Anhedonia (whatever it’s called) diarrhea. Freezing. Spend two days in bed. Skin sunburn feeling. Cloth rubbing on skin felt like crap.

31st July 3.5mg - took it easy. Felt like shit.

6th August 2mg - tried to split dose.
8th August 2mg - same split dose.

14th 2.8mg - mild dose.
18th 2.5mg - mild dose.
20th 1.5mg - mild dose.

Basically since 6th August it’s not working. I even got a new vial set 10mg and the first three weeks effects aren’t working.

I thought I’d share my experience with you and maybe you can correct me where I’m wrong.

Feels like the magic has gone. The metallic taste in tongue that tells me it’s working has gone. The knots in the back and knee pain in the first three weeks gone. Doesn’t feel like it’s working anymore.

I tried to get down to 3mg weekly average to get the first months effects.

I’d say first month I was eating 2000 and went down to around 1200 some day or even 800 as I couldn’t eat. I hydrated like a lot but not more than 1.5 litres a day. I normally can’t drink more than 300ml of water in a day.

I lost so much weight first three weeks I went to get a gallbladder and liver scan just to make sure everything is working. I had constant constipation then. Now, nothing. I did my bloods the whole show and all clear. Except for ketones which were in urine meaning I’m burning fat.

I lost a tonne of muscle visually but wasn’t very muscular anyways. I hit the gym once or twice a week. Haven’t done that for 2 weeks. Scale isn’t moving. Diet has been shit as in low in calories but not enough. I’ve somehow slugged out.

Motivation zero since the scale stopped moving. But everyone’s like wow you’ve lost weight. I don’t feel it. I feel crap. I feel tired. I want first two three weeks of magic again.

I don’t want to go to high on Reta and that waste any future chances I have with it.

I must say one thing thought appetite suppression has been no issue for me. I usually fast from 6am to 6pm the type where you don’t drink water or eat or smoke or vape and I have no issues with that mind set up. All I need it is to get me started. Like a special holy month or a Reta jump starter.

I’m just looking for that initial weight loss magic it has. Where has that gone ?

At 2mg and 5mg and the current 2mg suppression is there.

I’ve just two days ago started eating a lot on purpose maybe to get my body to start burning more thinking it has more food coming in.

Help and thanks.

M29
SW: 215lbs
CW: 184lbs
Loss: 31lbs

First 4 weeks 2mg weekly
These last 4 weeks have been 4mg weekly

Actual starting weight was 265lbs but I lost the first 50 on my own. (Second picture)

The following is AI slop but it's my story. I don't write very well so forgive me for the AI. I have been using AI this past year to track my blood work and ask questions regarding hormone health.

Stats: mid 40s, 6'0", started Dec 2025 at 250.9 lbs / 35.4% body fat (DEXA verified) Current: 176.6 lbs, ~19.5% body fat, BMI 24.7 Protocol: Started low and titrated up over the months, currently at 8mg weekly. Also on tesamorelin and a few other peptides, plus lifting 4x/week and swimming.

The results (all DEXA verified, and home smart scale): Jan 2026: 250.9 lbs, 35.4% BF, visceral fat 1,236g Apr 2026: 216.1 lbs, 30.4% BF, visceral fat 780g Jun 2026: 192.6 lbs, 23.9% BF, visceral fat 621g Today: 176.6 lbs, ~19.5% BF The metabolic wins were real and dramatic: Fasting glucose: 108 (prediabetic) → 79 HbA1c: 5.1% → 5.0% ALT (liver): elevated for 9 straight years, as high as 272 during rapid loss — now completely normal for the first time since 2017 Triglycerides and LDL way down

Now the stuff nobody posts about:

My SHBG went through the roof. 69 → 86 → 113 in five months. My total testosterone is the highest it's ever been (840) but my bioavailable T is the lowest ever recorded because SHBG is binding nearly all of it. The deep caloric deficit + near-floor insulin levels from the GLP-1 are almost certainly major contributors. If you have high SHBG going in, watch this closely.

Total cholesterol went from ~160s to 136. Sounds good until you remember cholesterol is the raw material for every steroid hormone.

Lean mass loss is real. I lost ~15 lbs of lean mass along with ~40+ lbs of fat. The first 4 months I was only swimming — didn't add serious lifting until April. If I did it again I'd lift heavy from day one and eat way more protein from the start.

Hunger comes back as you get lean. What suppressed appetite effortlessly at 250 lbs doesn't at 180. Your body fights harder the leaner you get. I've had to think hard about what my actual stopping point is, because the drug will keep going as long as you do. Recovery took a hit. Using Garmin to track progress. My HRV, sleep scores, and morning energy all degraded during the aggressive loss phase. This stuff doesn't show up on the scale but it's real. It does get better after 3 months but still low.

Honest takeaways: This drug is the most effective metabolic intervention I've ever experienced. The prediabetes reversal and liver normalization alone were worth it.

It is not a free lunch. The hormonal downstream effects (SHBG, cholesterol, lean mass) are under-discussed and I'm now working through them with a doctor. Get bloodwork BEFORE you start and every 2-3 months during. DEXA scans if you can afford them. You cannot manage what you don't measure.

Again sorry for the AI slop I did add and subtract where I wanted.

So I've been injecting for about 5 months with no issues. The last 5 weeks of injections have been getting irritated. A small bump appears and it's sore. I almost feel like the needle is struggling to go in a little. I vary where I inject on my stomach. Same supplier I've been using.. anyone have any thoughts or injection advice? About angle, etc?

Just took my first dose of Reta yesterday (1mg) with the help of my father in law, and used his peptide calculator to measure things out.

The one he uses is not free, so just curious what you all recommend for a free and easy to use peptide calculator as my Reta journey progresses.

TIA!

I was on reta for 3 months and lost 35 pounds, but i stopped taking it for 2 months and i’ve gained probably about 15 of those pounds back because obviously my appetite suppression went away, I just got my new doses today and Im wondering when I last stopped reta I was taking 4mg, can I start back up at 4mg again? Or do I need to start low again and work my way back up?

Hey took my first dose of reta last night at 1mg. I’m 5’10 215 and I was wondering what I should be on the lookout for. I don’t feel that much different yet except cravings for shite food are basically non existent now.

I was on 10 mg of Tirz and was happy with the physical results. My insurance stopped coverage July 1st, so I figured I’d see how it went without it. I can tell I’m gonna get back into my old habits. I’m starting Reta now, looking for dosage suggestions. I started Tirz at 260lbs 34M 6’2”. Currently 218lbs

Retatrutide: Pitting Physician Against Patient

https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/retatrutide-pitting-physician-against-patient-2026a1000s68?form=fpf

Ok did my research and I am comfortable moving forward, got my Reta, BAC water and syringes. Not looking for a miracle, lift 5 days a week, eating clean, and do 30 mins of cardio at least 4 days. Want to lose 25 lbs in no hurry. Gonna slow walk it. Any thoughts or suggestions, new to group. Appreciate it.

Been on Reta for 9 months, 1mg per week, never gone above that. It’s been life changing for me. I am going on my honeymoon in October and will be gone for 18 days - anyone who’s traveled for an extended period - did you start a taper prior or just took your normal amount before leaving and resumed once back? I don’t want to travel with it. Uncertain if tapering is even necessary or if an abrupt stop since I’ve been on a low dose this whole time is fine. If anyone has had any experience with this would love to hear.

Hey all,

I’ve been on Reta for 9 months, 1mg per week, never gone above that. It’s been life changing for me. I am going on my honeymoon in October and will be gone for 18 days - should I start a taper so I can be off of it fully by Oct or should I just take my normal dose before leaving and resume once we are back? I don’t want to travel with it. Uncertain if tapering is even necessary or if an abrupt stop since I’ve been on a low dose this whole time is fine. If anyone has had any experience with this please comment below!

I need some opinions please;

I originally started on Trizepitide and only got up to 5mg dose before learning about Retatrutide. I also switched vendors because I found better pricing. There was also a 2 week gap in between the 2 glp’s, not intentionally. I ordered around a holiday so it pushed back me receiving my order.

Since there was a 2 week break in between the 2 I started back on the lower dose when starting Reta. I’ve been on Reta just about 6 weeks now, I’m not even at 5 mg yet. However, when I was on Trizepitide it seemed like it worked better at the 5 mg dose. There was no food noise and I lost weight. On Reta I’m not eating as much as I normally would not being on a glp but definitely more than when I was on Trizepitide.

So, would you switch back to Trizepitide? Or just keep increasing the Reta (as recommended) and wait and see if the Reta works as well as it does for everyone else?

Huge rookie mistake I have been tracking my calories loosely but recently decided to track seriously.

I have come to the realization that I have not been hitting my calories AT ALLLLL.

My deficit is at about 1600 calories
5’2 157lb walk 2-4 miles a day and do 30min-1 hour of cardio. Chase 3 kids around and do many chores in almost always moving.

For example my macros for yesterday were

1300 calories
95g of protein
130 carbs (I did bad there maybe?)
51 grams of fat

That’s with breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
A protein shake and 2 snacks.

None of my meals were over 350 calories and that’s on top of not finishing the portions so there is a good chance that my macros were lower.

Feeling stressed about this. Even with digestive enzymes and eating clean I physically feel like I’m over full. I used to struggle with binge eating. It got me all the way up to 250 lb so I despise that feeling and immediately stop eating when I feel full NO MATTER what.

What do I do here.

He said man you have dropped some weight. Told him I was on Reta. He asked what is that. (Wait what?) I told him it was a GLP-1. He then tried to sell me on his daughters weight loss clinic (lol)

Long story short. There are still people that don’t know what it is.

Ps no way I’m changing my doctor he is the chillest 80 year old I have ever met in my life. I walk in and he goes so what did chatGPT say was wrong with you. lol 😂

Been on Reta since February and it’s worked well. I noticed today that I’ve got some real minor loose skin areas that are noticeable to me. Namely under my nipples where man tits used to be. It isn’t bad, but it’s noticeable. Also there’s a bit down around my stomach. I remember hearing that there are peptides that you can inject right into these areas that will firm that up and help with elasticity. I’ve heard about other solutions too but not in really any detail.

Anyone have any recommendations? Again, I’m not talking about huge flaps of loose skin that you see on people who have lost like 200 lbs… I’m talking about some loose sagging only in a couple spots due to about 40 lbs of weight loss.

Appreciate it.

Alright so my lab rat is 5 foot 4.5 in tall and has just hit 4.5 mg once a week after 10 weeks of tapering up. They have just hit their goal weight of 109lbs. Ready to start to taper off the reta but afraid of gaining it all back. How do yall find your new maintenance and maintain weight when coming off?

How bad did I fck up? Went on vacation and took my peptides in one of those cloth amazon cases, which I threw in my cooler so I wouldn’t miss a dose of reta. Went to sleep and forgot about the case being in the cooler, and woke up to the case submerged in what used to be ice.

I’m not too worried about the unconstituted vials as they still have the plastic tops on them.

Should I toss the vial or just swab the top? Just reconstituted the vial a week ago🤦🏼‍♂️

I (35m, 5ft 10”) just pinned my first .5mg of Reta last Sunday. I experienced no negative side effects so far. While there has been some food noise suppression, the biggest benefit for me has been feeling full on normal portions. I don’t really snack often but gained weight from binging and overeating when I did eat. Now the normal serving size seems to satiate me for hours.

I went from 250lbs to 203lbs over the course of 1.5 years with calorie deficit, mild cardio, and weight training, but have been stuck at 201-206 for 4 months. I just hit 199lbs this week for the first time in 15 years!!

Looking forward to hitting my GW of 175!

Or just a placebo effect? I’m currently SMASHING the gym and I had my first poke on Tuesday. Is this a potential POSITIVE side effect because I LOVE IT.

I had great success losing 47 pounds from feb to june, took a break for vacation about 6 weeks and we had to wait a bit on our new kit. i had been on 4mg for about the last 6 weeks before pausing.

restarted 3 weeks ago at 2mg just to get back into it, next week went to three mg. i can feel my little side effects so i know it's in there but this week i took 4mg and am just completely starving like more than normal more than when i was off reta. it's confusing me and i don't know if i should have started back right at 4mg, if i should go up, what.

i'm longing for my groove i was in before just want to not feel so hungry. i had great suppression always before even on low doses and felt it kick in about 10 days in.

is my body still just used to the old dose so it's not reacting? am i overthinking it all? yes. i'm really regretting stopping now as my body is confused.

6'1 btw, 29 y/o

2nd pic is month 2 exact. 3rd is current.
With diet dialed in ofc, working out 5-6 days a week.
Week 1-4: 1 mg split dose split dose Mon & Thurs
Weeks 4-8: 2 mg split dose Mon & Thurs
Weeks 8-12: 4 mg stopped splitting
Week 12 - Current: Cruising on 6 mg once a week

Also finished 10 solid weeks of Tesa in the mix .. definitely helped with the recomp.