Mushy's [Reta] Fat Loss Progress

[Mushy404]

Nice one finding a better GP! I didn't have the patience for that.

I'll definitely give that methyl blue a try then.

We're lucky that blood glucose monitors, blood pressure devices and even blood lipids can be checked cheaply at home. I got one of those cheapish (£70 I think) machines off AliExpress, feed it some blood and can check an assortment of things and it tracks really well with my lab bloods.

Good luck on the diet, you got this, mate!

You can check you lipids on it too!?
Can you share a link to the product so I can take a look.

My general plan regarding bloods is to get them checked every 3 months (£140), which is very affordable to me. Of course, if I've added something new to the protocol I'll get bloods after 6-8 weeks.

 

[Mushy404]

Update:

So… I went a bit hypo at work last week — that was fun.


One moment I was cross-referencing numbers on my monitor, and the next I couldn’t actually see what I was looking at. Everything blurred, my hands went cold and clammy, and I felt lightheaded with a dull headache.


I waited about 20–30 minutes to see if it would pass, since I wasn’t entirely sure what was going on — I’ve been strict keto for months. When it didn’t improve, I had half a glass of milk to get a small amount of carbs in without fully knocking myself out of ketosis. Within 30–40 minutes I felt fine again, aside from a lingering mild headache for the rest of the day.


On the weight front, I’m back down to 359 lbs, two weeks after briefly jumping from 358 → 367 when I started GH. I’m probably still holding about 3 lbs of GH-related water, which I expect to persist.


Tonight I’m increasing Retatrutide to 4 mg every 3 days (~8 mg/week), up from 3 mg E3D. I had planned to take a 1–2 month break after maintaining 8 mg/week for 4–6 weeks to resensitize, restart at 2–4 mg/week, and recapture the early benefits — but I’ve decided instead to push to 12 mg/week before taking that break. During the Retatrutide pause, I’ll use Tesofensine to maintain appetite suppression through a different mechanism.


Otherwise, everything’s steady — diet’s solid, motivation’s strong. My shoulder’s still giving trouble though (I’m on BPC-157 and TB-500 for it). It feels like it’s healing, then suddenly flares up again. I even managed to reinjure it once lifting myself up — sharp pain followed by several days of increased soreness. Still, I’m only 3 weeks into the BPC/TB-500 course, with another 5–7 weeks planned, so we’ll see how it goes.


That’s all for now.

 

[Mushy404]

This was a well timed video drop from Dr Anthony Chaffee w/ Dr Nash Jocic!

When Science Meets Bodybuilding | Dr Nash Jocic​

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgfGo8zK0_0

 

[Mushy404]

UPDATE:

Not much to say in terms of progress, apart from now down to 356lbs from 391 July 16th.

• Average loss per week: ≈ 2.2 lb
• Average loss per month: ≈ 9.7 lb

However, I have been considering capping my Reta at 10mg/week, adding:

• T3 (Liothyronine) — 10 µg AM + 5 µg PM
• L-Carnitine L-Tartrate — 2 g AM fasted (+1 g pre-training)

Reason for capping Reta at 10mg is due to diminishing returns from the Glucagon aspect. I don't see much point increasing it if my appetite is already suppressed. If I am not getting much glucagon benefits beyond that point, then I'm just throwing reta away.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Cautions?

PS: Getting more bloods in 2 weeks. Will update.

 

[Mushy404]

I was just sent a picture from a family member, of me 9 years ago.
I've included it with a previously posted pic of me just 2 years ago.

 

[Mushy404]

Brief update:

- July 16th = 391 lbs
- Nov 16th = 351 lbs
- Total weight loss = 40 lbs
- Avg loss = 10lbs/month (2.3 lbs/week)

Motivation still strong, and dare I say my busted shoulder is starting to actually feel like recovery is within arms reach!

I feel good. Stronger. Healthier and happier. Sleep has improved, but still has a lot of room for improvement.

Bloods taken today, so will update in a few days and compare to starting bloods and previous bloods to identify any trends. I am under the weather today, so I expect a rise in immune markers.

Keep on keeping on!

 

[Elektrobot]

Reason for capping Reta at 10mg is due to diminishing returns from the Glucagon aspect.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Cautions?

What makes you think that you've developed a superior methodology to using reta vs how the scientists running the trials are doing it?

You are the person this drug is being developed for, and you are the typical person participating in the trials.

Follow what they are doing. You didn't crack the code that they overlooked.

If you were using reta "off label" as a fit person looking to optimize insulin sensitivity, get better results in a cut when already very lean....... sure. Tinker around with it- because you're use wouldn't match what it was developed for.

But you are the ideal candidate to use it exactly as directed.

 

[Mushy404]

What makes you think that you've developed a superior methodology to using reta vs how the scientists running the trials are doing it?

You are the person this drug is being developed for, and you are the typical person participating in the trials.

Follow what they are doing. You didn't crack the code that they overlooked.

If you were using reta "off label" as a fit person looking to optimize insulin sensitivity, get better results in a cut when already very lean....... sure. Tinker around with it- because you're use wouldn't match what it was developed for.

But you are the ideal candidate to use it exactly as directed.

Exactly. Trials.

Everything in this “enhanced” space has evolved from people experimenting at the margins of what was done in trials. Tweaking, going off-label, stress-testing the assumptions. That’s literally how half the current “best practices” emerged.

Do you genuinely think most people on these forums are using meds exactly as originally intended?

I’m well aware I’m the target demographic for Reta. That doesn’t automatically mean the way it’s being run in trials is the only intelligent way to use it in the real world.

I’m fat, not an idiot. I'm objectively better off than when I started. I’m tracking my bloods, health markers, and actual progress the whole way through.

Also, I’m not claiming to have cracked any codes, I’m not telling anyone else to do what I’m doing, and I’m not saying my approach is superior for everyone. I’m an N=1 who enjoys tinkering within what I consider a sensible level of risk. If the data tells me I’m wrong, I’ll adjust.

I did ask for cautions and suggestions, so fair enough on raising yours. Thank you.

 

[Elektrobot]

Everything in this “enhanced” space has evolved

You not enhanced

You are general population with high risk factors

Exactly. Trials.

Name a GLP that has different use instructions than what was done in the trials for it.

Worry more about learning nutrition. Worry less about self medicating with thyroid medications and peptides. You are drug focused. You need to become habit and education focused.

 

[Mushy404]

You not enhanced

You are general population with high risk factors


Name a GLP that has different use instructions than what was done in the trials for it.

Worry more about learning nutrition. Worry less about self medicating with thyroid medications and peptides. You are drug focused. You need to become habit and education focused.

Just to be clear, when I said “enhanced space” I was talking about this bodybuilding forum and, by extension, the world of performance compounds where the majority of people are using things outside of strict trial or leaflet protocols. That’s the context we’re in. The fact you missed something that obvious, while being so condescending and lecturing, is laughable.

Put the keyboard down and get some fresh air, fella.

If you’ve got specific, constructive concerns - labs, interactions, actual risks with the way I’m running it - then say that. Otherwise you’re adding no value and wasting my time.

 

[Infernalmango]

Just to be clear, when I said “enhanced space” I was talking about this bodybuilding forum and, by extension, the world of performance compounds where the majority of people are using things outside of strict trial or leaflet protocols. That’s the context we’re in. The fact you missed something that obvious, while being so condescending and lecturing, is laughable.

Put the keyboard down and get some fresh air, fella.

If you’ve got specific, constructive concerns - labs, interactions, actual risks with the way I’m running it - then say that. Otherwise you’re adding no value and wasting my time.

The majority of people are using pharmaceutical meds as intended. The minority of people tinkering with doses or protocols have everything else optimized. You do not. You were 400lbs and are only down 40 in 5 months? Brother you should’ve lost 40 in the first month. I’ll admit I mostly skimmed, but not once did I see in this whole thread you mention exercise at all? Just a lot of adding drugs mostly. Specific and constructive criticism - Lock the fuck in dog.

 

[Mushy404]

Specific and constructive criticism - Lock the fuck in dog.

Heard.

You're correct, I have not spoken much about exercise, or diet for that matter. Nothing new under the sun when it comes to those. Which is why I haven't said much about them.

I am content with being ketogenic at the moment, and happy with my decent weightloss progress so far. Down 40lbs in 4 months, which is about 2.3lbs a week. I am considering adding a little complex carbs however, but not yet pulled the trigger as I feel so much better on keto.

On the exercise front, I have being doing some light weight training at home while I sort my shoulder out (adjustable dumbells + bench). The good news on the shoulder-front is a lot of progress has been made and will be upgrading to the local gym this week when I get to the other side of this cold I've picked up. I bought the membership the other day, so am almost ready to kick it up a gear.

Cardio-wise, just been walking more since some scumbag robbed my bike. No running/jogging at this weight yet. Too much wear a tear.

Thanks for the input mate - fingers crossed there are no setback with my shoulder and I kick on.

 

[Elektrobot]

I am content with being ketogenic

In what way is a high fat diet benefiting you? What is your logic there?

so am almost ready to kick it up a gear.

Having a solid program is going to be paramount to your success in the gym. Hire a coach / trainer. Skip spending money on drugs and peptides and buy yourself some knowledge.

 

[Mushy404]

In what way is a high fat diet benefiting you? What is your logic there?


Having a solid program is going to be paramount to your success in the gym. Hire a coach / trainer. Skip spending money on drugs and peptides and buy yourself some knowledge.

Firstly, I would like to say I appreciate your change of tact here and not being condescending, which was quite apparent in your previous posts.

It seems to me that you are somewhat defining a ketogenic diet as just being "a high fat diet". If this is the case, then you are profoundly off the mark, as there's so many aspects/benefits to it. There's quite a bit of literature on how it works, and the benefits of it, so you shouldn't have any issues getting up to speed (if you do lack understanding of course).

For me however, a ketogenic diet significantly improves my cognition and HbA1c. Being obese is no joke. The metabolic/insulin resistance issues are profound. Reversing those are one of the major keys to successfully turning my health around.

So I would reframe your "in what way is high fat diet benefiting you", to "how is very low carb diet benefiting you?". And to answer that, I refer to what I have just said above.

Regarding buying knowledge. My issue was never lack of knowledge.
I let life the the better of me and I gave up.
I gave up caring about what I ate. I gave up caring about exercising. I gave up caring about my health in general and did a lot of unhealthy things.
It was never that I didn't know better. It was that I didn't care.

But now I do.

 

[Elektrobot]

condescending

I haven't said anything other than fact. How you interpret it is a you thing.

a high fat diet

What are you maintenance calories, how much of a deficit are you keeping, and what are your daily macros? 1 gram of fat has more than twice the calories as a gram of carbohydrate. How are you keeping a deficit while eating high calorie foods?

You are calling keto a successful thing, while at the same time having only lost 40 pounds since July?

HbA1c

Is this elevated?

"in what way is high fat diet benefiting you"

When is the last time you had a full lipid panel?

"how is very low carb diet benefiting you?"

Weight loss = low calorie. Eat a low calorie diet that consists of the most healthy foods you can make fit into your macros. High fat / high calorie "keto" is a cult. People buy into it thinking they are doing something amazing. It gives them something t ascribe to. It gives them a definition of food. The only thing that really happens is that these people are finally following and adhering to a food plan for the first time in their life. Imagine how much better their results would be if that food plan was a good one.

There is nothing healthy or optimal about eating keto

Post what your daily macro balance

 

[Mushy404]

I haven't said anything other than fact. How you interpret it is a you thing.

OK, let's leave it at that l, fella.

Best I just put you on ignore, because I don't have the patience to deal with your attitude or erroneous assumptions.

You need to talk less and think more.
Peace.

 

[Elektrobot]

OK, let's leave it at that l, fella.

Best I just put you on ignore, because I don't have the patience to deal with your attitude or erroneous assumptions.

You need to talk less and think more.
Peace.

....... tell me I found the holes in your plan without telling me

 

[Infernalmango]

OK, let's leave it at that l, fella.

Best I just put you on ignore, because I don't have the patience to deal with your attitude or erroneous assumptions.

You need to talk less and think more.
Peace.

Regardless of how you want to be talked to, people are saying the right things. Gotta have thicker skin on the internet.

If I’m not mistaken, you don’t even track calories or macros right? That’s a huge issue that electro is trying to point out to you. Keto “works” if it keeps you in a deficit, not bc you’re eliminating carbs. I don’t want to say fats are the enemy, but Based off your lifestyle prior to trying to get healthy, I highly doubt your diet is full of clean healthy fats right now. Do you have any recent blood work? Do you intend on tracking cals/macros?

 

[ikemay]

There is nothing healthy or optimal about eating keto

for bodybuilding its definitely not ideal, for dropping pounds like its nothing its definitely effective. i went from 340 to 220 in ~10mo on strict carnivore alone and no glp's, i know thats looked down on by most and i never planned on staying on it longer than needed but mental clarity and steady energy wise it felt amazing. that overall feeling of well being tanked as soon as i added carbs back in. ofc all this only matters if op is actually doing what he says he's doing and its unlikely with the amount of weight lost in that period of time especially with reta involved.

carnivore served its purpose for me and im done with it, no tracking macros because there was no need. its very hard to not be in a caloric deficit on that diet not to mention i'd have to remind myself to eat because i was never hungry or felt drained

 

[Elektrobot]

for dropping pounds like its nothing its definitely effective

A deficit is a deficit. The amount of a deficit is the only thing that changes how effective it is.

carnivore served its purpose for me

A deficit served it's purpose for you

no tracking macros because there was no need.

Skipping the basics isn't a brag