u/xCh0pstix

I don't really have anyone to share this with, so I figured this community would understand.

I started retatrutide in mid-April at 268.5 lbs. This morning I weighed 244.4 lbs—just around 25 lbs down.

Today I tried on clothes that had been sitting in my closet because they were too tight. One by one...they fit again. That hit me harder than the scale ever has.

So far I've also lost 2 inches off my chest and 2 inches off my waist. It made me realize that all the little decisions I've been making every day are finally showing.

The journey hasn't been perfect. I still struggle with poor sleep and getting enough protein, and I've continued smoking weed throughout this process. The difference is I became much more mindful of my munchies, swapping junk food for things like Greek yogurt, protein edamame, fruit, zero-sugar soda, and low-calorie popcorn.

Yes, I've been smoking flower throughout the process. Reta has completely changed the way I view hunger, munchies and self-aware even when I'm high.

What's been working for me:

-Started: 268.5 lbs → Current: 243.4 lbs

-Currently on 4 mg retatrutide. Spent 2 weeks starting at 1mg then 2 weeks at 1.5mg. Spent 5 weeks at 2mg before going to 3mg for a couple of weeks. And now on week 2 of 4mg.

-Consistent calorie deficit

-GET A FOOD WEIGHT SCALE. Seriously. Weigh your serving portions in grams, you'd be surprised how much we overeat daily.

-High-protein focus (still improving). Ground beef (93/7), chicken breast, tuna cans, Greek yogurt, protein shakes.

-20-lb dumbbells at home + YouTube workouts 3–4x/week (still haven't joined a gym, but will be joining this month!)

-Daily walks and wearing a fitness tracker to stay accountable. Walking 10 mins after dinner. Trying to not eat anything past 8pm.

-Focus on consistency, not perfection. 10 minutes of walking is better than 10 minutes of thinking about going for a walk.

-Shotsy is the app I use to track pins and weight. My starting weight was 268, not 265.

If anyone has questions about my experience, dosing, workouts, nutrition, or is just struggling, feel free to ask.

If you're stuck in a plateau or feeling discouraged, keep going. Sometimes your body is changing long before your mind catches up.

I genuinely didn't have anyone else to share this excitement with, so thanks for letting me share it here.

Here's to the next 25 lbs 🏋🏽

Finally got my living room setup where I want it.

Please know my phone is damn near 6 years old so it's not capturing the colors off the TV as they actually are!

Current Govee lineup:

- TV Backlight 3 Pro

- TV Light Bars

- Floor Lamp 2 Pro

- Up Lighter lamp

- Neon Light strip

- Additional LED strips

For movies and TV, I usually just run the Backlight 3 since I prefer a cleaner bias-lighting effect. But for music, concerts, sports, and gaming, I sync everything to the TV and let the whole room react. The immersion is on another level.

Also recently upgraded from a 65" LG C1 + LG S80Y w/rears to a 77" LG C5 OLED + Samsung Q990F. The bigger screen, better HDR, and full-room lighting sync make the space feel like a mini theater.

Pretty happy with how it all came together. What's everyone else's favorite Govee setup?

I wanted to share a realistic experience because I see a lot of extreme success stories. I'm down about 13 pounds in roughly 6 weeks, but I've also been focused on improving my food choices, walking regularly, weighing my food, and building sustainable habits rather than crash dieting. For those interested in the details:

I've been lurking on these peptide subs for a while and figured I'd finally share my experience because I think there are probably a lot of people like me who see the crazy "lost 40 pounds in 2 months" posts and wonder if they're doing something wrong.

For context:

Male

30 years old

5'9"

Starting weight: 268 lbs

Current lowest weigh-in: 254.8

Current average weight: 255–257 lbs depending on the day but trending down

Goal: Lose body fat, improve health, reverse prediabetes, and build sustainable habits

My biggest takeaway so far is that retatrutide has been a powerful tool, but it hasn't done the work for me. The biggest changes have come from finally paying attention to my eating habits and activity levels.

DOSING TIMELINE

I started conservatively and have titrated up gradually.

Started at 1 mg ( 2wks)

Increased to 1.5 mg (2 wks)

Increased to 2 mg

Currently at 2 mg (4 wks)

Planning to move to 4 mg next week if tolerance continues to be good as per phase 3 trialing.

I've had appetite suppression throughout the process, but it wasn't some magical switch where food became disgusting. I can still eat. I can still enjoy food. The difference is that I can stop much easier than before.

WEIGHT LOSS SO FAR

Starting weight: 268 lbs

Current lowest weight: 254.8 lbs

Total loss: ~13 lbs

Compared to some people on here, that may seem slow.

Compared to my previous attempts at weight loss, it's the most successful and sustainable progress I've ever had.

WHAT I'VE BEEN EATING

One thing that surprises people is that I have not been eating chicken and broccoli every day.

Most of my short term/ early success has come from eating normal foods while controlling portions.

My most common meal by far has been:

Beef + Sweet Potato Bowl

Typical serving:

220–275g lean ground beef

160–220g sweet potato

Greek yogurt based sauce

Various seasonings and hot sauces

I probably eat some version of this meal multiple times per week.

Other foods I regularly eat:

Protein Sources (protein pasta)

Lean ground beef

Steak

Chicken thighs

Rotisserie chicken

Salmon

Greek yogurt

Oikos Triple Zero yogurt drinks

Protein shakes

Carbs

Sweet potatoes

Basmati rice

Black beans

Fruit

Chickpea pasta

Vegetables

Broccoli

Bell peppers

Onions

Tomatoes

Spinach

Fajita vegetables

EATING OUT

I still eat out.

Some examples:

Chipotle bowls

Sushi bowls

Mediterranean food

BBQ

Family dinners

Vacation meals

The difference now is that I'm making smarter decisions and paying attention to portions instead of pretending calories don't exist.

TRACKING FOOD

This may be the biggest change I've made.

For the first time in my life I'm actually weighing food.

But I don't obsess over every single calorie.

I'm not scanning every seasoning.

I'm not trying to be a bodybuilder.

But I do weigh:

Meat

Rice

Sweet potatoes

Pasta

High calorie foods

That alone has completely changed my understanding of portion sizes.

ACTIVITY LEVEL

This is not a marathon training story.

I don't do hours of cardio every day. Or lift everyday.

My activity usually consists of:

Walking

6,000–10,000 steps on good days

Multiple neighborhood lake walks per week

Usually around 2–3 miles per walking session

Roughly 45–75 minutes when I go out

Strength Training

Push/Pull/Legs style workouts 2-3x a week

Dumbbells only so far in home on yoga may lol. Will be going to gym to progressivly overload

Still working on consistency

If I'm being honest, my gym consistency needs improvement and I think that's one of the biggest opportunities for me over the next month.

SIDE EFFECTS

The biggest side effect for me has been constipation.

Nothing severe, but definitely noticeable.

Things that have helped:

More water

Fruit

Vegetables

Black beans

Walking

Paying attention to fiber intake

I think a lot of people on these peptides accidentally reduce their fiber intake because they're eating less overall.

APPETITE CHANGES

This is where retatrutide has been worth it.

Before:

Mindless snacking

Large portions

Frequent overeating

Eating because food was there

Now:

Full faster

Easier to stop eating

Less food noise

More awareness of hunger signals

I still enjoy food.

I still get cravings.

I just don't feel controlled by them anymore.

WHAT HASN'T BEEN PERFECT

I think this is important because Reddit often shows only the highlight reel.

I still:

Have poor sleep habits

Occasionally eat out

Travel

Attend family gatherings

Have weeks that aren't perfect

Miss workouts

This has not been a perfect journey.

It's been a realistic one.

NEXT 4 WEEK PLAN

My focus over the next month:

Increase from 2 mg to 4 mg if tolerated.

Improve gym consistency to 3 sessions per week minimum.

Continue daily walking.

Increase protein intake.

Improve sleep quality.

Continue weighing food and tracking portions.

Keep focusing on sustainable habits rather than chasing rapid scale drops.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The biggest surprise for me isn't the number on the scale.

It's that for the first time, weight loss doesn't feel like suffering.

I don't feel like I'm white-knuckling my way through every day.

I don't feel like I'm constantly thinking about my next meal.

I'm finally building habits that feel sustainable.

If anyone has questions about dosing, food choices, appetite suppression, side effects, workouts, or anything else, feel free to ask. I'm still early in the journey, but I wanted to share a realistic experience because not everyone loses 30–40 pounds in a couple months, and that's okay. And I am also aware the early weight is mostly water :)