Reta/Tirz has changed my life!
At 39, I am in better shape than when I was 20! For context, All my life I was skinny and fit. Then I graduated college, took a desk job and the weight packed on with really no diet change. The new sedimentary job killed my metabolism. Mind you when I graduated High school, I weighed 135 lbs.
So since about 23 years old I've been overweight. I've lost 30 lbs about 3 times, but the food noise ALWAYS gets to me. I STARVE on diets no matter what I do.
July 2025 I had had enough. Sitting at 240 lbs, wearing size 40 pants, needing to go to XXL shirts, heartburn all the time, acid reflux at night. Out of breath all the time. I was DONE.
I started a low dose of 2.5mg/week of Tirzepitide and after a few weeks, the scale started moving! I lost so much water weight in those first few weeks it was insane. By October 2025 I was down 35 lbs so averaging about 10lbs/month. But I was starting to look thin with no muscle tone as you can see in the photo with my son at his football game.
In September, I also began walking 9-12 miles a week with my dog and loved it. I wanted to try backpacking and hiking out! And I did. Went in a 14 mile trip in October!
Also for my annual blood work, ALL of my numbers were back in the good. Cholesterol, Triglycerides, blood pressure, EVERYTHING!
November 2025, I started going to the brand new Planet Fitness in town and have yet to log LESS than 3 days a week there since. On average, I go 5 days a week, and on 3 of those days, I go twice. I was so weak when I started weight training as well. I do Upper Lower Split. Upper one day, Lower the next for 4 days in the evenings. On lunches I go hit abs or cardio for 3 of those days. I also hike with my dog some days.
I also take 5mg/creatine a day, and do 1 Naked Protein shake a day.
It's amazing how losing just 35 lbs changed my "mindset". It changed my mindset on what I ate and how I ate. It allowed me focus on my diet and exercise without feeling STARVED all the time. I could focus for the first time in my life since gaining so much weight.
I got down to 186 (54 POUNDS GONE!!) by January and I went off of the Tirzepitide a while to allow my body to adjust and not become dependent. And of course I started to eat more and again, not much, but I could tell I was gaining a few a few lbs back although I wasn't eating terrible and I was still going to gym. Got back up to 200 lb over a 6 month span, still fit, but I noticed my shirts fitting tighter again....I knew a lot of the extra weight was muscle, but a lot was gained far as well! I know fat lol...Time to adjust and make a change again!
In June, I ran across a post about Reta and it peaked my interest....researched Reta for about 2 weeks, found a supplier I felt I could trust, I bought 3 vials (10mg each). June 24th I started 0.5mg of Reta. I titrated up 0.5mg every couple weeks. I knew I could tolerate more from being in up to 5mg/week of Tirzepitide, but still I started low. I had read that Reta may be better for weight lifters and such because it's not as strong on the appetite suppression and it's less likely to lose muscle as long as you lift and hit protein goals. Currently sitting at 2mg/week.
I got even more serious and started tracking my macros as well back in June.(I didn't before because I was simply losing weight). Downloaded Macrofactor and LOVE it. Since June 24th, I'm back down 11 pounds sitting at 189 at the time of this post. It's amazing how a fit 189 lb looks different than a "just skinny" 186 lb. One starting to get a V at my waist and be able to see individual abs (slowly but surely). I will start stacking Tesamorelin soon to help with a little stubborn belly fat on top of abs I cannot seem to shake! Currently wearing Large shirts again and size 34 waist!
I could say so much more about Reta and Tirzepitide, but if you are in the fence about starting either, DON'T be!!! But also don't be fooled, it was not all the peps, I have also PUT IN WORK. They MADE me change my eating habits and MADE me want to work out. I kill myself at the gym every day and crave to go back even more even on off days. I keep my calories under 2200-2300, drink nothing but water or the occasional Gatorade.
So hopefully this post, although long, will inspire someone! I'm still not where I want to be but further along than I was 💪🏻!