Reta Results: Muscle Loss Real?

No real rules, just get them when you want. Start and mid-way are good, but expect water loss. It's just one data point to use with everything else, like your strength. Also, see where you lost lean mass. Stomach area is probably water, food, and liver glycogen.

Also, when you lose fat, the fat cells are bound by glycerol, which can show as lean mass on a dexa. So if you lose a lot of weight, you'll lose a little lean mass from that.
 
Not the OP, but I'm on a low dose of Reta (1mg-1.5mg) and hitting my macros (1500 Calories & 150grams of protein) easily. I just started though, so who knows.
 
When figuring out the "right" protein intake on Reta, how do you do it?
1) Protein per day based on ideal or current weight?
2) How many grams per pound?
3) Does age or exercise type matter?
 
Use goal weight and 1gm/lb.

Some say more, some less. It's a range. If you're serious about hypertrophy, you need to take protein and nutrition seriously.

I have a scoop with my coffee and another for "dessert."
 
Do some research. There's a range for gram/lb based on goals, lean vs total weight, bro science, etc.

I'm focused on maintaining mass while cutting.

I started TRT, lifting, and take 3g HMB daily to protect lean mass. Getting another DEXA this month or next to compare to my baseline from January (scheduling was bad).
 
Losing almost 40 lbs in 10 weeks is too fast, you'll lose muscle. Your body breaks down anything it can to survive. Maybe 10lbs is water, so really about 20 of fat and 10 of muscle and other stuff. Huge calorie deficit causes that, which doesn't fit with you saying you didn't get much appetite suppression.

There's not much research on this, the drugs were studied for obesity. Body fat of 27% isn't obese, maybe overweight.

Reduce the dose, maybe increase calories to slow weight loss to 1-2 lbs per week. High protein, at least 1.5g/kg/day. Some muscle loss is almost inevitable, but I've seen exceptions. Bodybuilding forums probably have more info on cutting cycles, but I don't like their steroid doses.
 
@RileyHub what about protein needs based on muscle fiber type? Weightlifters need more for fast-twitch, but what about endurance people with slow-twitch? Does slow-twitch vs fast-twitch catabolism affect protein needs?

Also, 1gm per ideal weight is common when not on Reta. Does Reta change protein needs to spare muscle?
Green-FWIW said:
Use goal weight and 1gm/lb.
Click to expand...
 
You can reduce muscle loss while cutting. I went from 270 to 200 last year in 9 months. I ate a lot of protein, but only 1300-1400 calories a day. 150 grams of protein. I weighed everything. I lifted weights 3-4 days a week and did 30 minutes of zone 2 cardio 5 days a week. Every 3-4 weeks I'd refeed to maintenance calories for a day. I probably lost some muscle, but not much. I was using tirz at 5mg a week and testosterone.
 
I am planning to order several vials of Reta from a supplier for personal use.

I will send one vial for testing to make sure it is good. If it all checks out, I will follow this plan:

Week 1: .25mg twice per week
Week 2: .25mg twice per week
Week 3: .5mg twice per week
Week 4: .75mg twice per week
Week 5: 1mg twice per week
Week 6: 1.25mg twice per week
Week 7: 1.5mg twice per week.

Any suggestions?
 
Just started Reta today at 2.5mg. Will update weekly. No side effects yet. Regular workout, errands, hunger normal. I'm in my 50s, 6-0, and 250lbs. Been on TRT for 2+ years.

It's expensive, so I'll eventually get priced out as my dose goes up. Anyone have affordable sources?
 
Have you looked at what HGH can do for muscle when on these peptides? Some people pair it with blood glucose testing - getting fasting insulin, C-peptide checked, plus IGF-1 and basic labs like comprehensive metabolic panel. Regular A1C checks help too.
 
It's normal to gain some weight starting creatine. One week in and it lines up but you won't keep gaining—be patient and it'll drop again unless you overeat. Stop saying 'weight loss.' Focus on 'fat loss' and keeping or building muscle. Never worth it to lose lean mass.
 
lost over 50% body weight (started 286, now 140). tracked calories and walked the whole time. I have pcos but my insulin resistance is gone now. everyone's different but I knew from day one I was going all the way to a healthy range.
 
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