For the past 12 weeks, I've been injecting [retatrutide]{card:retatrutide} every Thursday. It's worked incredibly well -50 pounds down and consistent appetite suppression that made OMAD eating effortless. But lately, I've noticed a pattern that's disrupting my routine, and it's time to make an adjustment. ## The Problem: Day 5 Hunger Returns Since adding [5-amino-1MQ]{card:5-amino-1mq} to my protocol, I've started noticing something that wasn't there before. After about 5 days from my Thursday injection, my appetite comes roaring back. Not just a little hunger - I'm talking about breaking the natural intermittent fasting pattern that's been automatic since week one. This is a problem because OMAD fits my lifestyle perfectly. I get up at 4:30 AM four days a week to hit the gym by 5:00 AM (Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday). I go home, shower, change, and head to work. For 12 weeks, I haven't gotten hungry during the day. The appetite suppression from retatrutide made this eating pattern effortless. But now? By day 5 after my Thursday injection, that food noise starts creeping back in. It's not even making it to day 6 consistently. If I inject Thursday, by Monday night or Tuesday morning, I'm dealing with hunger that I can either push through or satisfy by eating, but it's there disrupting my routine. ## The 5-Amino-1MQ Connection I can't say for certain that 5-amino-1MQ is causing this, but the timing is suspicious. I started noticing the appetite changes shortly after adding it to my daily routine. It could be: - Some interaction between the compounds - Changes in my metabolism as I've lost weight - Natural adaptation to the retatrutide dose - Just coincidental timing Whatever the cause, the pattern is clear: appetite suppression is wearing off after about 5 days from injection. ## The Split Dose Solution Instead of continuing to fight this pattern, I'm going to work with it. For the next couple of weeks, I'm splitting my 8mg weekly dose: **New Protocol:** - 4mg Thursday evening - 4mg Monday evening - Same total weekly dose, just distributed differently **The Theory:** Rather than having one large injection that gradually wears off over 7 days, splitting it should provide more consistent levels throughout the week. The Monday injection should kick in right around the time the Thursday dose is losing effectiveness. ## What I Hope to Achieve **Even out the valley:** Instead of strong suppression for 4-5 days followed by returning hunger, I want consistent appetite control throughout the entire week. **Maintain OMAD:** My eating pattern works perfectly with my schedule. I don't want to start thinking about food during work hours or having to pack lunches. **Preserve gym performance:** My 4:30 AM gym sessions work because I'm not dealing with hunger or meal timing. I want to keep that simplicity. **Test the approach:** If this works, it might be valuable information for others experiencing similar patterns. ## What's Next I'm starting this split protocol in week 13. I'll run it for at least two weeks to get a real sense of how it affects the appetite suppression pattern. If it works, I'll continue. If it doesn't, I'll either adjust the timing or consider other modifications. The goal isn't to complicate things, it's to get back to the consistent appetite control that made this journey so manageable for the first 12 weeks. ## Injection Timing Strategy **Thursday evening:** Keeps my established routine, effects kick in Friday **Monday evening:** Should provide coverage for the back half of the week This schedule means I'm never more than 3-4 days from my last injection, compared to the current 7-day gap. ## Injection Timing Strategy **Thursday evening:** Keeps my established routine, effects kick in Friday **Monday evening:** Should provide coverage for the back half of the week This schedule means I'm never more than 3-4 days from my last injection, compared to the current 7-day gap. ## Useful Tools for Split Dosing If you're considering split dosing, here are the supplies you'll need: - **[1mL insulin syringes with 29G needles](https://amzn.to/4kWvweL)** - for the actual injections - **[3mL syringes with 23G needles](https://amzn.to/4kV5s3K)** - for reconstitution - **[Alcohol prep pads](https://amzn.to/45kJ4vZ)** - for injection site cleaning - **[Sharps disposal container](https://amzn.to/4nT1UAY)** - for safe needle disposal Since you're moving from once weekly to twice weekly injections, you'll go through supplies about twice as fast, something to factor into your ordering schedule. ::subscribe[{"variant":"default"}] --- **Disclaimer:** The information provided on this site is for **educational and informational purposes only** and reflects my **personal experiences and opinions**. It is **not** intended as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Retatrutide is an **investigational drug** that is **not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)** for any use outside of clinical trials. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medications, supplements, or medical treatments. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site may be affiliate links.