## Current Stats - **Week 11 Weight:** 287.4 lbs - **Weekly Loss:** 2.2 lbs - **Total Progress:** -49.0 lbs - **Retatrutide:** 8mg - **Tesamorelin:** 2mg daily ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/a295a5eb-093d-45c4-b274-ef4290746f11.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/eafb98ba-59f3-4b59-902b-5a120ff0f095.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/ac42d2d5-04ef-4b9f-907a-5981f57435e1.png"],"captions":["","",""]}] Another solid week in the books with 2.2 pounds down, bringing me to **49 pounds total lost**. We're officially knocking on the door of that 50-pound milestone. What makes this week particularly interesting is that my TRT prescription finally arrived, adding testosterone cypionate to the protocol stack. ## The Retatrutide Experience at 8mg 8mg consistency continues to impress me. No side effects this week, the skin sensitivity I mentioned last couple of weeks completely disappeared mid-week. I think it was related to spending more time walking outside in the sun and increasing my step count. Sometimes the body just sorts itself out. ![Screenshot from 2025-09-18 15-26-14.png](https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/8e416497-0b3d-4031-b779-96a58f14117d.png) The appetite suppression remains strong but I am getting hunger signals and this caused me to slightly increase my calories this week. I normally 1300 - 1500 calories and mostly carnivore but slightly keto for a bit of fiber. ## 5-Amino-1MQ: Subtle But Noticeable I'm starting to pick up on subtle effects from the 5-amino-1MQ about 2 hours after taking it. There's this alertness, not jittery or bouncing off the walls, just wide-eyed and awake. It's a clean feeling that fits well with the overall protocol. The taste is still absolutely terrible, which is why I continue taking it right before brushing my teeth. I plan to finish this current batch and then transition to injections. Sometimes you just have to suffer through the oral route to test things out. If you missed my detailed mixing process, you can read about [how I made my own sublingual solution](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/diy-5-amino-1mq-solution-trade-offs-lessons-learned) from bulk powder. ## Tesamorelin: Joint Tightness But Visual Progress The tesamorelin continues to cause some shoulder joint tightness, and my arms still go to sleep at night. This is purely anecdotal since I don't have labs showing elevated IGF-1 yet, but I'm continuing to see visual changes in my midsection that make it worth staying the course. I'll be getting comprehensive labs in November, but for now, the visual feedback is encouraging enough to keep the 2mg daily dose in the protocol. ## TRT Finally Arrives: AlphaMD Delivers **Big update:** My testosterone cypionate prescription from AlphaMD finally shipped Monday and arrived Thursday morning. After weeks of waiting, I took my first 50mg dose Thursday. The protocol is straightforward: 3 x 50mg subQ injections per week, targeting total testosterone in the 900 range. Everything came included - 0.5mL insulin syringes, alcohol pads, and the testosterone cypionate for a very reasonable $109/month with veteran's discount. I won't be going back for labs for about 12 weeks. If my numbers look good, I'll stay at this dosage and let it do its work. The timing feels right, adding TRT now that I'm nearly 50 pounds down should help with body composition as I continue losing weight. If you're looking for a TRT clinic that allows you to upload your own labs, check out [AlphaMD](https://www.alphamd.org/referral/JgKbi). Using my link gets you $30 off your first month (and I get a referral credit). You can read my full onboarding experience [here](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/starting-trt-alphamd-onboarding-experience). ## Gym Progress: Adding Weight, Staying Smart I took some time off work this week, which let me shift my gym schedule slightly later while still hitting it in the morning. I'm maintaining the 4-5 movement limit and getting out, but I've graduated from just refamiliarizing my body with movements to actually adding weight. I'm still keeping myself within a specific rep range and not working to failure. Recovery feels good, and I feel strong during lifts. The key is progressive overload without overdoing it, especially with all these compounds in my system. ## StepUp Challenge: Growing the Group We had a new member join the StepUp challenge this week! Anyone can join with just about any step counter or smartwatch, the app supports both iOS and Android. If you'd like to join our group, you can find more details about the app and how to get involved in [this post](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/my-step-count-is-trash-started-a-group-to-fix-it). Here's our group report for the week:
Group Name retatrutidelog
Number of current members 3
Group creation date 2025-08-26
Date Range 2025-09-10 to 2025-09-17
Sum of total steps of all members 229,018 steps
Avg daily steps of all members 9,542 steps/day
Total distance covered by group 104.10 miles [167.53 kms]
Weekly Wrap-up: 229K+ steps and 104+ miles covered between three members over 8 days. Great consistency from our growing group!
## Reflections on 49 Pounds: So Close Yet So Far I'll be honest, I was really hoping to hit that 50-pound milestone this week. There's something psychological about round numbers that makes them feel more significant. But stepping back and looking at the bigger picture, I can't be anything but grateful for where I am. Forty-nine pounds lost in just over 11 weeks without a single stall. When I really think about that starting weight of 336.4 pounds, the reality of how bad my condition was hits me. I was in deep trouble health-wise, and losing 49 pounds in just over 2 months is nothing to scoff at. But I also know I still have a long way to go to get completely out of the woods. What's been game-changing this time is having these tools available to keep the progress going. The fact that I haven't stalled once has been incredible for motivation. I know from past experience how frustrating it gets when the scale stops moving, that's when I'd let the food noise win, start binge eating, and just give up on whatever diet plan I was attempting. Thanks to retatrutide, this time is different. It's giving me the mental momentum needed to stay the course. The consistent progress, week after week, builds confidence that this approach actually works. Instead of fighting my appetite and willpower every day, I have a tool that makes the process manageable. The TRT addition should start showing effects in the coming weeks. Combined with the retatrutide, tesamorelin, and 5-amino-1MQ, this stack is designed for optimal body recomposition as I continue losing weight. Next week should finally put me over that 50-pound mark, and from there, it's about staying consistent for the long haul. ::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.