## YouTube Summary Subscribe at https://www.youtube.com/@Dark.Rebuild if you prefer video format. ::youtube[{"videoId":"am_MrJioz3s"}] ## Current Stats - **Week 30 Weight:** 248.4 lbs - **Weekly Change:** +2.2 lbs - **Total Progress:** -88.2 lbs - **Retatrutide:** 12mg weekly (single dose Monday) - **HGH:** 5iu daily (single IM injection at night) - **Testosterone Cypionate:** 150mg weekly (2x 75mg IM Monday/Thursday) - **GHK-Cu:** 2mg daily - **Telmisartan:** 40mg daily (AM before gym) ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/d7c369bc-1288-45cf-8ab6-62cb0befd1f4.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/73a90e59-a154-4b50-8552-0c676fbc7916.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/38d093b8-f394-4083-abe5-3b9e1ae6fd7c.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/0020134d-8dc7-4301-9e79-9d129c60c717.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/0b9c209c-c148-4e5c-bf45-223736ec1c10.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/20dd67ae-a093-48f4-92c3-8df53c225302.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/1eb4743e-b6be-4158-8e80-14e8eccdb47a.png"],"captions":["","","","","","",""]}] This was not a good week. The scale went UP 2.2 lbs. Body fat went up too - gained 0.2 lbs of fat. This is the first week since starting where I actually gained fat instead of losing it, and it's genuinely discouraging. But here's what the data actually shows: I'm holding a lot of water. Body water up 1.6 lbs. Muscle up 1.8 lbs. And despite the scale going up, my waist went DOWN another 0.19 inches to 36.85". The math doesn't lie: water retention is masking what's actually happening. But when you step on the scale after two massive weeks and see it climb back up, the emotional response is real. Let me break down what happened this week and what the data is telling me. ## The Numbers: Week 29 vs Week 30 **Week 30 vs Week 29 changes:** - Weight: 248.4 lbs (up from 246.2 lbs, **+2.2 lbs**) - Body Fat Mass: 56.0 lbs (up from 55.8 lbs, **+0.2 lbs fat**) - Muscle Mass: 179.6 lbs (up from 177.8 lbs, **+1.8 lbs muscle**) - Body Water: 141.2 lbs (up from 139.6 lbs, **+1.6 lbs water**) - Body Fat %: 22.5% (down from 22.7%, **-0.2% drop**) - Waist Measurement: 36.85" (down from 37.04", **-0.19 inches**) - Visceral Fat: 9 (stable) **Note on waist measurement:** I measure consistently at the same spot every week: about 2 inches above my belly button. Not where I wear my pants (on the hips), but at a consistent anatomical landmark for reliable week-to-week tracking. This is the first week where I actually gained fat instead of losing it. Only 0.2 lbs, but still - it went up instead of down. But the waist still went down. That's the confusing part. ## Water Retention: The Hidden Variable The scale shows +2.2 lbs, but the composition breakdown tells a different story: **What actually changed:** - Fat: +0.2 lbs (first gain since starting) - Muscle: +1.8 lbs - Water: +1.6 lbs The muscle and water gains are almost identical. This is the same pattern we saw in Week 29 - when muscle tissue is being built, it pulls water into the muscle belly through glycogen and creatine storage. **Why the waist went down despite scale going up:** Fat distribution matters. If I'm holding water in muscle tissue (arms, legs, back, shoulders) but still losing fat from the trunk, the waist measurement will drop even as the scale climbs. This is exactly what the bioimpedance scale is showing: water up, muscle up, waist down, but fat slightly up. **Why this is discouraging anyway:** Even knowing the science, seeing the scale go UP after two massive weeks (90 pound milestone, 4.2 lbs down) feels like regression. The rational brain knows it's water. The emotional brain sees the number and feels defeated. This is the reality of body recomposition. The scale doesn't always tell the truth, but it's the number we check every morning. ## Finnrick Testing Results: 99.8% Purity Finally got the testing results back from the batch I sent to Finnrick in December. **Results:** - **Overall Score:** 9.8/10 - **Purity:** 99.80% (3.8/4) - **Quantity:** 15mg tested, 15mg labeled (4.0/4) - **Identifier:** Batch November 5, 2025 (2.0/2) ![Screenshot from 2026-01-28 04-57-41-fotor-2026012845950.png](https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/8d81ffd8-cdad-4dc1-bb99-0164a02412d5.png) **Testing timeline:** I sent the sample to Finnrick in early December. Results arrived late January. That's about 6-7 weeks turnaround. Too slow for real-time batch verification, but valuable for validating the source. ## New Testing Plan: Freedom Diagnostics Testing I have a new batch of 30mg vials arriving this weekend. This time, I'm sending a vial to [Freedom Diagnostics Testing](https://freedomdiagnosticstesting.com/) for faster turnaround. **New testing details:** - **Cost:** $225 per test - **Turnaround:** 24-48 hours once they receive the sample - **Contact:** Already established, ready to ship This is significantly faster than Finnrick's 6-7 week timeline. If the quality is comparable, this will be my new standard for batch verification going forward. I'll document the entire process and share results when they come back. ## RENPHO Scale Report: Week 30 Body Composition ![c460d705-ca17-46b8-ab58-c0045e32732f.jpeg](https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/c7317a40-d446-4c43-b968-9bce85319e0b.jpeg) The [RENPHO smart scale](https://amzn.to/4pKOyai) shows water retention masking progress. **Key metrics Week 30:** - Weight: 248.4 lbs - Body Fat Mass: 56.0 lbs (22.5%) - Muscle Mass: 179.6 lbs - Skeletal Muscle: 111.8 lbs - Body Water: 141.2 lbs - Visceral Fat: 9 - BMI: 31.9 Body fat percentage at 22.5% is still trending down slightly (from 22.7%), but body fat mass went up 0.2 lbs - the first fat gain in 30 weeks. Visceral fat holding at 9. The water retention is obvious in the numbers. The muscle gain is real. The small fat gain this week is what makes it discouraging. ## YouTube Growth: 699 Subscribers The YouTube channel exploded this week. Hit **699 subscribers** at the time of writing.
📺 YouTube Channel
699
Subscribers
+208 this week
22x
Growth in 10 Weeks
6
Videos Per Week
Incredible Growth 🚀
From 29 subscribers 10 weeks ago to 655 now. That's 22x growth. The daily vlog format continues to crush it. Thank you all for the support.
Subscribe on YouTube →
**+208 subscribers in one week.** That's the biggest weekly gain yet. From 29 subscribers 10 weeks ago to 655 now - that's 22x growth in two and a half months. The support has been incredible. Thank you all for following along. ## StepUp Challenge: Week 30 Update - 14 Members We gained one more member this week! Now at **14 members**.
Group Name retatrutidelog
Number of current members 14
Date Range 2026-01-23 to 2026-01-30
Sum of total steps of all members 648,308 steps
Avg daily steps of all members 7,538 steps/day
Total distance covered by group 294.69 miles [474.26 kms]
Weekly Wrap-up: 648K+ steps and 294+ miles covered with 14 members. Average daily steps: 7,538/day.
If you'd like to join our group, you can use the [direct group invite](https://join.thestepupapp.com/zW07S5) or read about [why I started this challenge](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/my-step-count-is-trash-started-a-group-to-fix-it). ## The Mental Game: When Data and Emotion Conflict This week is a reminder that body recomposition is not linear. **The rational analysis:** - Water up 1.6 lbs - Muscle up 1.8 lbs - Waist down 0.19 inches - Body fat percentage still trending down slightly - Fat gain minimal at 0.2 lbs **The emotional reality:** - Scale went UP after hitting 90 lbs lost - Fat went UP for the first time in 30 weeks - Two massive weeks followed by this - Feels like regression Both are true. The data says I'm still progressing. The scale says I went backward. The emotional response is valid even when the rational explanation is clear. This is the challenge of long-term transformation: trusting the process when the immediate feedback is discouraging. ## What's Next **DEXA scan:** February 14, 2026 at 7:30 AM. Less than two weeks away. This will settle the bioimpedance accuracy question once and for all. **New batch testing:** Freedom Diagnostics Testing with 24-48 hour turnaround. Will document the full process and compare to Finnrick results. **Protocol adjustment:** None. Everything stays the same. One bad week doesn't change the strategy. **Mental approach:** Trust the process. The waist is still shrinking. The visceral fat is stable. The water will flush. Keep training, keep tracking, keep going. 88.2 pounds down. The scale went up this week, but the trend is still downward. ::sourceguide[{ "headline": "Need a source? ", "description": "Quick access to my supplier's contact info.", "buttonText": "Get Contact Info", "variant": "gradient" }] --- **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** 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.