Week 18: 267.4 lbs - DEXA Scan Confirms Zero Muscle Loss on Retatrutide

## Current Stats - **Week 18 Weight:** 267.4 lbs - **Weekly Loss:** 4.2 lbs - **Total Progress:** -69.2 lbs - **Retatrutide:** 12mg (Split dosing Monday and Thursday) - **HGH:** 4iu daily (AM fasted before gym) - **Tesamorelin:** DROPPED - **Testosterone Cypionate:** 150mg weekly (3x 50mg) - **5-Amino-1MQ:** 100mg daily (50mg AM before gym, 50mg mid-day) - **GHK-Cu:** 2.5mg daily ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/21da3d80-c1c5-4075-9a48-4d94cbbe6946.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/6064f2d5-d1a1-45a9-8766-2ac2a0fd51ef.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/7f4d063f-e540-476b-9b36-8633f98a69f3.png"],"captions":["","",""]}] Another massive week at 4.2 pounds down, bringing me to 267.4 lbs. Eighteen weeks in and the results just keep coming. I've got tons of energy, sleeping great, loving the gym, and finally seeing real visual changes that I can feel with my hands. The big story this week? DEXA scan validation. Hard data proving this is working exactly how it should. ## DEXA Scan #2: The Numbers Don't Lie Got my second DEXA scan Saturday morning after a 2 hour drive. First scan was at week 6 (301.2 lbs), this one at week 18 (267.4 lbs). That's 12 weeks between scans. **Here's what the DEXA showed:** Between scans (12 weeks): - **Total weight lost:** 34.8 lbs - **Fat mass lost:** 31.7 lbs - **Lean mass lost:** 0 lbs - **Body fat reduction:** 7.2% - **Visceral fat reduction:** 30% Read that again. Zero lean mass lost. Every single pound was fat. Since starting retatrutide (18 weeks total): - **Starting weight:** 336.6 lbs - **Current weight:** 267.4 lbs - **Total lost:** 69.2 lbs - **Percentage of body weight lost:** 20.4% That's textbook body recomposition. No catabolic effects, just pure fat loss while maintaining muscle mass. The gym work and protein intake are doing exactly what they're supposed to do. ## Smart Scale vs DEXA: Surprisingly Accurate I know this seems a bit silly, but I brought my RENPHO smart scale with me to the DEXA scan. I wanted to compare the readings as close together as possible. Here's what happened: **DEXA scale:** 266.4 lbs (they subtract 1 lb for gym shorts and t-shirt) **My scale with same clothes:** 267.4 lbs Exact match. But it gets better. The body fat percentages and other metrics were within 1 to 2% of each other across the board. I'll do a detailed breakdown comparing both DEXA scans and the smart scale accuracy in a separate post, but the short version is that these cheap smart scales are way more accurate than people give them credit for. At least for tracking trends and validating you're moving in the right direction, the RENPHO has been spot on. ## The Visual Changes: Finally Seeing It This week the visual difference really hit me. My midsection is noticeably smaller. The gut overhang that's been my problem area for years is finally shrinking. I can feel it with my hands, it's just smaller. My lower chest is starting to tighten up too, though not as dramatic as the midsection. But looking at the progress photos side by side, the difference between week 17 and week 18 is significant. Twenty weeks ago I couldn't have imagined being here. Now I'm more than halfway to my 220 lb first checkpoint. ## Protocol Changes: Tesamorelin to HGH Made a significant change this week. Dropped tesamorelin completely and moved to 4iu of HGH taken in the morning before the gym while fasted. The timing shift makes sense. Tesamorelin I was taking at night to line up with natural GH pulses. But with actual HGH, taking it fasted before training should help maximize fat burning. Recovery feels the same. Energy feels the same. Still hyper-focused and recovering fast from workouts. Honestly, I'm not noticing much difference between tesamorelin and HGH in terms of how I feel day to day, but the consistency of dosing with HGH is cleaner. ## The Stretch Mark Itching Update That deep itching sensation in my stretch marks is still happening, but it's gotten slightly better. It pops up randomly, not on any particular schedule. Still convinced it's related to the higher 5-Amino-1MQ dose and rapid fat mobilization in those areas, but I have no way to prove that. Just documenting what I'm experiencing. ## RENPHO Scale Report: Week 18 Body Composition This little scale might be a bit more accurate than I gave it credit for. I will be going back in 12 weeks again for another DEXA scan and I will bring it with me yet again to verify its calibration is still about the same.  ## StepUp Challenge: Up to 6 Members! This week's stats: 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). ## Family Protocol Updates My wife is still on 3mg single injection. She's eating significantly less and reports getting extremely full from just a few bites of food. No side effects, just strong appetite suppression that's clearly working. Other family member moved up to 4mg this week. No reported side effects. Weight loss has slowed down a bit compared to the initial weeks, but still making steady progress. ## Blood Work Coming Next Week I'll be pulling a more limited blood panel next week to save some money on testing costs. Going with Quest Labs this time instead of LabCorp since it was cheaper for what I need. Not doing a full comprehensive panel like last time, just hitting the key markers to make sure everything is still moving in the right direction. My guess is the numbers are going to be damn near perfect, but we'll see. ## Looking Ahead: Week 19 Plan Continuing with the current protocol. 12mg retatrutide split dose is working perfectly. 4iu HGH in the morning feels dialed in. 100mg 5-Amino, 2.5mg GHK-Cu, standard TRT dose, all staying consistent. The DEXA validation gives me total confidence that what I'm doing is working. Zero lean mass lost means the gym effort and protein intake are paying off. 30% visceral fat reduction is massive for long term health. I'm not where I want to be yet, but having hard data proving the decision tree that got me here was correct? That's worth everything. It gives me the confidence to keep doing exactly what I'm doing until I hit that 220 lb checkpoint. More than halfway there. ::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** 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.