Week three brought some major milestones: my first real progress photos, glucose and ketone tracking data, and the decision to bump up to 4mg. Plus I'm starting to see changes I can't notice in the mirror but are obvious when comparing photos side by side. ## Week 3 Weight Update **Starting week 3:** 318.4 lbs **End of week 3:** 314.4 lbs **Week 3 loss:** 4.0 lbs **Total loss:** 22.2 lbs in three weeks Consistent progress continues. The dramatic water weight drop of week one has settled into steady, sustainable fat loss. ## Finally Got My Blood Data! My glucose and ketone test strips finally arrived Tuesday, so I started tracking mid-week. Here's what the numbers show: | Date | Time | Glucose (mg/dL) | Ketones (mmol/L) | GKI | Ketosis Level | |------|------|----------------|------------------|-----|---------------| | July 23 | 6:00am | 119 | 0.6 | 11.0 | Not in ketosis | | July 23 | 4:00pm | 111 | 1.0 | 6.2 | Low level | | July 24 | 6:00am | 102 | 0.6 | 9.5 | Not in ketosis | | July 24 | 5:25pm | 101 | 1.3 | 4.3 | Moderate level | | July 25 | 4:09pm | 91 | 1.1 | 4.5 | Moderate level | *I was initially concerned with that first fasted glucose reading of 119, but I had no energy drop and felt amazing throughout.* **What this data shows:** I'm consistently hitting moderate ketosis levels during my eating window, but getting knocked out of ketosis overnight with higher fasted glucose levels. This pattern is puzzling I'll keep tracking to understand it better. **Possible explanation:** Could this be the real-time effects of retatrutide's glucagon receptor activity? The peptide targets glucagon receptors, which could be triggering glucose production overnight. This might explain why my morning glucose is elevated despite strict keto eating. ## Side Effects Update Really not much happening in terms of side effects this week: **Digestive changes:** Bowel movements seem to have solidified and can be triggered with coffee in the morning. This is new for me I never needed coffee for this before. Last week's update mentioned these are normally like clockwork for me in the morning. **Sleep issues persist:** Still need melatonin to fall asleep. Without it, I'm just wide-eyed with a very active and clear brain. No natural drowsiness happening. **Energy levels:** Still feeling amazing throughout the week. ## Dosage Decision: Moving to 4mg I've made the decision to bump the dosage up to 4mg starting Thursday. After three weeks at 2mg and seeing consistent results, it feels like the right time to progress. **Why now:** The appetite suppression is still working well, but I'm ready for the next phase. Using my [dose calculator](https://retatrutidelog.com/calculator) to understand half-life and visualize how much retatrutide is left in my system really helped with this decision. **The injection boost:** There's definitely a noticeable boost that happens in the first couple hours after injection. Looking forward to seeing how 4mg affects this. ## Progress Photos: The Mirror vs. Reality ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/bc398e8a-191f-44f4-9cce-ccff57523daf.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/0491d736-1f52-4572-bd05-2b4a295debfa.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/dd859688-95ca-4d91-9b83-279092a8d528.png"],"captions":["","",""]}] I don't see the change when I look in the mirror, but I absolutely see a difference when comparing photos side by side. I'm noticeably smaller in the midsection and love handles. **Physical changes I can feel:** - Shirts are looser - Pants button easier no need to suck it in anymore - Overall clothes fit better **What the photos show:** The transformation is definitely happening, even when daily mirror checks don't reveal it. This is why progress photos are so important. ## Week 3 Observations **What's working:** - Consistent 4-pound weekly losses - Maintaining ketosis alongside retatrutide - Energy levels remain excellent - Clothes fitting better **What's improving:** - Digestive issues seem to be resolving - Glucose levels trending downward - Visual progress becoming obvious in photos **Still challenging:** - Sleep requires melatonin assistance - Need coffee to trigger morning routine ## The Verdict: This Stuff is Amazing I'm genuinely impressed with retatrutide. The combination of consistent weight loss, maintained energy, and now visible progress in photos has me excited about continuing this journey. **Next week with 4mg:** Curious to see how the higher dose affects appetite suppression, energy levels, and weight loss rate. Will continue tracking glucose/ketones daily now that I have supplies. This peptide continues to exceed expectations. The systematic approach of tracking everything is really paying off in understanding how it works. ::subscribe[{"variant":"default"}] --- **Coming next:** How the move to 4mg affects everything, plus I'll be sharing those third-party testing results from my Chinese supplier soon. **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. Do not attempt to obtain or use this compound without proper legal authorization. Always consult a licensed healthcare professional before making any decisions regarding medications, supplements, or medical treatments. The author does **not** sell or distribute any pharmaceutical products. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this site may be affiliate links.