## Retatrutide Dose Increase: From 6mg to 8mg Week 8 brings a dose increase that was always part of the plan - I was going to take 6mg for 4 weeks total before bumping to 8mg. After taking my planned 6mg Thursday (August 21st) injection without really looking at what remained in the vial, I did my nightly tesamorelin injection Friday and took the opportunity to assess both supplies to see what needed to come out of the freezer for upcoming doses. That's when I noticed there was only about 2mg left in the retatrutide vial. I thought to myself, "I should have just bumped up to 8mg on last night's injection - it would have made for a cleaner transition into next week's dosing." So I drew up the remaining 2mg Friday night (August 22nd), bringing my Week 8 total to 8mg, then reconstituted a fresh vial so it would be ready for the next scheduled injection. ## Current Stats - **Week 8 Weight:** 297.2 lbs - **Weekly Loss:** 2.1 lbs - **Total Progress:** -39.2 lbs - **Retatrutide:** Bumped to 8mg this week - **Tesamorelin:** Second week at 2mg daily ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/26db1a26-e92d-4a90-8ae0-a0920ca6f74c.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/43bf9d15-e5f9-422e-9ee1-f4b474c550f1.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/29cdb15f-1d2b-4834-995a-afa69d32c9e1.png"],"captions":["","",""]}] ## Two Weeks of Tesamorelin: Some Effects Are Showing The tesamorelin effects are becoming more pronounced in week two, while the slight retatrutide increase seems to be working synergistically with the overall protocol. **Injection consistency:** Still getting that familiar sting for 10-15 minutes post-injection. No skin irritation, just a slight burn at the injection site that I've come to expect. **Sleep pattern changes:** This is where tesamorelin is really showing its effects. Most nights I'm getting drowsy 30-40 minutes after injection. Some nights the drowsiness hits so hard I have to force myself to get up and go to bed rather than falling asleep on the couch. **The 4:30 AM wake-up reality:** Here's the trade-off - while my sleep quality has improved dramatically with less tossing and turning, my 4:30 AM gym alarm is pulling me out of what feels like much deeper sleep. I'm waking up groggy, slightly puffy-eyed, and with a mild headache for the first 10 minutes. ### Sleep Quality Data: The Numbers Don't Lie My [Garmin Fenix 5X](https://amzn.to/46dbDvQ) (which I've worn for years) is showing remarkable changes in sleep architecture. Comparing August 15th to August 22nd: ![Sleep Comparison](https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/966a4be5-6294-424a-9f04-8bbc52474c91.png) The deeper sleep phases are clearly more pronounced with tesamorelin. This aligns perfectly with the drowsiness effect and morning grogginess - I'm literally being pulled out of deeper, more restorative sleep. **Sleep optimization stack:** I'm taking my [Nature's Bounty Magnesium 400mg](https://amzn.to/4fLzK7S) right before bed alongside the tesamorelin injection. Magnesium supports deeper sleep phases and is when most testosterone production happens - perfect timing for the protocol. ## Scale Anxiety: Why I Need to Stop Mid-Week Check-ins I broke my own rule this week. Usually, I only step on the scale Thursday mornings for these weekly check-ins, but curiosity got the better of me. Mid-week weigh-in showed 299.0 lbs and my mind immediately went to "well shit, I think I might be stalling." **The lesson learned:** By the time I stepped on the scale at my normal weekly weigh-in time, I was down 2.1 lbs. Don't chase the scale - it's a liar in the short term. **Quality over quantity:** Even though the weight loss isn't as extreme as previous weeks, it's likely all fat loss at this point. I can see it in the mirror and slightly in my progress photos. Sometimes slower losses mean better body composition changes. **Key insight:** Mid-week scale anxiety serves no purpose except to mess with your head. Stick to the weekly protocol and trust the process. ## Recovery Benefits and Side Effects: **DOMS elimination:** This is the most surprising benefit. Normally when I restart weight training after time off, I get significant delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). This time? Nothing. **Current routine:** Light weights, 10-14 reps x 4 sets, 4-5 movements per session. I can feel that I've worked out by the time I get to the office, but my energy is actually up, and there's no severe soreness. **Recovery speed:** It's like my body is processing the workout stress completely differently. Instead of the typical soreness that would last 2-3 days, I'm ready to go again the next morning. **Skin Sensitivity:** This week brought a new sensation - slight skin sensitivity on my torso. It's not terrible, but I can feel every movement of my shirt. There's a slight tingle in the skin that wasn't there before. ## The "Brick Wall" Day: Wednesday Energy Surge Wednesday was interesting - low body and joint pain, but I felt like I could run through a brick wall. Was this the testosterone support stack kicking in, or residual effects from Tuesday night's tesamorelin? **The complete support protocol:** I detailed my full testosterone support strategy in [this dedicated post](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/low-testosterone-adding-natural-support-to-my-protocol), but here's the current stack: - **[Earth Elixir Fadogia Agrestis + Tongkat Ali](https://amzn.to/41g82uh)** - Morning dose - **[Nature's Bounty Zinc 50mg](https://amzn.to/41NvPBP)** - With breakfast - **[Nature's Bounty Selenium 200mcg](https://amzn.to/4mRyt1u)** - With zinc - **[Nature's Bounty Magnesium 400mg](https://amzn.to/4fLzK7S)** - Before bed with tesamorelin Without follow-up labs for a few more months, this is purely anecdotal, but the energy and mental clarity were noticeably different. ## Step Challenge Launch: Accountability Strategy Tuesday marked the launch of my [StepUp challenge group](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/my-step-count-is-trash-started-a-group-to-fix-it). My step count has been trash, and I needed external accountability. **The strategy:** If people actually join the challenge, I'll feel obligated to get my steps in. Sometimes you need to create external pressure to drive internal change. **About StepUp:** The app works with most fitness trackers and is free on both the App Store and Google Play, making it easy for anyone to join regardless of what device they're using. ## Week 8 Observations: Body Composition vs. Scale Weight **Key insight:** The scale might show smaller losses, but the body composition changes feel significant. Better recovery, deeper sleep, and sustained energy suggest tesamorelin is doing exactly what it's supposed to do - optimizing growth hormone for better body composition. **Looking ahead:** Week 9 will be interesting. Will the scale catch up to what I'm feeling internally, or is this the new normal as body composition optimization takes priority over pure weight loss? ## The Science Working: Recovery and Sleep **Tesamorelin's growth hormone effects are clearly visible in:** - Enhanced deep sleep phases (confirmed by sleep tracking) - Accelerated recovery between training sessions - Reduced muscle soreness and faster adaptation - Sustained energy despite deeper sleep disruption These effects align perfectly with what growth hormone optimization should deliver. ::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. 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.