## Current Stats - **Week 9 Weight:** 294.4 lbs - **Weekly Loss:** 2.8 lbs - **Total Progress:** -42 lbs - **Retatrutide:** 8mg (finding the sweet spot) - **Tesamorelin:** 2mg daily ::gallery[{"images":["https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/10c5569f-d295-45f0-824b-429e707c7f1c.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/d2dfe81b-6881-4d06-8525-035ff1534755.png","https://retatrutidelog.com/uploads/4e29f338-c60b-4621-b486-5a78c05415e6.png"],"captions":["","",""]}] ## Tesamorelin Effects: The Visceral Fat Changes Begin Week 9 marks a turning point where tesamorelin's effects are becoming undeniably visible. The most noticeable change? When I "suck in" my gut, there's a significant reduction in size compared to even a week ago. The visceral bulge that's been persistent throughout this journey is noticeably less pronounced. This aligns perfectly with tesamorelin's primary mechanism - specifically targeting visceral adipose tissue through growth hormone optimization. After three weeks, the compound appears to be doing exactly what the research suggests. ## 8mg Retatrutide: Finding the Sweet Spot The increase to 8mg retatrutide continues to prove itself as the right dosage for my current phase. Hunger control was dialed in all week, making it effortless to stay within my macro targets without the mental battles of earlier weeks. **Appetite management:** The food noise remains at near-zero levels, but without the excessive appetite suppression that can sometimes make adequate nutrition challenging. This feels like the goldilocks zone - enough control without going overboard. ## Heart Rate and Body Temperature Changes An interesting development this week ties back to my previous observation about [retatrutide decreasing heart rate](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/retatrutide-heart-rate-decrease). The trend has reversed since starting tesamorelin. **The numbers:** - First week of tesamorelin: 70 bpm average resting HR - This week (Week 3): 74 bpm average resting HR - Notable increase in body temperature - feeling warmer throughout the day **The variables:** This coincides with both the retatrutide dose increase to 8mg and the third week of tesamorelin, so attribution is unclear. Growth hormone effects on metabolism could explain both the temperature and heart rate increases. ## Sleep Optimization: Quality vs. Feeling Sleep remains a paradox this week. My sleep tracker shows I'm getting more total sleep time and better quality metrics than before starting tesamorelin. Yet subjectively, I feel like it could - or should - be better. **The data vs. the feeling:** Objective measurements show improvement, but the morning grogginess persists. This disconnect might be the natural adaptation period, or it could be that I'm just getting older and expecting too much from optimization. **The adjustment:** Starting my nightly routine earlier to get that extra sleep on the front end rather than hitting snooze and missing workouts. Sometimes the solution is simpler than the technology suggests. ## Adding 5-Amino-1MQ: Week 10 Preparation Week 10 will see the addition of 5-Amino-1MQ to the stack. This compound has been on my radar since starting retatrutide, but the pricing from peptide vendors was prohibitive. **The breakthrough:** Amazon recommendations led me to bulk powder distributors offering raw materials at a fraction of the cost compared to finished capsules or peptide vendors. I've detailed the complete setup in [this Amazon shopping guide](https://retatrutidelog.com/posts/adding-5-amino-1mq-stack-amazon-shopping-list). **First-time costs:** The initial investment is higher since I needed graduated pipettes and a gram scale, but these are multi-year tools that make future compounds much more economical. **Saturday experiment:** I'll be mixing the first batch and documenting the entire process, from preparation to first dose. If successful, SLU-PP-332 from the same vendor might be on my list to try. ## TRT Clinic Consultation: Saturday Assessment Saturday morning brings my first consultation with a TRT clinic to review my recent labs and get their professional recommendations. This will provide valuable context for my current testosterone support stack and whether medical intervention might be warranted. I'll document their assessment and recommendations in a follow-up post. ## Week 9 Observations: Multiple Systems Optimizing **Body composition:** The visceral fat reduction is becoming visually apparent, suggesting tesamorelin is delivering on its primary benefit **Energy management:** 8mg retatrutide provides sustained appetite control without excessive suppression **Metabolic changes:** Increased heart rate and body temperature suggest enhanced metabolic activity **Sleep evolution:** Natural drowsiness without supplements, though morning adaptation continues ## Looking Ahead: Expanding the Protocol Week 10 represents another evolution in the protocol with 5-Amino-1MQ addition and potential insights from the TRT consultation. The combination of visual progress, metabolic optimization, and systematic experimentation continues to validate the methodical approach to health optimization. The -42 pounds total progress speaks to the effectiveness, but the body composition changes are becoming equally important markers of success. For any Douglas Adams fans out there, yes - I've reached the answer to life, the universe, and everything. Here's the [complete Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy box set](https://amzn.to/3Vz0Tlf) if you want to celebrate reaching your own ultimate answer. ::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. 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