INTRO Hello from NYC

TinyPCOSgirl

TinyPCOSgirl

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Hi everyone — I’m a small-framed woman living in NYC. For multiple years, PCOS made me deal with being overweight and obese. Back in October 2024, I began tirzepatide (Zepbound), and by July 2025 I was down more than 30lbs. Then my insurance cut off coverage for Zepbound, so in August of 2025 I moved over to semaglutide (Wegovy). On Wegovy, the result has been just 8 lbs.

The final 18lbs are still hanging around and I want them gone.

TikTok’s algorithm happened to show me retatrutide. That led me to dig into it on Reddit. And from Reddit, I found my way to this forum! I’m genuinely looking forward to browsing here and connecting with a community of people who are open-minded and don’t judge.

Ideally I’d return to tirzepatide (and preferably not a compounded version), but at this point I’m leaning more toward giving Reta a shot, given that it’s shown to act more quickly!
 
PCOS really sucks. A lot of my female friends, plus my sister, deal with PCOS.

Coming from someone who used to be on a GLP, my suggestion is to start aggressively and boldly. Tirzepatide suppresses appetite far more powerfully than Reta, and since you were on tirzepatide first, Reta won't hit as hard.

Pay attention to what your body tells you and don't lose your stride. Adding more is always possible, but once it's in, you can't remove any.

Certain studies begin participants at 4mg.

I'm a 235lb white guy who has never touched a GLP medication. Week 2 is wrapping up and week 3 is starting, so I'm about to step on the scale. Appearance is improving and I feel fantastic.

During week 1, I gave myself four 0.5mg shots, totaling 2 mg. Week 2 consisted of 2 shots at 1mg. The appetite suppression and metabolic changes really kicked in after that initial 1mg shot, and my training sessions improved. Aiming for 100+g of protein every day.

Research indicates that dosing aggressively — starting at 4mg and increasing by 2mg monthly — is FAR better for rapid fat loss IF you can handle the side effects. My strong recommendation is to space out your shots and move fast. So far it seems to be working really well in my case.

The toughest part is the diet. I have to split protein across 3-4 meals of 20-30g each day and eliminate extra fat and carbs, or else cushion carbs with psyllium fiber.

At an absolute minimum, you should be taking methylated b complex, D3 if you aren't already, and a trace mineral complex. I take magnesium and fish oil on top of that.

At an absolute minimum, you need to consume 1g potassium alongside other electrolytes each morning. If you don't, all the water you drink will just pass through you. My preference is to dump a lot of salt and "nosalt" into a glass and drink it in the morning. My stepmom purchased a potassium powder mix on Amazon containing 1g potassium and 400mg sodium per serving. That ratio works well. Coconut water is also good. Anything under 600mg of potassium is a ripoff.

The fewer carbs you consume and the more you exercise, the more electrolytes you'll require. Even plain salt water beats drinking nothing.

Do it properly and do it quickly — as time passes, the appetite suppression fades and you'll need to lean on exercise and fiber to manage it.

Good luck!
 
birdwhacker said:

PCOS really sucks. A lot of my female friends, plus my sister, deal with PCOS.

Coming from someone who used to be on a GLP, my suggestion is to start aggressively and boldly. Tirzepatide suppresses appetite far more powerfully than Reta, and since you were on tirzepatide first, Reta won't hit as hard.

Pay attention to what your body tells you and don't lose your stride. Adding more is always possible, but once it's in, you can't remove any.

Certain studies begin participants at 4mg.

I'm a 235lb white guy who has never touched a GLP medication. Week 2 is wrapping up and week 3 is starting, so I'm about to step on the scale. Appearance is improving and I feel fantastic.

During week 1, I gave myself four 0.5mg shots, totaling 2 mg. Week 2 consisted of 2 shots at 1mg. The appetite suppression and metabolic changes really kicked in after that initial 1mg shot, and my training sessions improved. Aiming for 100+g of protein every day.

Research indicates that dosing aggressively — starting at 4mg and increasing by 2mg monthly — is FAR better for rapid fat loss IF you can handle the side effects. My strong recommendation is to space out your shots and move fast. So far it seems to be working really well in my case.

The toughest part is the diet. I have to split protein across 3-4 meals of 20-30g each day and eliminate extra fat and carbs, or else cushion carbs with psyllium fiber.

At an absolute minimum, you should be taking methylated b complex, D3 if you aren't already, and a trace mineral complex. I take magnesium and fish oil on top of that.

At an absolute minimum, you need to consume 1g potassium alongside other electrolytes each morning. If you don't, all the water you drink will just pass through you. My preference is to dump a lot of salt and "nosalt" into a glass and drink it in the morning. My stepmom purchased a potassium powder mix on Amazon containing 1g potassium and 400mg sodium per serving. That ratio works well. Coconut water is also good. Anything under 600mg of potassium is a ripoff.

The fewer carbs you consume and the more you exercise, the more electrolytes you'll require. Even plain salt water beats drinking nothing.

Do it properly and do it quickly — as time passes, the appetite suppression fades and you'll need to lean on exercise and fiber to manage it.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I appreciate that. Between Oct 2024 and July 2025 I was taking zepbound (tirzepatide). My doctor gave me doses going as high as 12.5 mg. Nothing worked better for my body, until an insurance problem forced me to switch to Wegovy. Once I've used up all my Wegovy refills, chances are good I'll return to Tirzepatide.

Do you take Reta or tirzepatide? What makes you call Reta weak? Since the medicine with 3 hormones has more than the two in tirzepatide, shouldn't it work better?
 
TinyPCOSgirl said:

birdwhacker said:

PCOS really sucks. A lot of my female friends, plus my sister, deal with PCOS.

Coming from someone who used to be on a GLP, my suggestion is to start aggressively and boldly. Tirzepatide suppresses appetite far more powerfully than Reta, and since you were on tirzepatide first, Reta won't hit as hard.

Pay attention to what your body tells you and don't lose your stride. Adding more is always possible, but once it's in, you can't remove any.

Certain studies begin participants at 4mg.

I'm a 235lb white guy who has never touched a GLP medication. Week 2 is wrapping up and week 3 is starting, so I'm about to step on the scale. Appearance is improving and I feel fantastic.

During week 1, I gave myself four 0.5mg shots, totaling 2 mg. Week 2 consisted of 2 shots at 1mg. The appetite suppression and metabolic changes really kicked in after that initial 1mg shot, and my training sessions improved. Aiming for 100+g of protein every day.

Research indicates that dosing aggressively — starting at 4mg and increasing by 2mg monthly — is FAR better for rapid fat loss IF you can handle the side effects. My strong recommendation is to space out your shots and move fast. So far it seems to be working really well in my case.

The toughest part is the diet. I have to split protein across 3-4 meals of 20-30g each day and eliminate extra fat and carbs, or else cushion carbs with psyllium fiber.

At an absolute minimum, you should be taking methylated b complex, D3 if you aren't already, and a trace mineral complex. I take magnesium and fish oil on top of that.

At an absolute minimum, you need to consume 1g potassium alongside other electrolytes each morning. If you don't, all the water you drink will just pass through you. My preference is to dump a lot of salt and "nosalt" into a glass and drink it in the morning. My stepmom purchased a potassium powder mix on Amazon containing 1g potassium and 400mg sodium per serving. That ratio works well. Coconut water is also good. Anything under 600mg of potassium is a ripoff.

The fewer carbs you consume and the more you exercise, the more electrolytes you'll require. Even plain salt water beats drinking nothing.

Do it properly and do it quickly — as time passes, the appetite suppression fades and you'll need to lean on exercise and fiber to manage it.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I appreciate that. Between Oct 2024 and July 2025 I was taking zepbound (tirzepatide). My doctor gave me doses going as high as 12.5 mg. Nothing worked better for my body, until an insurance problem forced me to switch to Wegovy. Once I've used up all my Wegovy refills, chances are good I'll return to Tirzepatide.

Do you take Reta or tirzepatide? What makes you call Reta weak? Since the medicine with 3 hormones has more than the two in tirzepatide, shouldn't it work better?
Click to expand...
Two weeks in on reta—this is the first GLP peptide or drug I've ever used. Since starting, though, I've read an absurd (and unemployed) quantity about GLP drugs. My background leans toward pharmacokinetics, especially where subjective effects are concerned.

According to what people report, Sema and Tirzepetide deliver far more appetite suppression than reta does. For me, real appetite suppression only arrived once I reached 2mg within a week—that's 4 shots of 0.5mg.

Should you begin reta, a 4mg starting point is probably wise, then push the titration hard if you can. The glucacon mechanism—reta's third—burns extra calories daily and brings blood sugar down. If naturally managing your appetite comes easily, wonderful. But if you resemble me, someone who struggles to stop once eating begins, it gets somewhat irritating. Down the road, I might stack tirzepetide alongside my retatrutide.
 
TinyPCOSgirl said:

birdwhacker said:

PCOS really sucks. A lot of my female friends, plus my sister, deal with PCOS.

Coming from someone who used to be on a GLP, my suggestion is to start aggressively and boldly. Tirzepatide suppresses appetite far more powerfully than Reta, and since you were on tirzepatide first, Reta won't hit as hard.

Pay attention to what your body tells you and don't lose your stride. Adding more is always possible, but once it's in, you can't remove any.

Certain studies begin participants at 4mg.

I'm a 235lb white guy who has never touched a GLP medication. Week 2 is wrapping up and week 3 is starting, so I'm about to step on the scale. Appearance is improving and I feel fantastic.

During week 1, I gave myself four 0.5mg shots, totaling 2 mg. Week 2 consisted of 2 shots at 1mg. The appetite suppression and metabolic changes really kicked in after that initial 1mg shot, and my training sessions improved. Aiming for 100+g of protein every day.

Research indicates that dosing aggressively — starting at 4mg and increasing by 2mg monthly — is FAR better for rapid fat loss IF you can handle the side effects. My strong recommendation is to space out your shots and move fast. So far it seems to be working really well in my case.

The toughest part is the diet. I have to split protein across 3-4 meals of 20-30g each day and eliminate extra fat and carbs, or else cushion carbs with psyllium fiber.

At an absolute minimum, you should be taking methylated b complex, D3 if you aren't already, and a trace mineral complex. I take magnesium and fish oil on top of that.

At an absolute minimum, you need to consume 1g potassium alongside other electrolytes each morning. If you don't, all the water you drink will just pass through you. My preference is to dump a lot of salt and "nosalt" into a glass and drink it in the morning. My stepmom purchased a potassium powder mix on Amazon containing 1g potassium and 400mg sodium per serving. That ratio works well. Coconut water is also good. Anything under 600mg of potassium is a ripoff.

The fewer carbs you consume and the more you exercise, the more electrolytes you'll require. Even plain salt water beats drinking nothing.

Do it properly and do it quickly — as time passes, the appetite suppression fades and you'll need to lean on exercise and fiber to manage it.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

I appreciate that. Between Oct 2024 and July 2025 I was taking zepbound (tirzepatide). My doctor gave me doses going as high as 12.5 mg. Nothing worked better for my body, until an insurance problem forced me to switch to Wegovy. Once I've used up all my Wegovy refills, chances are good I'll return to Tirzepatide.

Do you take Reta or tirzepatide? What makes you call Reta weak? Since the medicine with 3 hormones has more than the two in tirzepatide, shouldn't it work better?
Click to expand...
My weight currently sits in the normal range.

At 4ft 9, I weigh 105lbs.

My goal is 85lbs - for my height, that falls toward the lower end of normal.

Given my small frame, would 0.5mg of Reta be workable? For someone my height and size, 4mg feels like it might be too much.
 
Jaylar said:

Start at 0.5 and check your response; if it isn't enough, increase it slightly.
Click to expand...
I'm finally going to take the plunge. After investing hundreds of hours into research, I now feel very confident about using Ret sourced in the USA with trustworthy COAs.

Tonight marks my last Wegovy injection, and I'll be placing my Reta order at the same time. My Reta journey kicks off next week.
 
Another East Coaster checking in. Calling me petite would be way off — I'm a big guy, though I've been shrinking bit by bit: four months of Tirz plus one month of Reta, stacked together.

What you've been through sounds rough, particularly being made to stop Zepbound right when things were going so well. Progress on Wegovy may seem sluggish, but eight pounds while dealing with PCOS is genuinely respectable. For me, Reta has moved noticeably quicker, which is why your interest in it makes sense.

Good to have you here. Your goal is practically within reach, and it's obvious you have the grit to see it through.
 
AcadiaPeptides said:

Another East Coaster checking in. Calling me petite would be way off — I'm a big guy, though I've been shrinking bit by bit: four months of Tirz plus one month of Reta, stacked together.

What you've been through sounds rough, particularly being made to stop Zepbound right when things were going so well. Progress on Wegovy may seem sluggish, but eight pounds while dealing with PCOS is genuinely respectable. For me, Reta has moved noticeably quicker, which is why your interest in it makes sense.

Good to have you here. Your goal is practically within reach, and it's obvious you have the grit to see it through.
Click to expand...
After reading through this forum, I finally feel ready to start my reta journey next week.

My order goes in this week!

There's my cousin's engagement party in Atlanta next month, where I'll be doing a solo dance performance. Now I have no choice. Since it's going to be professionally filmed, the pressure to look my best is really on.

With Reta, I'm hoping to drop at least 8 lbs and hit my goal by mid May.
 
TinyPCOSgirl said:

AcadiaPeptides said:

Another East Coaster checking in. Calling me petite would be way off — I'm a big guy, though I've been shrinking bit by bit: four months of Tirz plus one month of Reta, stacked together.

What you've been through sounds rough, particularly being made to stop Zepbound right when things were going so well. Progress on Wegovy may seem sluggish, but eight pounds while dealing with PCOS is genuinely respectable. For me, Reta has moved noticeably quicker, which is why your interest in it makes sense.

Good to have you here. Your goal is practically within reach, and it's obvious you have the grit to see it through.
Click to expand...
After reading through this forum, I finally feel ready to start my reta journey next week.

My order goes in this week!

There's my cousin's engagement party in Atlanta next month, where I'll be doing a solo dance performance. Now I have no choice. Since it's going to be professionally filmed, the pressure to look my best is really on.

With Reta, I'm hoping to drop at least 8 lbs and hit my goal by mid May.
Click to expand...
You're going to do awesome!
 
I finally placed my very first Reta order — I'm thrilled!!!

My last Wegovy injection happens tonight, and after that, my reta journey begins at last.
 
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