INTRO Intro + sugar and chocolate cravings

[Losing150]

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

 

[domin8brix]

Walking is a solid start—it does count as cardio, and if you stick with it, you'll likely be able to increase both speed and effort as the weight comes off. When it comes to strength work, you might still be able to do some even with your body issues; resistance bands plus bodyweight moves such as squats and lunges could work.

That said, diet is roughly 90% of the fight. I can't say anything about Reta because I haven't begun it yet, but on Tirz I didn't see a massive drop in chocolate cravings—my total calories and carbs did go down, though. One thing I've figured out: quitting things like that abruptly just intensifies the urge. Deprivation isn't sustainable. Thanks to bariatric surgery, I "luckily" can't handle straight sugar (or much fruit, unfortunately) because it makes me seriously sick—but I've relied for years on some great sugar-free chocolate, and I stash the extra-dark single squares that satisfy the craving. (They won't send you running to the bathroom, either!)

The "squares" I get come 8 to a pack (I tend to buy around 16 packs at once...), and I snap 1 or 2 squares into 4 pieces, then let each piece dissolve slowly in my mouth so the taste lasts longer. I'm not sure if naming the brand is permitted, but I have no connection to them—I simply spend a lot of money there because the product is genuinely good and fits into my macros. If it's okay to say it, it's Choczero, and I've found their website is cheaper, though they also sell on Amazon and possibly at some Walmarts and Whole Foods. My top pick is the 92% squares, but the 70% are quite good too if super-dark chocolate isn't your thing. Unlike some very dark chocolates, it is not bitter at all. I gave Goalz a try as well; they're tasty but only sold through their site and not individually wrapped, which for me is a recipe for overdoing it. All my little ones play sports, so I pack a cooler with waters, Gatorade Zero, a few of these chocolate squares (plus my lunch and other snacks) to get through a full day of games.

I'm also a fan of chocolate electrolyte powders—Saltt is my go-to, though Hydromate and LMNT make them too. The LiquidIV ones (hot chocolate or something?) were absolutely disgusting. Another option: sugar-free coffee syrup like Torani mixed into water can take the edge off a chocolate craving. Given that where you are is probably already like an oven (meanwhile it's nearly 90 here, which is unacceptable!), trying a few of those after your walk could be worthwhile since you'll be sweating if the weather is nasty.

 

[Hillyman]

Hey, this hit home for me since I'm in a comparable spot. (my goal is roughly 120lb down)

About the cravings part: based on what I've come across and what I've gone through, reta appears to reduce food noise and cravings much like tirz does, and for certain individuals it might work even better. That said, I haven't used tirz myself, so ideally somebody with more time on it can weigh in with a clearer response.

Wishing you the best on your journey!

 

[Losing150]

Hillyman said:

Hey, this hit home for me since I'm in a comparable spot. (my goal is roughly 120lb down)

About the cravings part: based on what I've come across and what I've gone through, reta appears to reduce food noise and cravings much like tirz does, and for certain individuals it might work even better. That said, I haven't used tirz myself, so ideally somebody with more time on it can weigh in with a clearer response.

Wishing you the best on your journey!

I appreciate it! From what I've gathered in my reading, it appears superior in most respects, though maybe not when it comes to cravings—and that's exactly what's giving me the most trouble at the moment. When your body descends into what you might call metabolic, systemic, and nervous system chaos, the pull toward fast energy turns into something with nearly drug-level control over you.

 

[Losing150]

domin8brix said:

Walking is a solid start—it does count as cardio, and if you stick with it, you'll likely be able to increase both speed and effort as the weight comes off. When it comes to strength work, you might still be able to do some even with your body issues; resistance bands plus bodyweight moves such as squats and lunges could work.

That said, diet is roughly 90% of the fight. I can't say anything about Reta because I haven't begun it yet, but on Tirz I didn't see a massive drop in chocolate cravings—my total calories and carbs did go down, though. One thing I've figured out: quitting things like that abruptly just intensifies the urge. Deprivation isn't sustainable. Thanks to bariatric surgery, I "luckily" can't handle straight sugar (or much fruit, unfortunately) because it makes me seriously sick—but I've relied for years on some great sugar-free chocolate, and I stash the extra-dark single squares that satisfy the craving. (They won't send you running to the bathroom, either!)

The "squares" I get come 8 to a pack (I tend to buy around 16 packs at once...), and I snap 1 or 2 squares into 4 pieces, then let each piece dissolve slowly in my mouth so the taste lasts longer. I'm not sure if naming the brand is permitted, but I have no connection to them—I simply spend a lot of money there because the product is genuinely good and fits into my macros. If it's okay to say it, it's Choczero, and I've found their website is cheaper, though they also sell on Amazon and possibly at some Walmarts and Whole Foods. My top pick is the 92% squares, but the 70% are quite good too if super-dark chocolate isn't your thing. Unlike some very dark chocolates, it is not bitter at all. I gave Goalz a try as well; they're tasty but only sold through their site and not individually wrapped, which for me is a recipe for overdoing it. All my little ones play sports, so I pack a cooler with waters, Gatorade Zero, a few of these chocolate squares (plus my lunch and other snacks) to get through a full day of games.

I'm also a fan of chocolate electrolyte powders—Saltt is my go-to, though Hydromate and LMNT make them too. The LiquidIV ones (hot chocolate or something?) were absolutely disgusting. Another option: sugar-free coffee syrup like Torani mixed into water can take the edge off a chocolate craving. Given that where you are is probably already like an oven (meanwhile it's nearly 90 here, which is unacceptable!), trying a few of those after your walk could be worthwhile since you'll be sweating if the weather is nasty.

Appreciate the reply! From what I've gone through, keeping things like dark chocolate and ice cream to a moderate amount has never come easily to me. Back when my weight was lower, swapping them out for fruit or other healthier options worked much better.

Also, you said tirz didn't help with your cravings, which surprises me. That's supposed to be one of

domin8brix said:

Walking is a solid start—it does count as cardio, and if you stick with it, you'll likely be able to increase both speed and effort as the weight comes off. When it comes to strength work, you might still be able to do some even with your body issues; resistance bands plus bodyweight moves such as squats and lunges could work.

That said, diet is roughly 90% of the fight. I can't say anything about Reta because I haven't begun it yet, but on Tirz I didn't see a massive drop in chocolate cravings—my total calories and carbs did go down, though. One thing I've figured out: quitting things like that abruptly just intensifies the urge. Deprivation isn't sustainable. Thanks to bariatric surgery, I "luckily" can't handle straight sugar (or much fruit, unfortunately) because it makes me seriously sick—but I've relied for years on some great sugar-free chocolate, and I stash the extra-dark single squares that satisfy the craving. (They won't send you running to the bathroom, either!)

The "squares" I get come 8 to a pack (I tend to buy around 16 packs at once...), and I snap 1 or 2 squares into 4 pieces, then let each piece dissolve slowly in my mouth so the taste lasts longer. I'm not sure if naming the brand is permitted, but I have no connection to them—I simply spend a lot of money there because the product is genuinely good and fits into my macros. If it's okay to say it, it's Choczero, and I've found their website is cheaper, though they also sell on Amazon and possibly at some Walmarts and Whole Foods. My top pick is the 92% squares, but the 70% are quite good too if super-dark chocolate isn't your thing. Unlike some very dark chocolates, it is not bitter at all. I gave Goalz a try as well; they're tasty but only sold through their site and not individually wrapped, which for me is a recipe for overdoing it. All my little ones play sports, so I pack a cooler with waters, Gatorade Zero, a few of these chocolate squares (plus my lunch and other snacks) to get through a full day of games.

I'm also a fan of chocolate electrolyte powders—Saltt is my go-to, though Hydromate and LMNT make them too. The LiquidIV ones (hot chocolate or something?) were absolutely disgusting. Another option: sugar-free coffee syrup like Torani mixed into water can take the edge off a chocolate craving. Given that where you are is probably already like an oven (meanwhile it's nearly 90 here, which is unacceptable!), trying a few of those after your walk could be worthwhile since you'll be sweating if the weather is nasty.

Appreciate the reply! From what I've gone through, keeping things like dark chocolate and ice cream to a moderate amount has never come easily to me. Back when my weight was lower, swapping them out for fruit or other healthier options worked much better.

Also, you said tirz didn't help with your cravings, which surprises me. That's supposed to be one of the main things it helps with. Is your dose high enough?

 

[domin8brix]

I’ve been taking somewhere in the range of 7.5-10mg each week, divided into separate doses, and I’m attempting to adjust how I split them so that Reta can be added in. At no dose have I really felt like my chocolate cravings were controlled enough—though recently some odd aversions have shown up that weren’t there when I was on lower doses. For example, yogurt and cottage cheese are things I currently can’t handle, even though I used to eat them at least once a day. I’m hoping that once Reta is part of the lower-dose mix, it will help me bring those foods back into my diet.

 

[Smiter]

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

 

[domin8brix]

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

For glutamine, is it a capsule form or something you dissolve in liquid? What's your method for taking the powder?

 

[DonkeyTrams]

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

Right now I'm using reta, though I've used tirz before. On reta, sugar and chocolate cravings are still there for me, but instead of finishing a whole bar or pack, I'm able to stop after just a few. When I was on tirz, those sugar cravings weren't present, but that could simply be how it affects me.

 

[Chunkomatic]

I've been on Tirz for more than a year now. Every so often, chocolate is the only thing I still want. Alcohol has become something I can hardly make myself drink anymore.

 

[Smiter]

domin8brix said:

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

For glutamine, is it a capsule form or something you dissolve in liquid? What's your method for taking the powder?

Stir it into a liquid. For me, that means adding it to my whey protein shake.

 

[domin8brix]

That's worth checking out. I'll dig into it. Since I only use shakes that come ready-made, I'll have to find some method of incorporating it—perhaps alongside electrolytes.

 

[Losing150]

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

I've come across that same point regarding glutamine powder in other places. Are you using L-glutamine, or is it plain glutamine?

 

[Redein]

My wife and I are 4 weeks into Reta, currently at 2.5mg weekly, and our cravings have been completely eliminated

 

[Losing150]

From what I've gathered when folks stack these two against each other, that's the clear winner. My biggest obstacle to dropping pounds at the moment is intense cravings, so tirz it is for me.

 

[Supremo22]

DonkeyTrams said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

Right now I'm using reta, though I've used tirz before. On reta, sugar and chocolate cravings are still there for me, but instead of finishing a whole bar or pack, I'm able to stop after just a few. When I was on tirz, those sugar cravings weren't present, but that could simply be how it affects me.

My experience lines up with that. Which medication quiets the food noise and suppresses cravings best seems to come down to the individual. In my case, tirz beat reta by a wide margin when it came to cutting my sweet tooth. While on tirz, chocolate and sugar never crossed my mind. While on reta, I still eat some, though nowhere near the amount I did before starting GLP.

 

[Smiter]

Losing150 said:

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

I've come across that same point regarding glutamine powder in other places. Are you using L-glutamine, or is it plain glutamine?

I take L-glutamine together with my whey protein shake.

 

[Losing150]

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

I've come across that same point regarding glutamine powder in other places. Are you using L-glutamine, or is it plain glutamine?

I take L-glutamine together with my whey protein shake.

Got it, appreciate it.

 

[thisaccountisntme]

While I was taking Tirz, my cravings for sugar disappeared completely. At first Reta seemed fine too, but around the 3 - 4 month mark, once I had titrated up to 8mg of Reta weekly, those sugar cravings returned aggressively. My guess is that the Reta was causing low blood sugar, so I reduced my weekly Reta dose to 3mg and reintroduced 2.5mg of Tirz. For me, this combo is delivering excellent results.

 

[domin8brix]

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Smiter said:

Losing150 said:

Hi everyone. I'm a 36 year old guy, and my goal is to drop 150lbs. Obesity doesn't run in my family. The trouble started with postural problems that began in my mid twenties and threw my nervous system out of whack, which in turn messed with my hormones. I believe my cortisol got too high and my beneficial hormones got too low, and over a 2 year stretch I went from 220lbs at 6'2 up to 350.

Yoga and walking are things I have the energy for, so I do them. Cardio and weight lifting are off the table, though, since they make the right side dominance from my pelvis and rib cage problems worse.

A PT I came across through Reddit, who does virtual sessions from another country, told me that without shedding the weight first, we won't get very far. I completely agree with that. It's hard to make lasting changes to stance and loading when you're a giant blob.

As for chocolate and sugar.. every time I exercise (yoga or long walks), the following day the chocolate cravings hit so hard they feel like physical drug withdrawal. Without going into why that happens biologically, I'm aware tirzepatide will curb those cravings, but will Retatrutide do the same?

I struggle with sugar cravings just as badly. Whether placebo is playing a part, I can't say, but taking glutamine powder has been incredible for my cravin..no, incredible for me, and absolute misery for those cravings. Over the past week I haven't touched a single sugary treat. Never happened before in my life. And yes, you really need resistance bands. Mine are from Rogue fitness and I've relied on them for years. Pick up something comparable and I used to weigh exactly the same. 6"2, 350lbs.

I've come across that same point regarding glutamine powder in other places. Are you using L-glutamine, or is it plain glutamine?

I take L-glutamine together with my whey protein shake.

Is there a specific one that you're into?