INTRO Let's go

B

Br00

Explorer
Joined
Jul 2, 2026
Messages
7
Reaction score
0
Location
France
Hey everyone! After lurking around here for a good while, I figured it was time to actually register.

A bit about me: 40-year-old guy, endurance sports have been a huge part of my life for years — plenty of long-distance running, cycling and triathlon training. Staying lean was never an issue before, but more recently I've found it tougher to stay sharp, bounce back from training, and shed that lingering stubborn fat, particularly around the midsection. What I'm after right now: a better body composition (drop fat while holding onto muscle), stronger strength training outcomes, better focus/cognitive sharpness, and improved recovery overall.

I've done a fair amount of digging, and my plan is a peptide stack built around IGF-1 LR3, AOD-9604, Tesamorelin, and Retatrutide. On top of that, I'm thinking about throwing in low-dose HGH for the added GH/IGF synergy when it comes to cognition, recovery, and recomposition. The idea is a cautious 10-12 week run, though since I'm still pretty new to peptides I want to do this the responsible way.

Any experienced feedback would mean a lot. What's the smartest way to structure and time this stack? What starting doses, titration, cycling approach, and combination strategy would keep sides manageable? I'm also curious about the mistakes beginners commonly make, which blood work matters most to monitor, supplements that help with cognitive function or reduce sides, and what realistic outcomes people actually get for fat loss, strength gains, mental clarity, and endurance recovery.

Thanks in advance for any advice — I've already learned so much just by reading everyone’s logs and experiences here. Looking forward to your thoughts!
 
Br00 said:

Hey everyone! After lurking around here for a good while, I figured it was time to actually register.

A bit about me: 40-year-old guy, endurance sports have been a huge part of my life for years — plenty of long-distance running, cycling and triathlon training. Staying lean was never an issue before, but more recently I've found it tougher to stay sharp, bounce back from training, and shed that lingering stubborn fat, particularly around the midsection. What I'm after right now: a better body composition (drop fat while holding onto muscle), stronger strength training outcomes, better focus/cognitive sharpness, and improved recovery overall.

I've done a fair amount of digging, and my plan is a peptide stack built around IGF-1 LR3, AOD-9604, Tesamorelin, and Retatrutide. On top of that, I'm thinking about throwing in low-dose HGH for the added GH/IGF synergy when it comes to cognition, recovery, and recomposition. The idea is a cautious 10-12 week run, though since I'm still pretty new to peptides I want to do this the responsible way.

Any experienced feedback would mean a lot. What's the smartest way to structure and time this stack? What starting doses, titration, cycling approach, and combination strategy would keep sides manageable? I'm also curious about the mistakes beginners commonly make, which blood work matters most to monitor, supplements that help with cognitive function or reduce sides, and what realistic outcomes people actually get for fat loss, strength gains, mental clarity, and endurance recovery.

Thanks in advance for any advice — I've already learned so much just by reading everyone’s logs and experiences here. Looking forward to your thoughts!
Click to expand...
Regarding Tesa and IGF-1 LR3, I'd administer them on separate occasions.
 
Welcome!

48M here, my route hasn’t been the same as yours, but I still get a lot out of looking into research peptides. Tirz/reta has treated me very well. I haven’t tried Tesa or AOD, though I did do roughly 20 days of IGF1-LR3 during this spring and came away pleased with that cycle — another kit belongs in a future order. For the last month I’ve been on 3iu HGH every day, and it’s making a major difference for recovery when I lift and run.
 
Before you start IGF-1 LR3, I'd suggest getting IGF-1 levels checked, and then again partway through the cycle. This goes double if Tesa is going to be part of the stack.
 
Since peptides are new territory for you, my suggestion would be to ease in rather than going straight to a complete pep stack... particularly one that targets the GH axis through several routes at once. Say, you might simply begin with Reta, watch how things go, and think about layering in additional peps later on. Reta makes a solid foundation to expand from. Just my take, naturally 🙂
 
Reta opens the door. That said, slowbro has a point — before touching IGF-1 LR3, get bloodwork done. Work your way into any stack gradually, otherwise there's no way to tell which compound your body tolerates and which it doesn't. If you begin with several at the same time, you can't identify the one that's actually delivering results.
 
Back
Top