GlowUpForYou
Explorer
Has the stack been working well for you?
Introduction from a perimenopausal member: frustrated by stalled weight loss, here to learn
- Thread starter Cmoggy
- Start date
Same here — protein is my weak spot, and keto makes it even tougher to fit in. The capsule idea never crossed my mind, but you’re right. Knowing me, I’d probably forget to take it anyway lol. Sema isn’t something I’ve tried. Since I’m just starting out with peps, what is it supposed to do?KayKay said:
Reta was a bust for me too. Did you ever reach the max dose while on MJ? And has sema been on your radar? My closest friend got nothing from tirz either, yet sema delivered for her. Maybe that’s worth exploring? That said, none of these are magic — if I’m not doing my part, the scale doesn’t budge. Are you still exercising? Protein is where I hit a wall. Meat isn’t really my thing, and every protein drink, shake, or “juice” makes me want to hurl, so hitting my protein target is a constant battle. It’s 2026 — how have we not figured out how to stick it in a capsule yet
Arsenicou
Explorer
Hi! I'm on the peri/menopausal journey too, and reta is something I'll be starting soon.
As for HRT, I'm currently using it and I can't say I noticed any major weight gain from it — plus it should improve all the remaining simptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, waking up at night) by a huge margin. If podcasts are your thing, Huberman Lab has an episode on women's hormonal health. It's fairly recent and PCOS gets a lot of airtime in it.
On the insuççlin sensitivity front, I believe there was some peptide that assisted with that along with inflamation, though the name escapes me at the moment....
As for HRT, I'm currently using it and I can't say I noticed any major weight gain from it — plus it should improve all the remaining simptoms (hot flashes, insomnia, waking up at night) by a huge margin. If podcasts are your thing, Huberman Lab has an episode on women's hormonal health. It's fairly recent and PCOS gets a lot of airtime in it.
On the insuççlin sensitivity front, I believe there was some peptide that assisted with that along with inflamation, though the name escapes me at the moment....
Pawtypants13
Explorer
My fasting isn't intentional — I simply eat whenever hunger hits, or when it dawns on me that I should. Whether fasting helps or hurts a woman depends on her hormones… perimenopause, menopause. From what I've read, going without food during or close to your period isn't doing you any favors. And if your body is already coping with health problems, fasting just piles on more stress.
PeppyPopper
Explorer
Speaking as an RN, it's possible that the scale isn't moving because you're eating too few calories and your body has shifted into a survival state where it clings to every single pound. If that's what's happening, no medication is going to change things very much
Pawtypants13
Explorer
I take alpha lipoid acid, chromium and berberine. Before I eat, I have vinegar mixed with water. I also looked up the glucose goddess on podcasts and went through those, plus Dr Axe's how to reverse insulin resistance in 30 naturally in 30 days, and diary of a CEO with the diabetes doctor.
1200 isn't where I'm at — that was just my answer to the other poster, because dropping that low would leave me starving. Even at 1400-1600 the hunger is still there. The bright side: I started keto on Friday, and yesterday was the first time the hunger eased off, so ketosis seems likely since I didn't wake up with my stomach growling for food. I'll report back on how the low carb route goes alongside the Reta.
Reta is fine with carbs 
still, the choice of what suits you best is yours.
And just so you know, the notion that "calories too low" blocks fat loss beyond a really short stretch goes against thermodynamics (and it's a thing that keeps fat people fat).
Your calories being too low is not the reason you aren't dropping weight over the long haul.
still, the choice of what suits you best is yours.And just so you know, the notion that "calories too low" blocks fat loss beyond a really short stretch goes against thermodynamics (and it's a thing that keeps fat people fat).
Your calories being too low is not the reason you aren't dropping weight over the long haul.
A quick bit of news about this! It was most definitely a quality problem, because I took 4mg of the new batch on Thursday night and now I can barely get anything down. I'm having to push food into myself just to get protein.
On top of that, I've spent a couple of weeks cutting carbs way back since I put up this post, and even though the scales haven't moved, my lower belly is literally half the size it used to be. So at last we're heading in the right direction.
On top of that, I've spent a couple of weeks cutting carbs way back since I put up this post, and even though the scales haven't moved, my lower belly is literally half the size it used to be. So at last we're heading in the right direction.
moodymama76
Explorer
I'd like to know what your approach to keto looks like. On keto, getting enough protein really shouldn't be a struggle, because carbs are supposed to be kept under 50g gross rather than net. After that, you lock in your protein target, and whatever calories remain should be filled with fat. The deficit comes out of those fat calories.Cmoggy said:
Same here — protein is my weak spot, and keto makes it even tougher to fit in. The capsule idea never crossed my mind, but you’re right. Knowing me, I’d probably forget to take it anyway lol. Sema isn’t something I’ve tried. Since I’m just starting out with peps, what is it supposed to do?KayKay said:
Reta was a bust for me too. Did you ever reach the max dose while on MJ? And has sema been on your radar? My closest friend got nothing from tirz either, yet sema delivered for her. Maybe that’s worth exploring? That said, none of these are magic — if I’m not doing my part, the scale doesn’t budge. Are you still exercising? Protein is where I hit a wall. Meat isn’t really my thing, and every protein drink, shake, or “juice” makes me want to hurl, so hitting my protein target is a constant battle. It’s 2026 — how have we not figured out how to stick it in a capsule yet
If you're eating 1200 calories a day, the math works like this: carbs give 4 calories per gram, protein gives 4 calories per gram, and fat gives 9 calories per gram. So you trim back on fats such as butter, oil, or whatever you're using, until your deficit lands where it should.
What I’m getting at is that the protein shakes and similar items I normally count on for protein aren’t available anymore. My intake isn’t 1200, it’s 1400. A typical day looks like 3 eggs, avocado, a small tomato, 2 pork sausages, cottage cheese or baby bels, plus mince, cheese and mayo served over salad at dinner.
With this new Reta, though, today I’ve only gotten through 3 eggs, avocado and tomatoes. Dinner will be steak, chicken and salad, so that should add more calories. I haven’t tracked at all this week, ever since I started the new vial on thurs.
With this new Reta, though, today I’ve only gotten through 3 eggs, avocado and tomatoes. Dinner will be steak, chicken and salad, so that should add more calories. I haven’t tracked at all this week, ever since I started the new vial on thurs.