Motivation keeps slipping away again 😔

JourneyToPerfection said:

miameow said:

JourneyToPerfection said:

Every time I try to shed the full amount of weight and then move into a body recomp, the same pattern plays out. The opening couple of months feel great. After that, my drive disappears. No clue why. My diet stays pretty much the same, nothing extreme. I simply reach a stage where I’m still nowhere near satisfied with how I look, yet my head goes “eh, fuck it, good enough”. Only it isn’t good enough, and I do want to reach my goals.

SW 74.2kg

CW 65.7kg

GW 57kg (ish)

Reta 2mg every 7 days (very sensitive to GLPs)

Working out hasn’t started for me yet, and I realize that’s the next thing to add. Old injuries stop me from going all out at the gym, but I can still manage short sessions at home and use the apartment treadmill that’s there for me. Maybe that’s the part that trips me up. If I stay on Reta without adding even a little exercise, I’ll wind up flat all over (same as what happened with Mounjaro last year), and then deliberately put weight back on to restore my curves. Apart from my back, which somehow stays chunky no matter what 😮‍💨

I’m just after advice, tips, tricks, personal stories and so on about how to keep going and see it through.

CJC no dac & Ipa should reach me this week, but I won’t go near it until a routine is in place and I’ve likely shed another 5kg.

Help meeee 😭😭
Honestly, what you've accomplished is impressive. Dropping close to 9 kg at your weight is a big deal.

What you're going through sounds familiar to most of us; we make headway, the drive fades, and then the same pattern plays out over and over.

When it comes to working out, I'd suggest keeping things straightforward yet regular, especially with your injuries. Treat it the way you treat your weekly reta injection; there's no internal debate about whether you'll do it, it just happens. Choose a single routine that you actually like and commit to it. Over time, bump up the time or the resistance, the same way you'd step up your reta dosage gradually.

JourneyToPerfection said:

Every time I try to shed the full amount of weight and then move into a body recomp, the same pattern plays out. The opening couple of months feel great. After that, my drive disappears. No clue why. My diet stays pretty much the same, nothing extreme. I simply reach a stage where I’m still nowhere near satisfied with how I look, yet my head goes “eh, fuck it, good enough”. Only it isn’t good enough, and I do want to reach my goals.

SW 74.2kg

CW 65.7kg

GW 57kg (ish)

Reta 2mg every 7 days (very sensitive to GLPs)

Working out hasn’t started for me yet, and I realize that’s the next thing to add. Old injuries stop me from going all out at the gym, but I can still manage short sessions at home and use the apartment treadmill that’s there for me. Maybe that’s the part that trips me up. If I stay on Reta without adding even a little exercise, I’ll wind up flat all over (same as what happened with Mounjaro last year), and then deliberately put weight back on to restore my curves. Apart from my back, which somehow stays chunky no matter what 😮‍💨

I’m just after advice, tips, tricks, personal stories and so on about how to keep going and see it through.

CJC no dac & Ipa should reach me this week, but I won’t go near it until a routine is in place and I’ve likely shed another 5kg.

Help meeee 😭😭
Until I turned 40, I disliked my appearance. A rough age to finally learn to appreciate myself, but late is still better than never. Strength training is what truly turned things around for me, because it altered my self-perception and made me worry less about other people's opinions.

In my twenties I was actually paralyzed and had to slowly rebuild my way back to the gym. That process was long and full of pain, so I understand that beginning with physical restrictions is tough.

At this point, you're well positioned to begin your recomp. Thank you for opening up about your experience here, since all of us have faced something similar. I'm with you on waiting a bit before adding the secretagogues. There's no need to hurry. All the best to you.
I really appreciate this — reading it gave me a push ❤️ knowing that others also struggle with motivation dropping off makes me feel less isolated. During my 20’s and the early part of my 30’s I dealt with a number of injuries. At 33 now, I mostly just feel beaten down. My legs are covered in cellulite, even though the pictures I snapped yesterday don’t make that obvious 😮‍💨 Since my daughter was born 7 years ago I’ve made a lot of progress on self love, because I want to model that for her and keep her from inheriting my problems (ending the cycle of generational trauma), but I’m aware there’s still a long road ahead.
Honestly, that way of thinking is really lovely. Your reasons are exactly the right ones, and I have no doubt you'll reach your goal.

As for the cellulite — lifting weights changed things a lot for me. I have less of it these days than I did back when I weighed less and carried less muscle. In the pictures, I truly can't spot any cellulite, though I realize we tend to judge ourselves far more harshly than anyone looking from the outside would.
 
Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

Thank yo

miss-sanne said:

I may be off base, but the number you 'want' and the number your brain wants are often two different things.

A healthy weight, a normal menstrual cycle and so on - that is what your brain is after.

I had a number I wanted, but my brain never signed off on it.

Your brain will begin to sabotize the mission ,and momentum in weight loss slips away so easily.

What is your height ?

You honestly look quite amazing, even if I know you may not see it that way.

Perhaps for now you can accept holding your weight steady, until the new motivation shows up.

Does that makes sense ?

Holding weight steady is quite good work too.
Thank you ❤️ Though I'm a short ass, haha, 5'2! There's still plenty of bulging fat around my back area, plus those lines on either side of my lower back caused by the creases that fat makes. Getting my strength back up matters a lot to me too, post accident (3 years this September). I have zero strength and get out of breath from a brisk 10 minute walk from the train station to my office 😅 my goal weight number is more of an assumed weight once I've lost a bit more fat and gained some toning back. The numbers at the end don't matter to me, more how I want to look and feel.
That's helpful to hear! 🙂

In your position, I'd begin by introducing something gentle, walks for example.

What are your thoughts on trying some resistance training by following along on you tube?

Pick something that leaves you feeling good, so it doesn't feel like an obligation.

Try not to measure yourself against other people. Plenty of people hit the gyms daily, but that isn't required for getting strong and the fat moving.

When you're starting from scratch, the upside is that progress comes easily.

Perhaps look for a buddy IRL to exercise with and to support the weight loss.
 
miameow said:


That’s genuinely such a beautiful mindset. You have the right motivation, and I’m sure you’ll get there.

And on the cellulite, weight training made a huge difference for me. I actually have less cellulite now than I did when I was thinner and had less muscle. I honestly can’t see any cellulite in the photos, but I know we’re often much more critical of ourselves than anyone else would be.

Click to expand...
That means a lot to hear, thank you ❤️❤️
 
laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
That sounds like a solid plan. On the lower doses, I actually noticed Tirz helped my mental health more anyway.
 
miss-sanne said:

JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
That sounds like a solid plan. On the lower doses, I actually noticed Tirz helped my mental health more anyway.
Honestly, my mental health is already a rollercoaster on a good day, lol. Last year I was using Mounjaro, and the one downside was that 2.5mg was the smallest dose available—it hit me too hard. These days I've got Tirz vials, so I can inject 1.5-2mg.
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

Every time I try to shed the full amount of weight and then move into a body recomp, the same pattern plays out. The opening couple of months feel great. After that, my drive disappears. No clue why. My diet stays pretty much the same, nothing extreme. I simply reach a stage where I’m still nowhere near satisfied with how I look, yet my head goes “eh, fuck it, good enough”. Only it isn’t good enough, and I do want to reach my goals.

SW 74.2kg

CW 65.7kg

GW 57kg (ish)

Reta 2mg every 7 days (very sensitive to GLPs)

Working out hasn’t started for me yet, and I realize that’s the next thing to add. Old injuries stop me from going all out at the gym, but I can still manage short sessions at home and use the apartment treadmill that’s there for me. Maybe that’s the part that trips me up. If I stay on Reta without adding even a little exercise, I’ll wind up flat all over (same as what happened with Mounjaro last year), and then deliberately put weight back on to restore my curves. Apart from my back, which somehow stays chunky no matter what 😮‍💨

I’m just after advice, tips, tricks, personal stories and so on about how to keep going and see it through.

CJC no dac & Ipa should reach me this week, but I won’t go near it until a routine is in place and I’ve likely shed another 5kg.

Help meeee 😭😭
Motivation doesn’t last, sweetheart. Getting yourself to exercise or log your food can’t be built on it. It gives you a push, it gets you going and keeps you steady for a little while, but the moment it fades…habit and discipline are all that’s left.

The one thing I’d tell you is this….no matter what you’re aiming for, whether it’s showing up for workouts on a regular basis, or something similar…get up knowing what you’re going to do and don’t deviate. I used to get up and head to the gym immediately, before I had a chance to argue myself out of it. Get up, get your workout clothes on, and go….that’s all. Don’t let your head convince you otherwise. With looking after yourself, or what I call ‘self care’, I never end up regretting it. There were days I had to FORCE myself and that’s fine. Do it no matter what you feel like. Be there for yourself.

Good luck 💕
 
Here's the biggest thing to understand about motivation: your own mind will deceive you into thinking you're incapable. It resists effort, so it whispers that skipping a day is fine — and then that becomes every day. It convinces you that pushing that hard will kill you. To get past all that mental static, you need support.

Sign up at a good gym. Spend the extra money on a trainer. Share your goals with that trainer, along with whatever limits you have right now — in 3 or 4 months those limits won't be the same. Book four of five sessions with the trainer until the equipment and the routine feel familiar. Then build a workout schedule. Go 3-4 days a week, always at the same hour. That's how most people train. Introduce yourself to a few regulars, smile, say hello. Gym crowds are generally friendly, just guarded with newcomers, since most new faces quit after a week or two. Keep showing up, and ask questions about machines or movements. The real prize is a workout partner. Having one keeps your motivation up and makes you show up so you don't disappoint them. If nobody at the gym fits, ask your friends or coworkers. Look for someone you can push, who will push you back.

Almost everyone who trains takes five supplements, because they actually work. Add them too. 5mg of Creatine monohydrate before each work out. Every day: a quality multi vitamin, plus Vitamin D3. EPA/DHA — Life extension brand is a solid choice for that. And CoQ10 as well.

Write out a plan and don't deviate from it. You're capable of this. You have far more strength than your brain lets you see. Your self esteem will climb, and so will your overall happiness with life. Good luck, tell me how it's going in a couple of weeks 😎
 
A jumbled set of ideas:

Start with the easy checks: vitamin d, iron, ferritin.

Running plans fall apart for me past roughly 8 weeks. So either build around that limit (cycles of 8 weeks), or push through anyway.

Does your reward actually drive you? A spa day, a shopping trip, that kind of thing?

Could there be other indicators of low dopamine?

Is anyone holding you to it? Maybe a buddy doing similar training? (Like a run group, if running is your thing?)

Are your hormones and medications in a good place?

What about electrolytes? Overall nutrition?

Just a jumbled set of ideas… no need to reply, but a few of these have caught me out.
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
Having low iron is awful! Mine sits at 38 and I'm basically a zombie. Hair shedding way too much, feeling weak — even climbing the stairs wipes me out, my vision goes gray and I get lightheaded when I stand up quickly, plus insomnia that's been horrible (never realized that was behind it). At least it could be worse. I'm in the iron protocol group over on FB and it's taught me a ton about recovering — definitely worth joining! Lots of folks there describe dealing with what I have on top of anxiety, restless legs, heart palpitations, and plenty more. Doctors keep brushing us off since a ferritin of 10 counts as "acceptable," when really it ought to be 100-125! Take a look at that group — it changes everything!

I'll search for those exercise videos you brought up, sounds like a decent starting point.

Hope you feel better soon!❤️
 
Lovedog100 said:

Here's the biggest thing to understand about motivation: your own mind will deceive you into thinking you're incapable. It resists effort, so it whispers that skipping a day is fine — and then that becomes every day. It convinces you that pushing that hard will kill you. To get past all that mental static, you need support.

Sign up at a good gym. Spend the extra money on a trainer. Share your goals with that trainer, along with whatever limits you have right now — in 3 or 4 months those limits won't be the same. Book four of five sessions with the trainer until the equipment and the routine feel familiar. Then build a workout schedule. Go 3-4 days a week, always at the same hour. That's how most people train. Introduce yourself to a few regulars, smile, say hello. Gym crowds are generally friendly, just guarded with newcomers, since most new faces quit after a week or two. Keep showing up, and ask questions about machines or movements. The real prize is a workout partner. Having one keeps your motivation up and makes you show up so you don't disappoint them. If nobody at the gym fits, ask your friends or coworkers. Look for someone you can push, who will push you back.

Almost everyone who trains takes five supplements, because they actually work. Add them too. 5mg of Creatine monohydrate before each work out. Every day: a quality multi vitamin, plus Vitamin D3. EPA/DHA — Life extension brand is a solid choice for that. And CoQ10 as well.

Write out a plan and don't deviate from it. You're capable of this. You have far more strength than your brain lets you see. Your self esteem will climb, and so will your overall happiness with life. Good luck, tell me how it's going in a couple of weeks 😎
My mind is a jerk that feeds me a bunch of nonsense 😂 sadly, hitting the gym isn’t something I can do at the moment, though I’m crossing my fingers that’ll shift before long. To make a long story short: a major accident a few years ago, and the legal/lawyer side is still dragging on.

Once I’m able to get back to a gym, though, I’ll put this advice to use, thank you so much 🥰
 
Foggy-Hollow said:

A jumbled set of ideas:

Start with the easy checks: vitamin d, iron, ferritin.

Running plans fall apart for me past roughly 8 weeks. So either build around that limit (cycles of 8 weeks), or push through anyway.

Does your reward actually drive you? A spa day, a shopping trip, that kind of thing?

Could there be other indicators of low dopamine?

Is anyone holding you to it? Maybe a buddy doing similar training? (Like a run group, if running is your thing?)

Are your hormones and medications in a good place?

What about electrolytes? Overall nutrition?

Just a jumbled set of ideas… no need to reply, but a few of these have caught me out.
These are all reasonable things to ask!! About 2 months back my Dr ran a complete blood panel on me (she's aware I use peptides). Hormones and vitamin b were part of it. Nothing came back off except iron, which has run low for me since I was a teenager. I got an infusion 2 weeks ago, and from here on I'll be having them roughly every 3 months, permanently.

Sadly I treat myself any time I feel like it 😅 my job pays enough that I can afford to. The one thing I'd want to put money aside for is a tummy tuck & breast lift, though that makes no sense before my weight is steady at goal!

My dopamine receptors really are a mess. I have diagnosed adhd & generalised depression, plus other things. My meds are all where they should be though, and I never miss them because I know how bad it gets when I do.

Some friends of mine were on Reta too, and after talking with them I suspect the way I feel now, this flatness and lack of drive, could be the Reta itself. So this weekend I'm going back to Tirz.

A few of my friends either train or attend pilaties classes, but none of them live close to me and none share my physical health problems. Still, a friend in another state wants us to hold each other accountable, and we settled on that last night, so that should help.

My plan is to fix my insides first. I began glutathione last night and will run it for 8-10 weeks, then once it shows up I'll begin Thymosin Alpha for my immune system. After that I'll return to NAD and 5 amino and see what that does for me 🥰🥰
 
laansasa said:

JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
Having low iron is awful! Mine sits at 38 and I'm basically a zombie. Hair shedding way too much, feeling weak — even climbing the stairs wipes me out, my vision goes gray and I get lightheaded when I stand up quickly, plus insomnia that's been horrible (never realized that was behind it). At least it could be worse. I'm in the iron protocol group over on FB and it's taught me a ton about recovering — definitely worth joining! Lots of folks there describe dealing with what I have on top of anxiety, restless legs, heart palpitations, and plenty more. Doctors keep brushing us off since a ferritin of 10 counts as "acceptable," when really it ought to be 100-125! Take a look at that group — it changes everything!

I'll search for those exercise videos you brought up, sounds like a decent starting point.

Hope you feel better soon!❤️
I’ll definitely take a look at that group!!! My most recent bloodwork showed feratin at 19 😬 which is essentially anaemic. My body doesn’t absorb iron supplements, and red meat is off the table for me (long story - not by choice), so right now infusions are the only option I have, but I’d really like to learn more and hear how others manage!
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

JourneyToPerfection said:

laansasa said:

Being skinny fat and having low iron means, in my case, working out just isn't something I can do right now. CJC no DAC and AOD were things I gave a shot, yet nothing came of them. Then I came across info suggesting Ipa might lead to weight gain for certain people, and I think the GH inside it can make you retain water, so I decided against trying that.

Instead, someone pointed me in the direction of Mots-C - described as an exercise mimetic that could also boost energy - and honestly, it did make a difference! A bit of energy came back, and the scale shifted somewhat as well. Adding NAD to the mix is my next step. Curious to see what happens...

That stuck or plateaued feeling is something I get, but none of us are alone in this - you got this💪
Low iron is just the worst, isn't it?!! It's been 15 days since my last infusion and I'm still not feeling any better 😮‍💨 for me it normally takes close to a month. On the bright side, the dizzy spells aren't as bad anymore!

Yeah, I'm considering finding a YouTube video to follow along with, something with doable 10-15 minute workouts. And I'm going to go back to Tirz from Reta. After chatting with some friends today, they mentioned having lower energy and just a general drop in motivation too. I've got kits of around 12 different peptides sitting here, so switching is no hassle haha. I've also got Glut and Nad and 5 amino plus loads of other things, but I want my iron to be more stable first before I use the peps that drain my energy reserves.
Having low iron is awful! Mine sits at 38 and I'm basically a zombie. Hair shedding way too much, feeling weak — even climbing the stairs wipes me out, my vision goes gray and I get lightheaded when I stand up quickly, plus insomnia that's been horrible (never realized that was behind it). At least it could be worse. I'm in the iron protocol group over on FB and it's taught me a ton about recovering — definitely worth joining! Lots of folks there describe dealing with what I have on top of anxiety, restless legs, heart palpitations, and plenty more. Doctors keep brushing us off since a ferritin of 10 counts as "acceptable," when really it ought to be 100-125! Take a look at that group — it changes everything!

I'll search for those exercise videos you brought up, sounds like a decent starting point.

Hope you feel better soon!❤️
I’ll definitely take a look at that group!!! My most recent bloodwork showed feratin at 19 😬 which is essentially anaemic. My body doesn’t absorb iron supplements, and red meat is off the table for me (long story - not by choice), so right now infusions are the only option I have, but I’d really like to learn more and hear how others manage!
Honestly, it's a fantastic source of information. I picked up how heme iron and non heme iron differ so much from each other, and also which cofactors you need for the body to absorb it properly (B12, folate, copper, vit C, etc.) Following their protocol exactly can add 15-20 points to your ferritin each month (that is, as long as gastric bleeding, heavy hemorrhaging cycles, or infections such as sibo, h-pilori, or parasites aren't in the picture).

I'm 2 weeks in now and the lethargy has already eased a bit, though there's still a long way to go given my ferritin sits at 39. Handfuls of hair come out, and the brainfog plus weakness feel like too much to handle.

Tell me if you manage to track down the group. I could send you a DM too.
 
laansasa said:


It is a really excellent resource. I learned the difference between heme and non heme iron and how they are very different plus the cofactors needed for proper absorption (B12, folate, copper, vit C, etc.) They have a protocol that helps build 15-20 points on ferritin a month if followed to a T (assuming you don't have gastric bleeding, hemorraging cycles, or infections like sibo, h-pilori, or parasites).

I recently started (2 weeks ago) and already feel less lethargic, but I have a long road ahead with ferritin of 39. My hair falls in handfuls and the brainfog + weakness are overwhelming.

Let me know if you find the group. I can also DM you.

Click to expand...
I’m terrible at locating groups on FB 😅 if you sent me a DM with the specific name plus how I can tell it’s the correct one, that would be wonderful, thanks 🙏🏻
 
I think it largely comes down to your goal. Is it improved health? Appearance? Fitness and strength? Or a mix of all three?

Where health is concerned, the amount of weight you've already dropped can matter nearly as much as reaching an ideal weight. Once you're close to a normal weight, being fit probably does more for your health than shedding another couple of kilos.

Motivation is a hard one. Sitting around waiting for it rarely pans out, and usually it shows up only after you've begun doing something, not beforehand, which is exactly why getting started is so difficult. Maybe the most straightforward route is to tell yourself you must do something and must keep at it, but pick something so small that failure is almost impossible. That kind of basic behavioural psychology hack isn't guaranteed, yet it can help you begin when beginning otherwise feels like too much.

Back in 2022 I weighed 145kg. Through diet I got down to 115 kg, then began trying to rebuild some fitness, because at that point even shopping or walking more than 100m left me wiped out. So I told myself I had to walk daily, but for just 5 minutes. Even at that weight, 5 minutes of walking made my feet ache terribly, yet it was easy enough to keep going, and before long it stretched to 10 minutes, then a few km. As my weight fell, it became less hard and I grew a bit fitter, until eventually I was walking 3 hours a day and reached 75kg. I also deal with chronic depression and quite poor exercise tolerance, with exaggerated fatigue responses to not particularly large amounts of exercise, where I might unpredictably feel unwell for a day or 2 afterwards, but this very gradual method seemed to get around that.
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

Lovedog100 said:

Here's the biggest thing to understand about motivation: your own mind will deceive you into thinking you're incapable. It resists effort, so it whispers that skipping a day is fine — and then that becomes every day. It convinces you that pushing that hard will kill you. To get past all that mental static, you need support.

Sign up at a good gym. Spend the extra money on a trainer. Share your goals with that trainer, along with whatever limits you have right now — in 3 or 4 months those limits won't be the same. Book four of five sessions with the trainer until the equipment and the routine feel familiar. Then build a workout schedule. Go 3-4 days a week, always at the same hour. That's how most people train. Introduce yourself to a few regulars, smile, say hello. Gym crowds are generally friendly, just guarded with newcomers, since most new faces quit after a week or two. Keep showing up, and ask questions about machines or movements. The real prize is a workout partner. Having one keeps your motivation up and makes you show up so you don't disappoint them. If nobody at the gym fits, ask your friends or coworkers. Look for someone you can push, who will push you back.

Almost everyone who trains takes five supplements, because they actually work. Add them too. 5mg of Creatine monohydrate before each work out. Every day: a quality multi vitamin, plus Vitamin D3. EPA/DHA — Life extension brand is a solid choice for that. And CoQ10 as well.

Write out a plan and don't deviate from it. You're capable of this. You have far more strength than your brain lets you see. Your self esteem will climb, and so will your overall happiness with life. Good luck, tell me how it's going in a couple of weeks 😎
My mind is a jerk that feeds me a bunch of nonsense 😂 sadly, hitting the gym isn’t something I can do at the moment, though I’m crossing my fingers that’ll shift before long. To make a long story short: a major accident a few years ago, and the legal/lawyer side is still dragging on.

Once I’m able to get back to a gym, though, I’ll put this advice to use, thank you so much 🥰
Ask your doctor for a prescription to sign up at a gym and work with a trainer. That way, insurance covers the cost. Two goals handled at once. After all, you'd simply be doing what the doctor instructed.
 
JourneyToPerfection said:

Foggy-Hollow said:

A jumbled set of ideas:

Start with the easy checks: vitamin d, iron, ferritin.

Running plans fall apart for me past roughly 8 weeks. So either build around that limit (cycles of 8 weeks), or push through anyway.

Does your reward actually drive you? A spa day, a shopping trip, that kind of thing?

Could there be other indicators of low dopamine?

Is anyone holding you to it? Maybe a buddy doing similar training? (Like a run group, if running is your thing?)

Are your hormones and medications in a good place?

What about electrolytes? Overall nutrition?

Just a jumbled set of ideas… no need to reply, but a few of these have caught me out.
These are all reasonable things to ask!! About 2 months back my Dr ran a complete blood panel on me (she's aware I use peptides). Hormones and vitamin b were part of it. Nothing came back off except iron, which has run low for me since I was a teenager. I got an infusion 2 weeks ago, and from here on I'll be having them roughly every 3 months, permanently.

Sadly I treat myself any time I feel like it 😅 my job pays enough that I can afford to. The one thing I'd want to put money aside for is a tummy tuck & breast lift, though that makes no sense before my weight is steady at goal!

My dopamine receptors really are a mess. I have diagnosed adhd & generalised depression, plus other things. My meds are all where they should be though, and I never miss them because I know how bad it gets when I do.

Some friends of mine were on Reta too, and after talking with them I suspect the way I feel now, this flatness and lack of drive, could be the Reta itself. So this weekend I'm going back to Tirz.

A few of my friends either train or attend pilaties classes, but none of them live close to me and none share my physical health problems. Still, a friend in another state wants us to hold each other accountable, and we settled on that last night, so that should help.

My plan is to fix my insides first. I began glutathione last night and will run it for 8-10 weeks, then once it shows up I'll begin Thymosin Alpha for my immune system. After that I'll return to NAD and 5 amino and see what that does for me 🥰🥰

🤍

In several respects, I find myself in much the same spot. …

Watch out for the difference between what a lab calls “normal” and what is actually optimal. Mine is 38 for Vitamin D; my endo calls it great because it falls inside lab normal (30-100). Around 80 is where optimal sits, so raising it is something I’m working on. That “normal” versus optimal gap shows up in plenty of areas. Levels are still something I’m figuring out. D can be pushed down by GLP-1s, and I can tell it plays into my MDD and adhd/low motivation.

Were dopamine receptors something you could buy, I’d put in for a complete set. lol

Accountability wins every time! Happy to put another feather in your quiver.

NAD+ (buffered!) is something I enjoy, even without following a protocol. It lifts my energy floor, which is a good thing.

All the best to you!
 
lessthanhalf said:

I think it largely comes down to your goal. Is it improved health? Appearance? Fitness and strength? Or a mix of all three?

Where health is concerned, the amount of weight you've already dropped can matter nearly as much as reaching an ideal weight. Once you're close to a normal weight, being fit probably does more for your health than shedding another couple of kilos.

Motivation is a hard one. Sitting around waiting for it rarely pans out, and usually it shows up only after you've begun doing something, not beforehand, which is exactly why getting started is so difficult. Maybe the most straightforward route is to tell yourself you must do something and must keep at it, but pick something so small that failure is almost impossible. That kind of basic behavioural psychology hack isn't guaranteed, yet it can help you begin when beginning otherwise feels like too much.

Back in 2022 I weighed 145kg. Through diet I got down to 115 kg, then began trying to rebuild some fitness, because at that point even shopping or walking more than 100m left me wiped out. So I told myself I had to walk daily, but for just 5 minutes. Even at that weight, 5 minutes of walking made my feet ache terribly, yet it was easy enough to keep going, and before long it stretched to 10 minutes, then a few km. As my weight fell, it became less hard and I grew a bit fitter, until eventually I was walking 3 hours a day and reached 75kg. I also deal with chronic depression and quite poor exercise tolerance, with exaggerated fatigue responses to not particularly large amounts of exercise, where I might unpredictably feel unwell for a day or 2 afterwards, but this very gradual method seemed to get around that.
To be honest, every single one of them plays a part, though strength and improved overall health matter most to me. I've just kicked off a lengthy Glutathione and T Alpha protocol, hoping it will support my inner health and leave me feeling less run-down and unwell.

Wow, what you've accomplished is seriously impressive! Seeing that genuinely gives me a push. I get winded just going from the train station to my office, so that kind of fatigue is something I know well. For me, choosing 1 small, simple win to ease back into being active is the best way to keep it going. Thanks!
 
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