Reta is a perimenopause miracle.

[octopusthorpe]

50 y/o, 5'10", dropped 160lb during 2016 through low-carb eating, progressive overload strength work, and hiking.

That loss stayed put until perimenopause arrived in late 2024 - close to 20lb came on within a year even though diet and training stayed the same.

HRT was started (estradiol patch plus low-dose test-c), and it addressed everything except the slow upward creep on the scale.

Weight climbed from around 140 to somewhere in the 157-162lb range and refused to move no matter which of my reliable fat loss methods I used.

After five and a half weeks on reta I'm 18.6lb lighter (1mg/week, divided into two 0.5 doses) and my lifting has not suffered (max bench 130lb, max squat 205lb, max deadlift 305lb), though my weekly hikes did take a hit - normally I cover 20-30 miles each Saturday with about 2k feet of elevation gain, but recovery has slipped, so now I'm doing roughly 12-15 miles every other week. On non-hiking days I use a light indoor bike.

RHR and HRV have only shifted slightly (RHR moved from 45-50bpm up to 51-54bpm). Sleep isn't ideal (still about 6-7 hours a night, and the 4am wake-ups are annoying).

Protein: roughly 160g/day (normal for me).

Since I'm now at 144 I might lower the dose somewhat, as I don't want to shed too much - just stunned by how well this works.

 

[CJsMom]

Great job returning to a weight range where you feel at ease!

 

[octopusthorpe]

CJsMom said:

Great job returning to a weight range where you feel at ease!

Thank you! It was driving me crazy—all that muscle I'd built, only to have it buried beneath peri-puff

 

[Smiter]

octopusthorpe said:

50 y/o, 5'10", dropped 160lb during 2016 through low-carb eating, progressive overload strength work, and hiking.

That loss stayed put until perimenopause arrived in late 2024 - close to 20lb came on within a year even though diet and training stayed the same.

HRT was started (estradiol patch plus low-dose test-c), and it addressed everything except the slow upward creep on the scale.

Weight climbed from around 140 to somewhere in the 157-162lb range and refused to move no matter which of my reliable fat loss methods I used.

After five and a half weeks on reta I'm 18.6lb lighter (1mg/week, divided into two 0.5 doses) and my lifting has not suffered (max bench 130lb, max squat 205lb, max deadlift 305lb), though my weekly hikes did take a hit - normally I cover 20-30 miles each Saturday with about 2k feet of elevation gain, but recovery has slipped, so now I'm doing roughly 12-15 miles every other week. On non-hiking days I use a light indoor bike.

RHR and HRV have only shifted slightly (RHR moved from 45-50bpm up to 51-54bpm). Sleep isn't ideal (still about 6-7 hours a night, and the 4am wake-ups are annoying).

Protein: roughly 160g/day (normal for me).

Since I'm now at 144 I might lower the dose somewhat, as I don't want to shed too much - just stunned by how well this works.





View attachment 11410

I kept staring at that photo too...So come on, tell us—were you built by Cyberdyne for Skynet?

 

[octopusthorpe]

Smiter said:

octopusthorpe said:

50 y/o, 5'10", dropped 160lb during 2016 through low-carb eating, progressive overload strength work, and hiking.

That loss stayed put until perimenopause arrived in late 2024 - close to 20lb came on within a year even though diet and training stayed the same.

HRT was started (estradiol patch plus low-dose test-c), and it addressed everything except the slow upward creep on the scale.

Weight climbed from around 140 to somewhere in the 157-162lb range and refused to move no matter which of my reliable fat loss methods I used.

After five and a half weeks on reta I'm 18.6lb lighter (1mg/week, divided into two 0.5 doses) and my lifting has not suffered (max bench 130lb, max squat 205lb, max deadlift 305lb), though my weekly hikes did take a hit - normally I cover 20-30 miles each Saturday with about 2k feet of elevation gain, but recovery has slipped, so now I'm doing roughly 12-15 miles every other week. On non-hiking days I use a light indoor bike.

RHR and HRV have only shifted slightly (RHR moved from 45-50bpm up to 51-54bpm). Sleep isn't ideal (still about 6-7 hours a night, and the 4am wake-ups are annoying).

Protein: roughly 160g/day (normal for me).

Since I'm now at 144 I might lower the dose somewhat, as I don't want to shed too much - just stunned by how well this works.





View attachment 11410

I kept staring at that photo too...So come on, tell us—were you built by Cyberdyne for Skynet?

Keep it quiet, this stays between us.

 

[sheilarae74]

I feel the same way. Thanks to it, I've dropped pounds beyond anything I imagined. HRT isn't even necessary for me. My only regret is not beginning sooner, rather than spending a year fighting this by myself.

 

[Smiter]

octopusthorpe said:


Shhhh don't tell anyone

Click to expand...

I nearly choked on that one! For a split second I thought you were quoting the Terminator — "Give me your clothes, boots, and your motorcycle." I was actually getting ready to hand them over before it hit me that there's no Harley in my garage. Maybe I could swipe the exercise bike from the Golds Gym I belong to instead.

By the way, do you rehearse "I'll be back" while staring into a mirror?

 

[Smiter]

octopusthorpe said:

CJsMom said:

Great job returning to a weight range where you feel at ease!

Thank you! It was driving me crazy—all that muscle I'd built, only to have it buried beneath peri-puff

I find that unusual. I'd have figured the deception would serve a purpose. So it makes me ask: what's the goal in packing on all that muscle? Particularly your type of muscle. If my forearm looked like that, adjusted for my size obviously, I'd definitely be wearing a crown.

 

[WLBLD]

Wow, you're doing amazing!! I realize how much effort you've put in!! I also have to find out what your diet secret is, since I know it takes a lot of everything to get into such impressive shape!!

 

[octopusthorpe]

Smiter said:

octopusthorpe said:

CJsMom said:

Great job returning to a weight range where you feel at ease!

Thank you! It was driving me crazy—all that muscle I'd built, only to have it buried beneath peri-puff

I find that unusual. I'd have figured the deception would serve a purpose. So it makes me ask: what's the goal in packing on all that muscle? Particularly your type of muscle. If my forearm looked like that, adjusted for my size obviously, I'd definitely be wearing a crown.

12 years back, when my husband and I first got together, he had a powerlifting coach at this dungeon gym, and the crowd there was genuinely cool and bad-ass. Once the first chunk of weight came off, I didn't want to be left out, so I signed up with that same coach - and I was immediately obsessed. (Newbie gains definitely played a part.)

A decade later, I'm still at it, and the training itself is what I love (my husband and I lift as a pair - which is great because there's always someone to spot me), along with staying strong af as the years add up.

Most of the women in my family have dealt with osteoporosis and obesity, and I was not going to let that be my fate.

 

[octopusthorpe]

WLBLD said:

Wow, you're doing amazing!! I realize how much effort you've put in!! I also have to find out what your diet secret is, since I know it takes a lot of everything to get into such impressive shape!!

Honestly, my way of eating is nothing exciting. I stick to things like fish, meat, eggs, whey protein, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, bone broth, and vegetables that aren't high in fiber (two small bowel resections mean I have to keep fiber low). Reese's peanut butter cups used to be my one splurge, but since starting reta I haven't wanted them at all - strange, right

 

[Smiter]

octopusthorpe said:

Smiter said:

octopusthorpe said:

CJsMom said:

Great job returning to a weight range where you feel at ease!

Thank you! It was driving me crazy—all that muscle I'd built, only to have it buried beneath peri-puff

I find that unusual. I'd have figured the deception would serve a purpose. So it makes me ask: what's the goal in packing on all that muscle? Particularly your type of muscle. If my forearm looked like that, adjusted for my size obviously, I'd definitely be wearing a crown.

12 years back, when my husband and I first got together, he had a powerlifting coach at this dungeon gym, and the crowd there was genuinely cool and bad-ass. Once the first chunk of weight came off, I didn't want to be left out, so I signed up with that same coach - and I was immediately obsessed. (Newbie gains definitely played a part.)

A decade later, I'm still at it, and the training itself is what I love (my husband and I lift as a pair - which is great because there's always someone to spot me), along with staying strong af as the years add up.

Most of the women in my family have dealt with osteoporosis and obesity, and I was not going to let that be my fate.

Fine, screw it... I'm envious. Yep, there it is. No shame in saying so. Guess I'll just shrink into a mustard seed. Nice work, ma'am. Hats off!

 

[WLBLD]

octopusthorpe said:

WLBLD said:

Wow, you're doing amazing!! I realize how much effort you've put in!! I also have to find out what your diet secret is, since I know it takes a lot of everything to get into such impressive shape!!

Honestly, my way of eating is nothing exciting. I stick to things like fish, meat, eggs, whey protein, greek yogurt, cottage cheese, bone broth, and vegetables that aren't high in fiber (two small bowel resections mean I have to keep fiber low). Reese's peanut butter cups used to be my one splurge, but since starting reta I haven't wanted them at all - strange, right

Everything there is nutritious and healthy!! With some garlic and other seasonings, each of those can be delicious. Same goes for the Greek yogurt & or cottage cheese — I use that plus seasoning for all my sauces & dressings (occasionally a splash of vinegar or jalapenos with juice). Do you follow low carb? Mine is close to yours, except I include a small amount of rice & wraps + a bit more fiber, but I still have a long way to go!!

 

[JokeyJo]

I really wish I could say the same.

For me, Reta brings on severe anhedonia (Tirz does too, though to a lesser degree). On top of that, Reta appears to trigger anxiety, panic, and a sense of impending doom and dread. I'm fairly confident Reta is the culprit. It's gotten so unbearable that I've nearly accepted remaining overweight, even though every other factor is dialed in.

 

[londoner]

Reading this is encouraging. I'm 46 and just entering the early phase of peri, and I'm having a hard time moving off 152lb (+-5lbs) toward the 137 I feel best at. I exercise quite a bit, so the muscle is present, but so is the extra padding. I'm only 2 weeks (3 jabs) in and nothing has budged yet, even with a solid deficit and daily workouts. My protein targets are being met. So I'm just staying consistent and waiting to see what the next month or two brings.

 

[Powerslide]

JokeyJo said:

I really wish I could say the same.

For me, Reta brings on severe anhedonia (Tirz does too, though to a lesser degree). On top of that, Reta appears to trigger anxiety, panic, and a sense of impending doom and dread. I'm fairly confident Reta is the culprit. It's gotten so unbearable that I've nearly accepted remaining overweight, even though every other factor is dialed in.

What's your sex and how old are you? I'm just looking for a bit more background.