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Reta before/after: March 24th - July 6th

17 replies14 peopleJul 6, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

reta before after results for perimenopause fat loss and endurance side effects

A woman who powerlifts and hikes described starting low-dose reta in March 2026 after HRT and TRT failed to fully resolve perimenopausal fat gain; she reported rapid fat loss with preserved gym strength but reduced hiking endurance, a minor RHR increase, and temporary sleep disruption that resolved. Other users shared encouragement, noted similar supplement use for endurance, or mentioned their own experiences with related compounds. The thread centers on personal before-and-after observations rather than dosing protocols or sourcing.

What this discussion establishesStill open

Whether MOTS-c will restore the reported drop in hiking performance

Nothing here is advice.

17 replies · 14 people
RustKettle12archiveopening postJul 6

I began reta in March 2026 to lose the extra puff from perimenopause that started building in 2024. Powerlifting and long-distance hiking for ten years, yet my usual training and diet stopped delivering like before, which was frustrating. Started HRT with an estradiol patch plus low-dose test C in 2025 for other peri symptoms, but fat loss remained difficult. After nearly four months on 1 mg reta weekly split into two 0.5 mg doses, the speed and effectiveness have been surprising. The main downside has been lower endurance for hiking, though gym sessions continue normally with no muscle loss. Resting heart rate stayed mostly steady, moving only from the upper 40s to the lower 50s. Early sleep trouble cleared up and HRV returned to normal. Planning to try MOTS-C next to see if it helps with the endurance side.

SlowLedger31archiveJul 6

Not sure if it works the same for men and women. I take creatine, HMB, and TMG and think they help overall, especially with endurance both in the gym and day to day.

LevelAlder29archiveJul 6

I'm really blown away by how much you've been moving around and what you've managed to accomplish so far. Seems like a fresh belt was in order after all that. Solid effort on your part, and I'm grateful it gives the rest of us in this phase some real motivation. 🙂

IronFenwick84archiveJul 7
↳ replying to @RustKettle12 (opening post)

Seeing shares like these has this chubby older lady after menopause eager to start pumping iron! Solid effort there!

BrightSignal76archiveJul 7

I've noticed NAD+ lets me do more repetitions in my sessions, the same way creatine does. Not long ago I began using MOTS-c as well, but I sense zero difference. Even so, given that NAD+ can postpone weariness during strength exercises, I imagine it might lessen tiredness when I go for runs.

PatientMeadow16archiveJul 7

Way to go on your advancements. Seeing images from others gives me drive. My silly sense of humor thought one image made it seem like your private area was showing. Sorry about that, my thoughts are messed up. Hopefully that gave you a chuckle instead of getting me ignored. Appreciate the amusement regardless. Keep up the good work!

RustKettle12archiveJul 8
↳ replying to @PatientMeadow16

Oh I see what you meant now – that's a spray bottle of sanitizer resting by the window 😆 Cheers!

WarmFenwick20archiveSep 4

Dealing with the heart rate and HRV shifts at the moment. My HRV went down from 35 to 22 while resting heart rate rose by 6. Sleep has turned poor and I wake four times each night. Only on 1.5 mg of retatrutide, dropping weight but feeling off after six weeks. How long did it take for your HRV to settle back? Considering a switch to tirzepatide.

BrightCompass57archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @WarmFenwick20

Sounds odd but eating some carbs like rice or oatmeal right before bed eased the sleep trouble I had with reta.

PlainAlder11archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @BrightCompass57

Did nothing for me. Figure my sleep problems come down to age and routines.

PlainThistle11archiveSep 4

Great job on the progress!

BrightSignal76archiveSep 5

The best solution I found for sleep is a THC/CBN drink. Several choices exist. The one I go with lets me sleep deeper, wake less often, and avoid feeling groggy on waking. My sleep scores have gone up noticeably.

PlainLantern83archiveOct 3
↳ replying to @BrightSignal76

THC lowers natural test, which is a no-go in peri for me anyway.

ClearLantern70archiveOct 3

First off you look great, very healthy. Both mots-c and nad+ boost my stamina a lot for cardio and high-rep weights. I take them together on workout mornings. Plenty of folks say they do nothing but I think they are worth trying. Getting decent sleep?

NorthWillow72archiveOct 3
↳ replying to @PlainLantern83

That turned into an interesting search but it looks controversial and possibly dose dependent. A small amount at night might not matter. Studies on whether THC reduces natural testosterone show mixed and unclear outcomes. Some older work and animal tests point to acute or heavy use suppressing hormones and briefly cutting testosterone. Other large population studies found no real difference or even small rises among regular users. Any shifts seem tied to dose and can reverse after stopping.

BrightSignal76archiveOct 4
↳ replying to @PlainLantern83

Never heard that before. At 56 and on TRT for roughly ten years I have no concern there. Curious which hurts test more, poor sleep or THC. The drinks I use are low dose and the cbn seems to be what matters most.

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