CommunityResults & Progress

Is 4lbs in 2 months not good?

47 replies30 peopleJul 14, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

Is 4 pounds lost in 2 months on low-dose retatrutide too little and should the dose be increased sooner?

The thread shows the original poster started at 0.5 mg weekly and reached only 1.5 mg after seven weeks, resulting in 4 lb loss. Most participants note these amounts are below trial starting doses of 2 mg and that meaningful effects, especially glucagon activity, typically begin around 4 mg. Several stress that calorie tracking and deficit remain essential even on the medication, while others highlight body recomposition or maintenance as valid outcomes at low doses. The group generally advises titrating upward gradually rather than switching compounds yet.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some participants argue any loss below 1 % body weight per week signals the need for immediate dose increase or stricter calories, while others maintain that slow progress or even weight stability at low doses is acceptable and safer.

Still open

Whether the original poster’s source product delivered the stated potency and how quickly any individual should push past 2 mg without side effects

Nothing here is advice.

47 replies · 30 people
BrightSignal26archiveopening postJul 14

Hi everyone. I began retatrutide in May and it is now July. So far I have dropped only four pounds. I am trying to stay positive but four pounds over two months feels small. Is it too soon to consider switching to tirzepatide or should I continue and allow more time? My weekly doses have been: 0.5 mg, 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg, 1.5 mg.

BrightSparrow36archiveJul 14

It depends on your starting weight. If you are carrying extra weight you should target half to one percent loss each week. If you are not hitting that target you need to cut calories further. Use the loseit app, set activity to sedentary, and do not eat back exercise calories. The medication reduces how unpleasant a deficit feels but you can still eat more than it offsets.

LevelAlder29archiveJul 14

I am not using retatrutide myself but several people I know who are say four milligrams tends to be the point where weight loss becomes noticeable, though it varies person to person.

QuietFenwick11archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

The amount you have lost matches the low doses you have used so far. Most trials begin at two milligrams and some even start participants at four. If you want faster loss you will need to raise the dose; if slower loss is fine then stay lower.

RustKettle57archiveJul 14

Just keep in mind the amounts you have taken remain small. Trials begin participants at two milligrams so you are still under that level. Move up to two milligrams and continue from there. Once you reach three or four milligrams and still see no change then it may be time to look at other options. Also how active are you? Without exercise four pounds could be reasonable at these low amounts.

NorthWillow72archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

Responses differ from person to person. Are you experiencing any unwanted effects? As others noted your starting weight matters and your BMI may play a role. You began very cautiously which could be slowing progress. The usual approach is to pick a dose that produces loss while keeping side effects low, so you may simply need to move up. The TRIUMPH-1 trial compared retatrutide doses of four, nine, and twelve milligrams against placebo in adults with obesity or overweight.

LevelThistle44archiveJul 14

I weighed 229 lb on May 1 and reached 207 lb this morning. Four pounds would not satisfy me, but I switched from tirzepatide to retatrutide and took the same seven milligrams per week split across six shots that you spread over two and a half months, so adjust your expectations accordingly.

WarmCompass44archiveJul 14

I also lost roughly four pounds in the first two months yet I am not concerned because my body has changed noticeably. My waist is smaller, strength stayed the same or improved, and my dose has been higher than yours. Retatrutide mainly helped me stay inside my calorie needs and pay attention to food choices instead of eating mindlessly. If your goals differ you might want to increase the dose more quickly. Research indicates the glucagon component does not fully activate until four milligrams, so at present you are essentially on a low-dose version of tirzepatide.

BrightSignal26archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @RustKettle57

I attend the gym three times each week. Thanks, I now see that the dose has been low.

NorthWillow72archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26

Remember the half-life means the medication accumulates, so you currently have more than the last 1.5 mg dose in your system. Do not jump the dose sharply. Try two milligrams next time if no negative reactions have occurred. You can use the plotter in my signature to estimate current levels. Retatrutide has an elimination half-life of about six days, so nearly complete clearance takes roughly thirty days.

BrightSignal26archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @NorthWillow72

I have no side effects at the moment. My BMI is 28.3 so I am overweight. Thanks to you and everyone else who pointed out the dose level. I will move to a higher amount.

IronKettle95archiveJul 14
↳ replying to @LevelAlder29

A well-known YouTube physician released a video this week making the same point. He noted that anything below four milligrams functions essentially as expensive tirzepatide.

BrightCompass57archiveJul 14

You need a larger calorie deficit. I would also raise the dose. I am in week four and just reached 2.6 mg per week, yet I only have twenty to twenty-five pounds to lose even though I currently weigh 275 lb. If I had more to lose I would increase faster.

ClearKettle65archiveJul 14

A physician who uses these medications posted a video covering this topic. Below four milligrams retatrutide mainly activates GIP and GLP-1 receptors and acts like costly tirzepatide. The glucagon receptor that aids fat burning activates near the four-milligram mark. Signs such as skin tingling, a modest heart-rate rise, and reduced liver fat appear around that dose. Dropout rates due to side effects at four milligrams stayed very low in trials, close to placebo levels.

PatientFenwick91archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

Four pounds can feel disappointing when others report much larger losses in the same period. Still, gradual progress often avoids hormonal and metabolic issues that come with rapid drops. Would those four pounds have come off without the medication? I realized that even when the scale did not move for six months on retatrutide I at least stopped gaining, which had been happening before. As others said you remain at a modest dose. Move up carefully, perhaps to two milligrams for four weeks as the trials did, then reassess.

SteadyBeacon64archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

A better question might be whether your body has changed, whether eating habits have improved, whether you are training, eating clean, tracking protein, and watching calories. I stay on a low dose myself and focus on mirror photos and measurements rather than the scale. I log everything in ChatGPT to track sleep, food, workouts, and injections, which helps keep progress visible.

SharpAlder96archiveJul 15

Everyone keeps saying slow and steady is best. Your weekly amounts have stayed low. Two milligrams is often treated as a starting level yet beginning lower to let the body adjust was the correct choice. I personally find two milligrams high for an initial dose and prefer smaller amounts early on. Because retatrutide has a six-to-seven-day half-life the drug builds quickly in the system. I currently use 2.5 mg weekly and lose about 1.5 lb per week, which suits me, so I am not planning large increases. Have you noticed lower appetite or better food choices? Continue as you are; a modest dose increase for a few weeks will show what is possible. The goal is the lowest effective dose, not the highest possible one.

CopperSignal27archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @ClearKettle65

Not exactly on topic, but the doctor mentioned earlier receives frequent references and the original poster seemed to be reacting to his statements. I do not believe his views rest on solid science. The claim that effects begin only at a specific dose like four milligrams does not align with how pharmacology or these receptors actually work. A medical degree does not protect against misunderstanding basic principles. Like other GLP drugs, retatrutide effects increase with dose up to a point beyond twelve milligrams where further increases mainly add side effects. Sharing opinions is fine, but posting videos under a doctor title carries an obligation to present accurate information.

PlainAlder11archiveJul 15

I have said this many times about these very small doses. I understand wanting to limit side effects, but the Lilly trials never tested or mentioned such low amounts. I lost the same four pounds in water weight during the first week at two milligrams.

SteadySparrow75archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11

Flash-BCR has now become a strong advocate for beginning at two milligrams.

LevelThistle44archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @CopperSignal27

I agree in general. Faster titration raises side-effect risk but serious problems are never guaranteed at any given dose. Incremental increases rarely produce major sustained issues. At lower doses a jump from two to three milligrams is a fifty-percent rise yet most people report only minor effects. The same percentage increase from eight to twelve milligrams is larger in absolute terms. Trial data can suggest a reasonable weekly target when starting. Side-effect presence or absence helps decide how quickly to move. If the goal is only ten percent loss then twelve milligrams is probably unnecessary; for thirty-five percent loss it becomes more likely.

CopperFenwick68archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @BrightSparrow36

Not exactly. Safe weekly loss ranges from half a pound to two pounds. Four pounds over two months equals half a pound per week, which sits at the lower end of steady progress.

BrightSparrow36archiveJul 15
↳ replying to @CopperFenwick68

Did you read what I wrote? I referred to percentages of body weight, not fixed pounds, because heavier individuals can safely lose more absolute weight each week than lighter ones. That is why guidelines use percentages rather than specific numbers. You may have misread the original point.

NorthSignal16archiveJul 15

I would also note the slow and cautious dosing. If you are training and eating properly those four pounds could still be meaningful, for example if four pounds of fat were replaced by four pounds of muscle. Without weight training and adequate protein the result is on the lower side.

PlainMarble21archiveJul 16

Same situation here. My husband and son started at the same time. My husband has lost ten to fifteen pounds and my twenty-one-year-old son has lost twenty-five. We began at 0.6 mg twice weekly to limit side effects, moved to 0.8 mg twice weekly after four weeks, and recently reached one milligram twice weekly. The scale only began moving once I reached two milligrams total per week, but I still plan to increase to 2.5 mg total at the next four-week point. At least I have not gained and I can eat normally without obsessing over every carb.

PlainAlder11archiveJul 16

That seems excessive to me, though I do not know your full situation.

IronKettle44archiveJul 16
↳ replying to @ClearKettle65

The same doctor has personal experience with GLP-1 medications. He was in poor metabolic health before losing the weight, so he brings practical knowledge.

SharpHarbour71archiveJul 16
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

I appreciate that you started low and increased slowly. Several people including myself have seen solid results on these smaller doses, though the losses were larger than four pounds over two months. Given your limited progress I would increase the dose, assuming the product is genuine.

WarmMarble23archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

It may not feel like much but it is hard to expect more when you have not yet reached two milligrams, the level used to start participants in the clinical trials.

PatientThistle38archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

Have you been taking body measurements? Those often give a clearer picture than the scale alone.

SlowSparrow49archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

A few people asked about your target weight and current weight but I have not seen an answer. Also, where the retatrutide came from and whether it was tested for actual content matters. You are still on a fairly low dose. I have only a modest amount to lose and am using retatrutide more for body recomposition than pure fat loss. I dropped some weight early, mostly water, then leveled off. During that time my belt size decreased two notches and I look leaner. Do not focus only on the scale if clothes fit better or other positives appear. These medications are tools; exercise and proper eating are still required.

LevelThistle44archiveJul 22

I considered adding 0.5 mg of semaglutide split into two weekly doses on top of my retatrutide. After the first 0.25 mg dose plus my usual retatrutide the next day I felt worse than I ever have from these medications. I delayed the next retatrutide shot and reduced the following semaglutide doses to 0.125 mg. I have now taken ten semaglutide doses and seem to have settled on 0.125 mg twice weekly.

CopperSignal27archiveJul 22

Of all the GLP medications I have tried only semaglutide produced that general low-grade unwell feeling, similar to a mild virus. I do not get it from retatrutide, tirzepatide, or cagrilintide.

BrightSignal26archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @SlowSparrow49

I currently weigh 170 lb and want to reach 140 lb. I cannot name the source but it is a commonly discussed one in this community. Since the original post I have taken the next dose at two milligrams. I am photographing progress but so far I mainly look less bloated with no major visible change. My eating has improved noticeably even on the lower doses because appetite changed. After hearing that the dose was low I understand that bodies respond differently. I saw many reports of good results on small amounts, which is why I chose the cautious route. I do not regret starting low, though my expectations may have been higher than realistic. I will continue and see what happens now that the dose is increasing.

BrightSparrow36archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26

Better food choices are great. To lose weight you still need to eat below maintenance needs. If you have been tracking calories you already know your maintenance level; reduce from there. If you have not been tracking, begin now.

PlainAlder11archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26

Remain at two milligrams for four weeks, then move to four milligrams and continue increasing while weight begins to change.

SlowSparrow49archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26

Reactions differ. I started at 0.5 mg every three days and increased from there; I am now at two milligrams every three days, though my goals differ from yours. If you are not already doing so, track calories. Eating better helps but if intake remains at or above maintenance nothing will be lost. Run your stats through a TDEE calculator to estimate maintenance and aim for roughly five hundred calories below that daily. If you are not lifting weights, add some training to help preserve muscle.

IronLantern48archiveJul 22

With such low starting doses the small loss is not surprising. I am doing the same on purpose because I have only about twenty pounds to lose and am focused on recomposition. After two months with four doses at 0.5 mg and four at one milligram I have lost about five pounds and see clear body changes. I had never used anything similar and wanted to confirm tolerance, so I will move to two milligrams next. I train four or five times weekly and am satisfied with the results so far.

LevelCinder55archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

I do not understand why the dose has not been raised if results are lacking. You are seven weeks in and have not yet reached my own starting dose of two milligrams. Four pounds in seven weeks would have made me stop. My training partner began at two milligrams for two weeks, three milligrams for two weeks, four milligrams for nearly three months, and recently moved to five milligrams. I came from Ozempic and increased weekly from two to five milligrams. Five milligrams currently works best for me, though I am starting to notice hunger returning on day five and may try six milligrams. I still lost four kilograms last month.

IronKettle95archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSparrow36

This reply is exactly right. Another forum is full of newcomers who receive only the advice to eat three to five hundred more calories whenever weight stalls. The real issue is almost always the one described here. Weighing food matters and exercise calories should not be eaten back. The medication creates a calorie deficit; it is not a magic fat-loss injection. These drugs are tools, not shortcuts.

PlainAlder11archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @SlowSparrow49

What does E3D mean? Where are all these new users coming from?

WarmPebble69archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

Sorry the slow progress is discouraging. Four pounds in two months can feel minimal when faster results are hoped for. Your doses are still on the lower side; many people see larger changes only after reaching higher amounts. Some respond slowly at first then accelerate once settled at a higher dose. Spending more time at 1.5 to two milligrams before deciding to switch could be reasonable, but everyone differs. How has appetite and energy been? Those can be earlier indicators than the scale. Keep going.

PatientPebble79archiveJul 22
↳ replying to @BrightSignal26 (opening post)

For your body higher dosing may produce faster loss. Four pounds itself is neither good nor bad; it is simply data from your experiment. Is rapid loss the main goal? Do you prefer reaching an effective dose or avoiding unpleasant side effects? Starting slowly was sensible. For my body the jump from two to four milligrams caused major problems. For your body moving to three then four milligrams might work well depending on goals. For me one milligram of tirzepatide plus two milligrams of retatrutide gives steady comfortable loss. Not everyone shares the same target. Good luck finding what suits you.

BrightKettle28archiveJul 23

What is your current weight, daily calorie intake, and exercise routine? To lose more you need to eat less. Use a calorie calculator to estimate needs for maintenance, loss, or gain.

PlainAlder11archiveJul 23
↳ replying to @IronKettle95

I have never done any of that tracking. I watch carbohydrate intake but still eat carbs and prepare good meals at home. I eat as much as possible without overdoing it and have a couple of beers daily. I have lost fifty-five pounds in seven months simply by following the Lilly trial dosing schedule with minor adjustments. Staying an extra two weeks at four milligrams was one change. I found that increasing by only one milligram at a time was usually a waste; two-milligram jumps worked better for me. I generally followed the four-week titration used in the trials unless I extended a dose. There must be many doctors and dietitians on this site given all the advice being offered.

Add your experience

If you have tried it, this topic is still open. Sign in to reply — it takes a minute.