Community β€Ί Dosing & Titration

Reta plateau slow progress considering switch to tirz for appetite control

61 replies22 peopleJun 2, 2026β˜† Follow
Summary

how to overcome stalled progress on reta despite clean labs and minimal sides

Thread centers on whether under-counted intake, normal response variability, or dosing limits explain slow results, with some users reporting appetite and scale shifts only after small dose increases. Emphasis stays on consistent CICO as the dominant factor while thyroid, testosterone, and SSRI issues receive mention but limited support. No agreement forms on whether to increase dose further, switch compounds, or refine tracking.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

whether to push higher doses, switch to tirz, or focus solely on more precise tracking

Still open

optimal next step for the original poster

Nothing here is advice.

61 replies Β· 22 people Β· page 1 of 2
KeenBramble13archiveopening postJun 2

Let's start with my details. I'm a 44-year-old guy, decent looking but nothing special. Right now I'm at 278 pounds, started at 295 back in February 2026. I lift weights three times weekly when I can, and during lunch I power walk about 2.5 miles in 35-40 minutes. I track calories with an app at around 1950 daily. I suspect I'm a slow responder because at 12mg reta and 0.75 cag weekly my weight's been stuck near 280 for a month. Hunger is still there even if reduced, and cutting to 1500 makes it intense. What should I do - go higher on reta past 12mg, increase cag, or just wait? Anyone else plateau at the top dose?

LevelThistle44archiveJun 2

Have you tried GLP agonists before? The limited effect so far seems odd to me. What is your daily calorie consumption like? Overall weight management boils down to energy balance though this medication's action on the glucagon receptor could raise your burn rate by a couple hundred calories each day. Can you describe how you mixed the powder and calculated doses provided the vial amount is accurate? I've exceeded the amounts used in trials without using that other compound. I haven't noticed any adverse effects or issues.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @LevelThistle44

I mixed thirty milligrams using two milliliters aiming for eighty units via an online dosing tool. Intake hit nineteen eighty five calories yesterday while the activity tracker and food log showed over three thousand seven hundred expended though that burn figure seems off so I disregard it and skip adding back any intake. Tracking needs more consistency yet schedules sometimes get packed. One meal daily again could work but meeting protein targets that way alongside lifting sessions plus everyday pressures feels demanding. A hypertension pill an antidepressant and occasional anxiety medication are in my routine. What I found indicates those do not hinder fat reduction. I managed to stop the prior antidepressant. Another hypertension drug turned out to trigger lightheadedness and nerves. Trial and error has been ongoing yet the outcomes so far leave me satisfied. Recent labs looked ideal for the first time and prescriptions are decreasing. Fat reduction still moves slowly though.

PatientThistle65archiveJun 2

I don't see much point in raising the amount just because the number on the scale has stayed put for a couple weeks. The level I'm already using with the two compounds together is already quite high, so I would check the usual everyday factors before considering any switch or bump. Dropping from 295 down near 278 still counts as decent movement, and a plateau after shedding close to twenty pounds is pretty common when workouts, fluid shifts, salt intake, carbohydrate levels, bowel habits, or swelling are all fluctuating. The daily calorie target might also feel stricter than it really is once you factor in how precisely everything gets logged, plus any differences on weekends, extra oils or condiments, occasional tastes, and whatever gets entered in the app. Hunger signals alone don't prove the medication has stopped doing its job either. At this body weight, doing brisk walks a few times a week plus three lifting sessions can make a very low intake feel rough and hard to keep up with over time. For now I would stay where I am, focus harder on consistent logging for a short period, track the average across the week rather than single days, confirm protein, fiber, and mineral intake are adequate, and try adding more walking before considering any adjustment. Should things stay flat after those steps, it might be time to check in with someone more seasoned or a medical professional. I haven't been on this compound long and came from the other one, where the reduction in appetite urges felt stronger, so I'm careful not to treat a higher amount as the automatic fix when the current level is already substantial.

SlowBramble78archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13 (opening post)

My weight has come down nicely by 17 pounds from February at age 44 through regular lifts and brisk walks. That's handling the tough parts correctly. A flat stretch of roughly a month near 278 to 280 on that 12 mg combo with the added 0.75 amount shows up often during strength work. Fat loss with stable or added muscle might be underway, so the scale stays put. Checking tape measurements around the middle, progress pictures, or how outfits sit can reveal shifts the numbers miss. Sitting at 1950 calories yet still noticing hunger shows the metabolism adjusting on these compounds. Cutting straight to 1500 would feel rough and tough to keep up. Raising protein intake toward 180 grams or more, choosing bigger portions of lower calorie foods like greens plus fiber sources, or adding occasional higher intake days has worked for some instead of big cuts. The top trial amount sometimes stops progress for users. Holding steady often lets things move again after several weeks of routine. Adjusting the second part a bit has eased hunger signals more for certain people. Since pounds have already dropped and habits are set, this isn't slow response territory. Keeping detailed food records, staying hydrated, resting enough, and easing tension all help. Mixing walks with weights builds real results over months. Plenty of others move past these flat spots and drop further. What end weight are you shooting for?

IronThistle53archiveJun 2

Maybe all this effort means my muscles are growing instead so the number on the scale stays put. That counts as a positive change. Others already suggested holding at the current amount. I will keep my consumption level steady over the next few weeks while adding workouts and more protein. Plateaus hit everyone and count as a normal stage in the process. That dose already feels high so going higher would bring smaller gains until fresh information appears.

SlowHarbour21archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13 (opening post)

I found myself dealing with an identical issue even though folks say I look quite attractive. I tried combining those three compounds at fairly high levels yet felt nothing at all no burps or anything else. I kept suspecting my thyroid was off even after the doctor reviewed my labs and said everything checked out. Hours of digging online led me to try adding iodine so I began with a couple drops each morning mixed into coffee along with water and a little salt then increased to five. Suddenly the pounds started dropping the appetite control from the main compound improved noticeably my energy shot up old aches disappeared and mental clarity returned. It really transformed how I feel overall. I kept quiet about it until someone else brought up how thyroid function might influence the medication's effectiveness which lined up with what I had already noticed though several months later. This approach could make a difference for others too since results vary from person to person.

LevelThistle44archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13

Folks, muscle gains just don't happen quickly enough to balance out the fat drop during such a steep daily energy cut. Significant new fiber growth during a harsh restriction phase rarely occurs either. That fifteen pound shift over roughly four months doesn't qualify as strong advancement. Most of it probably vanished early on, equaling a five percent body mass drop across a few months. The simplest explanation points to flaws in the recorded figures and approach rather than any metabolic glitch, yet something clearly doesn't add up. The arithmetic holds for the injection volume mentioned. If that amount feels excessive there's no issue adjusting it downward, perhaps by splitting across multiple smaller shots using a finer syringe. Tracking intake proves simpler than estimating output, though hidden calories in meals can easily skew results for larger individuals. At my age starting from two hundred eighty two pounds back in winter I've shed sixty since then. Interactions between compounds aren't my specialty so I'll take the word that none likely exist here. The whole thing unfolds gradually and results are showing up. Clean lab results bring real relief. Has thyroid function, hormone levels or nutrient status been reviewed yet? Sorting out the slower pace makes sense.

AmberQuill88archiveJun 2

I'm wondering about the meals others consume now. Before beginning a low carb diet with unprocessed ingredients, I craved sugary items such as baked goods and deep fried snacks because my brain got hooked on the reward chemicals. Feeling empty can help shed pounds, yet when meals trigger dependency in the mind, the urge might surface differently. That's why I avoid occasional indulgences while using this treatment.

SteadyQuill55archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @SlowBramble78

Curious about the sign that shows me your browser theme never switches away from dark?

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2

Haven't noticed any shifts yet while taking Reta. Here's the week by week record for me so far... Any thoughts on what's going on? Would really value some input or suggestions.
Week one 1mg held at 278lbs
Week two 2mg still 278lbs
Week three 2mg rose to 280.4lbs
Week four 2mg fell to 277.6lbs
Week five 3mg returned to 280lbs
Week six 3mg stayed put
Week seven 4mg no movement
Week eight 4mg unchanged
Week nine 6mg same weight
Week ten 6mg down to 278lbs
Week eleven 6mg reached 276.4lbs
Week twelve 8mg back at 278lbs

ClearHarbour45archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @SlowHarbour21

I might give it a shot since even at the highest amounts I couldn't shed beyond twenty pounds. I've only just started reducing how much I drink by ninety percent so time will tell.

LevelThistle44archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @QuietAnchor98

It doesn't strike me as odd given that about ten percent of participants in those studies failed to show any effect. Maybe what arrived turned out not to be the actual compound after all.

RustThistle90archiveJun 2

I believe the intake numbers are being underestimated. Ultimately weight loss boils down to basic arithmetic. Consuming fewer calories than expended leads to shedding pounds. The medication aids in reducing food intake and possibly elevates metabolism slightly at rest yet over time if the weight stays the same more energy is taken in than used up. Things like sauces nibbles or drinks might be the culprits but I feel certain some intake gets overlooked. Cutting down sharply to fifteen hundred seems too drastic and without maintaining it long term it risks a strong rebound effect. Instead from the current one thousand nine hundred fifty lowering to eighteen hundred or eighteen fifty while being precise and monitoring progress makes sense. Since one pound of fat equates to about thirty five hundred calories maintaining a five hundred calorie gap daily across a week results in losing that pound. Exceeding the limit even for a couple of days can negate the entire week's effort.

LevelThistle44archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @RustThistle90

I notice when the scale drops by a pound it is seldom pure fat since other tissue that disappears lowers the energy value for that amount.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @QuietAnchor98

I keep tabs on my energy consumption and expenditure. Failure to shed pounds indicates excess intake. This principle holds without exception.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2

Wow, this community is really something special. Honestly. Feels good to have found a spot where I can chat about these topics.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @LevelThistle44

This comes from a trusted provider where users frequently share successful test outcomes. So does that imply my provider lacks credibility? Possibly, yet I doubt it.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @RustThistle90

Some effect is present but it falls short of being complete. Two pieces of pizza now push me to feeling awful. Previously double that quantity was needed for the same result. Shifts are underway though getting them started remains gradual.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenHarbour69

Yeah, avoiding the scale for my portions is probably the issue here. Still, I guess the time has arrived to begin tracking that way.

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @LevelThistle44

Got it from three different places. Some slight hunger reduction kicked in once I hit 6mg. The other two meds worked okay before. Trouble was insurance coverage and staying consistent. Switched over here hoping the hype was real. Three months later though and nothing's happening. Probably gonna switch back to the other one from the unofficial spots that cost less. πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenHarbour69

Tracking what I consume has never been part of my routine, and portions never struck me as large. Still, it's hard to say for sure. Back when I tried the earlier versions, the scale moved downward in the opening weeks each time even though I skipped any counting. I figured this round would follow the same pattern, yet nothing changed.

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13

Yeah, I'm admitting it's kind of slack on my part, yet I assumed no extra effort would be needed given that earlier versions didn't demand it either. Since this ranks as the leading GLP, I expected identical performance to what I experienced before.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @QuietAnchor98

That version stands apart without question. In my case there was never any reduction in hunger from it and the benefits faded completely within weeks. The other option performed better overall for me. Yet when progress stalls the key starting point remains detailed calorie monitoring even with extras like toppings for several weeks straight. Doing so always identifies where things went wrong.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @QuietAnchor98

Previously I took the gray version of sema and went as high as 2.4 where the results showed up clearly. This current one comes across as pretty average instead. I realize it's no wonder treatment but the results so far fall short of what the earlier one delivered. Feedback on the provider stays glowing and supported by lab checks again. Maybe my system just won't respond to this. Trying tirz could turn out to be a better option.

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenHarbour69

Thanks for the perspective. I'm deciding to return to Tirz.

QuietAnchor98archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13

Darn shame for the bunch of us, yet realizing company makes it better. hehe

BrightKettle28archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @QuietAnchor98

From what I've read this stuff acts totally different than the last two. Everyone who loved it had never touched the others at all. The people asking why it does nothing for them had already been on one or both of those.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 2
↳ replying to @BrightKettle28

I happen to be unusual in that beginning with the first one I tried produced results for just a month or so. After that point something seemed to shift, and raising the amount gradually brought no benefits at all except making my resting pulse climb noticeably while cutting my heart rate variability by quite a margin. The accounts I have come across make it clear that reactions to these substances vary widely between people. That has led me to value reading others experiences yet still pay close attention to my own reactions when choosing what to do next. Human physiology involves intricate and distinct systems.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @LevelThistle44

Thanks for spotting the slip! What I intended was a huge drop there 😱 so I revised my earlier comment to straighten it out.

KeenKettle50archiveJun 3

It looks to me like folks treat the balance of energy consumed and expended as an infallible way to spot mistakes in how folks live their lives. Yet that view falls apart once you notice plenty of us turn to those specific medications anyway. Years lived really slow the rate at which the body uses fuel while resting. A steep drop in daily intake might lower that resting rate for good, the way it did for people on a televised slimming contest. The person who started this thread could easily have a resting burn rate sitting unusually low from time passed or from hidden issues. Perhaps the neck gland is involved, or excess cortisol is at play, or the system is simply settling into a new level after months of eating far less.

SlowBramble78archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @SteadyQuill55

Wow the scripting language let everything slip out via its check on whether dark mode gets preferred.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @KeenKettle50

Yeah those meds basically let you eat smaller portions without much effort which makes dropping pounds happen with less hassle. Hmm.

KeenKettle50archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @KeenHarbour69

The person who started this thread mentioned slower progress compared to most. Everyone seems to agree that this newer option doesn't curb hunger quite like the earlier ones did. It's easy to see how these types of medications might have limited effects on certain groups of people. My experience lines up with that, though my situation involves reduced hormone levels and an autoimmune thyroid issue, both of which slow down how my body processes energy. Not sure about the details for the thread starter though.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @KeenKettle50

I'd wager that cutting intake even lower would cause extra pounds to come off. Still, I agree the hunger control isn't as strong here, which lets extra food slip in without noticing.

LevelThistle44archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @KeenKettle50

Even so, the balance of energy intake versus output remains key. Lowering the amount burned means cutting back on what you consume to drop body fat. Certain medical conditions might slow your burn rate, boost appetite, or cause fluid buildup, yet none of that alters the laws of physics. Conditions like thyroid problems and reduced testosterone levels tend to be straightforward to address in most guys.

KeenHarbour69archiveJun 3

People keep bringing up how getting older supposedly makes your system burn energy slower and similar claims, but some extensive new research showed that's not really true until well past sixty. For lots of folks it's probably just a convenient reason to lean on.

CopperSignal27archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13 (opening post)

18 pounds over three months, even counting the first few pounds of water weight, is underwhelming. A true stall this soon seems unlikely; fluid shifts are more probable, yet the overall pace on these doses plus the combo still looks weak and points to limited response. Actual plateaus usually show up closer to a year in. If the trend is something like four pounds a month and later picks up, it could just be a slow responder. You mentioned almost no sides. Without height it is hard to judge starting point, but heavier people usually drop faster. Prior diabetes also tends to blunt results. Trying a fresh batch might rule out a weak vial. Most likely the logged intake is a little high, since few people weigh every single item.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 3
↳ replying to @CopperSignal27

After seeing the replies I am leaning toward switching over to tirz. Losing weight has felt like constant effort for almost no return no matter what I try. Maybe that is just how it is for me. Also I am 5'11".

WryLedger73archiveJun 4

You are almost certainly eating more than the numbers show. That is the usual explanation in these cases. Even with tracking apps most people undercount what actually goes in. Switching to tirz or adding it on top could help. Lifting and walking are fine, but neither burns that many calories compared with running or cycling.

SharpAlder16archiveJun 4

Study data on reta shows the benefit levels off around 8-9 mg. Going past that probably will not fix whatever else is blocking progress. I would look at other factors instead of pushing the dose higher.

LevelThistle44archiveJun 4
↳ replying to @WryLedger73

Incline walking can burn a surprising number of calories with low effort. The studies did not show a peak at 8-9 mg.

SharpAlder16archiveJun 4
↳ replying to @LevelThistle44

The data really did flatten after 9 mg. The idea is to get the biggest effect from the smallest amount, so anything past that point gives smaller and smaller gains. It is the same principle used in engine tuning where extra timing stops adding power.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 4

Could it be a weak batch? The source is one people here rate highly and the tests look solid, yet I never tested my own vials. Earlier sema felt strong even though the scale did not move much. Thyroid checks are always fine and testosterone is good. Recent bloodwork was clean across the board. Maybe the recent stop of Lexapro is playing a role; past SSRI use added weight that came off when I quit. I am considering tirz from the same source for convenience and wondering what starting dose would make sense.

NorthBeacon16archiveJun 9
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13

Different batches can vary quite a bit even from the same place, sometimes under- or over-filled or even missing the peptide entirely. It might be worth trying vials from another couple of sources to compare how they feel.

KeenBramble13archiveJun 9
↳ replying to @NorthBeacon16

Any time I try to name it the post gets blocked. It is that one place.

ClearKettle90archiveJun 9
↳ replying to @KeenBramble13 (opening post)

Have you run a full hormone and thyroid panel lately? Total and free testosterone, SHBG, estradiol, insulin resistance, IGF-1, CRP, ESR, TSH, free T4, free T3, and reverse T3 would all be useful. Starting at 12 mg with little effect makes me wonder if something else is going on.

Add your experience

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

Reta plateau slow progress considering switch to tirz for appetite control Β· ZyraTrack Community