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What's your favourite thing about reta?

30 replies18 peopleAug 31, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

What benefits do users notice most from retatrutide beyond weight loss?

Users report reduced food noise and cravings for sweets or alcohol, leading to smaller portions and fewer urges. Some experience steadier energy, lower anxiety, and better focus, while others note anhedonia or elevated heart rate. Dosing varies widely with inconsistent week-to-week effects, and many plan to stay on it long-term for maintenance.

What this discussion establishesWhere people disagree

Some welcome the mild emotional dulling as a benefit while others dislike anhedonia or skin sensations; responses to low doses and heart-rate changes also differ.

Still open

Why effects sometimes fade week to week and the best long-term maintenance strategy

Nothing here is advice.

30 replies · 18 people
QuietPebble46archiveopening postAug 31

This being my first GLP-1, the standout for me is still being able to eat but feeling far more content afterward. Normally after a meal I would immediately start planning the next one. I also have a serious sweet tooth, yet now when the urge hits I can have a small amount and it settles the craving without any further mental back-and-forth. The other day I portioned out some chocolate from a share bar and that was enough; before I would have finished the whole thing and felt disappointed it was gone. Now one of those bars stretches across several days. What do others like most?

RustKettle26archiveAug 31
↳ replying to @QuietPebble46 (opening post)

Same here, I used to plan the next meal constantly, so the satisfaction after eating is a big win. No more evening snacking either. Dinner finishes the night for me most of the time. A lot of people mention anhedonia as a downside, but for me it is one of the best parts. It does not remove enjoyment entirely, just tones things down so I do not crave them the same way. Drinking is a good example: I used to want something after work to unwind, but now I can have one when the occasion fits without the urge appearing. I have nearly quit altogether. The closest description is a mild benzo-like feeling where things simply do not hit me the way they used to, and that feels positive.

IronCinder88archiveAug 31

The energy lift is what I appreciate. I hit my goal on tirzepatide at a low dose and the extra benefits made me want to stay on something, but it had started to flatten me out a little. Adding 1 mg of reta each week, three days after the tirz shot, changed that. I began with 0.5 mg to check tolerance and noticed the difference right away. I seem to respond strongly to these meds. The 1 mg dose gives a solid boost, though I have to watch hydration and constipation closely, starting the day with 32 oz of water. Heart rate did not feel higher to me, but that may be where the energy comes from. I am really happy with it and glad to have supplies of both.

QuietPebble46archiveAug 31
↳ replying to @RustKettle26

I should have mentioned the alcohol side too. My drinking habits have always been a struggle, but the cravings have dropped off completely. At a recent wedding I only had three pints, which is very unusual for me. Normally I would end up black-out drunk. When I do drink now it stays slow and controlled. I also get much thirstier on reta, especially the first few days, so I make sure to have water handy. No energy changes for me, but overall it has been working well and I do not want to come off it either.

PlainAlder11archiveSep 1

Talking to beginners about it is not really the point, but yes it is. Losing 60 lb has me feeling great, with far more energy and none of the old laziness or side effects. Those side effects disappeared once I reached 6-8 mg and have stayed gone. I had been at 10 mg but am now adjusting a maintenance dose and plan to continue as long as I can. The downside is loose skin; I lost some muscle and still have stubborn belly fat that is slowly reducing. Average loss was 2 lb per week. I need to add weight training to firm up.

QuietPebble46archiveSep 1
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11

That is great progress. I have seen your updates here and they are impressive. I lost 25 kg on my own but kept the weight off, plus an extra 5 kg, for the last two years and wanted reta for additional support. My training is already consistent from the past three years, so I am treating this as a tool. Loose skin seems hard to avoid and I expect mine to increase as I get leaner. I am also aiming for the same weekly rate of loss.

BrightCompass57archiveSep 1

Hard to find anything not to like. Down 29.5 lb since mid-June, no muscle loss thanks to TRT and GH. I have trained more than 75 days straight, getting stronger each time. My doctor was surprised by how much my cholesterol improved. Blood pressure and heart rate are both lower. I have not had a drink since starting. Diet is clean and enjoyable with no cravings. I could keep listing positives. Just checked the scale again and it is now 30.1 lb lost.

QuietPebble46archiveSep 1
↳ replying to @BrightCompass57

That sounds excellent. How did you increase the dose over time?

BrightCompass57archiveSep 1
↳ replying to @QuietPebble46

Began with 1 mg twice a week, then after two weeks moved to 1.5 mg twice a week. Weight loss was slow at first and I even gained a little when adding GH. At five weeks I went to 2 mg twice a week, then at nine weeks to 2.5 mg twice a week, which is where I am now at a total of 5 mg.

RustAlder52archiveSep 3

When it is working I feel really good: appetite down, anxiety lower, energy and focus higher. Some weeks it is strong and others it seems weaker, and I have not figured out the pattern yet.

RustAlder52archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @QuietPebble46

It is strange. I stayed at 0.5 mg for five weeks and it worked, then faded, so I went to 1 mg with no real change. Same at 1.5 mg. At 1.75 mg it finally helped a lot, but at 2 mg the effect dropped again. Now at 2.5 mg it feels good again, so hopefully it holds. I may be increasing in steps that are too small.

QuietPebble46archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @RustAlder52

I would agree. Five weeks at 0.5 mg is a long time on a low dose. Check what the current studies did and do not hesitate to go higher.

PlainAlder11archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @RustAlder52

This is basically what I told you in another thread.

RustAlder52archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11

One hundred percent. I actually feel as good today at 2.5 mg as I did back at 0.5 mg. I am really happy right now, and thanks for the advice.

GreyHarbour55archiveSep 4

Inflammation relief is not as strong for me as it was on tirzepatide, even after adding KPV. At 3 mg once a week my weight has stayed steady without counting calories. I still eat at a deficit but can enjoy small portions of whatever I want and feel satisfied. Tirzepatide removed hunger cues entirely and I mostly ate because I had to.

AmberMarble84archiveSep 4

It ended a stall I had on tirzepatide and let me eat more while still losing. The higher resting heart rate of 5-10 bpm, odd skin sensations, and anhedonia were the parts I disliked.

KeenThistle61archiveSep 4

I like that I am using it to push back against big pharma.

SharpCinder28archiveSep 4

Another vote for reta as a stall breaker. It ended a months-long plateau I hit because I could not handle higher tirzepatide doses, and I have not stalled since. Maintenance is coming soon, though the target weight keeps moving lower. I might tolerate tirzepatide at 10 mg or more now. I have mostly used up to 6 mg of reta per week.

QuietPebble46archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @AmberMarble84

I am not looking forward to the resting heart rate increase because I run, but so far it has been manageable.

AmberMarble84archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @QuietPebble46

Same here, my pulse rose while running too.

WarmLedger68archiveSep 4

Being frugal, I really like how much less I spend on food now, and the time saved. The weight loss is a bonus.

PlainAlder11archiveSep 4
↳ replying to @SharpCinder28

I had two goals and actually passed the second by about 8 lb. I am back within 4 lb of it and feel good. I had worked down to 4 mg but went back to 6 mg for Friday shots because I felt I needed it for the belly area. I still get full quickly but my eyes are bigger at meals. How close are you to maintenance? My cardiologist visit yesterday showed two normal tests and he was very pleased. He asked about further weight loss and I said it was diet-related.

SteadyKettle52archiveSep 4

Reta ended my adult content addiction.

WrySignal35archiveSep 16

I love that it works.

ClearAnchor16archiveSep 16

Besides eating normal portions and feeling content, I am also less anxious day to day. Work stress used to get to me a lot and now the small stuff does not bother me as much.

I lost 30 kg without giving up much. Cravings, inflammation, bloating, and fatty liver all improved. It fixed internal issues so well that I am now pregnant, so I have to pause until next April but will restart right after.

GreenPebble13archive5d
↳ replying to @BrightPebble45

That is what I liked too. Recent lab work came back normal. My A1c had been moving between prediabetic and type 2 for years and I needed 48-hour fasts to reach 100 mg/dL blood glucose. The only way to manage it was one meal a day plus long fasts. That was my routine for five years and I liked it, but I like reta more.

GreenPebble13archive5d
↳ replying to @PlainAlder11

I thought once I stopped drinking and eating poorly I would have the energy to be more active and involved with family. When I finally quit everything I was excited and started going to the gym, but I was still lazy otherwise. Turns out I am just naturally that way.

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