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What to do after hitting goal weight on first Cycle? Newbie needs direction, please.

5 replies5 peopleMar 29, 2026☆ Follow
Summary

What to do after reaching goal weight on retatrutide to keep losing fat without more muscle loss?

Users in their 50s share similar stats and concerns about muscle loss percentages during deficit phases on reta or stacked tirz. They emphasize ongoing resistance work, protein focus, and shifting to maintenance or surplus calories once at goal to support muscle. Some mention adding TRT, HGH, or other compounds to help hold lean mass, especially around planned surgeries or reduced activity.

What this discussion establishesStill open

Whether significant muscle can still be added in a deficit at this age even with added compounds, or the best long-term dosing once fat loss slows.

Nothing here is advice.

5 replies · 5 people
WarmQuill73archiveopening postMar 29

I'm a 52 year old guy standing 5 foot 9. I began at 208.6 pounds and sit at 182.8 now after dropping 26.4 altogether. Muscle started at 121.5 pounds and now registers 109.8 after losing 11.7 which equals 44.32 percent of everything shed. The scale puts my muscle share at 60.1 percent. Strength remains steady since I ski most weekends and keep up yoga without sensing any drop off. Those activities serve as my main checks on power. Target sits at 175 pounds though maybe lower because fat will still remain. I've used 2 milligrams once each week beginning January 10 2026 and just wrapped week 11. Hunger stays around so full meals work but I skip snacks and things like ice cream. Meals come from whole foods with added shakes powders and micronutrient support. The lower carb higher protein setup hydration and steady headspace all suit me. Light resistance through yoga walks and therapy moves continued until last week when three weekly lifting sessions started and that feels great. A 300 to 600 calorie gap held steady the entire period. The sticking point centers on dropping extra fat while holding muscle. Standard views suggest gains can happen in a gap especially for beginners like me though evidence stays thin and I could easily be off. Building lasting strength and keeping muscle along with fitness into older years drives me and I plan to stick with it. Routes forward remain unclear as someone new without background. Perhaps pause the current compound once the number hits then focus on adding muscle before resuming to trim fat while lifting protects what is there. Checking testosterone levels and considering replacement therapy appeals since both items look useful past age 50. Adding something aimed at belly visceral fat or a repair stack also crosses my mind. Info comes from scattered spots online yet some starting pointers from those further along would help.

LevelThistle44archiveMar 29

Putting on muscle mass proves difficult when running a calorie shortage. At roughly six foot one or two my latest scan put me at two hundred thirty eight point seven pounds overall with one hundred fifty three pounds of lean tissue last week. Back on the thirtieth of January twenty twenty six the scale read two hundred fifty seven point five pounds yet lean tissue stayed identical at one hundred fifty three pounds that marked about fifty days past my initial reading. Throughout I have used HMB-FA along with testosterone replacement at one hundred twenty milligrams per week over that stretch plus Reta. I focus on hitting protein targets mix in aerobic work and lift though training slipped during March versus the earlier months. Reaching target weight I intend to eat at maintenance or perhaps slightly above to emphasize further muscle growth.

WryHarbour76archiveMar 29

At fifty-five and five foot seven inches tall my circumstances match yours closely. Last year my weight began at two hundred forty five pounds yet it has remained near one hundred ninety four over recent weeks. Six milligrams of Tirz plus one milligram of Reta each week form my current regimen though weight reduction has paused of late. The issue of muscle versus fat loss makes sense to me as well. Weight training along with adequate protein intake still leaves uncertainty about actual body alterations. Maintaining regular resistance training allows the drugs to control hunger while I plan ahead. Many share this challenge of deciding subsequent actions. Maintaining muscle remains my main focus even as body fat decreases more slowly.

BlueSparrow62archiveMar 29
↳ replying to @WarmQuill73 (opening post)

Hey there, glad to see how things are going so far! I'm watching updates from others closely too. My circumstances match yours pretty closely, aside from a small age gap. The big issue for me right now is upcoming hip replacement operations starting in a couple months, with the second one later. Because of that, I'm aiming to drop below my target weight quite a bit ahead of time. That way, during the period when movement will be limited, I can adjust and stick to where I wanted to be originally. I'm getting ready to order more of that compound for an extended period and plan to add in those two peptides beforehand to target the belly fat specifically around the procedure time. One thing from my experience after checking levels: I chose the alternative medication for low values rather than direct replacement therapy and it's been great. I take my dose on that schedule with no issues while using the blocker weekly. It worked out well in my case, though it may not for everyone.

WarmQuill73archiveMar 29

Grateful for all the replies here. Worried about shedding excessive muscle mass while dropping weight to around 170-175 pounds, making recovery impossible later. At my age, fresh beginner improvements aren't likely. Figure I could raise intake to maintenance and add some muscle that way.

AmberSignal47archiveMar 29

Combining trt with growth hormone and reta has helped me reach my goals. At fifty two my testosterone sits near one thousand. Every evening right before sleep I inject between one and a half and two units of the growth hormone. My height measures five feet eight inches at most. The scale shows lean mass at one hundred forty seven muscle at one hundred thirty seven and total body weight at one hundred eighty five. I aim to reach one hundred seventy five. Yoga takes up three sessions each week while weight training fills another three days yet lasts only fifteen or twenty minutes. Each session uses one easy set followed by one hard set across several movements plus a couple extra drills on separate days including machine squats and stiff leg pulls. Extra size is not what I seek instead I hope to keep what I already carry as the years pass. These items may fail to build anything new while calories stay low but they should stop most of the usual decline.

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