Gonk's Daily Dose of Wisdom

[ZippityDooDah]

Put some damn socks on your feet!

It's wonderful and encouraging to see people achieving their weight loss goals, even small victories are still a victory! But damn, if you're going to post a scale picture that includes your feet, do the world a favor and put some damn socks on first! Most feet are simply not presentable in pictures, and whether they are just goofy looking or you have gnarly toenails, nobody needs to see that!

Don't feel bad about it. None of us are models. Since I've been perusing GLP-1 content across various media more frequently lately, it seems like every other picture is someone's ugly ass feet on a scale and it's not nice (it does tend to help with appetite suppression however so there's that...). I don't understand foot fetishes either.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Autoinjector pens are stupid

While there may be a small percentage of the population whose only and best option is to use an autoinjector pen, for the other 90+% it's an enormous waste of time and money. I've been watching from the sidelines for 2+ years while people spend piles of money trying to find that perfect pen and all the accoutrements to go with it and all the other hoops they have to jump through just to use a pen and wonder when the madness is going to stop. Again, I understand that there are certain people like the elderly and disabled for whom an autoinjector pen is the best solution, but that's a small portion of the community and everyone else just seems to be looking for ways to make simple things complicated.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Pre-filling syringes is also stupid

(You get a two-fer today since I was busy helping a neighbor finish a deck yesterday.)

People say that they're "saving time" by pre-filling syringes in advance instead of just drawing their dose when it's time to administer it. Those people are liars. They're lying to themselves, and to the rest of us. Putting aside the fact that consumer insulin syringes are not designed or intended for storing fluid for more than the minute or two it takes to draw and inject and that most regular syringes aren't either, there are more concerning potential issues of the plastics and other materials used in the construction of the syringe leaching into and contaminating the fluid within over time, plus the more common problem of the contents simply leaking out.

It takes the exact same amount of time to draw a dose in advance that it does to draw it at time of use. The process of drawing doses in advance to store them is always going to take longer because now you have to put the syringes into "storage", presumably mark/label them to identify what's inside, etc., organize and then later take them out of "storage" to administer, hoping that nothing went wrong.

Many things that people convince themselves are "saving" time are actually doing the exact opposite, and pre-filling syringes is one of those things.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

If you have to ask about a vendor, you're already failing

This is aimed at the newbies. I get it, you're new and looking for answers. You want to be informed. You need information. But if you have to ask whether anyone has heard of a vendor, or you're asking for reviews of that vendor, you're already failing.

The is no lack of discussion about whatever vendors/suppliers are "reputable" on any given day. If you can't find any info it either doesn't exist or you're not trying hard enough. It doesn't matter if it's here on this forum, Reddit, Discord, Peppy's, Facebook or any of the other countless venues out there; if you put in some time and effort you'll be able to easily determine if a vendor has a reputation and gain some guidance as to where you'll be least likely to get screwed. Notice I didn't say you'd find the best vendor with the best products at the best price, I said where you're least likely to get screwed and that's the crux of "comparison shopping" when it comes to buying these products. If you don't understand the difference, you're not ready. I don't know a more polite way of expressing that.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being a newbie and starting out in this hobby blind. We've all been there. It can be frightening, intimidating, and overwhelming all at the same time. To be safe and successful however, there's a certain amount of effort that needs to be put in and if you ask "has anyone heard of?" or "how do I order from...?" you're essentially announcing to the world that you haven't put in any or enough effort yet. This is not the time to rush or be lazy.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

The best price does not mean the best deal

It never ceases to amaze me how many people base their purchasing decisions on primarily on price. Regardless of whether you're buying from a compounder via telehealth, a domestic single-vial research vendor, domestic bulk research vendor, or overseas supplier, the reality is that the price differences on each of the various tiers is usually negligible when you break it down to price-per-milligram.

Compare it to buying a 25-slice loaf of Wonder Bread for $2.99 at Kroger or $2.49 at Walmart; in the end most people would think they're "saving" 2 cents a slice at Walmart. Whether you buy one loaf or ten the savings of 2 center per slice remains the same.

The "which is a better deal" aspect comes in by not realizing that the average loaf that Walmart sells is not as fresh and expire an average of 4 days earlier than the fresher loaf the Kroger sells. Then there are the factors not reflected in the price like having to be your own cashier at Walmart if you don't want to wait in line for the one staffed checkout, or being accosted by security on your way out the door to check your receipt while Kroger has plenty of staffed checkouts to get you through quickly while also bagging up everything for you and even offering to help you out to your car without the Gestapo demanding to see your papers on your way out the door. Then finally you get home only to find the loaf from Walmart start to get moldy a couple of days before the expiration date, yet somehow still believe you got the better "deal".

This ties in a bit with yesterday's dose since a lot of the "has anybody bought from ...?" posts are a result of someone thinking they found a better "deal" than what other better known vendors are offering any given day.

I'm not saying you should ignore price differences when selecting a vendor, what I'm saying is that you have to look at the overall picture in terms of their history and reputation built through community experience and not just who has the lowest price. The best price isn't the best deal if you end up with a bad or inferior product compared to the minimally more expensive options, and nobody wants moldy peptides.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Peptides are not the answer

One of the common afflictions most people just getting this hobby seem to suffer from is the assumption that there's a peptide to fix every condition that anyone might ever deal with. "What peptide(s) can help with ...?" is a question posted countless times a day all over the various platforms.

Put me in the camp of GLP-1's being an amazing discovery/invention, bordering on miraculous. They are truly life-changing. That doesn't mean every other peptide is magical. There's a reason 99% of the non-GLP peptides commonly mentioned and purchased never saw commercial production or success. Personally, every other peptide I've tried has done zip, zilch, nada for me except reduce the weight of my piggy bank. I know that some people do find success or relief from other peptides, but it's nowhere remotely close to the success rate of GLP's. The effects of GLP's are easily quantified whether it be on a scale, an A1C test, or other tests, never mind the observations and complements of the people around you. The effect (or lack thereof) of other peptides often come down to immeasurable factors like "feelings".

Beware the peptide rabbit hole, it can quickly trap and ensnare you and lead you down an expensive path to nothing changing. At the same time, never give up hope as we're living in an amazing point in medical discovery where possible solutions to conditions once thought untreatable are in the news almost every day!

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Your weight loss WILL stall/plateau, don't freak out

Stalls/plateaus/whatever you want to call them are one of those things that extend beyond GLP-1's and that 99.999% of people who have ever tried to lose weight struggle with it at some point; often multiple points.

Don't freak out. It happens, and sometimes it can take a really long time to break out of, but if there's one thing I can tell you from personal experience, trying to "force" your way out of it by drastically changing things like your eating habits (including whacky fasting regimens or outright starvation), or more commonly here changing up your meds/dosage/"stack" rarely does the trick and often can end up setting you back. Sometimes it simply takes time, patience, and pragmatism.

Take a step back, relax, and don't let it get you down. It's important to remember that the process of weight loss - whether enhanced by medication or not - results in some pretty dramatic and unpredictable changes to our body chemistry, and trying to force that chemistry to comply with our wishes is usually an exercise in futility. Our bodies are complicated machines that are going to do things their way and on their schedule. Rather than fighting it with all your effort, it's usually more effective to let things run their course and eventually start working in some subtle changes to gauge their effectiveness. GLP-1's or not, this is a lifelong battle of wits, genetics, chemistry, habits, and sometimes just luck.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

My definition of daily and your definition of daily may not be the same

I realized yesterday that there are some days when I'm just not going to be able to make a "daily" post, either because life gets in the way or I'm creatively bankrupt so don't be surprised if my definition of daily varies from yours!

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Most vendor recommendations are useless

Think of it like someone who has had nothing but great experiences at a local restaurant compared to another person who always has bad experiences. The first one is happy to recommend everyone go there while the second will do the exact opposite. Until you eat there yourself a few times, you won't know whose experiences align with your own. Peptide vendors are no different, and ultimately any vendor is only as good as their last batch of product and the level of customer service they provide on any given day or situation.

I used to make this point very clear any time anyone asked me about our old acerbic friend from Qingdao; I never had a bad experience but knew that many others did and most of them were perfectly believable (and usually reinforced by the words and actions of the colorful sales rep) so any "recommendation" always included a very strong BUT as a disclaimer/warning.

Take any recommendation you get with a grain of salt, including anything anyone (even me) posts here.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Vendor lists are STILL a really bad idea

Those of you who have been around here for a while may recall when I ruffled some feathers by advising people to stop sharing, requesting, or trusting lists of vendors put together by others. For the uninitiated, you can take a read for yourself HERE. (I really suggest everyone not already convinced just how bad lists are to read or re-read it as a refresher.)

To make the situation worse, now you have others plagiarizing random lists as their own, even so far as SELLING access to them! These lists are unreliable and borderline dangerous beyond words and anyone inclined to think otherwise really needs to stop and reconsider if this is the lifestyle for them.

This is one of the many reasons it's frustrating when new members join seeking out the "magic list" or asking for someone else to tell them where to shop rather than putting in any effort themselves. They have no idea what they're getting into, but seem hell-bent on sending money to whoever makes the top of some mystical list. Stop it!

The bottom line is everyone has to do their own research and determine what the best choices are for themselves, their safety, their finances, and health,. and never rely on the opinions of any one person (including ME), any list, or any sweet-talking vendor. This is serious stuff.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Flashy/fancy labels and packaging don't make a product better

I read a lot of comments where people seem to put a great deal of value in the appearance of the labels and/or packaging various vendors may use. It reminds me of that line from Tommy Boy about about shitting in a box and slapping a guarantee on it.

There are a lot of products and industries where packaging can make the difference when trying to gain a new customer's business or keeping existing customers loyal and coming back for more. Peptides shouldn't be one of them. Putting the obvious marketing strategy aside, since getting into this hobby I look at fancy labels and packaging as a distraction, a way to keep your eyes focused on anything but the product, and sadly I see a lot of people take the bait.

If you're the type of person who is easily persuaded by the appearance and presentation of your little glass vials of joy (or shiny things in general), take an extra minute or two to think about whether that could be influencing your buying decisions more than it should, especially before you send any money.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Stop worrying about *IF* you're going to be ripped off, and just accept that you're going to be

The research "marketplace" is not Amazon, or anything remotely like what the average western consumer is accustomed to, yet so many people seem to be unable or unwilling to comprehend this basic fact. It's time for people to throw away the rose-colored glasses or tear down whatever emotional barricades they've erected to help convince themselves that they're doing all the right things to "protect" against being a victim and accept that they will be one at some point (maybe multiple points) along this journey.

For the purposes of this post I'm not going to discuss the fact that the payment landscape for these products is constantly changing and becoming increasingly restrictive, but suffice it to say it's a factor that is only going to continue increasing the likelihood of everyone experiencing the anger and frustration of taking a loss at some point.

I'm still not up-to-speed on what exactly happened with QSC while I was otherwise occupied other than the broadest of strokes and what a friend who took a ~$2000 loss on an order that never materialized has told me, but from the moment I discovered them on MesoRX and read nearly every post in their thread way back then (in both English and French), I knew there was a better than zero chance of getting screwed before I ever sent them a penny. Even after several successful purchases, any time I "recommended" them I took great care to bluntly explain that I fully expected to be ripped off eventually, and they should be prepared for it to happen on their very first order.

One of the more fascinating parts of seeing people react to being ripped off are the ones who get tricked into sending money to an "impersonator" with a similar email address, WhatsApp, Telegram, etc. to an actual vendor. While you genuinely feel bad that they fell for such a scam (especially with how obvious some of them are), what's mind boggling is seeing the ones who expect the "real" vendor to either make good on the order or refund them!

You're going to be ripped off eventually. Whether it's product that never shows up, product that is "bad" in some way (shorted, under-filled, tests badly, etc.), the wrong product, or countless other possibilities, it's going to happen to every single one of us. It may not be a "total" loss, or even a significant one, but everyone will still experience that loss. Spend less time worrying about it and more time preparing for it.

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Don't let ignorant assholes get under your skin

I regularly see posts here and elsewhere from folks expressing a degree of awkwardness, frustration, or anger towards what others say to them about the success they're finding on GLP-1's, especially when those comments amount to them passing judgment.

I have the luxury of a lifetime of the finest training and preparation to have absolutely zero fucks to give about what anyone else thinks of whatever is going on in my life enough to tell me about it (I'm also fortunate that my core group of friends and family have developed to a point where this pretty much never is an issue to begin with). However, I also realize that many people haven't been able to refine that skill in themselves quite yet. I'm going to try to help with that a little.

I'm not a psychologist but do enjoy pretending to be one from time to time lol, and one thing I've learned in my observations of humanity for the past 50+ years is that 99.99% of people who feel compelled to tell you what they think about your life is not a reflection of you but instead their own dissatisfaction and misery with their own life. The worst part of that is their primary source of "satisfaction" is in trying to bring others down to their level of misery. Instead of helping lift up the people around them, they're committed to dragging everyone else down into their pit of despair. Don't take their bait. Be the better person.

I know it's easy for some of us to say "just ignore it" when your emotions and personality may not be wired for just letting things roll off of you like that, but it's certainly a good place to start. This often requires adjusting your opinion of the offending person to align with the fact that their own misery is why they want to make you feel bad about yourself. This can be especially difficult if that person is someone you admire and respect, so really the first question you have to ask yourself is if that person is truly worthy of your admiration and respect? Often they're not, so embracing that realization can go a long way towards making you re-think your perceptions of the person and your relationship with them.

Always remember that everyone has their issues. I don't care who they are, how happy and successful they may seem, they've got demons bursting out of their closet. For those of us who have struggled with our weight, that issue is constantly on display for the whole world to see. The people whose issues can't be seen by the naked eye have the luxury of keeping many of the things that haunt them hidden from the rest of the world. Those issues are also usually far worse than being overweight or out of shape.

This has already gone on much longer than I planned, so I'll wrap it up by saying that learning to recognize that someone who says things that make you feel badly about your weight/weight loss/GLP-1 journey - whether intentional or not - is doing it because they're sad and jealous that you're succeeding when they're not, can give you the start you need to begin dealing with those comments from a position of accomplishment and perhaps not be as hurt by them. Frankly, a good "go fuck yourself" response can also be very liberating!

 

[ZippityDooDah]

Stop saying "GLP-Ɜ", it makes you sound stupid

There is no such thing as "GLP-Ɜ", neither as a hormone nor hormone agonist.

It's sales rubbish created by research vendors intended to try and outsmart/out-maneuver the legal system instead of using the word retatrutide.

By the same logic, they could be advertising heroin as "China White" and be immune from any kind of legal action.

Whenever you use the term "GLP-Ɜ", it's like announcing to the world that you have no idea what you're talking about and shouldn't be taken seriously.

The same thing applies to "GLP-2" except that there is an actual human hormone called GLP-2 that has nothing to do with any of common peptides discussed here. Google for more information if you're curious.

"It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."