How did you learn and develop your program using peptides?

[Wallydog]

How did you gain the knowledge you have today in GLP1s and other peptides being used? I had no knowledge other than the stuff you'd hear about Ozempic etc and knew about compounding pharmacies but had no idea they did analogs until my doctor told me about them and said the stuff works for weight loss. After that, I've been on my own (not under his supervision) and had to search for which combo seemed most effective (tirz was my choice), what dosing regimen to follow (I did Reddit but spent a lot of time sorting through the nonsense) and then where to source when my compounding pharmacy dried up after just 1 month of me starting. Found some gray markets that are cheaper than compounder was and certainly less than the EL and friends route but significantly higher than what you've shown me here.

Whew --- so how'd you learn the ropes and where? How did/do you learn who/what to trust as that's a pretty big part of what we're doing?

 

[Twowheelr2]

How did you gain the knowledge you have today in GLP1s and other peptides being used? I had no knowledge other than the stuff you'd hear about Ozempic etc and knew about compounding pharmacies but had no idea they did analogs until my doctor told me about them and said the stuff works for weight loss. After that, I've been on my own (not under his supervision) and had to search for which combo seemed most effective (tirz was my choice), what dosing regimen to follow (I did Reddit but spent a lot of time sorting through the nonsense) and then where to source when my compounding pharmacy dried up after just 1 month of me starting. Found some gray markets that are cheaper than compounder was and certainly less than the EL and friends route but significantly higher than what you've shown me here.

Whew --- so how'd you learn the ropes and where? How did/do you learn who/what to trust as that's a pretty big part of what we're doing?

 

[HereKittyKitty]

I don't trust anyone. lol

I was talking to an acquaintance shortly after discussing rx retail with my PCP

I mentioned it to her and she gave me the number of her CN connect. I lurked in their WA group for a bit. Found here. Found other groups. Watched some YT vids. Asked questions. And more questions. Read more. More questions. Read more. Searched these forums. Read more. Asked more. Made my first purchase and freaked out when it arrived. Everything I'd read I couldn't recall. Had to YT how to recon. I keep asking questions and searching these forums when I have a question. I found other resources. People guided me.

Best single resource I was offered? Calc dot injection shop dot com

I was completely stumped on understanding dosage and vial strength. That calculator showed it to me in a way that made complete sense. It also has custom mass which is great for over/under product.

Best direction given to me: Use the highest mass number to calculate dosage units. It's the safest way to go to ensure you're not overdosing. I'd rather under dose a smidge than over.

Welcome!

Edited for typo and clarity.

 

[Wallydog]

I don't trust anyone. lol

I was talking to an acquaintance shortly after discussing rx retail with my PCP

I mentioned it to her and she gave me the number of her CN connect. I lurked in their WA group for a bit. Found here. Found other groups. Watched some YT vids. Asked questions. And more questions. Read more. More questions. Read more. Searched these forums. Read more. Asked more. Made my first purchase and freaked out when it arrived. Everything I'd read I couldn't recall. Had to YT how to recon. I keep asking questions and searching these forums when I have a question. I found other resources. People guided me.

Best single resource I was offered? Calc dot injection shop dot com

I was completely stumped on understanding dosage and vial strength. That calculator showed it to me in a way that made complete sense. It also has custom mass which is great for over/under product.

Best direction given to me: Use the highest mass number to calculate dosage units. It's the safest way to go to ensure you're not overdosing. I'd rather under dose a smidge than over.

Welcome!

Edited for typo and clarity.

Thanks for the response. I know the dosage thing can be difficult for many people but in our business we deal with concentrations, dilutions and reconstituting vaccines etc so most of that is not so intimidating. For me it's more of the how much to dose, over what time frame and whose experiences to trust --- or maybe it's more the gathering of experiences and going with what seems to be the predominant one?

I'm also pretty new to some of the abbreviations but can cipher out most. Like CN? I'm guessing that's a country reference?

 

[Chili777]

I started on Semaglutide and I lost a few lbs in the first month and that was it. I stayed on it for 5 more months paying $500 a month. When I found out about Reta, and started reading about reconstitution and the trials, one thing led to another and I started researching other peptides. I've spent nights and weekends searching and reading for hours at a time, trying to be as well informed as I can be. I know enough now to do what I want to do with the peps I'm interested in, but I really did the research one peptide at a time. I'm still no expert, but I have a finely tuned BS filter and know what not to do, which is half the battle.

 

[FarmgirlRebel]

Personally, peptides allowed me to dust of my old biology degree and geek out.

I just started reading and reading and more reading about various peptides. Mechanisms of action, why they work, what studies are out there and listen to a lot of anecdotal research.

I listen to podcasts, try and stay away from drama...there are some podcasters with rabid fan bases and haters...I don't participate. I listen and study.

Then I just research myself with what seems to be the best path forward and see...I imagine most of the people in this space are probably more risk takers than the average population, but hey, for me, it's been working like a charm. I am off all of my pharmaceuticals

 

[HereKittyKitty]

Thanks for the response. I know the dosage thing can be difficult for many people but in our business we deal with concentrations, dilutions and reconstituting vaccines etc so most of that is not so intimidating. For me it's more of the how much to dose, over what time frame and whose experiences to trust --- or maybe it's more the gathering of experiences and going with what seems to be the predominant one?

I'm also pretty new to some of the abbreviations but can cipher out most. Like CN? I'm guessing that's a country reference?

CN = China

You're 10 steps ahead of me on the dosage. LOL

What I did was search the pep I was interested in and Dosing Protocol.

I lean conservative. I was on branded Sema so followed that dosing until I gave up and realized I'd maxed out on rx. Then moved to Tirz because it is approved and I need to have open conversation with my PCP about my health. He doesn't need to know where it's coming from. He will be less than pleased about compounded. But, retail rx is more than I'm willing to pay.

There are many who choose Reta. It's the next one on track for approval (in the US). It's very popular.

A suggestion to pass along...whichever GLP you choose, you don't have to increase dosage just because there's a matrix somewhere that says to titrate up every 4 weeks. Max out every dosage level to get the most runway. Runway is another reason to start with an older - and still incredibly effective - product. It also depends on your starting point and goals.

Of course, ymmv. Take what you need and leave the rest.

 

[FilterOrDeath]

As far as learning, I trust reputable, high authority sources that have scientific backing and citations. For dosing I do not blindly trust any site. Pep-pedia is one I like to look at but NEVER trust any dosage on there without confirming it first.

 

[Aussiegreenmachine]

I don't trust anyone. lol

I was talking to an acquaintance shortly after discussing rx retail with my PCP

I mentioned it to her and she gave me the number of her CN connect. I lurked in their WA group for a bit. Found here. Found other groups. Watched some YT vids. Asked questions. And more questions. Read more. More questions. Read more. Searched these forums. Read more. Asked more. Made my first purchase and freaked out when it arrived. Everything I'd read I couldn't recall. Had to YT how to recon. I keep asking questions and searching these forums when I have a question. I found other resources. People guided me.

Best single resource I was offered? Calc dot injection shop dot com

I was completely stumped on understanding dosage and vial strength. That calculator showed it to me in a way that made complete sense. It also has custom mass which is great for over/under product.

Best direction given to me: Use the highest mass number to calculate dosage units. It's the safest way to go to ensure you're not overdosing. I'd rather under dose a smidge than over.

Welcome!

Edited for typo and clarity.

Great response - that calculator is a beauty.

 

[Wallydog]

I am off all of my pharmaceuticals

I think these compounds are considered pharmaceuticals too, no? We just found better more effective drugs to treat our conditions.

 

[Aussiegreenmachine]

Personally, peptides allowed me to dust of my old biology degree and geek out.

I just started reading and reading and more reading about various peptides. Mechanisms of action, why they work, what studies are out there and listen to a lot of anecdotal research.

I listen to podcasts, try and stay away from drama...there are some podcasters with rabid fan bases and haters...I don't participate. I listen and study.

Then I just research myself with what seems to be the best path forward and see...I imagine most of the people in this space are probably more risk takers than the average population, but hey, for me, it's been working like a charm. I am off all of my pharmaceuticals

Could you share some of the podcasts you've found good? I do a bit of driving and always looking for good ones and not the crappy influencer ones that seem rife.

 

[HereKittyKitty]

I think these compounds are considered pharmaceuticals too, no? We just found better more effective drugs to treat our conditions.

I'd say yes.

 

[janedoe]

After a couple months of paying for brand, then a couple of compound, I began researching and lurking. I read a ton, and researched everything I could find in AMA, research studies, journals, etc, which lead me to lurking & reading anecdotal info on 4 platforms ( this being 1 of the 4 I lurked.) I never did rabbit, as it seemed like a school yard . I joined 3 of the 4 I lurked, as I'm not much a social media person. After the 3 joins, I got TG. I tried DC, but it's clunky and nukes often. It's too much of a pain in the crapper to locate servers again. TG annoyed me in the beginning, but I've acclimated to it. I read incessantly, more than post. I found that all of the platforms I joined, were of value in varied ways.

 

[FarmgirlRebel]

Could you share some of the podcasts you've found good? I do a bit of driving and always looking for good ones and not the crappy influencer ones that seem rife.

I'll go take a look at my list...while I do listen to some big names, there are others out there that have small channels I like but really have decent interviews...seems like everyone is selling something or an affiliate of a company, not that they don't have good info, but it does make it rather tedious.

 

[Aussiegreenmachine]

I'll go take a look at my list...while I do listen to some big names, there are others out there that have small channels I like but really have decent interviews...seems like everyone is selling something or an affiliate of a company, not that they don't have good info, but it does make it rather tedious.

I'm so with you - every time I hear "Athletic Greens" (or insert the 2026 version here .......) I roll my eyes. It automatically makes me think they're biased and a shill, even if they're not.

 

[FarmgirlRebel]

I think these compounds are considered pharmaceuticals too, no? We just found better more effective drugs to treat our conditions.

I kind of look at it differently...but technically I think you are correct.

For me, pharmaceuticals as I used it in that context are drugs that force my body to do something, but not heal the issue at hand. I'll use nerve pain...I was prescribed duloxetine, which helped, but did nothing to heal the inflammation and came with a host of side effects including severe withdrawals when I got off.

Peptides, helped my body heal and I've been able to ditch the traditional allopathic pharma drugs that weren't addressing the root problem. I can go off of peptides and not have withdrawals (at least all the ones I have used) and in the case of nerve pain, I am still pain free. May have to revisit it again at some point...but at least I'm not on that evil duloxatine.

 

[MFGamesta]

I started with internet weight loss with being prescribed Zepbound. One of my best friends is a medical doctor. He is the one who suggested certain peptides to help me deal with muscle loss and then onto recovery. I do tell my regular doctor pretty much everything.

I'm not into self-medicating so I'll only do what my guy suggests after reviewing my progress and blood work.

 

[Aussiegreenmachine]

I'll go take a look at my list...while I do listen to some big names, there are others out there that have small channels I like but really have decent interviews...seems like everyone is selling something or an affiliate of a company, not that they don't have good info, but it does make it rather tedious.

This is a great channel for a deep dive - I have to slow him down though as his brain thinks fast and he speaks faster than I can take it in . https://www.youtube.com/@alexkikelTPC/featured

 

[BNLFL]

I overheard my son talking to my daughter about peptides at Christmas time, neither are on them. My daughter in law is on Tirzepatide through a insurance deal. I asked him about them, and he mentioned Reta, and said he could get it. Well a shit load of reading and research I pulled the trigger on two 10ml vials, me and my wife. He got us some and was happy with the almost immediate results. I've given plenty of injections over the years for one on my dogs, so that wasn't an issue. He actually oversaw the first ones, he's a paramedic. I found this place researching, and sure as heck glad I did.

 

[FarmgirlRebel]

Could you share some of the podcasts you've found good? I do a bit of driving and always looking for good ones and not the crappy influencer ones that seem rife.

It is difficult to weed through...everyone everywhere seems to be selling something.

It doesn't mean they don't have something to say, but I always keep it in the back of my mind "they are selling".

In absolutely no order of importance, I do listen to the following...I take in the info, I do more research and ultimately, like we all do, proceed with what makes sense to us as individuals.

Dr. Ashley Froese

JD Denhem

Taylor Williams

Josh Holyfield

Dr Tyna Moore

Dr Kristi Sawicki

Dr. Nathalie Niddham

Dr Michael Moeller

Jason Schuster

Dr Trevor Bachemeyer

Jay Campbell

Hunter Williams

Regan Archibald

Joy Kong

Dr Greg Jones

On the Pen

Doctor Michael Mueller

Peptide Critic

I can't endorse any of the above, just that I listen to them and take away or not, what information I can....and then go research some more. Often I like listening to them because they are discussing a peptide I know little about and I want to learn more, and it serves as a jumping off point if I want to research further.

Some are abrasive or otherwise self serving, but still hold some good info.

Probably, if I had to pick one of my favorites in that group, it's probably Dr Ashley Froese...she is funny, to the point and has a likeable personality that I mesh with.,as well Nathalie Niddam..but that is rather beside the point.