If this was you, how would you proceed?

[TatiBell]

Oh hon, bless your heart. You are doing the most and then some! It's amazing how you've you’ve made it this far, especially with all the hurdles you’ve been handed and yet, here you are! fighting and tracking protein like a champ.

Sending big hugs from Dallas. Keep us posted.

 

[TatiBell]

I am not on Reta. I have hit my goal weight on Tirz 10 mg weekly with Sema 2 mg weekly and Cagri 2 mg weekly. I also take Tesofensine 250 mcg once a week. If I am below 1500 calories I can easily maintain my weight. If I go over I slowly creep up 2 lbs or so. I swim a mile 2-3 times a week and weight lift twice a week ( Les mills body pump at my YMCA.) I am 5’5”” and weigh 143-145. I lost 105 lbs doing this. I also eat very low carb almost Keto. I love my stack because I don’t think about food. It is always in the background now and sustains me. To break a stall I had to go up on my doses to max. Now have backed down figuring out how to maintain. I can break a stall with less calories about 1300. I can break a stall with more swimming. I can break a stall with no carb day. We are all so different. Sounds like you need to increase the Reta which may have the more ketosis effect for you. You are in a tough spot with your lymphedema and hypothyroidism must hold a lot of fluid in/on your body. That could easily blunt your efforts. Don’t give up, keep experimenting. You will get there.

Oh I loved reading this. Thank you for sharing all that. You're doing amazing, and the way you’ve dialed things in is just wow. I’m still on Reta too and kinda stuck, so this really gave me some ideas.

Also, when you mentioned swimming, it reminded me of this article I read the other night when I couldn’t sleep. It said that swimming is one of the best all-around workouts especially if you’ve got joint pain or any kind of mobility stuff, which I do thanks to my achy hip and whatever my knees are up to lately. The water takes the weight off but still gives you resistance, so you end up burning more than walking and you work more muscles without feeling like you’re dying. Even walking laps in the shallow end apparently helps more than you'd think!

Here’s the article if anyone’s curious https://slimvive.com/6-simple-exercises-everyone-should-be-doing-even-at-home/

Anyway, thank you again for sharing your routine. It really helps to read what’s working for others.

 

[PhoenixPalmer]

I would do a couple of things:

Consider discussing with your doctor whether switching from Reta to a different medication might be more effective. Semaglutide or tirzepatide are options your endocrinologist could evaluate. Your doctor can help determine a safe starting approach and adjustment schedule, but in my experience, switching has been effective for breaking plateaus.

You may want to review your lipo C schedule with a qualified medical professional. However, given your GAD and afib history, I'd be cautious about adding stimulants like green tea extract without discussing it with your healthcare team first.

Your current protein goal of 162 grams seems reasonable given your malabsorption disorder and 1500-calorie intake. Rather than dramatically increasing protein intake, which could create nutritional imbalances, consider discussing with your endocrinologist whether a modest adjustment might be beneficial while maintaining balanced nutrition for your specific health conditions.

Hope this helps.

 

[GLP1Pharmacist]

Imho, I would stop ALL of the brew of various injections you are taking. Then focus on only the GLP1 product (semaglutide, tirzepatide or retatrutide). Titrate up dose in a slow progressive manner to full or near full dose each week. Look at good, reasonable food choices and slowly increase exercise and avoid alcohol. Give it 3 months after full dose and evaluate progress.

 

[FlowerFairy]

Imho, I would stop ALL of the brew of various injections you are taking. Then focus on only the GLP1 product (semaglutide, tirzepatide or retatrutide). Titrate up dose in a slow progressive manner to full or near full dose each week. Look at good, reasonable food choices and slowly increase exercise and avoid alcohol. Give it 3 months after full dose and evaluate progress.

What did I say anywhere in this thread that makes you think avoiding alcohol would help? I barely drink one drink in a month. And I don’t need to “look” at good, reasonable diet choices; I live on protein drinks and salads for the most part. Not sure which of these would be the “bad choice.” My biggest “vice” is Vietnamese coffee- and I don’t get to drink that very often. I can’t tell you the last time I had a soda. Same with ice cream. And the closest I come to candy bars is a couple of my protein bars that are pretty much like a candy bar.

And “all those other things” contribute to me feeling better. Stopping them would increase pain and inflammation, which would be counterproductive in increasing activity/exercise. The only one I could drop without affecting pain and inflammation would be Melanotan 1.. it hasn’t worked for me anyway.

While I appreciate the attempt to give advice, everything you suggested has been discussed in previous responses. But thank you (oh, and the stall resolved almost 2 months ago).

 

[FlowerFairy]

I would do a couple of things:

Consider discussing with your doctor whether switching from Reta to a different medication might be more effective. Semaglutide or tirzepatide are options your endocrinologist could evaluate. Your doctor can help determine a safe starting approach and adjustment schedule, but in my experience, switching has been effective for breaking plateaus.

You may want to review your lipo C schedule with a qualified medical professional. However, given your GAD and afib history, I'd be cautious about adding stimulants like green tea extract without discussing it with your healthcare team first.

Your current protein goal of 162 grams seems reasonable given your malabsorption disorder and 1500-calorie intake. Rather than dramatically increasing protein intake, which could create nutritional imbalances, consider discussing with your endocrinologist whether a modest adjustment might be beneficial while maintaining balanced nutrition for your specific health conditions.

Hope this helps.

1) I actually did speak to my GP doctor about this today- she understood my reasoning for changing to Reta and agreed with it; we also discussed the new once a month glp and the oral one. And semaglutide did not work at all -that was my first GLP1. I took Tirz for 6 months, worked great but I was dealing with some hard side effects- I was exhausted ALL THE TIME and could not wake myself up. Constipation was a huge concern. Thought I was going to need medical help when all the usual suspects didn’t work. I had no appetite, but when I did eat, everything tasted off or wrong. Coffee was stale, ribeye tasted off.. like an undertone of something not good; sandwiches weren’t good. Reta hasn’t been ideal, but it’s worked. I’m thinking of stacking them both just to see if things sped up any.. I’m indecisive though.

2). The lipo-c schedule was what the provider who prescribed it told me to do. I can’t say it has impressed me, but the Bvitamins are a good thing. If you know an alternative dosing schedule, I’m all ears. My AFib is very well controlled; my cardiologist just made my flecainide prn. My blood pressure today was 100/52, heart rate 58 (normal for me). I’m thinking he may want to decrease my propranolol (not prescribed for my heart- it’s for migraines prevention and anxiety, but I know they used to tell me my heart rate should be higher to take it.).

3) I think I used to get 200+ in protein, but I weighed more then. When I had WLS I started at 420; my surgeon wanted me to eat at least 200 mg protein daily. I was 320 when I started this journey, I’m 250 now and my “first goal” is 200. I want to see what I look like before losing more. I tried to speak to my endocrinologist but he wasn’t interested in discussing “illegal drugs.” This was my pre-gray days. He made me think about it before I made my first order. He also thinks that a TSH of 4 is “normal.” All of my previous endos have kept me at >1.

Thanks for the input.

 

[FlowerFairy]

Hi, do you experience any side effects with glutathione such as bloating/flatulence? A friend of mine had actually recommended I add it to my kit because of its antioxidant properties. I read it also helps regulate blood sugar, but my stomach is very sensitive. So does taking it by SQ help me avoid any GI issues? As much as possible I want to avoid injections/needles but if it's a net positive, I'm willing to try.

I apologize, I just saw this. I’ve not had side effects like you mentioned, but I’ve only been on it a month or so. And because I’ve had SIBO in the past, I pay attention to any additional flatulence, so on that angle you’re safe!

 

[desinr-gal]

You a drinker? You know 3 strong drinks after work is a good 900 calories without a mixer. That was my problem. I was only eating 12 or 1300 calories but 2 dark beers and a few double shots took me to 2300 calories. So even after 6 months I was only down 20lbs.

This! In addition, alcohol removes inhibitions and adds the desire for pleasure, especially from tastier food! I always snack when I have had a drink or two..

 

[chmuse]

This! In addition, alcohol removes inhibitions and adds the desire for pleasure, especially from tastier food! I always snack when I have had a drink or two..

Alcohol calories don't count.

The potato chip calories do.

 

[FlowerFairy]

Alcohol calories don't count.

The potato chip calories do.

Still moot. Don't drink.

Found out I’m anemic as heck today. Suddenly my fatigue makes sense. What concerns me is that I’ve been taking my iron..

 

[Itinerant]

"lifting" does noting to reduce your weight. you have to do cardio to burn calories.

This is super incorrect. Pretty much every credible study in the world shows that lifting heavy weights is the single best way to recomp your body. It not only burns as much calories as cardio (assuming to keep your heart rate in the zone) but it also increases your metabolism for up to a couple days afterwards.

Jog/run for ~5 minutes and then lift vigorously (especially squats) and your body will improve.

Ok. You don’t mean to be rude but you’re calling me a liar. I find it fascinating when strangers know more about my body than I do

Youre not a liar, you are just incorrect, imo. A car can't start with a fuel, the same way a body can't gain fat without a CICO surplus. Its simply beyond the realm of physics.

Now, your weight might go up due to water retention/swelling/whatever - - but it is simply a 100% fallacy that you can gain actual fat storage in your body without a calorie surplus.

But as the other guy keeps politely trying to say, the most likely scenario is you were underestimating your calories in, overestimating your calories out, and blaming CICO for an inaccurate calculation. Finding your personalized CO is nearly impossible anyways - so its not shocking that anyone (you, me, everyone here) would struggle with that aspect as almost all of us are using generalized estimates.

Either way, congrats on breaking the stall and good luck on your journey!!

 

[chmuse]

Still moot. Don't drink.

Found out I’m anemic as heck today. Suddenly my fatigue makes sense. What concerns me is that I’ve been taking my iron..

I know, it was meant as a joke.

I wonder if the glp's are causing issues with absorbtion or metabolism of the iron? Have you spoken to your doctor yet, or going to need a follow up?

 

[peptidepower77]

Still moot. Don't drink.

Found out I’m anemic as heck today. Suddenly my fatigue makes sense. What concerns me is that I’ve been taking my iron..

Do you know why? You usually have to measure TIBC, Saturation, Serum Iron and Serum Ferritin to understand why it's low. My Saturation for example is low due to long covid, which means I have iron my body just can't get at it due to inflammation from IL6.

 

[FlowerFairy]

Do you know why? You usually have to measure TIBC, Saturation, Serum Iron and Serum Ferritin to understand why it's low. My Saturation for example is low due to long covid, which means I have iron my body just can't get at it due to inflammation from IL6.

Previously we thought it was due to not enough stomach acid not sure why this time. And she added on iron studies.. I’m going to look at them.

 

[peptidepower77]

My labs are similar but I have high interleuken 6 due to long covid. The high IL6 is inflammatory, and increases hepcidin production. Hepcidin, in turn, reduces iron absorption from the gut and limits iron availability for red blood cell production, potentially leading to anemia.

If your CRP or hsCRP is on the higher end it might be similar for you. Did they measure your ferritin?

 

[FlowerFairy]

My labs are similar but I have high interleuken 6 due to long covid. The high IL6 is inflammatory, and increases hepcidin production. Hepcidin, in turn, reduces iron absorption from the gut and limits iron availability for red blood cell production, potentially leading to anemia.

If your CRP or hsCRP is on the higher end it might be similar for you. Did they measure your ferritin?

They did. They also apparently checked me for thalassemia. I’m going to have to do a little digging on these tests.

And now the one I did NOT understand. I’ve been keeping my protein intake on the high side, but my protein and albumin a low. I’m so confused right now.