Maintaining Muscle mass on Reta

[can_pep]

Hey,

Just started yesterday on Reta with my partner.

Our plan is to maximize our protein intake, water intake, and add some fiber when able.

We are just working on the food aspect now, figuring out a good plan there.

I would like to maintain muscle mass. I am hoping that a bit of gym time and getting enough protein will help. Also considering pairing with MOTS-C in about a month. Just doing the research on that right now and want to see how the Reta goes.

Is there anything else we should be researching that might help?

 

[Smiter]

Is there anything else we should be researching that might help?

GNC Wheybolic Alpha, Satiety Index, Myofibrillar Hypertrophy, Muscle protein synthesis, Type 2b muscle fibers, epicatechin, ephedra, NO preworkout, modafinil, Gelusil, Andy Galpin, Charles Poliquin-time under tension, overcoming isometrics, Anavar, Anastrazole, tamoxifen, Enclomiphene, Blackstone labs Euphoria, Cloma Pharma Asia Black-25

 

[CharmanderInDisguise]

Sleep. Reta can mess with your sleep. Start working now on making sure you have good sleep hygiene. I'm about 3 months into Reta and have finally established a good pattern for sleeping well. The added fluid intake, protein, and fiber can have you waking up once or twice a night to go.

Sounds like you've got a good plan. Make sure to do resistance training too. Signalling to your body that you are using and need the muscles will help with muscle retention.

 

[Smiter]

Is there anything else we should be researching that might help?

oh and for sleep, Hypnos by Adera. And most important of all research RippedWhite AF aka @CharlieBrown

 

[miameow]

Prioritizing protein is great, and although the low carb warriors will disagree, having an adequate amount of healthy carbs in your diet will really go a long way; you'll find it difficult to push yourself at the gym on reta/caloric deficit/low carb and you will inevitably waste away to some degree.

Unfortunately Mots C isn't particularly anabolic or muscle sparing. Your best bet is GH/test alongside a solid nutrition/workout plan.

 

[Flech007]

I’d love to answer but I’m not certain it’s research. Age? M/f? Weight? Experience?

 

[longestyards]

I drink a filled teaspoon of psyllium husk every morning and before every meal. Helped me A LOT with taking poops with zero problems.

 

[Texan509]

Protein and putting those muscles to work.

 

[woundcarping]

…Is there anything else we should be researching that might help?

I’ve lost single digit percentage lean mass vs total mass over the last thirty something pounds as indicated by sequential DEXA scans.

When I prioritized protein, I lost even less lean mass than when I didn’t.

Theoretically “anti-catabolic/lean sparing in varying degrees” supplements I use

TRT

Reta

HMB-FA

Creatine

Glycine

Taurine

That plus protein and lifting, for me, would practically stagnate losing actual contractile fiber.

When you first start losing weight the various forms of water weight (glycogen, inflammation, etc) that come off quickly in the first weeks are lean mass on a DEXA, but for the purposes of preserving muscle, it’s not important.

 

[sheilarae74]

Getting enough protein is a MUST. I am at 2.5mg every 3.5 days now and I personally feel more side effects of reta like nausea and exhaustion if I don't get enough. Not being hydrated also makes me nauseous.

I was doing keto before I started but now I make sure I get enough of both insoluble and soluble fiber to help with the constipation. Psyllium husk powder, ground chia seeds and pear juice have helped me tremendously. A little generic miralax powder daily has really been helping to move things along lately.

 

[Hawk_recon]

The same basic principles of strength training and muscle growth and/or maintenance apply. If you do as much work in the gym as you do dialing in your nutrition and diet (assuming and hoping you’re going all-in on that) you can’t really go wrong and can maintain or even build better muscle tissue. Your body will adapt to the stresses it’s given. If it’s given a couch more than a flat bench, it’s gonna get soft.

 

[staffn1]

Gym time should specifically mean strength training.

 

[Llanitox]

Hey,

Just started yesterday on Reta with my partner.

Our plan is to maximize our protein intake, water intake, and add some fiber when able.

We are just working on the food aspect now, figuring out a good plan there.

I would like to maintain muscle mass. I am hoping that a bit of gym time and getting enough protein will help. Also considering pairing with MOTS-C in about a month. Just doing the research on that right now and want to see how the Reta goes.

Is there anything else we should be researching that might help?

Gym bro here,

Electrolytes

Water

High protein

Weight train

Keep cardio to a minimum (incline walks not sprints)

I can happily share my food plan to show you more or less what you could be eating.

Also I’d recommend either a re feed day (cheat meal basically) more like salted food to refill your glygocen levels. This will help your muscles look fulle. Alternatively you can start taking creatine daily as this has the same effect will help get rid of the flat look.

With Reta I found that even though you can retain muscle you can look flat at times so a good way to make them look pumped is creatine.

 

[Stayinalive]

Has anyone had issues with cravings for sugary foods while on RETA. I went through a cycle a few months ago, and haven't stopped craving garbage foods since I stopped. I restarted about 3 weeks ago at 1mg, moved up to 1.5mg today. But ate a whole bag of gummy snacks about 40 pieces, and a sleeve of cookies, about 16. I never used to have this kind of impulse before, once in a while, yeah, but not daily.

 

[Smiter]

Has anyone had issues with cravings for sugary foods while on RETA. I went through a cycle a few months ago, and haven't stopped craving garbage foods since I stopped. I restarted about 3 weeks ago at 1mg, moved up to 1.5mg today. But ate a whole bag of gummy snacks about 40 pieces, and a sleeve of cookies, about 16. I never used to have this kind of impulse before, once in a while, yeah, but not daily.

I got the opposite effect. For the first time in my life, I have permanent relief from my massive sweet tooth. Earlier only glutamine powder worked. Now, with both of them in my bag, I can walk past disgustingly sugar-laden poisons and smirk at them smugly.

 

[Stayinalive]

I tried glutamine before, it sat on a shelf for months because I just didn't like taking it, it would constipate me for a week after taking it. Maybe I just need to try it again but mix it with some psyllium husk fiber to make sure I don't get bound up. I have heard that sugar cravings are actually protein cravings looking for a quick fix. So much contradictory information on the internet, who knows what to believe.

 

[PepDino]

Has anyone had issues with cravings for sugary foods while on RETA. I went through a cycle a few months ago, and haven't stopped craving garbage foods since I stopped. I restarted about 3 weeks ago at 1mg, moved up to 1.5mg today. But ate a whole bag of gummy snacks about 40 pieces, and a sleeve of cookies, about 16. I never used to have this kind of impulse before, once in a while, yeah, but not daily.

I get cravings for sweets sometimes on Reta. Sour skittles and these homemade banana raisin cookies recently (I don’t normally eat many sweets). I could have smashed half the bag, but snapped out of it and put them away and didn’t struggle not eating anything else the rest of the night. Normally that would be a 2-4 hour battle in my head that I lose 20-50% of the time and walk to the kitchen at 1am and go to bed disappointed in myself.

 

[Stayinalive]

Has anyone ever heard of Sigumir, I've tried searching for it in the forum, and it's getting no hits. I thought for sure that someone would have said something, it seems to be good for cartilage regrowth, but no one is talking about it in here.

 

[Florus2026]

I start y day usually with a good portion 20+g of (grass-fed) hydrolized creatine peptide. That is an incomplete protein and low in BCAA, but does provide proteine and goes well with the GHK-CU that I take as well and starts the day without an insulin spike. The rest of the day I prioritize protein in food, from beans and lentils to eggs and white meats.

I do not do much cardio (unless you count sauna) but I do resistance training to keep/build muscle.

Regarding cravings, I find them much more manageable on Reta and if I ever give in to one I will stop a lot earlier than I would have before.

Good luck!

 

[Stayinalive]

I start y day usually with a good portion 20+g of (grass-fed) hydrolized creatine peptide. That is an incomplete protein and low in BCAA, but does provide proteine and goes well with the GHK-CU that I take as well and starts the day without an insulin spike. The rest of the day I prioritize protein in food, from beans and lentils to eggs and white meats.

I do not do much cardio (unless you count sauna) but I do resistance training to keep/build muscle.

Regarding cravings, I find them much more manageable on Reta and if I ever give in to one I will stop a lot earlier than I would have before.

Good luck!

I see that u said u take a "hydrolyzed creatine peptide", are u sure u don't mean a [Keratin] peptide? I did a search for "hydrolyzed" creatine peptide" but it came back with keratin, and I'd never heard of the former before.