First reta cycle checklist — am I missing anything

F
Joined 2026
36 posts
4/7/2026 · 474 views

Starting in 2 weeks. Here's my plan:

  • Baseline bloods drawn this week (CBC, CMP, lipids, A1c, fasting insulin, lipase/amylase, thyroid, cortisol AM).
  • Starting dose 2mg Sunday AM, titrate every 4 weeks if stable.
  • Protein 180g minimum, resistance training 3x/week.
  • Weight + waist weekly, bloods at week 12.
  • Subjective log: mood, sleep, HR trend from Oura.
  • DEXA at week 0 and week 16.

What am I not thinking of?

5 Replies

S
Joined 2026
29 posts
4/7/2026

Add BP cuff. Home measurements, 3x/week. HR from Oura is fine but BP needs a cuff.

P
Joined 2026
51 posts
4/9/2026

Your bloodwork panel is good. Add hs-CRP and homocysteine if you can — reta affects inflammation markers and it's a useful trend.

C
Joined 2025
53 posts
4/9/2026

Plan looks clean. One add: stopping criteria. What would make you stop? HR >80 sustained? BP >135/90? Mood flat for >3 weeks? Write them down before you start so you're not negotiating with yourself under the influence of a weight-loss compound that affects mood.

Maintenance
  • Sermorelin · 200 mcg · 5x/wk AM · sub-Q
  • BPC-157 · 250 mcg · 2x/day · sub-Q
F
Joined 2026
36 posts
4/9/2026

@cardinal_rule this is the advice I needed. Adding stopping criteria today.

P
Joined 2026
36 posts
19d ago

Honestly the stopping criteria thing is huge. I did a run without that and talked myself into staying on when my lipids tanked because "maybe it'll bounce back." It won't. Set the lines before you start or you'll rationalize your way through some gnarly sides.

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