ExcelMale Member Experiences with Retatrutide

Nelson Vergel · 2026-06-28T08:34:24-0500

ExcelMale Member Experiences with Retatrutide
Compiled from forum threads — December 2024 through June 2026

Background

Retatrutide (GLP-3) is a first-in-class triple receptor agonist targeting GLP-1, GIP, and glucagon receptors simultaneously. It is currently in Eli Lilly's Phase 3 TRIUMPH program and is not yet FDA-approved. The experiences below were shared by ExcelMale members using research peptide sources.

Disclaimer: Retatrutide is an investigational compound. Information below reflects member-reported experiences only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider.

Individual Member Reports

Starting stats: Not specified | Protocol: 2mg/week split into 2 injections

Positive effects:

Previously could not tolerate semaglutide even at 0.1mg (hellish nausea and lethargy)
On retatrutide: zero nausea, good energy boost
Significant appetite reduction — typical 400g ground beef lunch dropped to 150g
Reduced desire for post-work alcohol

Downsides:

Diet shifted from fat to carbs — difficulty eating meat
Insomnia developed over time — eventually stopped due to persistent insomnia
Exercise-induced hypoglycemia (blood glucose 55 mg/dL post-workout)

Wife's results (6 months, 2×3mg/week): Lost 50 lbs while monitoring diet and training.

Restarted at 2×300mcg microdose to test tolerability at a lower threshold.

On tirzepatide comparison: Appetite suppression didn't kick in until 7mg, at which point healthy food cravings (meat, dairy) disappeared while sugar cravings were unchecked. Prefers retatrutide overall.

Starting stats: 240 lbs | 48 years old | 5'10" | Low energy, low libido
Protocol: Started at 1mg/week; titrated up 1mg every 4 weeks; currently 4mg/week

Results:

Now at 199 lbs (down 41 lbs from 240)
Muscles growing significantly while fat is "flying off"

Positive effects:

Less food drive and mental food noise
Reduced desire for post-work alcohol
More motivation, energy in reserve
Better sleep
Almost painless subcutaneous injection (30G needle)

Side effects:

Mild nausea in the first 1–2 days after moving to 4mg — cleared by week 3 at that dose
Brief plateau after starting TRT (water retention) — resolved and weight loss resumed

Concurrent protocol: Protein-rich whole food diet, weightlifting every other day (full body), 10,000 steps/day minimum.

Goal: 15% body fat at ~180 lbs.

Starting stats: ~240 lbs | Prior GLP-1 intolerances (semaglutide + tirzepatide both "shut down my digestive system")
Protocol: 1mg → 2mg → 3mg → 4mg/week; currently maintaining 4mg

Results at 3.5 months (Feb 2026):

205 lbs from ~240 lbs; 18% body fat
Back in size 34 pants
Dramatic visceral fat reduction — feels lighter and more energetic
Estimated 10–15% lean mass loss alongside fat

Positive effects:

Zero GI side effects despite prior intolerances
Lost 8 lbs in the first 2 weeks at just 1mg
Significant reduction in wine consumption (craving suppression)
Reports it as "one of the most effective substances I have ever taken"
Notable liver health improvement

Side effects:

Initial fatigue cleared after first few days
Malaise the day or two after each injection
Libido reduction around injection days (attributed to gut dopamine disruption)
Appetite so suppressed that hitting protein targets required switching to protein powder

Wife's results: Lost 60 lbs over 8 months (~25% of body weight) with minimal GI issues at 3mg twice weekly.

Plan: Drop to 2mg as a long-term maintenance dose. Exploring oxandrolone or nandrolone to counter lean mass loss.

Stacked with: NAD+, Testogen, Prostamax.

Starting stats: 51 years old | On TRT | ~230 lbs, seeking to reach 220
Protocol: 0.50mg/week for 5 weeks

Results:

Lost 6 lbs over 5 weeks
Good appetite control throughout
Week 1: felt good, possible mood improvement (depression relief)

Why discontinued:

Insomnia became severe by week 2 — waking at 2am, sleeping pills ineffective
Could not function; discontinued entirely

Post-discontinuation: Regained exactly 6 lbs within ~3 weeks while eating unrestricted. Switched to tirzepatide (tolerable at 1 week in).

Background: 14-year body recomposition and performance coach | Started retatrutide for body composition

Unexpected outcome — alcohol cessation:
Started retatrutide for fat loss. Within a few weeks, the desire to drink alcohol disappeared entirely. Has been completely sober since. Attributes this to reward pathway suppression extending well beyond appetite. Calls it "retatrutide literally saved my life."

Now incorporates GLP-1/GIP/glucagon triple agonist research into all client protocols.

Community-Wide Patterns

What Members Report Working Well

Superior GI tolerability compared to semaglutide and tirzepatide — multiple members who discontinued other GLP-1s with severe GI effects tolerated retatrutide without issue
Energy boost rather than the lethargy commonly reported with semaglutide
Alcohol and craving suppression — reward pathway effects extend significantly beyond food
Significant early weight loss — multiple reports of 6–8 lbs in the first 2 weeks at low doses (1–2mg)
Twice-weekly split dosing (e.g., 2×2mg or 2×3mg) reported to smooth appetite control and reduce GI symptoms
Visceral fat preferentially targeted — members report "feeling lighter" beyond what the scale shows

Side Effects Reported

Side Effect	Members Reporting	Notes
Insomnia	t_spacemonkey, Marcel	Severe enough to discontinue in both cases; attributed to glucagon activation
Post-exercise hypoglycemia	t_spacemonkey	Blood glucose 55 mg/dL after gym; requires dietary adjustment
Diet shift to carbs	Multiple members	Difficulty eating meat; cravings shift toward rice, potatoes, fruit
Malaise post-injection	BadassBlues	1–2 days after each injection; mild
Libido reduction	BadassBlues, others	Mild, dose-related, worst around injection days
Lean mass loss	BadassBlues	Self-estimated 10–15% of total weight lost was lean tissue
Protein intake challenge	Multiple members	Meat aversion makes hitting protein targets difficult — protein powder helps
Weight rebound on cessation	Marcel	Regained all lost weight within 3 weeks of stopping

Titration Protocols Used by Members

Conservative start: 1mg/week for 4 weeks, then +1mg every 4 weeks (BeastEggs, BadassBlues)
Moderate start: 2mg/week split into 2 injections (t_spacemonkey)
Ultra-low due to prior GLP-1 sensitivity: 0.50mg/week (Marcel) or 2×300mcg (t_spacemonkey restart)
Clinical TRIUMPH protocol (reference): 2mg (wk 1–4) → 4mg (wk 5–8) → 6mg (wk 9–12) → 9mg (wk 13–16) → 12mg (wk 17+)

Community consensus: Members with prior GLP-1 intolerance should extend the 2mg phase to 6–8 weeks before advancing. Those who are active/athletic should monitor blood glucose around workouts.

Muscle Preservation Tips from Members

Protein powder when meat becomes aversive — aim for 1.2–1.6g/kg body weight daily
Resistance training at minimum 2–3x/week with progressive overload
Track body composition via DEXA scan, not just scale weight
Consider anabolic co-therapy (Nelson Vergel suggested oxandrolone or nandrolone) — not yet tried by current members
TRT provides a meaningful anabolic buffer not available to clinical trial participants

Related Threads

Looking for Retatrutide Experiences — Original community experience thread (Dec 2024)
Retatrutide: A Game Changer in Obesity Pharmacotherapy — Detailed mechanism and member updates
Retatrutide (GLP-3): Dosing, Results & Side Effects Guide — Curated clinical + community guide
Stacking with Retatrutide — Combining with BPC-157, MOTS-c, GHSs

Compiled by Nelson Vergel | ExcelMale.com | June 2026. All member accounts are reproduced from ExcelMale forum posts. Retatrutide is investigational and not FDA-approved. Do not use this as medical advice. Consult a qualified physician before starting any new compound.