Giant Semaglutide Thread (and other GLP-1 / GIP agonists)

[Doodle]

Wanted to create a thread where everyone can post their experiences with different sourced Semaglutide.

Who are you using?
Pharma vs non?
Dosage?
How long have you been taking it?
What are your thoughts?
Have you lost weight?
Side effects?
Oral vs injection?
Tests?

 

[Ghoul]

Looking for a little advice. 55y/o male with a BMI of 29.

During Covid I got Wegovy covered by insurance and it worked amazing. Now, no coverage for anything so I just started .5 of sema. Not feeling it yet, but it was the same way the first time. But aside from losing fat I also lost muscle and strength the first time. Appetite suppression is definitely something I need.

Should I stick with sema or move to tirz? Combine them? If I switch, do I need to add anything (cargi) to kill my appetite? I also want to add some GH to help maintain and/or grow muscle while I lose weight as well as help with muscle and joint stiffness/soreness in general. The first time I only took meds and never worked out. This time I have already started a resistance training program and WILL be sticking with it going forward. I am finally properly motivated to keep the weight off and build a more athletic and muscular physique.

Thanks!

GH will help retain muscle (much more
so combined with TRT). Of course protein intake is critical as well.

Tirz is the better of the two for overall health benefits, which increase with dose. It's actually preferable to have a higher "maintainance" dose for those other benefits, provided it's not causing too excessive appetite suppression.

What dose did you get to before? I would only combine if you max out on one GLP and still not get sufficient suppression.

 

[Sera]

Anyone can attest to the fact that Cagri has more of a mental effect on appetite suppresion? Like less food drive and food noise?
I can eat a lot of clean low calorie foods and feel my stomach physically full, but the mental drive to eat and craving are really strong still and never really subside, even with coffee, or chewing gum.
So I was tihinking Cagri would be more effective at reducing the mental drive to eat rather than upping the Tirz to 15mg? Costwise it's not that bad. 10x10mg vials of Cagri are like 150-200$. Even at the max dose of 2.5mg (which I doubt I'll need, I think around 1mg will likely suffice) that's only 5$ a week. not gonna break the bank, I'll probably save more than 5$ a week on food if it gets me to not binge on junk.

Fwiw, I found reta has reduced my drive to eat more than tirz.

I think I gained tolerance to it, as when I first tried tirz it completely shut off food noise but eventually it stopped having that effect and even higher doses just made me more sick.

Reta reminds me of when I first tried tirz.

 

[BadandyB]

Anyone can attest to the fact that Cagri has more of a mental effect on appetite suppresion? Like less food drive and food noise?
I can eat a lot of clean low calorie foods and feel my stomach physically full, but the mental drive to eat and craving are really strong still and never really subside, even with coffee, or chewing gum.
So I was tihinking Cagri would be more effective at reducing the mental drive to eat rather than upping the Tirz to 15mg? Costwise it's not that bad. 10x10mg vials of Cagri are like 150-200$. Even at the max dose of 2.5mg (which I doubt I'll need, I think around 1mg will likely suffice) that's only 5$ a week. not gonna break the bank, I'll probably save more than 5$ a week on food if it gets me to not binge on junk.

Same. I KNOW I am full, but I also have a strong urge to keep eating.

 

[BrunoES]

Going to give some feedback during the start of the tirz so people can check in the future and maybe get some benefit out of this information.

First shot of tirzepatide update:

1st day 3PM first shot
2nd day, today, woke up feeling like there was something sitting in my stomach or intestines, don't know. Went to the bathroom as I normally go.

Went through the morning feeling like this, and have been having some burps. No food yet. I was waiting to see if it would go away but it didn't.

Took 10mg of domperidone at 9AM, didn't seem to help.
Got some fluids in me and went training. Actually had a pretty good session, and pumps were there despite the fasted state.
Took 2nd dose of domperidone now at 1PM and am going to make some protein shakes, otherwise I am worried I won't get enough protein today.

Not necessarely feeling an suppression of the appetite yet, it is just uncomfortable because of the brick in my guts and the burping lol

 

[Ghoul]

Same. I KNOW I am full, but I also have a strong urge to keep eating.

For "emotional" eating, rather than appetite driven eating, the "gentle" GLPs designed to minimize the "physical punishment" element of appetite suppression, like Tirz and Reta, imo, are not ideal. Sema is the only effective option.

With Sema, if quieting "food noise" and increased satisfaction signals are ignored and you eat anyway, you will be punished until your learn to follow your appetite.

Brutal, but effective imposition of "self control" via physical discomfort.

 

[BadandyB]

GH will help retain muscle (much more
so combined with TRT). Of course protein intake is critical as well.

Tirz is the better of the two for overall health benefits, which increase with dose. It's actually preferable to have a higher "maintainance" dose for those other benefits, provided it's not causing too excessive appetite suppression.

What dose did you get to before? I would only combine if you max out on one GLP and still not get sufficient suppression.

Before, I got to the max Wegovy dose at 2.4. However, my doctor just had me automatically increase every 4 weeks. I feel I could have likely stopped at 1.7 and got the same effect, or darn close to it.

My recent blood was a total T of 220. So I have seriously considered adding test at some level in the future. Figured I'd just add one thing at a time so I can accurately gauge any effect (positive or negative). So my thought was either sema or triz for weight loss and GH for muscle retention and the host of other benefits. Start at 1IU and increase as needed to "feel good".

Seem sane?

 

[BadandyB]

For "emotional" eating, rather than appetite drive eating, the "gentle" GLPs designed to minimize the "physical punishment" element of appetite suppression, like Tirz and Reta, imo, are not ideal. Sema is the only effective option.

With Sema, if quieting "food noise" and increased satisfaction signals are ignored and you eat anyway, you will be punished until your learn to follow your appetite.

Brutal, but effective imposition of "self control" via physical discomfort.

And before I never overate on sema. Just never had the desire. Without meds I can objectively tell I am full and ate enough, but it's as if my stomach and brain are disconnected with that message. It actually feels like I am more hungry as I get full. *shrug*

 

[BigDadd7]

Going to give some feedback during the start of the tirz so people can check in the future and maybe get some benefit out of this information.

First shot of tirzepatide update:

1st day 3PM first shot
2nd day, today, woke up feeling like there was something sitting in my stomach or intestines, don't know. Went to the bathroom as I normally go.

Went through the morning feeling like this, and have been having some burps. No food yet. I was waiting to see if it would go away but it didn't.

Took 10mg of domperidone at 9AM, didn't seem to help.
Got some fluids in me and went training. Actually had a pretty good session, and pumps were there despite the fasted state.
Took 2nd dose of domperidone now at 1PM and am going to make some protein shakes, otherwise I am worried I won't get enough protein today.

Not necessarely feeling an suppression of the appetite yet, it is just uncomfortable because of the brick in my guts and the burping lol

That feeling will somewhat pass after about 4 weeks. Tirz slows down gastric emptying. That means the "full" feeling sticks around for a while. After about four weeks, a little of that will be reduced and you will no longer have that sensation. Just stick with it and don't change your dose for the first four weeks- that's how long it takes to reach saturation. A lot of guys mistakenly go by "feelz" and start jumping the dose every week. By the time saturation kicks in, they're over dosed and feel like shit. You didn't get fat in two weeks and you won't get thin in two weeks. Track your weight weekly, at the same day and time. I weigh myself Friday mornings after my first piss. A month from now you'll see real results and feel good about it.

 

[Ghoul]

And before I never overate on sema. Just never had the desire. Without meds I can objectively tell I am full and ate enough, but it's as if my stomach and brain are disconnected with that message. It actually feels like I am more hungry as I get full. *shrug*

Yeah that sounds like there's an underlying psychological, rather than biological cause. That's a complex topic and one doesn't really need to understand what the root of it is (via therapy). Sema will beat the shit out of you until you stop doing it.

With Tirz and Reta it's too easy to ignore the satisfied appetite and continue eating if there's a psychological drive to do so.

 

[BadandyB]

Yeah that sounds like there's an underlying psychological, rather than biological cause. That's a complex topic and one doesn't really need to understand what the root of it is (via therapy). Sema will beat the shit out of you until you stop doing it.

With Tirz and Reta it's too easy to ignore the satisfied appetite and continue eating if there's a psychological drive to do so.

Pretty much reenforces my sema decision. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Thank you!

 

[Ghoul]

Pretty much reenforces my sema decision. If it ain't broke don't fix it.

Thank you!

Feel free to increase your dose, up to 7.2mg if necessary, since Novo has established the safety of doses up to that level.

 

[BadandyB]

GH will help retain muscle (much more
so combined with TRT). Of course protein intake is critical as well.

Do you think with my BMI I should add in TRT once I have established myself on sema and GH?

 

[Ghoul]

Do you think with my BMI I should add in TRT once I have established myself on sema and GH?

Have you had your hormones checked? TRT is associated with accelerated fat loss when it's low. (and high bodyfat % can cause a deficiency). But we can't assume you're the lower end of the scale and it's those numbers that really determine whether you would benefit from TRT.

 

[BadandyB]

Have you had your hormones checked? TRT is associated with accelerated fat loss when it's low. (and high bodyfat % can cause a deficiency). But we can't assume you're the lower end of the scale and it's those numbers that really determine whether you would benefit from TRT.

yes, all within the last 3 weeks. I have a ton of numbers as they checked damn near everything. lol

What specific numbers should I be looking at? Total T was 220. SHBG was 29. Estrdiol was 35. AST was 13. ALT was 14........any others just ask.

 

[Luke391]

For "emotional" eating, rather than appetite driven eating, the "gentle" GLPs designed to minimize the "physical punishment" element of appetite suppression, like Tirz and Reta, imo, are not ideal. Sema is the only effective option.

With Sema, if quieting "food noise" and increased satisfaction signals are ignored and you eat anyway, you will be punished until your learn to follow your appetite.

Brutal, but effective imposition of "self control" via physical discomfort.

I know but that's not really what I'm looking for. Like at first Tirz dos take away the food noise and cravings. I'm looking for that same feeling that Tirz is no longer giving me, without further making me unable to eat.
Even if I do stop when physically full but still mentally hungry it's not very pleasant going torugh my whole day thinking of food

 

[Luke391]

And before I never overate on sema. Just never had the desire. Without meds I can objectively tell I am full and ate enough, but it's as if my stomach and brain are disconnected with that message. It actually feels like I am more hungry as I get full. *shrug*

same. At first Tirzepatide it was like it re-established the connection from my gut to my brain to tell me to stop eating when full, and stop the drive to eat and cravings. Now even if physically full I am going crazy mentally with food drive and cravings.
I actually find it easier to fast and eat nothing at all rather than having a meal and stopping thete with no extra crappy food afterwards.

I'm thinking to attempt keto to see if it can help with the food noise/cravings.
Maybe I'll look to do a 2day fast to quickly get in ketosis if I do decide to try it

 

[BadandyB]

same. At first Tirzepatide it was like it re-established the connection from my gut to my brain to tell me to stop eating when full, and stop the drive to eat and cravings. Now even if physically full I am going crazy mentally with food drive and cravings.
I actually find it easier to fast and eat nothing at all rather than having a meal and stopping thete with no extra crappy food afterwards.

I'm thinking to attempt keto to see if it can help with the food noise/cravings.
Maybe I'll look to do a 2day fast to quickly get in ketosis if I do decide to try it

Exactly how it is for me. It isn't incredibly difficult for me to postpone eating until hours later than normal, but once I eat it's crazy.

Let me know if keto works for you.

 

[Luke391]

Exactly how it is for me. It isn't incredibly difficult for me to postpone eating until hours later than normal, but once I eat it's crazy.

Let me know if keto works for you.

yeah. I do 24h fasts and intermitting fasting regularly and it's pretty easy. but as soon as I start eating anything it's so hard to stop

 

[Anonymous35]

same. At first Tirzepatide it was like it re-established the connection from my gut to my brain to tell me to stop eating when full, and stop the drive to eat and cravings. Now even if physically full I am going crazy mentally with food drive and cravings.
I actually find it easier to fast and eat nothing at all rather than having a meal and stopping thete with no extra crappy food afterwards.

I'm thinking to attempt keto to see if it can help with the food noise/cravings.
Maybe I'll look to do a 2day fast to quickly get in ketosis if I do decide to try it

I don’t think changing your diet will do anything with the food noises to be honest

Strong dose of semaglutide will, because you will feel so sick that you will feel disgusted from food

or maybe a combination of glp1 reta + semaglutide to boost metabolism and suppress the appetite

 

[Luke391]

I don’t think changing your diet will do anything with the food noises to be honest

Strong dose of semaglutide will, because you will feel so sick that you will feel disgusted from food

or maybe a combination of glp1 reta + semaglutide to boost metabolism and suppress the appetite

I'm already on Tirz and it did work, so rather than completely switching glps I'd rather look for a add-on.
I had tried Sema before Tirzepatide (ozempic pen) and it did not work for me at all. First time I did 2 weeks on 0.25mg, I would be humgry as usual so I'd overeat, but 6-8hours later I'd get the most brutal stomach pain and nausea of my life making me bed bound for a day. so I stopped. a few months later I tried again doing 0.1mg twice a week and same thing happened. 2 weeks in I was hungry as usual but 6-8hours after overeating I'd get these terrible stomach pains.
I felt no appetite suppresion but all the side effects. Maybe if I had given it more time it would have worked but don't really feel like taking the chance again