HGH for fat loss: before bed, or fasted in the morning?

[initialize]

Been on 2IU of HGH for the first time for the last few weeks. Doing a cut right now. So far I've been taking it before bed, but should I start taking it in the morning before breakfast, followed by fasted cardio?

 

[Ghoul]

Been on 2IU of HGH for the first time for the last few weeks. Doing a cut right now. So far I've been taking it before bed, but should I start taking it in the morning before breakfast, followed by fasted cardio?

For maximum fat loss, yes. Fasted, there's around a 4 hour window after injection when GH triggered lipolysis peaks. As soon as you eat, and insulin is released, lipolysis is blunted and conversion to IGF accelerates which tilts the balance of effects from fat loss to growth/anabolism.

If you've been in the same dose of GH for a long time (6 months+) it doesn't make as much of difference because most the fat that can be lost without increasing the dose is already gone.

 

[initialize]

For maximum fat loss, yes. Fasted, there's around a 4 hour window after injection when GH triggered lipolysis peaks. As soon as you eat, and insulin is released, lipolysis is blunted and conversion to IGF accelerates which tilts the balance of effects from fat loss to growth/anabolism.

If you've been in the same dose of GH for a long time (6 months+) it doesn't make as much of difference because most the fat that can be lost without increasing the dose is already gone.

Awesome thank you! So for maximum fat loss, should I inject fasted, do cardio about an hour after injection, and then wait to eat about 4 hours after injection?

 

[Ghoul]

Awesome thank you! So for maximum fat loss, should I inject fasted, do cardio about an hour after injection, and then wait to eat about 4 hours after injection?

That's the routine I follow, at 4iu, and find it extremely effective. Obviously you understand the GH isn't causing fat loss directly, it's signaling adipose cells to release free fatty acids that have to be used as energy or they'll end up being redeposited. Depending on your age, and where the fat is, cells are more or
less sensitive to GH, so deep visceral fat that's been there for a long time may not respond to 2iu, and need a higher dose of GH, while recently formed subQ fat will be much easier to get rid of.

Once you start burning FFA's (most effective with Zone 2 cardio btw), it continues for a while after you stop, so delaying food post exercise will
get rid of some more. When you eat, starting with protein and fats before carbs helps delay insulin release even longer.

The vast majority of the fat loss comes from the fasted cardio, so don't sweat it if you have to eat right after, Those tweaks post exercise are just a small bonus, but add up over time if they're part of a long term routine.

I haven't had a Dexa scan lately, but I don't ever recall my BF being this low. I'm seeing a roadmap's worth of veins on my inner thighs I haven't before, and even noticed what might be the beginning of an inguinal hernia (very, very small lump above groin area) that I would've never noticed without the subQ fat in that area being down to essentially nothing.

 

[latrinelove]

Ouch, it sounds like I have been wasting HGH for the past two months.

I have been taking 3 IU at 7am soon after waking up, shower and food one hour later.

Has it been a waste of product as far as far loss is concerned?

What about taking it at night before bed, 4 hours after dinner?

Thanks

 

[Jackedjack]

Imo, using HGH as a fatloss agent is very expensive way to loose fat. For me personally HGH shines the best when during mass gaining phase, lets you eat , grow and helps to keep fat gain to minimum

 

[xrayphoton13]

Awesome thank you! So for maximum fat loss, should I inject fasted, do cardio about an hour after injection, and then wait to eat about 4 hours after injection?

Dude you just skipped right over the sticky thread at the very top of this subforum.
The answer is right there. First thread. First post. Inject 3+ iu rHGH then do your cardio 2-3 hours after for maximum fatloss

Thread 'A GH and fat loss protocol (rhGH lipolysis) that is science-based' A GH and fat loss protocol (rhGH lipolysis) that is science-based

Type-IIx wrote the be all end all book on HGH. There's no one with more knowledge on the subject than him. You can trust that his information is accurate

 

[Deadpool99]

I have successfully read the entire 56 page thread. Took me a while...

This has been very eye opening and debunked alot of stuff people used to do cuz they were told to or think is the better option. I am someone who literally strived to split my dosing and strived to get 90mg BG 3 hours post meal to inject my pre-bed HGH, took so much effort, timing, inconvenience to apply and sooo many meds and procedures. I even once did 3 times a day when I first started HGH when going a 10ius blast.

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS (Debunked myths)​

Myth	Proven Reality
“GH must be split 3–5× daily for lipolysis”	False — GH lipolysis is peak-driven, not time-under-curve. One large bolus → higher amplitude → more fat mobilization.
“Fasted cardio after GH is required for fat loss”	False — GH itself induces fat oxidation; cardio just amplifies it.
“1.4 IU maxes out lipolysis”	No — linear effect up to at least 0.1 IU/kg (~8 IU for 80 kg).
“You must fast 6–8 h after GH”	Overshot — 2–3 h of low insulin post-injection is sufficient.
“Split dosing prevents water retention”	Opposite — split dosing keeps GH/IGF-1 elevated all day → chronic Na⁺ retention and edema.
“More frequent shots = better muscle gain”	Only true for collagen/joint repair; muscle hypertrophy depends on total IGF-1, which one large dose can match.

WHEN TO INTERVENE​

Sign	Likely cause	Fix
Fasting BG > 5.8 mmol for > 1 wk	Excess total exposure / inadequate XR	Increase Metformin XR dose or add Jardiance
Persistent edema	Chronic exposure (split dosing)	Switch to single AM, add Eplerenone
Poor sleep	Night GH pulse overlap	Move injection to AM
Weak lipolysis	Eating < 2 h post-inj.	Delay carbs ≥ 2.5 h

GH increases peripheral conversion of T4 to T3, may deplete T4.
50 µg T4 on maintenance, 100 µg on higher GH (> 8 IU).
Avoid routine T3; only for short contest preps.

Main TAKEAWAYS (for everyone)​

1. One bolus > split dosing for metabolic health.
2. 2–3 h fasting post-GH is all you need — not 6–8 h.
3. Metformin XR alone controls glucose for most users.
4. 8–10 IU morning injection = maximal fat loss & minimal side effects.
5. Always pair GH with T4 support and RAAS / insulin-sensitizer backbone.
6. Stop chasing near-fasting post-meal BG — only intervene > 6.7 mmol.
7. Less is often more: continuous GH exposure creates chronic IR and puffiness without more gains

I think my approach will be as follows:
8–10 IU single morning injection, wait 2.5 h before carbs, Metformin XR at night, T4 support daily. ( I like Jardiance, eplerenone anyways for it's CV support)

Hope this helps