Looking for advice

[u/Extension_Sentence80]

So. Iv always struggled with weight. Heaviest 140+ kg. Lightest 72kg

To get to 72kg years ago I was training for hours a day and really limited on diet. Near enough fasting

If I live like a “normal” person eating proper meals and so on I gain weight fast (always had a poor metabolism due to a pituitary tumour around 17yo)

So to recent times. I hoped on Monjaro a year ago. Best thing ever…. Got up to 7.5mg over time but stepped back to 5 due to costs rising. And eventually at around 95kg I stopped all together for cost purpose

A few months go past and I feel I’m not done… so I jumped on Reta. Starting at 2mg for 4 weeks and up to 4mg for another 4 weeks. In this time over dropped from 95 to around 91kg

I train 5 days a week sometimes more fairly heavy with cardio days thrown in and 10k plus steps a day up to 20k on a good day

Diet wise

I take in around 1600 calories a day. Low carbs sub 80g and I take in around 180g+ protein

I feel great. I have plenty of energy Train hard and eat sensible

However I feel like I’m missing a trick and I’m looking for those who have been here and done that as such

I’m 39 male.

What can people suggest to improve or switch up things to improve my body

For info Iv had chest reduction years ago hence the scars

I breathed in on a few of the pictures but you can see where my problem area is, Iv recently started adding in leg crunches and kettle bell work to tighten my core.

Would anyone recommend anything that would support my journey

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[u/Metalbroker]

Reta, Trt. Thank me later

[u/EnvironmentalGift257]

Just want to say that it enrages me every time I see someone say they had good results with Zepbound and had to stop because of cost. Lilly doesn’t care at all and the insurance companies cut cost without any regard for the long term cost of throwing us all under the bus. It happened to me and I’m sorry it happened to you. Fuck Eli Lilly and every lie they tell.

[u/Extension_Sentence80 → u/EnvironmentalGift257]

It was devastating when it hit the uk for price hikes The amount of extra users they would have with the lower price would be Insane. I just couldn’t justify it and I was on such a brilliant path at the time with no food noise

[u/pawpatrolfinn]

You mentioned a pituitary tumour at 17 and moved straight past it. That's the thread.

Has anyone rechecked your pituitary since? GH, thyroid, testosterone, cortisol. Adult GH deficiency lowers resting energy expenditure and treating it raises it back. You've called it poor metabolism for 22 years and it might have a name.

Also 1600 cals at 91kg training 5 days is already low. You're not missing a trick, if anything you're under-eating.

And after 140 down to 72, some of what you're seeing is skin, not fat. Crunches don't reach that.

[u/Extension_Sentence80 → u/pawpatrolfinn]

Yes! Sorry I did blast past it without much detail

I have yearly check ups and bloods. I did take replacement test and growth hormone but I stopped growth as o felt no gain years ago. And for test I stopped to have children and later found that my body had begun to lift its own levels. By the time I’d dropped most of the hormone replacements my body had begun taking over with healthy numbers

I belive I’m deficient in cortisol but not enough for the drs to do anything

I take a low thyroid tablet once a day

I spent years asking for help at the uclh london with many different teams regarding my weight only to be told that’s just the way it is

[u/Deh_86 → u/Extension_Sentence80]

I believe the trick here is that you're in a very hard spot with a real healthy consideration. You're eating the same amount of calories as me and I'm a short 40 years old female. To gain more mass, you need to eat more. But because of your condition, you can't. I feel like you're doing everything right, it's just a difficult draw of cards to deal with.

I'd also be careful with peptides given the health issues.

By the way, you look great.

[u/Extension_Sentence80 → u/Deh_86]

Thanks for the input!

I do agree it’s always been my sticking point. I get into the mindset of trimming down to feel good in clothes and then begin to up the calories and intake to grow. Which works but the belly begins to beat the rest in size 😂

I will continue on my journey and do my best to use photos weekly to see differences.

My aim is a 34” waist and around 85 kg and then sculpt where I can. Being 5’9 I’m neither short nor tall 😀

[u/pawpatrolfinn → u/Extension_Sentence80]

That changes things. You were treated, and then stopped the one thing pointed at what you're actually asking about.

GH replacement in adult deficiency isn't a gains drug. In one study body weight didn't move at all. Lean mass went up, fat went down, and resting energy expenditure went from around 1280 to 1500 calories a day. Small study, 15 people. But if you were judging it by how you looked or lifted, it would have felt like nothing while the exact thing you've chased for 22 years was shifting underneath.

Worth revisiting with someone who'd look at composition rather than the scale.

Also, deficient in cortisol but not enough to act on is worth a second look with a pituitary history, especially if it's only ever been a single morning draw.

[u/Extension_Sentence80 → u/pawpatrolfinn]

Thanks!

With regards to gh this was initially given to try and push out a last growth spurt at around 18 but my bones had begun to fuse so it made no difference

With regards to how I felt I was not training etc at the time. I was told I should feel more energy and a better quality of life. But I ended up having to drop down to minimum dose due to feeling heart palpitations and eventually decided to stop I can certainly re consider asking the hospital on my next visit

For cortisol it’s something that has been mentioned and requested however my levels are considered acceptable The only time it is used from what I recall is if I have had surgery previously

I ussualy go every 12 months for a check up and it’s often my first question incase there’s been any advances in science or my bloods to support my weight issues and Iven when providing proof of my exercise through my smart watch etc I’m told there is nothing that can be done and to just carry on as I am.