You've dropped 50+ pounds on a GLP-1. Feeling incredible. Then one day your bench press feels like it's trying to bury you. Your squat that used to be easy now feels like a max effort. Cue the spiral: "Is the GLP-1 eating my gains?" Here's the truth most people don't want to hear: This happens during ANY significant weight loss. GLP-1 or not. If you've never done a proper cut before, you have zero frame of reference for what's normal. Your strength was always going to plateau. That's not the peptide. That's physics, glycogen, and hormones. The three reasons your lifts feel heavy (and why you're probably fine): 1. Mass moves mass - You weigh 70 pounds less. Different leverages. Different physics. A 250lb person squatting 315 is moving 565 total pounds. At 180? You're moving 495 with less muscle to do it. 2. You're running on empty - Chronically low glycogen from eating in a deficit. Studies show this alone can reduce strength 10-30% even when muscle is preserved. 3. Hormonal reality - During prolonged deficits, testosterone drops 10-30%, thyroid downregulates, cortisol stays elevated. This is your body's survival mechanism, not a drug side effect. And here's the kicker: Those influencers telling you they "maintained all their strength during their cut"? Yeah, they're on 200mg of test per week. Stop comparing your natural cut to someone who's enhanced. But here's what matters most: None of this is permission to back off your training intensity. The article breaks down exactly what to do about each factor - including the strategic carb timing that actually works on a GLP-1. Full breakdown including: - When you should actually worry vs. what's normal - Pre-workout carb protocol that won't trigger GLP-1 nausea - What strength changes to expect at 20lbs, 50lbs, 70lbs+ lost - How to maintain muscle while accepting temporary strength plateaus Read it here: https://derekpruski.substack.com/p/youre-not-losing-muscleyoure-just

One of the most confusing topics in the peptide space: Should you refrigerate liquid amino blends or not? I dove into the research and my own anecdotal experience to break it all down. Here's what I covered: ❄️ Why Modern Aminos and Atomik Labz have COMPLETELY different storage requirements (hint: it's not what you think) 🔬 The actual science behind NAD+, ATP, B12, Carnitine, and Melatonin stability - with mechanisms explained ⚠️ The crystallization issue everyone ignores (and when it matters) 🌡️ Product-by-product breakdown of all 17+ amino blends with specific storage recommendations 📊 Real research observations - what actually works in practice Some interesting findings: - NAD+ blends: Refrigeration makes sense - Carnitine blends: Room temp = perfectly fine - Melatonin blends: Refrigeration = unnecessary - Atomik Labz products: DO NOT refrigerate (yes, seriously) Plus: Why two products with identical ingredients can have opposite storage requirements. My anecdotal experience: I've refrigerated all Modern Aminos blends (except Melatonin which I keep at room temp) without any crystallization issues. But that's just my experience - your mileage may vary. 📖 Read the full breakdown: Substack (in-depth article): https://open.substack.com/pub/derekpruski/p/the-ultimate-storage-guide-for-liquid?r=4jq1x8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true Community discussion: https://community.peptideprice.store/t/the-ultimate-storage-guide-for-liquid-amino-blends-every-product-every-answer/1084 This is the kind of research-backed content you'll find in our new independent community. Drop questions below or join the discussion on the community site 👇

The first episode of Derek's Declassified Research Survival Guide just dropped, and we're starting with a conversation that challenges everything most people think about using peptides for weight loss. I dropped a sneak peek of the podcast below - check it out and let me know what you think 👇 I sat down with @Laura PepFitCoach , a holistic peptide coach who spent years in the pharmaceutical industry and military before discovering the truth: peptides are tools, not magic bullets. Here's what we unpacked: ✅ The 3-Phase Framework - Why starting with peptides without a proper foundation sets you up to fail ✅ Exit Strategies - The most overlooked part of peptide therapy. What happens when you come off? How do you maintain results? ✅ The Nutrition Reality - You can't out-peptide a bad diet. Laura breaks down why nutrient density and proper eating habits matter more than the compound itself ✅ Metabolic Damage - How crash dieting and bodybuilding-style approaches destroy your metabolism and what to do instead ✅ The Mental Game - Both of us share our transformation stories (my 70lb journey, her 50lb COVID gain) and the psychological work required for lasting change Huge shoutout to Laura for being incredibly transparent about her journey and methodology. This is the kind of real, educational content this community deserves. This episode reinforced what we talk about here every day: education over hype, foundation over shortcuts, sustainability over quick fixes. 🎧 LISTEN NOW: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2lcU2zkYIG255aGk0aIJjW?si=kIAm0BT3QCiClyHj-372KQ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Derberfn Substack (Full Podcast): https://open.substack.com/pub/derekpruski/p/why-you-cant-out-peptide-a-bad-diet?r=4jq1x8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

Peptira was blown away by your support during their Black Friday sale, and they wanted to give back in a BIG way. HERE'S THE DEAL: From now until the end of Monday, December 8th, ANY order over $100 using code DEREK automatically enters you to win a Build-a-Kit of 10 vials — YOUR CHOICE. Want 10 vials of R30? Done. Want to mix and match? Build your dream stack. Whatever you want — it's YOURS to design. This is your chance to grab what you forgot during Black Friday AND get entered for a completely customizable 10-vial kit. ⏰ Deadline: End of day Monday, December 8th 💰 Minimum: $100+ order 🏷️ Code: DEREK 👉 Run to Peptira now Don't sleep on this one. Good luck! 🚀 Want to see Peptira Quality? Check out the unboxing:

Alright, let's talk about something that doesn't get discussed enough: that weird "feel worse before feeling better" phenomenon some RSs experience with SS-31 (Elamipretide). One would think a mitochondrial peptide would make an RS feel like Superman from day one, right? More mitochondrial efficiency = more energy = let's gooo! But here's what's actually happening... The Mitochondrial "Spring Cleaning" Effect SS-31 doesn't just make mitochondria work better - it literally helps the body identify and clear out the damaged, dysfunctional mitochondria that have been limping along. Think of it like this: The body has been running a factory with 100 machines. Maybe 40 of them are barely functional - smoking, sputtering, producing more waste than product. But hey, they're still contributing something to total energy output. Then SS-31 comes in like a new efficiency consultant and says "These 40 machines are actually COSTING more than they're producing. Time to shut them down and rebuild." What This Looks Like In Research Subjects: - Increased autophagy/mitophagy = the body is actively breaking down damaged mitochondria - Temporary energy deficit = just shut down 40% of the (admittedly crappy) energy production - Metabolic shifting = cells are reorganizing how they produce ATP - Possible "herx-like" reaction = all that cellular cleanup creates metabolic byproducts The Timeline: Most RSs report this sluggish phase lasting anywhere from 3-10 days. Some RSs don't experience it at all (lucky). But for those who do? It can feel like moving through molasses. What May Help: - Lower starting dose - perhaps starting at 2.5mg instead of 5mg - Support mitochondrial biogenesis - ensuring adequate B vitamins, CoQ10, magnesium - Hydration - helps flush metabolic byproducts - Light movement - not going hard, but not being completely sedentary either - Patience - this is actually a sign the peptide is WORKING The Payoff: Once the body clears out the damaged mitochondria and starts building fresh, efficient ones? That's when RSs report the real SS-31 benefits - sustained energy, better recovery, mental clarity, the works.