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

Everyone's been asking me about Jay Campbell's recent podcast where he claimed GLP-1s are about to be completely shut down in the research and compounding space. His prediction? Eli Lilly is coming with lawsuits, Trump cut a deal, and by 2026 you won't be able to get sema or tirz anywhere except through prescription at their new "discounted" prices ($199-$299/month). Here's my issue: Jay spent half that podcast selling a $1,200/month follastin product. So when someone's pushing expensive products while saying affordable options of proven peptides are disappearing... 🤔 That said... Eli Lilly just hit a $1 TRILLION market cap. A monopoly on GLP-1s makes perfect business sense. And we saw what happened with SS-31—these shutdowns CAN happen fast. Speaking of SS-31, Ben and I covered that rapid shutdown in our podcast. If you want to see how quickly things can change in this space, check it out: 🎥 YouTube: https://youtu.be/oCjljZn2ZoU 🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5KkQvR4xvgYKD1hLG7vKV7 📝 Show Notes: https://open.substack.com/pub/beyondthevial/p/beyond-the-vial-episode-2-black-friday My take? I don't think it'll be as dramatic as Jay claims, but I also wouldn't completely ignore the warning. Should you stock up? Maybe. Should you panic? No. I break down the whole situation, the political angle, what this could mean for research vendors, and what you should actually do about it. Read the full article here: https://open.substack.com/pub/derekpruski/p/will-glp-1s-disappear-from-the-research?r=4jq1x8&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true ⚠️ Full disclosure: This is 100% my opinion and speculation. I don't have insider info. Just giving you my honest take based on what I'm seeing.

I found a SNAP-8 (Acetyl Octapeptide-3) 10 mg vial sold for RS only, and I’m trying to understand what type of research format this is normally intended for. SNAP-8 is usually known from cosmetic/skin studies, so I’m wondering: Is this type of vial typically used in RS models that involve a parenteral-type format, or is it mainly intended for mixing/blending with a serum for topical formulation research?

I heard everyone loud and clear MOTS-C the research is all over the place what is the best research protocol. Here is the full breakdown please watch the video for my full thoughts. As always feel free to ask questions. What is MOTS-C? MOTS-C (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c) is a mitochondrial-derived peptide that acts as a metabolic regulator. Unlike most peptides that are encoded in nuclear DNA, MOTS-C is encoded within mitochondrial DNA and plays a crucial role in cellular energy metabolism. Think of it as a direct communication signal from your mitochondria to the rest of your body about energy status and metabolic needs. How It Works: MOTS-C primarily works by: - AMPK Activation - Enhances cellular energy sensing and metabolic regulation, essentially acting as your body's "fuel gauge" - Glucose Regulation - Improves insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscle, helping your cells use energy more efficiently - Metabolic Switching - Promotes the shift from glucose to fat metabolism, improving metabolic flexibility - Mitochondrial Function - Directly enhances mitochondrial efficiency and biogenesis (creation of new mitochondria) - Gene Expression - Regulates metabolic gene expression to optimize energy production at the cellular level - Stress Response - Helps cells adapt to metabolic stress and maintain energy homeostasis Key Benefits: ✅ Enhanced energy production and reduced fatigue ✅ Improved insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism ✅ Increased fat oxidation and metabolic flexibility ✅ Protection against age-related metabolic decline ✅ Enhanced exercise capacity and physical performance ✅ Potential longevity and healthspan benefits ✅ Improved mitochondrial function and cellular energy ✅ Better metabolic adaptation to exercise and stress ✅ May support healthy weight management ✅ Cognitive energy and mental clarity Why MOTS-C Is Unique: MOTS-C is especially interesting because it declines with age and metabolic dysfunction. Supplementing it may help restore youthful metabolic function. It's also been shown to have exercise-mimetic properties, meaning it can activate some of the same beneficial pathways that exercise does.

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