How I Did My Research (And Why I Didn’t Just Click a TikTok Ad)
Before I ordered my first peptide, I did what everyone does: I researched. And by “researched,” I mean I fell into the digital maze where every scroll delivers a new ad promising miracles for “busy women who just need to lose the last 10 pounds.”
It didn’t sit well with me.
I’ve spent 15 years working alongside some of the biggest names in performance. I helped develop large-scale training programs with Reebok, CrossFit and Cirque du Soleil. I led the production of direct-to-consumer programs for soccer, baseball, and golf athletes (in partnership with SKLZ and EXOS). I teach at Equinox.
I’m not confused about how to get physical results or how to lose 5–10 pounds. I can do that with simple, boring changes: drop my twice-weekly fro-yo, skip the toppings, cut condiments. A few hundred calories here and there add up fast.
But the real truth—the one most people miss—is that our lives change. Our bodies change. And our daily activity changes even more.
Before, movement was baked into work. When I worked at Reebok HQ it could take 10-minutes to walk to a meeting. Today, I work remotely. Unless I intentionally build movement into my day, it does not happen. You can lift, eat clean, sleep well—and still not burn the same number of calories you did a decade ago.
So no, I wasn’t looking for a miracle or a fix for something I “just couldn’t do.” I wanted to experiment. I wanted to see what peptides could do to support a strong foundation.
The Research Rabbit Hole
I scoured everything: Reddit threads, clinical data, functional medicine newsletters, long-form articles, podcasts, and yes—the endless stream of social media ads that follow anyone who types the word “peptide.”
What I didn’t like about the major players was the emotional targeting. Too many brands spoke directly to a narrative of defeat: “You’ve tried everything. You just need this.” That’s not my story. I haven’t made the simple, stackable diet changes. I don’t walk my daughter to school and some days at lunch, I work instead of take a lap around the neighborhood.
What Finally Caught My Attention
A few friends in the industry were experimenting with peptides, and one company kept surfacing—not through ads, but through people. They were based in Southern California, maintained a consistent third-party verified purity above 99%, and offered a full spectrum of products that extended beyond weight loss.
This mattered to me. Companies that take the long view tend to take their quality seriously. It felt less like a trend-chasing operation and more like a group that actually believes peptides are part of the future of performance, longevity, and wellness.
How I Landed on Retatrutide
When I reached out, I was connected with an actual person who asked what I wanted:
A peptide I could start low and ramp slowly to avoid gastric issues
A 5–10 pound fat-loss window
A gentle ramp-down phase to avoid regaining the weight
He gave me three options. I researched all three. Retatrutide stood out.
Clinical trials suggest that retatrutide can facilitate fat loss while preserving lean muscle mass—something that becomes increasingly important as we age, especially for women and anyone with a long training history.
So I bought a 30-day supply. Not because I needed it—but because I wanted to test it.
And because I’m curious about what happens when you combine solid training principles, nutritional awareness, modern science, and a willingness to experiment.
This is that experiment.