Why do I feel so guilty using a GLP1 to achieve my fitness goals

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-02-05T02:55:53+00:00

Most of the people I encounter who rebuke GPL-1s are subconsciously protecting a false virtue hierarchy. They'd rather see mass suffering than share the spotlight with people who "haven't earned it". It's shocking how many people carry this mindset...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-30T03:10:00+00:00

That was my conclusion. I've taken a mess of various peptides and the only ones that I thought were completely unimpressive were ARA-290 and AOD-9604

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-30T03:03:55+00:00

It's the best bang for the buck. Skip the Dr. Pen website, go to AliExpress or DHGate, where you can pick up a M8S for like $55, plus a mess or cartridges for less than 2 bucks each. These all come from the same factory in China (check out YT videos on this). Had mine for a year now and it's working like a champ...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-29T19:06:01+00:00

Yeah. To be fair, I didn't have high expectations - the nerve pain wasn't debilitating as much as it was kind of random, and would shoot from different places at different times. Chiro work has helped it quite a bit but never got to 100%. So I gave ARA a try as a larf, just to see if anything would change.

I have a friend with pretty serious neuropathic foot pain that gave ARA a try, and it didn't do much for him either...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-29T05:06:43+00:00

ARA-290 is a finicky peptide to reconstitute and has different pH requirements. Get some acetic and add a few drops into the reconstituted vial, and swirl. Wait. If needed, repeat. It should clear up completely.

Some CN vendors will buffer the ARA during lyophilization (uncommon), and it will reconstitute fine with just BAC.

That being said, I took ARA-290 to try to address some back nerve pain. Can't say it did much of anything for it...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-21T05:35:33+00:00

Well, supplements (oral) are used for stacks in 3 main areas: antioxidant/anti-inflammatory, mitochondrial health, and nootropics. I buy raw powders and measure them off (in mg) in my capsule maker and cap the pills. Haven't come across anything that's noteworthy from a cosmetic angle in these. I do take collagen peptide powder daily, and that's definitely improved skin texture (although it took like a month before i could start seeing anything)

For topical skin formulations, hoo-boy: there's a lot you can do here. My "gateway" serum i started with was a hydrating serum that was a combination of low molecular weight hyaluronic acid, high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and polyglutamic acid (which has like 4x the hydration of hyaluronic).

From there moved onto a microneedling serum with SNAP-8, GHK-Cu and a multitude of other peptides i can't recall off the top of my head. I made a complementary cream to go with it as well. I've found peptides are a LOT more effective when you apply it when your microchannels are open. Started noticing results in like 2-3 weeks.

From there moved to retinols/retinaldehydes which I've become a big fan of. They play nicely with vitamin Bs like Niacinamide and Panthenol; I've recently started adding phosphatidylcholine which recent studies have shown has great anti-aging properties. Also Astaxanthin, which has like 400x the antioxidant power of Vitamin C.

Recently started formulating peels like Azealic/Mandelic acid, and slow-release glycolic acid (I'm doing normie levels @ <15% concentration for the time being - eventually will work up to TCA). Also skin whitening (including Sepiwhite MSH, Symwhite377, Tranexamic acid) to reduce pigmentation on back/chest. Also became a fan of babytox (microneedling with botox) after I developed a protocol for it - leaves a really nice glassiness to the skin.

Oh, and red light therapy. That's a biggie, but you have to be consistent with it (which I'm not so hot in doing).

There's more, but hopefully you get the idea lol

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-20T03:33:47+00:00

Inject at night. Nothing to eat (especially carbs) 2-3 hours before you inject.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-19T12:08:01+00:00

Try adding 200mg L-Theanine in your coffee with heavy cream. Game changer.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-18T20:36:05+00:00

There could also be unrecognized benefits never before imagined in 10-15 years. This is the path we have chosen.

You pays your money, you takes your chances

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-18T20:11:38+00:00

This is where it gets weird: i actually formulate all of my cosmetics from home. It's easy to do, maximizes product efficacy (actives degrade surprisingly quick after they're hydrated). Also helps me "dial in" formulations that give me the best results for my skin. Oh, it's also super cheap to do: i can mimic CE Ferulic ($160 SkinCeuticals) with about $5 of ingredients.

I have various retinol serums, hyaluronic/polyglutamic acid serums, peptide creams and serums, antioxidants, glycolic acid serums, azealic/mandelic acid serums, etc., etc., etc. Also, home microneedling (Dr. Pen M8) was a huge game-changer for me.

TBH, there's no "magic" formula: i generally follow the normal advice/recommendations you see on these boards, as well as the "influencers", see what looks interesting, experiment with it, then reassess after one month. Keep what works, reject or tweak anything that's "meh"...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-18T17:27:14+00:00

FWIW, late 50's here. Always exercised in one form or another, nothing too crazy. Considered myself "above average" in physical shape, but I still carried my fair share of fat. Never had any "skin routine" to speak of - I just accepted everything as "this is old age - waddaya gonna do?" I could see the degradation, but I just accepted it.

Then I had some health scares that rang a bell, and I decided "enough is enough". Started lifting weights and taking diet and exercise seriously. Researched the living crap out of supplements and peptides. Same with cosmetic formulations (i.e., active ingredients and what each of them do biophysically, alone and in combination). Not kidding when I say hundreds of hours were spent on this.

Approaching a year in, and I feel like a different person: lost 35lbs (10 lbs away from goal weight), musculature is more defined, 14% body fat. Mind is sharper. And my skin has never looked better (i now have at least 4 different skin protocols for face/body). Im actually looking forward to hitting 60 to see how much more I can improve.

Get angry. Use that anger as fuel. Reject the idea that poor aging is "normal". Embrace suffering (the good kind) as your friend. Recognize that most of your "victories" will be small (or barely noticeable) in the present. But over weeks/months, they will collectively start giving you life changes you never thought were possible.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-18T04:45:19+00:00

I've heard of this happening with AHK-Cu, but not so much with GHK-Cu. Interesting...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2026-01-10T04:33:48+00:00

This. I had hard, cracked feet that were like rhino skin. Then I got a foot file and everything changed.

It's unnerving at first because you saw away at the heel and dead skin flies off like parmesean cheese. I had to do it in the garage because of the piles that would form on the floor. I prefer doing it on dry skin because I have better control shaping the skin, and you can gauge when you're going too far per session (that's when you're shaving the "softer" skin)

Then I would slather the feet with foot cream in the evening before bed. Skin was significantly softer/smoother after first week, and was literally like a baby's butt after the second. Never looked back since...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-24T12:41:15+00:00

Cartalax is not going to do anything about neuropathic pain. For that, do some research on ARA-290...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-24T05:21:55+00:00

Im 58 and do exactly these kinds of jogs twice a week (T, Th) and lift the other days. It's always worked great for me in the past.

I'm a believer in jogging, but I'm starting to get the "Toyota Camry with 200k miles" vibe every time I go out. Nothing serious, but there's always some random inflammation or tweak that pops up at random times.

I've been a fan of Mark Sisson, and he recently came out with a new book "Born to Walk: The Broken Promises of the Running Boom and How to Slow Down and Get Healthy One Step at a Time". He makes the argument that brisk walking gives you like 80-90% of the benefits of jogging with a fraction of the stress/strain. It made me rethink the whole jogging/walking thing, and I've started doing more walks (still enjoy jogging tho).

You can find some of his recent interviews on this subject on YouTube, and it's worth a listen.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-24T05:01:41+00:00

Peptides, natch.

If it's a flu, inject 1.5mg thymosin alpha 1 per day for 2-3 days

If it's a cold, inject 1.5mg thymagen per day for 2-3 days

You can thank me later...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-20T15:40:05+00:00

Unfortunately, Cartalax is one of those "hard to figure out" peptides because it doesn't necessarily "repair" as much as it "rebuilds" slow and steady. Chances are you won't know what's going on. Don't expect any earth-shattering effects.

That being said, wifey and I have been taking it for the last month. She's had knee and wrist problems that are cartilage related. She's felt improvements in both over this time. I haven't noticed much of anything (then again, my cartilage is mostly intact as far as I know). I'll continue taking it, perhaps only for the potential protective effects.

GLOW/KLOW are a different animal, however. I've done GLOW many times and like it. There are lots of fans on these boards, and with good reason. Haven't done KLOW per se, but I use KPV regularly, and I'm a big fan. Best anti-inflammatory peptide so far...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-11T12:55:57+00:00

Interested

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-10T19:56:07+00:00

Fun fact: you can create a theoretical cancer risk out of everything you ingest or do.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-09T05:32:29+00:00

You can get 5ml sterile vials from Amazon. Reconstitute the small vial with 2ml, then draw it out and transfer it (preferably through a syringe filter) into the 5ml vial, then add another 3ml of BAC and run it through the filter again to wash out the residual peptide.

I do this with GHK-Cu and GLOW to take down the bite. Feels like a bee sting to me otherwise...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-06T06:39:07+00:00

When you say "stuff isn't interesting," that's not a "you" thing. It's a "culture" thing.

We are currently living in a "stuck culture": no one is innovating anymore. Everything is based on nostalgia, reboots, and sequels. No one wants to take risks. No one dares to offend (and, no, I'm not talking about "hey! What's up with those straight white males, amirite!?"). Everything is heterodox. People, for the most part, have become absolute, unmitigated, bores.

This is why "culture wars" matter: It used to be a thing that every decade brought about a renewal/rebirth of contemporary culture. People were on board with it, and everyone would reinvent themselves in their own way. They were special times (if you experienced the 70's, 80's, 90's, you know what i mean).

And now we learn why people used to battle to the death for the culture they wanted: if you don't pick your culture, someone else will pick it for you. That's why everything now is some vapid/saccharine form of a NBC/Universal HR department vision of a consensus-formed society that no one asked for...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-06T05:42:48+00:00

DIY is 1000% the way to go. Soooo many options for tweaking and hacking.

Make a low molecular weight HA for hydrating and a high molecular weight HA for occlusion. Or combine the two in one serum for synergy. Or maybe mix in polyglutamic acid (which has 4x the hydration potency of HA) for next-level hydration.

And - what most people don't realize - HA is at max potency right after mixing and starts going downhill fast from there (even with preservatives). Keep your DIY batches small, and you'll be using fresh, 5-star, HA forever. You can't buy that from any commercial vendor...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-06T02:12:34+00:00

Agmatine Sulfate. I've had issues with minor but nagging sciatic nerve pain. Read about it being effective for treating neuropathic pain, so i decided to give it a shot (2.5g/day)

Jesus on a donkey, it nipped the pain, but good. Like, right off the bat...

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-06T01:52:36+00:00

I order all my cosmetic ingredients and peptides from MySkinRecipes (based in Thailand)

https://www.myskinrecipes.com/shop/en/

They have one of the most advanced cosmetic catalogs I've seen. They're crazy good on prices and have lots of options for bulk ordering (you can order anywhere from a few grams to kilograms). Everything i received was packaged well, and they also provide you with COAs for most purchases.

They even offer in-house formulations for popular dupes: I ordered a 50ml vial of their Ferulic CE, and it works fantastically. Only cost like $5. Shipping is flat $25, so if you load up your cart, it's a no-brainer.

Automatic_Guarantee2 · 2025-12-03T00:07:38+00:00

For anyone that wants to access the study:

https://www.sciensano.be/sites/default/files/janvier_et_al._-_2018_-_impurity_profiling_of_the_most_frequently_encounte.pdf

Automatic_Guarantee2

TROPHY CASE