GLP-1 Protocol: Beginner
Foundational Metabolic Reset
Who This Is For
First-time peptide users who want:
- Clear structure with minimal complexity.
- Predictable fat loss without energy collapse.
- A foundation for more advanced protocols later.
The goal is not aggressive transformation. It is metabolic recalibration—restoring the body's ability to burn stored fuel without the fatigue, cravings, and rebounds that accompany conventional dieting.
The Stack
| Compound | Role |
|---|---|
| Retatrutide | Metabolic controller: reduces intake, improves partitioning, maintains oxidative drive |
| NAD+ | Energy infrastructure: ensures mobilized fat is fully oxidized |
Two compounds. One creates the deficit. The other ensures the deficit produces energy rather than exhaustion.
Dosing Protocol
Retatrutide
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Starting dose | 0.5–1.0 mg weekly |
| Target range | 3–4 mg weekly |
| Titration | Increase by 0.5–1.0 mg only after 4+ weeks at current dose |
| Route | Subcutaneous (abdomen or thigh) |
| Frequency | Once weekly, or split (2×/week, every 3 days) for smoother tolerance |
Why the slow titration: Retatrutide has long half-life dynamics. Waiting four weeks lets plasma levels stabilize so you're advancing based on true response, not transient GI adaptation.
NAD+
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dose | 100–200 mg per injection |
| Frequency | 5×/week or every other day |
| Route | IM preferred (SC acceptable) |
| Timing | Morning |
| Handling | Use buffered NAD+ when available; inject slowly; mild warmth is normal |
Why These Two Together
Retatrutide creates the conditions for fat loss through three receptor pathways:
- GLP-1 quiets appetite and slows gastric emptying.
- GIP improves insulin sensitivity and nutrient partitioning.
- Glucagon maintains hepatic oxidation and prevents the metabolic slowdown typical of caloric restriction.
The result is a deficit that feels natural rather than forced. Hunger quiets. Metabolic rate holds.
But mobilized fat still needs to be burned. That's where NAD+ becomes essential.
In a deficit, cells lean heavily on β-oxidation—the pathway that converts fat to ATP. This pathway is NAD+-hungry. When NAD+ runs short, fat is mobilized but not efficiently converted to energy. Fatigue sets in. Cravings return. Progress stalls.
Maintaining NAD+ keeps the fat-burn → ATP chain moving. Energy stays stable while the deficit does its work.
Weekly Schedule (Example)
| Day | Retatrutide | NAD+ |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | — | 100–200 mg IM, morning |
| Tuesday | — | 100–200 mg IM, morning |
| Wednesday | Weekly dose (or split dose) | 100–200 mg IM, morning |
| Thursday | — | 100–200 mg IM, morning |
| Friday | — | 100–200 mg IM, morning |
| Weekend | — | Rest (or continue EOD) |
Adjust to your chosen Retatrutide frequency. Consistency matters more than the specific schedule.
Timeline: What to Expect
Weeks 1–4
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Adaptation | Appetite suppression begins within 48–72 hours |
| Early signals | Reduced snacking, flatter glucose curves, 2–4 lb loss (some water/glycogen) |
| Side effects | Mild nausea possible; smaller protein-first meals help |
| Energy | May fluctuate initially; NAD+ smooths this out |
Weeks 5–8
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Steady progress | Fat loss stabilizes at 1–2 lb/week |
| Appetite | Becomes mechanical rather than emotional |
| Energy | Often better than baseline with consistent NAD+ |
| Challenge | May need reminders to eat enough protein |
Weeks 9–12
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Consolidation | Scale progress may slow; body composition keeps improving |
| Measurements | Waist circumference drops, clothes fit differently |
| Metabolic state | Hunger control effortless, energy stable |
| Decision point | Continue, maintain, or advance to Intermediate |
Lifestyle Foundation
This protocol works on top of, not instead of, basic metabolic hygiene.
| Component | Target |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1.0 g/lb body weight daily |
| Training | 2–4 resistance sessions/week |
| Movement | Walking on non-lift days (7–10k steps) |
| Cardio | Zone 2 (conversational pace) while adapting |
| Sleep | 7–9 hours; NAD+ often improves sleep architecture via calmer glucose dynamics |
| Hydration | 3+ liters daily; Retatrutide can blunt thirst signals |
Managing Side Effects
| Issue | Primary Mitigation | Secondary Options |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea | Hold dose; smaller protein-first meals | Ginger tea; move injection away from largest meal |
| Constipation | Fiber + fluids | Magnesium citrate at bedtime |
| Headache | Hydration | Add electrolytes |
| NAD+ injection sting | Buffered NAD+, slower push | Split volume; IM instead of SC |
| Fatigue | Increase NAD+ to 200 mg or add extra day | Check protein and sleep |
When Progress Stalls
Use this sequence:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Re-check protein, steps, and hydration. Ensure you're not under-eating to the point of rebound cravings. |
| 2 | If nausea is minimal and you've held 4+ weeks at current level, raise Retatrutide by +0.5 mg/week. |
| 3 | Move NAD+ to 200 mg per dose or add one additional NAD+ day. |
| 4 | Keep new settings for 4+ weeks before any further changes. |
Monitoring
| Timepoint | What to Track |
|---|---|
| Baseline | Fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c, lipid panel, blood pressure |
| Weekly | Weight (same conditions), waist measurement, energy (1–10), hunger (1–10) |
| Bi-weekly | Progress photos (front/side/back), clothing fit |
| Week 8–12 | Repeat baseline labs; expect improved glucose, TG/HDL ratio, blood pressure |
What Comes Next
After 12 weeks, two paths:
Maintenance: Reduce Retatrutide to 1–2 mg/week. NAD+ at 100 mg on training or high-stress days. Continue lifestyle foundation.
Advance to Intermediate: Add L-Carnitine and MOTS-c to increase fat oxidation capacity and preserve lean mass during deeper recomposition.
Contraindications
- Personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 syndrome.
- Active pancreatitis.
- Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Severe GI motility disorders.
Discuss with a physician if you have a history of gallbladder disease, diabetic retinopathy, or are on glucose-lowering medications that may need adjustment.