GLP-1 Protocol: Intermediate
Accelerated Fat Oxidation with Lean Mass Preservation
Who This Is For
Users who have completed a beginner cycle (or equivalent) and want:
- Faster fat loss without sacrificing muscle.
- Higher metabolic throughput and training capacity.
- Mitochondrial support that makes the deficit feel sustainable.
This tier adds two compounds that increase the body's capacity to oxidize fat: L-Carnitine to shuttle fatty acids into mitochondria, and MOTS-c to expand mitochondrial number and efficiency. The result is a metabolism that runs hotter and cleaner.
The Stack
| Compound | Role |
|---|---|
| Retatrutide | Metabolic controller: intake regulation, partitioning, oxidative drive |
| NAD+ | Energy infrastructure: redox balance, sirtuin activation, clean ATP |
| L-Carnitine | Fat transport: shuttles fatty acids into mitochondria for oxidation |
| MOTS-c | Mitochondrial expansion: increases organelle number and metabolic flexibility |
The first two compounds create and sustain the deficit. The second two increase the body's capacity to use that deficit productively.
Dosing Protocol
Retatrutide
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Starting dose | 2–3 mg weekly (if already adapted) or titrate from 1 mg |
| Target range | 3–4 mg weekly |
| Titration | 4+ weeks between increases |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Frequency | Weekly or split for tolerance |
NAD+
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dose | 150–250 mg per injection |
| Frequency | 5–6×/week or EOD |
| Route | IM preferred |
| Timing | Morning |
L-Carnitine
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dose | 500–1000 mg per injection |
| Frequency | Daily or 5–6 days/week |
| Timing | Fasted morning or 30–45 min pre-workout |
| Route | IM (vastus lateralis, deltoid, or ventrogluteal) |
| Note | Avoid high-fat meals within 1 hour of injection |
MOTS-c
| Parameter | Specification |
|---|---|
| Dose | 5–10 mg per injection |
| Frequency | 2–3×/week |
| Timing | Morning or pre-training, preferably fasted |
| Route | Subcutaneous |
| Cycle | 6–8 weeks on, 2–4 weeks off |
Why This Combination
Retatrutide + NAD+ remains the metabolic foundation: Retatrutide creates a controlled deficit through triple agonism, NAD+ ensures mobilized fat converts to ATP rather than backing up in the system.
L-Carnitine addresses a bottleneck. When lipolysis increases—whether from caloric restriction, Retatrutide's glucagon action, or training—fatty acids flood the bloodstream. These must cross the inner mitochondrial membrane to be oxidized. L-Carnitine is the shuttle that makes this happen.
Without adequate carnitine, fatty acids accumulate in the cytosol and get re-esterified back into storage. Progress stalls. Energy fragments. With sufficient carnitine, every gram of fat released has a destination: the mitochondrial matrix, β-oxidation, ATP.
MOTS-c raises the ceiling. It's a peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA that signals the cell to adapt to metabolic demand—the same adaptation triggered by endurance training. MOTS-c activates AMPK and PGC-1α, the master regulators of mitochondrial biogenesis.
The result: more mitochondria, greater oxidative capacity, improved insulin sensitivity, and a metabolism that can handle higher flux without stress. Fasted cardio feels productive. Energy stays stable despite lower calories. The body operates like it has more metabolic headroom.
Weekly Schedule (Example)
| Day | Retatrutide | NAD+ | L-Carnitine | MOTS-c |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | — | 200 mg AM | 500 mg fasted AM | 5–10 mg AM |
| Tuesday | — | 200 mg AM | 500 mg pre-workout | — |
| Wednesday | Weekly dose | 200 mg AM | 500 mg fasted AM | 5–10 mg AM |
| Thursday | — | 200 mg AM | 500 mg pre-workout | — |
| Friday | — | 200 mg AM | 500 mg fasted AM | 5–10 mg AM |
| Weekend | — | Rest or EOD | Optional | — |
Adjust to your training schedule and Retatrutide frequency.
Timeline: What to Expect
Weeks 1–4
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Stack integration | MOTS-c begins AMPK activation; L-Carnitine improves fasted cardio efficiency |
| Fat loss | Accelerates to 2–3 lb/week |
| Energy | More stable; thermogenic baseline rises subtly |
| Training | Endurance improves; less post-workout fatigue |
| Side effects | MOTS-c may cause mild "keto-flu" effect in first week (resolves quickly) |
Weeks 5–8
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Composition | Visible recomposition: waist drops while limbs hold fullness |
| Performance | Training capacity increases; recovery between sessions faster |
| Metabolism | "Clean heat" sensation—burning more without feeling wired |
| Measurements | Tape measures and photos tell the story better than scale |
Weeks 9–12
| Focus | Expected Changes |
|---|---|
| Consolidation | Scale loss may slow to 1–2 lb/week; definition deepens |
| Cumulative loss | Typically 15–25 lb over 12 weeks |
| Metabolic state | Higher resting warmth, lower soreness, stable appetite |
| Decision point | Continue, cycle MOTS-c off, or advance to Advanced |
Lifestyle Foundation
| Component | Target |
|---|---|
| Protein | 1.0–1.2 g/lb body weight daily |
| Training | 4–5 days/week; mix resistance and Zone 2 cardio |
| Cardio timing | Fasted morning after L-Carnitine for optimal fat oxidation |
| Sleep | 7–9 hours; mitochondrial adaptation happens during recovery |
| Hydration | 3–4 liters daily; higher oxidative flux increases water turnover |
Managing Side Effects
| Issue | Primary Mitigation | Secondary Options |
|---|---|---|
| Nausea (Retatrutide) | Hold dose; smaller protein-first meals | Step back one dose increment |
| MOTS-c early fatigue | Normal adaptation; resolves within 1 week | Ensure adequate sleep and electrolytes |
| L-Carnitine site soreness | Rotate injection sites | Use smaller volume, deeper IM |
| NAD+ injection sting | Buffered formulation, slow push | Split dose across two sites |
| Overtraining risk | Recovery improves—resist urge to double volume | Honor deloads and rest days |
When Progress Stalls
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Verify protein intake, steps, and sleep quality |
| 2 | Increase L-Carnitine to 1000 mg/day if below that |
| 3 | After 4+ weeks, raise Retatrutide by 0.5 mg/week |
| 4 | Move NAD+ to 250 mg per dose |
| 5 | Add one Zone 2 cardio session |
Monitoring
| Timepoint | What to Track |
|---|---|
| Baseline | Fasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c, lipids, liver enzymes |
| Weekly | Weight, waist, energy (1–10), training performance |
| Bi-weekly | Progress photos, strength logs |
| Week 6 | Check fasting glucose/insulin, lipids; expect improvements |
| Week 12 | Full panel; expect lower TG, higher HDL, improved insulin sensitivity |
MOTS-c Cycling
MOTS-c requires cycling to maintain sensitivity and effect:
| Phase | Duration | Protocol |
|---|---|---|
| On | 6–8 weeks | 5–10 mg, 2–3×/week |
| Off | 2–4 weeks | Discontinue MOTS-c; continue other compounds |
During off periods, mitochondrial adaptations persist. You can continue L-Carnitine and NAD+ throughout.
What Comes Next
Maintenance: Reduce to Beginner stack (Retatrutide 2–3 mg + NAD+). Use L-Carnitine pre-training as needed.
Advance to Advanced: Add Tesamorelin for anabolic protection and visceral fat targeting. Optional additions: AOD-9604 for stubborn subcutaneous fat, Ipamorelin for GH pulse support.
Contraindications
Same as Beginner protocol, plus:
- Active malignancy (MOTS-c activates AMPK; theoretical concern in cancer).
- Uncontrolled hyperthyroidism (stack increases thermogenesis).
If on diabetes medications, monitor closely—insulin sensitivity improves and doses may need reduction.