ResearchCat Peptide Adventures!

[davidbrown]

@researchcat I still have a big nasty yellow bruise on my abdomen from last week's injection. I like the idea of transferring to a sterile vial. Per the instruction card in the repatha box the injection is supposed to take 15 seconds, but by my count it is 4 seconds.

[ResearchCat]

They tell you to hold it in for 15 seconds but yeah, it doesn’t take that long.

[davidbrown]

@ResearchCat said:

@davidbrown Yeah, the Repatha injector is a terrible execution. If the GLP-1 injectors are anything like it, no wonder people are needle shy. I am thinking about injecting it into a sterile vial then pulling it into a 31g 8mm syringe.

Currently I inject into my muffin top, alternating sides each time. But the pressure needed to get it to inject ensures it leaves a mark for a few days every time. I’m getting better though. This is month 3 and the first shot left a mark and a welt that lasted over a week.

So this last dose I shot the auto injector into a U-100 syringe with the plunger removed. That totally worked and was an easy experience, I'll be doing that from now on.

[ResearchCat]

Adding more receipts. Worth noting that I started at 203 at the beginning of August 2025, prior to getting the Hume scale, so some of the early losses are not reflected here. I also have an updated goal of losing another 5-10 lbs if I can do so without losing 5-10 lbs of muscle, so I am increasing tirz slightly and trying to watch my protein a bit better, along with consistent lifting. Vanity demands that I mention my other scale comes in consistently at 4.5 lbs lower than the Hume, so I am certain it is correct, and that is the one I use in my logs.

I may run another cycle of CJC/Ipa, or maybe try a longer cycle of Tesa/Ipa. My muscle mass has declined slightly in the past few months, which I am not sure how to interpret.

[vpeps]

Oh, that Hume. I got two of them and both are telling me my fat percentage is 12-13% and visceral fat index is 6, while two DEXA scans showed 27-28% of fat. I am not sure if Hume's numbers are anything relevant. It is far more precise to take a tape meter and find the waist-to-hip ratio.

[ResearchCat]

Yeah, scales are good for taking relative measurements, even if they are not terribly accurate. As long as they are generally consistent, you can use them to track changes. I measure every month or two, and I am due for another Dexa scan. My friend and I both have Humes and got Dexa scans at the beginning of the year, and at that time, both were pretty close. His now tells him he is at 14% bf and I am at 21%, so he clearly gave me the inaccurate one.

[vpeps]

I agree and use the scales exactly like this, tracking the changes relatively (I have 3 different brands, disagreeing completely with each other, but consistent with themselves). But the absolute numbers matter too, for example, boosting testosterone at fat level 12% and fat 28% for a man will have radically different effects on estrogen level. It's good to know your numbers.

[EXTROPIAN]

Would a proper supplementation of minerals such as like sodium, potassium, and magnesium which are essential electrolytes that carry this electrical charge, give a more accurate reading?

[Mydogdaryl423]

These scales rely entirely on electrical conductivity, hydration is the single biggest variable. Weighing in right after a heavy workout (when you're dehydrated) or after drinking a lot of water will temporarily skew the resistance. I take my measurements first thing in the morning before eating, drinking, or training.

Also a 4 electrode is not nearly as accurate as an 8. The 4 is estimating your upper mass with an algorithm. The 8 sends the current through your whole body.

I love these scales for trends but would not use it for anything that requires an accurate number.