First Cycle

BEN_10 said:

Hi, thanks for sharing your opinion. Personally, I believe that in just 8 weeks thyroid downregulation is not an issue. Moreover, using T4 alone will not really help you, because in that case the limiting factor would be its conversion rather than actual production. As for the rest, everything seems correct to me, but the reality is that you need to experiment—going beyond 1.5–2 mg per week is unnecessary if you already have experience with dieting.



Finally, I think clenbuterol brings too many side effects, and it’s likely that using MOTS-C or some other peptide combined with reta could already be sufficient

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Bubbler said:

Hi, I’m here to hear a few opinions on my cycle I’m about to run to get in shape quicker then before.

I’m training for more then 4 years completely natty now. Have a lot of diet and bulk cycles behind me.

I know how to get in shape and want to add a bit spice to that. To achieve a better look and that faster.

If you noticed, there are no androgenic compounds. I would like to leave it like that.

I’m excited to here your advice and opinions

The Cycle:

400-800 calorie deficit

Woche 1-2

- 0,5mg Reta 2x per week


Woche 2-4

• 0,75mg Reta 2x per week
• 20mcg Clen

Woche 4-6

• 0,75mg Reta 2x per week
• 40mcg Clen

Woche 6-8

• 1mg Reta 2x per week
• 40mcg Clen
• 25mcg T4

Note: I tested Reta and for me the hunger suppression starts at 0,5mg per week

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Donvitosharkone said:

Alright, I’ll be straight with you but keep it respectful and useful.

First of all, the idea behind this setup is clear, and it’s not stupid. You’re not trying to shortcut muscle building with heavy androgens, you’re trying to accelerate fat loss while keeping control. That already puts you in a different category than most “first cycle” posts.

That said, there are a few things worth unpacking.

You say you’ve trained over 4 years natty, you know how to diet and you’ve done multiple bulk and cut phases. That matters a lot here, because this protocol only really makes sense if your training, sleep, steps, and nutrition are already dialed in. If any of those are sloppy, no amount of Reta or clen will fix it.

On the positive side, starting Reta low and titrating up is exactly how it should be done. Hunger suppression kicking in at 0.5 mg per week is a good sign that you respond well. Pushing it slowly to 1 mg twice per week over 8 weeks is reasonable, especially if your goal is appetite control, adherence to the deficit, and improved insulin sensitivity. Reta shines there.

Where I’d be more cautious is the combination and timing with clen and T4.

Clen, even at 20 to 40 mcg, adds a decent amount of CNS and cardiovascular stress. It’s not just about heart rate, it’s about sleep quality, recovery, anxiety, and electrolyte balance. Stack that with Reta, which already alters appetite, gastric emptying, and energy levels, and you can end up feeling flat, wired, or oddly fatigued if you’re not careful.

T4 is the part I’d question the most in this setup. In a 400 to 800 calorie deficit, with clen already increasing thermogenesis and Reta suppressing appetite, adding thyroid hormone can easily push you into a recovery hole. Especially if you’re not tracking resting heart rate, morning temperature, sleep depth, and training performance. T4 is not a fat burner by itself, it’s a metabolic amplifier. If calories, protein, and recovery aren’t perfectly managed, muscle loss becomes a real risk.

Another thing to consider is that you say you want to leave androgens out completely. That’s fine as a choice, but understand the trade-off. In a deeper deficit, with clen and thyroid in play, having zero androgen support means you’re relying entirely on training stimulus and protein intake to preserve lean mass. That works better when the deficit is closer to 400 than 800, and when volume and intensity are intelligently managed.

A few questions that would really help refine this:


What’s your current body fat and bodyweight?

How many steps or cardio sessions are you doing weekly?

How hard are you training during this phase, and are you planning to reduce volume as fatigue accumulates?

How’s your sleep normally, before any stimulants?

If it were me, I’d run this more conservatively. I’d let Reta do most of the heavy lifting for appetite and adherence. I’d keep clen at the lowest effective dose, or even delay it until fat loss stalls. And I’d only introduce T4 if there’s a clear plateau and recovery is still solid.

Overall, the concept isn’t bad at all. It just needs restraint. Fat loss rewards patience and consistency far more than stacking tools too early. If you respect that, this can work very well without wrecking your system.

Shark

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