I see this question come up a lot online.
Should I go with Tirzepatide or Retatrutide?
The answer is Tirzepatide, and it’s not close.
Here’s why…
Tirzepatide hits two receptor pathways: GIP and GLP-1.
That dual action is what separates it from older GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic & WeGovy.
GIP plays a direct role in nutrient partitioning, steering calories toward muscle rather than fat.
*Clinical trials show roughly 75% of weight lost is fat and 25% lean mass. The 25% lean mass number sounds concerning until you realize it includes water and glycogen.
With proper training, you can avoid this entirely and maintain all of your muscle (I proved it in my recent DEXA).
FDA-approved since 2022.
It’s the proven compound.
The Problem With Retatrutide
Reta adds a third receptor: glucagon.
Glucagon is a catabolic pathway.
It mobilizes stored energy from both fat AND muscle.
Reta produces slightly more total weight loss, around 24 lbs per 100 lbs of body weight versus 20-22 lbs on Tirzepatide.
But look at the composition of that loss.
- Retatrutide: roughly 65-70% fat, 30-35% lean mass[1].
- Tirzepatide: 75% fat, 25% lean mass.
It’s not a massive gap, but it goes in the wrong direction.
Maintaining muscle is the whole game to looking incredible.
The leaner you get, the more aggressively your body tries to hold onto fat and sacrifice muscle instead.
Tirzepatide is much better in this regard.
Then there’s the heart rate issue. Reta raises resting heart rate by +4-7 bpm. Tirzepatide is +1-3 bpm.
Chronically elevated resting heart rate tanks your HRV, disrupts your sleep, and puts unnecessary stress on your cardiovascular system over time.
The heart rate normalizes on tirzepatide after a couple of months, but because retatrutide is hitting glucagon, it stays elevated
And we have way more safety data on tirzepatide.
It’s better tolerated with fewer side effects.
And the dropout rates of Reta tell you everything: People on the highest doses of Reta stopped the drug because of side effects 2-3 times more often than people on Tirzepatide.
*With low-dose Tirzepatide, side effects and dropout rates are extremely low. Kino Clinic subscribers typically get incredible results off 1.25-2.5 mg with little if any side effects.
Why Tirzepatide Wins
It gives you precise control over your deficit without that third receptor throwing elevated heart rate into the mix.
It also doesn’t come with glucagon, the catabolic third receptor.
And frankly, you don’t need it.
You can get as lean as you want without introducing a stress hormone into the mix.
This is why Tirzepatide wins, and it’s not even close.
It’s what I chose for my own protocol and it’s what we’re making available through Kino Clinic.
Compounded Tirzepatide, prescribed by a licensed physician, delivered to your door for $179/month. Fill out a quick online form, a licensed physician reviews it, and if approved, you’re looking at 3-5 business days.
No phone calls, no video calls.
Talk Soon,
Greg O’Gallagher