Understand the source comparison
Beach Season Peptide Guide: Protocol Comparison
Appetite Suppression Onset 3–5 days at starting dose 5–7 days at starting dose None (willpower-dependent) Tirzepatide's dual-receptor mechanism produces faster subjective appetite control, but both peptides outperform diet-only approaches for adherence Average
No winner is assigned.
This page preserves a source comparison for education. It does not add a rating, recommendation or clinical judgment.
- Appetite Suppression Onset
- 3–5 days at starting dose
- 5–7 days at starting dose
- None (willpower-dependent)
- Tirzepatide's dual-receptor mechanism produces faster subjective appetite control, but both peptides outperform diet-only approaches for adherence
- Average Body Fat Reduction
- 6–8% when combined with resistance training 4–5x/week and 500–700 cal deficit
- 5–7% under identical training and dietary conditions
- 2–3% (typically plateaus by week 4–5 due to metabolic adaptation)
- GLP-1 therapy delays the ghrelin rebound and leptin suppression that sabotage traditional deficit protocols. The difference compounds over 8 weeks
- Muscle Retention Rate
- 95–98% lean mass preserved when protein ≥1.8g/kg daily
- 94–97% lean mass preserved under same protein conditions
- 85–90% (higher catabolism without appetite control allows protein underconsumption)
- Peptides don't preserve muscle directly. They make eating sufficient protein during deficit psychologically easier, which is the actual mechanism
- Cost (8-Week Total)
- $240–400 compounded / $800–1,200 branded
- $180–320 compounded / $600–1,000 branded
- $0 for protocol itself
- Compounded options make 8-week protocols financially accessible; branded versions carry identical active compound but 3–4× cost
- Gastrointestinal Tolerability
- 25–35% report nausea during titration (weeks 1–4)
- 30–40% report nausea during titration
- None
- Slower titration (starting at 2.5mg tirzepatide or 0.25mg semaglutide) reduces discontinuation. Rushing to therapeutic dose is the primary adherence failure point