6 Months on CJC-1295/Ipamorelin | Here Is What Happened

I recently started taking the peptides Ipamorelin and CJC 1295. I’m 46 years old, a certified personal trainer with NASM, and a general fitness enthusiast. I’m always looking for anything that can make me stronger, fitter, leaner, smarter, etc.

I am currently about to wrap up my sixth month on the peptides. This is probably a good point to start documenting my journey here on my website and share my experiences. I have found that many are considering doing Ipamorelin and CJC 1295 through my YouTube channel, and many questions are floating around.

So I figured a good place to start is to explain to you why I decided to start taking peptides, why I chose Ipamorelin and CJC 1295, and what I was hoping to get out of the whole process. I’ll also talk about what I’ve experienced up to this point, some of the nuances of my daily regime, and a big picture of what has been happening.

How I Found Out About CJC-1295 Ipamorelin

I kept seeing videos on my TikTok feed about how peptides like Ipamorelin and CJC-1295 can benefit the human body, especially for those looking to lose weight and body fat, recover faster from workouts, or even encourage healing from injuries or something similar.

While there are a lot of different peptides on the market, the majority of the videos that I kept seeing were in regard to Ipamorelin and CJC 1295, specifically whenever taken together. The benefits all sounded fantastic. They talked about quickly shedding weight, building muscle, better sleep, younger skin; I guess, in a sense, the fountain of youth.

All of these things sound great to me. Now 46 years old, I realize that there are things that aren’t functioning as well as they used to in my body. The idea of getting a helping hand in losing weight and building muscle was my primary motivator. However, there was just one problem.

Nearly everybody that I saw making videos touting the fantastic benefits of the CJC-1295/Ipamorelin peptides also seemed to be selling it or financially invested in promoting it. Well, that doesn’t necessarily negate what they are saying about the tremendous benefit of the peptides; it does slightly sour my opinion on whether or not I think it’s legitimate.

I looked around on YouTube and social media to find regular people like myself who had experience taking these peptides and could share their benefits and experience. However, it was a real struggle to find anybody like that. So that’s what I thought, I could be that guy, and I shortly thereafter reached out to my doctor, who had previously recommended these same CJC-1295/Ipamorelin peptides to me four years prior, and said I was ready to give Ipamorelin CJC1295 a chance.

Starting the First Peptide Cycle

My Peptides Rules to Follow

About a week later, I received my first package of peptides and other accessories. My package came with two files, one with bacteriostatic water and the other with peptide powder. After conversing with my doctor to understand how much water to mix in with the two peptides, and confirming my daily CJC1295 and Ipamorelin dosage and schedule, I was ready to do my first treatment.

I want to say that the idea of doing injections five days a week for the next two months was easy for me since I have been doing weekly treatments of TRT (testosterone replacement therapy) for a few years already, but any shot is a bad shot in my book. It took a little bit of psyching myself out; even though the insulin injection needle was much smaller than I was used to, it was still a mental hurdle that I had to get around that first time.

The first night, about 15 minutes after my treatment, my heart started to race, and I felt a warming rush through my body. Part of me panicked, but part of me just figured it was a natural reaction to the peptides. The next day, I did some research to find that many people have this same reaction and that it’s simply a sign that your body has accepted the CJC-1295/Ipamorelin peptides into the bloodstream. Still, it freaked me out a little bit that first night. After that, I actually came to enjoy that feeling.

My schedule consisted of treatments five times a week, which I selected Sunday through Thursday. This allowed me to take Friday and Saturday off in case I had social commitments. Part of the requirements with Ipamorelin and CJC 1295 and all peptides, in general, is that you should not eat at least two hours prior to taking the treatment. So for me, I sent a general rule of thumb to stop eating by 9 PM so that I was good to go whenever I was ready for bed at 12 or 1 o’clock.

Stopping eating so early every night also kept me from gorging on sweets and snacks, which is something I am prone to do, so the schedule also helps me restrict my daily caloric intake. Not to mention, I typically didn’t eat breakfast the next morning until sometimes 10 or 11 o’clock, so by that time, I was fasting for around 13 or 14 hours of times.

First Cycle Expectations

I’ve been around health and fitness long enough to know that nothing comes quick and easy, despite how it’s promoted. One of the things that I did see in several of the videos was that when it comes to peptides, it takes several months before you start to see any real positive benefits. While I didn’t see an immediate increase in the depth of my sleep, I really didn’t have any expectations or anything regarding what would happen during those first two months. I accepted those months as a building phase, and any benefit that I received was just a bonus.

First Cycle CJC Ipamorelin Results

The first cycle of these peptides was incredibly easy for me. Getting through those two months took little to no effort. At the end of my first cycle, I went to my local supplement store to get a body scan. I was super excited to find out that for the first time ever, I had a scan where my weight went down, but my muscle mass went up. These aren’t necessarily known as peptides for weight loss, but they are still supposed to help some of the pounds drop.

I didn’t really experience any other noticeable benefits during this time; however, I was told by a few people that I was looking younger without them knowing about the CJC-1295/Ipamorelin peptides. It was hard for me to see, so I took that with maybe a small grain of salt.

After two months of taking Ipamorelin and CJC-1295, it was time to take my month off per my doctor’s instructions. During this month, I wanted to make sure to keep the momentum from the first two months going, so I increased my workouts and kept my diet pretty much the same. After my month off, I did one more scan before the next cycle started, and I had another fantastic scan, where again, my body fat went down, but my muscle mass went up. I couldn’t believe it; I was on cloud nine and ready for the next cycle to start.

Starting the Second Peptide Cycle

I noticed an immediate difference with my second cycle on the first couple of days from the first cycle, and not in a good way.

That nightly warming sensation was completely gone. I felt nothing after taking each treatment. On top of that, I was getting bumps at the sight of the injection, almost like mosquito bites. In fact, because I had not experienced that during the first cycle, I thought they might actually be some bug or mosquito bite. I switched the location of my peptide injections to test, and it happened there too.

Something was definitely different this time.

I reached out to my doctor about the issues, and they thought that there could be a quality control issue with the brand of injection needles I was using, so he switched it over to the same brand that I use for my TRT injections. I was hopeful that this would solve the problem, but it didn’t. Not only was I getting these bumps, but they were incredibly itchy. I saw a few other videos where people were talking about having similar reactions, so I knew that it wasn’t a big deal, but it was so strange to me that I didn’t have this problem whatsoever during the first cycle, and now it’s pregnant, every single treatment of the second.

Second Cycle Results

To make matters worse, I did a body scan after my first month on cycle two, only to find out that I had somehow lost around 3 pounds of muscle mass during those 3 to 4 weeks and actually gained fat. Obviously, this was a shock, considering, but also because not much has really changed between the first cycle of the second cycle. I was also shocked because these are supposed to be great peptides for muscle growth and weight loss, but all I got was bad news and side effects.

Because I was committed to the process, I continued to do my injections throughout the entirety of the second cycle, only to do one more scan after the two-month period, which showed that I had not gained any more muscle mass but had gained more fat.

Not good.

My Thoughts On the Human Growth Hormone Peptides

When I started to do the peptide treatments, I had emotionally and mentally committed myself to at least three cycles. I felt that this was the minimum required to make a good determination on whether these actually benefitted me.

It’s probably a good thing I made that commitment before starting this whole thing because, at this point, if I am being honest, I don’t feel any different than I did six months ago. My body fat percentage is down 2 percentage points since then, but I could’ve done that without peptides. I set a couple of personal PRs during this time in weightlifting, so I’m super pumped about that. But, my main motivation when I started was to change my body’s aesthetic, to lose fat in game muscle. Six months later, there was not much movement in either of those.

There were periods at the end of the first month of my first cycle where I felt like my energy was fantastic, and I was actually able to do more than one workout a day. By the time I reached the end of that first cycle, I felt like my body was so sore, specifically my joints, which is not something I’ve ever experienced before. So, I didn’t even feel like we were helping my recovery.

What is Ipamorelin and CJC1295?

Ipamorelin is a growth hormone secretagogue that helps excrete growth hormones back into the bloodstream while stimulating the pituitary gland to produce them. The growth hormone releasing peptide is associated with improved cognitive skills, memory, pain relief, internal body temperature regulation, growth, and muscle development. Ipamorelin mimics ghrelin, binds to the ghrelin receptor in the pituitary gland, and acts on it to produce growth hormone. Its half-life is about 2 hours.

CJC 1295 is a synthetic peptide made initially to treat diseases but has been found to have performance-enhancing effects that appeal to athletes. It increases protein synthesis and insulin-like growth factor levels, enabling muscle tissue to grow, thereby increasing muscle mass and function. Research shows that CJC-1295 can increase serum growth hormone levels by 200-1000%, and its effects last for up to 6 days due to its half-life of about 6-8 days.

When combined, CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin stimulate the pituitary gland from two different sides, causing elevated growth hormone production. This combination can increase human growth hormone (HGH) produced in the body by acting in two different families of receptors. The combo works very well together, often resulting in a 3-5 fold increase in more growth hormone release.

What are the Benefits of Ipamorelin and CJC1295?

The benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin are extensive and include the following:

• Increased Bone Density: Helps in preventing common injuries associated with aging.

• Increase in Muscle Mass: Contributes to higher metabolism and less body fat.

• Strengthens the Cardiovascular System: Enhances overall optimal health.

• Ability to Burn Fat: Boosts resting metabolic rate, leading to more calories burned.

• Increased Sex Drive: Who doesn’t want increased libido? Vital for mental well-being.

• Improved Recovery and Repair from Injuries: This leads to overall improved well-being.

• Strengthens Immune System: Enhances resistance to illnesses.

• Improves Cognition and Memory Function: Enhances mental clarity and focus.

• Improves Insulin Sensitivity: Reduces triglycerides and helps burn more body fat.

• Skin Elasticity: Younger looking skin.

• Better Sleep: Deeper sleep and better rest.

Patients usually notice significant changes within the first month, with full benefits seen after three to six months of therapy, including increased energy levels, reduced wrinkles, enhanced sex drive, continued weight reduction, increased lean muscle mass, and more.

Side Effects of Taking CJC-1295/Ipamorelin

CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin are generally well-tolerated, with a relatively low rate of CJC-1295/Ipamorelin side effects. The most frequent side effect is an injection site reaction, which may include skin complaints or mild pain.

Other common side effects may include:

• Difficulty Swallowing: Some individuals may experience difficulty in swallowing after taking the peptides.

• Drowsiness: A feeling of being more tired or sleepy than usual may occur.

• Nausea: This can include an unsettled feeling in the stomach or a sensation of wanting to vomit.

• Hives or Different Skin Reactions: This might manifest as red, itchy welts on the skin or other unusual skin responses.

• Dizziness: This could involve feeling lightheaded or losing balance momentarily.

• Flushing refers to a temporary skin reddening, often on the face.

• Headache: Some users report experiencing headaches or head pains.

• Flu-like Symptoms: These can include fever, chills, muscle aches, and other symptoms commonly associated with the flu.

• Hyperactivity: This may manifest as an unusually high level of activity or restlessness.

• Sensitivity, Itching, Pain, or Soreness at the Injection Site: This is the most common side effect, usually involving mild discomfort or skin reactions at the injection site.

These side effects are generally mild, and CJC-1295 is embraced by many due to this low occurrence of adverse reactions.

Conclusion: So What Happens Next?

I’m preparing to wrap up my second cycle and go into my next off month. Although I was careful not to make too many radical adjustments to my workouts and diet during the first two cycles, I think it’s time to turn on the heat a little bit and a little bit more cooperation with the peptides instead of demanding so much of them.

I will return to macro counting for the half month and see what that does for the diet. I’m also going to do a little bit more running since I haven’t been able to do too much due to the weather. Ipamorelin and CJC 1295 did not prove to be the magic bullet that so many had reported them to be. Honestly, I didn’t think they actually were, but they have still been a disappointment up to this point.

Cycle 2 was when all the good stuff was supposed to start showing up, and it didn’t. In fact, I somehow took steps backward during cycle 2.

Hopefully, what I have seen so far has been a building phase, laying the groundwork for the awesome things that will happen in cycle three. I’m not sure what the Ipamorelin CJC 1295 before and after will look like, but time will tell.