Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/30/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/30/26

A Quarter of Your GLP-1 Weight Loss Can Be Lean Tissue. Here's How to Protect Your Strength

GLP-1s mainly quiet appetite. In the tirzepatide DXA substudy, about a quarter of the weight lost was lean tissue, the same share seen with lifestyle weight loss alone. Resistance training and enough protein, together, are the best-supported way to protect strength while the weight comes off.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/26/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/26/26

If You're on Testosterone and an Estrogen Blocker: Drive Gone, Midsection Growing

On testosterone plus an estrogen blocker with drive gone and midsection growing? Part of testosterone's message is estradiol. NEJM work linked estrogen deficiency to more body fat and showed both hormones regulate sexual function. Confirm sensitive estradiol plus SHBG and a real clinical reason before a blocker.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/19/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/19/26

Four Things Before Any Peptide

Before any peptide, know four things: peptides are messengers not a fix, baseline labs and history matter (including IGF-1), use a licensed pharmacy with a real prescription, and sleep nutrition and hormones come first. Part 2: oral estrogen can blunt IGF-1 response.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/2/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 10/2/26

Foundation First: Why Peptides Don’t Work Without Hormone Optimization

Peptides are signals. If thyroid, sex hormones, insulin, or sleep leave the receiver offline, the same message gets a weak answer. Foundation first is sequencing, not gatekeeping.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/28/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 9/28/26

Your Glucose Is Normal. Your Insulin Already Isn't.

Insulin rises years before glucose ever moves. Low SHBG, a high triglyceride-to-HDL ratio, and acanthosis nigricans are all reasons to check fasting insulin directly.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/21/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/21/26

Your Thyroid Labs Say Normal. Here's Why You Still Feel Hypothyroid.

Your TSH came back normal, but you still feel exhausted, cold, and foggy. Here's why TSH alone can miss what's actually happening at the cellular level.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/17/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/17/26

Your Peptide Isn't Failing. Your Hormones Are.

Peptides amplify signals your body already has to be capable of producing. If your thyroid or sex hormones are underperforming, the peptide has less to work with, and the peptide usually gets blamed first.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/14/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 8/14/26

GLP-1 and Hormone Optimization Aren't Competing Treatments. Here's Why They're Better Together

GLP-1 medications control appetite. They don't control the hormones that determine your muscle, metabolism, or where you store fat. Here's why combining both gets better results than either alone.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/28/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/28/26

The Weight Comes Back for Two Reasons Nobody Warns You About

You lost the weight, then it came back faster than it should have. Two quiet shifts, one in muscle, one in thyroid signaling, explain why the regain isn't about willpower.

Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/7/26 Darrell Wilcox, MD 7/7/26

Injections, Creams, Pellets, Pills, Troches: Which Hormone Delivery Method Is Actually Right for You?

Injections, creams, pellets, pills, troches. The delivery method changes how a hormone actually behaves in your body, not just how you take it. Here's the mechanism behind each route, and how to think about which one fits you.

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