The Truth About My Peptide Journey (And Why I Almost Didn't Tell You)
If you've ever sat on your couch eating Oreos while judging other people's health choices... hi, that was me. This is the story I didn't want to tell but need to, especially if you've ever struggled with your health, weight, or energy and felt like a complete fraud.
For years, I spent my early mornings, late nights, and every spare moment buried in books, podcasts, studies all about health and wellness.
Meanwhile, MY body was falling apart.
My cortisol was spiked for years. When your cortisol stays elevated for too long (from chronic stress, poor sleep, overwork), it doesn't just make you tired.
It...
- Suppresses your other hormones (progesterone, testosterone, thyroid)
- Tanks your immune system
- Destroys your gut lining
- Stores fat (especially around your midsection)
- Crashes your metabolism
- Shuts down your ability to build muscle
That was me. Despite "knowing better," I was eating takeout constantly. Not sleeping. Running on fumes and cortisol.
Then my body crashed.
Not "I'm tired" tired. Chronic fatigue. The kind where your brain and body literally cannot function no matter how much you sleep, how much coffee you drink, or how badly you want to move.
I stopped working out. Started gaining weight. My labs showed my progesterone was less than 0.5. My other hormones were slightly better but no where near acceptable.
And I sat on the couch, eating Oreos, laughing at people taking semaglutide because I thought it was a shortcut for lazy people.
Until one day, someone took a photo of me at the beach.
I was mortified. Ashamed. Embarrassed.
How could someone who dedicates their entire life to health and wellness look like THAT?
So on a random Tuesday night around midnight, I found a provider and started semaglutide.
Here's what I did wrong:
I treated it like a magic pill. I didn't eat enough protein. I was dehydrated. I lost all my muscle.
My labs showed I was becoming malnourished:
Triglycerides too low
Cholesterol too low
Hormones non-existent
Vitamin D, magnesium, everything was depleted
I intentionally dropped lower than my goal weight because I'd heard about the rebound. I dropped to 115lbs. Then I got off too fast (didn't do proper maintenance dosing). My hunger came back with a vengeance.
Worse? I developed SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) from the slow gastric emptying and not eating enough. My gut couldn't absorb nutrients anymore.
I was eating. But my body wasn't getting any of it.
My weight bounced to 138, settled back down at 130, and that's where I've stayed.
That's when it hit me:
If someone like ME with all the knowledge couldn't manage my body on semaglutide properly, how could people without this knowledge?
Providers oversee you medically. But they're not telling you:
- How much protein to eat
- Why muscle retention matters
- What exercise to do
- How to manage your gut health
- What supplements you actually need
So a few months later, I started retatrutide . Here's why MY provider and I chose it for MY situation:
✅ Blood sugar control (significant HbA1c reduction, insulin sensitivity)
✅ Liver health (86% liver fat reduction)
✅ Energy expenditure (increases metabolic rate beyond appetite suppression)
✅ Fat oxidation (mobilizes liver fat first, then visceral, then subcutaneous)
✅ Inflammation reduction
✅ Cravings management
I felt better. My labs improved. I was working out consistently, walking daily, drinking enough water.
But I still had one massive problem: inflammation and SIBO.
I was still experiencing:
- A rock-hard swollen lymph node in my neck
- Armpit lymph nodes constantly swelling
- Chronic puffiness
- Brain fog
- Random spikes in white blood cells
- Acne
- Severe joint stiffness
I researched and discovered BPC-157 and KPV.
What these peptides actually do:
BPC-157: "Body Protection Compound" - supports gut lining repair, reduces inflammation, accelerates healing in damaged tissues. For me, this was critical for healing my SIBO and leaky gut.
KPV: Anti-inflammatory peptide that specifically targets gut inflammation and immune dysfunction.
My labs showed progress. My gut was healing. My energy was improving.
Here's what surprised people:
I'm holistic. I avoid medication like the plague. People were shocked I'd use peptides.
But here's the thing: Peptides ARE holistic.
They're strings of amino acids - the building blocks of proteins your body already makes. We're not adding something foreign.
We're highlighting what your body already has but isn't producing enough of anymore.
Peptides function as bioregulators. They signal your cells to enhance function, trigger repair, and regulate processes like:
- Protein synthesis
- Collagen and elastin production
- Tissue rejuvenation
- Cellular repair
This is ancient wisdom (your body's own signaling system) meets modern optimization (targeted peptide therapy).
But here's the missing link that almost cost me my health:
Education. Advocacy. Accountability.
Because here's what nobody tells you:
Peptides are NOT a band-aid. They're tools. And tools only work when you have the foundation built first.
Without proper nutrition, sleep, movement, gut health, and toxic load reduction? You're wasting your money.
You can't build a house without a foundation. Peptides are the scaffolding but the foundation is still YOUR lifestyle.
That's why I do what I do now.
I connect people with licensed medical providers for peptide therapy evaluation. Then I support them through the lifestyle optimization that actually makes it work.
Because providers handle the medical side. But you still need someone to help you:
- Dial in your nutrition
- Optimize your sleep
- Reduce your toxic load
- Build muscle while losing fat
- Navigate the process without making the mistakes I made
My results are MY story. Your results will be YOUR story.
I can't promise you'll experience what I have.
I can't tell you what to take.
I can't prescribe or diagnose anything.
What I CAN do:
→ Help you understand if peptides might be worth exploring for YOUR situation
→ Connect you with licensed providers who evaluate YOUR health history
→ Support your lifestyle habits so you don't make the same mistakes I did
This is provider-guided. Medical-grade. Pharmacy-fulfilled.
Not some wellness hack. Not a shortcut. A tool (when used correctly).
Curious? DM me and let's have an honest conversation about where you're actually stuck.
(I'm a coach, not a doctor. All peptide decisions are made by licensed medical providers. Results vary. Always work with qualified healthcare professionals.)
Ancient Wisdom. Modern Optimization.
The Astarte Company
theastartecompany@gmail.com
Medical Disclaimer:
The Astarte Company and Kaitlyn Auger are not licensed medical providers and do not diagnose, treat, prescribe, or provide medical advice. All information provided is for educational purposes only. Always consult with a qualified, licensed healthcare professional before making changes to your health regimen.
