In this episode of the Flex Diet Podcast, I sit down with my good friend John Gorman to unpack the current “wild west” of peptides, TRT, GLP medications, and performance-driven bloodwork. We dig into how John’s telemedicine clinic approaches comprehensive lab testing — and why running a full panel (including markers like reverse T3) matters far more than cherry-picking a few numbers. If you’ve been dieting hard, training consistently, and still feeling stuck, we break down how chronic stress, poor recovery, and subtle hormone disruptions can quietly crush metabolism and make fat loss feel like a white-knuckle grind. We also cover testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) — the real pros and cons, common oversimplifications in the industry, and what most clinics fail to discuss. From there, we dive into GLP-1 medications and tirzepatide, what we currently know, what we don’t know about long-term use, and how to think critically about risk versus reward. John shares practical guidance on legitimate peptide sourcing, red flags to watch for, and how to think about “periphery” tools like methylene blue and injectable carnitine without getting sucked into hype. If you’re interested in optimizing performance, improving body composition, or simply making smarter decisions in a rapidly changing medical landscape, this episode will help you separate signal from noise. Sponsors: Daily Fitness Insider Newsletter: https://flex-diet.kit.com/bfa1510fa8 Available now: Grab a copy of the Triphasic Training II book I co-wrote with Cal Deitz here. Episode Chapters: 03:20 Johns Telemed Launch 05:15 How Lab Consults Work 08:23 Coaches and Bloodwork Ethics 13:25 Reverse T3 Explained 16:56 Stress Hormones and Dieting 20:08 Microdosing Tirzepatide 26:30 Long Term GLP1 Concerns 30:45 TRT Done Right 33:10 Better Clinics Better Consumers 35:56 Vetting Coaches and Clinics 37:40 Peptides Wild West 38:50 Spotting Bunk Peptides 41:22 Legit Sources and Protocols 42:30 Evidence vs Hype 45:17 How to Verify Quality 50:54 Which Peptides Matter 54:14 Methylene Blue and Carnitine 57:50 Dosing and Safety Notes 01:02:06 Wrap Up and Recommendations 01:04:03 Music Picks and Outro 01:07:07 Final Disclaimers  Flex Diet Podcasts you may enjoy: Episode 319: Exploring the World of Peptides with Anthony Castore YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbTY6kRP1H4&t=11s Episode 212: The Pros and Cons of Training Elite Level Professional Athletes: An Interview with Dr. Andy Galpin YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rf1imcUu-Ew Connect with John: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/team_gorman YoulTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeamGormanPhysiqueEnhancement Get In Touch with Dr Mike: Instagram: Drmiketnelson YouTube: @flexdietcert Email: Miketnelson.com/contact-us